jportfolio - Seeking Creativity

Creative Impact on Equality

2012-01-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today in the United States we recognized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He is unquestionably one of the greatest individuals from our nation. He took a stand not only for what was right and just, but stood by his beliefs. As the pastor in my church touched upon this weekend, Dr. King was a man in his twenties when he started on his publicized path for equality. Surely there were men, other pastors with more experience in life, that could have taken a stand. But Dr. King's calling, what was in his heart perhaps from his relationship with God, was to be a leader in our nation promoting equality for all mankind.

Many artists to this day create art based on exposing inequality. I'm sure many of them, even in nations beyond ours, have Dr. King to thank for his inspiration and outspokenness towards social inequality. Dr. King's own words from his "I Have a Dream Speech" touch on his choice to creatively solve the issues we faced.

"We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."

I recently viewed a cable special on the original television show Star Trek, which made me understand Dr. King's connection to creativity to solve issues even more. The only television show Dr. King reportedly would let his young children watch was Star Trek. He shared an inspirational moment with one of the show's actresses Nichelle Nichols when he encouraged her to stay on the show for the positive role she was portraying of African Americans. A groundbreaking role in broadcasting at the time. I had admired Dr. King as a person who fought for the good of all, but now I see Dr. King’s embrace of creativity through his views of performance art.

Dr King's life was cut incredibly short. There is no telling what sort of creative resolutions he would have come up with or encouraged if he had more time. Society still faces some of the struggles Dr. King fought against, and we are facing new ones as well. Look at the Middle East and the people fighting for their social and political rights. At this new crossroads we are at, the world will need to look to and expand upon Dr. King's creative ways to fight against inequality. Artists will need to continue to expose all forms of inequality in their art whether it's visual, performance, multi-media or in literature. A past show at our local art museum, Pattern ID is a show that really impressed on me how artists are exploring the ever-changing face of our social equality status. Local station PBS Western Reserve had an excellent video with details on this show.

Creative influences will continue to expose more and more people to standing up for equality for all mankind. The beliefs of one incredible man who pursued and fought for equality, inspired by the American dream, can be spread beyond our nation creatively for all. And no matter what struggles we face here in the U.S. look to Dr. King’s words for encouragement and share in Dr. King's beliefs:

“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”

Photo collage by Janet Pahlau

Highlight 22

2012-01-05T15:31:00.000-08:00

"Everywhere I look
a highlight in my view.
I always seem to see
the number 22."

For this week's Illustration Friday's topic, "Highlight" I chose to represent something that seems to be highlighted in my vision.

It's true, the number 22 seems to be highlighted wherever I look. I don't know what to make of this phenomena, but it helped to expand my collage projects.

*Art Work: Highlight 22 by Janet Pahlau

Round - Illustration Friday

2011-12-01T17:38:00.001-08:00

For my second entry on Illustration Friday, I continued exploring words, in this case a literal musical narrative of a round. I am still playing with adding writing to collages, I want to hop into InDesign so badly and type this text on a spiral! But that would defeat my attempt at exploring and expanding, so this felt like a good exercise for me in practicing a collage/writing technique.

My Creative Muse Out of the Box

2011-11-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

Most people have a passion in life, something that they react to or interact with exuberantly. Some may call it their calling, others their gift. My passion is creativity. It is my favorite activity or topic, and I find it in most parts of life. So, when this year's "Out of the Box" call for artists went out (a benefit for the Akron Area Arts Alliance,) I wanted my piece to be about my creative passion. Creativity for me is something that definitely cannot be boxed in, and because it is all around, my creative muse would definitely be bursting "out of the box."

Many visual artists go through phases in their careers as new inspirations or techniques are experienced and learned. The majority of my career has been as a graphic designer exploring and working in the fields of print and web design. In my daily work, creativity is what drives me, however process management and technical production often replace hands-on creativity. My goal to be working on a creative project helps me to stay focused on even the most mundane of tasks. I now feel the term graphic artist would fit me better. I've found a desire to add to my design skills interpreting emotions and concepts by incorporating photography and art and craft techniques into collage. After a few years producing a few collages, I am definitely still at the beginning stages of this phase.

All creative endeavors are fueled by a need or desire. Some call this their inspiration or their muse. For me, my muse is my faith. I feel people may be missing God’s point, the point to life and the wonder of the things in front of them. To me faith does not have to be shouted about from a megaphone nor hidden to promote a politically correct agenda. My faith is all encompassing, a part of everyday life, and is finding a voice through creativity. Concepts that are hard to put into words, I can envision and interpret as a collage. My piece titled My Creative Muse Out of the Box is an example of that interpretation.

Using mixed media, My Creative Muse Out of the Box's goal is to be both visually engaging and to read like a story with a focus on spreading creativity. The symbolism of the dove on the soapbox is like the Holy Spirit, my faith inspiring me to spread creativity. The soapbox itself is a symbol, as I often get “on my soap box” about the importance of creativity. The word “create” bursts out of the box wrapped in an ethereal haze. The escape button is what creativity is to me, an escape. The largest focus on the collage is the angel praying with her gaze pointed upward. This image, taken at a local cemetery is visually interesting and peaceful to me.

This collage reads like a story, my creativity story. I hope whoever ends up winning the piece at auction, finds within this piece their own Muse story.

*Photograph: My Creative Muse Out of the Box by Janet Pahlau

Apple - the spirit of Design

2011-10-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

As a person who's intrigued by the "Occupy" protests, I was surprised by how much the passing of Steve Jobs saddened me. Why don't I lump Apple into one of those corporations extracting too much from the public and giving little back?

As a graphic artist and fine art enthusiast, Apple embodies the spirit of design in every aspect of its products and promotions. Beautiful lines, simplistic design and functionality, and above all white space! The shell of every Apple product is a designer's dream. But not simply judging a book by its cover; every product also functions with such ease, the way a design tool should. I work on PC's, as I tell people "begrudgingly." Working on a Mac prior to every touching a PC, leads to many frustrations for me. Quick keys that are all but non existent on a PC, poor ability to properly name files, and functions that assume what you intend to do, only to be wrong. These errors in PC judgement cause the operator to go back and correct what the computer decided to do. Those list just the start of the annoying functions on a PC. The simplicity of Apple's beautiful visuals in conjunction with needed functionality is the true definition of a good design. While Apple's one button mouse is elegant, it's not always needed with all the command keys that are consistent from operating system to software speeding up your work with simply a keyboard and giving you two options to work as best suited to you. Apple does not think for me, it allows me to determine what I want to name a file, what text I want to select, and where I want to store things.

Learning of Steve Job's education and decisions about starting the Apple business, made me appreciate him as an artist over computer tech or CEO even more. Computer and software engineers may never have embraced the artistry of fonts, if it weren't for his insistence to incorporate them into his computer after his experience in calligraphy classes and appreciation for fonts. There are technical people perfect at figuring out code and networks and there are creative people finding ever-increasing ways to make our multi-media experience pleasing to the senses. Normally I would state my case on how these two kinds of jobs should be separated, and there would be more jobs in these fields for everyone. But Steve Jobs was uniquely a tech person concerned with design. It is rare, and with his success, understandable why so much focus has remained on him after his death.

The future of design has hints of thumbs-up like comments overwhelming any true content or pleasing presentation, stuffed into a pre-formatted template design automatically run by content management systems. Apple has kept that future only a threat. I hope Wall Street doesn't swallow up Apple and demand it to perform to market margins instead of design standards. I hope that Apple sticks to the foundations it's established, and that we have not witnessed the end of beauty in design and function in our techie lives. I hope Steve Job's spirit will live on and give technological design an unending life.

Working Through

2011-08-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

Creativity and Inspiration in Good Times and Bad

During a recent afternoon drive radio show; the hosts discussed their most annoying phrases possibly inspired by a past list presented by Oxford University. Trendy phrases such as "At the end of the day," "It's not rocket science," and "F.Y.I." were all considered overused and without meaning by the hosts and call in guests alike. As a fan of creativity and innovation I have also cringed at hearing these sayings plagiarized and repeated sometimes in place of original thought.

A few other phrases came up that bother me in a deeper sense: "It is what it is" and "All things happen for a reason." To me these sayings touch on a lack of faith and creativity, and their overuse by a large segment of society is simply a sad statement of our times.

Whether you believe in a higher power or simply in the good will of mankind, do you really want to believe that all of nature and man made decisions are predestined? There is no such thing as creativity or originality if things were all meant to be. How uncreative and boring is that concept! While I have faith there is, at times, unseen intervention in our lives, I believe nature and man function on free will and the science of their makeup. Did the devastation of a tsunami happen because of shifts in nature or a plan to teach a lesson through disaster? Did parents suffer the loss of their child because of a genetic malfunction or because God wanted to teach them strength through loss?

To use the thoughts that things are what they are or that they happen for a reason seems more like a crutch that holds people back, causing them to be dispassionate and deny responsibility towards creating a new path or idea for their situation. Having faith and creativity through the unexpected events of life can be the catalyst for a new purpose in your goals and daily choices. As a creative person, I identify more with a local priest and motivational speaker Fr. Norm Douglas when he says "That God works through all things." So in using my creativity I can positively improve the path of my life and those around me, whether it was through divine intervention or my own spark of ingenuity, I'd rather stay guessing. I'll continue to be inspired by nature and humanity around me and "at the end of the day," those creative thoughts are "not rocket science," but something better.

*Photograph: Drowning in What's Meant to Be; figures from the Fountain of Eternal Life by Janet Pahlau

Creative Innovation

2011-07-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Bringing Out the Best Practical Applications for Creativity

I constantly preach how creativity is important to innovation and I stress the importance of seeing life through someone else's eyes. Never has that been more obvious to me than after accidentally breaking my wrist.

I've wondered how do people with arthritis button pants or put on a watch? Simple things have become more challenging, and in the process of performing life's functions I've thought this may be how inventors of gadgets and medical devices come up with their ideas? Did the person that invented a button aid face the same situation as the arthritic person trying to be independent?

While phone apps are trendy and convenient has the creative energy that went into their development improved anyone's life, or rather filled a marketing program? Truly innovative ideas come out when a company or individual is inspired to improve the human existence. What company has contributed to society more, the software company that requires consumers pay for upgrades for every minute change, or the ergonomic company that invested time and research to make a comfortable and reliable product that would last for consumers?

Have I strayed too far off my topic of creativity? I hope you don't see it that way. My physical challenge has enforced my creativity and innovation stance. It's bolstered my appreciation for streamlined and modernist type designs that while visually pleasing, are innovative in function as well as style. I hope you don't need a limitation to encourage creative innovation in those around you. Whether it's your children or your coworkers, never dismiss their inspiration to try things a new way. This way of thinking should be encouraged and spread. Finding practical uses for creative vision can help us all to enjoy less serious pursuits, like lounging in your most comfortable Eames chair.

*Photograph: 1956 Eames Chair (Herman Miller) was a creative innovation in it's time.

Reading a Picture

2011-05-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

The importance of photojournalism to art, history and society.

Narrative art is often overlooked. Commonly found in photographs, artists throughout history in all mediums have told a story by capturing subtle nuances of a moment in time. Norman Rockwell images, especially the painting The Problem We All Live With, is an excellent example of a picture that tells a story. Painted in 1963 it tells a story of the Civil Rights movement by the postures, emotion and details of the painting which help to give clues to what was happening in the instance that image was recorded. What a great way to teach about history, sociology or basic understanding and appreciation for what shapes the people around us.

Dorthea Lange's Migrant Mother, Alfred Eisenstaedt's V-J Day in Times Square and Eddie Adam's Nguyễn Ngọc are all familiar images that tell a story of a moment in time. I think the Situation Room photo by the White House Photographer will become a famous image for that same story telling technique. With thirteen people with different expressions, posture and wardrobe there is a lot to read. We have our own opinions over the past ten years as well as all the current news reports and editorial commentary at our access to understand and interpret the story of US politicians deciding and monitoring a military action to eliminate a terrorist in the situation room. Imagine showing this image in conjunction with 9/11 photos to people twenty years from now. President Obama's intense posture, Hillary Clinton's concerned expression, Brigadier General Webb's focus that is different than the rest of the room, all interesting sights for discussion. For those people the time that's past and little personal experience to our current politics or foreign affairs, this photo may just be able to help them to understand this story of our decade.

It's so important to read the images, pictures or reality, around us. It gives us a perspective of things we ourselves may not experience and an understanding of how the personalities of people around us are formed from stories that can sometimes be caught in the blink of an eye, or in some cases a camera shutter.

*Photograph: Migrant Mother by Dorthea Lange

Finding Creativity in Shades of Gray

2011-03-06T13:35:00.000-08:00

We are in what seems to me a very gray period. No I don't mean the Northeast Ohio weather. I feel right now in society throughout the world we are seeing that the world is not black and white, rather shades of gray.

It seems for some gray is very disturbing and they are struggling to put things back into the black and white categories they feel they belong. The bickering in several states over union versus non-union a conflict between the way things "used to be" and a new way to operate. The turmoil in Middle Eastern countries where technology has created a voice for those that have embraced it versus those wanting things to stay as they've historically been. In the entertainment world we're witnessing a split between reality TV and creative programming, forcing many to seek out entertainment on their own terms through online programming not found on network or cable.

For many creatives, gray is beautiful. A black and white photo is not truly only black and white, its beauty comes in the many shades of gray and patterns and textures that stand out. The same goes for life, the practices, organizations, governments, and entertainment we've created have never easily fit into two little categories, and the variations are what keep these concepts relevant to our lives.

If I could offer advice it would be for everyone to observe the world around you with open eyes, to see the amazing variety we live with in both nature and manmade things. One experience I had that has driven my desire to spread creativity to all supports the idea that not everybody is observant of the world around them. At one place of employment, a fellow marketing employee stopped by my desk while I was away and wanted to leave me a note. Later on when I was back at my desk this person stopped by to ask a question. When I reached for my pad of stickie notes in my recycled tissue box desk caddy (chosen as a way to recycle and because the box had a beautiful pattern in a contrasting color to the cubicle around me) the fellow employee stated, "oh, there's where you keep your stickie notes, I never would have looked in a tissue box."

Sadly this person was not observing the world around them. A very limiting habit, for someone in marketing or advertising, a profession where one would especially be expected to be very observant and on the look out for new ideas. My theory is they were looking for a note caddy the black and white expected version of where a notepad should be. In doing so they completely missed the gray. An observant person attuned to looking for the possibilities in the gray, would've scanned the desk and seen the yellow contrasting color sticking out of the blue box. This habit should not just be applied to advertising and marketing professionals, but people everywhere. Find the possibilities in the impossibilities, the new path because the other has vanished.

I think we could be more understanding of people and situations if we looked at all sides of the situation, rather than trying to fit something into one of two opposing categories. Our solutions and businesses would be more productive because the solution that was not immediately obvious would be discovered in the gray. This is why all creative genres visual arts, music, literature, and performance are so important to society. Involvement and observation of the arts, allow us to open our minds to things we had not thought of. Then we can apply these thoughts to many aspects of our lives.

What an amazing amount of grays that will produce!

*Photograph: Sunlight Patterns by Janet Pahlau

Hearts and Thoughts

2011-02-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

It's the week following Valentine’s Day. Maybe at this point, you are sick of anything red and heart shaped after being inundated with Valentine messages and imagery since the New Year. Maybe you love anything heart shaped, wearing it as jewelry and decorating your room or home with hearts from country to contemporary. We use heart icons in so many ways. In a greeting card we can find kitschy expressions of adoration. In fine art paintings we find the symbol used as an expression of deep love or as in a Frida Kahlo painting, deep pain. It even has worked its way into our language to replace words like in the famous “ I heart New York” slogan. But all these references point back to a way to visually express an emotion that is not easily depicted without an icon to represent them.

My research into iconography would not be complete without exploring the origin of the heart shape. How did this symmetrical symbol that only vaguely resembles the actual organ become a universal icon? An internet search to find the true origin of the popular heart shape will provide a variety of results. Everything from ancient Egyptian and Inca art, to a stylized silphium seed pod engraving, to a heavenly 17th century Christian saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s vision.

Few visual examples can be found of the heart shaped icon appearing in ancient art or implements, but religious art is filled with the heart image, particularly the Sacred Hearts. This image of a heart glowing with flames on top and pierced and bleeding from the crown of thorns wrapped around it has been repeated by many artists throughout history. Again the heart was chosen in an effort to explain concepts of deep love and faith by using a visual representation of a universally understood image.

The Valentine’s sentiments may have faded now. But, the life span of the heart icon shows how powerful an image about sentiment can be. Emotions such as love, faith and passion are difficult to put into words or to show actions for. Iconography, particularly in this case the heart, helps us to express or display complex topics in simplified forms.

*Sacred Heart sketch by Janet Pahlau

Above the fold

2011-01-29T18:33:00.000-08:00

Challenger Explodes in Flames The Post Standard (Syracuse, New York)

Terror Hits Home (pdf) Houston Chronicle

Pontiff is at Peace (pdf) Daily Herald (Suburban Chicago)

Saints Go Marching In (pdf) Akron Beacon Journal

All of the previous newspaper headlines were found above the fold (see the wikipedia definition,) a term still relevant today in web design. For a web designer planning a site, important information is put in an area of prominence, or above the fold. Many sites are designed so that all the information falls within the visible screen area, not needing to be scrolled to view. Well of course there is the concept of fluid grids, implemented when screen sizes began to rapidly change and even shrunk to mobile phone size. As a visual based designer who's coding experience is mostly front end and who has little love of "whiz bang" special effects on a site, I don't care much for reposition-able sites...but I digress.

For a designer visiting a site, nothing is more distracting than useless information above the fold. It falls right into the same old, bad design choices of Red type on a blue background, cutesy animated gifs and the fonts curlz or comic sans. As a designer with a love of fine arts, I strongly believe we can not abandon visually pleasing functionality, simply to implement large web 2.0 art and blocks of content. Lets embrace the terms and concepts of the past. We all learn from the past including the recent publishing and print design past. On websites, don't push content out of the way forcing visitors to scroll to find it below the fold. Find creative ways to implement these functional pieces that some want for mobile devices, while keeping a website visited with a computer an interesting and appealing visual layout.

* Image: Resonate Design Studios website. Example of a site that displays the information above the fold, and viewed within a controlled layout, so elements display in a visually pleasing arrangement.

Happy 2011!

2011-01-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

Hopefully everyone has enjoyed the holiday season thus far. The holidays can be a time filled with opportunities for creativity and a time we could all use to celebrate peace and understanding, no matter what our individual beliefs! I’ve been disappointed when I noticed on New Years Day that many decorations were gone. Some who hurriedly put up decorations after Thanksgiving, have now rushed to turn off or take down their Christmas and Holiday decorations, even though many of us are still celebrating the Christmas season. I guess the unity of the Christmas spirit fades fast for some. I find it sad, especially for those of the Orthodox faith who will be celebrating Christmas in January, because the spirit of Holiday songs on the radio and public and retail areas filled with festive decorations are removed before they even get a chance to celebrate their holiday.

All thoughts have now turned to resolutions and the New Year, fueled by retail and marketing promotions for organizing your home and getting in shape. As a designer I can respect a great deal of unique and inspiring ideas that come from creative marketing and ads. But this market that drives us to remove festive celebrations and forces us into a cycle of predictable buying mentality, pushes me to encourage everyone to strive for creativity and understanding in the New Year.

Find a creative New Years resolution for 2011. Take up photography and get your exercise on walks looking for the perfect outdoor nature shot or interesting indoor architectural scene. Encourage your family to recycle by creating collaged storage boxes from materials in your own home. Discover your genealogy by visiting local museums and libraries to uncover documents from your families past, creating organized family records as you go. (Perhaps you’ll discover you too have a family line that used to celebrate the holidays up to the Epiphany.) Money you planned to spend on expensive equipment and services, can instead be invested in the arts and community organizations that spread creative ideas such as these and encourage unity throughout the year.

* Photo "CPL - Reading Angel" by Janet Pahlau

Iconography Gone Awry

2010-10-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

As a graphic designer and art enthusiast, I become increasingly interested in icons and symbols. At one time my interest only covered the aptly described iconic brand symbols such as Paul Rand's UPS logo or Raymond Loewy's International Harvester logo. Over time I've learned how symbolism in art and society has progressed through the years. Dating as far back as the Roman Empire, when Constantine began to use the Chi-Rho monogram for his army. Symbols have even made their way into our lives functionally. The ampersand is once again being used in writing text messages and tweets.

With symbolism playing such an important role in our lives, it was quite shocking to see the retail brand Gap's recent attempt at redesigning their iconic brand. The once clean and simple blue logo with reversed out type, reminiscent of a pair of jeans back pocket was temporarily changed to what a company spokesperson claimed was a more modern design.

Temporarily is the key word here, as so many of us designers, artist's and marketing critics berated the company's choice over social media networks. To me it broke so many design rules. What was the purpose of the blue square intersecting the letter "p"? Why the switch from upper case to lower case? Why such a subtle gradation in the blue, how will that translate to print media; and more importantly how will black type show up over reflex blue when printed at 180 dpi for newspaper? (I know many think that medium is almost dead, but come on, it's still in use!) No hidden arrow like in FedEx, no person on a tractor like International Harvester, no hint of what the company did at all. Their established brand was so iconic; I still am unsure how they came to their revised end product?

The positive ending in my opinion was they changed their mind, or the web communities’ response influenced them to change their mind. Creativity will have to be harnessed to communicate their brand in a more contemporary way, not a quick fix logo redesign. My increasing fear that the world was becoming more interested in "whiz bang" functionality and streaming lines of text devoid of all visual interest has temporarily subsided. Maybe art and creativity will regain momentum after all in this new media world.

* Photo by Janet Pahlau

Adobe What?

2010-09-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

Sadly, summer is winding down. With shorter days I find myself indoors more often and catching up on the computer. I've been more of a visitor than an active participant online. Tonight however, I was inspired to write a blog entry after hearing one of my biggest pet peeves on the 11 p.m. news. There was a story about a virus that starts from the "Adobe program." Which Adobe program? Adobe makes many products, software and fonts. As a graphic designer, we often hear clients or fellow non-design employees in our organizations make this mistake. Here is my appeal to those of you who may be guilty of making your designer friends cringe.

Dear computer users that occasionally use pdfs,

Just a note to correct a common misnomer often stated by Microsoft users. In the story about a computer virus, the writers had a reporter state that the virus was caused by "the Adobe program." Adobe makes many programs and fonts. Adobe is the Brand and Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, etc are the programs. This would be like describing a Honda Accord as a Honda.

Since I use both Microsoft and Adobe, but my work relies heavily on using various platforms of Adobe software, I have seen that the misunderstanding comes from Microsoft software. Many platforms of Microsoft have an option to save a file as an Adobe PDF, in reality it should be an Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat PDF.

As a Graphic Designer, it would be great to hear the terms being used correctly on the news, in your organizations, or even in casual conversation. It has to start somewhere!

Thanks for listening.

* Photo "Stop Saying That!" by Janet Pahlau

August Photo Break 8-20-10

2010-08-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Today's post is brought to you by...

the letter

and the number

while most things in life are not

this blog is.

August Break 8-19

2010-08-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

Textural Patterns of Cleveland

Dispelling some of the negative comments about Cleveland, I am finding so many interesting sights I never took the time to look at before.

August Break 8-18

2010-08-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the summer creative break inspiration from Susannah Conway and Alease Michelle.

Creative Inspiration is all around me lately. My focus has been inspired by images like these:

Creativity is King

2010-03-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

Buzz Words and Catch Phrases

Over the past 5 to 10 years buzz words and catch phrases have been hard to avoid. The popularity of digital media has helped to spread these sayings, and the media itself is not immune to being caught up in a catch phrase cliché. Many of these phrases leave one confused as they are empty of any true meaning, or their use has been taken totally out of context. Business catch phrases are the worst culprits with sayings such as “Out of the Box,” “Transparency,” and “Taking Ownership.”

Is Content King?

The phrase that stands out the most to me is “content is king,” often used to refer to digital media marketing. I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to say that creativity is more important than content. However simply putting content on display for a visitor will not grab their attention. So is the content really King, or on an equal plane and dependent on a creative vision? Grabbing a viewer’s attention visually is not just about web design; it applies to an artist’s canvas, television and magazines. For example in contemporary sculpture the pulsating videos of “Family of Robot: High Tech Child” by Nam June Paik on display at the Akron Art Museum grab your attention with movement, shape and color. Only after the viewer has been drawn in, do they begin to connect the content of the streaming videos with the story the artist was telling. It is the creative construction or layout of this particular sculpture that draws the viewer in to analyze in further detail.

Factors to Ponder

While the marketing and advertising trends of businesses have a great influence on popular society, other outlets have promoted the “content is king” attitude as well. Social Media’s spread has influenced how we interact on the Internet and this has contributed to a demand for content. Twitter and blog pages have been the only visually creative forum in social media. Their method of promotion is like a creative community where design and content are posted for all to enjoy or ponder. Other very popular outlets LinkedIn and Facebook have abandoned any use of visual creativity and provide the user with a one size fits all approach, devoid of any chance to present a visually appealing layout. The incredible popularity of these outlets has helped propel the “content is king” mentality to mainstream thought. The additional restriction of interacting within silos of communities the user is already familiar with inhibits the natural creative nature of sharing with a larger audience.

I am looking forward to the predicted rise of the “creative class.” A time when companies will succeed or fail based on how well or how little they put their creative talent to use. Less focus on content or objects and more focus on concept and sharing and improving.

* Family of Robot: High Tech Child by Nam June Paik. From collection of the Akron Art Museum.

Collage Teaches an Old Artist "New" Tricks

2010-02-18T21:16:00.000-08:00

It's been my experience that creative people thrive on inspiration. I know I'm guilty of it. Salvador Dali may have felt creativity itself could be inspired through imitation when he said, "Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing."

I've also noted that creativity dwindles with low energy. Try as I may, every winter gets worse and it's a struggle to find that creative spark or the time to execute the many ideas floating around in my head. I think I can place some blame on the snow our region receives. It takes twice as long to prepare to leave the house and even longer to get to your intended destination. Winter seems to be a giant "Groundhogs Day" where the days of the week are a constant repetition with little extra time to break the routine.

Inspiration is my answer to making it through the winter. I have found a great deal of inspiration in collage. I don't look at what used to be trash the same way anymore. That bottle, it may make a good base for a sculpture; that left over ribbon could probably work well with a feather. I recently read that collage artists were the first recyclers, I can see why. I am keeping it in moderation though. Realistically collecting only a small amount of items that I can picture putting into a project.

Inspiration can come from forgotten skill as well. Much of my art is on a computer these days, however the tactile experiences of working with collage are bringing back old memories and forgotten techniques. It is refreshing to work with what ends up happening to my projects, rather than controlling the final outcome with vectors and pixels.

Luckily I have rediscovered more manual art techniques, and found it theraputic and enjoyable. I have a lot to practice. Learning from my mistakes with paint, ink and glue all over again. I guess you can teach an old artist how to use their old tricks as if they were brand new.

* Collage by Janet Pahlau

What Winter Teaches us About Creativity

2010-01-07T21:52:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over, and winter has hit us full force. I've already had enough of the snow, but this year I'm really trying to make good use of the time indoors. I have many projects and techniques on my mind to explore in my own art, both digital and mixed media. Practice makes perfect, or at least it improves technique and opens us up to more ideas. Being inside in the winter is a time of contemplation too. I am reading more and considering the happenings in my life and the world around me with more detail.

I heard on a recent news show that in economic and political times such as the one we are in, many people become more reflective on the nature of issues around them and their own beliefs. At times like these people do not want to settle for the status quo. I think I saw proof of that on a discussion that may still be brewing on a Linkedin group's discussion board.

The question posted asked whether or not creativity could be taught. To me the answer that came to my mind immediately was "no it can't be taught, we all have it!" Many, many people responded and the answers were all over the place as to whether creativity was a teachable subject.

I believe that creativity itself cannot be taught, as many on the discussion board mentioned, we all have it within us. The steps to inspire creativity can be taught. How to cultivate or "unleash" your creativity can be taught. As a creative professional with experience in B2B, B2C, Non-profits, and the Visual Arts I've seen how creativity can be used in all steps of a successful business or organization. I've also seen how creativity can be lost and the absence of it can lead to an unsuccessful business or department. Those that may have lost it may need reminders or lessons in new techniques to inspire them. It's important to keep doing what ever it takes to keep our creative sides active, if that means taking lessons on how to unleash our creativity, I highly encourage it, because the sources will constantly be changing throughout our lives.

As a docent at the Akron Art Museum I see how the many creative styles of expressions found in different visual art genres (think photography, fiber arts, painting, assemblage, sculpture, etc.) inspire each visitor in their own unique way. There is not one method or one lesson plan that can teach a person about his or her inspiration. Visual cues one visitor finds in an exhibit can be completely uninteresting to the next visitor. Their interest is based on their own environment, culture and history. I encourage you to take a group tour to your own local museum, and see how the crowd interacts with the docent to get an idea of how broad this creative inspiration is. I'm only talking about visual inspirations, add your other senses and imagine how broad a range of creative ideas this will inspire. This is creativity that can be used in medicine, politics, and engineering to name a few. Proof to me that you cannot develop a lesson plan to teach creativity, but you certainly can teach ways to inspire.

So as I stay warm inside pondering what new forms of creativity I can unleash, I wonder how many more of you are doing the same? How important do you see creativity as a part of your everyday life, and how many feel they need some lessons or inspiration to unleash it?

* Photo by Janet Pahlau

The Magic of the Holiday Season

2009-12-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

The holiday season appeared so quickly, it seems like it was just Halloween. I'm sure that the commercialization of the season has helped to give this time of year it's frantic pace; but that is a topic for another time. I've struggled this year to get into the spirit of the season. Hard economic times weigh heavy on my mind and the burdens and worries of everyday life make it hard to recreate the joyful holidays I experienced as a child. Times when I'm sure my parents sheltered me from their own worries during the season. Reflecting on this I began to realize that maybe that is the true magic of the season, the selfless acts of our family and friends around us?

Of course I can find creativity in this magic and generosity, even in our current times. After a recent conversation with a friend, I was so impressed with how their family is handling their own tough times. With work hard to find and children that are excited and filled with holiday joy, these parents; with the help of Santa; have found ways to stretch their finances and create a Christmas for their kids that is filled with surprises. My own employment search has affected my holiday mood and has been filled with hope and disappointments. However, I have appreciated the gift of reconnecting with my creative side that was only partially being used. I truly believe that we all benefit from creativity in many aspects of life. Being involved or surrounded with creativity can shed a new light on even the most technical or mundane practices.

There is creative magic in many of the origins of this holiday season. Whether you believe in the festival of lights and it's symbolic rededication to Jewish survival and identity; or you believe in the miracle of Christ's birth, God's son born on earth to lead Christianity; both of these events are miracles that inspired faith and a dedication to creatively spreading the word of these beliefs. There are secular beliefs that are just as important to the holiday season in Santa and Kwanzaa. Santa's true origin is only known by him, however his modern day legend and current persona have been inspired by a combination of social, historical, and artistic influences creating the way Santa exists today. Kwanzaa's seven days of celebration is a soul-searching holiday celebrated by people of African descent. The spirit of the holidays is present in the daily remembrance of the seven principles inspiring devotion to family, culture, community and creativity. All these beliefs culminate in a month long season where soul searching and consideration of others is paramount to a fulfilling experience. Our inspiration from the world around us leads us to create a positive outlook on how to proceed into our next year.

I hope that whatever your beliefs and however you celebrate this season; you can draw upon your own experiences and the experiences of people around you; good or bad; and create a positive and fulfilling outlook to put into motion in the new year.

* Christmas design by Janet Pahlau for Sisters of Poor Clares Greeting Card.

The PDA

2009-11-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

How a classic painting such as Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" has changed with modern media.

The definition of kiss by Merriam Webster is "to touch with the lips especially as a mark of affection or greeting." While this is accurate, words cannot express the emotion behind a kiss. There are different "kisses." There’s the kiss between family members or friends, one of affection and admiration. The kiss between two lovers is quite a different thing, filled with passion and emotion that words cannot describe. The most passionate of kisses had at one time been reserved for private times between the lovers.

For me visual cues that artists enhance can more properly reveal the emotion behind a kiss. There are some very famous images of kisses. Even if you've never seen the movie "From here to Eternity," you have surely seen the famous seen of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr's passionate kiss on a beach. If you are familiar with the comic book style reproduction used by Roy Lichtenstein, you may be familiar with one of his benday dot patterned kiss paintings. There is the famous Time Life photo in Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt of a sailor kissing a nurse in 1945. But the most famous kiss image must be the painting "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt from around 1907-1908. Although there are many interpretations of the exact meaning behind Klimt's painting, every viewer can read the expression of passion and love from this visual representation.

But Klimt's kiss is from a much simpler time, a world with boundaries and romantic notions of love and the affections that came with it. Now PDA's or Public Displays of Affection are completely common. Klimt's passionate embrace may not even be given a second look by today's youngest generation. Society has rapidly changed in the past century. Mass media and the rapid advances in technology have had a serious affect on society and relationships. For children and adults alike, exposure to the intimate content, particularly involving relationships has made the most private interactions of relationships public. What was once unacceptable in public is now expected. As Kathleen McDonnell expresses in her article the "The hurried child," children are exposed to aspects of adult life that used to be hidden from them. In her book "Honey, We Lost the Kids" she explains that "the lines that used to distinguish between adulthood and childhood are growing blurred, and the evidence is all around us: six-year-old girls dressing up in navel-baring outfits. Eight-year-old boys playing computer games that simulate mass murder. Kids hearing frank sex-talk on primetime, and listening to music with raw language that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Childhood used to be a protected sphere, a walled garden where adult gatekeepers could control what and when children learned about the grown-up 'facts of life'. But the mass media have changed all that. Mass media has made it impossible for us to keep what the renowned social critic Neil Postman calls the 'cultural secrets' of adulthood from children." In 2008, an article in Time by Alice park explains how "sex on TV has come a long way in the past few years. Anyone who saw the first episode of 90210 — a pair of students engage in oral sex in the first episode of the new sequel to Beverly Hills 90210 — can attest to that." How much of an impact could a painting filled with hints of erotic passion such as Klimt's compete against such blatant portrayals of sex?

And this is not just in America; it is worldwide. An article by Callie Watson from Australia's newspaper the Advertiser discusses the debate over a school's hug ban and how media has accelerated children into more adult relationships. Watson quotes Steve Portlock President of the SA Primary Principals Association as saying "The social world that students live in, in terms of mobiles and MSN, means they have an incredible amount of contact and boyfriend and girlfriend relationships develop earlier because of the technology. The school's not going to change its need; they need to respond to it. For some of our parents, they still think about school when they were there. The world is different now." In Pakistan "the kiss" controversy erupted over an email that began circulating in response to a senior student witnessing two students kissing during the holy month of Ramazan. Her email was met with mixed emotions and commentary over Twitter from two different practices in cultural beliefs by the students at the Pakistani University; students that "reconverted" to Islam, sided with her, and others poked fun.

I enjoy the painting "The Kiss" because I appreciate art that can express what can't be said. I am still unaccustomed to the PDA's that are acceptable on TV and the internet. It's sad to think that a work of art that expresses so much emotion, is a tame and boring visual in a media world where nothing is sacred.

* Note: This blog was inspired by the painting the "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt, but will also be incorporated into my current assemblage collage, a modern interpretation of "The Kiss."

Canton, Cleveland, Akron - Our Past Present and Future

2009-10-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

A graphic designer and docent's venture into mixed media assemblage arts.

The Akron Area Arts Alliance, an organization that promotes the arts and culture in Akron and the surrounding areas received entries for its biennial Out of the Box Auction this weekend. This year the Auction will be preceded by an exhibition running October 29 through November 7 at Summit Art Space, the joint community gallery project of Summit County and the Akron Area Arts Alliance. There is a chance to bid on the boxes during the gallery exhibition. Bidding concludes on the night of the Arts Alive Awards. All boxes that were donated by artists are a chance to contribute to the local arts communities since the money raised by auctioning the boxes goes to AAAA and Summit Art Space. All of this, and a chance to be included in the membership of the organization, sounded like a great opportunity to not just observe the arts in the area, but to be active in the creation of local art. So, I took my layout skills in a new direction and ventured into mixed media assemblage arts, and found it rewarding in many ways.

My concept for the box immediately went to a shadow box type of collage or assemblage art. Inspired by La Wilson and her assemblages of "treasures" I came up with a concept that was a reflection of the lives of my husband and myself in N.E. Ohio, particularly as it relates to the decades and areas that we resided in, our current life in the area, and our plans to stay in the area. In creating this concept of our lives in Northeast Ohio, I hoped that any person bidding on the piece would also find a connection to their own lives in the area, through shared associations. I've represented the past, present and future in the area, calling attention to the present in the relief of the shadow box, and wrapping the past and future around in the background. However, there is no clear separation of past, present and future; just as in life each period blends into the other.

Some of the materials chosen also came fairly easily. The background of the piece is metal; representing the industrial businesses our area is known for, similar to Don Harvey's sculpture at the Akron Art Museum. I've also incorporated newspaper as a major part of the piece for two reasons. One because it was such a major part of my life from the years working at the paper and meeting my husband there, but also because I see the papers as such an important influence to our communities; I especially saw it as a prominent community resource and pride when I moved to the Akron area. The rest of the materials are a variety of found objects ranging from tires representing the rubber industries in Akron, a plastic blue beaded tower representing the polymer industry and Chihuly sculpture at the University of Akron, to a biodegradable seed starting pot representing the future of materials and organic farming.

An amazing thing happened as I began production on the piece. I found a great release in planning the positioning and gluing objects together; it became therapeutic. I also started to see the possibilities for other pieces in the future. What started as a one-time donation suddenly was turning into a way to combine all of my artistic interests. I especially had an idea for how to present the cemetery photos I've been wanting to take, but was unsure how to use my skills to present them in an appealing way to an audience (see my previous blog on cemetery art.) My next piece is already being planned.

I encourage you to come to the Out of the Box exhibit and view the piece for yourself to see the variety of materials and subjects covered. Some associations may come easily, some you may have your own meaning for, and some you may not know why they are there, but still they seem to fit. As I've learned as a docent I do believe as the artist I am telling you a story, however the real story is what the piece says to you. Please enjoy the exhibit and contribute to the arts through the auction or participation in our areas rich cultural opportunities.

Happy Birthday Pierre Bonnard

2009-10-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Influence of versatile painter and graphic designer is still seen today.

Graphic Design has come a long way from the early days of posters for the Moulin Rouge. For me these early posters are the basis for a majority of our design and advertising layouts. Many credit Piet Mondrian a fine artist for his introduction of the geometric grid to the art world. I find the posters of Pierre Bonnard and Toulouse-Lautrec to be one of the masters of the graphic layout. In a lithographic entitled "France-Champagne" you see an excellent use of graphic elements and type in a layout that leads your eyes from left to right and top to bottom across the design. Even the use of fonts, you notice only 3 different styles, creates an order of importance in the text and allows your eyes to properly separate the message. The colors, although monotone in this example, contain depth and contrast. The light and airy nature of the woman's skin and the bubbles filling up the corner is striking against the opaque dress and background color.

As a member of the Nabis art movement, Bonnard's profession in the graphic arts was fitting. The Nabis believed that art should not be just for the affluent attending the salons. The importance was the end product and the goal was to integrate art with daily life. Bonnard's replications of posters as lithographic prints, allowed his work to be spread around integrated into fellow Parisian's daily strolls and enjoyed by many.

But, I can't stop at his posters alone. One of the most famous traits of Bonnard's work is his use of color. With a very loose impressionistic brush stroke, Bonnard has combined the bright colors of the post-impressionists with the forms of the impressionists. His subject matter ranges from popular table settings and nudes to interior and exterior domestic scenes. I particularly like his points of views, and how the scene is framed either within a window or door, or by using these as focal points to draw your eye into the scene.

An artist from Columbus, Ohio, Judith Vierow sites Bonnard as one of her influences. I discovered her art this summer at the Akron Art Expo. I was thrilled to find an artist that drew inspiration from Pierre Bonnard. Vierow states her paintings are scenes of domesticity gone slightly awry...a merging of folk art with a love of Bonnard tabletops. I see the connection in Ms. Vierow's colors, domestic scenes and the use of a door or window an important focal point in her layout.

Local Photography goes green

2009-09-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

When you hear that something has gone green, you most likely associate it with a safer alternative to the environment. Digital photography, unlike traditional photography with its harmful chemicals, is a good choice for photographers concerned with the environment. So professional and amateur photographers alike can feel confident they are demonstrating the beauty of the environment around them.

The environment has been a subject for photographers for decades. One of the first to become famous and successful at this was Ansel Adams. In the 1930s Adams became an active member of the Sierra Club, promoting and encouraging the conservation and beauty of Yosemite National Park with his broad and inviting images of the landscapes of the west. What Ansel Adams was able to accomplish with his work and dedication to the environmental movement, can still be seen today as photographers relay the beauty and importance of the landscapes around them.

Right here in Akron, Ohio we have many opportunities to take photo treks into nature’s beauty. Summit Metro Parks encompasses 6,900 acres of land for residents to enjoy and we're also lucky to have the 33,000 acres of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park as our neighbor. One local photographer Trish DePamphilis has taken to green photographs from our local parks for her subjects. DePamphilis's photos on various travels have demonstrated some of the same grand landscape compositions as can be seen in Adam's photos. However focusing on the microcosms of the parks around the Cuyahoga River, she's shifted the viewer’s eye from the grand landscape to the beauty in the color of green.

Viewing her photos I am amazed at the variations of the color green and textures in patches of moss. Now besides admiring the scenes of winding creeks and colorful blossoms, I am drawn to the green textural carpet that is lying at my feet. While enjoying a walk in the park I may not have thought to focus on the growth on a fallen tree, but that is the power of environmental photography, showing the viewer a perspective they may have neglected to appreciate.

* Photo from the series Moss Love Affair by Trish DePamphilis

Akron's Innovative Chihuly Rock Candy Sculpture

2009-08-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

The city of Akron is known globally for its innovation. During the height of Industrial rubber production Akron was the home to headquarters for the B.F. Goodrich Company, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Akron has also shown innovation in the art world. One look at the convergence of old and new architecture at the Akron Art Museum will show that Akron's art patrons can appreciate innovation.

On the campus of the University of Akron, you'll find a sparkling blue polymer sculpture bringing innovation to public art. The sculpture is by famed glass artist Dale Chihuly. Highlighted by the reflective Goodyear Polymer Center, Chihuly's sculpture attracts the attention of many visitors. You're almost certain to see someone gazing up at the blue "rock candy," as I've heard it referred to on more than one occasion. The idea for the sculpture was a collaboration that symbolized the university's polymer pioneering history as well as a chance for Chihuly to further explore the use of polymers in his work with the help of the university's experts on the subject.

Chihuly is best known for his glass works, in both installations and individual pieces. My first experience with his work was not first hand, rather on a television show highlighting the luxurious hotels of Las Vegas. The ceiling of the Bellagio is covered with beautiful Chihuly glass in a spectrum of colors. The first Chihuly piece I saw in person was on the ceiling of the Cincinnati Art Museum lobby. Swirling drips of translucent blue glass point down at visitors in an elaborate chandelier. I love any kind of blue glass; especially the way light shines through it. So, needless to say, I've been a fan of the artist ever since and am quite proud to have our very own work of public art from the glass master.

Chihuly began to use polymers or resins in his work in 2000. He started using Polyvitro – the name coined by the artist to describe his polymers – as a way to address large scale, outdoor, public art installations. This material weighs less, allowing easier and safer installation outdoors, but can also withstand the elements better than the artist's other preferred materials glass, water, and ice could. One can find other examples of Chihuly's Polyvitro work at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida, the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, and the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio; to name a few.

I look forward to further development by Chihuly in the Polyvitro arena, and his influence on future artists and the creative materials they may be inspired to use. My hope is for further collaborations with art and science. Supporting the fact that creativity is a part of all we do and by inspiring it we will continue to make advances in all fields of study. It would be great to see more corporations supporting this process sponsoring the exploration of new art materials with funding to universities and art organizations. Plus, I can't wait for the translucent "key-lime pie" piece of art work to find it's way to Akron's Lock 3 park!

* Photo by Janet Pahlau

Cemetery Art

2009-08-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

Many people may not think of a trip to the cemetery as a place to find art. But if you are a taphophile, that may be exactly why you're there. The word taphophile comes from the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something." These people do not have to be depressed or morbid to find cemeteries a resource for art. Some people, such as myself, find them to be a peaceful place filled with interesting stories. Maybe it was my lessons practicing driving with my grandfather in the local cemetery that made them a comfortable place, but I digress...

Of course I would not be going on an art trip to a cemetery at night; I've seen too many movies not to fear the human element that could be lurking in the shadows. But I've seen cemetery photos, both day and night with incredible contrasts in light and texture, and find both peace and mystery in these images. Daytime brings plenty of beautiful and unexpected sites. One can find interesting examples of architecture and sculpture in the tombstones and mausoleums of a cemetery. Obelisks, crosses and monuments to fallen soldiers are plentiful in most cemeteries. Common also are angels and women weeping and appealing to the heavens in mourning. Often these iconic works are so full of emotion you can't help but gaze at them, almost waiting for them to move. Fans of ancient architecture may find perfect examples of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, are closer in their local cemetery than booking a flight to ancient Rome.

Black and white photography is a favorite of mine in cemetery art. This format really calls out the contrast of the scene. Smooth stone textures set next to the rough natural bark of trees or organic patches of grass. The forms in the scene are accentuated in these black and white photos, often exposing the sculptural details you may not notice in color. Lighting can take on an almost ethereal effect in a black and white cemetery photo, as shadows and sunlight can be manipulated to create a mood for the viewer. Even the weathering of the stone is more dynamic when viewed in black and white.

You may find the results of an artist's trip to a cemetery on display in a gallery, a local art show, or even at a library, as one local library recently had on exhibit. Wherever you find cemetery art, I encourage you to view it. Maybe the next time you pass a cemetery consider stopping to see what artistic examples you may find.

* Photo by Janet Pahlau