A quote they have chosen from the Slow Food Manifesto as their first blog post pretty much sums up what the Matisse Aesthetic is about:

—mgmt

Also graduating are Jed and Shauna, co-founders of Portland-based SoupCycle.

“Think delicious, warm, buttery saffron risotto soup personally delivered by bicycle to your front door. SoupCycle delivers locally-sourced, freshly made soups to homes and offices.”

It has been my privilege to have gotten to work with them on a logo for their new company:

Good luck Jed and Shauna!

In preparation for the Art Monastery Project’s Boston fundraiser (this Thursday, 6-9pm at the Boston Conservatory Theater), I made a brochure for the Santa Brigida, the Art Monastery’s Guest Center for Creativity Learning.  Here’s the inside:

I was there a couple weeks ago, and I can vouch that the place is pretty amazing.  

Nestled deep in the olive groves outside the picturesque mediæval hilltown of Calvi dell’Umbria, set between the valley of the ancient Tiber and forestclad Mt. San Pancrazio, the Santa Brigida invites you to relax and grow. 

The exquisitely restored buildings are furnished with a blend of artfully chosen antiques and modern amenities to provide a serene haven out of time. You can soak in the sun by the “infinity pool” whose horizon blends into an expanse of rolling hills, dotted with distant ruins and the farmhouses of the local artisanal producers.

You can unwind on its stone terrace over a bottle of local vino after returning from a day exploring Italy’s cultural heritage. Calvi is centrally located amidst the mediæval treasures of Orvieto, Spoleto, and Assisi, and the breathtaking volcanic lakes of Bolsena and Trasimeno. You are also less than an hour away from the unforgettable monuments, churches, and museums of Rome, the Eternal City.

The Santa Brigida will host workshops and master classes to fuel your passion for a range of subjects in art and the art of living. The small class sizes ensure attention to your personal inspiration and learning. Programs will include:

• Courses to more deeply experience Italian culture: from Italian cooking and wine tasting to architecture and art history;
• Workshops to amplify creativity and harmonize body and mind:from yoga and dance to writing and theatre;
• Master classes inspired by Italian traditions:from printmaking and painting to Gregorian chant and other music genres.

For information on upcoming workshops and to book visits to the SantaBrigida please visit:www.cartolinatours.com/pages/santabrigida.htm

Livingston snapped a polaroid every day for 18 years (=nearly 7000 polaroids), from 1979 to 1997.  It’s a captivating story, I think, because his daily practice was so enduring, and seems to have been meaningful primarily to him and his friends and family (only secondarily intended for the outside world, which is only now really picking up on it).

Photo of the Day, by Jamie Livingston (Not currently working Pretty slow; seems to be overloaded with traffic)

Livingston’s story, as discovered by Mental Floss

Friends of Livingston, blogging

“It’s not about making money,” Ms. Washington said. “We’re selling so that people in our neighborhood have good quality. There’s no Whole Foods in my neighborhood.

So many people in Seattle are doing similarly amazing things to make good food more available.  I’m beginning to realize how many good projects I come across from day to day, and how much of my own work (whether design work or manual labor) is for groups who are focused on issues around local, organic, fair trade, or direct trade food.

Hence, to highlight the creative work people are doing to design better food systems, as well as to house a topical portfolio of my own design (graphic, web, or written) I announce the creation of the Food System Design category on this blog.

Posts with Graphic, Web and Silkscreen Design:

• Blog/logo for Full Circle Farm
• Website/identity for the Northwest Chocolate Festival
• T-shirts printed for Seattle Urban Farm Company
• Website/logo for Cascadian Edible Landscapes
• Illustrated theme for Genevieve Catering

Other Food System Design Posts:

• (Local) Us vs. (Fair Trade) Them?
• Pay to farm
• The Problem with “the 100-mile Diet”
• Connecting Buyers and Sellers Locally = Protectionism?
• Local Food Flourishes in Seattle

Related Links:

• Stuff White People Like (and here)