Departika Blog

Her Morning Elegance

2009-06-24T20:33:00-06:00

Following the link to one of the Illustration sites could not resist this video. It opened a whole new window into the musical world of Oren Lavie. “Oren Lavie is a songwriter of curly brown hair, whisperish voice, green eyes and suspiciously cold feet. He was born in 1976, two minutes behind schedule, and has been trying to catch up ever since” that’s how the artist describes himself on his myspace page http://www.myspace.com/orenlavie.

Picturing Consuption

2009-06-22T22:10:00-06:00

Every day from the moment we wake up we are bombarded by numbers. Starting from a simple alarm clock, the speed limit sign on our way to work, the numbers we hear on the radio. All of them land somewhere in our mind, rarely creating a memorable pictorial impression. Some things we are used to seeing in big quantities: leaves on the tree, blades of grass, gravel, even cars. But what about all those statistics? Every day from the moment we wake up we are bombarded by numbers. Starting from a simple alarm clock, the speed limit sign on our way to work, the numbers we hear on the radio. All of them land somewhere in our mind, rarely creating a memorable pictorial impression. Some things we are used to seeing in big quantities: leaves on the tree, blades of grass, gravel, even cars. But what about all those statistics? It seems that graphics, pie charts and random numbers heard and seen in the mass media leave us with fruitless compares to be done in our own minds. That is the main motivation behind the work of Chris Jordan. He takes massive statistics and turns them into pictures of complexity, brought down to a simple unit, something we can relate to, or use in everyday life. Just by looking at some of his images, one becomes aware of wasteful self-existence. His series and collections show us where the answer to “I wonder where this will end up at?” lays. Building Blocks, 2007. Depicts nine million wooden ABC blocks, equal to the number of American children with no health insurance coverage in 2007: With figures drawn for scale reference: Partial zoom: Detail at actual size: Plastic Bags, 2007 Depicts 60,000 plastic bags, the number used in the US every five seconds. Partial zoom: Detail at actual size: Skull With Cigarette, 2007 [based on a painting by Van Gogh] Depicts 200,000 packs of cigarettes, equal to the number of Americans who die from cigarette smoking every six months: Partial zoom: Zoomed closer: Detail at actual print size: You can find more information and work of Chris Jordan at http://www.chrisjordan.com/

Sleeveface.com: A Fabulous Time Waster

2009-03-27T14:39:01-06:00

If you haven’t seen sleeveface.com, please drain the clock for a bit and check it out here. Sleeveface is one or more persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeve(s) causing an illusion. If you haven’t seen sleeveface.com, please drain the clock for a bit and check it out here. Sleeveface is one or more persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeve(s) causing an illusion.

Tika Content Management System

2009-03-02T19:43:01-06:00

In partnership with Monk Development we have added our new content management system to our services. We call it Tika and it is a full featured solution that was designed and built with the creative and functional flexibility to meet your individual needs. It provides a collection of tools baked right in that allow you to manage a variety of business and site requirements. Learn more… In partnership with Monk Development we have added our new content management system to our services. We call it Tika and it is a full featured solution that was designed and built with the creative and functional flexibility to meet your individual needs. It provides a collection of tools baked right in that allow you to manage a variety of business and site requirements. Learn more below. Tika for your business. Tika for your Church or Ministry

Googling Before the Existence of Google

2009-01-30T22:17:00-06:00

Do you love to have practical information available at your fingertips, but can’t afford the lofty price of an iphone or Blackberry? I found the solution! And it only costs $4.23. (I got mine for free.) It’s the Fingertip Factfinder—portable and pocket sized—take it everywhere with you. I have caught myself saying, “What did we do before the internet, when we want a quick list of 440 frequently misspelled words?” I don’t have to wonder anymore. This is what the curious-minded person used before the existence of Google. Webster’s Fingertip Factfinder has a chapter on “Effective Letter Writing”. Some of the other interesting chapters in this little book are “Improving Your Spelling”, “Post Office Information”, “Punctuation Rules”, and “Rules of Capitalization”. I have to say that I absolutely love the iphone. It is practical, yet fun, and is revolutionizing the way we use web applications. But, in my opinion, there is something delightful about this book that is almost as enjoyable as an iphone. Do you love to have practical information available at your fingertips, but can’t afford the lofty price of an iphone or Blackberry? I found the solution! And it only costs $4.23. (I got mine for free.) It’s the Fingertip Factfinder—portable and pocket sized—take it everywhere with you. I have caught myself saying, “What did we do before the internet, when we want a quick list of 440 frequently misspelled words?” I don’t have to wonder anymore. This is what the curious-minded person used before the existence of Google. Webster’s Fingertip Factfinder has a chapter on “Effective Letter Writing”. Some of the other interesting chapters in this little book are “Improving Your Spelling”, “Post Office Information”, “Punctuation Rules”, and “Rules of Capitalization”. I have to say that I absolutely love the iphone. It is practical, yet fun, and is revolutionizing the way we use web applications. But, in my opinion, there is something delightful about this book that is almost as enjoyable as an iphone. How did you Google before Google?

New Photoshop Brush Sets at Mediaslap.com

2009-01-28T16:38:01-06:00

We just added three new brush sets at Mediaslap.com which were provided by Jonas Schatz and Kyle Davis. The themes include a variety of seasonal trees and a collection of messy creepy creatures to embellish your next project. Check them out… We just added three new brush sets at Mediaslap.com which were provided by Jonas Schatz and Kyle Davis. The themes include a variety of seasonal trees and a collection of messy creepy creatures to embellish your next project. Check them out below. Creepy Creatures Photoshop Brush Set. Spring and Summer Tree Photoshop Brush Set. Fall and Winter Tree Photoshop Brush Set.

What do you want to say to the new administration?

2009-01-19T15:56:00-06:00

With the Inauguration less than a day away, a repost of this video seemed timely. Enjoy. What do you want to say to the new administration? from Departika on Vimeo. In our community, like so many other cities, we have an Art Walk the first Friday of every month. Galleries and shops open up their doors for thousands of people to peruse their walls and displays. Last Friday on November 7th, in celebration of the long-awaited election, we called out to the new President elect. We asked the people in our community to say something, say anything to the future President of the United States, Barack Obama. Our gallery wall was blank except for the words, “Hey Mr. President Elect...Do better this time around. We certainly need change.” We let the people say the rest by writing their statements with the markers we hung from the wall. Sit back and watch how the night played out. With the Inauguration less than a day away, a repost of this video seemed timely. Enjoy. What do you want to say to the new administration? from Departika on Vimeo. In our community, like so many other cities, we have an Art Walk the first Friday of every month. Galleries and shops open up their doors for thousands of people to peruse their walls and displays. Last Friday on November 7th, in celebration of the long-awaited election, we called out to the new President elect. We asked the people in our community to say something, say anything to the future President of the United States, Barack Obama. Our gallery wall was blank except for the words, “Hey Mr. President Elect...Do better this time around. We certainly need change.” We let the people say the rest by writing their statements with the markers we hung from the wall. Sit back and watch how the night played out.

History of the Internet

2009-01-14T15:53:00-06:00

History of the Internet briefly highlights the technical inventions throughout the Internet’s history, which have made “the series of tubes and wires” what it is today. The clean illustrations and voice-over have the tone of a retro science film colliding with a sterilized future. It is an interesting project and you can find more at blog.picol.org. History of the Internet briefly highlights the technical inventions throughout the Internet’s history, which have made “the series of tubes and wires” what it is today. The clean illustrations and voice-over have the tone of a retro science film colliding with a sterilized future. It is an interesting project and you can find more at blog.picol.org.

Innocent Invaders Onesies and Decals

2009-01-08T17:26:01-06:00

In celebration of four Departikans having babies last year, we decided to put our Innocent Invader Photoshop brushes we created for Smashing Magazine on Onesies. Surely you know some breeders who would love this as a unique gift. We also used the brushes to make a few vinyl wall decals so adults can enjoy them too. Check them out at our Etsy store. In celebration of four Departikans having babies last year, we decided to put our Innocent Invader Photoshop brushes we created for Smashing Magazine on Onesies. Surely you know some breeders who would love this as a unique gift. We also used the brushes to make a few vinyl wall decals so adults can enjoy them too. Check them out at our Etsy store.

Free Desktop Wallpapers at Mediaslap

2008-12-30T18:19:01-06:00

Dan created a selection of free desktop wallpapers from a few of our popular Mediaslap Photoshop brush sets. Each download includes a variety of screen resolutions from 1920 x 1200 down to an iPhone version. Download them for free at Medislap.com and freshen up your desktop in the new year. Dan created a selection of free desktop wallpapers from a few of our popular Mediaslap Photoshop brush sets. Each download includes a variety of screen resolutions from 1920 x 1200 down to an iPhone version. Download them for free at Medislap.com and freshen up your desktop in the new year.