Please Happy

Went to a “salon” downtown at FarmLab today. Six people presented six minute slideshows on ideas ranging from macro/micro perspectives on art to the changing food culture (urban farming, neighboring countries’ and corporate influence) in Mongolia. We ate homemade lunch and sat family style, on couches and chairs watching the presenters.

Then, I found this in the space behind the space.

Found this in my inbox this morning. A new banner. From Jackson Hole-based designer (and dancer extraordinaire) Rachel Stevens.

I’m moved by the art: the banner DOES describe exactly how I feel in this crazy city – fragile, hopeful, inspired, nature-starved, breaking apart and putting myself back together again. I’m moved by the process: how amazing for Rachel to take ideas and turn them into a tangible piece of art. I’m moved by the gesture: I feel loved, listened to, thought about. Which is really all I need.

Thank you, Rach! I absolutely love it!

The exchange leading up to Rachel’s creation:

From Rach:

i will definitely make you a pleasehappy banner… i’ve tried before, but the inspiration just never comes… can you give me any leads?  anything you’ve been really thinking about?  anything you’d like in there?

From Me:

In class right now. Thinking about spinning and creating and dancing and finding nature and spreading love and singing and finding green and beauty. All in the city. Through this crazy cit of highways and buildings. Could that be a banner?

800 x 200.

Thanks! Now, back to class!

Posted some old Please Happy banners today. The link for the page is above the current banner. Banner Gallery.

Tried to think of a more creative name. Asked for help. Here’s what we came up with:

Bannery, Banner Boxes, Bannerwhistle (makes no sense, but sounds cool), Banner Backlog, Banners Immortal, Banners 4-eva.

Visited Garrison’s Cyclery today, with my latte in one hand and clipless pedals in the other. I want to ride a bike, I told the desk guy. They don’t rent them there, but he called a competitor down the road who does. Impressive.

Turns out, the desk guy is Rob Garrison, as in, The Owner. Just opened the shop in February. Bold move during this economy in the small town of Centreville (near Wilmington, DE and Chadds Ford, PA). Said it’s going well.

Handed me a business card and told me to enjoy my rides while I’m in town.

Logo and contact info on one side, “Ditch The Keys” and business hours on the flip side. Love it. Inadvertent environmentalist.

Of course, not all cyclists are green. And bike commuters have many reasons for choosing two wheels instead of four. They save travel time (especially if car traffic sucks), get/stay fit, save money … and help reduce their carbon footprint.

As I got back in my car, still holding my latte and pedals, I thought about the shop. That a new, mainstream business printed cards that promote alternative transportation (yes, it’s the transportation they’re selling, but still) left quite an impression. I turned on the car, pulling past the shop to headed downtown. Next time, I decided, I’ll bike.

Garrison’s Cyclery: open every day but Monday. Ditch the Keys.

What photo doesn’t look better with a shark fin?

Does that dress come with the fin? I’ll buy it!

Boh-ring!

This came in from Kirk in Maine (I hear the sharks there are ferocious) in response to an earlier PH post. So, either this chick already had her feet chomped by the shark and is modeling despite the incident (Tyra says that part of being a Top Model is dealing with uncomfortable circumstances). Or, the JAWS music just got cued and she’s toast.

I had hoped she was secretly a mermaid (that’s why we can’t see her feet), but as Kirk pointed out, she’s just not piscine enough. Too breakable, really. She would never survive Under the Sea.

Thanks, Kirk! I’d recommend starting a business that Photoshops shark fins into everything – family portraits, stop signs, the Mona Lisa.

It’d be a sweet hacking project….

Does this cover shot look weird to anyone else? (Found this one in the P.O. box yesterday. Ripped off the cover, recycled the contents.)

I mean, I get the whole show a little leg thing, and I could even suspend my disbelief about walking on water. But, I find it disconcerting that the model is cut off at the feet. I wish she was standing on the water, feet showing, or cut off above the knee with her dress pulled up, wading.

One of the first rules of photography I learned was never cut off the feet (and that most people always do just that, especially in vacation shots).

The leg-to-leg wide triangle reflection weirds me out too.

Slender stump meeting stump. Not sexy.