Recently in SPDWest Category

SPD West: Unsung Heroes 4 "With Love, LA"

If you're hitting the Wednesday afternoon wall hard, we've got a dose of inspiration to get you sitting up a little straighter and back to work a little harder: five inspiring videos that kicked-off the presentations from our last Speakeasy West, Unsung Heroes 4. Ten amazing talents talked creativity and storytelling from a range of vantage points and experiences, inspiring all the Los Angelenos in attendance. So give yourself ten minutes of zen and follow us after the jump for your little dose of creative adrenaline this afternoon....

(Illustration above, "Pipe" by John Van Hamersveld.)
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SPD West: Unsung Heroes 4 "I Love Talking to Photographers About..."

"I love talking to photographers about other photographers they're into."

That's Heidi Volpe talking above, once again in an interview with the irreplaceable Rob Haggart of APhotoEditor, and Heidi is our final presenter to introduce to you here for tonight's Unsung Heroes 4 at Smashbox Studios in West Hollywood. Hedi's been the art director and photo editor for magazines when they are at some of their most award-winning, including The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Outside, Men's Health, GQ... the list goes on and on. Her rolodex is huge, and she's chosen just one artist to present tonight as her Unsung Hero. So you need to come with us after the jump for information on when to come and to save some money on your ticket!
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SPD West: Unsung Heroes 4 "That's Why I'm So Happy."

Jeff Divine is a photographer, photo editor, and author who's been documenting the art of the surf world since before it was his career; in this interview he says he's been "shooting since '66..." and "I laid it down in the mid '70s. I was like, "All I'm going to be, because I'm good at it, is a surf photographer. That's it. I'm Jeff Divine, surf photographer. I'm not a portrait, bikini model photographer guy." I'm not going to strive to be something that I'm not. That's why I'm so happy." He's been photo editor at Surfer Magazine (and is still a contributor), and is now photo editor for The Surfer's Journal, as well as the author of "Surfing Photographs from the 70s" and "Surfing Photographs from the 80s."

His work for The Surfer's Journal might include an 18-page photo-essay on an outrigger canoe race in Bora Bora, or a 12-page story on artist and surfer Julian Schnabel--as well as his own photography. Join us at Smashbox Thursday night to hear a little about his own amazing career and even more from his pick as one of the West Coast's Unsung Heroes... all info after the jump.
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SPD West: Unsung Heroes 4 "The Journey Is a Medium In Itself."

Rebeca Mendez is a designer and artist who works in film, video, photography and installations, focusing on her travels to the unfamiliar and extreme where she explores the way cultures express themselves through the style of nature they produce, be it Iceland, Patagonia, Svalbard archipelago in the high arctic, or the Sahara. Just one of her recent projects (and subject of her TEDx talk), "Circumpolar," would be an impressive effort for any artist; for Rebeca, it's just one of many art and design projects she works on simultaneously (see her artwork for the "Alphabet, Reconsidered" project). Join us Thursday night at Smashbox West Hollywood to meet this electrifying artist and her pick for one of the West Coast's Unsung Heroes. All info after the jump...
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SPD West: Unsung Heroes 4 "Making Art About Art"

Some people theorize that West Coast design is renegade, different and challenging, breaking with tradition, because the West Coast itself has a tendency to shift and shake, a constant reminder that nothing's permanent. We're don't know if that's true, but we do know we've got a tremendous lineup at Smashbox West Hollywood tomorrow night to talk about it, especially our keynote presentation: a discussion between West Coast heroes Lawrence Azerrad and John Van Hamersveld, talking assignments, typography, design, illustration and the power of art to communicate a bigger, permanent message, an emotional connection for the audience, reader or user. Now that we know is true.

We've got a little tease for you of what to expect from Lawrence after the jump, as well as a chance to snag some of the remaining tickets. You don't want to miss the cocktails, the networking, or the inspriation you'll get from us Thursday night.... … MORE

SPD West: Unsung Heroes 4 "It's an art form to actually be able to do this."

That's the most important thing. That's truly the art form of what this is. The art form of being a commercial photographer is basically solving the problem creatively, putting your stamp on it somehow that people do know it's you, and then having the client be happy at the end of day. That's the art form. People forget that; that it's an art form to actually be able to do this.

That's from one of our amazing presenters Thursday night at Smashbox West Hollywood, photographer and director Frank W Ockenfels 3. Read the full interview with Frank by A Photo Editor's Rob Haggart here, and get all the information (and your tickets!) to Unsung Heroes 4 after the jump so you'll be there to see who Frank's Unsung Hero is... … MORE

Speakeasy West: Love for Illustration's Unsung Heroes

Just a few weeks back we met up with our West Coast folks for a night of creative inspiration, fantastic Mexican food and, of course, a few cocktails. Thanks to the brilliant coordination of Charlie Hess, Carol Leflufy and Lisa Thackaberry and our friends at Smashbox West Hollywood, we welcomed David Armario, Lou Beach, Jim Heimann, Brian Rea and InJu Sturgeon and their choices for the Unsung Heroes of Illustration working in the LA area. Meet these Unsung Heroes, see pictures from our the night and videos of the heroes' work after the jump...

artwork above: Brent Couchman
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Speakeasy West: Unsung Heroes of Illustration

Jim Heimann Introduces...

Tonight's the night at Smashbox: we're meeting a host of great unsung illustration talent, introduced by some of the great West Coast creatives who've picked them out as favorites. One of our presenters? Jim Heimann, Taschen's Executive Editor (or, as Steven Heller called him "a cultural archaeologist") and professor in Art Center's Illustration Department. You'll have to be there tonight (RSVP now! there aren't many tickets left) to meet the talent Jim's chosen as one of the unsung heroes of illustration, but until then, inspire yourself while you wait for the cocktails to start, and check out some of the books Jim's edited for Taschen (maybe to get you in the mood Los Angeles, Portrait of a City or Future Perfect (Icons Series) or LeRoy Grannis: Surf Photography or All American Ads of the 20's) -- and RSVP after the jump for great creative sparks, good cocktails and Mexican... … MORE

Speakeasy West: Unsung Heroes of Illustration

Lou Beach Introduces...

Illustrations. Collages. Album covers. Stories. Lou Beach just about does it all, and at Thursday evening's SPD Speakeasy in LA at Smasbox West Hollywood, he's adding one more thing to his to-do list: introducing us to one of the Unsung Heroes of Illustration. To meet his unsung hero, and Lou? You'll have to be there (so RSVP now!). But we thought the least we could do was to give you look into Lou's world before you meet him in person. Get some inspiration and check out his illustration on his site here, or maybe his short stories here, or his book Cut It Out, and RSVP after the jump for great Mexican food, drinks and even more inspiration Thursday night -- not to mention, the chance to meet Lou's inspiring illustrator... … MORE

Speakeasy West: Unsung Heroes of Illustration

InJu Sturgeon Introduces...

The story goes that in 1990, InJu Sturgeon, then the UCLA Extension Creative Director, asked Paul Rand to design the cover of the upcoming winter quarter catalog -- and after some persuasion, he did. Their collaboration started a collection of assignments that included artists from Bradbury Thompson, Paula Scher, Milton Glaser, Saul Bass, John Maeda and so many more. At Thursday evening's SPD Speakeasy in LA at Smasbox West Hollywood, InJu is just one of our West Coast creatives who will be introducing some of the Unsung Heroes of Illustration. To meet their picks? You'll have to be there (so RSVP now!). But we thought the least we could do was to give you a glimpse of some eye candy while you wait for Thursday night to get here. Check out even more of InJu's amazing collaborations from the UCLA Master Graphic Designer series here, and RSVP for Thursday night after the jump to meet InJu's inspiring illustrator... … MORE