Film Review: "Helvetica"

I had been made aware of the wonder of the Helvetica font from a graphic designer friend years ago.  His feelings about this simple and versatile font ranged from that of reverence to an all out fetish.  I was told of the symmetry, versatility, and beauty of the font.  As time when on I found a pattern with all my graphic design friends.... whenever asked about fonts they talked about Helvetica like it was some sort of cult.  They talked about the font like it was more of something you believe in, instead of just a typeface.  As a fellow designer I understand the power of print, but didn't hold Helvetica in the same elevated status.... I just didn't get it.  What do I know.  

Then came, "Helvetica", the documentary film by Gary Hustwit.  The film sheds some light on the development of one of the most successful and prolific fonts of the last 50 years.  The film artfully points out how this simple typeface can be the voice of everything from street signs to The Gap and virtually everything descriptive and stylish in between.  Once you are tuned into this fact you feel like you just can't escape from the ever-reaching grasp of Helvetica.  This is a great film for anyone interested in the power of design to shape our graphic world.  And, no, to rent the DVD do you not have to sign up for some graphic design cult or drink any font-cult koolaid. 

*Check out some film stills showing off how the font is everywhere at the right.

http://www.helveticafilm.com/

Mercury Fountain

I was recently browsing YouTube to see if I could find any videos of artist, Alexander Calder, in action in his studio. What I found was something different entirely. Here is a video of a founatain Calder made for use with Mercury instead of water. It is housed at the Fundacio Joan Miro museum in Barcelona. Yet another reason to visit Spain!   

PS - Mercury is liquid at room temperature because of the pronounced relativistic effects on the outer shell electrons. Relativity at work... awesome. 

Backyard Astrophotography... in the City!

This is my first post! Thanks for letting me post, G! It seems like the only thing you can see in the night sky over Boston is the moon, but it was amazing this winter. There were numerous nights when the moon, Jupiter and Venus were in close conjunction right at dusk. On some of those nights, I broke out my telescope and digital camera, started snapping pictures and caught some pretty cool shots of different phases. Here are some high-resolution shots for your viewing pleasure!

Craft Boston- 2009

"A Show of Contemporary Art, Craft & Design"

March 27-29, 2009

Seaport World Trade Center

200 Seaport Blvd., Boston

Presented by the Society of Arts and Crafts

http://www.craftboston.org/

Sounds like a fun way to "stimulate the economy"!

*Image from the craftboston website

Rubber Soul

Check out this great bag made from recycled tires. It reminds me of a oiled leather motorcycle saddle bag... now with added environmental consciousness!

LINK

Au Pied de Cochon: Montreal

When my husband, Brad, and I went to Montreal last summer one of the top items on our agenda was a pilgrimage to the renowned restaurant, Au Pied de Cochon. The chef/owner, Martin Picard, has nearly single-handedly elevated traditional Quebecois food to an art form. When we arrived in the city we stopped by the restaurant to try to make reservations for some point that week. We soon found out that it was only shear luck that we were able to get a table there at all without reservations far in advance. So take my advice...book ahead! The 3-hour-meal proved to be transcendent. The decor was warm, spare and modern...my kind of place. The open kitchen reveals an army of chic chefs that would seem to be as at home at a indie rock show. I was very impressed, and can't wait for our next trip. Au Pied has recently published a new soft cover version of their "Album" (currently on its way to our desk...will review very soon), which is more like a monograph than a cookbook. Check out what Anthony Bourbain has to say about APD in this clip from "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. Enjoy...try not to drool on your keyboards.

Anatomy of the Typeface

I came across this glossary of common typeface terminology. Now you too can be on the inside of all those graphic design jokes about kerning.

http://www.fontshop.com/support/glossary.php