GLOBAL TOP DOG

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GLOBAL TOP DOG

Our Neighbors on the Herengracht

Passed by this the other day with Paola.
Dutch fashion designers, Viktor&Rolf:
V&R: Herengracht 446
Pindakaas: Herengracht 320

Spanish Lunch in Holland.

Our classmates from Spain - Luna, Pancho, and Borja - had us all over for "spanish lunch" this past Saturday. It was a long, delicious affair - with a lot of sangria - and a long siesta afterwards. I wish I knew the spanish names for the dishes we ate, but I'll bastardize them and list them here. Sun dried tomato chicken, garbonzo bean salad with garlic aiouli, potatoes and onion casserole, a true spanish tortilla, a homemade tomato/pepper sauce, sangria, and a sweet chees/honey/walnut dish for dessert.

Thanks to them for the home-cooked meal.

On Art.

Came across an article this morning that kinda' falls in line with some work we've been doing in one of our classes. It's an opinion piece from this guy, Paul Wallis of Digital Journal. He talks about contemporary art and, seeing as we've recently been exploring some aspects of art, namely kitsch, thought it was interesting.

He reminds us that contemporary art is a business:

Contemporary art, whether anyone likes it or not, is an industry. It has all the howling spiritual sincerity of a fast food chain. Even the fountains of verbal futility in the art world are essentially marketing exercises.

In one of our classes, we are kind of exploring the idea of 'art' and what defines it exactly. This past week we had to explore kitsch art and determine how we personally feel about it and then determine whether it has any value/need in society today.

If we define "art" as the products of humans creativity, and creativity as the use of our imagination, and imagination as something that is perceived and unbounded, then how can art be categorized in the first place? It seems a bit backwards for artists and people to cast art as being in "poor taste." Everything in life is subjective - it is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, art especially carries this essence. The age-old debate of modern art: some see modern art as beautiful, others do not. So how do we classify any one piece of art as 'kitsch', in 'poor taste'? Its syntactical, no? And then how much does the market for art determine its 'taste' level? There have been pieces of toast depicting the virgin mary that have sold for thousands of dollars...

Wallis goes on to say that contemporary art is dictated subliminally by the market for it:

The raison d’etre of art has moved a long way from the passionate, to the purposeful. Sadly, it’s also moved to the very predictable. Contemporary art is running on rails. Whatever the artistic values, the social values are now buried in cultural innuendo with price tags.

This is a question which shouldn’t be rhetorical: What does art do?
Before the Second World War, there were real schools of art. Even the Expressionists, lazy sods that they were, and Max Ernst, my hardworking idol, could legitimately claim to be individualists. The Beat Generation artists, who will be unfairly remembered as the ancestors of modern contemporary art, were perhaps the last real school, so nebulous and diverse they were never really defined except as Modern Art.
Whether or not art does ]things like that to culture now is debatable. Art is literally a splash of color to interior designers, and a milch cow to galleries. Publicity is the defining factor. Its relevance to anything is strictly nominal.
The definition of Contemporary Art now covers anything and everything.

Find the full op article here.

Just some random food for thought for today.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

Tyke Bike.

Apparently, they'll get stolen, too.

“Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live.” - Twain

Baptism by Vondel

11:08am (@home)

I've gotten to know Vondelpark pretty well by running through it. I have my 'mile markers' of sorts. There's a mishmosh of trams crossings right around the corner from the park. I swear one day one of those silent metal street creatures is going to eat me. At the entrance of the park there is always, ALWAYS (this morning at 10am) a group of people toking on the benches near the entrance to the park. Then there's the street musician(s) that play under the ugly overpass next - best acoustics I assume. This is also the spot were park strollers huddle to let the rain pass as it rains here every 10 minutes. [[Rain would normally stop me from a run, but not here. Here you can be fairly confident it will end in a few minutes.]]

Then theres the Film Museum (that I still need to tackle)and an outdoor cafe where people were reading their newspapers and having their morning coffee today. From there you enter the back loop of the park, which is actually a really peaceful (iffy by night) part. Just wooded areas, flat paths, and back views of incredible homes that line the park. Lots of local dog walking here and thus, a lot of dancing along the paths.

Wrap around the corner to the southwest side of the park and this is kind of the main thoroughfare. Fast paced. People rollerblading, biking, walking, running, jumping jack-ing, eating on benches, etc. Vondel highway. Some cool points of interest - sculptures, fallen trees, ponds... [[There's an area to the park that is overgrown and shut down. There is a huge sign in Dutch that sits in the middle of it. I still haven't figured out what it says exactly, but theres a little "trash dude" cartoon mascot thats saying something and I believe its along the lines of "too much trash so we had to shut it down." Hmm...punishment for dirty parkgoers?]] Back out the front of the park and onto the tram tracks up into the Leidesplein.

Sun through the rain today. 48º.

MAS Takes it to the Streets

Our creative director gave us two hours to go out on the streets and create a story of sorts. We decided that the overabundance of bicycles here was just not enough.

Blend Magazine's "New Talent Portfolio" Event.

11:47am (@agency)




Had the opportunity last night to attend Blend Magazine's (an arts/fashion/photography magazine here in Amsterdam) New Talent Portfolio Night. Victor, one of our teachers here in Amsterdam, invited us last minute and in a flurry yesterday morning so none of really knew what it was exactly. Definitely didn't realize what I was in for.

The New Talent night was hosted in the Pakhuis de Zwijger, a building that is devoted entirely to the arts and creativity, on the north side of Amsterdam. [Got a little lost getting to it - took a Tram and taxi ride.] The portfolio review was set in an intimate room, with couches and lounges in the middle of the room and tables lining the perimeter. Gathered on one side of the tables was a smear of big name creatives from the Amsterdam area - creative directors, photographers, CEOs (the CEO of McCann worldwide was one) - and on the other side were the up and coming talent presenting their books. I would say nearly 90% of the books shown were photography based, but I did see a few ad pitches and other media here and there. Most presented in the form of a physical book while others showed work on their macs. People threw back drinks in the middle of the room waiting their turn and sharing their portfolios with each other, all backset to a DJ who kind of emceed the night.



On either side of the room there were huge projection screens, displaying various work and photography. There was so much abuzz that you couldn't help but watch and listen. I was actually a bit overwhelmed. I had never before seen such a collaborative environment between creative professionals and up and coming talent in the States. And how genius it is - just a laid back, no pretenses type environment where you can get straight forward, quick, honest feedback about your work. Each of the portfolio reviewers (Peggy and Victor being two of them, by the way) possess a 'golden ticket' that they can award one of the portfolios they review for a final round at the end of the round robin sessions. Then a final review of those golden ticket winners reveals the winner, who will then be published in the next issue of Blend. Very cool.

Peggy pulled us over at one point so we could watch and observe her critique some of the books and so that we could see some of the portfolios. I thought some of the books were fantastic. Really impressive. And kind of two pronged in how it made me feel: incredibly inspired to create but also made me realize how much there is to be done. :P



There's a difference between the creatives here in Europe and those in the States. Theres a stronger synthesis/unity here amongst creatives - less cut throat competitiveness. As art should be.

Mob. Dance. Rage. Sell.

10:11am (@agency)

Little did T-Mobile know what it would start when it began unrolling their flash mob dances in the UK earlier this year.



The idea of a "flash performance" was hugely successful - what's a brand not to like about being the "Oz" behind a kickass spontaneous street performance?

Wasn't before long other brands wanted in: Trident's flash "Single Ladies."



Even Oprah got in on the idea (unbeknownst to her) with her 24th season opener.



And most recently, a promotion for the movie "Fame" in NYC.



Though not the first mob dance to happen, cheers to Saatchi for harnassing the idea and executing it for T-Mobile. Genius. All you others that jumped on the band wagon? Kudos for recognizing a great idea.

A "Time"ly Follow-up.

This book review for "Anne Frank - the Book, the Life, the Afterlife," by Francine Prose was just in last Sunday's Times book review... Just thought it a timely follow-up to my visit to the Anne Frank House.

The book contends that Anne Frank's diary was not discovered, but rather, always intended for wide-spread breadth.

Prose rebuts the charge that Frank’s diary was a “found object” — the inconsequential scribblings of an adolescent whose death elevated it far beyond its value as a work of literature. In fact, Frank intended her writings to reach as wide an audience as possible, inspired by a radio address given by a Dutch minister of education in exile who was determined, once the war was over, to establish an archive of accounts of life under the Nazis.

Read the full article here.

"I could have been a sailor, could have been a cook
A real live lover, could have been a book.
I could have been a signpost, could have been a clock
As simple as a kettle, steady as a rock.
I could be
Here and now
I would be, I should be
But how?
I could have been
One of these things first
I could have been
One of these things first.

I could have been your pillar, could have been your door
I could have stayed beside you, could have stayed for more.
Could have been your statue, could have been your friend,
A whole long lifetime could have been the end.
I could be yours so true
I would be, I should be through and through
I could have been
One of these things first
I could have been
One of these things first.

I could have been a whistle, could have been a flute
A real live giver, could have been a boot.
I could have been a signpost, could have been a clock
As simple as a kettle, steady as a rock.
I could be even here
I would be, I should be so near
I could have been
One of these things first
I could have been
One of these things first."
- Nick Drake, ONe of These Things First

On beauty...

Kate Moss for Alexander McQueen

Watched this today in Victor's class. Have watched it a few times since and find it very beautiful.

[[Interesting that this music was composed by John Williams for "Schindlers List." Never thought it would be used outside of the film. Very powerful piece.]]

Amsterdam findings...

Anne Frank Huis

8:27pm (@home)

"It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more." Anne Frank

Had the opportunity to visit the Anne Frank House, or Huis, yesterday. I feel there is not much to write about as I think the experience there can be inferred without ever actually being there. However, I will say that the way the "house" was displayed (in accordance with Otto Frank's wishes) was powerful. The rooms of the house are stark...empty with only a few key artifacts in cases that deliver stories from each of the rooms. The lighting in each room was kept similar to the way in which it was for the eight that hid there. Quotations dotted the walls - mostly experts from the Diary. A few video interviews were interspersed as well and, at the end, a memorial to the eight, with concentration camp logs of their names marked over with pen. Only one survived, Otto, and he ends the tour of the house with an interview he gave years after the ordeal.

It actually came up in the class today as we addressed the question of who we are as art directors and how we communicate ourselves to the masses. Otto reflected on Anne saying, "For me, it was a revelation. There, was revealed a completely different Anne to the child that I had lost. I had no idea of the depths of her thoughts and feelings.” He goes on to say that in this way, he believes most parents do not know anything about their children. It is an interesting thought... as parents can never penetrate their childrens' minds. They never really know exactly what he or she is truly thinking. A diary, someone's personal chronicle, is perhaps the closest one can come to someone's innermost thoughts. Although they spent two years in crammed quarters and isolation, hiding as a family from the Nazis, Otto's read of Anne's diary was "a revelation."

The actual diaries are displayed at the end which outline her dream of becoming a writer. Dozens of editions of her diary are also displayed, all in different languages, realizing that dream.

Downstairs on the way out of the museum, there is a separate theater that displays different viewpoints on the idea of democracy and the boundaries of freedom. "Free 2 Choose", it was called, and it basically presents short films with two opposing viewpoints in which the audience can vote at the end. Thought it a cool, appropriate interactive element to the experience...

Oh, and in case you didn't know, their hiding place was never discovered by the Nazis, it was compromised. Someone tipped them off. And that person is surely in hell.

Mantlepiece

New City, New Run

10.09.09
7:03pm (@home)

Ok, so it only took me a week to get back to running. Not TOO bad, I don't think. Headed out for a run today after work. Had my eyes set on Vondelpark as it is so close to where I live. [[Funny to think that at my going away in Miami, a friend said, 'Drew, make sure you go to Vondelpark, its amazing.' Didn't mean anything to me back then. haha]] Ran from my place down to the Vondelpark, through and around it. As it was right around the time people were getting out of work on a Friday, the park was filled with bicyclers, families, and people smoking pot. And it's amazing to see what Dutch people do on their bikes: I've seen everything from talking on their cell phone to reading the paper to smoking a pipe (or all three at once). Many also carry their young with them on the bikes - sometimes one in front and one in back, or sometimes in a huge plow that attaches to the front of the bike. Yes, the shovelplow children. I will try to capture a picture at some point. Either way, looks like fun chillin in those huge wooden plows being driven around the city.

Took the long loop around - cold, brisk run - and back. Was surprised to see it was nearly a 4-miler. Perfect small daily run. Shower time.

Take a Look Around Why Doncha'?

10.09.09
6:59pm (@home)

Here are just a few pics from around the agency...

Miami Ad School - Amsterdam

Here's the crew outside BureauPindakaas...

The Rain in Amsterdam Falls Mainly on the [Leides]Plein

10.07.09
11:41pm (@home)

Everyone told me upon moving to Amsterdam I would need two things: a bong and a raincoat. Needless to say, I have neither, but definitely need one of them and especially over these past few days. A raincoat, that is. It's been raining this week without much respite, fluctuating from a spitting mist to a heavy rain. A far cry from the blinding sunshine of Miami Beach, I'll tell you that much, but a welcome change. And believe it or not, it doesn't really distract from the charm and the warmth of the city itself. I don't think Amsterdam would be Amsterdam without this weather. It's a very wet place in general - the rain...the canals...the beer.

Pindakaas has been good - working on our own projects during the day (thus far) and then class at night. Alvaro Sotomayor, a ECD at Wieden+Kennedy, will be the teacher of our Tuesday night class. Great guy, had quick introductions, threw us a few morsels of feedback each, handed us our first brief (which I'm sure I will write about later), then took us to a new "American" bar a few blocks away. American bar meaning that they serve only American beer. It was funny to see Anchor Steam and Flying Dog on tap at a Dutch bar in the middle of Amsterdam. Was nice to kick back with the crew and discuss with everyone where we had been in the world... Much to learn from my international peers but I'd imagine our full work days together at Pindakaas will allow that naturally.

Came home late last night to the end of the David Gray concert at the Melkweg directly across the street. P and I were hoping we'd hear a few riffs of "Babylon" or something of the sort, but with no such luck. You can always tell when there is a concert or a happening at the Melkweg when you find hundreds of bicycles abandoned on the sidewalk/street. The noise level off the street follows suit with the concerts as well: from a few distant voices in the Leidesplein to a chatty crowd of smokers at a break in the show to an overpowering cacophony of concertgoers, swooning over the performer following the event. And, as has been the past few nights, my sleep follows that pattern as well. :) [[reminds me of living in my 58th street apt with flora in new york - the noise from the large crowds of concertgoers here miiiiight just equal that of the queensboro bridge traffic]] Either way, im cool with it and it actually lessens any feelings of loneliness i might have here...

Another long day at the agency today then class afterward. Two teachers from RIOT agency - Nathan, an Executive Creative Director there, and Todd, a Creative Director. Two down to earth guys that seem to have a good grasp on the digital landscape in the industry. We will be working on one main brief for their class over the quarter (which is great, much more time to develop and polish). More on that brief later as well.

Set a goal for myself to win a pencil (D&AD) this year. It's possible. With hard work, it is possible.

Barefoot to bed and into my cocoon.

Moo.

Top Dog

10.06.09
2:03pm (@agency)



Laid down to sleep last night around 1:25am which was late enough only to be woken up by my Dutch phone ringing. Low and behold we received news from Miami that we were crowned Miami Ad School Top Dog for this past quarter. [[Top Dog is the highest award given by Miami Ad School students with the best work each quarter]]. So amazingly excited about about it and proud of ourselves. Congrats to my team partners, Alicia Benz and Michelle Pokorny. We set out to win in the beginning of the quarter, put our nose to the grindstone, and achieved. The link to our presentation is below:

Crunch Gym "Find Your Shape"

Complete motivation for this new quarter and time here in Amsterdam. Go time.

Crunchy or creamy? Pindakaas!

10.05.09
11:56pm

Started our MAS Quarter Away today at Bureau Pindakaas ad agency. The agency itself sits right on the Herengracht, one of the three original canals city-planned back in the day. The foyer is grand, with red carpet and white marble, a tall red street clock sits juxtaposed on the staircase and stained glass offers an added element to it all.




Gathered in the photo studio upstairs and acquainted ourselves. All did our informal introductions and surveyed our new digs. Joanna, our point person at Pindakaas, started the session introducing herself then going around the room (in true MAS fashion) and introducing ourselves. There are twelve greenhouse students and five porfolio students - totaling 17, a large group. Mix of characters seemed great, with students from Miami, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Germany, Brazil...



Then, entered Peggy, the director of our program and of Pindakaas. Complete with a tight scarf around her neck and a sheath skirt, she commanded the room's attention and proceeded with her own introductions. She then sat and talked to us for a bit - lent some of her feelings about the industry and where it is headed. Emphasized the importance of having our portfolio speak out and distinguish itself from others. Went on to discuss a recent business transaction in New York, describing it as a "third world country" in the way business is conducted there. I couldnt help but wince at that one inside - I just never heard anyone refer to Manhattan as a Third World Country in such a non-chalant way. What was I in for? :P



After some other formalities (mugshots, tour of the agency), we were set free for the day, being told carefully to enjoy it while we can. Grabbed some sandwiches with the crew, scuffled around the city doing some essential shopping (shampoo,etc) and then went on to see Michelle and Alicia's hacienda, then Simon and Scott's. Both of which were great and special in their own ways. A&M's place is in a 300+ year old building right in the city centrum while S&S's place sits in an attic loft with exposed beams and a loftspace.




Tired and sick of the spitting rain so headed back to finally finally unpack my clothes. Feel much better going to sleep tonight knowing I won't have to pick and pull through my suitcases tomorrow morning. Back at the agency bright and early to dig into things.

New clean comforter on my bed. Heavy eyelids. Sleep soon.

Pics from our apartment!

First Day at the Agency: Bureau Pindakaas

Off to the agency!

Sunshine in Amsterdam

10.04.09
6:25pm

Slept in a little later today as last night kept me out a little later. Was surprised to see blue skies and sunshine through my window. Let me tell you how much more beautiful this city gets with a few rays of sunshine. Wow. Really, stunning.

Wandered out with P to try to figure out internet situation (or lack thereof) - turns out it is going to be a fairly expensive transaction to get proper internet in our apt. Grr.. Not good for two advertising students. Not good at all.

Met up with AKat (read: Alex, MAS Madrid) in Dam square and ventured on to meet the Madam (read: Michelle) and Eeshk finally on the bustling shopping streets in the city centrum. Continued with the salutations and met the whole crew from MAS Madrid. Miami Ad School was rolling deep through Amsterdam. Two on bikes, the rest on foot.

[[Still debating whether or not to buy a cheap (aka stolen) bike. Its quite a phenomenon here, everyone on bikes. It seems fast and efficient and you get a little bell you get to ding at people... but also seems like a lot of work to keep it locked, maintained, etc. I will see how I get around on my feet this week and then go from there. Got some good insider tips on where to find the cheapest bikes. At the city's public pool believe it or not.]]

Our group rolled down to the Leidseplein where we sat and had a coffee. Some enjoyed a little toke and then we ventured onward to Vondelpark. Amsterdam's Central Park, Vondel was primo. Landscape architecture at its finest - very Frederick Law Olmstead. Wonder who designed it... Ornate bridges, ducks, little cafes where people huddled over warm drinks. Really enjoyed it and plan on running through there regularly (starting tomorrow morning).

Back now regrouping. GOing to meet up with a Facebook friend of a friend, Kenny, that will show me around a bit. Gotta' hand it you, Zuckerberg, another example of the intricate and extensive network that is Facebook.

Cool breeze on my ankles (need warmer, higher socks). Neon lights of the "Melkweg" just switched on. People gathering for the 7pm show at the cinemateque below.

Grabbing an espresso...

Just a few things...

moving into our apartment.

New Chapter: Amsterdam, Netherlands

10.03.09
Sat 6:44pm

IcelandAir Flight 0614 departed on time from New York, JFK on Thursday. Nice, clean planes with widescreen viewing screens in each seat. Was excited enough to start my movie (Wolverine: The Origin or whatever) but after a Tylenol PM, I was out like a light. Landed in Reyjavik in the wee hours of the morning, too tired to notice the airport's beautiful design and simplicity. (Also, no booming loud speaker announcements and uber-regimented boarding procedures. Just a simple hand gesture from the attendant to let us know our flight was boarding. Civilized.)

Flight to Amsterdam was another Tylenol PM pyschedelic dream journey and landed in the afternoon without a hitch. Amsterdam airport was quick and efficient, complete with kissing dutch figurines decals on opposing sliding doors that kiss when closed. As Eeshka's (read: Alicia) flight was landing shortly after mine, I grabbed a karamelstroopwafer and waited for her to arrive. A fun reunion, (and seeing each other in Winter garb for the first time ever) dash to the train, and we had finally arrived in Amsterdam proper.

Rolling 100+lbs of clothes down the Damrak is not recommended. I am actually sore from it. Met up with Paola, my new roommate, her mother, and our friend and colleague Monsiuer Simone or Simon. A quick baguette and we were off to the rental agency. Old Dutch man and his missus ran the place. Very proper couple - he rotund and red-cheeked, smoldering cigarette in the background - she equally rotund with peach lipstick and violet eyeshade. A few thousand signatures later and we had our place. The owner of the apartment, a chubby mousey Turkish man, lead us to the place. The apartment is tucked right behind the Leidseplein, a bustling plaza with a few hundred tables and chairs, all populated by patrons slugging beer and nursing cigarettes. Yes, right around the corner is our cute little apt. It sits right above an art cinemateque and across the street from the Melkweg, a concert and club venue. Needless to say, very appropriate for two art direction students.

The apartment itself is quaint...white...simple...clean. My bedroom is very small but I was completely anticipating that moving to Amsterdam. We checked the place out and headed back out into the abuzz streets of Amsterdam to grab some groceries, cleaning supplies, and toiletries for the place. An hour or two later and we had returned, asking the Politie (Police) to remove concert barriers for us in order to make our way to the apartment. The cab was chock full of our luggage and groceries. Chock. Full. The hotel concierge and the cab driver actually laughed at us. Cut us some slack though, Paola's mother's things were included in that heap.

I thought our street our street was riddled with bicycles and scooters BEFORE. Well, put a concert or a DJ in the Melkweg and you can barely walk on the street. While I imagine it might become agitating sometime down the line, last night it was invigorating. Lifting our luggage, carefully (uncarefully?) stepping over bicycles, trying to move into our new place. It was fun.



We were in. My clothes were here. We had ketchup in the fridge and bread in the cupboard (which meant I was atleast good for a ketchup sandwich, right? ;) ). Felt good. Amidst the flurry of our day, we had forgotten to eat and by the time we made it out for dinner it was after 11pm and everything was closing. Walked up and down the canals looking for a hot bite, but eventually found it back near our apt. Italian. Tortellini. Wine. Bread. Delicious. Thank you, Essi (Paola's mother).

Bed time came around 2:30am with a little nudge from confidant, TyPM.

Day 2

Woke up, fixed myself some Muesli (yup yup) and watched CNN while i messed around and chatted online. Eventually headed out in to the city with the goal of buying a phone, but moreso just wanting to explore a bit. Brought my camera last minute thinking I might not be in the mood yet to take photography but clearly wrong once I hit the streets.

Amsterdam is a photographer's heaven. Beautifully designed buildings, all seeping with history and architecture, details so small I'm sure most people miss them, all set amongst the series of canals which are teeming with cute boats and swans. Well. My phone journey turned into a full on exploration - snapping pictures, having espresso, and dodging bicycles (mobile, with people on them this time). Cold. Blustery. Scarf-weather. Walked around the Blumen market, the main shopping district (where I picked up my phone! +31 068 149 5851), farmer's market, and stopped by our agency named Pindakaas, or 'peanut butter' in Dutch. Beautiful, old building, and reporting there for duty Monday morning...! 320 Herengracht: an unbelievably gorgeous canal street.



Going to head out to meet my peers for a beer maybe and then out to dinner with Paola and her mother, Essi.

Day turning to night. Rain splatting against window. Jason Mraz on shuffle. Cozy.