Urban Jacksonville

I’m Board 4 – Interview with Chad Landenberger from Thought & Theory on Vimeo.

I understand quite a few people have seen this video, so re-posting here is just to close the loop of people who will be interested to see it, but haven’t.

This is part of new interview series for Urban Jacksonville so keep an eye out for more. We’re taking recommendations for who to interview next if you have suggestions.

Dennis Eusebio came to me a couple months ago with an idea to shoot a series of videos for Urban Jacksonville. This aligned perfectly with my assertion that 2010 would be the year Jacksonville moved beyond text and branched out into audio and video.

We moved this trend along with the Urban Jacksonville Weekly podcast so I was excited to have Dennis work on this video interview series.

This piece stands by itself as a testament to everything that is fun and good in the city. I would love to see Downtown Vision or the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau use this video as a promotional tool for promoting city life.

Please enjoy the hi-res versions on Vimeo or Facebook and share with a friend next time they say Jacksonville is boring, lame, uninteresting, etc.

Filmed and Edited by: Dennis Eusebio and Varick Rosete. Thanks to Chad Landenberger, 229 North Hogan with music by Holy Ghost “Hold On”.

photo compliments of thoughtandtheory from The Color of Munny

Monday morning at 9:30 we’ll be talking about TWO badd-ass art shows with Varick Rosete, AIGA President and Chad Landenberger designer and all around nice/awesome/award winning ‘stache guy.

Tune in to Urban Jacksonville Weekly to watch.

Designer’s in Toyland » Website

80+ artists will have custom built, designed or painted toys on display. In addition to this visual feast there will be 4 artists “live painting” Mighty Muggs (Chad Landenberger • Clay Doran • Brian Gray & John O’Brian). Finally as an added bonus, I’ll be DJing along with DJ Squints all night at the show.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to The Big Fun Box, an organization that provides activity kits to children who are hospitalized frequently and for extended periods.

Designer’s in Toyland
December 2nd 2009 @ 5:00pm
229 North Hogan (Southwest corner of Hemming Plaza) directions

I’m Board IV » Website

The 4th annual I’M BOARD art show is the next in a continuing installment of skateboard deck art shows. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate in this open call for entries. There are some submission guidelines, but I’m positive you can handle them. Submissions may be dropped off at BURRO Bags located at 1520 N. Main St. Jacksonville, FL Monday – Saturday 12-6pm.

I’m Board IV
Wednesday, February 3rd (ArtWalk)
5-9 at 229 N. Hogan St.

I’m Board III Photos » Crystal Floyd, Jaxscene, and Sarah Butsch.

Im Board 3 Skateboard Art Show at Art Walk from Chris Jolly.

Varick Rosete

photo compliments of Jared Smith

A designer/illustrator living in Jacksonville, Florida. Varick has been drawing forever and it shows. He has a traditional print background, but his last 6 years have been about living and learning in the world wide web. Currently he is focusing on straight design and illustration, while learning more about animation and motion graphics.

Chad Landenberger

photo compliments of Photo Schmoto

Chad received his BFA in Fine Arts from the University of North Florida. Currently he is an Art Director at an advertising agency and is constantly evolving and refining his style. He has worked with such clients as Red Bull, Calvin Klein Golf, University of Jacksonville, Mellow Mushroom, and Burro Bags.

Terry Lorince from Downtown Vision emailed me yesterday letting me know artists spaces downtown are now open. We talked about this extensively on Urban Jacksonville Weekly last week. Listen to our conversation here.

This is a great opportunity for artists to get studio and display space downtown. Thanks to Downtown Vision, The Cultural Council and Jim Draper for helping to put this together.

There is a process for getting a space, so get started filling out your application. Downtown Vision hopes to receive applications by August 31st. Send your completed application to terry at downtownjacksonville dot org.

Attached please find information on four spaces that have become available by property owners. This information will tell you the overall condition of the space, whether it has electricity or is simply raw space, and the monthly amount needed to cover utilities. Please remember that most of these spaces are on a month by month lease. You should also expect that in each case you will need to provide liability insurance (estimated at about $600 a year), and sign a lease with the owner.

Download all documents in Word Format

The Application

Creative Community Space #1
Near Main and Adams Street. Approximate size of storefront (sq. ft) 1,700 sq. ft. Approximate space dimensions 10”x13”

Creative Communities Artist Space #2
Near Hemming Plaza – Third Floor Space. Approximate size of storefront (sq. ft) 10,000 sq. ft . Hard wood floors, brick walls, few windows. Approximate space dimensions Very large – more conducive to an artists cooperative.

Creative Communities Artist Space #3
Laura and Independent. Approximate size of storefront (sq. ft) 2,000 sq. ft .. Approximate space dimensions Very large – secure space.

Creative Communities Artist Space #4
Off Laura Street. Approximate size of storefront (sq. ft) 2,000 sq. ft .. Approximate space dimensions Very large – secure first floor retail space in office building . Great street level visibility.

Listen and Subscribe

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Subscribe with iTunes

You can now listen right now, click the play button above.

Special Guest – Terry Lorince of Downtown Vision

Joey – Android is for SUCKAS!

What is Downtown Vision?
non for profit
formed 2000
make downtown premiere place to work, live, visit
get businesses to work together
art walk, hemming plaza market
creating a better downtown experience
Joey – living downtown?
14 downtown ambassadors – report on condition of downtown
contract with Catholic Charities for clean-up
originally, ambassadors picked up trash (insurance/worker’s comp issues)
Joey – hotline?

Questions:

Abel Harding asks With the proposed cuts in funding for public service grants, Jacksonville’s homeless population is likely to be impacted with fewer services available to them. How do you think that will impact downtown businesses?

Terry – see more transients, strain existing shelters
Joey – Is DVI working with groups on the homeless issue?
Terry – Transients are the issue more so than the homeless. Development/climate make Jacksonville popular place for vagrants, makes them more visible.
Tony – Troublemakers aren’t necessarily homeless but they all get lumped together in people’s eyes.

Matt Abercrombie asks how can we expedite getting artists into vacant and underutilized spaces downtown? who are the sympathetic landlords and what can artists do to make contact?

Terry – Vacant stores downtown is an issue. How do we ratchet up the Art Walk? Jim Draper a major voice to bring artists downtown. DVI has relationship with property owners. What to do between now and when the economy picks up. Leasers have conditions for people using space. Lots of interest from both sides. Interested – terry@downtownjacksonville.org

Our role is as matchmaker. Fortunate to have Art Center Cooperative.
Tony – Give it a name. Jim Draper as liaison/face.
Joey – Artists find a way to be recognizable and follow-up.

Matt Uhrig asks Many property owners dropped their venue once the DVI demanded to be placed on liability insurance. What liability does the city have once a person steps off a sidewalk and into a private building?

Terry – city owns the sidewalk but DVI assumes liability during art walk, venue assumes liability once patron enters establishment
Tony – BG’s insurance didn’t go up
Back to artists
Tony – use City Hall Annex

Yvonne asks if DVI would ever consider sponsoring (funding/paying) artists to paint murals on the many vacant buildings in downtown? it would be another appeal of art walk, it’ll also help give more life to downtown.

Terry – Thinking the same thing.
Jack – How does DVI feel about street art?
Terry – If you give an inch, they’ll take a mile.
Jason (ContentDG) – Familiar with the urban face-lift project?
Terry – $100,000 to contribute to Laura St facade improvement. Decorating on a dime. Rethinking spaces is one of the biggest challenges.
Jonathan – Budget?
Terry – Going to be a tough year. About 1.2 million. Looking at 50% budget cut.
Joey/Tony – Have you looked into social networking?
Terry – Facebook page, 2 MySpace pages, mobile website, DVI website

Recommendations

Joey: Content Design Group site and UJ/TT Mixtape Release Party
Tony: Eat Up Downtown and International Dog Day at the Riverside Arts Market.
Jonathan: Last Thirsty Thursday Suns Game
Terry: terry@downtownjacksonville.org and The Sinclair
Jack: Infintesmal BBQ

Music
Wednesday August 19
Club TSI
National Dairy

Thursday August 20
Jack Rabbits
Poison the Well

Friday August 21
Club TSI
Nomadic Sun
Juicy Pony
Honey Chamber

Shantytown Pub
Wudun
Lazerstar
Sleeping In the Aviary

Saturday August 22
Steamworks
EMA
Future Computers
D.M. Waltz

Sunday
Sinclair
Infintesmal BBQ #4

http://jaxpublicart.blogspot.com/

That’s how they describe it on their website. The Sinclair is a new bar and performance space downtown, located at 521 W. Forsyth St.

We at The Sinclair hope to create a environment with an emphasis on art; we want to provide an environment for artists to meet, network, and perform.

I was going through all my Twitter follows, which get labeled by Gmail and removed from my inbox, when I came across The Sinclair. They serve beer beer and wine, “including a surprise or two on draft”. Happy Hour is Wednesday through Friday from 5pm to 7pm. Beginning Friday, July 17th The Sinclair happy hour starts early with DJ Comic spinning from 12pm to 4pm.

We are booking acts now for our stage. We have two theatrical productions scheduled for the month of July, in addition to several bands popping up here and there. Our show cover will vary from person to person as price will be determined by a roll of the die. We really start cooking in August with our Grand Opening week coinciding with August ArtWalk. We have several multi-disciplinary performances during that week.

Follow The Sinclair on Twitter
521 W. Forsyth St.
Wednesday through Friday from 5pm-2am
Friday and Saturday from 7pm-2am
FREE WiFi

photo credit: Varick Rosete

Thief in the Knight was the gold standard when it came to innovative Art Walk shows. Of course, this assertion is my personal opinion and has everything to do with my personal taste, however I can also point to public endorsement based on the sheer number of people who frequented and stayed at each of the shows.

When the venue was shuttled last July the space organizers searched for different locations with no luck and slowly it faded away. It’s no surprise, most Art Walk venues are temporary at best, making use of unused store fronts and bombed out buildings. That was the intention all along but when something special like Thief in the Knight hits the scene you HOPE to see it stick around for a while.

Enter The Old Library Basement

photo credit: Varick Rosete

I’m glad to announce a new contender has arrived on the scene equally as raw, inspiring and fun as Thief in the Knight: The Old Library Basement (OLB). The name isn’t as catchy, but the OLB has now ascended to the top ranks of Art Walk destinations.

5 Reasons Why It’s the Best New Art Walk Venue

1. It’s Big. With space to grow and air to flow The OLB is about three times the size of Thief in the Knight. The exhibitions can be as big or as small as they need to be. While there is no AC (that I recall) the larger space and underground location will keep it a little cooler than normal.
2. Talented Staff. Clay Doran, who I’ll call the chief organizer, has put together amazing show after amazing show. He also has a great pool of talent around him to pull from.
3. Venue Support. This is probably the most important aspect of it’s current success and any future success. OLB has support from the landlord, something I get the sense was lacking at Thief in the Knight, especially towards the end of it’s life. I have a feeling The OLB will be around as long as Clay wants.
4. Location. Location. Location. We all know the corner of Ocean and Laura is where all the Art Walk action is. The OLB is located right on that block. Situated across the street from the Burrito Gallery and London Bridge, it’s at the heart of Art Walk (if there is one).
5. Public Access. By and large most of the shows have been open to public contributions. With a space this large, Clay understands opening it to the public, at times, is essential to producing a large amount of work to display. Granted, many times you have to run in certain circles to know when the OLB is open to public submissions.

Some Past Shows

Monster Show (photos)
I’m Board Skatedeck Show and Skate Demo (photos)

This month’s Art Walk, February 4th, The OLB invites you to participate turning the gallery space into an open studio. See artists in action and be the artist as YOU contribute to this ongoing project.

Live music @ 7pm Buff Clout & Human Seed. Buff Clout has been personally endorsed by my friend and co-worker Travis Schmeisser so I can whole heartedly recommend them to you.

Haydon Burns Library Basement
112 North Ocean Street