I’m happy to announce in association with Wingard Creative, Black Sheep Restaurant Group (Orsay/Chew), RAP and of course JTA the Riverside Trolley will run until Midnight on Wednesday November 3rd. This will be ArtWalk’s 7th birthday and we’re bringing this awesome present!

This is a trial run and if successful it’s something we could see more of for ArtWalk. Please find a way to ride the trolley on November 3rd. The more people we have, the better, as we’re trying to reach a very modest goal. If you’re unsure how to ride the trolley, this simple instructional video will show you everything you need, compliments of Wingard Creative. Tony Allegretti says so far, so good and this:

The trolley is just $1 each way, and sure, its just a bus that looks like a trolley, BUT, think about how awesome it will be to not have to deal with parking and traffic. Leave the driving to JTA!

The trolley will run at 35 minute intervals and we are working on getting a map with all stops. Come back and get updates!

If that wasn’t enough, the November ArtWalk is also the Movember ArtWalk in honor of beards and men’s health. There will be an art show at the 229 Hogan Street Studio. I (DJ ‘Mo) will be DJing with with DJ Debo on the 1′s and 0′s. So definitely make it out for that.

More about Movember

Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.

Downtown Vision (DVI) has listened and responded to an important downtown stakeholder: artists. Various loading zone issues and confusion during the December ArtWalk prompted me to email DVI with suggestions for minimizing tickets in those loading areas.

DVI responded with a solution that will help those artists who are part of Downtown Vision and The Cultural Council’s Off The Grid initiative, where artists are paired with empty retail space in the core.

First Some Background

I received a ticket last month while parked in a loading zone at 229 N. Hogan. I was loading my car after ArtWalk with 8 chairs and 4 8-foot tables to get into my wagon. I was there for a total of 15 minutes and I received a ticket. I wasn’t the only one.

It was one of those moments where you see yourself getting the ticket, so you run to explain your situation and that you’re leaving right away. It seemed reasonable I could talk the attendant into tearing up the ticket, but no dice. He politely and calmly explained the protocols of parking in designated loading areas in and around downtown Jacksonville. You must either:

1. Have a $50.00 parking permit from the City of Jacksonville. This grants you unlimited freight loading and unloading, up to an hour.
2. Have a magnetic sticker for both sides of your car. These cost about $30 each. When I asked if a handwritten sign would work, he shook his head no.

The COJ website is a little vague on the specifics of the signage use on both sides of the vehicle:

In a Freight Loading Zone: Don’t park in a freight loading zone unless you have company logos on both sides of your vehicle, or a freight permit issued by the Parking Facilities & Enforcement Division. Don’t park for more than one hour. These areas are in very high demand and are strictly enforced.

I’m all for following the rules and they exist for a reason, but it seems risky to ding people with parking tickets who are participating in a Downtown event. That brings me to the recommendation portion of this blog post and Downtown Vision’s solution.

I’d wanted to see Downtown Vision create some type of official signage that can be used the week of ArtWalk for loading and unloading vehicles. They already do so much for the people who participate in the ArtWalk every month, mainly marketing, this could be one more “feature” for participants.

I was sure something like this would be easy for DVI to do and I was right. Here is the DVI response and solution:

Downtown Vision, Inc. will provide each studio/gallery two sets of magnetic signs to allow two cars at a time the ability to load and unload in loading zones. The magnetic signs will be paid for by DVI. If signs are lost, replacement signs will be at the artist’s expense. DVI hopes to have the signs by mid- January.

• Each set includes two signs.
• Signs must be placed on both sides of vehicle.
• These signs will allow a vehicle the use of the freight loading zone for up to one hour.

As important ArtWalk is for Downtown I feel like making the loading process a little more user friendly is a good idea. If you’re at ArtWalk on Wednesday, keep an eye out for Mayor Peyton. He’ll be making rounds at various venues. Stop him and say hi, he’s a nice guy.

Read all 8 Dwayne and T.K. episodes. Find more Haiku Birdie on his site: http://www.thehaikulife.com.

December ArtWalk Tonight

Yes, Art Walk is today and if ya haven’t heard. I’ve posted a few items below that cannot be missed. Official ArtWalk Map for December.

For a more extensive list of tonight’s event please visit JaxScene for a list of things to do this Wednesday. Also street parking is FREE after 6 p.m. and the Downtown Garage on the corner of Adams and Clay offers FREE parking Art Walk night.

Designers in Toyland

http://www.aigajacksonville.org/events/designers-in-toyland
229 North Hogan (Southwest corner of Hemming Plaza)

80+ custom toys, live toy painting from 4 artists, DJ’s (me) and more. 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.

Emerging Design Professionals’ Urban Facelift Competition

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191161644685
The Carling – Suite 101, 31 West Adams Street

Entries to EDP’s Urban Facelift competition will be on display. The purpose of the Urban Facelift Project is to inspire property owners, business owners and the overall community by showing a building’s possibilities, seen through the eyes of the designer.

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.

Another short-lived ArtWalk institution has come to an end. The basement at the Library has hosted it’s last show and will not be open for ArtWalk this month. What will the next spot be? You can expect the Burrito Gallery to be packed tonight.

Like whoa! Urban Jacksonville Weekly Episode #7. This week each host choses a topic, each one better than the last! You can actually feel yourself getting smarter.

Episode #7 topics

• Construction on Main Street – good or bad for Springfield businesses?
• The Library: the venue that swallowed artwalk and what to do when it’s gone
• Livable communities and the Obama administration

Recommendations

• Joey – This American Life’s episode 375: Bad Bank. The collapse of the banking system explained, in just 59 minutes.
• Jonathan – St. Augustine Seafood and Music Festival (last weekend)
• Tony – Bike Jax

The best way to experience the show

Audio Subscribe with iTunes or Listen Online

A big happy blog birthday for our neighbor blog JaxScene. One year in Springfield and still going strong!

Art in Action at the Old Library Basement was fun last night. It also re-affirmed my opinion that it is the best new Art Walk venue. I took some pictures with my phone that turned out pretty well and you can check those below. I’m sure JaxScene will have some good photos and I’ll link to those when they come online.

New limited prints from Armageddon Visuals:

This print is very limited edition to only 12. It’s a signed and numbered 3 color screen print. 19″x25″. Due to the short run and the custom ink job this print might come out again in the future in a different color way. $25 with shipping.

You Might Find This Stuff Really Useful

Logan Zawacki has opinions on the Jacksonville Art Scene. This is the first in a series of interviews from new blog Zeller.Press

I feel like the art scene is exploding with talent and so much of it is going unnoticed and unappreciated. As for local jax blogs the only one I check frequently is TheOuterBox.com. I find it’s the only local art blog that is truly focused on helping local artists.

The Riverside Arts Market is set to launch Saturday, April 4.
Riverside group marketing an idea for Saturdays
JTA is installing cameras on the Skyway
Why you should know bike laws (Bike Jax)
Peyton exerts pressure in backdoor Waste Management deal (Jacksonville Politics)

New Organic Shirts from Arturo Clothing. Organic t-shirts are environmentally safe and manufactured under strict conditions, resulting in a pesticide, herbicide, and chemical-free product. Thanks for the buttons Arturo!

Now that Art Walk is over there are three more events you need to concern yourself with this week.

1. First Friday in Five Points
2. The Comic Book Show at Bogda
3. Relondondo (Tallahassee) and Buff Clout at Shantytown

Finally I posted Episode 3 of Urban Jacksonville Weekly. Besides this week’s topics you learn the story behind the Origin of Tony’s nickname, Biggie Tea.

Urban Jacksonville Weekly Topics

1. Morris Publishing hires legal, financial counsel and gets extension
2. Jazz Festival Moves to Laura Street
3. Golds Gym Moves Downtown

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

Thanks to Chad for the heads up on this video. An art show put on by Chad Landenberger, Clay Doren and Red Bull. Held in the basement of the old downtown library in Jacksonville Florida during the cities monthly Art Walk held on the first wednesday of every month. Filmed and edited by Chris Jolly.