A Most Wonderful Design

Working like a mad scientist, Mark recently redesigned and relaunched www.most-wonderful.com, just in time for the debut of his new book, The Nowhere Special. But the poor guy won't sleep! He's already working on his next book called Stop Stopping, and has designed a few book covers for it as part of his design+writing method.

The Nowhere Special is now a book

Description:
First published as a blog (thenowherespecial.blogspot.com) and now as a book, The Nowhere Special is a collection of short stories, snapshots, essays, and prose compiled from the artistic mind of Mark Searcy to champion the notion that a medium influences how a message can be perceived. Blogs read differently than books—even when the words are the same, the meaning feels different when you can hold it in your hands.

Details:
6"x9" | 160 pages | perfect bound paperback | $16.00 | Buy it

Also, download the free promotional desktop wallpaper so you can stare into the future while you work!

Jason: Art Rag Revisionism

I hung a little installation at the Blue Sky Gallery today on their "No Strings" wall/corner. So if you are in downtown Portland near the south park blocks, pop in and see the amazing Mary Ellen Mark show, and in the corner near the flat files see my re-purposed old Art Digest magazine covers! They'll be up for about a week and a half.

Jason: Of Stables and Shadowboxes

Friend and old studio neighbor Alec Zemper asked if I wanted to be in their group "sketch book" show over at their lovely drawing studio/gallery The Stables and of course I said yes, whatwith a charming space like that. The event is Saturday evening, March 26th, 8pm, 910 SE Taylor.

For my 'sketches', I did shadowbox versions of some of my scarf designs. I've been in Photoshop lately, redoing my files and designs to have them digitally printed... and I've been in 'layers' land, so that gave me the idea of playing with the depth of the designs. Pieces are 6.5 x 6.5" x 1.75" deep. Mixed media.

Jason: limited edition OLO glass art bottle

Today Heather of OLO, the fragrance line for which I brand and design, brought by the limited edition glass art bottle made by Andy Paiko for me to photograph. There are 10 made and they retail for $275. Pretty!

(I've noticed Andy's work before at the Portland Craft Museum, and being a huge fan of reliquaries and such, of course I love it!)

Bigger Collages

POSTED BY MARK: New Collages, Big Ones.

A few months ago, I found an old photo-scrapbook at Goodwill that had never been used. The pages were all blank and luxuriously aged to a perfect golden brown. I have been dreaming of using these pages to experiment with making larger collages, but in my current workspace I don't have the room to open the large-format, vintage LIFE magazines and balance the compositions without burying everything in sight. But as a holiday treat, a couple friends asked me to house sit while they were visiting their families and I had a whole week with a huge dining room table to myself.

I am excited about how the big collages are turning out. I still really like the small format of 5"x7", but working with the glowing vintage paper was dreamy. I really want a studio... and another art show before I am covered in collages!

See more collages on my Flickr page.

Two DD40 Songs Released

POSTED BY MARK: New DD40 Songs
DD40 is now on SoundCloud!
Now you can listen and share DD40 music with your friends within your favorite social networks.

Real Deal - Sounds like the new funky.

Real Deal by DD40

Smile For Me - Sounds like monsters growling as you dance for your life.

Smile For Me by DD40

You can also listen to these songs for free on the Flash Cassette Player that I built to play them.
www.thisdotcomtaken.com > MUSIC > DD40
TIP: Dragging the tapes from their bottoms helps them slide in the player easier.

Collage Book

POSTED BY MARK: Paper and Glue and You.

I was anxious to get started on a new round of collages but wanted to start fresh. My collage box was full of scraps and I couldn't get myself to just throw them all away, so I decided to glue them in a book for my friend Amelia Harnas.

This actually was a great exercise. I felt that I was able to work quicker AND I discovered a few new compositional techniques AND my collage box of scraps is now scrapless! AND I get to send it across the country to a dear friend.

See the slideshow on Flickr... it's like turning the pages.

The Nowhere Special - Book Cover

POSTED BY MARK: Book Cover Design
Book cover for The Nowhere Special
http://thenowherespecial.blogspot.com

I was asked a couple weeks ago by an esteemed art director if I designed book covers, and of course I said yes, but I still haven't heard back from him. So while I wait patiently, I'm turning my feelings of rejection into something beautiful.

Jason - a photobooth at Blue Sky Gallery

Come celebrate 35 years at Blue Sky Gallery next weekend where I will be doing photobooth shenanigans! 11:35 to 6:35...

Jason - recent doingses

Mark got the Little Read Writers together so I could do some b&w headshot style portraits - something I haven't done in awhile. I managed to do them in the tiny living room-sometime-studio. Recently, friend Steve paid a visit and I had to get a shot of that beard, 'cause, well, I like a good beard.

Jason TUMBLz

So I've started a tumblr. Let's see how I keep it up! It will be pics on one art historical figure at a time; maybe some movie stills of note; and who knows what else!

Jason - OLO and PAUPER team up for smells!

Heather made a scent inspired by my scarf line and I. "Pauper" will be available this weekend and soon on her website, which I've also been working on as of late.

Last Chance

POSTED BY MARK: You still have this weekend!

Last day to see my art show is Monday Aug 30th!

You can check them out digitally here...
www.flickr.com/photos/thisdotcomtaken/sets/72157605848703...

Small Things Can Make You Feel Smaller
A collection of recent collages by Mark Searcy

Reading Frenzy - 921 SW Oak St. - Portland, OR - www.readingfrenzy.com

Small Reminder

POSTED BY MARK: Show Reminder

I'm excited to finally see these collages in frames! They look better in person because they were made without a computer.

You can check them out digitally here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisdotcomtaken/sets/72157605848703498/

Small Things Can Make You Feel Smaller
A collection of recent collages by Mark Searcy

Opening Thursday, August 5th 2010, 6pm-9pm >> Show runs through August
Reading Frenzy - 921 SW Oak St. - Portland, OR - www.readingfrenzy.com

DD40 + Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Remix - Free Download

POSTED BY MARK: Free Download!

DD40 is hard to explain. It's not quite dancy... not quite trance-y... it's somewhere inbetween. It's technically created for a good pair of headphones.

BUT I'm anxious to get a little DD40 on the dance floor this summer, so I remixed Lady Gaga a new one! Enjoy.

Download it here.

You can also listen to this song for free on the Flash Cassette Player that I built to play them on my website...

www.thisdotcomtaken.com > MUSIC > DD40 - New

TIP: Dragging the tapes from their bottoms helps them slide in the player easier.

Summer Jams

POSTED BY MARK: New DD40 songs released.

Summer Ride - Sounds like taking the scenic route.

Double Disappear - Sounds like realizing you've always had the power to teleport.

Listen to these songs for free on the Flash Cassette Player that I built to play them.

THISDOTCOMTAKEN > MUSIC > DD40 - New

TIP: Dragging the tapes from their bottoms helps them slide in the player easier.

DD40 - The Clouds Are Breaking

POSTED BY MARK: New DD40 CD Released!

Hey hey hey! My new CD is done done done! I had a fun time designing this one too. I'm already looking forward to the next one... maybe this fall/winter?

Buy it here. 
Listen to it here.
(TIP: Dragging the tapes from their bottoms helps them slide in the player easier.)

Jason - The New Website Is Up

After a few years of just showing my photography, my website has been revamped to show more of the things I do. APPLIED ARTS, if you will.

I'm having an art show in August

Opening Thursday, August 5th 2010, 6pm-9pm | Show runs through August.
Reading Frenzy - 921 SW Oak St. - Portland, OR
http://www.readingfrenzy.com/

See more collages on my Flickr page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisdotcomtaken/

No Turning Back | 5"x7" | Collage on paper

See Through Space | 5"x7" | Collage on paper

Spent my weekend with a glue stick

POSTED BY MARK: Another round of new collages uploaded to my Flickr page.

DD40 Thai Pop Remix (with lasers)

POSTED BY MARK: New DD40 Songs!

Lhow Lenum - DD40 Thai Pop Remix... with LASERS!
- - -

This was a fun challenge... to take a Thai Pop Song, recreate it,
AND remix it with the bits of the original song...
then add a laser fight at the end!

Will It - Sounds like making a collage.

Listen to these songs for free on the Flash Cassette Player that I built to play them.

www.thisdotcomtaken.com > MUSIC > DD40

TIP: Dragging the tapes from their bottoms helps them slide in the player easier.

areyoumadatmes

mark and i were in our friend amelia's video awhile back for their song "the west". i thought i posted this but i did not and so am doing so now. a lovely little ditty!

Jason makes COOL HUNTING!

COOL HUNTING called and I got a write-up. YAY!!!!!!

The Longest Spring

POSTED BY MARK: New DD40 Song Released

The Longest Spring - Sounds like how the Portland Spring of 2010 feels.

Listen to this song for free on the Flash Cassette Player that I built to play them.

www.thisdotcomtaken.com > MUSIC > DD40

TIP: Dragging the tapes from their bottoms helps them slide in the player easier.