Cam Hoff - Worksonpaper » Current Events

Every Good Plan Starts with a Logo?

Cam Hoff — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:21:32 +0000

I can’t be the only one who’s wondered why we need a logo for an economic action plan, but more importantly (and ironically) how many tax payer dollars were spent on it? With individual signs running up to $7000 I can imagine they paid a pretty penny for the logo itself.

Just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. A good Canadian agency would do this kind of work pro-bono, with patriotism and pride as sole payment. Harper probably outsourced this to a U.S. agency…anyone know who did it? and how much it cost?

Calgary Graffiti Project Bombs

Cam Hoff — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:59:43 +0000

A graffiti mural was set to liven up Shaw Millenium Park, and mentor young artists over the next few months. Instead it’s become a giant PR nightmare for the City of Calgary, who supplied that paint (but not the proper supervision and guidelines) that was subsequently used to vandalize most of the park. Downtown Alderman John Mar (pictured) is calling for blood after touring the site yesterday. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and if the project will ever go on as intended, or if the budget will be eaten up with what’s sure to be a hefty clean up bill.

Twitter user @RyanPopowich probably sums it up best:
City gives skate-punks spray paint. Skate-punks spray paint the shit out of skatepark with F-Bombs. Wow, did not see that one coming

You have to feel for Dave Brunning (a great local graffiti artist), who helped to coordinate this project with the purest intentions, but sadly it looks like this is only going to end up pushing back street art as a legitimate artform in Calgary. It’s always been an uphill battle cleaning up graffiti’s public image: now it’s clear all it takes is a few bad apples, and some really bad planning by the City for things to go completely south.

Full story at Calgary Sun and to see street art done right visit Wooster Collective.

Recession: I’m Lovin’ It!

Cam Hoff — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:36:41 +0000

Who’s cashing in on the recession? McDonald’s, that’s who.

Yo Gabba Guestspot!

Cam Hoff — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:12:33 +0000

Set the PVR! Jack Black is appearing (and rocking out with Muno) on the Yo Gabba Gabba! episode airing April 3. Not sure if that’s when it airs here in Canada (on Treehouse), but regardless this will be an episode not to miss. I can’t imagine a guest star more suited to the crazy pre-school acid trip world of YGG! Unfortunately, I like it more than my kids and will have to watch it alone.

For those not in the know, Yo Gabba Gabba! is the favorite show of 2 year olds and art school drop-outs everywhere. Check out their website for more info. It’s probably one of the top 5 coolest things on the planet right now.

Who steals art?

Cam Hoff — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:53:25 +0000

I read a headline this morning about an art show at a gallery closing as a result of a theft. This got me thinking about art theft in general and how it’s just something I’ve never really understood. Those old art heist movies never really made sense to me. Any art that is theoretically worth stealing has got to be unsellable. It’s owner and location are well-known to any potential buyer.

Art Thief: Hi there, I’ve got a piece of art I think you might be interested in.

Art Collector: Ok great, what do you have for me?

Art Thief: You may have heard of it, it’s called the…uh…the Mona Lisa…

*Click*

Art Thief: Craigslist it is…