For Inspiration

I finally found my Billy Collins book of poetry in a box today, which I thought I had lost while moving. While reading through it, I remembered why I love him so much. This poem especially got to me because I have been extremely forgetful for some reason lately. He has the amazing ability to transform the simplest idea into something everlasting.

Forgetfulness
The name of the author is first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read, never
even heard of,

as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses good-bye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,

something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.

Whatever it is you are struggling to remember
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.

It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have forgotten how to swim and how to ride a
bicycle.

No wonder your rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.

The Flight

The Flight is the new name of the Student Alumni Association at the University of Oregon. Allen Hall Advertising created this new persona for the group with the use of the rubber duck dubbed "Fred Flight," as their mascot. During each week of spring term 2007, aha members snuck out in the middle of the night and "ducked" different areas of the campus with thousands of rubber ducks. The Flight group grew on facebook to hundreds of members within weeks, and people started attaching photos of themselves with Fred. This guerilla marketing technique was designed to spark interest in the group before people understood what it actually was. At the end of spring term, The Flight unveiled itself as The Flight: SAA, a student group committed to upholding U of O traditions, networking, and above all, having fun.
The Flight will reflect the traditions and values of the University of Oregon in a fresh new way that students can relate to. This organization will become a melting pot for all students, freshman through graduation, and will allow for an easy transition to the University of Oregon Alumni Association. . The logo and brand of The Flight is to communicate the ideas of transformation, growth, connection, success, and above all having fun!

Below are some of the logos I designed for the flight.







The picture was taken at the Flight Fest, where students could come check out what The Flight was all about. They also came to turn in the giant personalized ducks that were hid all over campus the night before. This is Spike, the punk duck I created.


Fred checking his Facebook profile. He has more friends than me.


We had to put stickers on all of those ducks.


After each prank, students would take ducks home with them. This guy got really into it.


Fred has traveled all over the world.


My friend and fellow aha member giving Fred a kiss.


Fred has a great appreciation for art.

The Bach Remix 2

On June 2nd, 2007, The University of Oregon Journalism students at Allen Hall Advertising helped host the second annual Bach Remix, a venue created by KDUK and the Oregon Bach Festival. Three DJs put their skills to the test with a piece of music from the master of old school: Johann Sebastian Bach. The contest was created to introduce Bach to a younger generation and spark interest in attendance to the Bach Festival. Allen Hall advertising held auditions at the University of Oregon ampitheather, and narrowed it down to three DJs: DJ DV8 (last year's champ), DJ Smuve, and DJ Reeflex. The contest was held at the Oakway Center Heritage Courtyard in Eugene. Each DJ brought their own unique flavor to the table, but it was DJ Smuve who won the attention from the judges. He wrote his own music and beats so it would flow with Bach's classical symphony. The mixture of his cool beats with the soft and at times raw sound of violins created a truly unique sound that inspired the audience and judges. DJ Smuve left with the grand prize of $717 and the 2007 Bach Remix title. We had a great time working street team and getting the crowd pumped during the contest.


Oil pastel sketches from my idea journal while on the Bach account. The idea was to mix a classical theme with urban flavor. Think tag art meets Marie Antoinette.


Final Bach Remix Event poster.


DJ Reeflex aka Shareef Lindel


DJ DV8 aka Danny Stanton


Bach Remix winner DJ Smuve, aka Bobby Green