[Music/Graphic Design] Erikoismerkki Kirjasuunnittelu / Special Character Book Design

I run into some truly kind, rather brilliant artists constantly. I wanted to give a heads up to designer John Hubbard’s website. Here’s a bit more about his work:

A professional book designer since 1994,
my emphasis is on illustrated art catalogs,
photography books, and elevating music
packaging to book form…
along with designing record albums,
CDs, DVDs, film posters, children’s books,
cookbooks, and so on.

With my situational approach to design,
a great love and knowledge of typography, color,
and printing, I will  translate your ideas 
into a thought-provoking
professional publication.

Our collaboration will generate a new juxtaposition
of ideas, providing balanced and engaging form
to your content.

My personal interests extend beyond books
to photography, music making, and enjoying
the sights and sounds in between.

After a lifetime in Seattle,
I now reside in central Finland 
with my wife and daughter.


Thank you for looking.

John Hubbard

 B O O K  D E S I G N E R   /   C R E A T I V E   D I R E C T O R

What is particularly pleasing to the eye is his music design, which you can peruse here. Consider supporting his work.

[Art] Sister Wendy Beckett, RIP

Whether it was discussing Caravaggio or nudes in paintings, Sister Wendy always did so with authority and a good laugh.  She was a jovial presence in my younger days, when PBS really offered wonderful educational programming.

May the good Sister rest in the Bosom of Abraham now, and I, along with many others, thank her for proving that one could be devout and still have not only no fear, but a passionate love for art and culture.

PBS offers a short biography of her life here.

[Article] A Striking Exception

The Wall Street Journal do justice to the legacy of Manfred Eicher and perhaps the most amazing and success label you may never have heard of, ECM. From Stuart Isacoff’s article, a quote which sums up my personal opinion of him quite nicely:

“But the most striking exception at the Grammys belongs to ECM (Editions of Contemporary Music), nominated this time around for works by the little-known Polish-Russian composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg performed under the direction of Gidon Kremer. If anyone deserves an award for lifetime achievement, it is ECM’s founder, Manfred Eicher, a producer of over 1,600 albums—many of which have changed the course of recorded art

Here’s to Manfred and the crew at ECM, hoping they make another 1,600 wonderful albums.