Brand Defining in Motion

Driving amongst a rush hour that never stopped, 5 friends jammed out over five Los Angeles recording sessions. Spirited filmmaking sessions exchanged with the Clayton Brothers, Tim Biskup, Camille Rose Garcia, Jeff Soto, Joe Sorren, Kevin Christy and Martha Rich in one cohesive art documentary entitled Scribble.08.

Scribble.08 captured the essence of what was fast emerging in the art world in 2003 as the convergence all different disciplines were becoming one—comics, illustration, animation, printing, collage, street, and on. . . The spirit of this film continues, as a new full-length documentary featuring new artists is now in production. Fine artists: Souther Salazar, Mark Todd, Esther Pearl Watson, James Jean, Matt Furie and more have been actively recorded, as seen in the James Jean video below. Please keep in mind this is raw, unedited and will evolve as the film’s story is realized later this year.

The raw footage is captivating and allows the viewer into a private space, where artist openly shares points of view, that delivers a unique and authentic voice. Driving this concept of authenticity and uniqueness, I shared this vision with the attendees of this year’s Y Conference in San Diego sponsored by the local AIGA chapter (American Institute of Graphic Artists).

Inspirational points of view were exchanged through the process of personal mapping—a sketch to best articulate an important driver, “Who are you, and what do you bring to the table that is unique, fresh and original?” Furthering the discussion, the following 4 points were illustrated, exchanging stories and real life experiences in the industry to illustrate the following four important points: 1) Know Thyself; 2) Create Opportunity; 3) Expand Understanding; and 4) Practice Leadership.

The attached film will take you through today’s discussion, while the spreads extracted from the program “mini zine” was offered to the attendees, so that they could walk through each point, step by step and exercise their unique voice. Robert Craighead, TenStories, was on hand to offer technical antidotes and answered tons of questions from the audience, hungry to cultivate their own unique experiences.

Jarritos Flavor City Winners—Congrats!

Jarritos opened up an art contest looking for community participation and innovative, creative expression. With over 150 entries they received some pretty fine artistic goodness. Some of the judges included: Mike Maxwell, Jeff Soto, Jesse Hernandez, URB Magazine, Tribal, myself and more. I always wish to be looking in on the process with everyone in one place at one time to see what really sparked each judge’s feelings behind each entry. (Above, Andrez J Wieteszka).

Super congratulations to Oscar Meza, Zofia Bogusz and Geraldine Said. Oh yes, and all of the entries, as Jarritos Flavor City never looked better. Here is a look at the winners and a couple pics of pieces I really loved. (Above, Minerva T).

First Place : Oscar Meza : Student, San Diego : CA
“What inspired my piece started off as some sketches on a pad. Being that Jarritos was founded in Mexico, I wanted my illustration to reflect that authenticity. It almost felt obvious to incorporate a Luchador. I wasn’t sure who I was drawing at the time; but ironically, some of my friends said that the character kind of looked like me.”

“Wining this competition has made my year. It is such an honor to have been chosen amongst the other great competitors. I feel very lucky and humble to have won. Winning the year supply of Jarritos has made my belly smile, and having my art published has fed my artistic ego. But to my surprise, the best part of winning thus far is making my friends and family proud!”

Second Place : Zofia Bogusz : New York, NY
Zofia Bogusz was born in Poland in the '80s. She lives and works in New York City, where she received a degree from the School of Visual Arts. Zofia regularly exhibits her art, and enjoys doing freelance illustration. Zofia paints women against bold and dramatic landscapes, in which natural elements such as water and sunlight color the dynamic between the individual and the external world. She strives to render the balance of effortless beauty and strength that exists within the female form. Zofia’s paintings are inspired by individual histories, memories, and experiences. Pop culture imagery also plays a crucial role in her work, creating a grounded sense of the everyday. Zofia’s mediums of choice are oil paint, graphite, and colored pencils on hand-cut wood.

Third Place- Geraldine Said : Mexico City
Geraldine Said is from Mexico City and has worked at Grey Mexico as the Art Director. Currently she is living in Los Angeles and helping her husband with his boutique Ariane. Since moving to Los Angeles, Geraldine has been doing freelance work. When she isn’t working she loves immersing herself in photography and her charity organization H.A.T.

Runner's Up—Florian Mihr, Andrez J Wieteska, Mildred, Minerva T, DFRNT, Ted Stanley and Kate Fitzgerrell. Congratulations to everyone. See you next year and thanks for including me as a judge, nice work.

Lucid Dreams featured Artists & Counting

Tasha Kusama

Over the past 12 years, I have had the great pleasure of curating dynamic art “happenings” that have showcased over five hundred unique artists and hundreds of performers from around the world. The key attributes for sustainability has been the ability to attract artists who consistently evolve individualistic virtuosity and to captivate the curiosity of the art’s community.

Marc Bell

Life-long partnerships with artists, friends, businesses and associates have been formed. A dedicated group of individuals who recognize the importance of the arts as a compelling stimulant for life-changing experiences.

Tim Biskup

Marc Burckhardt

Looking back and reflecting upon—Guapo y Fuerte (San Jose), Outer Space (SD), Utopia (Los Angeles), Heaven and Hell (SD + Philadelphia), SuperHero Western Show (SD), Dialogue/the fine art of conversation (Santa Monica, Charleston, SD), Green (Santa Monica), SuperHero (SD 1/2), Scribble (SD), Art Now (SD), KNOW (Miami), Aqua (Miami), Survey Select (SD)—I can offer passionate testimonylife’s work that has barely begun. In fact, it is a personal goal to consistently archive and celebrate living artists who are impact our world, provoke meaningful exchange and instigate animated conversation.

Victor Castillo

Jorge Catoni

And like all of the years before, I’m proud to curate a new exhibition that introduces 30 fine artists from around the world who can be described as unconventional, eclectic and forward thinking.

Hugo Crosthwaite

Date Farmers

Mathieu Desjardins

Alejandro Diaz

Rai Escalé

“Lucid Dreams” is a new exhibition taking place in San Diego July 8 through August 9 and featuring: Marc Bell, Tim Biskup, Marc Burckhardt, Victor Castillo, Jorge Catoni, Hugo Crosthwaite, Date Farmers, Mathieu Desjardins, Alejandro Diaz, Rai Escalé, Linh Hoang, Jim Houser, Marianela de la Hoz, Tim Hussey, Tasha Kusama, Ludovic Boulard Le Fur/Loubard, Daniel Munoz, Joel Nakamura, Billy Norrby, Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, Kevin Paulsen, Artemio Rodriguez, Matt Rota, Bonnie M. Smith, Souther Salazar, Jeff Soto, Matt Stallings, Gary Taxali, Mark Todd, Aaron Della Vedova, Jonathan Viner, Marco Wagner, Esther Pearl Watson, Megan Whitmarsh, Nicholas Wilton, Marco Zamora and more. Curated by Mark Murphy (that’s me) and two major exhibit openings—Friday, July 8, 6 to 11pm and again during Comic-Con on Friday, July 22 from 6 to 11pm.

Irene Hardwicke Olivieri

Special events, additional artists and live performances posted soon. Thank you for your support of cultural events and the fine arts.

Jim Houser

Tim Hussey

Ludovic Boulard Le Fur/Loubard

Daniel Munoz “SAN”

Joel Nakamura

Billy Norrby

Kevin Paulsen

Artemio Rodriguez

Souther Salazar

Jeff Soto

Bonnie Marie Smith

Matt Stallings

Gary Taxali

Mark Todd

Jonathan Viner

Marco Wagner

Esther Pearl Watson

Megan Whitmarsh

Nicholas Wilton

Marco Zamora

Doyald Young Master Typographer

If asked, “Please identify some great examples of typographic design experienced in your daily life?” Would you reply?



Regardless, there is no need for most of us to answer this question. It’s not as if we have any real problems navigating our way through hundreds of road signs legibly pronounced with tall letters adequately spaced to guarantee our eventual arrival—(Who am I kidding? That tireless voice on your navigation device will get you there regardless); or immediately solving an email crisis with a collection of caps and lower case—(indicating a mild mix of polite and not so polite sentences); or sifting through tens of thousands of news media pages flagged with color, type weight and size with intent to promote your full attention as objects move, videos play, sound creeps, advertisements clamor and millions of words dance before your eyes.

Ok, now breathe. Typography, no doubt, has become more of a science that quickly relays critical information. And in most cases, its beauty is stripped, compressed and simplified into digital bits. The elegance of typography—the craft of composing legible forms into a dance by a great master is a fine art. Sadly, Southern California master typographer Doyald Young recently passed away on February 28, 2011 in Sherman Oaks, CA at the young age of 84.

Fortunately, I met Doyald fourteen years ago at the AIGA San Diego Y Conference. Mr. Young was witty, kind and a well-read, typographic theologian who chose hand made typography over computer generated images trying hard to interpret classical letterforms. Mr. Young taught at Art Center in Pasadena for 30 years, self-published 3 monographs and created typographic solutions for the Tony Awards, The Golden Globes, Frank Sinatra (TV special in 1981), Elvis (MGM/UA), Bette Midler (Universal 2002) and corporate fonts for Sony, General Electric, John Deere and many more.

Doyald was originally from Holiday, Texas and left home at 15 to work as a bellhop, usher and railroad brakeman. In 1946 he began his long career in Los Angeles where he created advertisements and show cards for a five and dime store. In 1955 he began his long tenure teaching typography design at Art Center. Today, his teaching legacy is realized in thousands of designers, illustrators and filmmakers all over the country. Candice Lopez, professor of design at San Diego City College, is a wonderful example of Doyald’s passion of typography and inspiring young upstarts in design. Mr. Young was beloved in Southern California. He openly shared his craft, creative thirst for life and his charismatic heart-to-heart infusion at any design conference.

Doyald is a lifetime Design Medalist presented by the AIGA in 2009. Doyald chose Deanna Kulman to introduce him at the gala, as in his gentlemanly way quipped how he had to condense his life’s story into a speech four minutes or less. Doyald’s obituary mentions leaving no immediate family members behind. Not true, I can assure you, as each student, creative professional and friend moves forward in life with a bright light inspired by Doyald Young. Thank you Doyald! You will be greatly missed.

A wonderful tribute is planned in remembrance of Doyald Young at the Y16 conference at the Joan B Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice on March 24 in San Diego. Please click here for more information.

Survey Select Exchanges Design with China

Wednesday afternoon was the first hot day in San Diego, fitting, as 31 leading designers, luminaries, educators and diplomats traveled in from China to visit “Survey Select.” One year before, San Diego AIGA had sent a caravan of representatives to visit the design scene throughout China — Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. My good friend and important ambassador to the San Diego community, Bennett Peji played considerate host and moderator.

The 31 designers moved through “Survey Select” with their cameras and business cards kindly introducing themselves and exchanging printed materials. I gave everyone a “Ultra” zine featuring the villains and superhero robots of Ultra Man. To me this was a symbol of the rapid economic development of China, much like the robots photographed by Tim Mantoani and illustrated by Joel Nakamura amongst the brightly colored pages of my designed creation.

And to let you know how small the world truly is, Bi Xue-feng is one of my favorite designers from China, who ended up visiting today. I have been familiar with his work from the long commute to print my books in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, as his design style is very tactile, utilizing texture and well-placed fonts in his works. Thankfully, Bi Xue-feng and I traded our designed creations, and “Yes!” this will be placed in the Murphy archives.

“Survey Select” has serviced as a community space to many kind people over the past few weeks. It has been an honor to educate, share and inspire over 2400 visiting guests from all over the world. It is a historic gathering as artisans from all genres have participated in workshops, shared their ideas and presented their films. Today was a fun day and another example of the important nature of “Survey Select” and its community spirit within the creative minds from China.