Welcome to my new website! After having a static site that had never been updated since it was originally launched, I’m delighted to finally have a “living, breathing” website that I can update and maintain myself.
First of all, I’d like to give a special shout out to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Through their Individual Artists Program I was awarded a generous “Artistic Development Grant” that made the creation of this new website possible. I can’t thank them enough! To those Chicago artists unaware of the grants available through DCASE, I encourage them to check out the link above for more information.
I also want to thank Eric Hofmeister at Scientists of Media for all his help in making it possible.
I first met Eric many years ago when he was working at Premonition Records. One day on a visit to my studio, Eric told me “I want to do what you do — that is be a self-employed graphic artist who worked at home. With encouragement from Premonition’s CEO, Michael Friedman, Eric shifted to a part-time position at the record label, and became my part-time assistant. At that same time I needed a website, and I encouraged Eric to consider learning web design. That was around 16 or so years ago (thus this post’s headline), and Eric’s very first website creation was the one I’ve just replaced.
Over the years Eric has built an amazing career, founding Scientists of Media in 2001, and producing some beautiful work. Along the way, Eric and I have collaborated on a lot of websites, with Eric doing all the heavy lifting. I’m forever grateful to Eric and his patience in teaching me how to maintain this new site, and I look forward to future collaborations with him and his team.
By the way, Eric is also a wicked drummer in the Chicago-based (via Austin, Texas) band No Men. Check them out!
And finally, I want to thank my friend, blues musician extraordinaire Matthew Skoller. Matthew has received two IAP grants from DCASE. Matthew used part of the grant money to hire Eric and I to first help him development his own new website a couple years ago, and again last year for package design for his latest album “Blues Immigrant”. Matthew encouraged me to apply for the grant, and mentored me through the application process. His help and guidance proved invaluable.
It’s also worth noting that the work displayed on my site is the result of some wonderful collaborative experiences with many photographers, artists, musicians, art directors, editors, clients, ecetera. I’m truly grateful to have known and worked with so many cool people in my career. If any of you see your work displayed here, contact me. I’d be happy to post a story about what we did together, and find out what you’ve been up to since then.
Thus concludes my very first post. I’m ready for what’s next!