My blog has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in a couple seconds. If not, visit
http://www.billykirk.com/blog
and update your bookmarks.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Seasick Steve is a one of America's best blues musicians that you have never heard of. He palled around with Joplin and Cobain and helped produce albums for Modest Mouse and other indie lable artists yet the UK is where he is really embraced.

Let's all get behind this American bluesman so he pencils in few tour dates over on his native soil. His album, "Doghouse Music" is a must.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

In DT Jersey City, where our design studio is, one can see a nice smattering of old hand-painted murals. Most of these have faded but they all have a story and represent yet another craft trade that has nearly become extinct, falling to technology, innovation and the almighty dollar.

The documentary, "Up There" by Malcolm Murray and presented by Stella Artoise really captures the emotion, pride and sheer hard work that goes into these massive paintings.

A poignant quote from the documentary:

"They (vinyl mural guys) can't print what we paint. They print in pixels you know...they mix colors optically...little dots...little dots...you know blue and yellow together make green but we paint green so we can make it a lot richer."

This quote reminds me of just how watered down our society has become when it comes to "richness, detail and texture." Digital and analog audio (CD's & cassette tapes) replacing records and digital pixels replacing 35MM film are other examples of how we have given up tone, highlights and image quality for convenience, cost and ease. Dont' get me wrong, most of these technological advances are great, especially the new Quad HDTV's but in my opinion some of these new forms of multimedia are actually steps back but are seen by the masses as huge steps forward.

Click video to enlarge

Sky High Murals

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Check All Paid Out for a Mother's Day tribute to our Mother Sandy by Kirk.


Memphis, TN. Circa 1976

Monday, May 3, 2010

Hey Mom, thanks for dressing me in cool T-shirts

Farrah Fawcett T-shirt circa Labor Day 1977. We all have memories of our youth and one of mine is this T-shirt. Along with Lynda Carter and Kristy McNichol those three women were my first Hollywood crushes.


Don't ya just want to pinch Kirk's cheeks?