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The Dali Museum
Behind the architectural design
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Pretty Lights Music
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The record label
inspire. create. repeat. Issue 1 | May 2012
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5 Creativity Tips Spark your creativity
Subskatem From concept to creation
Table of Contents
8
inspire. create. repeat. Creativity Tips
5 tips to help spark your creativity
p. 5
Subskatem
From concept to creation
p. 8
Pretty Lights Music The innovative record label
p. 11
The Dali Museum
Behind the architectural design
p. 15
inspire. create. repeat. EDITOR IN CHIEF Kayla Fletcher CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kayla Fletcher
FEATURES EDITOR
Kayla Fletcher
MANAGING EDITOR
Dr. Paul Wang
DESIGNER
Kayla Fletcher
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR
Kayla Fletcher
ART DIRECTOR
Kayla Fletcher
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Kayla Fletcher
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inspire. create. repeat.
Red Bull
速
Float in the clouds. It gives you wiiings.
nintendo.com/wii
Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
Creativity Tips 5 tips to help spark your creativity
BY: KAYLA FLETCHER
Have you ever sat in front of a blank computer screen, empty piece of paper, or white canvas and wished you had some source of inspiration to help with your creative process? If you have ever taken an art class, or worked as a designer, or just tried creating something, you have more than likely experienced creativity block. Well have no fear, here are some tips to help spark your creativity! 5
May 2012
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*Inspiration
Creativity often involves adapting an idea and forming it in a way to make it your own. It helps to continually expose yourself to new ideas and experiences. Creativity is fueled by experiences, sights, sounds and smells. Sitting still won’t bring new ideas in; experimenting and trying new things will jog your creativity. Above all, learn something from every experience.
*Get outside
Whether it’s outside your house or just outside your mind, changing your perspective will help the creative ideas flow. Many people find that getting out and connecting with nature to be a good way to slow their frantic lives. Sometimes all you need is a little peace and quiet to hear what your mind has to say.
*Think small
Don’t get lost in the big picture and forget to think about the details. Having a creative vision is important and often essential, but the details make the whole project come together. Take time to plan out the small steps you’ll need to reach your desired final result. Having a welldesigned plan will give you a solid base from which will allow your creativity to run wild.
*Use your imagination
Curiosity, imagination, and wonder are qualities we often expect to leave behind as we grow to adulthood. These three qualities are some of the basic ingredients of creativity. Recapture old memories and feelings and your creativity will surge. Creativity is like a muscle that you need to flex regularly. Everything begins with that first stroke.
*Daydream
Productivity is important, but it is also necessary to take a break and do some daydreaming. Being organized, motivated, and getting things done only improves your life when it leaves you time to dream. Having time to yourself when you don’t have to be tightly focused on your 8 daily schedule or next deadline is essential to creativity. inspire. create. repeat.
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inspire. create. repeat.
Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
(Don’t get overwhelmed. Try to vent your frustration!) inspire. create. repeat.
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“ Subskatem guitar stand made from recycled materials.
Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
“
I took old skateboard decks and with little modification to the form, created a unique guitar stand. ─Jeff Sears
SUBSKATEM Guitar and Bass Foundations
BY: KAYLA FLETCHER
The first step was to find durable materials that could easily translate into a guitar stand and also relate to
Layers of clothes and dust buried a maroon Gib-
an individual or given group of people. Initially, he
son Epiphone SG bass guitar as it rested on the floor
had a couple of materials in mind including wooden
of a college dorm room. A seven-ply maple skate-
fan blades and a bright orange street cone. Upon
board deck and pages of sketches were engulfed in
finding a couple of old skateboard decks, he quickly
the clutter that made up the foundation of the room.
realized that he had found the answer. “I took old
“Aha!” thought the young creator as he stared at the
skateboard decks and with little modification to the
tangled mess. He figured out the perfect solution to
form, created a unique guitar stand,” said Sears.
recycle his old childhood toy to support his favorite
When he found the skateboard decks, the ex-
hobby. The ideas of ergonomics, sustainability, and
perience reminded him of his days in high school,
productivity bounced around in his mind.
where all his peers were playing guitar and skate-
“SUBSKATEM” is the result of utilizing an object
boarding. Sears explained, “The ties between music
that is usually regarded as “trash” and turning it into
and skateboarding provided a perfect opportunity to
a usable guitar stand. The 22-year-old creator, Jeff
merge these ideas and create a product that people,
Sears, started by discovering a problem, which were
like myself, would love to own and display.”
the many guitars that were lying around the room.
Sears began brainstorming ideas for logos, pack-
inspire. create. repeat.
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aging and a prototype. He wanted to merge music
When Sears was 16 years old, he spent most of
and skateboard graphics to create an interesting
his free time skateboarding with friends and playing
identity. Sears stated, “I started off with sketches
bass guitar for a local Tampa Bay area ska band,
based off the treble and bass clef, two of the most
“Can’t Do It.” He recently graduated from Ringling
important symbols in music.” After researching gui-
College of Art and Design in Sarasota, with a Bach-
tar stands, skateboards, guitars, and the definition
elor of Arts in graphic design. His goal is to create
of the word ‘foundation’, he came across the word
a series of decks based off different music genres
‘substratum’ which means an underlying support or
that would allow for an expression of individuality as
foundation. Sears studied this word while changing
well as a wide customer appeal. Sears hopes that
a few of the letters around and “SUBSKATEM” was
as “SUBSKATEM” grows he can continue to impact 8 the environment in a positive way.
born.
inspire. create. repeat.
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inspire. create. repeat.
.
.
.
Seven-ply maple wood used from old skateboard decks
bottom base support
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May 2012
The SUBSKATEM design fits perfectly with any guitar or bass.
holds up to 8 guitar picks
secure vertical rest
Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
◄
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Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
â—„ Jeffrey Sears, the creator of SUBSKATEM, is a 22-year-old graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design. Sears currently works as a web designer in downtown St. Petersburg.
inspire. create. repeat.
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Pretty Lights Music The Record Label.
Fusing Subcultures and Genres his growing fan base. He has released several al-
BY: KAYLA FLETCHER
bums and EPs across the span of a few years, including two full-length albums.
The soulful essence of Pretty Light’s tunes con-
Smith recently released two albums on his
sist of abstract hip-hop beats that fuse sample-
newly formed record label, Pretty Lights Music.
delic compositional qualities with vintage vocal
The PLM record label offers free downloads for
samples, potent hooks and bold synthesizer pat-
all of Pretty Lights’ albums plus Michal Menert,
terns. Pretty Lights describes the genre of his mu-
Paper Diamond, Paul Basic and Break Science,
sic as ‘ElectroHiphopSoul’ and that term couldn’t
who are all currently under the Pretty Lights Mu-
be any more valid. The output of Pretty Light’s
sic record label. Gramatik is the latest addition to
music features digital sampling that crosses dif-
the Pretty Lights Music record label with his first
ferent genres together, forming a brilliant combi-
album, ‘Beatz & Pieces Vol. 1′ (2011), available
nation of electronic roots with funk, soul and hip-
for download as well.
hop influences.
The album, ‘Filling Up The City Skies’ was
Derek Smith, better known as Pretty Lights,
downloaded over 30,000 times from the Pretty
is an electronic music artist and producer from
Lights website in the first 3 months of release,
Colorado. Derek Smith explained in a Spinner.
proving that the Pretty Lights sound is not only
com interview,
getting around, it’s spreading like a virus.
“Throughout your life there are moments that in-
Pretty Lights puts on a real show when he is
spire you as an artist. It’s the little things through-
performing at concerts and spends thousands
out your day that can turn into a big inspiration
of dollars on his LED light shows alone. Pretty
creatively.” ─Pretty Lights
Lights has been touring across the United States
Unlike most artists, Pretty Lights has ALL of his
while taking over music festivals. As a result, he
albums and EPs available for free downloads on
has picked up an exponentially growing fan base
his website with the option to donate. Smith has
in which most of his shows are sold out weeks
been remarkably productive in creating music for
before the day of the concert.
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inspire. create. repeat.
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inspire. create. repeat.
♪
Throughout your life there are moments that inspire you as an artist. It’s the little things throughout your day that can turn into a big inspiration creatively. ─Pretty Lights
inspire. create. repeat.
Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
“
♪“
AKAI keyboard for music production.
♪ 12
the tenth squeeze spectacularism. El Ultimo Agave
™ 100% de agave blanco tequila
The Dali Museum Behind the Architectural Design
BY: KAYLA FLETCHER
The $36 million new museum overlooks Tampa Bay, located next to the Mahaffey Theater within the Progress Energy Center for the Arts.
The unique architectural design for the new
“The old museum was vulnerable to damage
Dali museum is a work of art all in itself. A huge
from storms,” said Kathy White, the Deputy Di-
abstract glass structure flows throughout the
rector of the Dali Museum in a public notice.
building with a giant boulder from Spain, Dali’s
“When a storm threatened, the collections had to
homeland, appearing to give support to a corner
be removed and placed in a secure location.” The
of the building. The sun’s rays cut through the
new building structure provides heavy protection
Dali signature that is engraved in the building.
from the elements with 18-inch-thick concrete
Upon entering the museum, visitors will see
walls designed to withstand 165 mph winds. Da-
a spiral staircase designed to resemble a strand
li’s priceless artwork is located above the flood-
of DNA that stretches to the 3rd floor of the
plain on the third floor, and is built to withstand
building, where a 75 foot glass dome shows the
extreme weather with up to a Category 5 storm
beautiful view of Tampa Bay for all to see
surge.
More than twice the size of the old museum,
“I love the Dali Museum, it is my favorite in the
the new building is 64,450 square feet compared
area. The structure is different than anything I’ve
to the current 30,000-square-foot building. The
ever seen,” said David Lasky, a recent Florida
new structure allows for about 50 percent more
State University graduate. Art lovers around the
space for artwork display. The Dali Museum in
world are invited to keep an eye on their clocks
St. Pete has the second largest collection of
and experience the most innovative architectural
Salvador Dali’s work behind Spain.
design that St. Petersburg has to offer.
“
“
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inspire. create. repeat.
I love the Dali Museum, it is my favorite in the area.
The structure is different than anything I’ve ever seen. ─David
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inspire. create. repeat.
May 2012
Lasky, a recent Florida State University graduate.
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The new museum features more Dali masterpieces than any other museum in the world and also has the largest collection outside of Spain.
Photo by: Kayla Fletcher
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BREATHABLE ENERGY