Ghost Pixel

     As I mentioned previously, the Michal Menert show at the Belly Up in Aspen had a very impressive LED rig. It was ideal for showcasing animated clips, which were manipulated live by Tom Ludlow. Ludlow serves as creative director for a team of designers, who produced the clips. The designers include: Brian Long, Zack Citro, Jason Wyatt, John Camalick, Zack Shammy, and Josh Theil. Each of these gifted artists are part of a designer collective called Ghost Pixel. These guys have given motion graphics a more meaningful and prominent role in the live music scene. The vivid, prismatic, and fast-moving visuals helped transform Menert's music into a full-sensory experience. On a personal level, Ludlow has been a good friend of mine for years. He has partly inspired me to pursue an artistic path. I have seen him work hard to manifest his own success. He, and many of the designers on the Ghost Pixel team, graduated from my school, The Art Institute of Colorado. With forward-thinking and artistically innovative minds, Ghost Pixel is a group to keep an eye on.

Mount Sopris and Carbondale

Last weekend, we went to Carbondale. Friday night, we took a bus into Aspen to see Michal Menert at the Belly Up. The music venue was easily one of the nicest I've been to. My jaw about dropped when a girl with an "X" on her hand walked in wearing her finest white fur coat. The stage was equipped with a full length LED screen. My friend Tom, aka VJ Ghost Pixel, was thrilled. He impressed us all with his carefully designed and tactfully orchestrated visuals. However, I will not get too much into this part as I will delve deeper into it later.

   On Saturday, we went for a drive around the area and did some sight seeing. The most dominating feature of the landscape is easily Mount Sopris. It has twin peaks, both with an elevation of 12,965ft and an impressive 6,250ft gain from the valley below. We admired the gargantuan beauty from a hill outside of town. After, we left the expansive valley and drove south along the Crystal River. We stopped in Redstone, a tiny and picturesque mountain town. We continued past Redstone into Marble, which is a particularly interesting town. A great deal of the nation's and world's marble came from this isolated mountain community. It is a strange sight to see large chunks of unfinished marble lying around casually.
   Of course, I should not overlook Carbondale. It was easy to fall in love with this small historic community. Resting in the valley along the Roaring Fork River, the town used to be largely agricultural. Likewise, it has been a large resource for coal. Today, however, it has developed into a tourist's dream. Much less ritzy and well-to-do than neighboring Aspen, the town has its own vibrant music and arts scene and would never disappoint an avid outdoors man or woman. The citizens have over time protested the development of large chain stores, and it is dominated by locally owned businesses. I could easily see myself ending up there.
    Reluctantly, we returned to Denver on Sunday, eagerly planning our next trip back.

Denver and the 'New's

 

     About 2 weeks ago, I moved to Denver. Residing with the parental units for now, I'm becoming reacquainted with the city I've always been, well, acquainted with. Living in a new place is very refreshing. Also, somewhat terrifying coming from my homogeneously white bubble-town, where everyone drives 10 mph under the speed limit. However, the promise of removing myself from this bubble was what I most longed for. In Denver, there is no lack of new restaurants, new bars, new trails, new museums, new theaters, new parks, and so on. "New" is a term I long ago abandoned in Fort Collins.
     Perhaps, the most important is my new school. I was accepted to the Art Institute officially last week. I will be studying Visual FX and Motion Graphix starting July 12th. Luckily, all my credits from CSU transferred, so the only class I must take outside of my core curriculum is Spanish. I should be able to dive right in. I will be taking classes such as fundamentals of drawing and design, color theory, computer applications, for starters.

    Today, I took Buddy with me for a new hike up Mt Falcon. Little did I know before embarking that it neighbors my favorite venue in the whole world. I will be there for July 3rd seeing The Wailers, Galactic, and Umphrey's McGee. Ahh, finally it feels summer is here in my new city and new home.

Spring Time

     I love this time of year, when everything feels rejuvenated. I welcome the flowers and the budding leaves on the trees, along with a new chapter in my life. I'm really beginning to feel older and more mature. It is becoming glaringly obvious to me that I need change.
     I'm more than ready to depart from this extended stay as a co-ed. Over the last couple years, it has become glaringly obvious to me that I need new companions. Often in Fort Collins, I find myself surrounded by those who have no positive influence or impact on my life. Adults, who still act as though they are fresh out of high school. I'm eager to find new peers. Friends who will support me and encourage me to be healthy, happy, and successful. Also, I'm eager to put myself out there in the professional world and make my mark. However, with maturity I have learned nothing good comes quick or easy.
     I will be moving to Denver soon and hopefully beginning coursework at the Art Institute of Colorado. Change of location has been a long-time coming for me, and now I feel I can embrace it with open arms. I am more than excited for a beautiful Colorado Summer, a new city to explore, the blossoming of my refreshingly adult romance, and all other prospects for growth and change. I've got a lot of work ahead of me, and the more patient I am the better. Though I must admit, I'm anxious to see what awaits.