Meet the Models: Josh Larson - Architect

Josh Larson let us follow him around at Larson Shores Architecture + Interiors, his architecture firm to photograph the Classic Orange Zip Tie. Read his thoughts about being an architect after 17 years in the field.

This is the final "Meet the Models" post.

How would you describe your work?

I learn something new every day by the nature of my profession. Being a designer can be exhilarating as well as exhausting, especially because it requires many different professionals to make a project come to life. Sitting at my drafting table with trace and pencil in hand is incredibly rewarding and gratifying. I love working in a profession that allows you to design creativity into every nook and cranny possible.

How long have you been an architect?
I have been licensed as an architect for 7 years, but worked in architecture and construction for the past 17 years. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 
I enjoy seeing my vision realized and then appreciated by those who use it. 

What inspires you when working? 
Other creative architects, designers, and the nuances of living in a dynamic city filled with diversity and culture. 

Meet the Models: Andrew Thomas – Bass Player

Andrew Thomas chatted over lunch about his love of the bass and what inspires him to play music. Check out his band, Transit of Venus. 

You can also see Transit of Venus perform on Friday, Dec 6 at the Temescal Alleys in Oakland. Rumor has it Andrew will even be wearing his Classic Grey Zip Tie. 

This is the third "Meet the Models" post.


Tell me about your history as a musician.
In high school I started playing the electric bass and learned rifts from bands like Rage Against the Machine. After starting college I realized that music was the main thing that spoke to me, so I took a year off to learn the upright bass. I went back to school for music and learned classical music. Afterwards, I moved to Washington D.C. and played electric bass in a hip hop band, but was exposed to blue grass and old time music through friends and started experimenting with it. Then I moved to California and took a break from playing music. Later some big changes happened later in my life, and I hit a point when I needed to reinvent myself. Music kept resurfacing. During this time I met my friend Mike when he was playing at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market. For the last five years we have been getting together to play music in Transit of Venus, an acoustic band that has a mandolin, guitar, and bass.
 
What do you like about playing music? 
Music is a language that everyone speaks. It creates a connection that is deeper than everyday interactions. I feel so connected to the guys I play with. It makes me feel good, but also vulnerable. I can really dive into that emotion through music. Plus shows happen in real time, so you just have one shot to do it. I really enjoy playing with people listening. Sometimes we play gigs where we are more in the background and seeing even one person who is really listening gets me fired up to play even better.
 
What inspires you to play? 
I love the sound and vibration. I think that at the root of everyone is a pure vibration and sound of energy. Playing music allows me to connect with a deep layer of myself. The happiness that music brings to others also inspires me. 

Why the bass specifically? 
The bass has a sound I can feel in my stomach. I also love that it is the anchor in the band for the rhythm and harmony.

What type of music do you play the most? 
I was first drawn to music through singing in plays as a kid. I’m a sucker for a great melody regardless of the genre of music. I really enjoy playing songs that were not written originally on acoustic instruments. I like challenging myself with singing and playing at the same time because it forces me to get out of my head.

Visit Us at the Wunderfaire - Thursday December 5 in Downtown SF

Come visit Josh and Katherine at the 5th Annual Wunderfaire hosted by IDEO, a celebration of local craftspeople on Thursday, December 5. Shop at over 40 local vendor booths for the holiday, learn from experts as they talk about their work, and eat yummy treats from one of the many food carts. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Creative Growth, YBCA Young Artists at Work Program and IDEO.org.

Don’t miss Josh discuss how he experiments with felt structure at 5pm! 

Thursday, December 5
4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
IDEO - Pier 28 Annex - The Embarcadero - San Francisco, CA

Meet the Models: Adam Cardello - Visual Artist

Adam Cardello allowed us to watch him paint in his studio while sporting a new Skinny Zip Tie in Mustard. After seeing him make artwork, we just needed to know more about what inspires him. Read below and check out his website of his artwork, www.adamcardello.com.

This is the second "Meet the Models" post.


How would you describe your artwork?
My work is usually dictated by a formal interest in composition and color relationships. The content is both figurative and abstract in the sense that what you see is a representation of earthly life, reinterpreted using my own visual language. Control is another issue that frequents my work, evident in my process and craft. Some of my recent paintings attempted to weave a narrative between two recent major life events: the birth of my daughter and the death of a life-long friend. They never achieved this. Instead they stand as separate ideas that recognize and accept loss, and observe a child-like wonder of the world. Since those paintings I had been working on small studies, trying to solve a few technical issues that I felt were repeatedly surfacing in my work. I just started a new series of 10 paintings this weekend, which I am pretty excited about. 

How long have you been an artist?
I knew I wanted to be an artist and receive education in the arts from a very young age. With that, I believe that a certain amount of dedication is required to brandish such a nomenclature as being “an artist”; otherwise it is just cast around too easily. I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in 2004, but lacked that dedication to call myself an artist until about 3 years ago. It took me some time to get my priorities straight. 

What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
The existence and relationships of color. 

What inspires you when working?
Right now I am very much interested in the work of Steve Roden. However, I believe that inspiration comes from within, rather than outside influences. Some days it is hard to paint but I make myself do it anyways. On those days, when I am dragging my feet and then one tiny decision reveals something in front of me that completely changes my perspective or experience, that is when I feel most inspired.

Making.

Meet the Models: Rob Hansen - Utilities Engineer

Rob Hansen let us follow him around a rail yard while wearing our new Skinny Zip Tie. Afterwards we asked him about his work inspecting the railways and what inspires him.

This is the first post in our "Meet the Models" series.


How would you describe your work?
As a Utilities Engineer, I work for the State of California to oversee the safety of our rail transit systems, such as BART and Muni. I review plans for new infrastructure, perform on-site inspections of construction sites, investigate accidents to determine the causes of a collision or derailment, offer recommendations to avert future accidents, and help with comprehensive reviews of the rail agency safety programs. 

How long have you been focused on engineering?I have a Bachelor's and a Master's in Civil Engineering, and have been working in the field for one year.

What do you enjoy most about being an engineer?
The best part of my job is the diversity of work- there's always interesting project. Long term, it is satisfying to know that my work could have enormous effects in the safety of train passengers, rail system employees, pedestrians, and motorists. My job lets me think about how mechanical, structural, and human components interact in a complex system and create ways to keep them all protected.

What inspires you when working?
I find myself inspired by the idea that I can help create safer, better transportation systems, and that someday my ideas will be implemented. This drives me to refine my thought processes and work habits, to become as good as possible at what comes my way. I have a unique freedom in my current position where I can propose creative and radical solutions for safety issues and let lawyers, politicians, and better engineers worry about whether they are practical.