Designer John Greg Ball -Weblog

Meathead mirrors available for 2009 Stampede.

Hand signed by the Artist.

Find them at these retailers:

Calgary Stampede Giftshop- on Stampede grounds

Murmur- Marda Loop

Calgary Stampede starts today!

“The trout streams where I flyfish are cold and clear and rich in the minerals that promote the growth of stream life. As I wade a stream I think wordlessly of where to cast the fly. Sometimes a difference of inches is the difference between catching a fish and not. When the fly I’ve cast is on the water my attention is riveted to it. I’ve found through experience that whenever—or so it seems—my attention wanders or I look away then surely a fish will rise to the fly and I will be too late setting the hook. I watch the fly calmly and attentively so that when the fish strikes—I strike. Then the line tightens, the playing of the fish begins, and time stands still. Fishing, like photography, is an art that calls forth intelligence, concentration, and delicacy.”

-Stephen Shore, 1982

Thanks Eric!

I’m always interested in what makes a place a place. To me, the details of an Urban design landscape are the key to a successful environmental design. Above is a photo of uniquely designed manhole covers at Calgary’s Stampede park. These are one-of-a-kind objects and only found in Calgary.

More at Canadian Design Resource

Buy the hoodoo rack and offcut clocks at a great new store in calgary’s Marda loop district:

Murmur

Walk by the train station at centre street and 7th avenue, and you’ll hear the busy hammering sound of steel construction; the new heartbeat of the bow building. Over the next couple of years I’ll be posting images of this fantastic structure as it progresses upward. The Bow will be the newest, and tallest addition to Calgary’s skyline designed by Foster and Associates.

More info:The Bow

A great article on concept design and Calgary’s Environmental design movement including some kind words about Blend in this month’s avenue magazine:

Article here

I am a huge fan of the new slogan for Alberta: “Freedom to create. Spirit to acheive”. As I have discussed with many of my design and business friends: Alberta is a fertile ground. Its a fantastic place to live work and play.

We have the option of living in the two dynamic cities of Edmonton and Calgary. (of course I now choose Calgary but have lived and worked in both)

And have available all the benefits of our wide open spaces, and the stunning outdoor living room to the West.

More at:

Canadian Design resource

Alberta brand.com

“The West is not a place. It’s a state of mind.”

-Jack A.Weil (Rockmount Western Wear)

Spending alot of time as pedestrian in a city gives one the opportunity to see the world from a unique perspective. For me, its key to finding inspiration, and understanding my environmental surroundings.

I often encounter these thought-provoking stenciled graphics around Calgary and I’m not sure how to interpret them. Obviously, its no secret we produce oil out here in the West. In fact the backbone of our economy depends heavily on the Oil and gas industry.

On one hand I see some tongue-in-cheek humour in these images, and on the other, there is an honesty that says: “the New West is driven by oil”.... Whether that is good or bad thing, this debate it is very much a part of being Albertan- particularly here in Calgary.