This recent snow storm reminded me of the last severe winter weather that we had, four years ago this month. I was living way out in B.F.E., an hour from Asheville and 15 minutes from the closest store of any kind. I purposely stayed put and enjoyed the quiet of being thrust off the grid for a few days. Sure it was cold, sure the plumbing didn’t work and the power was out, but remembering that when it comes down to it you’ve got to rely on yourself is an invaluable lesson that is too rarely taught in our modern times. I shot these pictures on the first day, when the entire world seemed to be made of diamonds. Everything sparkled and leaned, the sum of the weight of ice and the light that it spread thickly in the air. Chiaroscuro faded from the blinding new world, and the places I knew so well became palatial and regal, a Fortress of Solitude that made me feel like Superman. The photos don’t do it justice at all, but I had to try. I’ve never seen anything like it. Have you?
In the cold and the dark, alone.
Good friends Screaming Js, the house band at MoDaddy’s, needed a poster to help with some promotion. So they asked me to put something together, and this is what I did. I tweaked the type (I used Blackmoor) and stole the piano from the 1902 Sears, Roebuck Catalogue. They liked it, I liked it and I think it represents their music pretty well.
You can catch them, and often me, tonight at MoDaddy’s and every Wednesday. They put on a kickin good show, and you owe it to yourself to catch these guys. And it’s free. See you there!
After months of hoping to find myself on MountainX’s StreetStyle, I finally caught up with Ally outside the Flat Iron building a few weeks ago. She even said I was her new favorite model. Any time! It was fun. Here are the results.
 |
 |
Boots are some battered old US Army combat boots that I’ve worm almost everyday for 5 years. Pants are straight leg slim fit Express Rocco, shirt is Express 1MX Modern Fit (last year’s). Generic reversible black/brown belt. Tie is a black on black paisley that I found at my house after a party. Shades are Ray-Ban knock offs that I bought at a stand on Main Street in Hickory during their Oktoberfest. Jacket is a non-labeled find from Madame Butterfly on Lexington Ave (they have a small but excellent men’s section). Watch is a Citizen Eco-Drive 200 Meter BM6400-00E that my grandparent’s gave me as a graduation present.
P.S. I am a heterosexual male.
Michael Sanacore, Chris Riddle and I made these one-of-a-kind invitations to an after-party earlier this year. Something about the flexibility and the limitations of the typewriter was really inspiring. It made me think of the typewriter in a whole new way. It’s really a miniature printing press, that can only use one font, one style, one size, one color and one weight. But other than that — you can use almost any size paper, any orientation. It’s really marvelous, and lots of fun. They turned out very well I think. My favorite one:
“Don’t listen to her. Come to the after-party.”
4th of July from John Carl on Vimeo. Music: The Guest Room “When Might Makes Right”
Back in early July, @bentmatches and I were standing at the Skybar a little after a beautiful sunset when our friend @AVLSkylie introduced us to three people looking for an adventure to film. Being expert adventurers, we shared a knowing glance and smile and set to work. Here is what they said about that night:
We went on a road trip for 30 days to 30 cities filming one story each day of people around America. This day we were in downtown Asheville, NC for the 4th of July celebration. We didn’t know a soul but by the end of the night we found ourselves in a parking lot with new-found friends setting off fireworks illegally. And we got there in a convertible driven by a friend who looked like he fronted a 50’s rockabilly band. All in all, an amazing night and one of the more meaningful videos we made.
This night was one of the best of my life. To be young, in love, and feel like the king of town in a hot red convertible surrounded by the talented and beautiful — I know of little better. It doesn’t matter how old I get, I’ll always want to go back to that day. I’d like to go back right now.
The folks we met were an artist collective (The Duck Duck Collective) and were filming a series of short spots all over the Eastern US for a really hip Levi-Strauss ad campaign. They had awesome equipment and great personalities and threw themselves into the fun of the evening. We went to the Admiral first and danced, then went to that abandoned parking lot off Merrimon where we lit all the fireworks. You can see me driving the convertible and vaulting through the fireworks at the end. I’m so glad there is footage of this day of my life.
