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Better than advertising - Rens Tol

Throughout the eighties Rens Tol, aka graffiti artist Artic, was well known amongst the Amsterdam and North Holland graffiti community. His life as an artist changed in 1997 when he was diagnosed with MS. Although he can no longer hold the can, Rens is still painting streets.

This past weekend, Rens and his team produced a mural in the foyer of Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam. To do this, Rens first generated his vision via computer.  Restricted to his chair during production, he used a lazer to direct his team toward his vision. Starting with one dot and then two, his team filled in the lines and eventually every detail of the piece, listening to Rens' exact instructions throughout the entire process.

This Thursday Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam will open their doors to the public, displaying the mural alongside other completed work .

 

Rens Tol Opening Night

Date: Thursday 1 December 2011

Time: 6:00PM – 9:30PM

Address: Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, Herengracht 258

RSVP to rachel.mays@wk.com

 

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All of the lights

I am addicted to light. From about August onwards I can feel the darkening of the days and I will regularly be found at my desk lit up from below by my SAD light in much the same fashion as an old architectural wonder.

My addiction to sunlight has left me with an obsession with any kind of light.  Upon moving to Amsterdam I was astounded and ecstatic to discover a plethora of specialized light shops within 5 minutes walk from my new home. For example t’Runnertje on the corner of Prinsengracht and Runstraat, which has a very diverse collection of antique lights or Djoeke Wessing on Huidenstraat for all my never-ending art deco lampish needs. I have not yet made a purchase but it is just reassuring to know that they are there.

This year I limped through September and most of October and then it was with absolute glee that I watched the Dutch start hanging their street Christmas lights, full weeks ahead of normal English timing. Elandsgracht has been adorned with some severely special falling droplet lights, reminiscent of golden rain fireworks. I am lucky enough to live in the negen straatjes, which is a holiday light extravaganza and I have been precariously dangling my laptop from my juliet balcony showing them off via Skype to anyone and everyone who might care. 

As a UK University child of the millennium I miss the days when fairy lights were considered the height of interior design and now I am just counting down to December, the only time in the year when it is once again acceptable to curl them around picture frames, pin-boards and pot plants. All of this artificial light carries me through until 21^st December,when it starts getting light again. Soon enough I’ll put the SAD light back in its box for six months and we’ll all be supping our evening, canalside beer in broad daylight.

Post by Daisy Andrewes, planner

 

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Happy Thanksgiving from Kennedy!

Picture by Malia Killings, Studio

We all know the ancient saying about fog

Kids, it's colder than a witch's titty on Christmas morn' out there!

Watch out for rattlesnakes!

Post and pictures by Malia Killings, studio 

 

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SING OUT

In his book, Songlines, Bruce Chatwin posits that language started as song and that we literally sang the world into existence as our earliest ancestors spread across the earth describing the rocks, trees, and everything that became the environment around them.  In our industry, I think that the creative process and indeed creative work has its own rhythm and lyrics, quite literally sometimes, as evidenced by the myriad jingles used in advertising, and the power of music to create an emotional connection.  So, when I think about creativity and how we get to big ideas I think of song. Lately, that song has been Donna Summer’s hit 1978 recording, ‘MacArthur Park’, specifically the the extended ‘Suite’ track which clocks in at a magnificent and heart rending 17 minutes and 47 seconds.  1978 was a watershed year for music.  Studio 54 was in full swing and disco music embodied all the excess and glamor that presaged some of the headiest years of consumerism to come.  Disco synthesizes African tribal rhythms, funk, latin and soul music and attracts a diverse group of fans which means it connects; and is perhaps why it’s endlessly sampled and played at weddings, reunions and all the big events where we commemorate our lives.  Being conscious of this makes me wonder what our work and lives could be if we took more time to sing.  So, sing out - we could all use some more of it. 

Post by Clay Mills, group account director

 

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Sinterklaas is here!

Sinterklaas and his helpers arrive by boat in the Netherlands at the end of November. It's a big deal, televised and celebrated throughout the country. Watch this video, written by David Sedaris.

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First photo by Alvaro Sotomayor. Second photo by Jonathan Abshire.

We're currently awaiting a response from yoisthisracist.com

 

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This month in the stars

These anonymous horoscopes have been popping up in our bathroom stalls. I smell the Kennedys... and poop. 

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November): You will become convinced you can speak another language.  French, maybe, or Swahili.  You will believe yourself to have near native competence, and will brag about your awesome French or Swahili or whatever.  You don’t.  You sound like an idiot, but those around you don’t have the heart to say so.  It’s a good thing you’re loved.

Click the poster for a more detailed view of each horoscope. They only get better. 

 

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All agency email of the week

This is number 2 in a series

 

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Whoo hoo!

Creativity just came out with their 2011 Awards Report. Congrats to the Portland office on their world domination. They picked up a shitload of shiny metal things yet again this year. We cruised in just behind them in second place thanks to a bunch of people who did a bunch of great work on Nike and Heineken. A special thanks goes out to both Portland and London for their roles in helping us write the future. We are especially proud of it as the campaign garnered recognition for its integrated thinking and digital components. Guess we don't just make TV spots after all. Nice.

 

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