In the secluded woods of West Virginia, Jaki Good Miller took her Sunset Print Award-winning photograph, Autumn Cascades. This is only her second year entering competitions, but her second win of a Sunset Print Award; her first was last year with her image Morning on Mormon Row. “I think it was skill, but also some luck,” she says with a laugh. Her vibrant image, Autumn Cascades, captures the brilliant colors and textures of this West Virginian landscape, instantly captivating the viewer.
Prints that Win: Autumn Cascades
History in the Printing: One School’s Dedication to Fostering Creativity
Each year, more than half a million middle and high school students participate in the National History Day competition. At the Weiss School in Palm Beach, Fla., this means months of research and preparation for the students, guided by their mentor and social studies instructor, Steven Hammerman. The students get to pick a historical topic relevant to the NHD theme of the year, and create a research project to present to judges.
The project allows for a wide range of educational and artistic freedom, given the students get to design their projects as trifold exhibit boards, performances, papers, documentaries or websites. “Whatever the format is, the students get an understanding that it’s not just what you know, but how you present it, that matters,” says Hammerman. This year, Weiss has invested in a new tool to aid the students’ creativity: a DesignJet Z5400 Postscript Printer.
Prints That Win: Golden Arches
Under the royal Alcázar in Seville, Spain, are the Baños de Doña María de Padilla (Baths of Lady María of Padilla). This underground rainwater reserve is a popular tourist attraction, however, on the day that Bill Mills visited, the baths were entirely empty. “That was the beauty of this place …” says Mills, “that no one was there. I had the place to myself, and how often can you say that?”
It was here that he took his Sunset Print Award-winning photo Golden Arches. “You’re not allowed to use tripods in this area, but around this bath was a wall, and so I set my camera there on a two-second delay and shot a couple of different angles,” he says. His image eloquently captures the eerie tranquility of the architecture, earning him this prestigious award.
Clinging to Creativity: Whole Foods Raises the Bar on In-Store Décor
Known for its creative and colorful signage, Whole Foods’ South Region has a four-person team of artists dedicated to the creation of innovative décor. Anyone who has visited one of their locations is familiar with the vibrant, modern signs and advertisements. And with its in-house printing facilities, this store is an enthusiastic customer of both the LexJet Promo-Point Window Cling and Decals.
“The teams love them,” says graphic artist Whitney Harlos at the Chapel Hill location, “They’re perfect for patches on signage for when the artist isn’t here, custom signage on glass and mirrored fixtures, chalkboard materials of all sizes, and low-temp coolers.”
Prints That Win: In Flight With Twigs
Photographer Uldis Ilvess was on a road trip through South Carolina when he took his Sunset Print Award-winning photograph In Flight with Twigs. “We happened to drive by a small pasture with some private houses, and in between the houses was this fenced in area with a pond, and in the shrubs were these birds nesting there,” says Ilvess. The image of the bird with twigs in its mouth instantly captivated him.
Based in Des Moines, IA, Ilvess has been a photographer since the 1970s. The art form originally started out as a hobby for him before developing into a full career. He taught photography through a local art center, which he says was a mutually beneficial experience.
Imagine What’s Possible with LexJet at Dscoop in Phoenix
LexJet is revving up for this year’s Dscoop Conference, which is exploring the theme of “Imagine” on March 1-4 in Phoenix, AZ.
Dscoop provides an international network of professionals who utilize HP Indigo, Scitex, High-End Latex and PageWide Web Press equipment. The conference this year will offer a blend of workshops, partner sessions and keynote speakers, in addition to breakout sessions and a plethora of networking opportunities.
The event will be emceed by Lior Suchard, Supernatural Entertainer and Mentalist, and the keynote speakers feature Billy Bean, Executive VP of Baseball Operations for the Oakland A’s; John Foley, former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels; and Doug Lipp, Former Head of Employee Training at Disney.
In LexJet’s booth #806, you can play a round of putt-putt golf for your chance to win a FREE gallon of Michelman’s Over Print Varnishes, so come say hi and putt a few balls. You’ll never need a mulligan with the protection, durability and quality that Michelman offers! We’ll also be hosting a 30-minute workshop discussing our new product line of OPVs as well as primers and how these products can benefit end users.
The four-day conference will also include the Inkspiration Awards, a showcasing of the most innovative and creative works put forth by companies and judged by a panel of industry experts. Among the awards being given is the Rod Key Marketing Excellence Award, which will honor a contestant who excels in self-promotion.