Stirling Notes.

Director. Designer. Storyteller.

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Insight.

Over a year ago Marcus Troy spoke to me about a digital experience he had envisioned in partnership with Timberland. He asked me to mock up some potential designs and concepts for a creative brief. I put together some rough thoughts but landed on one solid notion by glancing at my Twitter feed while I had illustrator open. Bryan Espiritu of Legends League tweeted ‘Walk With Me”. It was perfect. Inclusive, intimate and exacting in direction. I typed the text out and selected ITC Lubalin Graph BT Light and sent it over to Marcus with some additional text additions of quotes from Thomas Mann “Thoughts come clearly while one walks” as well as Ralph Emmerson “Don’t go where the path may lead, go instead to where there is no path and leave a trail”.

Fast forward to September of this year and my iPhone rings. MT is on the other line and invites me to Toronto’s Brickworks for a urban hike in the heart of the city. No in-depth discussion, just a quick call and an equally quick agreement to join him. My mind tracks back to the initial dialogue we had about his plan and as always I was impressed at the steely focus Marcus has to see his vision through to fruition. From a notion to a movement, Marcus had in the interim of our initial dialogue fleshed out his concept into a sublime, well crafted plan. One that would cover multiple mediums and bring together people from all over the world for one simple task - to walk with him.

You see, Marcus Troy has the innate ability to seamlessly connect & collide people, places and things into stirring experiences. We walked with him, side-by-side and shared in this experience as he allowed us to join him down this path on yet another the trail he has blazed. Follow the walk here and continue to follow Marcus Troy journey here for his daily direction. Thank you MT for being a guide to me and most importantly a friend.

S.™

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The Leadertape No. 02

Today I am launching the second offering from my “The Leadertape” series and it features actor AJ Saudin. AJ is best known as “Connor” from “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” He plays a young man with Aspergers Syndrome, a disorder within the autistic spectrum. The empathy that he brings to this role is one that carries over to his real life. The honesty, passion & kindness AJ exudes is one that hits you to your core. He’s the kind of young man I hope my 8 year old son grows up to be like; although he is quiet by nature, his sincerity is evident in his passing glances.

AJ is best known as “Connor” from “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” He plays a young man with Aspergers Syndrome, a disorder within the autistic spectrum. AJ Saudin was born in Ontario, Canada and started his career at the age of 4. Beginning in print and commercials, he landed his first film and television role at the age of 7, playing Robbie, the son of Natalie Cole in her bio-pic directed by Robert Townsend. AJ has since appeared on TV series such as “Street Time”, “Kojak”, “Da Kink in My Hair” and “The Line” directed by Canadian director Gail Harvey. He also hosted “Open Your Ears,” a music talent show where he introduced young audiences to a vibrant spectrum of musical genres. He won his first of two Young Artists of Hollywood nominations for his role of Milan in a short film called “Aruba”, directed by Oscar nominated Hubert Davis, with the other being for his work on Degrassi.

Please enjoy The Leadertape No. 02.

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The Leadertape No. 01

Today I proudly present to you a project that I have had in the works for some time now. I’ve entitled it ‘The Leadertape’. The Leadertape comes from my passion for storytelling. Not of fantasy, or of mythology, but of reality and the truth of the moment. Painting a picture through the senses to bring forth a vivid connection to the people, places and things that inspire me. My medium has changed from pencil and pad, to paint and canvas to pixel and screen, but the motivation has always been the same; to capture the moment forever. The participants of ‘The Leadertape’ that I will be showcasing over the coming months, I believe to be leaders. Leaders of thought, art and culture. My path has crossed with these people at various points in our journey and I want to share with you their stories so that you to can cross paths with theirs. It is my pleasure to introduce to you, Sean Brown of The Art of Reuse.

  Moving Pictures. Moving Personalities. The Leadertape.

Enjoy the film and please take some time time to get familiar with Sean Brown and his work at By Sean Brown as well as The Art Of Reuse.

S.™

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Insight.

With the introduction of the original BE TRUE campaign in 1985, some of the most storied programs in collegiate hoops finally had the footwear that allowed athletes and fans to show their school colours. In 1969, during the final weekend in June, drag queens and queer street kids rioted at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The Stonewall riots marked the beginning of the gay liberation movement that has transformed oppression into pride.

BE TRUE 2012 celebrates the achievements of the New York City, San Francisco and Portland communities as progressive leaders of LGBT life with city-specific footwear releases and accompanying hat and tee. Upon hearing about this collection I smiled and a lyric from Frank Ocean continued to run through my head “I believe that marriage isn’t between a man & woman, but between love and love”.

I’ve spent the better part of my life involved in both arts and athletics, and have faced the curiosities and sometimes hatred from the narrow minded. I applaud Nike for showing such outward support to the LGBT community and look forward to hopefully a yearly collection centred on Pride.

Nike BE TRUE Air Flytop [SF] & Nike BE TRUE Air Royal [NYC] were chosen for their low-profile, trend forward take on court footwear, each model features a mix of premium materials and utilizes a tailored color palette to create a crafted and wearable shoe. Both models are highlighted by their outsoles that feature a vibrant rainbow spectrum that spans from the left to right shoe.

Nike BE TRUE Lunar Flow [PDX] is a fresh take on a classic Nike running silhouette. The model ties Nike’s modern fuse construction with a clean sport palette. Following the rainbow spectrum theme, this time the ROYGBV colors are printed onto the vamp mesh that spans from the left to right shoe.

Nike BE TRUE x Bowerman Tee is limited-edition made from an anthracite Dri-FIT cotton crew with a tonal reflective cross streets graphic on chest and a swoosh treated with the rainbow spectrum on back neck.

S.™

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Insight.

It’s March 2004 and I’m backstage at the Kanye West & Dilated Peoples concert (Dilated was actually the headliner). I standing alongside local notable rapper Rochester, rocking a fresh pair of Air Jordan XIX a week before launch date. Kanye catches and glimpse of them and his eyes bugged out. For that moment two Toronto kids were fresher than Kanye…

Forging a new form of sport craftsmanship, the Nike Air Yeezy II blends classic Nike court breakthroughs with the performance and aesthetic demands of bringing hype to a crowd of thousands. A primal, tactile approach to technology runs throughout every element of the Nike Air Yeezy II. Armored animalistic forms imbue the upper. Hand skived anaconda textured leather quarter panels are embellished with a debossed Vac-Tech Nike Swoosh. The molded rear is sculpted with a reptilian inspired spike, while an engineered strap with scaled down spikes was developed to offer a greater sense of symmetry and lock down.

Bringing the inspiration forward from the late 1980’s basketball foundation of the original Nike Air Yeezy, the II is built on the Nike Air Tech Challenge II tennis shoe outsole and celebrates iconic Nike Cross Training silhouettes with the addition of the molded forefoot strap.

There’s absolute function at the Air Yeezy II’s core. Unnecessary padding was eliminated, and the foot-hugging tongue and plush collar are both comfortable and breathable. Fit was essential to the design with the goal to make the shoe slimmer than the original by tailoring it to Kanye West’s foot. The collar was also lowered to allow for greater movement.

An obsessive approach to materials results in a luxurious mix of leather, rugged ballistic nylon, and soft nubuck. Concealed but opulent details reference ancient civilizations, including a loop strap with hieroglyphics that spell out ‘YZY.’ Each screw on lace aglet is obelisk shaped, and the anaconda texture is echoed on the eyelets and leather lace toggle that carries the Roman numeral ‘II.’

The Nike Air Yeezy II in the Platinum and the Black edition will release June 9th at select global retailers in limited numbers.

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Insight.

Following the launch of the LunarGrand Wingtip, Cole Haan releases the LunarGrand Chukka for both men and women. Comprised of nubuck uppers and rawhide laces, the LunarGrand Chukka is a continued expression of timeless design, craftsmanship and innovation. Incorporating Nike’s innovative ultra-lightweight Lunarlon cushioning system into Cole Haan’s traditional construction techniques, the LunarGrand Chukka achieves unrivaled feel, flexibility and movement—redefining how classic shoes move and function in modern urban environments.

Available in four men’s and four women’s colorways, the Cole Haan LunarGrand Chukka ($298 USD) will be sold exclusively at Cole Haan SoHo, 128 Prince Street, New York, beginning Thursday, May 3rd.

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Insight.

My good friend Marcus Troy gave me a sneak peak on this one and I was in love the moment I saw them. One of the world’s most original and timeless designs, the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe returns for Spring 2012 as a muse for Missoni’s legendary knits. Missoni knitwear under the creative leadership of daughter Angela Missoni, continues to inject renewed energy into the label’s designs. Most recently the brand has been in the spotlight via Drake’s penchant for rocking their sweaters made from a variety of fabrics in a multitude of patterns such as stripes, geometrics, and abstract florals, in a kaleidoscope of colours.

New this season, Converse works with Missoni to create two women’s-only versions of the shoe with a touch of metallic sparkle added to Missoni’s signature zig zag, knit used in the uppers. Both look stylish and feminine – one in green and white with silver and gold metallic detailing; and another in white and tan with subtle hues of peach accented with silver and gold. Making them truly stand-out, both models include specially constructed white leather rands and toe-wraps embossed with classic Chuck Taylor All Star detailing. The result is an ultra-luxurious, hand-crafted look and feel – surely to be some of the most sought after sneakers of the season.

In addition to the women’s-only versions, a fresh unisex model comes in Missoni’s exclusive multi-stitch, space-dyed fabric in sharp hues of navy and white. Familiar from past Converse and Missoni collaborations, each shoe includes premium leather on the tongue’s upper, logos, heel-pull-tabs and toe caps.

Converse First String is a limited-edition collection that celebrates craftsmanship, authenticity and collaboration at the highest level. The Missoni for Converse Chuck Taylor All Star shoes will be available in limited quantities, beginning on April 14, 2012 at Missoni boutiques, select Converse First String retailers globally and at www.converse.com.

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Insight

I’m up and it’s late. Like really, really late. Or perhaps it’s early for you if you have just risen for the day. But for me it’s late and up I’m thinking about time; time captured and time wasted, the clock tics down as I now have less than 3 hours until my iPhone alarm has to wake me for the long day I have ahead of me.

As I surf the web stumbling upon inspiration, I’m setting multiple alarms in my 4S, and my thoughts landed back to my childhood; back to the black Braun AB1 clock that sat at my bedside. Designed by Dieter Rams in 1971 for Braun the AG AB1 battery-operated alarm clock is a modern classic that is now in a number of permanent museum collections worldwide noted for it’s minimalist styling and highly graphic aesthetic. Each day this striking piece of technology would awaken for my school daze as well as lay the foundation of my artistic aesthetic.

When my room was pitch black I would stare at the glow-in-the-dark hands and when my room was lit I would stare, fascinated at how deftly colour was implemented to instruct me how to operate the device. I loved the use of the sharp green as a directional tool. It’s placement on the alarm hand and how it was perfectly tied into the alarm dial on the back of the casing and would then peek-a-boo at you when the alarm button was set upward. The addition of yellow on the second to accent the piece offered just the right amount of visual pop to nail down the sublime balance of line and font on the clock face.

Looking back, the language in which the clock spoke to me was very clear but this was well before I had any formal grasp or understanding of art, design and the brilliance of Dieter Rams. This product, as well as a host of others he created began to form the tapestry of design, style and cultural references that to this day influence my art and life. My parents coffee in the morning was brewed by his imagination, while my father’s face was cleanly shaven by his insight. I admire the attention to detail artists like Dieter have taken in creating timeless classics from a list of potentially mundane household items.

I encourage you to expect more from your housewares and seek out exceptional items such as this. Their influence can be great in helping shape the imagination of young and old alike.

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Inspiration.

David Fincher is an American film and music video director known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as one of the most chilling serial-killer thrillers ever Se7en, the cult-level and wildly graphic Fight Club, the most perfected cinematography ever witnessed in Panic Room, and most recently the slickly adorned, designed and styled The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo an English-language adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel of the same name. A highlight of his career of highlights is when Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and his film The Social Network, which also won him the Golden Globe and the BAFTA for Best Director.

Fincher lucked out at an early age in that none other than George Lucas lived in Fincher’s neighborhood. He went on to work for Lucas’ visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), where he quickly assembled such namely titles as Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi and Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom to this filmography. To this day the experience of having worked behind the camera before taking the director’s chair can be witnessed in Fincher’s perfectionism and superb competence in filmmaking.

David Fincher left ILM in 1984 to pursue his own career, directing music videos and tv-commercials and his career took off and reached an early climax towards the end of the 1980’s, working for clients that included Nike, Coca-Cola, AT&T and pop-superstars Madonna, George Michael, Billy Idol, Foreigner and Michael Jackson.

From title-sequences, to lighting, cinematography and editing, to the score and his precise attention to sound-design and art direction, David Fincher’s films are incredible acts of exacting control of the art forms many variables. A balancing act many cannot even fathom to attempt, never mind master. Please be sure to catch the instant classic The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo which is in theatres now.

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Insight.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a not-so-typical environment; a hundred year old converted baseball glove factory that my parents purchased and help develop the cities first hard lofts. Inside my parents sought out to fill the space with content that would juxtapose the rich texture and exposed finishes with classic lines that amplified the timelessness of the space. One of these pieces is a favourite of mine, the modern classic Womb chair.

Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948, the Womb chair is probably one of the most comfortable Saarinen chairs in history. Made in 1948 at request by Florence Knoll to create “a chair she could curl up in,” it displays the Finnish-born designer’s flair for challenging rules, breaking molds and setting new standards for modern design.

With its cradle form designed for a relaxed seating position, the Womb chair is reflective of Saarinen’s style of designing furniture with organic architecture and is a key selection for me as I build my collection of classics.

This large lounger is called the Womb Chair because of its unique, enveloping shape. The chair and ottoman are completely upholstered in a wool & polyester blend fabric over a foam-lined molded fiberglass frame. Saarinen’s Womb Chair continues to be one of the most recognized representations of mid-century modernism and a number of Saarinen’s chairs for Knoll have become landmarks in the history of 20th century design.

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