Author Archives: Joshua Berger

Blur – Rick Valicenti Mash-up of Farrah and Michael

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Following up from my post a week ago in tribute to Rick Valicenti’s 1996 cover for Plazm #14, now you can download Rick’s mash-up book “Blur.” Made a week or so ago in response to Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett’s … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Design, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson Memorial, Rick Valicenti | Leave a comment

Help Fight Corporate $ponsorship

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Here in NYC, the parks department is threatening to sell the naming rights to McCarren Pool. The pool was named 200 years ago, in 1809,  is currently being renovated and is the centerpiece of a favorite artistic Brooklyn community. The community … Continue reading →

Posted in corporate greed, mccarren pool, pool aid | Leave a comment

Michael Jackson, The Next Phase

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Back in 1996 Rick Valicenti/Thirst guest-designed a cover for Plazm #14. His concept was to design a cover based on Michael Jackson’s “Next Phase.” There were a number of iterations. First just a highly polished, synthetic-looking face (pictured above). A … Continue reading →

Posted in Michael Jackson, Plazm #14, Rick Valicenti | Leave a comment

Audio Dregs on Plazm.com

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Listen while you browse the Internets. Audio Dregs curates Plazm Radio featuring songs by Dim Dim, Strategy, Lullatone, D.J. Copy, e*rock, Melodium, lots more. Tune in at www.plazm.com — plazm blog has moved to http://blog.plazm.com — — plazm design studio: … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Jon Raymond + Zak Love + Quasi = ???

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Joshua Berger

This Thursday, Today, June 18Portland, Disjecta Tin House and Disjecta’s latest installment of “Arty Words” features a reading by Plazm editor Jon Raymond, live music by Quasi, and art from LA’s Zak Smith. Disjecta, 8371 N. Interstate, 7:30 pm, $7/door. … Continue reading →

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Almost the New Newsweek

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Much has been written about the redesign of Newsweek magazine. It’s been on the stands for about four issues now. Plazm has a unique perspective on the new design. About nine months ago, we became one of three design firms … Continue reading →

Posted in editorial design, Newsweek, Newsweek redesign, redesign | Leave a comment

Rebranding the Mercenary

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Blackwater, the notorious private army, contracted by the Bush administration to protect “high value” military personnel, and accused of numerous crimes against Iraqi civilians, has recently undertaken an extensive brand repositioning.  The corporate name itself, Blackwater, had become a public relations … Continue reading →

Posted in branding, Design, Politics | Leave a comment

Leonard Crowdog tomorrow / Leonard Peltier now

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Back in 1996 Plazm published an interview with Leonard Peltier, the imprisoned Native American activist. At that time Peltier had been in prison for twenty-one years. We included a postcard in the magazine so folks could ask then-President Clinton to … Continue reading →

Posted in action, AIM, American Indian Movement, Leonard Crowdog, Leonard Peltier | Leave a comment

Tara Jane O’Neil: A Vertiginous One

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Joshua Berger

Tara Jane On’Neil with Zak Margolis and Corey Lunn = disturbing beauty. — plazm blog has moved to http://blog.plazm.com — — plazm design studio: www.plazm.com — — plazm magazine & blog are now published by new oregon arts & letters: … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, portland, Video | Leave a comment

A Scary Thing Happened in the Backroom of FEMA

Posted on May 2, 2009 by Joshua Berger

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has removed an educational coloring book from its web site after criticism that the cover might not be helping kids deal with disaster as intended. The cover (and an interior page) features the World … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Leave a comment