This blog post was supposed to be lovingly crafted over a week or two so that I could make sure it would be eloquent, well-ordered, and complete. You'll have to forgive me if it's a little less than that; instead of me waiting a week or two, I've decided to push my own deadline for it up to... today! The reason why? Well, because I need fodder for testing to complete this site to my satisfaction.
So my name is Andrew Press. This, the Clockwise Collection, is actually the idea of my friend and fellow artist Zane Ewton, a brilliant photographer and blogger. The story goes like this; one night, while enjoying sips of our favorite Strawberry Colada wine coolers, Zane proposed to me that perhaps it was no small coincidence that so many of our friends here in the great, flat expanse that is known as Phoenix, Arizona are also artists. Now, when I say artist, please understand that I'm using that word to blanket anyone who creates things out of their own passion TO create; musicians, photographers, silversmiths, and graphic designers, as well as painters, sculptors, and writers. Zane put forth the idea that perhaps, by working together, the whole could be greater than the sum of it's parts.
Of course, I responded the only way I knew how; I removed my shirt and challenged Zane to a fight. He knew better than to start talking about math to me, especially when I'm riding a Colada-high three deep. Zane immediately silenced my profanity laden rants with quick thinking and a Vulcan nerve-pinch unlike any I had suffered previously. He explained to me that possibly, by gathering together all of the extremely talented people we know and forcing them with either threats of physical violence or blackmail, we could get them to start chronicling the things they were doing in each of their lives to further their dreams when it came to the art they created. Seeing as I was face down on the floor and unable to feel anything from the chest down, I was forced to agree with Zane. It was a good idea.
Fast forward to now, almost two weeks ago. Armed with at least five friends who were interested in the possibilities, we decided to name our new project the Clockwise Collective, as you could have probably guessed by the name of the website. Our intentions, besides that of updating this blog with the latest news, events, and works from each of us was also to find new and innovative ways of working together. Photographers taking pictures of musicians, then passing it along to graphic designers to see what they can come up with. Artists collaborating on pieces together to create something that they alone possibly could not. In the end, a chance to show all of our work created alone or together... together. For those not in the know, Phoenix, Arizona is not quite the epicenter of the arts world, but perhaps, by working together and becoming successful, along with the accumulation of more artists interested in the possibilities that working together might provide, we can change that.
So now I come to what I meant to speak of anyways; myself. I, Andrew Press, am a blogger, an artist, and a graphic designer. I've had a passion for drawing and writing for as long as I can remember. Born in Los Angeles, transported to the impossibly tiny town of Pinetop, Arizona at a young age to be raised by wolves, and finally now, residing in the valley of the sun, I work as a cubical monkey. I've had several shows in galleries along with events at First Friday, but in all honesty, I haven't drawn anything now in over a year. I've stalled on several fronts that I was formerly pursuing ; making t-shirts, doing graphic designs for local musicians, and just, well, putting a pencil to paper.
Thus the Clockwise Collective for me. For the first time in a long time, the desire to create and collaborate with others is strong, and the possibility that I might not forever be slave to the lunch break once again glimmers, twinkles I dare say, in the back of my mind. Amongst the collective are some of the most talented people it's ever been my good fortune to meet, and if I'm to cast my lot then I would prefer it be with them. Given that they too will be writing soon to share their stories, I won't take up anymore of the front page. I just want to say hello and that I look forward to bedazzling you with some of the nicest Southwestern art EVER.
(I'm just kidding. I HATE Southwestern art. I'll just have to bedazzle you with something else.)
- Andrew
