Napkin Work's (left to right) Kristy O'Leary, Beau Brandon Cleeton, and Joshua Smith

This month Napkin had the privilege of being featured in Halifax Magazine. The article, Making Opportunity Knock, talks about our brokerage model and how we’re working on the fusion of art and business.

“Working every day to merge the two worlds, Napkin Works functions as a creative firm. Calling themselves a collaborative family, O’Leary knows the firm provides an avenue for not only artists looking for a creative outlet, but for clients looking for out-of-the-box marketing. “Halifax is saturated with amazing artists,” O’Leary says. “We want a client to walk in our door, request a campaign, and then we turn to our bank of artists and select the perfect talent for that campaign.”

Read the rest of the article here

We are so pleased to announce our partnership with TedXHalifax! Napkin has signed on to assist with branding, marketing and curating the next Halifax event. We are over-the-moon about our new alignment with the TED identity. As a company based on ideas and innovation, in our own work as well as with our clients, we feel this is a dream come true.

Please check back for updates on our blog as well as progress on the event.

Amsterdam. Hamburg. Horst. Rotterdam. Utrecht. Middleburg. Gent. Antwerp. Eindhoven.

This post is a little late. We’ve been busy working for the future… forget the weekend. (Everyday is a Saturday if you’re doing it right.)

Agent Giraffe took the first of many export research tours for two-and-a-half-weeks this past September. The goal of the trip was to explore European export options for music, art and technology. I learned three things. Europeans love Canadian Music, Europeans love Canadian Art and Europeans utilize progressive technology.

The Export of Art and Music is easy; or rather, it is easy to know who to support. Technology is harder, we are not scientists and researchers, but we are dreamers. People love dreamers, they respond to passion; it is intoxicating.

That said, we are seeking other dreamers to build partnerships and collaborations with. Nova Scotia is in an exceptional position in the global economic and political environment. Our economy is relatively stable, when compared to the US and European markets, and we are safe. Safety is a luxury, read the paper… safety is a gift. It is our responsibility to use our advantages in a meaningful way. We must support innovation; both scientific and cultural, to offer a contribution.

Let’s build it here and export to the World. It does not matter if it is Art or Music or Technology; that is secondary. We have to do it because we can. That is reason enough.

Wind Turbines were the backdrop of unseasonable September heat in the European countryside. They blanketed the landscape. My heart lifted… We can determine a better future for ourselves. Innovation and technology will replace the slash and burn tactics of the last centuries.

As we floated along the Autobahn Ben turned to me and said, “This is what Kyoto looks like when taken seriously.” We sighed.

I am not a curator. I would prefer if you considered this catalogue an invitation rather than a curatorial effort. A brief introduction to four Artists I believe you should know. They are quietly cultivating transcendence through discipline. They are chasing bliss. It is my intention to support them in this practise by connecting them with patrons or partners, clients or collaborators.

I believe we need to find new avenues by which to introduce Ideas; regardless of how those ideas manifest. In this case, it is Art. Specifically the Art of Ambera Wellmann, Amelia Jerome, Kyle Monchuk and Sarah Maloney. Each contributor to this first edition of the Agent Giraffe catalogue is completely unique, from process to theme. Passion is the point of convergence. But this convergence, the passion, is not limited to this combination of artists. I shared in their manifestation and I invite you to do the same.

In the following pages you will visit with each Artist. You have been provided with a short biography and Artist statement; along with five examples of their work. I took the liberty of making my own offering for each Artist. These brief stories about their work are meant only to spark the imagination; relate to you how I am personally affected in the presence of the work.

Download the catalogue.

The Set Up

Sometimes things just line up. They fall into place. A door opens where there wasn’t a door before. That’s exactly how Ben Caplan found Napkin Works. Late one Sunday evening Josh and I were working in the Studio. It was a normal evening by all accounts. We were discussing a local blue grass outfit we’re both pretty keen on. I went back to my desk and began working… but thinking local music. This is when the procrastination began…

The Flashback

I had been to one of Ben’s open mics years ago. (A Gentleman had taken me there on our first date.  It was a lovely evening. Ben Caplan followed by Billy Bragg and late night beach combing.) At the time I was floored by his extraordinary talent, passion and stage presence. In fact, every time I strolled by his home for years I wondered how his career was progressing.

The Synchronicity

That fateful Sunday evening I found myself on Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers FaceBook fan page. I liked him; so I “liked” them. Twelve hours later I received a Facebook message from Ben thanking me for being the 1000th person to “Like” his fan page. In pure FB fashion, Ben perved my page. He discovered I had started a new company, Napkin Works, and wanted to get together and talk about a website and promotion.

The Contest

So here we are, March 28, 2011. We have come up with a plan; The Contest. (Now don’t go there… this isn’t a Seinfeld kind of contest.) Portrait of a Band is a contest meant to connect Ben, an up and coming Musician with another up and coming Artist. In thinking about his website we felt Ben and the Casual Smokers would be best represented with the help of another visual Artists. There are so many amazing illustrators in Halifax we thought we would put a call out for submissions. Ben has a beautiful and inclusive sense of community. We decided to run a contest. Then we decided to offer up $1000 CDN. Then we decided to take it national. Finally, we decided to go International. Ben’s inclusive, we’re inclusive… this felt like the natural thing to do.

The Winner gets the Glory, a completed 12” LP illustrated by them and $ 1000 CDN.

Why, we’re glad you asked…

Because we are looking for the best. Because we aim to impress. Because we love Art. Because we love music. But mostly… because we love our community and we’re determined to see it thrive; one Artist at a time. Or in this case… two.

How to enter?

Follow the link below to Ben’s website. Click on the contest link, follow the instructions.

bencaplan.ca

We can’t wait to see your submissions!