Starting July 20th, Target will sponsor Free Sundays at the Studio Museum in Harlem. The museum's website lists their mission- "The Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for black artists locally, nationally, and internationally, and for work that has been inspired by black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society."

This is undoubtedly part of Target's effort to build a customer base in Harlem where they will opening a store on E. 116th Street in 2009. The musuem efforts will include free tours, hands on art ativities, films and live music. Target's print ad for this boasts that "Target gives 5% of its income to communities- over $3 million every week."

There are always arguments for and against big businesses like these moving into neighborhoods. But I've noticed that Target seems to be the kind of company that usually brings more good to a community than harm. Either way it's good marketing to align themselves with the community activities to show that their intentions are to add value to the neighborhood.

I just saw the video for Radioheads song, "House of Cards". I'm a huge Radiohead fan, so I won't even start talking about the song or we'll be here all day.

What's great about the video is that no cameras were used. It's all done with lasers. The editorial company who worked on this is Union Editorial and the director is James Frost. Genius.

Martini & Rossi is partnering with the Andy Warhol Foundation for four print ads featuring illustrations created by the late pop artist. They will revive ads created by Andy Warhol for Martini & Rossi. "Warhol's take on taste" will run later this month in lifestyle magazines in six markets in Major cities accross the country.
Martini & Rossi tapped Warhol to create this print campaign that ran in the U.S. from 1956 to 1963. The hope is that the revived ads will bring back the iconic vermouth-based martini. Martini & Rossi plans to feature six new twists on the drink in restaurants, bars and clubs in the designated markets.

What do you think of reviving a campaign as opposed to creating a new idea? I guess it can't hurt to go with something that's tried and true.

I saw the most impressive print ad in New York Mag last night. It's an advertisement for the Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. They enlisted a local Miami muralist, Daniel Fila, to paint a mural that highlights the excitement that Miami has to offer and as a couple walks past they begin to step into the mural. The advertisement is part of their Miami Expressions campaign.

The idea is to promote the creative, artistic side of Miami. And they really hit the nail on the head. The mural is beautiful and interesting. And, it was such a brilliant ad that I had to visit the website set up for the campaign, just to see what else was there. The website is just as cool. There this interactive intro to the other artists being promoted on the site. And of course the mural painted for the ad is there. You should check it out and share your thoughts...

It's a bit haughty of The Chambers Gallery in London to say they're hosting the "first ever exhibition to recognise (silly Brits — haven't they ever watched Sesame Street?) the art of advertising."

So I guess that means that every ad conceived, ever, up until today, has been viewed strictly as fodder for commerce? Maybe they've never heard of a little event called The One Show, or the Clios — hell even the Milwaukee 99 is an ode to great work.

On that note, more than one American entity has taken an interest in the idea of advertising as art, i.e. the Eisner Museum of Advertising & Design (also in Milwaukee) is a perfect example. More lip after the hop-skip-jump.

continued...

So, that last piece was a bit heavy. Here's something fun to watch while we sit through yet another lunch meeting. Tell you what - if we were a marketing director, we'd rejigger this kind of fun for our brand's use. There's not enough of this stuff going around outside art circles. The use of public spaces + YouTube + dancing (how many dance movies is Hollywood going to pump out?) + community + locality + surprise/fun (enter trend here - think gaming, mobile) and you've got yourself winner.

"Cause this is thriller... Thriller night!" Gawd. Love it.