accept and be poster, 2012

CB2 is thrilled to support Pride Month through partnerships with The Trevor Project in the US and the LGBT Youth Line in Canada.

Beginning today, 3,500 limited edition accept and be posters will be available in stores and on cb2.com with:

• 100% of the US proceeds benefiting
The Trevor Project—the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

• and 100% of the Canada proceeds benefiting the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Youth Line—a toll-free and online service provided by youth for youth, offering non-judgmental support, information and referrals to help youth age 26 and under find the resources they need.

This year, CB2 commissioned Chicago-based artist Matthew Lew to interpret our “Accept and Be” mantra in poster format. Through his artistic vision, these three simple words were transformed into powerful graphics that command attention while radiating confidence and optimism.

A variety of layouts and color combinations were used to create 72 different designs—and in keeping with the message of “Accept and Be”, surprises are to be expected and embraced as the designs are mixed within the lot.

In each of the CB2 stores will be an “Accept and Be” wall will be available for anyone to post a story about what those words mean to them. And while visiting during the month of June, drop an entry for a chance to receive the
39.5” x 62.5” (100 x 159cm) artist-signed poster.

Like us on facebook? Fans are welcome to post their interpretation of ‘accept and be’ on our page which will enter them in a chance to receive a 12” x 16” poster. All drawings will take place June 30th*.

To keep up with the latest news during Pride Month, follow us on twitter using the #acceptbe hashtag.

*Note: at our West Hollywood location, the drawing will take place on June 9th.

milan watch: fatto a mano

inspiration: necessity

Plato, the Ancient Greek philosopher, has been quoted as saying ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. Based on what we’ve seen, we’re in strong agreement. Starting with two or more of one of man’s greatest inventions—the wheel—endless variations make the transportation of people, food, raw materials to factories, and the delivery of final products possible.

And Edison said that ‘success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration’—one person may have the greatest idea ever conceived, but many things have to go right in order to share it with everyone else.

So while we’re reliant on professional designers and artists for many things, we firmly believe that everyone possesses imagination, creativity and resourcefulness to make their visions a reality—at heart we’re all inventors.

artist profile: thanh diep

Thanh Diep was born in Vietnam in 1977 and since 1998 she’s been creating art at the Creativity Explored studio in San Francisco—
a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit and sell art.

An accomplished artist in traditional media—as well as film and animation—Diep captures dramatic impact in a charcoal scene of ascending evergreens that grow stark in the secluded forest of the foggy landscape pillow.

Although she speaks with the assistance of an augmentative and alternative communication device due to cerebral palsy, she has created soundtracks for animated films and written a book, Thanh.

The first graduate of The Bridge School in Hillsborough, and is the first Bridge School alumna to graduate from college, Diep received her BA in 2005 from San Francisco State University where she majored in Liberal Studies.

Media works include short films and—along with her artwork—have been featured at MadCat Women’s International Film Festival, Artists Television Access, The Mission Cultural Center, Noh Space/Theater of Yugen, Brava Theater as well as at the Picture This Festival in Calgary, BC.

To spend one minute with Thanh Diep in the Creativity Explored studio, go here.

artist profile: james miles

At the Creativity Explored studio in San Francisco—a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit and sell art—artist James Miles’ imagery blurs the limits of perspective.

If James were to tell you a story, it would include silent spaces for he’s soft-spoken. His visual stories—often ink drawings of miniature scenes—reveal our shared love of simple pleasures.

Their composition of ‘unusual combinations of perspectives’ blur the limits of inside/outside, near/far, small/large, male/female, and past/present to entice the viewer/listener into the paradoxically immense spaces of his diminutive artwork.

They are spaces that use the logic of dreams and fairytales and—like every great universally told story—his reveal our shared love of simple pleasures enjoyed with one another, on a gorgeous day that we hope will never end.

Perhaps the orange bird pillow—featuring James’ extra-large and orange bird—in reality signals the coming of an early spring even though the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter.

To spend one minute with James Miles in the Creativity Explored studio, go here.