ChemArt Blog

1.  Larry (The Operations Manager) has a pronounced bounce in his step because it is once again baseball season.  He will glide past you with a noble grin, nod and say one word…”Sox.”  —Nothing else need be said.

2.  The graphics girls are out strutting their stuff at break time.  They burn calories and the tread on their athletic footwear.  Lead…follow… or get the heck out of their way!    

3.  With the sudden but welcome increase in temperatures, those confident enough in graphics can be spotted wearing shorts.  Some of us haven’t seen the sun in months so pale chicken legs are common. –sad and revolting but common. 

4.   Time to train! Break time and sunshine also draws forth a perennial trio who emerge from their slumber to don their gloves and ball caps…on top of mastering the art of ornament craftsmanship it is imperative that we perfect our infield drills.  Funding for a ChemArt ball field hasn’t been approved yet so the high traffic intersection will suffice. (we continue to lobby for the cause)

5.  The contest is not official or sanctioned by authorities…but everyone knows there is a silent race to achieve that savage tan. Those blessed with Mediterranean or sub-tropical ancestry usually rise to the occasion…but some have exploded out of the gate by embarking on jaunts to the sunshine state and beyond!  *The ChemArt safety committee vehemently opposses abusive tanning practices as exposure to the sun and UV rays leads to “wicked” sunburn.

6.  Turn it up! Afternoon exile from the parking lot in the spring means rolling down the window and pumping the jams for the ride home. It is a veritable cornacopia of sonic textures as Graphic Artist Bob’s fist-pumping “TOM SAWYER” clashes hard with Graphic Artist Pete’s majestic flamenco music…just as Graphic Supervisor Eric’s “Plastercaster” by our old KISS friends clashes with Sir Blogs-a-Lot Nathaniel’s frenetic “Oom-pah polka”…rarely heard outside the walls of the beer halls of his native Germany.  –and Graphic Artist Lisa’s country twang is simply no match for Graphics Manager Kim’s power-rock onslaught which surges relentlessly from the mighty mustang.

What are the tell-tale signs of Spring in your company?

…Do you smell that?  Whose moldy pasta is this? …and who is the buffoon that needs some remedial training to sharpen their lunch packing skills? Alas! Here lies a two ounce piece of hamburger delicately garnished with eleven pieces of undercooked brown rice housed within tupperware large enough to facilitate a Christmas ham! This, friends, is not efficient use of kitchen space. Furthermore, it is inconsiderate and creates tension especially when it’s feeding time on the ranch. SOOOOO-EEEEEEEE!!!!! Come and get it.  Yours truly is typically the moldy pasta guy with the obnoxiously large tupperware. I regret these shortcomings and want to change.

Mention of the mini-fridge and its contents brings to mind the fact that the graphics experience at ChemArt is unquestionably one of  sensory perception. Being the office creatures that we are (oficus eructus cubicus) our senses have evolved to adapt to a depleted and at times, hostile environment. The plight of “oficus eructus cubicus” is unique in that 95% of the day is spent glued to a coffee-stained and battle-tested throne commonly known to most as the “desk chair.” This inanimate, yet reliable vehicle plays an integral role in the battle. Upon these chairs we sit. From our respective “warhorses” we fight (create). Our limited vantage point challenges the senses and familiarity with the terrain has resulted in a finely tuned predator with few natural enemies. Leftover muffins from morning meetings simply have no chance when the razor-sharp “oficus eructus cubicus” is down-wind.

“Oficus erectus cubicus” is highly adept when it comes to recognizing changes in visual stimuli. Studies have shown that despite their natural visual strengths, graphics people only get out of their chairs to gaze out of the large windows in two situations. Outside observers can catch a glimpse of these window gazers ideally when there is a substantial shift in weather patterns. A sudden downpour or snowfall strangely excites the folks in graphics and will almost always draw them out of their cubes and to the window for a better look. If it’s not precipitation, the only other true lure for the “oficus eructus cubicus” is the rare appearance of parking lot critters such as wayward wild turkeys or fledgling Canadian geese.

The most impressive and notable trait of the graphics breed is their unmatched sense of hearing. Because they are visually limited due to the robust cubicle walls and constant focus on the screens before them they have developed keen sound perception and recognition traits. Most impressive is the ability to recognize oncoming co-workers solely based on the sound of footsteps and the timing of the individual’s gate.  A slow, plodding, Timberland boot probably will yield a “Brandon” while a peppy, high-heeled tap-tap-tap is likely to yield a “Kim.” –Quiet! Take cover! I think I hear the distinct meniacal laugh of the Heather-cat in hot pursuit…

Life on Planet Grafika

The graphics department at ChemArt is a unified crew.  We have a common goal and a shared mission which we all take seriously.  The collective creativity is one of the driving forces behind our product yet it is undeniable that each artist maintains their own individuality or personal “flavor.”   Diversity is abundantly evident not only in the artistic styles but in the personalities and backgrounds of this motley bunch.  Walking into the graphics department is like stepping onto the set of Star Wars.  You will encounter all walks of life. 

By all accounts, the company tour is thorough and very insightful.  The process can be learned and the product can be revered, but it would take weeks, or months to tap into the  delightful subtleties of how this “community”  functions.  Aside from the daily focus of getting our work done, we naturally are forced to interact.  Interaction is limited due to the solitary nature of our jobs but with time the quirks, habits and idiosyncrasies of everyone are clear. Funny or curious “stuff” happens everyday.  Here are some snapshots…

CRASH!

Everyone has had the unfortunate experience of having their computer crash.  This is very upsetting to most, especially when you are “in the zone” and lose a good chunk of work.   Based on the reactions heard in the office it is seemingly equivalent to stubbing your toe or burning your paw on a hot iron.  You know what I mean!  We are usually very poised as a unit but it is not uncommon for even the most even-keeled artist to flare up when we see the  pinwheel of doom.  One of our troopers is particularly adept at expressing his displeasure.  Being the passionate artist that he is,  the expletives are always vibrant and colorful.

BLESS YOU!

Count your blessings.  My mom always says that.  Well,  she would be happy to know that blessings are abound at Chemart…thanks to a certain individual who single-handedly neutralizes every sneeze that detonates in the perimeter.   If you sneeze in the graphics area of operations, you will get your blessing.  This verbal healer is not an ordained minister just a concerned and selfless co-worker who wants us all to rise above our temporary ailments.  The blessings are granted unconditionally so be sure to thank him.

WHOSE MOLDY PASTA IS THIS?

The department’s community mini-fridge presents some issues which challenge our ability to coexist. We’ll get into it in the next installment of…

Planet Grafika!

One summer afternoon I received a phone call from a good friend who had been doing some work with the Make-a Wish foundation. He asked if I’d be interested in painting a mural for the foundation’s main office in Cranston, RI.  I didn’t know what they had in mind exactly but was excited to offer my services.  I made an appointment to meet with Diana Hackney, the CEO and President of the Rhode Island chapter.

Diana gave me some great information on the foundation.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation is dedicated to serving the children of the state of Rhode Island, granting wishes to children with illnesses. Diane also gave me her thoughts on the project, and allowed me to view the barren hallway in need of renovation.

Diana had one concern, and that was to bring some life to a bland hall and stairwell which leads from the entrance to the second floor offices.  She essentially gave me full creative license to do what I saw fit. 

Knowing that Make-a-Wish is a very prominent and established foundation I decided and the committee agreed that staying true to the current logo and color scheme would be the best approach.  I had initially considered doing something rather elaborate with wildlife scenery and multiple colors.  In retrospect, this would have been costly and significantly more time intensive.  So I did a few preliminary sketches and eventually got the “go ahead” from Diana.  Fortunately,  all of the tools and materials I needed were donated by Home Depot.  I also consulted my dad,  a seasoned design professional and top-notch handy-man to assist in my plan of attack. 

The process was slow at first because I wasn’t  accustomed to working on such a large scale.  It was a stark contrast to the usual small scale designs I engage at ChemArt every day.  Art is art, but this is a different animal entirely when you can’t rely on the safety net features of digital design.  When I made a mistake I really made a mistake.  I missed the comfort of the  “undo” command. I was balancing on step ladders and painting huge areas of wall the old-fashioned way.  I was applying masking tape and drop cloths to protect the rugs from paint splash and I had to rely on the accuracy of my eye and the steadiness of my hand. –made me appreciate the “stroke and fill” simplicity of Adobe Illustrator!

After some weeks of popping in and out when I could find the time,  I finally completed the project.  The good folks at Make-a-Wish were pleased and very appreciative of the work I had done.  The time I spent in that hallway was both enjoyable and humbling.   I am glad to have had the opportunity to support a great cause and meet some good people along the way.

Neil Bennett, Graphic Artist for ChemArt, spent a year in Iraq. His recount of the events is continued in Part 2 of the series:

One thing Bennett noticed was how professional and quick to respond his unit was. “You would think at a moment like that you would be panicking and might be inclined to lose some composure. The opposite was true. The men and women in my unit acted with consistent purpose and exceeded all expectations of our commanders. The Rhode Island Guard guys definitely gained the respect of our active duty brethren and the Iraqis who we came into contact with on a daily basis.”

While on his tour of duty, Bennett received care packages from not only his family and friends, but his new family at ChemArt. “I couldn’t believe it,” says Bennett. “I was there for only 2 weeks, and here I was in a strange country getting gifts from what felt like my second family. The love and support we received as a unit was constant and strong.”

From Baghdad his unit was reassigned to Mosul, where the focus was to develop existing Iraqi security forces (police, army, border patrol) in conjunction with working with officials and potential leaders of a new Iraq. This phase of the tour proved to be most challenging and at times very frustrating. The unit was now in much more dangerous territory and the job descriptions changed accordingly. Bennett, along with other soldiers, was now working more closely with Iraqi officials and civilians. Dangerous situations became common. Yet, at the same time gains were made on all fronts. Despite slow and steady progress the unit had to deal with a faceless enemy and a myriad of obstacles. The most prevalent of these obstacles was the lack of solidarity among the Iraqis at the time. Beyond the challenges of training a competent Iraqi Security Force, there were the age old inter-tribal squabbles and political differences that loomed overhead. These political and religious differences persist today and make Iraq an extremely volatile place.

Bennett’s unit served one year in Iraq before returning to the states. He was very grateful not only for the safe return home but also for the fact that ChemArt had kept their word and held his position.

In a fateful turn of events, ChemArt had been working with the Family Readiness Group in RI to create a fundraising vehicle to support homecoming parties for the very unit that Bennett belonged to. In a subsequent year, Bennett was able to design one of the very ornaments used to support his colleagues fighting for freedom on behalf of the US.