Series II Shirts

Series Two Shirts are now available

I’ve continued to refine my messages as well as the designs. This series uses a specific typeface that I researched with the help of my old friend Colin Johnston. The mirror-image type design is intended to create a graphic element, and also to present the message equally to the wearer, along with the approaching reader.

These designs are all important messages that I have received, continue to use, and enjoy retransmitting to others. I love language and language-based art, and t-shirts are the best way that I’ve found to share this sort of art with others.

This is an art project. Click the image to be part of the magic

#ChangeEverything

What better way to change (as much as possible) than by aiming to change everything? We all wonder how to change, and I’m no different. I had no idea, except to follow my intuition.

Meeting the current owner of my custom Lamborghini Orange Vespa by chance in San Francisco!

I’ll Never Forget You

Pay attention: everyone you meet brings something unique to your world. You never know when you’ll meet someone unforgettable.

Keep Odd Hours

I’m sick of all these health nuts telling me to go to bed at the same time every night. All of the interesting things happen in the small hours.

Sex is Better Sober

Right? Right.

I met this complete stranger in the market in DTLA and stopped to compliment her on her outfit. She has nothing to do with the shirt.

Someday Means Never

Don’t put your dreams a list. How many times have you heard someone – or yourself – say “I’d like to do that someday…” Next time, take that moment as a message and make a plan to do it immediately.

Watch This

A friend’s kid wanted to watch more of “his show” the other night – I just said, hey kiddo, #WatchThis instead.

Watch This is what you say when you’re confident enough to step out in front – or when you know that something interesting will happen, and happy with whatever the outcome may be. When people ask me: watch what?, I just say keep watching.

Call Me Uli

And finally, an old favorite from Series Zero that I’ve revived for this announcement:

Click here to help retransmit all of these important messages

I’d love to hear from you on Facebook or Instagram, just tag @bowendwelle or #CallMeUli with your photos!

Athletes are Artists

Most of us would say that art and sports don’t have much to do with each other – but I don’t think that’s true. While our intellectual self lives in the mind, our intuition lives in the body. This embodied self is the seat of creativity – and therefore of art.

On the surface, we tend to think of athletes as physical and not particularly creative, but stretching our physical abilities and challenging our bodies is a well-traveled path to creativity, and many athletes are also artists.

Renan Ozturk is known mostly as a climbing photographer and cinematographer and professional climber, but he describes himself as a “landscape artist at heart”, and his paintings provide a unique window into the eye of a mountaineer.

Mount Whitney Cicre by Renan Ozturk — Renan Ozturk: Mount Whitney Cicre

Baron Batch pursued a career in professional football before realizing that he was The Artist:

Feel my Truth by Baron Batch — Baron Batch: Feel My Truth

Gregory Porter is a hugely successful jazz musician who pursued an early career in football before finding his calling in music.

Jered Gruber is a cyclist and photographer whose images capture perfectly the free spirit of the modern cyclist:

View this post on Instagram

While riding with @igortavella on the steep little farm roads that wind their way along the flanks of the Dolomites, I wondered if it would be possible to do 5000 meters (or more) of climbing on all the little roads in less than 100k. Igor laughed – of course! In that moment, an idea hit. We should do a ride later this year: invite anyone who wants to join us to get a big flavor of Igor's backyard, his secrets – paved and dirt – but all doable on a road bike, so long as the rider is ok with gradients that are always north of 10% and isn't scared of some dirt roads and a bit of amazing singletrack (meaning this won't be everyone's cup of hot chocolate). It will be on a Saturday or Sunday or both – everything will of course be based out of the Tavella hotel: the @UstariaPosta in Badia. We are thinking early to middle September. It will be the #YOLOMITES 5000 brought to you by @holimites and Igor. If the rider has had their fill at any point, they can cut it short whenever they want – we will never be more than 20k from the start at the Ustaria Posta. #yolomites5000 #conquereveryroad

A post shared by Jered Gruber (@jeredgruber) on May 24, 2016 at 11:51am PDT

Riikka Hyvönen is a roller derby skater and artist. Her unique painted and upholstered sculptures put us directly in touch with the bruises that derby girls collect:

I Got a Really Beautiful Bruise on My Bum, Do You Want To See a Pic It Has 12 Colours And Is the Size of My Head! by Riikka Hyvönen

Gou Miyagi is an incredibly innovative skateboarder who is developing new and unique ways of using his body and his board to create movement and imagery:

Do You Want Gold

In 2010 I was part of the production of a unique creative event and dinner for 200+ in New York called Do You Want Gold. This event was a fantastic example of the combination of art and business, and a unique and wonderful experience for everyone who participated.