FLNR

creative projects by zack mccune

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The Major Arcana, made from 500 years of deck designs on Wikipedia

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Spent a chilly week on the Mendocino coast crafting this ghost story. I used Super 8 film to capture the ethereal weirdness of HEAVY Pacific fog. Then I spent a several months hand-animating these characters to bring the tale to life. This is an original ghost story, though I would have much preferred to adapt a local legend. The California coast needs more ghosts!

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Alcatraz swimmers.

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Mendocino.

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a few sacred mountains

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Sunset rows at the Dolphin Club

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“Art has something to do with an arrest of attention in the midst of distraction.

Saul Bellow

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ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು 

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There is a tale of Nagano about the discovery of healing hot spring, high in the mountains, deep in the snow. It is known as the 熊の手荒 or "Bear Onsen" because it was shown to a hunter by the very bear he attacked. I've imagined this as a short Super 8 film with simple drawings. And I've named "Nozawa Story" for the town where it takes place.

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On Highway 50 - "The loneliest road in America"

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Legend holds that a 3-legged mermaid once appeared to a group of Japanese fishermen. It foretold of a great pandemic, before comforting “but I am an Amabie, simply show an image of me to those sick and they will be helped.” 

Inspired by artists around the world, I’ve made my own Amabie prints for the COVID-19 outbreak and I’m mailing them around the world. Just drop me an email -> zmccune at gmail to get a card. 

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विघ्नेश्वर - the remover of obstacles

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You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.

Rabindranath Tagore 

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A shower curtain for the “Lost Snow” Ski Areas of California.

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Lost Snow: California

When I designed a shower curtain to celebrate the maps and logos of “Lost Snow” ski areas in California, I never imagined it would mark our own lost winter. 

At peak, there were more than 82 ski areas in California. Now, Wikipedia counts just 27. Climate has been the largest factor, raising the regular snow altitude higher and higher in the Sierra, leaving behind dozens of ski hills. 

The economics are also hard. In 1972, skiing passed golf to become the sport Americans spent the most money on. At that time, more than 15 million Americans skied. By 2019, fewer than 9 million Americans went skiing at all. A study found that any ski area closed for even 1 season had just a 41% chance of ever reopening. 

Looking over the trail maps and logos of these “lost” ski areas, you can still pick up the energy and joy. These are brands for fun, thrilling places. And we can learn from them.