Permanent News

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Recap: Distance/Horizon Exhibit at BMW of Minnetonka

On Saturday, November 2nd we opened "Distance/Horizon: New Work by Amy Gee" at the newly minted Concourse Exhibitions at BMW of Minnetonka. Permanent named, branded and developed a new concept for the dealership's gallery. 

We worked with Chicago-based photographer Amy Gee to develop the gallery's inaugural exhibit, which gave a contemporary nod to the age-old relationship between car and driver. We sourced a custom BMW motorcycle from Dan Campo of South-Lyndale Liquors and a vintage 1985 BMW sedan from Minneapolis-based rock icon, Mark Mallman to create a tastefully branded photo exhibit. The concept of the open road, the horizon, height and distance all played a part in the inspiration behind Gee's photographs, shot in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Chicago. 

See the entire series of photos below, as well as a handful of shots from the opening, which included food from Fork in the Road food truck and an interactive Instagram contest.

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Permanent's Halloween DEATH RIDE

On Halloween night, Permanent invited friends over to our office space for a costume party and "real death experience." We rented a coffin and called our friend, hearse-driving artist, Michael Thomsen, to take people on "death rides" throughout the evening. Only the bravest of souls (about 10 people total) opted to be shut into the coffin, loaded into the hearse, and taken for a short ride around the neighborhood.  A spooky time was had by all!

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Concourse Exhibitions at BMW of Minnetonka: Branding and Exhibit Design

For our clients at BMW of Minnetonka, we developed, named and branded Concourse Exhibitions, an arts exhibition space at their campus--the largest BMW dealership in the country.

The name, "Concourse" is a nod to adventure and movement (concepts that connect to both BMW vehicles and personal exploration). A concourse is also a place for assembly; the gallery and its events are an opportunity for new visual experiences. The identity mark reflects movement and upward mobility--a hopeful tilt to the sky in a classic BMW color palette to tie it all back.

Our first order of business after branding and naming the program and space was to curate an inaugural art exhibit that was tastefully reflective of their brand. Working with Chicago-based photographer, Amy Gee, we invited her to create a body of work using a vintage BMW car and motorcycle as her muse. The results were beautiful, subtle and minimal--a study of the unspoken relationship between car and driver and the wanderlust that is often sparked within it. The title, "Distance/Horizon" is a ode to life on the road, height, landscape and exploration--something Amy's body of work communicates perfectly.

For more information on Concourse Exhibitions, click HERE

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Galleria: Flights of Fashion Advertising Photography

Permanent produced a small photography campaign for our clients at the Galleria, a luxury shopping mall in Edina, MN. Created for the mall's annual fashion event, Flights of Fashion, the photos were created for print advertising, in-mall signage, fashion show backdrops, barricade graphics and other print materials.

Keeping the ideas behind the event in mind--movement, exploration, fashion, fall, trend and "flight" we designed the shoot to reflect all of the above. Our model Emily wore on-trend clothing and accessories from Galleria shops Cole Hahn, Arafina and Scherezade and posed in front of a mixed media painting created with planetary landscapes in mind. Add a little bit of wind and viola!

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Art Direction + Layout Design for l'etoile magazine's Fall fashion editorial

Permanent jumped on board to help our friends at l'etoile magazine produce a decadent fashion editorial for fall. Shot at the sumptuous, historic Saint Paul Hotel, the shoot told the story of three "ladies of leisure" enjoying a day of fashion, finery, tea, crumpets, cocktails and flirtation.

Art direction for the shoot was done by Permanent Partner Kate Iverson, who aimed to capture a playful yet elegant mood while at the same time taking the photos beyond simply "fashion" into a lush, artful realm. The editorial layout, designed by Permanent's Hardy Stewart and Kyle Helle pushed into the contemporary and minimal to juxtapose the luxurious photography and grandiose environment. 

Check out the spread via Issuu here:

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Project: Lovestitch Fall Lookbook

Along with our partners at Blueprint, Permanent art directed and produced a fall lookbook for our clients at L.A. clothing brand, Lovestitch. Shot in Northeast Minneapolis in a secluded wooded area tucked within the heart of the city, photographer Chris McDuffie was able to capture the natural spirit and warm, romantic mood of Lovestitch’s brand. Their tagline “Sewn with Love” definitely applies here, but is conveyed in a very contemporary, editorial style that positions Lovestitch’s products as sophisticated and modern, yet with an earthy, authentic twist.

Shoot credits:

Creative & Art Direction: Kate Iverson & Hardy Stewart for Permanent ADG

Styling: Jahna Peloquin

Photography: Chris McDuffie

Jewelry: Rox Jewelry

Models: Duha & Diana for Vision Model Management

Production: Blueprint & Permanent ADG

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Permanent Waves Dumpster Pool Party Recap

On Friday, August 16th, Permanent hosted "Permanent Waves" a summer ad/design industry party featuring a 22ft dumpster converted into a pool by by Permanent in collaboration with design/build studio, Boy Houser. Drinks were drunk, sausages were grilled, records were spun and a good time was had by all.

Thanks to our event partners, Supply Studio, Boy Houser, Evans Larson, One Light Collective, and Blueprint.

Thanks also to our sponsors: BMW of Minnetonka, Butcher & The Boar, Red Stag Supper Club, Prairie Vodka, 2 Gingers Whiskey, Tallgrass Brewing, Crispin Cider, Joia All Natural Soda, Purple Prairie Botanicals, Flaire Printing and Loll Designs.

DJ sets by Michael Cina and Permanent's own Hardy Stewart. Click here for the Permanent Waves music mix by Cina HERE.

Check out our video recap of the event, captured and edited by our friends at One Light Collective: 

Permanent Waves // Dumpster Pool Party from Permanent Art and Design Group on Vimeo.

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Project: Public Functionary

As the agency partner of Public Functionary, Permanent supports the non-profit arts organization and gallery through art direction, design, production, PR, development and more. We helped build the gallery from the ground up in collaboration with PF's curator and director, Tricia Khutoretsky, creating a branding system, website, exhibit design concepts and more. We helped produce a successful $31,000 Kickstarter campaign for the space, which helped with the initial build out of the raw warehouse space.

One of Permanent’s partners also serves on the gallery’s board of directors as an agency liaison. In addition, Public Functionary shares a building with Permanent and the Lab Digital at 1400 12th Ave in Northeast Minneapolis.Public Functionary imagines art patronage in a modern context, responding to current technology, communication and culture to cultivate an evolving community around contemporary art.

“Public Functionary is a fantastic gift to a great art city; a beautiful addition that I really hope will grow into something that all can behold and benefit from.”  - Jerry Saltz; Senior Art Critic; New York Magazine

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Internet Week New York

For two consecutive years, Permanent’s art director, Hardy Stewart has been the Creative and Tech Lead for Internet Week New York. IWNY was launched in 2008 in cooperation with the New York City Mayor’s office of Media and Entertainment.

Occurring each May, IWNY is a festival celebrating internet business and culture that attracts more than 45,000 web-related professionals and tech entrepreneurs. There are roughly 250+ events produced by IWNY and 150+ citywide satellite event partners. 

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Project: Over Exposure

Permanent partnered with non-profit arts organization OverExposure to produce an exhibit, create branding, print design, a marketing strategy and a web presence. 

The exhibit, entitled “What’s New” featured the work of 15 photographers documenting 102 Twin Cities neighborhoods over a five year period. Since thousands of images were involved, Permanent created a multimedia exhibit design that involved reflective vinyl, multiple projectors as well as a single printed image from each of the 102 neighborhoods involved. 

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Project: Wynn Hotel Social

Working with lifestyle and culture agency/media company TrendLand, Permanent developed editorial content and design for the Wynn Social website. It included the Wynn Hotel’s lounges, restaurants and resident musicians such as DJs Steve Aoki, Diplo, Tiesto and Calvin Harris. 

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Project: Transfer of Memory

Permanent partnered with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and photographer David Sherman to create a powerful exhibit featuring portraits and stories of Holocaust survivors living in Minnesota.

Mobile walls, removable story cards and full fleet of branded assets were designed to work as a traveling exhibit, making it possible for Transfer of Memory to be shipped and implemented professionally by organizations around the world.

The exhibit opened at the State Capital on Holocaust Remembrance Day and will tour in 2013-2014. 

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Project: AREA Designed Environments

Permanent helped develop AREA, an artist-designed wallpaper line and creative off-shoot of commercial art studio, Apropos. AREA commissions international artists of various mediums to create designs that are on the cutting edge of contemporary with a heavy nod to trend. From curatorial consultation to marketing strategy, naming, web, branding and everything in between, Permanent worked side by side with Apropos to build AREA from the ground up.

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Google "Field Trip" Project

Permanent partnered with Google and travel website Atlas Obscura to help launch "Field Trip," the first app to come out of Google's in-house development group, Niantic Labs.

The app is an exploratory experience that runs in the background of your smart phone, pinging you when you're near an unsual landmark, secret location, historic spot, and any number of unique locales that are off-the-beaten-path. We produced a launch event for the product, which involved a day-long app-guided tour exploring the under the radar nooks and crannies of Northeast Minneapolis--an event that was mirrored in six other major cities. Attendees were invited to use the app to discover geo-tagged curiosities and oddities in artist studios, local parks, roadside sculpture gardens and more.

Field Trip Day turned out 400+ guests in Minneapolis alone for self-guided tours and was also named on the Star Tribune's "Top 10 Best of 2012" list.

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Music Video Production // P.O.S. : Get Down

We worked with directors Isaac Gale and David Jensen on their music video for Doomtree/Rhymesayers recording artist, P.O.S. for his track "Get Down" off the album "We Don't Even Live Here". Shot over two days in our building in Northeast Minneapolis, the video featured dozens of dancers, aerial harnesses, RED camera footage, and even some backgrounds by Michael Cina from an artist-designed wallpaper line we developed for our clients at Area Environments. 

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Music Video Production // P.O.S. : Fuck Your Stuff

We partnered up with directors Isaac Gale and David Jensen to help produce a music video for hip hop artist P.O.S. for his track "Fuck Your Stuff," an ode to anti-materialism with a little bit of anarchy thrown in for good measure. Shot on location in Minneapolis and the U-Lands, this 2-day outdoor production was full of fire, beer, spray paint and awesomeness.

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Music Video Production // Polica: Dark Star

We worked with directors Isaac Gale and David Jensen to help produce a performance-style music video for electronic group Polica. Shot in the historic, vacant Hollywood Theater in Northeast Minneapolis, the video played into the atmospheric sound of the hit song "Dark Star" complete with hazy blue and red lighting, lots of fog and swaying bulbs.