News

Hey SPAMmers

Some big news for you all. As you’re aware, we’ve been looking at ways to transition the running of SPAM since the beginning of the year. When we started the process, Kev and I fully intended to continue to help lead the group. However, as things progressed we both came to the conclusion that for new life and strong new leadership to emerge out of SPAM, we needed to step away from leading altogether. It was a tough call, but we think the right one.

Over the months, we’ve had a lot of ideas for the future direction and running of the group and fantastic offers of help. When we told the people who showed the strongest interest in leadership about our decision to step back, things really started to cement.

Last week those people decided on the following new SPAM leadership:

Emma Jaine is the new leader of SPAM, Patrick Dodson is the new assistant leader. They now have responsibility for, and final say in running SPAM. Leadership support is being given to them by Tom, Jo, Caren, Tim and Claire.

Kev and I are thrilled with this decision. We’ve been really impressed with Emma’s vision, can-do attitude and communication ability through the work she’s done to date on Explorations, and we believe she’s the right person at the right time to lead you in the next chapter of SPAM. We love that Patrick is going to be her right hand man. Patrick has been a big part of SPAM for the last couple of years and really complements Emma in the core leadership team. Tom and Jo have played major roles in leading and running SPAM already and contribute valuable experience to the wider team. Caren, Tim and Claire have been very active contributors to SPAM, so it’s brilliant that they’ve stepped up too.

Cool huh?

Our next SPAM gathering is this Monday 9 June (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell, bring a bottle).

Kev and I will be saying our official “see yaz” as SPAM leaders, and Emma and Patrick will be able to chat to you about the future direction of this amazing group.

So that’s the last SPAM-mail from me. It seems fitting for the last word to come from Emma.

Right O
J

Hi SPAMmers

SPAM-ku from Emma:
We love to make SPAM
Two tins have made many more
They leave the stack now

Posted by jonathan at 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Just confirming we’re all on for our regular slot this Monday. Sorry for the late notice, developments on the SPAM transition front have been full on for the last few days, and I was hoping to give you some big news, but we’re not quite there yet.

What isn’t regular about this Monday (12 May @ 7.30pm) is the location. We’re going to meet at Katie’s space in Kingsland. The address is 3C Central Rd, but the entrance is actually on Kingsland Tce. It is a large concrete building with dark, skinny, tall doors out the front. BYO as usual.

Here’s a note to you all from Emma:

Join us in Kingsland if you’re interested in pursuing the current creative initiative with us. We’ll discuss what it means to engage in community as arts and media related people and how that relates to the current project/s in Kingsland. From there we’re hoping that YOU, our fellow SPAMmers, will pick up the thread and follow it with the interests and talents you can utilise to bless and engage the Kingsland community. If you’re into open ended projects and are interested to see what God can do with them, come along!

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Hast thou sinned with beef?
Get thee to a SPAMmery.
Go go go go go!

Posted by jonathan at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

UPDATE - Change of venue
Now at The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell @ 7.30pm.

Two quick things. Our next gathering is on: Monday 14 April (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell, BYO). SPAM’s turning three, so seriously, BYO!

It’ll be a chance to catch up / network / brainstorm Emma and Tom’s brilliant Explorations initiative too. Emma says she hasn’t received any responses yet, but her Hotmail is having a melt down. So please email her at emma@mallville.co.nz by Friday 11 April. Here’s a note from her:

“Just a reminder to email your brief / response to me as soon as you can so it can be considered before we meet again next month. All ideas welcome – be they the size of Texas or something smaller.

“Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to my Father. And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12

“Love your neighbour as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18”

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for today:

Father says grace: “Lord,
We would normally thank you
For our food... but SPAM?”

Posted by jonathan at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Good to chat with many of you last month about the future of SPAM, both at our gathering, and afterwards. Thanks to those of you who have let us know that you’re interested in leading or helping with the running of SPAM. If you’d like to add to the discussion, do email me, or contribute to the SPAM Facebook Group that our Caren’s set up. Some people have had the impression that Kev and I are throwing in our towels on SPAM. We’re not. We plan to continue to be involved as leaders and creatives, just not with the day to day running. We haven’t made any decisions as to how things are going to be run yet, but we have some excellent ideas and offers that we’re working through.

In the mean time, it’s business as usual. Our next gathering is in a week: Monday 10 March (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell, BYO). Attached you’ll find some inspiration from Emma and Tom to get you started on their initiative they’ve called Explorations. Here’s what Emma wanted to say to you:

“We’ve put together a document for discussion at the meeting. It’s just the beginning, a seed if you will. We’re hoping that you all can be part of what makes it grow into a SPAM shaped being. Have a read through and dream big, dream small... Whatever your ideas are that you think fit with this sort of vision, bring them along to add to the discussion about where we go next as a collective.”

Had a look? Pretty cool huh? See you next week for a chin wag and a brainstorm.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for today:

Stone walls do not a
Prison make but SPAM makes a
Lovely pin cushion.

Posted by jonathan at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Happy new year to you all. Hope you’re enjoying the long hot summer. Mine hasn’t been as relaxing as I’d hoped, but action-packed works for me too. Last week I had the pleasure of celebrating the arrival of Kev and Nikki’s third little girl – Mia Hope Denholm. Did I say little? Nine and a half pounds is a whole lot of baby.

Kev and I have been pondering and praying about the future of SPAM over the last few months (as have Mike and Tom). As SPAM enters its fourth year this April, we think it’s time for it to mature. Stand on its own two feet. Cut the cord. You get the metaphor?

As part of this maturing, we think it’s vital for Kev and I to step back from the actual running of SPAM, to make room for new leaders who feel called to help drive us in the future directions God navigates us to. Mmmm. Mixing metaphors now. As Jo is back in ad-land and no longer employed by Exposure to help co-ordinate SPAM, and Tom is not in a position to take on more of a leadership role, things are wide open.

Kev and I certainly still want to continue to give of ourselves through SPAM, but we want to serve in different ways: by supporting and nurturing new leaders, and exploring new creative avenues.

We believe God has pulled us all together to do big things for him: as we have already. We want to empower you guys to act like SPAM is yours. Coz it is. We want you to take the lead, knowing we’ve got your back, along with Mike ... oh ... and also the creator of the universe.

So what is the future direction for SPAM? I think God’s clearly spoken to us as a group already; through Darryl’s talk at Away: calling for us to be passionate, creative leaders in the church; and through Patrick’s workshops: calling us to develop culture, and to create together as artisans. I think God’s calling us to continue to serve him. Outwardly. Boldly. Together. And I’m certain he’s calling many of you to lead or to manage or to co-ordinate.

But maybe that’s just me. In the spirit of continuing this journey together, we want to seek God together. Please join us for a good old pray on Monday 11 February (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell, BYO). Let’s dedicate this year to God, and listen to what he has to say. Together.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth”.
1 John 3:18 NIV

Right O
James and Kevin

SPAM-ku for today:

Don't serve SPAM at a
Bar mitzvah. Boy, did I find
That out the hard way!

Posted by jonathan at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

What a fruitful year it’s been for SPAM: Family, The Easter Cross, Away, Open and Patrick’s inspirational presentations a couple of weeks ago – thanks again Patrick. It’s been brilliant working, socializing and doing the stuff with you guys. It’s a year well worth celebrating at our Christmas party on Monday 10 December (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell). To thank you all for your superb work, Exposure’s shouting the drinks, St P’s is laying on the food, and I’ve crafted the attached invitation from the cover of The Book of SPAM (ideal Christmas gift for ... um ... someone, available from Amazon).

All you need to bring is a $10 unwrapped children’s gift or $10 cash so that gifts can be bought for the Dingwall Children's home via City Lights. Perhaps a SPAM-inspired gift like art materials? And please RSVP to Katrina Bratton at katrina [at] artinc [dot] co [dot] nz this week to help her organize the catering.

Katrina’s also asked me to send you the attached to invitation to Robert Bratton’s next Blobology exhibition. The preview evening is from 5.30pm on Thursday 6 December.

As usual SPAM’s taking a break in January, but we’ll be kicking things off again on Mon 11 February. As I said at our last gathering, do have a relaxing break, and then do make some time to consider how you want to shape SPAM in 2008. We’re gagging to hear where you and God want to lead us next.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the season:

Wake up Christmas morn,
Only thing in stocking ... SPAM
Naughty once again

Posted by jonathan at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

How’s your post Open world? Still exhilarated? Still exhausted? Still need to get your stuff to Jonathan to put online so that he can finish finessing the page?

We’ve heard a lot of awesome feedback about Open, and it was a huge success, although I am concerned that some of you got damaged in the process. That can happen with any creative project, and it certainly happens with God stuff. I’m praying that you all pull through and carry on with the stuff. I stopped for about ten years once. I hope none of you do that.

Because Open was such a massive effort, Tom, Kev and I have decided not to lead a SPAM Christmas project this year. Mike’s completely cool with that, but if any of you would like to lead something – say producing a film clip like previous years – please let Mike and I know. If you decide to, I could help you put together a brief for our SPAM gathering next Monday 12 November (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

Regardless, Patrick’s going to be presenting and leading a discussion on Monday called Tipping Culture and possibly an additional segment: Centrifugal v Centripetal Art. I’m sure this will be a thought-provoking evening, and I’m hoping that it will inspire some of you to leadership of SPAM or other creative God stuff next year. Don’t miss it.

Psst. Our final get together for this year will be our SPAM Christmas bash on Mon 10 Dec.

Psssst. If you went to Away, you might spot yourself at the top of the page here:
http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/away

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Moses said, “Behold
The power of the Lord! He
Turns pigs into cubes!”

Posted by jonathan at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Well I’ve had an interesting week. My Dad died last weekend, and we buried him on Wednesday. Although I’m incredibly sad, I’m also hugely proud of the way he went, and the way God used his busy life. Even on Wednesday I reckon.

I’m also very proud of the hundred or so people directly involved in putting together Open. Not to mention the people who brought guests along. God used our busy lives too. He spoke clearly through us and to us. Congratulations SPAM.

Here’s one comment we’ve received after Open:

“It was so refreshing to hear people share what’s on their minds without cramming an agenda or idea down our throats. I was inspired and impressed that something so cool and relevant is happening in a church.”

... there’s more feed-back at http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/open/

Speaking of which, the hard work’s not quite over on Open: we gotta get it online. Thanks to my bro’s, The Open Post has lead the charge and is on our website and YouTube for the world to see. Please get your stuff ready and get it to Jo to get to Tom ASAP.

And do come for a well-earned drink at the The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell: tomorrow night (Monday 8 October) @ 7.30pm. And do introduce yourself to new people, including Peter & Jessica Crothall from Chrysalis Seed Trust in Christchurch http://www.cs.org.nz

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for this week:

Dad and I, fishing.
“I love you, man.” “Sorry, son,
You must still eat SPAM.”

Posted by jonathan at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Three sleeps until Open. She’s been a tough row to plough, but she’s looking sweet.

Thank you so much for the huge amounts of creativity, productivity and prayer that so many of you have put into Open. I’d say we’re in for two amazing nights.

If you haven’t invited your non-Christian friends and family yet, invite them to Saturday. Sunday’s probably gonna be packed. You can still pick-up the attached invitation postcard at St P’s, or you can direct them to the invite clip at http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/open/ Don’t be one of those annoying people who say “I wish I’d invited bla-bla-bla”. Yawn. I’ve invited over 200.

Please continue to pray for people who are still pulling things together. Please pray for the people presenting and working on the nights. Please pray for the right guests to be there. And please pray for the Spirit to be in everything we’re doing.

I love this picture from one of St P’s staff at their prayer sesh this morning:
“I saw a door – only open a crack – but it let a large amount of light into the room. People's hearts need only be open a small amount in order to receive a large amount of what God has for them this weekend”.

Also, when you come, please do be good hosts to all our guests – especially down in the crypt afterwards.

Next SPAM gathering’s on Monday 8 October, 7.30pm @ The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell: for a well earned pint. Of vodka.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

SPAM: it's just the name.
It would not be an icon
If it were called “Phil”.

Posted by jonathan at 07:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

It’s time for you to invite your non-Christian friends and family to Open – it’s on in three weeks! You can pick-up the attached invitation postcard in it’s printed form at St P’s; or you can send them the email invite I’m flicking you after this; or, direct them straight to the invite clip at http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/open/ You guys are the most important promoters of this event, so please do it now. Thanks to Jordan and Steve for their help with the clip this week.

Thanks also to those of you who have sent postcards in for the Open segment I’m organizing – The Open Post. Disappointingly, I’ve only received seven postcards to date, so we’ve had to extend the deadline until the end of this week. C’mon you guys ... surely you can think of something to say about your faith to potentially hundreds of non-Christians who are open to listen! You don’t have to shout it on a street corner: just chuck it on a postcard and send it in. It doesn’t need to be a big production: in fact, the simpler it is, the better. Details are attached. Please.

SPAM’s gathering on Monday 10 September (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO) to celebrate all the Open AV material being completed, and to pray for the event. If you’d like get involved with dressing the space for Open, or be part of the hosting teams on the nights, please contact Jeanette at the St P’s office or at jeanette [at] stpauls [dot] org [dot] nz

Finally, well done everyone involved with the SPAM Art Auction – thanks to you guys, we raised over $1,700 for World Vision, and helped them launch their Art4Aid initiative: http://www.worldvision.org.nz/rampant/Art I think this has huge potential for good.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

A SPAM slice frying
In the southern hemisphere
Turns counterclockwise.

Posted by jonathan at 05:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

So I’m a dad again, and loving it. Imogen Violet Bowman was born last Monday while a bunch of you were gathering.

The SPAM Art Auction is online now until next Monday. Thanks to Nicci and Adrian for creating the attached flyer. I’ll email it to you again next in a forward-friendly format. Send it far and wide. Surely Up, up and away can raise more than $2!
Go to http://www.rampant.co.nz/trademe and get bidding.

Also attached is an invitation to contribute to my Open segment – The Open Post. The few postcards I’ve received already have a good range of tone. I’ve distributed the invite far and wide, but I’d really appreciate all SPAMmers’ support on this.

By the way, we’ve cracked the ton. There’s a 101 of us now. I have to email you in two batches. Probably an opportune time to say again that if you’d like to be dropped off the list ... No worries ... Just email me.

Five weeks until Open guys. We’re launching the promotions Sunday after next. Keep up the creating.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for Art Auction week:

Some misguided soul
nails blue can to a canvas,
calls the damned thing art.

Posted by jonathan at 05:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Remember our SPAM gathering this Monday (13 August, 7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

This is a very important prep night for our Open event. If you’re part of Open, or would like to be, please be there. Unless your pregnant wife who’s currently 12 days overdue needs you to be with her or your other kids. Thanks to heaps of you for your work on Open so far. Huge thanks from me to the 11 photographers who have contributed brilliant images to the promotions.

After I send this, I’m emailing you all an invitation to contribute to my Open segment – The Open Post. Please forward the invitation to every creative Christian you know straight away; and post your contributions in quickly.

From Jo Jo:
SPAM Online Art Auction
This is happening Tuesday 21 – Monday 27 August for one week only. It’s your chance to own paintings by your talented fellow SPAMmers, or get your mates and family online, bidding and hanging some great artwork. It’s a fantastic opportunity to buy original and affordable art, while supporting people living in poverty in Mongolia. And very special thanks to all those who have contributed – well done team.
Go to www.rampant.co.nz/trademe from Tues 21 and get bidding.

Time to take my overly pregnant wife for a big walk.

Right O
J

Slightly disturbing and vaguely topical SPAM-ku for today:
Artificial birth,
Undiscriminating egg ...
And a SPAM doner

Posted by jonathan at 11:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Thanks to those of you who made it to our small but potent gathering on Monday. And to those who couldn’t make it, but have expressed their enthusiasm for Open.

We have good numbers signing up to participate, but we could certainly do with more – especially individuals or groups wanting to put together a segment. If that’s you, please make sure you get your written outline to Kev (kevin [at] exposure [dot] org) by 30 July, so he can give feedback / direction.

Attached is our list of who’s doing what so far. Plus a SPAMmers list if you’re wanting to contact with someone.

I’d still like to hear from people up for creating the Open promotions with me.

Our next SPAM gathering will be on Monday 13 August.

Oh, and Miles Langley would like to invite you to an exhibition he and Toni Brandso are holding tomorrow night: details attached.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Bio techs love SPAM.
The jelly is optimal
For microbe cultures.

Posted by jonathan at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

A quick reminder that we’re gathering at The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell @ 7.30pm tomorrow night (Monday 9 July).

As well as enjoying a drink together, the objective of the evening is to get Open up and running. I’ll be there to answer any questions you might have about the attached outline, and to take names of those wanting to be involved. We need six to eight individuals or groups to commit to producing written outlines of the segment they wish to produce, including a promo for Life 07. You need to send your outline to Kev (kevin [at] exposure [dot] org) by 30 July. He’ll then give feedback / direction to help you to produce your Open segment.

I’d also like to hear from anyone up for creating the Open promotions: with direction from me. And Jeanette (jeanette [at ]stpauls [dot] org [dot] nz) would like to hear from you if you’d like to get involved in the other parts of the production: as listed in the outline.

All you have to do is turn up, step up, and – as always – trust that the Spirit will lead us in to something amazing together.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Spork! Tool of my muse.
Carve from the cube, my vision.
'Tis art? Or just lunch?

Download 'Open' Final Outline

Posted by jonathan at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

First, a message from Jo:

“A big thanks to all those that joined us for Away at Leigh last Saturday. It was a great afternoon hanging out and getting to know each other over great food, some paint splattering as well as creative and spiritual inspiration. Check out the photos at St Paul’s this Sunday.

And some great results on the art front – nice work guys. Please get your canvases to St Paul’s by this Sunday (ideally to Jasmine in the office 8am – 5.30pm weekdays). And make sure you write the title of your artwork and your name on the back. These will be photographed and placed online to go to auction in August. More details to follow.

Finally, special thanks to Brooke Benton, Megan Robinson, Jordan Dodson, Claire Annan and Summer Cameron – if it wasn’t for people like you this stuff wouldn’t be possible”.

My thanks also to Jo, Tom and Kev for their efforts, leading up to, and on the day. I thought it was just brilliant. Hope all of you who went had as good a time as I did.

Speaking of good times, I’m getting organized to head off to the Cannes Ad Festival on Friday, but wanted to send you the attached outline for our September guest event so that you can get thinking. Welcome to Open. It doesn’t get any bigger than this for SPAM ‘07. I hope heaps of you are up for being part of it: there’s plenty to do. And I hope the concept inspires you. It certainly inspires us.

So have a read, then have a pray and then come to The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell @ 7.30pm on Monday 9 July, where you can sign up for the crew vacancies, or you can hook up with people with the skills you need to produce one of the six to eight segments. But don’t wait ‘til then. Start developing ideas and pulling together your team straight away. This is your event, please don’t sit back and wait to be asked. I reckon the sooner that you start, the more fun you’ll have doing it.

Now, where’s my sunscreen?

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

If SPAM went to Cannes,
Would the glamorous Cannes hams
Be jealous of SPAM?

Download 'Open' Outline

Posted by jonathan at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

A quick message from our Jo:

“AWAY is happening this Saturday, Leigh Sawmill Café from 12.30pm. We have five spaces available – so if you’re up for a relaxed, fun afternoon of inspiration, creative chaos and connecting with God, we’d love to have you on board. Drop me an email and I’ll get you all the details – jo [at] exposure [dot] org”

I’m really looking forward to hanging with a bunch of you on Saturday. And hearing what Darryl Parsons has to say. And praying together. I’m less excited about doing my first acrylic painting in 20 years! But it should be a laugh. Hope to see you there.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

On lush black velvet,
an instant art world classic:
Four Dogs Eating SPAM.

SPAM Away Day info

Posted by jonathan at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Sweet gathering a fortnight ago, and sweet thinking on the Service / Event brief. For those of you who didn’t make it, the brief is attached, and the results of the brainstorm are below. If you have any other thoughts to add, please email them to me this week, as we’re finalizing our proposal in the weekend. Thanks to Jeanette for agreeing to be our Production Manager. If you’d like to stick your hand up for any other positions mentioned in the brief, stick them my way.

The SPAM biggie for June is Away at the Leigh Sawmill on Saturday the 9th. Vitals are on the flyer attached (thanks Claire). And here’s more from our Jo:

“This is going to be a big one. We have a fantastic speaker: Darryl Parsons from Consortium - one of the country’s top creative minds, his work speaks for itself - Ferrit, 42 Below, Yahoo Xtra, Godmarks. Also, World Vision are looking at promoting the Art Auction to their donors and supporters to get them online and bidding (i.e. a lot of people). There is huge potential to raise a whole lot of cash for World Vision projects including Children in Crisis and Vision Fund - imagine having our own SPAM community bank to help the less fortunate into small businesses in Mongolia - how cool would that be?! So check out details attached, and sign up fast as numbers are limited.

Also, if anyone’s up for helping with photographing the completed canvases, getting canvases listed on TradeMe or design work please let Jo know! Chur chur”

We’re limited to 50 people for Away. Last I heard there were 16 spots left. So let Jo know if you’re in.

Our next SPAM gathering will be Mon 9 July.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Small nugget of SPAM
Resting in your display case
Wonder "Is it art?"

Posted by jonathan at 09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Just a quick one to remind you about our SPAM gathering this Monday (14 May, 7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

How amazing does our Easter Cross look? Well done to everyone who contributed in so many different ways. Another cool community creative project, made possible by you guys. Thanks especially to Valentin and Jo for initiating and driving it through. If you, or anyone you know, has one of the missing tiles, please do get it done and up, so our remarkable Cross can be 100% complete.

On Monday night, we’re going to brief-in and brainstorm our 23 September Guest Service / Event. It’d be great to have lots of you there to contribute your ideas, and to volunteer your services to this biggie on the SPAM calendar.

Jo and Tom will also be giving you the low down on our SPAM Away Day at the Leigh Sawmill on Saturday 9 June.

Finally, attached is a promo piece for some events that St Mary’s are running in LA to scope out the possibility of planting a church in Hollywood (like they did at St Paul’s). Do pass it on to anyone you think might be interested. Personally, I think this could be huge.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Shall I compare thee?
“Quite frankly, my dear,” she cried
“I don't give a SPAM!”

Posted by jonathan at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

A few quickies to see in Easter.

Brilliant to see so many people getting into our Easter Cross project. Last count nearly 200 tiles had been sold. That does mean we still have about 60 to go. So if you haven’t got yours, grab em tomorrow from Megan at St P’s before 2pm, or pick em up on Sunday. If you’ve done one ... do another. And do encourage your non-SPAM mates to get into this project too. Attached are four crosses that my kids and I created last weekend out of stuff we found around home (including a beer bottle we had mucho fun smashing).

DOH NEWS FLASH. Just after the big SPAM Away Day announcement, Jo discovered that we’d scheduled it over Queen’s Birthday weekend. So we’re bumping the date out a week, to the afternoon of Saturday 9 June. Please re-diarize.

The SPAM Short Film project is all go. Contact Ali at alisontitulaer at yahoo dot co dot nz if you’d like to be involved.

Tom’s SPAM class trip to the Cityside Desert Files Exhibition is also a happening thang. Meet him at 7pm Thursday 5 April outside Cityside (8 Mt Eden Rd, Newton, Auckland) to catch the artists talking about their work, followed by a look around the installations, followed by a brew at Galbraith’s to “reconstruct and deconstruct what we’ve just experienced”. Contact Tom at tom at halcyon dot co dot nz or go to http://www.cityside.org.nz/desertfiles for more.

Finally, many thanks to Jonathan for posting the Family Exhibition on our website. An extra Easter egg for you.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for you know what:

Corpulent children,
Hormel corporate Easter,
Finding hidden SPAM.

Posted by jonathan at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Brilliant to see so many of you on Monday. For those of you who didn’t make it, attached is the brief for artwork / installations for the St P’s crypt. This is a an open, ongoing brief from Mike, inviting you to get artistic in our amazing crypt space.

Speaking of artistic, our Easter Cross project is all go. Steve’s created the attached flyer (featuring Judi’s painting) which tells you all about it. Thanks to Jo for driving this (with Valentin) in the absence of anyone volunteering. So pick up your tiles this Sunday people, and get creative.

Thanks also to Jo for her work on our Away Day. Here’s what she’s written:
Come hang out with the SPAM crew for a fun, relaxed afternoon Saturday 2 June 12pm–5pm at the legendary Leigh Sawmill (located 70 minutes north, past Matakana). Plans are still to be confirmed but include lunch at the fantastic Leigh Sawmill Café, an outstanding and still-to-be-confirmed guest speaker from the creative/media/art world, as well as the creative event of the year “SPAM goes Guggenheim”. Everyone gets a canvas, the creative brief, and an hour to create their masterpiece with paint, pencil, collage or any material they like. You can work individually or in teams of two, so you might want to get any artistically gifted mates involved pronto. All canvases will then be placed on TradeMe and dollars donated to charity. It’s going to be a great afternoon – lock it in your diary now and stay tuned for further details.

Alison and Kylie are keen to initiate a SPAM Short Film project. It could be amazing. Here’s what they’ve written:
At SPAM on Monday some of us were talking about getting a group of SPAMmers together to make a short film. Not necessarily a church project, but just pulling together all our creative film talents and producing something.
We're going to hold a meeting on Monday night next week, to see who's keen and start brainstorming ideas. If you're interested then please come along to The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell (just down from Exposure), on Monday the 19th, at 7pm.
See you there!

Tom’s keen to hear from everyone who’s up for his SPAM class trip to the Cityside Desert Files Exhibition. Specifically, which day would you like to go?
Thursday 5 April 6pm–11pm (beginning with artists discussing their work)
Good Friday 6 April midday–midnight
Saturday 7 April midday–6pm
Email Tom at tom@halcyon.co.nz
Find out more at http://www.cityside.org.nz/desertfiles

Finally, Susanna’s asked me to send you the attached flyer about helping with her Easter Show stall. This isn’t a SPAM project, but a SPAMmer’s project for good.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Insane about SPAM!
What is it that causes this
Spamdemonium?

Posted by jonathan at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Loved seeing many of you at the two days of Family. It was a huge success, thanks to the hard work and creativity of everyone involved; whom I hope have been thoroughly congratulated by now. Special thanks yet again to Kate and Meg for their inspired and tireless efforts. We’ve had rave reviews via Mike for many aspects of the event, ranging from the outstanding art, to the sublime music and food, to the breadth of the exploration’s appeal. It was an brilliant community event. And a great start to our SPAM year.

Over the last few weeks, there’s been much talk and emailing about our plans for the rest of the year, and thanks largely to Jo, we really do have our proverbial ducks in a row. There’s tonnes for you all to get involved with. We do hope you’re up for it.

Come and hear all about it this Monday (12 March, 7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO). Jo’s going to introduce our inaugural SPAM Away Day: to be held in Leigh on Saturday 2 June. Lock and load diaries. Tom’s going to brief an ongoing creative project for St P’s. And I’m hoping one of you will be part of updating us on the plans for our proposed Easter Cross.

Attached is Valentin’s outline for his Cross concept: a fantastic community creative project for Easter. We’d really like it to happen, but it needs a volunteer to step up immediately to manage the project. Then, of course, we can all contribute to it creatively over the next month. If you’re our Project Manager, please email me NOW.

Note that because of Easter, we won’t have a SPAM gathering in April, but Tom may be organizing a class trip to the Cityside Desert Files Exhibition:
http://www.cityside.org.nz/desertfiles

At our Monday 14 May gathering, we’ll be briefing-in our SPAM Guest Service that will be held on Sunday 23 September.

Enough of the dates. See you rock stars Monday.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Old man lies dying
Life flashing before his eyes
“Hmm, not enough SPAM”

Posted by jonathan at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Just a quick one to remind you about our Family opening tomorrow night, and viewing on Saturday afternoon.
It’s shaping up to be a sweet event, with around forty diverse pieces from twenty four artists.
Not to mention live music, grandma-style food and a drink or two tomorrow night.

Remember, because of Family, there won’t be a second Monday of the month SPAM gathering in Feb. Tom, Jo & Kev are working on plans for March to May. We’re talking Prayer Event ... Away Day ... watch this space. In case you haven’t heard, Tom has officially joined the SPAM leadership team. We’re looking forward to him making his mark. Big ups to Jonathan who’s agreed to take over the running of our website from Tom.

Also, I’ve attached an ad from Tear Fund who are looking for a Graphic Designer. Sound like you?

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

It's hard to believe,
So much creativity.
It's only canned meat!

Posted by jonathan at 11:38 PM | Permalink

Hey SPAMmers

Hope you’re having a happy new year. Welcome to a rather Family-oriented SPAM-mail.

Our Family art exhibition promos launched yesterday at St P’s with a clip you can view at http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/family/ plus our billboard, and with postcards along the lines of the attached (which are being distributed through St P’s, cafes and bars). The most important promotion this event will receive is you inviting your family and friends. So send em this jpeg or pick up some postcards at church or just get on the phone. You never phone.

Note we’ve changed the Friday opening night to Thursday 8 Feb, and there’s a kid-friendly viewing time on Saturday afternoon. The Sunday evening SOAK service will also utilize Family.

Remember the Family artists and crew meeting at St P’s 7pm Monday 29 Jan, in the crypt. If you’re exhibiting, please let Kate know the title of your work(s) and the price of anything you’re selling, by then. Also, installation happens 5-8pm Wednesday 7 Feb, final wrap happens 9am-8pm Monday 12 Feb.

If you’re not exhibiting, but would like to be involved, here’s what we still need, and who to contact if you’re keen:

More musicians for 20 min spots: Megan Robinson - megan at stpauls dot org dot nz
Help with grandma food: Alison Frater - allie.frater at gmail dot com
Retro kitchen tables, lounge furniture, standard lamps and floor rugs: Melissa Bulkeley - melissabulkeley at gmail dot com
Help to clean-up Thursday & Monday nights: Megan Robinson - megan at stpauls dot org dot nz
Late art submissions: Kate Hannah - katehannah at xtra dot co dot nz

Because of Family, there won’t be a second Monday of the month SPAM gathering in Feb.

That’s it from me, here’s a coupla things from Tom:

The SPAM Christmas clips from 05 and 06 are now YouTube friendly. They can be viewed at the SPAM website as embedded files. i.e. we're piggy backing off YouTube but they’re on our site.
http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/christmas_05/
http://www.spam.org.nz/public/projects/christmas_06/

A cool new magazine from the guys that brought us Adbusters.
http://www.spam.org.nz/public/upcoming_events/community_events/

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

Bad SPAM addiction
Lost job at mini-market
Neglected wife, friends

Posted by jonathan at 11:30 PM | Permalink

Hey SPAMmers

My son Oscar had a successful Christmas play rehearsal this morning, we put our gorgeous Christmas tree up this afternoon, and we’re off to a Christmas party with lots of best friends tonight. Aah Christmas. Aah family.

Speaking of Christmas ... see you on Monday (11 December, 7.30pm @ The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell) for our SPAM Christmas drinks. Let’s toast a great year of creating together.

Speaking of family ... Monday will be our last SPAM gathering before our Family: art exhibition on Fri 9 and Sat 10 February. So if you’d like to recruit some help with a piece, or offer your assistance to others, or sign up for the event crew, make sure you let Kate or I know by email or on Monday night. If you’re planning to exhibit, you need to email Kate a short written outline by the end of the year. If you want to be part of the crew, let us know what you’re into: promotions and collateral, space and lighting, sound and music, installation and wrap, hospitality and food, sponsorship, or photographing the work and the event.

And put the evening of Monday 29 January in your diary. We’ll be having a Family artists and crew meeting at St P’s.

Thanks again to Patrick for his second SPAM workshop last month. The podcast is
here.

SPAM’s all about people like Patrick, who have ideas that they make happen. I reckon it’s what our creator created us to do. So have a great time celebrating Christmas and seeing in another potential-packed year. Have a well earned break. And do find some time to think about the SPAM stuff you’re up for next. Family? Organizing our first Away Day? Running our first Prayer Event? I can’t wait to see what you do.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the season:

The buffet table
Looks lonely at Christmas time
Nothing left but SPAM

Posted by spam::ed at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Our Christmas Cards are printed and on sale at St P’s, and the Christmas Invites are all set to go to print. I assume the Christmas video and décor teams are going strong too. In the legendary words of Bob the proverbial builder, “Great work team”.

We’re officially launching the Family: art exhibition call for submissions to St P’s this Sunday. I’ve attached for you guys first. Do pass it on, with lots of encouraging words, to everyone who you suspect might have a bit of art in em, but aren’t part of SPAM. And do develop your ideas too. You have until the end of the year to email Kate a short (think one sentence) outline of your intended work. But why wait?

A number of you have put your hand up to help with the other stuff needed for Family (as outlined in the brief), but there’s still plenty to allocate. Contact Kate, Meg or I if you’re keen.

And I believe we still need people to step up to lead the Away Day or Prayer Event to be held in 07. Contact Jo Harwood. Go on.

We’re gathering this Monday (13 November, 7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO), for our Patrick’s second SPAM workshop – Building a theology of your profession. In his words: “Come and listen in on an honest conversation with creative professionals and their process of knowing God through their work”. Patrick’s convinced Kev and I to sit in the hot seats on this one. If you missed his first workshop – Developing a theology of your craft – go here:

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for today:

Reading SPAM haiku
When my brain screamed out to me
Why do you waste time?

Posted by spam::ed at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Just a quick one for those who were unfortunate enough not to make it last night. Attached is the Family brief for you to get stuck into.

Graphic Designers: please let Kate and I know ASAP if you are up for designing the identity for Family, as we want to get this launched to the rest of St P’s the Sunday before our next gathering (Monday 13 November).

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for today:

Spamiverse exists
In a stretched cubic Pinkum.
Uncertainty rules.

Posted by spam::ed at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Our Christmas cards were well received at the two main services at St P’s yesterday. Well done all of you who contributed. After people have had another chance to pre-order next Sunday, Megan will let us know the numbers and we’ll decide which ones to go into production. Hopefully we’ll let you know next Monday (9 October, 7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

You’ll also have a chance to catch up with the people you’re collaborating with on our second Christmas brief, we have pre-Christmas pressies for you from our UK honorary SPAMmers, and we’ll be briefing in Family.

Family is SPAM’s second exhibition: to be held in Feb next year. We’re thrilled that Kate Hannah will be curating the event, with Megan Robinson heading up admin. That means we’re in hugely safe hands to go forth and get creative. We’re now looking for people to create everything from the call for submissions, to the event publicity, to the space, and of course the exhibition pieces themselves. So there’s plenty for everyone to get involved with.

Of course, if you’re too practical or too spiritual to get involved with artsy fartsy exhibition stuff, no worries, we still need people to step up to lead the Away Day or Prayer Event to be held in 07.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

God said, "Let there be
SPAM," and it was not good but
He just let it be.

Posted by spam::ed at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Great to see so many of you last week. And to see the range of fab results on the Christmas cards brief. If anyone has any creations they didn’t bring along just email them to me by the weekend, so we can get them in front of the St P’s services.

The first cab off the rank is an Exhibition Event to be held in Feb. To give people plenty of time to contribute, we’d really like the leader of this event to brief it in at our next gathering (9 October). The best theme we’ve had for the exhibition to date is: The Family, but you might have another idea. If you, or a couple of you, are up for leading this please let me know ASAP. Preferably this week. Go on ... you know you want to. Yes you.

And also let us know if you’re up for leading the Away Day or Prayer Event to be held in 07.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

If you cut open
A SPAM can with a jigsaw
The blade will smell weird.

Posted by spam::ed at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Hope the Christmas card creations are coming along. If you’re a late starter, no worries, there’s always the weekend eh. The big unveiling is happening this Monday 11 September (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

After that, Jeanette Bremner’s going to brief us on three different projects for the St P’s Christmas services – definitely something for everyone to get into. See you there.

And if you need some inspiration, read this:
www.artisaninitiatives.org/articles/whatever_lacey

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

A SPAM slice frying
In the southern hemisphere
Turns counterclockwise.

Posted by spam::ed at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

For those of you who didn’t make it tonight, attached is the brief for creating Christmas card art to bring along to our next gathering on Monday 11 September. All the details are in the brief. This is a great chance to bust the clichés and claim back Christmas in a creative way. So start creating.

download SPAM Brief 14-08-06

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for tonight:

I sent her ninety
SPAM haiku to show my love.
She sent me a shrink.

Posted by spam::ed at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

After our record small gathering in June, we had a near record large turn-out in July for Patrick’s Developing a theology of your craft workshop.

Patrick gave an insightful talk and provided us with a brilliant model for developing said theology. We’ve had lots of positive feedback from those of you who were there. For those of you who weren’t, you can listen to Developing a theology of your craft by podcast. Thanks again Patrick.

On these links are Reflections on our first year, and the SPAM Rules of engagement I promised. Hope these are of interest, and clarify where we’re coming from, especially for you newbies.

Also attached is a promo for Suitcase from SPAMmers Liv, Emma & Tom (and Rebecca who I don’t think I know). They say:

Come along and be inspired by a night of great art, music and nibbles. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you'd like (so I did), everyone welcome! Friday 11 August (that’s tomorrow night) @ Brandspank, 6 Nixon St, Newton. 7pm onwards.

And come to our next SPAM gathering this Monday 14 August (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO). Kev, Jo and I have had some good planning chats (so great having Jo organize us), so we’ll share a bit about that. And Christmas is coming early to SPAM. Although not as early as to retail advertising agencies.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for winter:

Tropical SPAM night.
Suckling loaf roasting on spit,
Fake palm trees askew.

Posted by spam::ed at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Well we had a record small gathering a few weeks ago on power-cut-Monday. Those of us who braved it discussed these future SPAM project ideas:

Meg exposed Writers Block, now called St Paul’s Emerging Writers (SPEW). We’re a little concerned this could seem to be a double-up of what SPAM does, but Kate Hannah believes a specialty group is necessary to get the depth of thinking they’re after. We’ve invited Kate to come along to SPAM.

Valentin had a few ideas:
An exhibit created by sending 250 small wooden squares to people to create crosses on. These would form a single large cross and become a single permanent installation at St P’s.
Artistic expressions of the Stations of the Cross to sit below the traditional ones at St P’s. Apparently this is already done by other NZ churches.
Workshops on drawing Orthodox Icons that would run at St P’s. We discussed other workshops we could run, eg photography.

The debate idea from our service brainstorm was raised again.

A themed photo exhibition was suggested, eg Families.

I have an idea of doing an anti-consumerism campaign (turning “what’s in it for me?” into “what can I do?”).

We also discussed social action projects (for Bible in schools, Youthline or activating students into social justice); Stories II (film / exhibition); producing / influencing TV programming for Christmas & Easter; SPAM prayer email list or prayer event (run by Ali); St P’s website content; and being involved with a SOAK service.

I also presented an idea for a workshop that Patrick has. And guess what? He’s running it at our next gathering.

The idea is: How to develop a theology of your field (of the arts & media) in 30 mins. Patrick assures us it won’t be boring and it isn’t navel-gazing. Come and be part of it on Monday 10 July (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

As for What’s next?, Reflections, Rules of Engagement etc; all those things and more are part of a SPAM planning process that Kev, Mike, Jo & I are working through. Watch this space.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the day:

Universe explodes
Spews pork across the cosmos
The Big SPAM Theory

Posted by spam::ed at 05:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Seems like a long time since I wrote one of these. Six weeks: that is longer than usual. And it seems like ages since Stories too. What an exhausting project that was. But SO worth the effort. I’m pretty sure we, St P’s and others have congratulated and thanked everyone involved. Way to go team.

As Mike was the guy who wrote the brief, I asked him yesterday if there was anything he’d like me to pass on. To start with he said it was the best Christian event he's been to. St P’s have had lots of positive feedback: especially regarding the authenticity and power of the night: largely due to the openness and honesty of the stories and how they were told.

The project succeeded on both parts of the brief. Firstly, our promotions got people there: 425 to be exact. Standing (and floor-sitting) room only. Secondly we got people along to the Life Course. In Mike’s words we “boosted numbers enormously”. Additionally he said Stories has built the confidence and identity of St Paul’s. Mike also wanted me to acknowledge again the crew’s hard work leading up to the night.

So Stories is nearly done. There are a few stories remaining to be converted to a permanent online record. You know who you are.

We’ve had several casual, and one official request for an encore service, which we have yet to decide on.

Kev and I have a number of reflections we plan to share on Stories, as well as our first year of SPAM. In the last month, my agency has been going through the purchase of another major agency: MTC; and Exposure’s been in Russia and Africa shooting for Prison Fellowship International. Once those are behind us, we’ll turn our SPAM thoughts into words.

Another thing that Stories has resulted in; is inspiration for future SPAM projects. I know a few of them, and I’m sure there’s lots more. So let’s hear em.

Please email me a brief summary of your project (so I can stick it online later), and come and present your ideas to everyone at our next gathering on Monday 12 June (7.30pm @ Exposure, Suite 2:10 Axis Building, 1 Cleveland Rd, Parnell. BYO).

If we choose your project, we’ll get you to write the brief and manage the process according to the SPAM Rules of Engagement that should soon be finalized (SPAM ROE – sounds disgusting).

What else? Oh, I did end up doing the new design for the St P’s website, which was then assembled mainly by Paul and his mate Ant in the UK. I believe Mike wrote most of the content. Some other SPAMmers and I contributed photography which I re-graded into a unified and flattering house-style. Now that our Megan is on-staff at St P’s, she’s writing her heart out with great fresh material. And there are talk downloads and podcasts too. If you have material you’d like to contribute or upgrade – written, photographic, graphic, filmic – do get in touch with Megan / Mike / I. And do contribute to the SPAM site too – just blog away guys.

Finally, the Small Group my wife and I run in Mt Eden has just split into two groups that form a Cluster. If any of you guys want to join a group, do get in touch with me quick, before we open it up to the bulging St P’s waiting list.

Phew. That was a long one.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the day:

Theologians ask:
If God is just, then why does
He let SPAM exist?

Posted by spam::ed at 03:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Two weeks till Stories.

Great turn out at the Paddington the other week. Thanks to everyone being so up for helping our storytellers and contributing to the service. Here’s the list of who’s doing what. I understand Kev’s meetings with the storytellers have been fruitful, and the space crew are off with a bang.

The serious promotions now begin. The printed version of the attached postcard is being distributed through St P’s and 100 cafes and pubs in central Auckland. The attached clip is being shown at St P’s for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully the sign’s up in front of the church too. Assuming this hasn’t bounced when I’ve sent it to your bulging Inbox, we’d also like you to send the postcard or clip to your colleagues, family & friends (and enemies for that matter).

As soon as you’ve done that, get back to your Stories’ creations. Don’t leave it till the last minute – especially if you’re collaborating with others. Your deadline is the full crew rehearsal @ 1.30pm Sat 6 May in the St P’s crypt. As there’s other stuff going on in the church that day, please park around the back or on the street. It’d be great if everyone involved with the night could be there so we all know what’s going on.

And remember our monthly SPAM gathering on Mon 8 May is going to be a well earned drink @ The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell @ 7.30pm.

Well done to everyone who’s contributed to Stories to date. It’s looking like it might be rather good.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the day:

Thou anointest my
Slices with mayonnaise; my
Grease runneth over.

Download Stories promo (quicktime 2.8 mb)

Posted by spam::ed at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Well Stories is coming together nicely, thanks to all who have contributed, or have promised to. There’s great diversity, creativity and openness in what you’ve done. It’s shaping up to be quite a night.

It’s on four weeks from tonight, and there’s plenty for everyone to do yet.

If you’d like to hook up with a story teller to create something visual (single image, typography, film etc) to support their story, come and see them tomorrow night, or email them.

If you’re a story teller, come and get hooked up. And please phone Shayna on 302 4031, to make a time to meet with Kevin @ Exposure for 10 minutes next week to get his directorial input into finalizing your story. As soon as it’s fully written up, please send it to Kev & Mike for their final OK. You’ll notice Mike’s no longer one of our storytellers, he’s decided to leave it all to us – so the pressure’s on to get as many laughs as he does.

Also attached is the Creative & Production Team list. There’s some blanks left, so if you’d like to fill them come and let us know tomorrow night (Mon 10 April) at The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell @ 7.30pm. You can have a sneak preview of the postcard too.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the day:

Put SPAM in my shoes.
Cool and squishy all day long.
Killed my athlete's foot.

Posted by spam::ed at 04:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Thanks to those of you who met yesterday’s deadline with your story synopsis and/or ”story” images. We have some very cool work and thinking to fill almost half our promotional material, and almost half our service.

Those of you who have said you’d be sending me a synopsis and/or image, can you please get it to me ASAP – preferably tonight, if not: please let me know the soonest you can.

And those of you who haven’t got back to me at all yet ... SPAM NEEDS YOU!

The two main parts of Stories (which fulfill the two parts of Mike’s brief) have been created to be a diverse team effort. A team spreads the load and needs everyone to be involved.

Part one is our promotional material to get people to come to Stories. This needs you to create the word “Story” and send it to me in hi res. Scratch it into the sand. Sew it into some fabric. Write it on a clapperboard. Make it out of sweets. Paint it on a canvas. Shape it out of film stock. Cut it out of carpet. Make it out of pearls. Out of musical notes. Or play dough. Or cables. Please give this a go today, or tonight – whether you’re doing a synopsis or not.

Part two is is the stories we tell on the night. Few of us are great public speakers (scares the crap out of me). But this has got to be the easiest topic we could have to present. It’s about us, a faith we’re passionate about, and possibly our creative drives. And in a lot of ways the less slick we are when we present, the more genuine / believable we will come across (that’s what I’ll keep telling myself anyway). If you’re a word person or a picture person – doesn’t matter, there are others that will help pull this together for you. Starting Monday. So we need your synopsis now – whether you’re doing an image or not.

Go team.

J

Posted by spam::ed at 06:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hey SPAMmers

So we received some extra thoughts (posted on spam.org.nz), and I lost a sleep thinking. Kev liked the thinking. Mike gave some feedback. We did some more thinking, together with Paul, for a couple of hours on Tuesday. I drafted it up. Kev tweaked it. Then Mike gave it his 100% blessing. And so, ladies and gentlemen, attached is the big idea for our guest service. It’s called Stories.

Now I have some bad news and some good news.

The bad news is we need you guys to do some work: fast. By the end of next Wednesday (5 April) we need you to email me back with two things. The first is your synopsis for your story. The second is the word “story” (without the quote marks, all lowercase) created in a way that expresses your creative field/interest. You might stitch it, you might write it with a sparkler, you might mould it in processed meat. Whatever you do, please scan it or shoot it and send a hires jpeg to my work email (james.bowman(at)adworksogilvy.co.nz). We’ll then choose the best range of 12 stories to be developed, with other SPAMmers if you want, to reveal at the service. And we’ll choose the best range of 12 “story” images to use on our promotional material.

The good news is these will then be revealed before we get together at The Paddington, 117 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell @ 7.30pm Mon 10 April; giving us almost a whole month to collaborate on the individual story presentations, and everything else that will go into the service.

So don’t be there at Stories on 7 May regretting you hadn’t acted when you needed to. Do it now.

Right O
J

Download stories.pdf

SPAM-ku for the day:

I bought a new car
Slid into a tree and then
the SPAMbags saved me

Posted by spam::ed at 07:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey SPAMmers

Great to see you all on Monday. Thanks Mike for coming to brief us, and to everyone involved in the brainstorm.

For those of you who didn’t make it, I’ve attached Mike’s brief for our Guest Service, and below are the results from the brainstorm on the night. Kev, Michelle and I will be getting together early next week to put together our proposal for the service to Mike. I’ve had a couple of emails with further ideas since, and we’ve had 15 people say they want to be involved. If you have ANY additional thoughts and/or want be part of this, please email me back ASAP.

And congratulations to Megan Johnson on her name change to Megan Robinson – piccie attached.

Right O
J

SPAM-ku for the day:

Wedding catered by
Hormel. Reception marred by
Sudden illnesses.

Guest Service Brainstorm
13 March 2006

Themes:

What do you expect?
Hello
Love – extravagant
Light
Hope
Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?
What not to ask
Life
Psalm (16)
What is it all about?
Expectations
Preconceived ideas
God is dead
Expect the worst
Love theme
Are you normal?
Hope deferred makes the heart sick
The