2023 was marked by focusing and refining. Looking at the goals I set for 2023, a rebrand & studio refinement was an ambitious one. After 10 years of working independently my partner, Jessica, and I joined forces as Winslow Studio.
At the start of the year, to help feel less overwhelmed I covered the back of my office door with post-it notes, organizing past projects needing to get on my site, upcoming client projects, future projects I wanted to achieve, random side project ideas, and further lofty goals— It was honestly a daunting mess, but it helped me make slow yet consistent progress.
Now a year later, I’m taking them all down to reset and I’m able to acknowledge my progress and observe the ones remaining, to either remove or leave up, excited to tackle in 2024.
The highlight of our year was an inspiring 3-week honeymoon to Japan in the Spring, organized around landing a reservation to noma Kyoto. The rest and reset gave clarity as we considered the intention behind our process, ultimately realizing that joy and playfulness lead the ethos of our work. The energy from this trip pushed us over the finish line with our studio rebrand.
Our origin trip to visit coffee producers in Honduras for Vivid Coffee was an incredible experience. After leading Vivid's brand design and packaging since its inception, it was wonderful to gain a deeper appreciation of how great coffee is grown.
Here are a few projects from 2023!
Pathways of Pursuit
We designed and built Pathways of Pursuit for the non-profit cancer organization Fred Hutch in collaboration with advertising agency Cronin. This immersive artistic experience is exactly the kind of project I love taking on; a large physical build that brings viewers on an emotional journey enhanced by cutting-edge technology for a good cause.
Winchester Mystery House
We added our augmented restoration magic to Sarah Winchester’s historical estate! Replicating sunlight using projection, we created a beautiful effect to illuminate windows that have never seen direct light. Read the InPark Magazine feature.
Light Capsules, of course!
This year we launched two permanent installations for Light Capsules and built out a new website and capabilities deck. Improving my technical process for precise gobo-mapping led to my becoming a Rosco Ambassador. Now we’re ready to push outreach further & explore more fine artwork ideas I’ve had in mind.
I’m incredibly proud of a few acknowledgments this year! I was nominated by my peers to receive the Audeamus Award for innovation in the arts by my alma mater, Champlain College. I was featured on OPB ArtBeat, which produced a short documentary on Astoria’s permanent Light Capsule airing 2/1/24.
Twenty Twenty-Four!
Moving into 2024, maybe this is crazy to say coming from me, but I don’t have a specific mantra. If 2023 was a refining process, perhaps 2024 is simply practicing trust in that process, confidence in our craft, and continuing to make things.
More experiments, sharing, teaching, learning.
Make this year another year,—Craig
Looking for the rest of my blog? I've transitioned off of a Tumblr-powered blog. In the meantime, view old posts here: blog.craigwinslow.com
This year's mantra was to seek a harmonious balance of client work, art explorations, and personal life: ⅓ work, ⅓ art, and ⅓ life.
Reflecting on my 2022, I feel confident saying I accomplished that goal, unlike previous reflections where I found myself still scrambling and secretly unsatisfied at the end of the year.
Refinement was 2022's recurring theme. I felt a shift in focus toward permanent & long-term artwork. Taking the time to refine my technical setups and the processes behind my projection artworks helped immensely. I also looked inward more often, planned my time better, and frequently cleaned my slate thanks to the guidance of my partner and studio manager (now wife!), Jessica.
I had never been to therapy before, but starting that journey this year was especially helpful in identifying failure points in my internal processes and how to utilize tools to protect my time, reduce stress, and take better care of myself. Diving deeper into my relationship with myself and my partner has helped my design practice find a path toward what I've always known Winslow Studio could become.
I’m immensely proud of the balance I achieved in my personal life, professional career, and passion projects.
Here are a few of my favorite projects from 2022:
Hueman Homebody
From the early concept days to the grand opening, I collaborated with Allison Torneros, known as "Hueman," on Hueman Homebody, an immersive and interactive art show experience she created to help process and heal our collective trauma from the past two years of the pandemic. Hueman made many new works across multiple rooms, all featuring elements of either projection mapping or augmented reality alongside custom spatial sounds. I provided support with pre-visualization in the gallery, projector studies for integration, and projection design throughout the space.
In April, we won the Out of This World Experiences AV Award for our use of cutting-edge projector technology by Epson throughout the exhibit, the projection design by myself, and the installation by A3 Visual.
Isolation: An immersive projection space printed on hanging mesh material that allowed the audience to become a part of the experience by walking within the art, casting shadows, and feeling the depths of isolation by being surrounded by light and color but struggling to see what is ahead. We intentionally kept the projection mapping loose to accentuate the space and enhance feelings of uncertainty by allowing light to overlap.
Collaboration: I augmented this array of 10 works using projection mapping, highlighting and revealing the elements in each piece. The results were an intoxicating struggle for the mind to separate and determine paint vs. pixel.
Chrysalis: I was very excited to work with this piece, as it was a large-scale, inverted, 3D-printed sculpture. Because the bust is inverse, no matter where a viewer stands, it always appears to be staring at the them. I enhanced the trippy, mind-bending nature of the statue through augmentation and surrounded it with a panorama of day-to-night immersive projections. The final result invokes an ethereal, hopeful, communal connectedness on the precipice of a new era.
It was a beautiful, moving experience reflecting on the shared and individual trauma resulting from the pandemic that pushed the immersive medium forward while celebrating + supporting a living, local artist.
Norton reached out to HELO with an idea for a space at SXSW that provided a break from the overwhelming experience of the conference. I took this concept and designed a room filled with calming light and immersive color. Together, we created a visually interesting and quiet space that re-energized anyone who came in.
To achieve the client's goals, I designed custom-illuminated printed graphics with leading lines that felt very inviting and pulled people into the space. I utilized a mix of rear projections and custom-fabricated circular cutout walls. I also proposed using an array of LED lighting against a mirror to create an infinity effect. These elements provided an enjoyable, calming space when combined.
On June 17th, the first permanent Light Capsule debuted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This public light art installation will open a nightly time portal to the past, now, and for years to come.
I was thrilled to launch this with the help of Matt Cohen of Fading Ads —expanding on our 2017 event, Painted in Light, where I illuminated five downtown Winnipeg ghost signs in one night using large-scale projection mapping. That event later became the subject of a feature documentary by Handcraft, Writing on the Wall. I couldn't have done it without Matt's enthusiasm and dedication to making this a reality! Winnipeg is so lucky to have him.
Route 66 Oklahoma
In even more exciting Light Capsules news, we were awarded a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in early April! This grant, sponsored by Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, sent Winslow Studio to Oklahoma for a pilot project to identify the current condition of ghost signs along the entirety of Historic Route 66 in OK. Once documented, I was able to determine which ghost signs could become Light Capsules for Route 66 centennial celebrations in 2026. I’ll share more on Instagram as this project develops over the next three years.
Wiscasset Ghost Ships
In 1932, Hesper and Luther Little made their last voyage together via tugboat, coming to rest in the Midcoast Maine harbor. The remnants of these massive ships were landmarks and points of pride to the residents of Wiscasset for over 60 years. Sadly, they decayed dangerously over time and were dismantled in 1998.
This virtual installation provided a new vision of both schooners. With advances in technology, the magic of augmented reality delivered Hesper and Luther Little back to the waters that were their final resting place. Together they form a look back at the glorious days when schooners ruled the Maine coastline. This free and permanent AR lens installation is near the waterfront parking lot of Wiscasset Town Dock.
I used photogrammetry on an incredible model on display at Maine Maritime Museum made by John P. Gardner, Gift of the Libra Foundation, 2010.007. I then combined pieces of the resulting scan with custom 3D modeling to optimize for AR.
Thanks to Peter & Terri Wells for commissioning this project in my home state!
Reeds of Forte - Vienna
I installed "Reeds of Forte" as part of the type exhibition Finding Forte at designForum Wien in Austria. My piece transformed Forte back into its original inspiration, the swaying heads of reeds. I wrote three haïkus that reflect on how certain realizations or messages reveal themselves in one moment from one perspective. While there, TGA invited me to give a talk, sharing my process behind Light Capsules, Brilliant! at The Neon Museum, and the making of Reeds of Forte. We also had the pleasure of experiencing a private walking tour of typographic signs around Vienna with the exhibition curator, book editor, and my friend Tom Koch.
Curator — Tom Koch, Location — designForum Wien, Technical Integration — Florian Prix and Claudio della Schiava
We got Married in Las Vegas!
The project that takes the cake has to be getting married to my life partner and the driving force behind Winslow Studio accomplishing so damn much in 2022, Jessica! Since the autumn of 2019, we’ve been continually falling for each other. We got married alongside a handful of friends and family in downtown Las Vegas, sharing the places and people that make Vegas often feel like our second home. We also designed all our wedding elements, from the website (craigandjess.wedding) to invitations, matchbooks, and custom ceramic poker chips — obviously.
Ackley Beverage Group reached out to me in early 2022 about a new tasting room they were opening in McMinnville with the idea to incorporate a component of projection mapping into the space that could uniquely and memorably educate customers on the biodynamic winemaking process. After visiting the location, I proposed two installations; an educational and an artistic concept. To my delight, they moved forward with both.
Annui Viti: This projection-mapped bas-relief display was quite a technical feat! The initial idea was to show the life cycle of a single grapevine plant in a way that was educational to the viewers and highlighted biodynamic farming elements. The challenge was to create a compelling display that was more than a simple flat printed graphic. We considered mounting an entire grapevine but ultimately decided it wouldn't be aesthetically pleasing.
I landed on the idea of a bas-relief and pursued a custom 3D model with fabricator Ezra. After creating a 3D model of an exact depth bas-relief, we CNC carved the massive piece— including the frame—which we then painted in a specialty projection paint. I installed it with an ultra-short-throw projector to minimize shadows from guests observing or passing by. The projection designs for a grapevine's annual lifecycle were created with guidance from the entire Ackley team.
Motila Blend: The client suggested a landscape vineyard mural as a showcase piece for the tasting room. This mural would feature a day-to-night cycle, showcase farmers working in the vineyard, contain biodynamic farming elements, and have several animated easter eggs, like the owner’s children swinging on a tree swing.
I started with a photo composition stitched together using photography taken from the multiple Ackley Vineyards. I combined the photos into one blended landscape using Photoshop, which was re-painted by illustrator Syd Weiler to create an original and unique artwork composition. Since this mural would ultimately come to life with colorful projections, we kept the artwork grayscale. It was important to keep the sky and water white with no texture, as we wanted to change those dynamically by adding clouds in the sky during the day and the moon, milky way, and stars at night all reflected in the lake's water.
The benefit of setting up projection artwork with remote media capabilities is that the infrastructure allows for additions to the artwork that can change dynamically over the years. I'm looking forward to adding new easter eggs for holidays or events, like UFO Fest in McMinnville, that can keep the mural alive and exciting rather than expected and static.
If you visit McMinnville, stop by The Grove tasting room to see both of these installations and enjoy a delicious flight of Montinore Estates or Landlines Estates wines!
Wieden + Kennedy - Memory Spheres and Atrium Projections
I was approached by the legendary ad agency, Wieden+Kennedy, to tour their impressive Downtown Portland office building and pitch ideas for augmenting the space with a lighting installation or projections. The goal was to highlight and bring attention to the architecture of their building during a hybrid founders' memorial and holiday party attended by over 2,000 past and present employees.
During my tour, I recommended that they fill the building with as much color and light as possible while I focused my efforts on two elements; one in the atrium space, highlighting three large concrete walls with quotes from the founders with abstract color animations. The second installation was in a two-story location called Upper Lodge, where I would create an original immersive light artwork titled Memory Spheres.
I've explored the technique of projecting through a translucent balloon to create a volumetric animation from 2D animations in the past, but this time I wanted to take the experience to another level. I planned on crafting a living and flowing space filled with forty-one 36-inch balloons and one massive 72-inch balloon.
An exciting idea that pushed this project into its final form came from a brainstorming call with creative director Dan Viens at W+K. He suggested we add photographs of the wildest moments at the company into the spheres. Shortly after, a request was sent to current and past employees to submit the most eccentric, over-the-top, and shocking photographic evidence of the good times had at the agency in its forty years. The W+K team provided a final curated collection of 150 photos that I randomized and animated as a dazzling array.
I made four different custom animation sets that were composed and arranged to change the energy in the space. Spatialized sound design that corresponded to each animation was created in collaboration with Parallel Studio, which added depth and movement to the installation. The final piece of the puzzle was to combine the visuals and spatial sound design with a playlist we curated with John Johnson, AKA jay squared. This flow of spatial sound, animations, and photographs was very effective in moving energy through the space and brought people toward the Lower Lodge area.
Honorable mentions to Dan Viens, Phoebe Owens, Heather Smith Harvey, Connie Wohn, and Charlie Votruba.
Astoria Permanent Light Capsule
It's been a long time coming, but I'm excited about the upcoming launch of the first permanent U.S. Light Capsule in Astoria, Oregon! The process of refinement and discovery has not come quickly or easily with this project, but I am so relieved to announce that the final lighting is near.
I thought we'd gained good traction after I installed the light fixtures in August, but we encountered several roadblocks that required time-consuming troubleshooting. I had custom gobos made, which needed to be re-printed due to scale issues and color refinements. In addition, I was solving a focus issue with one of the installed light fixtures that eventually needed replacing. Finally, the fabrication of a brass plaque I designed had an unexpected month-long turnaround.
One benefit of these delays was that precisely aligning these gobos required detailed problem-solving with the team at Rosco; all that time spent with their crew troubleshooting led us into a long-term working relationship. Now with a precise method for highly technical mapping using these gobos and light fixtures for permanent Light Capsules, I'm looking forward to future installations.
These final elements are all coming together very soon and will be publicly launched in early 2023 for permanent viewing every sunset!
I’m excited to lean further into my office brand, Winslow Studio, by launching a separate Instagram account — @hellowinslowstudio — to share more work-specific documentation. After ten years of using my account as a channel for sharing my projects, I'm looking forward to @craigwinslow being a pressure-free and personal social media space once again. Be sure to follow us at @hellowinslowstudio. We'll share more regularly there, thanks to Jessica’s contributions as my studio manager!
Turning Toward Twenty Twenty-Three...
Often when I try to look forward, my subconscious is occupied by a distracting noise, and I find myself scrambling for time to reflect between projects. This year I feel more relaxed, having completed and launched most projects within their intended timelines by setting healthier guidelines. I still have room to improve following many years of buying into hustle culture instead of focusing on better time management, but I know I’m heading in the right direction.
I’m now focused on a recalibration of Winslow Studio. My goal is to create a deck of studio capabilities, refresh my website, refine the brand identity, and set directions and plans for the future. Questions I'm hoping to answer: What type of projects do I want to focus on? What project leadership roles are the most fulfilling? Are there ways to optimize and streamline pitch decks and estimates for new clients? I plan on continuing to set healthy boundaries, following my instincts by passing on projects that may not be the right fit and collaborating with talented colleagues and integrators on installations.
In addition to refining my business plans, I'd also like to refresh my home studio space! Optimize equipment storage and organization, integrate a few of my projection artworks, and create a plan for the next iteration - likely in our basement den. I hope these changes will maximize collaboration efficiency between my partner and me moving into the New Year!
2023: Embrace refinement
Be kind, —Craig Winslow
Looking for the rest of my blog? I've transitioned off of a Tumblr-powered blog. In the meantime, view old posts here: blog.craigwinslow.com
On Friday, June 17th, the first permanent Light Capsule launched in Winnipeg, Canada during Winnipeg International Jazz Fest! I couldn’t be more thrilled to launch this with the help of Matt Cohen—urban archaeologist and founder of ghostsigns.ca. This collaboration builds on our 2017 event Painted in Light, where five of Winnipeg’s ghost signs were illuminated for one night using large-scale projectors and projection mapping technology. The event became the subject of the feature documentary Writing on the Wall by Handcraft Creative.
I’ve been working to make Light Capsules permanent using low-tech analog lighting since 2020. The technology behind these permanent installations is a DMX lighting-controlled gobo light fixture that is meticulously aligned to reveal each layer of the ghost sign, with astronomical triggers to animate them nightly year-round. I’ve created thirty-six different Light Capsule installations globally, and this is the very first permanent installation of its kind.
Craig Winslow and Matt Cohen, guests on CTV Morning Live - Winnipeg, Manitoba
In addition to the nighttime installation, we launched a companion website to help the public interpret the ads' history. StobartSign.com contains corporate histories, product shots, and archival photos of the businesses and brands that called the building home.
For those looking to see what the signs would have looked like freshly painted, we also launched a beta version of a new Light Capsules iOS app, allowing the public to use augmented reality to overlay a virtual coat of paint over the fading ads in real-time, day or night. Much more about that soon. If you're a Winnipeg local seeking access to the beta, please reach out!
Follow along with our discoveries this week on Instagram stories at @craigwinslow
Second permanent installation coming to Astoria, OR
Finally, the second permanent Light Capsule will launch in Astoria, Oregon this summer. This specific sign is very important to me, as it was the original inspiration for the greater project, and was the 4th light installation of my Adobe Creative Residency in 2016.
Looking for the rest of my blog? I'm starting to finally transition off of a tumblr-powered blog. In the meantime, view the old posts here: blog.craigwinslow.com
This digital journal has turned into an annual update as of late, but I really enjoy taking the time to process the previous year’s passing.
A continuation of 2020, much of 2021 was spent hunkered down and focusing inward. Compared to the helpless confusion felt the previous year, it felt good to have tools like vaccines and rapid tests to enable travel again by June; safely visiting places that mattered most to me. Spending time with close friends again was re-energizing, and felt much more meaningful after time apart.
I bought a house, spoke at SIGGRAPH, worked on a film premiere event for Billie Eilish, and launched the fully refreshed Brilliant! Jackpot in Las Vegas after a 19-month delay.
Here are a few highlights from 2021:
Vivid Coffee
Speaking of branding, my friends at Vivid Coffee expanded into their new brick-and-mortar this year near Church Street in Burlington, VT. I had the pleasure of designing the exterior signage, menu, and front window accents, along with packaging updates, including the launch of an instant coffee. We've got loads more planned for 2022.
Pre-Visualization -under NDA
A continuation of a secret ongoing client project, due to launch to the public sometime in the near future. I’ve been part of a team working on real-time graphics and a new playback platform for large-scale integration. The creation of a custom pre-visualization environment led to the production phase of this long-term project.
Vaccine Clinics
Seeing vaccines begin to roll out in early March inspired my partner, Jessica, and me to volunteer at some local vaccine clinics. Blessedly, this also got us vaccinated early. It felt great to give back to the local community and help protect Portland!
I bought a dang house!
Probably the most important project from this year; I bought a house! Jessica and I have been renovating a 1953 mid-century bungalow in SE Portland. Only one family has lived in the home since 1960, so there was a lot of deferred maintenance tackled in the first six months of ownership. Growing up, my parents built many homes from the ground up. I've always wanted to work on a home of my own with my Dad, so it's been a dream come true to have them visit to work on the house with us. Some impactful cosmetic upgrades are on the horizon, and we're paying homage to our favorite historical era this house came from through our restoration and decor.
Mabrie x Hueman Mural Update
I remotely collaborated with Hueman on a commission called GLOW for Dr. Mabrie's office in 2020. Since then, they've been excited to continue deploying new visual projections. I created five new looks, including an update for Día de Muertos and a holiday snow effect to keep things festive. Permanent augmented murals like this are exciting for me! Once there's infrastructure, the art can be updated or changed over time. It's been a treat to work with this client and keep the visuals up to date and fresh. More about the project here.
Presentation at Vancouver Archives - Shining a Light on Faded Ads
I had the pleasure of presenting Light Capsules for the Vancouver Archives alongside my ongoing collaborator, Matt Cohen, from Winnipeg. It’s been a treat to share the progress of this personal project! I have high hopes for new Light Capsules updates next year.
Maine for Sean's Wedding
First flight since March 2020! It was nice to spend time with my close childhood friends after not visiting my hometown for sixteen months. I was honored to be a groomsman at Sean and Cheryl's pandemic-delayed wedding celebration.
Emerge - Immersive Presentation Room
I made an immersive presentation room for Emerge through my artist representative, HELO. The goal was to increase the quality and bring some wow! to their investor presentations. I enjoyed the process of conceptualizing, building, and finalizing this 180-degree immersive space.
The Embrace with Hueman x 333Arts in Jack London Square, Oakland
The hits with Hueman keep coming! This time we collaborated on an AR mural in Jack London Square. Thanks to 333 Arts for the support and the Rotary Clubs of Oakland for making this possible. I created the AR component using Photoshop, Blender, and Spark AR. Hueman created this piece as a reminder that no one person is on an island - that every individual action impacts the community as a whole. That drove creative direction for the AR animation; figures moving towards each other in a welcoming way, allowing the viewer to feel represented in the silhouette's embrace.
Road Trip to LA + Vegas for Brilliant! Jackpot Install
We thought it would be fun to take a road trip to Vegas to install Brilliant! Jackpot. We drove from Portland to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Los Vegas, and back. We left LA quickly in May 2020 when we moved Jessica up to Portland, so it was a treat to spend the first week catching up with friends who didn't get a proper goodbye.
Next on our road trip agenda was safely bringing our team together (bravo, once again, to rapid tests!) for a smooth, successful installation. This new update adds multiple timelines, which allowed me to expand the soundtrack, take more creative risks, and explore different themes from lesser-known stories of Vegas’ history. This is the version of Brilliant! I dreamed of it at the start of Brilliant!'s conception, and I’m thrilled it’s finally live!
On our way back to Portland we picked up a large-format printer from the late Dr. Ken Jones' wife, Margie. I'm honored I can create art with this beautiful printer and that I'll carry on his legacy through my augmented restoration.
SIGGRAPHPresentation
For years I've wanted to present at SIGGRAPH, and I am honored I was able to speak there thanks to the folks at Intel. I discussed my use of technology in my art and dove into augmented restoration techniques.
Billie Eilish Premier
One of the most rewarding and exciting projects I worked on this year was the very fast-paced premier for Billie Eilish's concert experience, Happier than Ever, streaming on Disney+. I worked with Little Cinema as an Experiential Consultant and Director. I managed design production for neon elements, main stage motion graphics, LED video tunnel photobooth, and exit projections. Alongside the incredible group of producers, we created a magical, Disney-esque Hollywood drive-through experience. Watching Billie herself drive through our experience was one hell of a treat.
Vermont Visit
Another trip to the East Coast to spend time with friends in Vermont! This time to celebrate my friend Brad and Rebecca's nuptials with a magical, outdoor event. I visited Vivid Coffee to see the new cafe and made a site visit for an early-stage projection project at Higher Ground - more about below! This trip wouldn't have been complete without an intentional one-day layover stay at TWA JFK. This is one of my favorite architectural buildings, and it's greatly influencing the style of our new home.
National Trust - CAHP Conference 2021
The Canadian National Trust invited me to present on a panel. It was an honor to discuss the importance of ghost signs, various restoration methods, and the augmented work I've explored for the past six years.
World Mental Health Day Projections
I was brought on to lead creative direction and projections for lululemon's World Mental Health Day initiative. The goal of this campaign was to promote their new long-term partnerships with Trevor Project, Girls Opportunity Alliance, and NAMI with the help of Ambassadors Deja Riley Izydorczyk, Ryan Leier, and Manoj Dias. The goal was to bring attention to World Mental Health Day and amplify the messages of the ambassadors.
It's tempting to create something with a visual sizzle—especially when it comes to projection partnerships with brands and ad agencies—but the design needed to honor the nature of the work while still being engaging and beautiful as a projection on the side of several buildings in Portland. I'm happy with the final results and that the team pushed through to find that balance.
Client: lululemon, Agency: dotdotdash
Concept Work with VTProDesign - NDA
I can't say much about this, but I was honored to work on experiential concepts and designs with VTProDesign. Check out some of their other projects if you want to see why I'm so stoked.
Brilliant! Jackpot Billboard Projection
In honor of the launch of Brilliant! Jackpot, I got back to my mobile projection roots and reimagined several vintage Las Vegas roadside billboard designs — bringing them to life in a new way on this perfect spot just outside of the city. Recognize any? Special thanks to the Moapa Band of Paiutes for permission and the use of their land, Kacee from Lamar Advertising for location scouting assistance, Technology West Group for the projector, and Jessica for still photography. Made using Adobe CC + MadMapper.
Higher Ground Lobby Projections
A full-circle project! I developed this projection for Higher Ground's lobby—a music venue in Burlington, Vermont—with Michael Jager and the team at Solidarity of Unbridled Labour. Our goal was to freshen up the experience and align the space with their new branding. I was able to carry out system mapping remotely with the help of the Higher Ground staff and integrated the design team's animated and motion visuals. It was rewarding on a couple of levels for me; first, I had the opportunity to work with Michael Jager again, as my design career began as an intern at JDK Design post-college. Second, Higher Ground was one of my favorite music venues when I lived in Burlington, so working with them on elevating the lobby experience was a nostalgic treat!
Sofia Farewell
It's been difficult to say goodbye to my cat, Sofia, who adopted me as a friendly neighborhood stray in Vermont. She was always more like a roommate and pal than a pet to me and everyone who ever lived with her. When I moved west in 2014, she moved in with my parents in Maine and quickly became a full-fledged family member. (Her younger self would be ashamed at how domesticated she became.) She was the absolute best cat and it has been really hard to say goodbye. She was a joy to be around and lived all nine of her lives many times over.
Since Brilliant’s launch almost four years ago, I added an easter egg during the post-credits of her shadow in the lower right corner of the marquee. It started as an homage to the boneyard cats, but I'm so glad she’ll live on immortalized as a part of my show. Love you, little lady.
Brilliant! Jackpot Launch
Proud to close out 2021 with the launch of the new version of Brilliant! Jackpot, which expands the original show and adds an element of chance. Tickets are on sale at neonmuseum.org/visit/brilliant
2022
A few conversations into January and I can already feel that this is going to be a monumental year.
Big life events are on the horizon! I’m excited to put my artistic skills to use for my sister’s wedding later this year. Light Capsules has long been a side-burnered project and I’m finally taking the time to give the effort it deserves. While continuing to renovate our home (atomic basement lounge! garage studio conversion!) I'm also setting aside the first weekend of every month to get out of town in some way.
Overall, I’m giving a stronger focus this year to selectively pursuing client projects. I truly love embracing the chaos of a quick turnaround; something about stressful deadlines and the right team of talented people can lead to the most satisfying results. However, as all independent creatives know, scopes can spiral out of hand and that’s when a fun fast project loses its luster and becomes chaos in it’s own right. Politely declining work is difficult for me, but making a conscious effort to say yes to projects that are a good fit is the key for a successful 2022.
My mantra for 2022 is Refocus, Balance, Thrive.
Embracing a harmonious balance of client work, art explorations, and personal life is something I will seek through setting boundaries, saying yes to the right projects with clearly defined goals, and actually blocking out time for art & life as I would for any work.
Stay healthy & be kind, —Craig
Looking for the rest of my blog? I'm starting to finally transition off of a tumblr-powered blog. In the meantime, view the old posts here: blog.craigwinslow.com
Isolation: An immersive projection space printed on hanging mesh material that allowed the audience to become a part of the experience by walking within the art, casting shadows, and feeling the depths of isolation by being surrounded by light and color but struggling to see what is ahead. We intentionally kept the projection mapping loose to accentuate the space and enhance feelings of uncertainty by allowing light to overlap. 
Collaboration: I augmented this array of 10 works using projection mapping, highlighting and revealing the elements in each piece. The results were an intoxicating struggle for the mind to separate and determine paint vs. pixel.
Chrysalis: I was very excited to work with this piece, as it was a large-scale, inverted, 3D-printed sculpture. Because the bust is inverse, no matter where a viewer stands, it always appears to be staring at the them. I enhanced the trippy, mind-bending nature of the statue through augmentation and surrounded it with a panorama of day-to-night immersive projections. The final result invokes an ethereal, hopeful, communal connectedness on the precipice of a new era.
This virtual installation provided a new vision of both schooners. With advances in technology, the magic of augmented reality delivered Hesper and Luther Little back to the waters that were their final resting place. Together they form a look back at the glorious days when schooners ruled the Maine coastline. This free and permanent AR lens installation is near the waterfront parking lot of Wiscasset Town Dock. 
It's been a long time coming, but I'm excited about the upcoming launch of the first permanent U.S. Light Capsule in Astoria, Oregon! The process of refinement and discovery has not come quickly or easily with this project, but I am so relieved to announce that the final lighting is near. 
One benefit of these delays was that precisely aligning these gobos required detailed problem-solving with the team at Rosco; all that time spent with their crew troubleshooting led us into a long-term working relationship. Now with a precise method for highly technical mapping using these gobos and light fixtures for permanent Light Capsules, I'm looking forward to future installations. 
I’m excited to lean further into my office brand, Winslow Studio, by launching a separate Instagram account — 
Often when I try to look forward, my subconscious is occupied by a distracting noise, and I find myself scrambling for time to reflect between projects. This year I feel more relaxed, having completed and launched most projects within their intended timelines by setting healthier guidelines. I still have room to improve following many years of buying into hustle culture instead of focusing on better time management, but I know I’m heading in the right direction. 
