Slog
News & ArtsMonday, December 17, 2012
??!! / Visual Art Currently Flummoxing Me: This Billboard
Posted by Jen Graves on Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 1:53 PM
This is at the base of Denny Hill. What does it mean?
1. It's always entirely possible that you totally get this and that I do not. If I am being dense, please, someone put my out of my light misery. (Light misery: the new black.)
2. It's always entirely possible that this billboard of a sexy lady glassblower is an ad just waiting for some sucker like me to post it to a blog. That it would mean, actually, nothing—if I didn't get involved. That herewith I fulfill intentions whose intentions I can't vouch for.
I still just kind of want to know. Or do I?
1
I can tell you because I saw them making these just yesterday: they're Glassy Baby candle holders. http://www.glassybaby.com/
Apparently Oprah loves them.
Apparently Oprah loves them.
2
I don't know for sure, but from the photo it looks like she's blowing a "Glassybaby" candle holder. The local shop that makes these donates a part of the sales to various charities. Their Web site says they've donated just over $1 million since November 2003, so perhaps that's the "one million more" reference. http://www.glassybaby.com/goodwill/glass…
3
I did what the marketer surely wants me to do: I googled "One Million More". That lead me to the One Million More College Graduates campaign, which made sense. She's going through some art program, learning how to work with glass.
Except that's a California campaign. Oops.
Except that's a California campaign. Oops.
4
Sort of looks like the big poster photos up on the wall of 24 Hour Fitness that I stare at from my climber.
(Certainly no one there actually looks like those..or that...photo.)
6
Jen,
The only really important issue here is that "flummox" is one of ten best words in the English language. Since you figured out a way to use it on SLOG, your triumph will blow away any residual misery, light or otherwise.
The only really important issue here is that "flummox" is one of ten best words in the English language. Since you figured out a way to use it on SLOG, your triumph will blow away any residual misery, light or otherwise.
7
@2, you're right. As of October Glassybaby had donated a million dollars of its profits to healing-related causes. "One Million More" is its goal and current feelgood marketing campaign. Here's their ad on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLimmCDqs…
9
@8: Really? Worse than "Defecation Tea?"
I know this is the internets and all, but perhaps your superlative meter is set a tad high today.
I know this is the internets and all, but perhaps your superlative meter is set a tad high today.
13
It’s glassybaby ..awesome company.
donates a % of each sale to charity, different colors go to different causes ... locally made, environmentally aware, employs many glassblowers .. some haters have got to hate regardless, but yep they’ve donated over a million dollars to charity, which is fantastic for a company that sells products for around $40.
donates a % of each sale to charity, different colors go to different causes ... locally made, environmentally aware, employs many glassblowers .. some haters have got to hate regardless, but yep they’ve donated over a million dollars to charity, which is fantastic for a company that sells products for around $40.
15
I thought it was "one million more"...shitty Seattle glassblowers following in Chihuly's footsteps! It's had me kinda curious for a month, but not curious enough to actually research it.
16
The typography is rather interesting. Why would they squish up the "illi" in million like that? Million is normally a fairly good-sized word. They really wanted to shrink it down. Plus the "one" seems to be floating away.
17
It also happens to be one of the Roy McMakin design/artistic farts around town. He did all the store concepts and furniture for Glassy Baby along the way. Ensuite with the Cupcake Royale and Flora and Henri boutique uglies.
...such important art don't ya know...
...such important art don't ya know...
18
Years ago we had the Million Man March in Washington DC. Also there was that movie "Million Dollar Baby". I think this billboard is a secret message to the people living in the mist between these two concepts.
19
Well it seems that you are indeed the blogger who was suckered, but at least it appears that your suckering was for good. It's an interesting move, not including a URL on the sign. They rightly assume that the curious will google it, and this tactic definitely removes some clutter. Since I had never before heard of glassy babies, I'd call the campaign a success.
20
Seems to me that glassy baby is getting more and better publicitiy on SLOG than it did through the billboard.
21
I pass that billboard almost every day -- I assumed it was something I'd understand if I watched television regularly -- so, thanks for this post! And also for using the word "flummoxing."
22
This is some really terrible graphic design. You can get away with vague text if the picture is clear, and with a vague picture if the text is clear, but vague picture and vague text together creates an ad whose display is a waste of money because no one knows what it's referring to.
25
Glassybaby donates to charity and then treats their employees like shit. They keep donating to social causes and then cutting their employees pay.
26
In fact I think they even made their production workers pay for their remodel recently? It's all a false image. I wouldn't support them from what I've heard even though they are really trendy in the restaurant scene and would look great in my cafe!
27
It's true that glassybaby's image does not match the reality of how it operates and treats its own workers. It only recently offered workers health insurance and then attempted to reduce the wages of its glass blower (not everyone mind you, just a specific segment of its work force) to offset the costs, citing poor sales despite an overall increase in sales from the year before. The irony is glassybaby is more interested in donating to the health of others rather than its own employees because that's good PR, whereas health insurance its just an expense
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