Here’s 2 good contests to check out. Snowboard Connection is having a T-Shirt design contest for lady designers only. Also, 55DSL is having a contest to redesign their Shield logo for use in their 2010 spring/summer collection.

As of today I’m taking a much needed vacation with the fam to Kauai. That means the Mightypop posts will resume around Dec 1st. Aloha!

I’ve always had a fascination with old photos and advertising flyers I find at garage sales. Finding those hidden gems give you a glimpse into the visual style and culture of our past. Portland’s Ampersand Vintage has turned that type of fascination into a business. Their unique store buys & sells vintage photography, paper ephemera, historic documents & collectible books.

American painter Edward Hopper’s paintings will be featured in a new show titled “Edward Hopper’s Women” at the SAM starting on Nov 13th. The show will highlight his work that studied women in new kinds of social environments in 1920’s New York city. The centerpiece of the show is the painting “Chop Suey” which along with Nighthawks is in my opinion his best work.

Last night I saw an incredible performance by the Faint at the Showbox. They kept the kids bouncing all night with their super tight set. Seattle band Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head opened and definitely uncorked the room for the headliner.

photo by kirko79

I am intrigued to see what new collaged acrylic paintings Warren will be exhibiting at BLVD gallery on Friday. The new show is titled “Atomic Autobody” and the opening will be Nov 14th from 6-10.

Weird Weight is a 100pg, art & design book featuring the work of Andy Dixon.

The Wreckage Kult art show features the collaborative efforts of Parskid, Hotel and Daner in the new Art Primo Showroom in Georgetown.

You’ve probably all seen Nikki’s calendar’s in your friends kitchens or office. The amazing part is that she hand cut’s each image with an X-acto knife from a single sheet of paper. Her 2009 Calendar is available now at BuyOlympia and is printed with soy ink on acid-free paper.

Grant Barnhart will exhibit his new paintings at OKOK Gallery in Ballard on Saturday. His artwork includes faded American stereotypes such as football players, rodeo pageant girls, cheerleaders, and cowboys.

If you’re down at the Pioneer Square Art Walk be sure to view the beautiful 100+ year old etchings of artist John Sloan that are on display at the Davidson Gallery. His etchings reflected both the elite and the working class citizens of that time period.