Another busy week showing there’s more going on in New York City than, I think, anywhere else, and I’ve been fortunate to be invited.   In a way, it inspired a painting I worked on yesterday which I called “Uprising” (who knows if it’s finished, but I think it is)

Uprising – 2009 Marshall Sponder – Acrylic / Oil Pastel on paper 22″ x 28″

Could say much more about this painting – but I grew up with the concept that art can speak for itself – if it’s good enough, art could stand on it’s own merit – it doesn’t need an explanation (though explanations can enhance work though they can’t sustain a work, alone).

Tuesday evening I’ll be over at the Interesting Cafe @Clickable which turned out to be an invite only affair – I managed to get my friends Dennis Mortensen and Leticia Colon invites, but not more than that:

Please join us for Clickable’s Interesting Cafe, featuring Frank Rose, contributing editor of Wired. Frank will share adventures from covering the Lower Manhattan punk scene of the ’70s for The Village Voice, as well as insights from reporting on today’s technology and media titans.

I’ll write about Clickable’s Interesting Cafe later this week – honored I’m invited to it.

Wednesday night I’ll be over at The Hatchery which takes place at Scholastic this month

Panelists:
Mo Lam – Director of Strategic Investments, Hearst Interactive Media
Sita Vasan – Senior Manager Strategic Investments, Intel Capital
Jennifer MacLean – Chair of the Board of Directors, International Game Developers Association / named one of the “Game Industry’s 100 Most Influential Women”
David Rose – Managing Principal, Rose Tech Ventures

The event will be broadcast LIVE from mobile phones by Flixwagon on the following page:
http://www.hatchery.vc/live.html

Thursday night I’ll be at a Mobile Marketing Analytics panel at R/GA about Measuring the Third Screen: How Analytics Drives Mobile Marketing Success

Mobile device consumption worldwide trumps both TVs and PCs combined. It’s no surprise then that many brands are feverishly experimenting with mobile marketing to create the first breakthrough campaign. From mobile sites to banner advertising to applications, measuring the reach and effectiveness of mobile campaigns is a key component to understanding what works and what doesn’t. Analytics provide brands valuable insights about visitors and the ability to evaluate and improve marketing performance. Come to R/GA to learn from industry leaders about the opportunities and challenges of mobile analytics, as well as the differences between measuring mobile and the Web.

When: Thursday, January 29, 2009

Participants: Steve Siegel, Senior Account Executive, Mobile, Microsoft
Adam Kerr, VP North America, Bango
Debra Bluman, Partner, Communications Planning Director, Beyond Interaction
Richard Ting, ECD & VP, Mobile & Emerging Platforms, R/GA
Luane Kohnke, SVP, Managing Director—Analytics & Accountability, R/GA
Dave Edwards, Group Account Director, R/GA

One of the things I’ve noticed in the economic downturn is that I’m being contacted by many of my former coworkers who are were recently or are just now being layed off – and I worry about it, too – I don’t think anyone can ignore it – it’s like we’re on the Titanic, heading towards an Economic Iceburg, and we can’t get off the ship.

In  this time of Economic Hardships, there are many, many people with excellent skills, who normally should not be losing their jobs were it not for these extra ordinary circumstances.

My belief is that skills are not the demoniator now – since so many superior people are out of work – rather – it’s the ability to connect, inspire confidence, to add value to what already exists, that stands out now – and it’s something I’ve been doing non-stop for several years now.

Just as Paul Krugman said the we’re in a Economic  Bizarro World, where right is left and up is down, where normal economics no longer work and we need to take extra ordinary measures (ie: large stimulus packages), in the same way, normal measures to find and retain work, I belive, don’t work as well, anymore.

In it’s place, connecting with people, having an open mind, sharing and being transparent,  helping one another, I believe, does work, and is the way forward; at least, that’s my opinion.