creative projects by zack mccune
creative projects by zack mccune
Legend holds that a 3-legged mermaid once appeared to a group of Japanese fishermen. It foretold of a great pandemic, before comforting “but I am an Amabie, simply show an image of me to those sick and they will be helped.”
Inspired by artists around the world, I’ve made my own Amabie prints for the COVID-19 outbreak and I’m mailing them around the world. Just drop me an email -> zmccune at gmail to get a card.
When I designed a shower curtain to celebrate the maps and logos of “Lost Snow” ski areas in California, I never imagined it would mark our own lost winter.
At peak, there were more than 82 ski areas in California. Now, Wikipedia counts just 27. Climate has been the largest factor, raising the regular snow altitude higher and higher in the Sierra, leaving behind dozens of ski hills.
The economics are also hard. In 1972, skiing passed golf to become the sport Americans spent the most money on. At that time, more than 15 million Americans skied. By 2019, fewer than 9 million Americans went skiing at all. A study found that any ski area closed for even 1 season had just a 41% chance of ever reopening.
Looking over the trail maps and logos of these “lost” ski areas, you can still pick up the energy and joy. These are brands for fun, thrilling places. And we can learn from them.
