Juxtaposition

Summer, AD two thousand and twenty years. Phoenix. Maricopa County. Arizona. The United States of America. Earth. 

Bothered and cautious is the feeling of the Chief Imaginologist.  

Global human condition = unhealthy. 

Cautiously optimistic and eternally grateful for the love shared and interest in Imaginology studio. 

A space dedicated to the development of our mission: to improve the human condition.

After 25 years of trial, triumph, failure, sacrifice, bloody, sweat, and a few too many tears, Imaginology has a new future. Beyond prior space limitations and constraints. A home for our continued creative development and community collaboration. 

Bring the future on. Humans are preparing for a new condition. One of health, prosperity, and natural order with justice. 

2020 has presented a too complex dichotomy of states, however. Polar opposition. Extremes. A moment in humanity never before observed or experienced by so many.

Juxtaposition is defined as two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. 

As an animator, I am seeking the spectrum of energy that often is expressed in a given moment. Juxtaposition can be a beautiful aesthetic when opposing natures combine and become harmonious.

Opening a studio during social distancing, quarantines, stay at home orders, and limited interactions with humans; Juxtaposed by the desire for human connectivity, touch, time, and shared expression. Demanding virtual chats, video conferences, and assistance across the digital "Threshold". 

Being out of work, juxtaposed with so much work to do. 

Installing Phoenix, Arizona's first live, animation studio for performance and human expression through characterized form; Juxtaposed by the dissonance and fears for health and safety in a global pandemic, socio-economic climate. 

The tragedy of this global virus affects humanity; Juxtaposed by the will to improve the human condition. To assist others with telling their story. Sharing this moment in time. This cultural paradigm shift. The clash of positives and negatives. The inability to define all contexts into a black or white box. 

Unrest in many forms. Social. Political. Psychological. 

This unnerving inability to see a middle way; Juxtaposed by the opportunity to acknowledge the unpredictability of now. 

Fear of disease, government, foreigners, and your neighbors; Juxtaposed by the courage to cooperate and engage in the local community of action.

Independence, juxtaposed by lockdowns.

Dualism suggests that every negative consequence or action has an equal and opposite reaction, just as Newton's third law of physics proves.

Humans suffer; therefore, we must thrive.

In difficulty, we must triumph.

With destruction comes creation.

                                                                         - Nathaniel Jack Greene - Chief Imaginologist 

The Future is Unwritten

As Chief Imaginologist, I have kept a calendar reminder for me every Friday at noon to read, “The future is unwritten.” A wise mentor of mine suggested a weekly reminder to acknowledge that every moment is an opportunity to do something better than before. It is helpful to acknowledge the work you will do in the week to come while giving you a breath to acknowledge the work you have accomplished thus far. 

What a year at Imaginology. 2020. Who would have thought? I mean, we were promised jetpacks or hoverboards or some other brand name that no longer applies to only our hopes and desires for a more space-age future. I suppose you could perceive filtration masks, personal health protective equipment, healthcare precautions, and travel restrictions a perfect sign of what was to come.

Nathan Greene and Susan Bendix  - Photographer @daviddupreephotographer

However, an Imaginologist prefers to engage in healthy, constructive criticism, not cynicism, and remains focused on the potentials awaiting to be discovered and/or rediscovered. The darkest hour is always just before dawn.

Spending 25 years struggling to migrate traditional, analog businesses, non-profits, and individuals to digital culture technologies. Juxtaposed by the overwhelming demand for experience and expertise in managing a media production pipeline business.

With such a busy year, I have had so many matters on my mind. This is a blog post to acknowledge the progress and prepare myself for what is to come. I am writing with great fervor and will continue to edit and reiterate. 

Grief processing. The pain humanity has felt this year as a global whole, has been palpable. Americans were, and still are, destined to be of another nature. One of independence. One of health and prosperity with balanced and accountable governance representative of the will of the people. All people. 

With so much of the world in pause, Imaginology has been juxtaposed by great, rapid action and growth. Expanding our operations, growing a team of globally focused and locally active Imaginologists. With the recent launch of our Apprenticeship Program, we are well positioned for a positive impact in our local and global community. 

Imaginology Studio

As Imaginology opened its first studio location on Historic Grand Avenue this year, there wasn’t a living spirit to be found. Dark, silent, and alone, Imaginology opened. The deafening silence of the streets of Grand Avenue. Pre-pandemic was always a hub of central Phoenician’s low-rider, bass rumbling, cruiser culture, blending with hot-rod hotheads dragging the asphalt between hipster hops of brews, tunes and art views. Now, not a living soul. Months passed. More people died. We stayed safe. We stayed in. We stayed healthy. We worked our asses off.

No moment of silence is long enough for this moment of grief. As if humans haven’t suffered enough throughout time? 

Imaginology feels this. How do you claim to improve the human condition as a company mission, when so much of the world is sick and dying? How does anyone claim to be capable of improving the human condition in this mess? 

Mindset. You endure, focused on solutions. Cross-pollinating ideas with other specialties. Synthesizing new ideas by combing the old. Juxtaposing ideas or specialties. Sometimes discovering a harmonious blend of ideas and language or sometimes finding polar opposition and incompatibilities. This is sometimes how innovative ideas are formed. Problems are solved. Sometimes it is simply an exercise. However, exercise prepares for the inevitable. Exercise conditions for the trials ahead.

Imaginology anticipates another 1010 years of improving the human condition. More on that, yet to come.

- Nathaniel Jack Greene - Chief Imaginologist 

Imaginology Opens Studio: Ready to Collaborate

Live Animation and Video Production Studio
in the Grand Avenue Arts District

The Imaginology studio is the newest creative resource in the Grand Avenue Arts District offering live animation and video streaming production services. A collaborative venture between Artist, Animator, Producer Nathaniel Jack Greene and Fabrication Artist Ryan Gallagher, the studio aims to provide a creative space to produce anything the imagination can dream up. From character design, creature creation, set design, and puppetry to producing a web series, creating commercials, or turning yourself into an animated character that can perform in real-time, these Imaginologists will make it happen.

Located inside the Grand ArtHaus on the corner of Grand Avenue and Roosevelt Road, the fully equipped studio opened its doors in June 2020 assisting with the video production of a live streaming event organized by Cultural Coalition, Inc, a local arts and culture non-profit organization. 

According to Greene, “Working with Cultural Coalition was an honor for Imaginology. The studio offered solutions to provide additional capabilities, enabling pre-recorded video playback and custom graphic switching during the event. We helped remove technical concerns so the staff could focus on content, donations, and bringing attention to Cultural Coalition’s mission of education, promotion and development of Indigenous artists in Arizona.”

The Summer Solstice Celebration Facebook Live 2-hour program reached over 9,000 views and streamed to homes in over 15 different countries and included performances from a collection of artists known in the Valley, and internationally including Ken Koshio, Zarco Guerrero, and Tony Duncan. 

Gallagher and Greene are clear, "Community collaboration is an integral part of Imaginology."  Gallagher continues, "Working on projects with organizations like Cultural Coalition, supporting the diverse artists and businesses of the Valley, reinforces our commitment to provide a variety of opportunities to our community. Whether it's artist talks, design workshops, video production, or a space to build a creation, the Imaginology studio is a resource for everyone." 

Gallagher and Greene are excited to continue collaborative projects with artists, businesses, and non-profits throughout the Valley. Visit www.imaginology.com or call (602) 510-3563 to find a full catalog of services provided by Imaginology.

The Imaginology studio is located on the northwest corner of Roosevelt Street and Grand Avenue at 1501 Northwest Grand Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85007 inside the Grand ArtHaus. Book a FREE phone or video chat consultation today to discover how Imaginology can add value to your next project.