"We're in the spirit world now!"

I love collaborating with fellow artist. The other day I approached Hillary Cantu to do some paintings for Squares. She does some really cool stuff. I wanted to do portraits of Kachina Dolls (hand made dolls by a western Native American's tribe).
But after realizing I was asking way too much for her to do two paintings in one night, I was convinced to do some painting myself. About three hours later this is what we came up with.
Thanks Hillary!

Weekend Surf Board Swap Meet

Squares Poncho Sale: New styles and tasty college beverages for friends. Come and enter the spirit world this Sunday, have a drink, listen to some tunes, check out some awesome surfboards.

Sunday September 13 11am-3pm

Shelter Surf Shop
2148 E 4th St
Long Beach, CA

Shelter. It is official we are in a store!

If I would have to choose any store in the world to be in, it would be this one. Not only is Shelter located on one of my favorites streets in Long Beach (4th st) it also provides a "realness" that can only come from passionate people willing to share their love for art, fashion, and surfing. Shelter carries the best surf boards that take consideration in: style, function, performance, environment and the economy*. These boards are made for the sole purpose to make you happy on waves. Shelter also carries great clothing(squares), jewelery, and accessories that are carefully selected by Kim. Once a month they participate in the art walk with a surf movie premiere.
You will probably find me at one of these events there giving a couple dollars to dink off the pony keg for the whole night. I will let you know when the next event is.


*Let me take a minute to explain why I think Shelter is considering the economy. Shelter carries boards that are hand made by surfers/shapers that have dedicated their lives into innovating and improving surfboard designs. So what happens when a shaper, like Al Merrick, gets all his boards computer cut with cheap labor overseas? It will put these small operations out of business and ultimately kill the spirit of surfing. I am no economist and I do have too strong of an opinion on foreign labor. But in this case I will not support these boards because of my understanding of what should go into a surfboard.

Daisy's new Paint Job

So everyone didn't think Daisy wouldn't make it out of California. And to be completely honest, we didn't know how far she would make it, so everyone pack light just in case we had to thumb it home. But Daisy has past all expectations.

Tender Loving Empire

Tender Loving Empire is an art/music driven boutique located somewhere in downtown Portland. It seems like all major cites are going through some form of gentrification in old ghetto neighborhoods, and it is easy to stand by and criticize the change in a neighbor. But I think little honest shops like Tender Loving Empire will only point this kind change in the right direction. The most recent artist collaboration was the 40 oz art. Each artist designed an empty 40 bottle any way they desired, pretty amazing stuff! (but I do have a soft spot for 40 oz) They also have a huge selection of local music, hand made jewelery and original screen prints. Putting the community first and helping your neighbor is something we fully support. So if you are every in Portland you have to check out this store.
http://tenderlovingempire.com/index.php

Coastology 101

It is day 4 on the trip and everything has been great. We took the 101 all the way up to Portland, Oregon. This was my first time going up the coast this way and I highly recommend you try it some time in your life. The west coast is the most beautiful cost in the world. Here are a couple of shots from the drive.

Squares hits the road

This summer, Paul Strouse and 3 friends will cram into a Lazy Daisy Winnebago and head out on a cross-country expedition inspired by Strouse’s recent dive into fashion design, the Squares Collection. Launched after a trip he took to Colombia, the first look in the Squares Collection is a line of traditional ponchos, featuring a pattern of squares mimicking native textiles from the region. In anticipation of his stateside adventures, Strouse seeks only inspiration. “I am compelled on my journeys by seeing new places and relating with new people,” he says.

Departing from Long Beach, Strouse and Co. will first head north to Seattle, then east to Boston, south to Miami and finally back home again—a trek that is, yes, essentially a square route.

Like a lot of 20-somethings, Strouse says he is not cut out for a life in the office, electing rather to give into his wanderlust and be moved by the intrigue of destinations unknown. He sees himself as an impressionable student of culture: “I have no expectations on my trips, because one might overlook what’s directly in front of you,” he says.

Strouse hopes that his experiences and fashions will motivate others to search for a meaning to life outside of our traditional comforts. “Being human is about relating and creating,” he says, “and we have a lot more room to do both.” // KATE JONES

Meet Dasiy

This RV has a purpose beyond driving a bunch of yahoos across America. It comes from the "Kids Hands & Minds Together" foundation. This foundation teaches inner city kids, in the LA area, how to work on cars. Almost all schools have cut out Auto Shop from their curriculum. But not everyone is cut out for college and giving kids this option at an early age is so important.
This beautiful Lazy Daze was donated to the foundation years ago. When it was in working order we were lucky enough to buy it. All proceeds go directly back into the foundation. For more information about the program email nate55@aol.com

Squares New Mexico

Have you ever wanted to just take a random exit and drive for like three hours and see where it takes you? Well that is pretty much what me and three good friends did. And I got to say it was pretty amazing. Check out a clip from the trip. This video was Edited my Tim Palsgrove. He did an amazing job. side note: Tim just broke his ankle which lead to him having extra time to cut this video. So get well Tim, but not too fast I still need you.

This is a Squares trip. Thank you for watching. Now burn it after viewing!

I thought I was on to something?

You know how you like to think that you are the first one to think of something or predict what will make a comeback. I once had a friend who thought he invented the phrase “weak-sauce”. He really did, but I am sure it has been around for a while. Well I foolishly thought that I predicted the come back of the poncho, but clearly they are already back. Check out this ad a friend sent me. Oh well I can only hope that there is room for both of us. I need better advertising.

New Shirts

Today was a big day for the Squares team. We shipped our first Squares order to a guy named Jordan Pepper! Thanks Jordan, if your reading this please send us a pic of yourself in your new gear and we will put your photo up on the blog, giving you the FAME you rightfully earned for being the first online customer. Besides form Jordan, THANK YOU to everyone else who ordered from the online store, we never could of anticipated this big of a welcoming. As many of you already know the Orange Poncho sold out the day it went on the website. Unfortunately the fabric was dead stock and we can't find anymore so you all will have to live with the white for now. (FYI the white one is running low get it while you can). On another note we finished printing 3 new shirts today. Check them out below.

New shirts Click here to see the full line

Last but not least Squares really wants to thank Square's family member Ryan Bryant for allowing us to work all day in his screen printing shop. His shops called American Silkscreen and graphics and it located in Huntington Beach. Ryan Bryant is a machine when it comes to screen printing if you ever need any printing done be sure to take it to his shop for some quality printing. Not only is Ryan Bryant one of the best printers around he is also and amazing artist. Be sure to log back on the site after March 5th. Why march 5th? March 5th is the launch of the Ryan Bryant and Square's Collaboration project. Limited to 15 prints so you'll have to get them fast.

P.S. its going to be a MASTERPIECE.

Ryan's Shop Click here for contact info