Crowerks graphic design contributed to this Fall Gramicci collection by creating killer graphics that struck a common cord with the Gramicci design culture. They brought fresh organic funkiness with original artwork and one of a kind distress techniques. Brook and Cory Burnett are the founders and creators of Crowerks. They live the life of our Gramicci zealot. Want to see the Crowerks magic in action? Do a search on youtube for “making distressed patterns” and you’ll see a video sampling of their unique creative techniques.

How did you get connected with Gramicci?

B+C: When we lived in Eugene, OR we remember the hard core Eugene Gramicci fans who wore it for the function.

B: We were reintroduced when my sister Britney started working for the company.

How is Gramicci culture similar to the Crowerks culture?

B+C: Gramicci gets us back to raw art and into our sketchbooks, we like how they strive to be different from the mainstream. We get physical in the projects, like when Cory was hammering the heck out of the wood for the distress pattern. The Gramicciphilosophies like “shared beers and bonfires” andtheir mantra’s is asynonymous to our life, live free, love nature, never the norm.

What are the inspirations for the unique distress treatments on your artwork?

B+C: Pabst Blue Ribbon, deadlines, quest to do something different.

How did you come up with the name Crowerks?

B+C: The name is from the murder of crows that used to accumulate around our home in Eugene. Crow coming from the obvious and “werks” is German. We love crows for their intelligence, loyalty, adaptive nature, family ethics, etc.

What’s it like being able to be work with your “lovely” sister?

B: It has been a good thing for our relationship and we understand each-other... mostly. I know when she raises her eyebrows on skype she doesn’t like what I am saying. And whenever I start swearing on skype she turns the volume down and puts on her head phones.

In your business what do your projects range from?

B+C: Fixing the “tin man” (lives in your computer and screws with it), billboards, web, book binding, apparel, illustration, photography, tech advise, print, menus etc.

What’s a typical day in the life of Crowerks?

B+C: Cory gets up at the butt crack of dawn makes coffee, checks surf, rides surf, brook sleeps in, meet at the studio, work, socialize, drink coffee, play with cats and dog, walk on the beach, work, socialize, have a beer, dinner, socialize around the bonfire pit with friends/family & cocktails.

On your website I noticed your blog site is named Mars, what is the significance of Mars?

B+C: It’s a very foreign place, blog is like a secondary life that your living in life while blogging. Mars being our 2nd planet that is closest to inhabiting..... honestly that is why.

What is it like being married to and working with your business partner?

B: We always get asked this question. It’s awesome, it’s working with your best friend.

C: My boss is a slave driver! It’s a unique situation, we value that we are able to work with each-other, because not everyone can do it. We areeach-other’s best critic, we are able to constructively critiqueeach-other’s projects.

Who is the dominant one?

B+C: Do you mean which one of us rides the saddle? We both play are rolls, we know whateach-other are capable of and know when to push each-other. We do our best to keep it as equal as possible.

Where is your favorite place to have bonfire, what are the key ingredients?

B: Our new home has a killer bonfire pit... key ingredient: good people, cocktails/beer/wine, good food, good stories.

Cory, I know that I have heard about the shark story but they have to hear about your shark encounter.

Farzahn & I were surfing on the beach and we saw what we thought was a sea lion. Then we saw two dorsal fins and thought oh dolphins, but as we took a closer look and we later realized they were not dolphins but the tail fins of THE GREAT (WHITE). Farzahn was about to drop in on a wave when he saw three chomps come towards him about a 1 foot away from his feet. Farzahn’s face turned white, and said “what the @!*# was that?”. We continued to surf for another 30 minutes. The next day a lifeguard told us the same place we had been surfing he had spotted and watched a 16 foot great white shark attack and eat a large bull seal (which can get up to a ton).

Congratulations on the Cannon Beach Grant, tell us about it.

Thanks, every year in Cannon Beach the Cannon Beach Arts Association allows a grant to local artist to create piece of art, book, etc. I applied and was accepted submitting a proposal outlining concept, timeline, approach, budget and product. My project, “(L)EDGE”, will installed in the Cannon Beach Arts Gallery in May 2008. I’m looking at boundaries, physical and metaphysical within my life and what those represent. Its about how they are in constant flux and how that preserves their importance. Mentally mapping our coastal edge, what it means to live within it...the weather that it sees and the maps that we make and or adhere to is a primary focus. As with most of my work, I will mix digital and analog to produce the visual and aural representations of this concept.

How do you relax?

B+C: Surf, read, draw, photo, Hawaii, Wallowa’s, vacation, hike, go outside, sushi, beer.

What do you do when you have a creative block?

B+C: Get outside, go to the city for new visual stimuli, go to the beach to breathe.

Cory, how many cups of coffee do you consume a day?

Depends on the day, the roast, lots of variables really.... how much work i have to get done really..... 6 to 12 cups.

Brook, when was the last time that Dad came over and raided your “beer fridge”? How many did he get away with?

Last night Dad stole 3 PBRS...which was a surprise, he really likes Jack.

What is your best trick that you taught Cobi, your dog?

B: “sick balls” is code for bark your brains out. When I am on the beach alone and see some one who looks suspicious I give Cobi the code and he makes a scene. I have never actually tried it on a person but I think that it’s funny.

C: Back Up and the balancing thebiscuit treat on his nose.

When you went on your last 3 week vacation to Kauai, what did your favorite localrestaurant give you as a parting gift, as you were leaving Cannon Beach?

B+C: Cannon Beach Thai food gave us a vat of their special peanut sauce that they froze for us. Meow & Pong treat us very well. They call us their “dream team” when we come in. It is the best Thai food!

What’s the craziest thing that you have done, that I can write about?

C: My friend & I were snowboarding in mount hood at the top of the lift with a 35 foot drop. There were heavy west winds and we dropped off.

B: Skydiving.

Cory, what was the best surf session you had lately? How many surfboards do you have?

Last Saturday, 7am cove with a new board. Insane left, fastest wave I’ve ever ridden. I have 12 boards give or take.

I heard that you are inspired by the Wallowa mountains?

My family and favorite grandfather have been taking me to the Wallowa’s annually since I was about 5. My favorite memory… anything involving Falkners, Johnny D., my dad (Tom), a considerable amount of Jack Daniels and goat jokes.

What is your favorite part about Indian beach?

Besides the surf... the end where all the rocks are and create tunnels. The view. It never gets old, it’s incredible regardless of the weather.

Brook, where do you like to carve board?

Big parking lots.

Where can we find you?

www.crowerks.com or on the beach.

What is your greatest passion?

C: Ah geez... greatest passion.... spending time outdoors and behind a lens... and surf. Surf is my answer to most questions.

B: Loving what you do and whom you surround yourself with. Life is too short to waste.

See more and learn more about crowerks at their official site, crowerks.com.