The Beauty of DIY
Josh Davis and Praystation.com
By David Garza, Fri., March 15, 2002
"A lot of the complex ideas I come up with are so simple you might want to kill yourself," he told the audience at his Tuesday afternoon panel at the SXSW Interactive Conference.
In fact, the complex ideas are so beautiful that their applications are boundless. After seeing how his computer created gorgeous rice-paper patterns, one woman in South Africa vowed to introduce him to fashionista Isaac Mizrahi. Her idea was to connect his computer to a textile loom in order to produce a series of clothes featuring similar but individually unique designs.
Though it hasn't actually happened yet, the idea of a Web punk designing haute couture for Mizrahi is curious, certainly in keeping with the eventful life Davis has lead. Upon moving to New York, he swallowed his heterosexual pride and became a headlining drag queen ("Sir Real") in the city's more notorious discos. At one point, he was so broke that he was out of electricity and eating Ramen noodles straight out of the pack, crunchy and dry.
Ultimately, then, what Davis' art -- and his life -- can teach the world of commerce might be more potent than patterns for cool dresses. Give commerce his do-or-die attitude and creative power, and see what business unfolds.