The Outer Ledge is an Observatory for Ideas on the Edge: I am neurodivergent, an artist, and Gen-Xer who shares my art and unconventional observations. I draw and I write about the world from the lens of an abstract/surreal artist. Here, you’ll find observations that amuse, enlighten, and spark curiosity for greater clarity, purpose, and meaning during a time of monumental change.
My name is Michael and I have an knack for noticing the abstract, surreal, and obscure. The things I notice most are slightly on the peripheral and outside the mainstream conversation. I write about a range of topics but especially art, advertising, design, media studies, unexplained phenomenon, society & culture, conspiracy theories, ancient teachings, symbolism, eastern spiritualism, alternative medicine, and technology. I share observations and the things I think everyone should be tuned into in order to find greater awareness, personal and spiritual well-being, and a deeper meaning during a time of great change.
In the span of my lifetime, the world has become exponentially more complicated. It’s a time for seeking answers to big questions! We are living during a period when more people have access to more information than at any other time in human history. And, it’s a time when more people in history are plugged into the Net than ever before. The implications are profound to say the least. Yet, despite the changes we see in the world, there is also much wonder that exists, if you are open to it.
As a child of the 1970s and 1980s, I have been a keen observer and witness to the slow yet significant shifts in the collective paradigm and the ways human beings interact and engage with the world. The changes are usually subtle but often have a profound affect on our individual psyche and the structures we use to make sense of our inner and outer worlds. It is truly profound how the simple act of altering how we perceive a thing or situation changes the way we feel or how we pattern our lives.
I look at the world from an outsider’s lens: As a Gen-Xer, I offer a unique timeline since I’ve lived during the analog epoch and the digital epoch. As a media studies scholar, I pay particular attention to the way information is being packaged and transmitted to the masses across mediums. And, additionally, the way media are often used to persuade our beliefs and options about the world, shaping the paradigms we use to navigate our lives.
My career has spanned over 35 years. I’ve served in various technical, leadership, and entrepreneurial roles within the games industry, higher education, and private sector including Hasbro, Microsoft, Sony (PlayStation), Electronic Arts, The Los Angeles Film School, University of Arizona, and Arizona State University. In my current role as Studio Director at ASU’s Next Lab, I help facilitate creators who innovate and solve some of the world’s most complex problems at the intersection of imagination and innovation.
I remain an active member of The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and participate annually in the D.I.C.E. and Webby Awards.
Stay open, be curious, ask.
