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Campers

Here’s a glimpse into the lives of the makers of Campfire’s goods. Enjoy a little background information on our individual careers and a few ridiculously illustrated dreams. Brought to you through the art of collage.

Andy Taray

Andy’s Bio

Andy Taray is the owner, art director, and designer of Ohioboy Art & Design. Before that he was an art director at MTV Networks and Platinum Design Inc. NYC. Andy was also an instructor of typography and design at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. His work has been featured by AIGA, The Art Directors Club, Print Magazine, Communication Arts, HOW Magazine, The One Show Awards, Plus 81, and PDN. Andy has done work on the following icons: The Beatles, Sesame Street, Tony Hawk, JFK, The Godfather, MTV, Kiss, and of course Elvis.

Woa, Woa, Woa, Andy’s dreamin’

At this stage in my life…I am dreaming of driving in my newly purchased 1979 El Camino on my way on a cross-country, 50 state tour with the other Campfire boys. The trip would include the three of us riding in the front cab “air-instrumenting” our faces off to Van Halen I on cassette. The back cab would be filled with everyone from Alf to Bernie Kosar to David Lee Roth himself. Our dream trip will only be remembered as the “Summer” we owned the roads with Swensons cheeseburgers and DLR. Andy also dreams of the day his beard grows bananas and Micah documents it by illustration.

Contact Andy

Email Andy your thoughts / andy@weareCampfire.com

Micah Kraus

Micah’s Bio

Micah Kraus is an art teacher at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. Micah has also taught Printmaking and Art Education courses at Kent State University and was an artist in residence at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Micah has participated in group and solo exhibitions at Spaces Gallery, Dead Horse Gallery, Square Space, Millworks Gallery, and the McDonough Museum.

By The Beard of Zeus, Micah’s dreamin’

Let’s be honest with ourselves, I’m dreaming of growing a mustache. I’ve always wanted a mustache. I’ve envied other people’s mustaches. Burt Reynolds. Tom Selleck. Clark Gable. John Waters. Lemmy Kilmister. Frida Kahlo. As a youngster I would use my mom’s eyeliner to draw mustaches on my bare upper lip. It’s been a long-suffering unfulfilled dream. I need a Judy Blume-esque book written for guys having a hard time growing facial hair. Are You There God? It’s Me, Micah. Man. There’s so much potential on that blank canvas below my nose. But, as they say, grass doesn’t grow in the shade.
I guess for now I’ll have to be dreamin’ about…The Campfire guys riding motorcycles around the Great Lakes, camping all the way. We would ride the first ever motorcycle created with two sidecars. Andy would put together the perfect soundtrack for the trip, layered nicely with plenty of Van Halen and Dusty Springfield. Nick would be on jerky patrol, making sure beef jerky was never more that 2 inches from any outstretched hand.

Contact Micah

Email Micah your thoughts / micah@weareCampfire.com

Nick Caruso

Nick’s Bio

Nick Caruso is a Senior Designer at Henry Holt and Company. Prior to that he was a Senior Designer at Artisan and Red Herring Design. His work has been featured in Communication Arts, Print Magazine, and The Bookbinders’ Guild of New York. Nick has designed cookbooks for world renowned chefs, non-fiction covers for those who’ve dominated Everest, fiction covers for bestselling authors, and art books that have landed on The New York Times bestseller list.

Zzzzzzzz, Nick’s dreamin’

This here pick-up truck rides like a caddy and purrs like a VERY large tiger. It’s as trusty as my sidekicks, Andy and Micah, and surprisingly enough, comfortable with the three of us sitting in the bench seat. We like to roam the country roads in search of my favorite linebacker and park ranger, Jack Lambert, who also spent his college years at Kent State University. I’m convinced we’ll find him sharing dinner with Sasquatch, Chewy, Lion-O, Snarf, and of course, Alf. Nick dreams to see the world through other peoples’ eyes. Maybe wearing Sally Jesse Raphael’s glasses will give him insight on why peoples’ daughters dress like sluts.

Contact Nick

Email Nick your thoughts / nick@weareCampfire.com