DANIEL BLUE: MEET MATT EKLUND >>>

Matt Eklund should have his own brand of sandals. There has never been a more chill person born on this earth, everything about this man is as laid back as a futon. Even with the stress of being the only masculine presence in the Urban Art Festival board of directors, Eklund demonstrates the patience of a monk and the demeanor of another monk sitting next to the first one in morning meditation time.

During the day, our beloved festival powerhouse works at the ever campy REI, but at night you may find him in a milieu of psychedelic situations from guitar playing to reggae dancing.

When I first met him at the old Rampart Antique's Third Thursday celebrations, I began to refer to him lovingly as "papa bear" because you could count on him for a large bear hug upon every greeting.

In every bustling enclave there must be a backbone like Matt and his wife, Laura, holding everything together and pinching nerves now and again when things need attention. Sometimes I am shocked at the amount of work that goes into planning and throwing events and happenings, if there ever was someone who could organize the kind of people power that is needed to get those balls rolling, it would be Papa Bear.