Transformation by Design: My Life in Art, Cannabis, and Consciousness

For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived at the intersection of culture, healing, and innovation. Whether I’m working with plants, paint, people, or pups, the through line has always been transformation—by design, not by accident.

I studied Studio Arts and Botany at Humboldt State University, where I had the rare privilege of learning under Dr. Stephen C. Sillett, one of the world’s leading canopy biologists. That time grounded me in the wisdom of ecosystems—how things grow, intertwine, evolve. That knowledge still informs everything I do.

My journey started as a Master Grower and hydroponic engineer. From 2006 to 2012, I curated San Francisco’s Divinity Tree Dispensary, a legendary medical cannabis space that helped shape the scene in its early days. I’ve consulted across California, Oregon, Alaska, and Nevada, always blending science with soul.

In 2009, I launched TOTT Global—my answer to what happens when art and cannabis culture meet on sustainable terms. We made eco-conscious puzzles, dominoes, and playing cards with artists like Camilla d’Errico, Jeremy Fish, Tara McPherson, and Buff Monster. Our “Turkey Bags” oven bag cookware line was acquired by Left Coast Hydro in 2015. TOTT wasn’t just a brand—it was a movement.

From there, I founded Tools of the Trade SF, a boutique branding studio serving the wine and cannabis industries, followed by environmental projects like The Purple Bucket Project and 1-800-Pot-Junk, both created to tackle the growing problem of cannabis packaging waste. I’ve always believed we have a responsibility to the earth—and to our own integrity.

Alongside the business ventures, I kept making and curating art. My work has shown at places like Burning Man, Art Basel Miami, RVCA, and the Cory Helford Gallery. I co-directed The Detroit Project, a documentary with Ron English that premiered at MoMA NYC. I’ve been featured in Artillery Magazine, Arrested Motion, and even had some fun in the podcast world, especially with my brother Mike Giant on Audio Adventures.

In 2023, I published The Bedtime Story of Falling Rock, illustrated by the brilliant Eloy Bida. It’s a children’s book on the surface, but like much of my work, it’s layered with myth and meaning. I write stories to help people remember what they’ve forgotten.

Most recently, I founded Apiary of Dreams, a sacred dreamwork community inspired by bees, hives, and collective consciousness. We teach lucid dreaming as a tool for healing, creativity, and inner growth. It’s one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever created.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, I launched Upwook—my professional dog training program. I’ve trained working breeds for over 18 years and specialize in behavior transformation. Dogs, like people, respond to energy, clarity, and love.

My life doesn’t fit in one box. It moves between sacred art and street culture, psychedelic science and practical healing, ancient wisdom and futuristic tech. But no matter the medium, the mission is the same:

To create with purpose.

To guide transformation.

And to always, always return to design.