may goals

May 04, 2015 in STYLE

What happened to April? It was Easter and then boom, done. Flowers are blooming everywhere and we've had some good rain showers. I love Spring and wish it could last longer!

I meet some really awesome people this month and got to connect at my favorite events including Creative Mornings, Little Salon and art events at Hillyer. I went to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, ran a Twitter chat and went to New York twice for work. I also got to spend time with a good friend in town, take a class with co-workers at Culinaeire and go to the Sheep and Wool Festival. Whew. Busy, but a super great month!

We released our 2015/2016 Cocktails + Craft schedule so check it out if you are interested in doing something creative and drinking with friends.

Here are my goals from last month and what I hope to accomplish in May:

my goals last month

Journal once a week. I've been doing okay at this -- but I could definitely set more time aside.
Prep fabric. I did this! Now I'm on to the fun part.
#100daysofdresses. I've only missed a few days, but I always made them up!

my goals this month

Work on patterns/samples. I haven't had much time to work on my next collection, so it's really important I set time aside for this and get going on my samples.
Have a fun Sazeracs and Succulents. Next Cocktails + Craft is this Saturday! I can't wait.
Help my family plan an amazing graduation party for my sister. I'll be heading to Arizona in a few weeks to hang out with my family and celebrate my sister's graduation.

how was your april? what are your goals for may?

Cherry Blossoms

May 03, 2015

I finally got around to posting the photos from this year's cherry blossom blooming. I hope you like them!

The Last Black Man in San Francisco

April 30, 2015 in INSPIRATION

I met Joe in San Francisco years ago. He's a really informed creative that doesn't settle-something I've always admired and that continues to inspire me.

His most recent project, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," just brought me to tears as I was waiting for my iced carmel macchiato at the corner of 13th and U St NW here in DC. I rarely go to Starbucks, but today I woke up in a funk and needed something to remind me of who I was, am and can be. This drink from this place is my comfort food. I grew up in the suburbs.

Joe did not. He grew up in Bernal Heights in the whirl of a city stuck between nostalgia and chaos, culture and convenience. He's a unicorn--a person that grows up in the city and stays to create something meaningful about it.

I think his parents had a huge part of framing his outlook on life, culture and art, but I also think he's gone above and beyond to maintain the ties he made as a kid, when curiosity was the main objective. When art was the foundational layer of life and profit had no meaning.

Produced by Rolla Selbak and writen/directed by Joe, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," features Jimmie Fails, Joe's childhood friend, who dreams of buying back the home his grandfather built in the Fillmore. This film, to me, demonstrates the power to share a voice, a vision and a city. A city we glorify all over the world, in which only some have the courage and tenacity to create, and few have the talent to capture a unique perspective in an artistic and powerful way. We all know what's going on in cities across America, this film tells one story that is worth being on the silver screen. A small attempt to drown out main-stream sensational media, but a really, really important one.

"Now living in the city’s last, dwindling black neighborhood with his (Jimmie's) oddball best friend, Prentice, they search for belonging in the rapidly changing city that seems to have left them behind." (IndieWire)

Watch their Kickstarter film pitch and the concept teaser below.

Then, Help fund this project!

It's not just about giving money to someone to make a movie, but helping to bring a universal concept to life.

Cocktails+Craft: schedule for 2015/16

April 26, 2015 in COCKTAILS + CRAFT

Did you miss Mimosas and Moodboards? Looking for an alternative to brunch? Want to create and get boozy with some friends? Sign up for an upcoming Cocktails+Craft!

Sazeracs & Succulents is full, but if you're into dream catchers or painted pasta, sign up for Kentucky Mules & Camp Crafts in September!

Right now, I'm keeping the events invite-only to ensure a small crowd. Plus, this happens in my apartment so only so many people can fit. I'll update the calendar pages with exact cost (if any) as I plan them, but it won't ever be more than the cost of brunch!

Visit the Cocktails+Craft calendar to sign up for an invite.

Follow Cocktails+Craft on Twitter for updates so you don't miss out!

feminist brush strokes

April 12, 2015

Yesterday I went to a panel discussion at Hillyer Art Space called The Feminist Art Movement. The panelist included Sybil Gohari, professor of art history at American University, Ying-Chen Peng, professor of modern Chinese Art History at American University, and Jesse Harrod, artist and professor of Fiber & Material Studies at Temple University. The discussion was moderated by Emily Hockett, a current intern at Hillyer Art Space.

Hair Embroideries, Sula Fey via http://cargocollective.com/sulabermudez/Hair-Embroideries — Hair Embroideries, Sula Fey via http://cargocollective.com/sulabermudez/Hair-Embroideries

What is feminism?

Gohari shared a recurring observation from her AU classroom: most of her students don’t identify as feminist and many can’t even define it. Gohari said while there’s a general trend to not label oneself as anything, there’s also a lot of confusion about what feminism means.

I wasn’t surprised. I think the trend away from labels has a lot to do with constant self-branding via the internet, social networks and the modern job search. Every day we make decisions about how to frame ourselves, not just in person but online. There’s this pressure to be both a part of something and totally unique. I can see how a feminist identity can complicate that, especially if it is misunderstood.

What’s strange is why feminism is still misunderstood. The panelist were very clear about their definition: Feminism is equality for women. This is how I’ve always understood feminism, and any time I come across someone that does not identify as a feminist, she/he is usually just confused about the label, but very on board with the concept.

What is feminist art?

When asked to define feminist art, the panelist couldn’t give a clear answer. The genre seems to really depend on time period and framing. There’s also the ability to re-read forgotten artists as feminist artists. They did seem to agree that feminist art is not limited to one medium or method and that the label changes depending on time period, how it is used and by whom.

The panelists talked about the varying degrees of feminist art and gave some examples of contemporary feminist artists. They discussed how styles that define feminist art have evolved and morphed over time and vary across cultures. What was most interesting is to hear that East Asian feminist art tends to be explicit and bodily, similar to 60s, 70s feminist art in the US, while contemporary US feminist art tends to be more post-modern and use materials in non-conformative ways, like all art does, but with an underlying tone of feminism.

The Hispanic Project (2), Nikki S. Lee via IMA Museum — The Hispanic Project (2), Nikki S. Lee via IMA Museum

Hierarchy of labels: feminist art vs. _____________

There was discussion about the hierarchy of labels, especially within the art world. Peng shared how Asian artists may be reluctant to identify as feminist because that would be their first identifying factor, with their international or global identity coming in second. This might make them less able to succeed in the global art market.

On the other end of the spectrum, Hockett, who sees her work as activism, shared that even if her artwork could be judged blindly, she’d still want to be known as a feminist.

This idea of the hierarchy of labels is really interesting. I struggle with this myself - as an artist, marketer, blogger, feminist, mexican-american, etc., etc. Which comes first? Does it matter? What is obvious and what needs to be continuously demonstrated?

Calvin and Hobbes comic via TobiasBuckell.com

It’s all Transrelational

I’ve been out of academia for a while, but there was a word that I think every panelist used many times that I took to mean everything is related. We are all multi-faceted and our identities not only blend and relate with other aspects of ourselves, but with other identities, other understandings of identities and the reflections of all of this in culture, media, institutions and history. I think the word was transrelational, but I didn’t write it down so I really don’t know.

What can we do to educate others about feminism & feminist art?

I’m a big fan of academic discussions and art talk, but I was glad when people asked questions about how to understand non-feminists, how to promote equality for women (feminism) and how (if) the internet can help all of this.

While the panelist were certainly symbolic of the ivory tower of academia in both their ways of speaking and examples (my sister, a non-cultural studies nerd like me, pointed this out) they did give some really useful tips that anyone can use (I took some liberties here):

Revisit known and unknown artists. Maybe start with the ones you know, but you can also use the internet to uncover hundreds of female artists. Learn about them and see if there’s a feminist rhetoric that’s been brushed over.
Publish. At first I thought this was really lame advice - write a book about feminism! But, then I thought, this is exactly what I do -- this may just be a blog, but it’s public work that hopefully some people will read. Whatever your thoughts are on feminism or feminist artist, share it in a public, published manner, however small or large your audience. Every little bit counts.
Vote. There’s a big part of the US population that not only is probably confused about feminism, but is also not voting and in most need of equality for women. With an interesting 2016 presidential election kicking off, it’s a good time to start voicing your opinion through the ballot box.

Frosted Pink Lipstick Smeared All Over His Face (cloth, wood, pipes, flanges, embellishments 20' x 10' x 5' - 2010), Jesse Harrod via JesseHarrod.com — Frosted Pink Lipstick Smeared All Over His Face (cloth, wood, pipes, flanges, embellishments 20' x 10' x 5' - 2010), Jesse Harrod via JesseHarrod.com

Three ways to break through a creative block

April 08, 2015 in STYLE

I'm packing for a last minute trip to NY and put on this Creative Mornings video -- I got so into it I've just been sitting here watching it!

The talk by Danielle Krysa on Humility. Krysa is the creator of The Jealous Curator, a blog where she shares art she loves (and wishes she had thought of!). She talks about how her idea of humility has changed over time and her split personality as writer for The Jealous Curator and an artist herself.

I really resonate with everything she talks about -- especially the inner critic and ability to help others but inability to take your own advice. One of my favorite things that she shares are themes she discovered when writing her book Creative Block. She asked each artist she interviewed how she gets out of a creative block and shares the projects they do to get out of it.

I think the themes actually serve as three great ways to break through a creative block:

1. Screw Perfection - don't worry about being perfect, just keep creating.

2. Go Outside - Just go outside. She shares a fun idea to roll a dice and then whatever number you get, go out and use some form of transportation for that amount of time. See where you end up!

3. Make Rules and Play Within Them - set rules and then create within those parameters. I love this and do my best work this way. This is why most of my artwork is black and white or monochromatic. I need to come up with some new rules!

Watch Krysa's whole talk here: