The Color Holly: “Pass me them peas!”

…Have I ever mentioned my philosophy on The Color Purple? : That there is a line in that movie you can apply to damn near EVERY and I mean EVERY scenario in life?  Well, initially I just wanted to share that 2012 has been beautiful and good to me.  Here’s hopin’ it continues. …Not here’s hopin, IT WILL CONTINUE! A few people got concerned about that last post, but I am fine all. As long as I’m still makin jokes, I’m fine. …I might be cryin’ in between the jokes but hell it’s all relative.

So this is my official “check-in”: The sun is shining again. I sware it seems like all it took was for 2o11 to say “Adios!”. Wierd.  But the cloud hath been lifted! I thought my present state of being could best be expressed via a scene from THE COLOR PURPLE.  Before I get to that,  I should like to dedicate this to my friends, more like my sisters: While they didn’t know the extent of how I was feelin’ and were oblivious that they were providing anything in these moments, they managed to provide these random moments of sunshine that like fairy dust, worked wonders. …And to my time spent in Cali with family: with those that are living and not. You’d be surprised how much sense you can make of yourself when you are reminded yet again of who and where you come from and through the “who’s”, reconnect with “the why’s” of why you are the way you are.  …My Emersonian family that unknowingly contributed to putting the pieces of me back together and last but not least to the Gift of Expression.  No matter how much I didn’t want to share that last post with you all, expressing it worked wonders. I was like a clogged artery! Not only that but I was reminded that many times our self expression is as much for someone else as it is for us and that was a much needed and beautiful reminder.  On with our featured presentation.  The role of Holly-Kai will be portrayed today by Ms. Sophia (aka Oprah): “Now hush up ya ole’ fools! And pass me soma them peas!” {& Happy NEW Year!}

Color Purple: The Dinner Scene 8:34

…Seeing thangs through new eyes in Studio5.

(thank gawd!)

The Diaries of La Sad Girl {and Other Public Displays of Depression}

 … Lately I’ve been contemplating the relationship between you and I as well as my blog absence.  I’ve been specifically contemplating the authenticity of our relationship and well…..how authentic I have truly been with you.  I’m not as consistent as I’d like to be with this blog. Part of the reason for my inconsistence can be attributed to what I’ve deemed my Artistic A.D.D. I go in and out of rhythms: sewing rhythms, writing rhythms, photography rhythms, graph art rhythms, LIFE rhythms where one of thee named {or not named} may be getting more of my attention at the time.  Other times my absence is often related to my state of mind as is the case at this particular time.  The other day I participated in one of those goofy little on-line tests.   …It told me I was mildly depressed.  …Hmph.  I didn’t even flinch.  …I wasn’t the least bit surprised.  I consider myself a pretty positive person and ironically often act as “life coach” or cheerleader to everyone else. But apparently it can get the best of us and as much as I’d like to be, I am not exempt.  That being said, I have to admit things have been a little “Ground Hog Day-ish” with a hint of something else, or NOT.  This has produced a bad case of the The Blahs. 

I read something that said we are in the process of shifting dimensions from the third to the fifth, that  transitions such as these normally only occur by death but this was the first time it was happening in a way where we would experience a transition while still living.  …That part of us is already in the fifth, while the other is still behind in the third and that as a result many of us are feeling like holograms of ourselves until our “parts” catch up to one another.  …Just one theory, but I must say it put words to how I’d been feeling. …Most hologram-ish.  Like myself, only not 100% myself in full strength, power, presence and ability.

In all honesty I must admit I’ve had a moment or two of these in my life. However, they usually pass much faster and something about this one is different.  Often when I start hearing about the world’s nonsense in its many forms, or encounter many of its lost people:  Namely the ones that are so certain they have it all figured out when upon further examination you quickly assess its merely their disillusionment, ego or naïveté that would even permit them to think such a thing. “Bloody fools they are!” I look upon them with disgust!  Yuck.  These are just two things that can give me a bad case of THE BLAHS.  For this reason I stopped watching the news some years back. I’m just far too spongy and energy penetrates (though I try to keep my force-field tight and discerning).  These BLAH moments almost always get worked out through some good art therapy:  Sometimes they’re drawings, poems or random entries, but THIS energy is never energy I’d want to express or channel through any garment someone’s going to wear.  Haven’t you seen ‘Like Water For Chocolate’? …Then you remember what Titas cookin’ was doing to those that partook of her divine cuisine according to her emotional state.

Last year I started harnessing all of my not so happy musings in one place: A little journal I titled, ‘The Diaries of La Sad Girl & Other Public Displays of Depression’.  Only they are never public and up until now I’ve certainly never blogged them.  The last thing I want is for you to come here and utilize any ounce of your day feeling like I just dumped all over you!   I won’t have that associated with ‘The I’, not me!  I value our time together and only want to feed you when you come ‘round here!  But our relationship IS about being authentic, right?  Then surely Dear Reader if you’ve learned nothing else from this blog you’ve learned that I AM a creature of expression and know the importance of working myself through this process.  The NOT sharing with you is becoming more stifling than sharing!  It’s like clogged pipes and we certainly don’t need anything else to add to this….debacle! Besides, this blog isn’t about censorship!   It’s not about painting pretty pictures for you every day!  It’s about real life!  And wouldn’t this qualify as such? 

...Beloved Iyanla: "You are the daughter in whom God is well pleased".

Please don’t get the impression that I’m completely opposed to outside help.  If I could afford Iyanla {Vanzant} I’d call her up!  One time I watched Iyanla invite this grown woman to crawl up in her lap and she proceeded to rock her like a baby while the lady just balled and let go.  …It was profound. Do you know how bad I wanna crawl in Iyanlas lap? I do, I can’t lie. Can somebody rock me like a baby? Uh…so one more thing you should know about me friends: I’m a do-it-yourselfer to the core.  …Maybe to a fault even:  My own doctor, my own life coach (though her job’s currently in question), my own seamstress, my own best friend, straightened my own teeth in college thank you very much!  –With a contraption I made myself no less! My own mechanic! …Okay so I may not get much further than the oil but I TRY!

So today, in my own little imaginary world, I’ve decided to play Doctor and write my own diagnosis because after-all I’m convinced that no shrink could really “get this” or DO anything about it that would constitute a drug-free prescription OR provide me a satisfactory answer. …If there is one.  For now my creative therapy will have to suffice.  The question, ‘Where did all this come from?’ is getting quite stale.  So once again, feeling left to my own devices let me thank you in advance for sitting here with me while I “therapize” myself and most importantly, for accompanying me to my “Doctors appointment”. Wink,  wink!

Present……..

Ralph Klein & Clement Greenberg

‘SAD GURL SCHTICK’

{For the best results reading this piece, you may want to channel your best inner Mantan Moreland, Joe Peshi or even Mae West will suffice}.

…Mantan Moreland

So the other day I walk into the Doctors office, I say “Doc? What’s wrong with me? I’m tired all the time, my motivation is down, my memory is lacking,  I think about the past, not sure I’m in the present, I even question the future!  The Humans are ‘Droids now: tied to their damn cell phones and living “authentically” via their facebook personas….they’re becoming less and less capable of human interaction! …The economy has damaged everyone financially AND emotionally, I’m sad but I’m happy, I’m rich but I’m underpaid, I’m an Alanis Morissette song! I over-think the simplest things, did I mention I’m still recovering from that community worker wall of burnout?  And that was months ago, can you believe it?!  I’m simple.  …Yet complicated, not to mention impatient with myself.  …An Aries that’s impatient with herself.  I’ll bet those come a dime-a-dozen, eh Doc?

 

…Mae West

Then there’s my brain Doc.  …It’s like it’s at war with itself or somethin! The “manifestors” refuse to meet with “the idea people” and now the idea people are gettin’ mad ‘cause they feel like they’re doin’ all the work with NO reciprocity!  I’m restless Doc.  I haven’t left the city in years.  People think being an artist is cosmetic, I’m bored with the arts scene and feel like my own work has no place here anymore.   There’s even a “surprise shortage” goin on Doc.  Have you ever heard a’such? {Fingers in Docs face to illustrate the size reference} Itty bitty surprises are like lotto wins these days! The predictability is killin me! Aw Geez…Then there was that boy Doc:  See, what happened was, I took in some “funky-negative-boy-energy” some time ago and ME, bein’ the healer I think I am, thought I could produce enough positivity for two, tend to self and heal him in the process. …But the joke was on me Doc.  Prior to, I was feelin’ good, balanced and strong in myself. But it was a TKO Doc.  …And not a Love TKO.  First I was bobbin’ and weavin’ his clouds of negativity but before I knew it I was down for the count. …Spent.  Felt the corrosion of me on the inside fast but I ain’t no fool Doc and I got outta there!  Hmph!  …Long time gone and still happy to be away too. …Eh, that lesson was so 1999.  Who says ya can’t make the same mistake twice, eh?  …But I gotta tell ya Doc, just can’t help thinkin’ my energy ain’t been right since… 

‘Sides all that Doc, just seems like the general standard is down with people, places and things.  Excitement is losin’, and monotony is winnin’.  Mediocrity rules and quality suffers. People don’t even know what their imagination IS anymore! …Respect it, want it, or even see a need for it.  You know what a world without imagination is like Doc?  …These poor kids.  That’s right Doc…these are the days of our lives. 

But I’m 36 Doc.  Maybe that’s what it is…  {3+6 = 9}.  Perhaps this is just a transformation time.  I feel young, but I’m old in my mind Doc or as others like to point out, a thousand years old to be exact.  Either way I’m gettin’ tired and impressed with very little.  Y-y-ya know what else Doc? {beating her chest} I’m no loser, nuh uh, not me! Far from it.  I work hard!  –In fact I’m overwrought with talent and can’t even make it work for myself the way it should! {Sigh}……Not in these times anyway.  And have less of a desire to try.  …Now ain’t that a pea pickin’ shame Doc?! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not tryna leave here anytime soon, but I gotta tell ya …this ain’t my time and it ain’t my space Doc. {Tosses her clutch on the couch, still pacing} Things feel repetitive, and less than amusing.  I try to sort it out but don’t know where to start.  I’m everywhere and nowhere Doc.  Ever heard a’bein everywhere and nowhere at the same time?  Here’s a question for ya Doc: How does one find themselves in “Everywhere & Nowhere”?!!  They gotta road map for that Doc?!  {Pacing with gloves in hand}

…Then there’s my kid. {Plopping down on the couch} …My only consistent reminder that I am in fact worthy and entitled to some’a life’s goodness and wonder.  …Her unexpected gifts… Ha! Surprises even! How ‘bout that Doc.  … I got a brilliant kid I gotta deliver for Doc and I want her to be proud of me,  but this? ….This ain’t livin.”

So the Doc, pensive and patient stares at me and says, “That it?” I say, “Well I could go on and on Doc, but I gotta stop somewhere, right?”

…Joe Pesci

So he says, “You wanna know what’s wrong wid ya kid? I’ll tell ya what’s wrong wid ya: For one, you’re tired all the time, your motivation is down, your memory is lacking, you think about the past, can’t tell if you’re in the present, ya even question the future!  Humans are Androids now and less capable of human interaction! …The economy has messed everyone up financially AND emotionally, you’re happy and sad at the same time, rich in spirit kid, but you’re underpaid.  You know, you over-think the simplest things! …We haven’t even touched on that community worker wall of burnout and what that did.  And that was months ago!  You’re simple, complicated, not to mention impatient with yourself.  …An Aries that’s impatient with herself.  If I had a nickel for every one a’them!  {shakin’ his fist}…Why I outta…

Then there’s your brain Kid.  …Problem is, it’s at war with itself! The “manifestors” refuse to meet with “the idea people” and now the idea people are getting mad because they feel like they’re doin’ all the work!  Ya gotta bad case of restlessness Kid.  But what do you expect? You haven’t left the city in years.  Ya gotta get outta here.  You’re right, there is a “surprise shortage” goin on Kid.  But keep lookin’ at ‘em like lotto wins.  …And the boy, Kid…:  See, when you took in that “funky-negative-boy-energy” and YOU, bein’ the healer you are, thought you could produce enough positivity for two, tend to self and heal him in the process. …The joke was on you Kid.  Before that you were doin good! You were strong! But that was a TKO Kid.  Ya bobbed and weaved his clouds of negativity as best ya could but it was only a matter of time before ya were down for the count.  Luckily you ain’t no fool Kid.  Be thankful ya got outta there. Sometimes we make the same mistake twice.

In addition to that Kid the general standard is down with people, places and things.  Excitement is losin’, monotony is winnin’, mediocrity rules, quality suffers. …People don’t even know what their imagination IS! And a world without imagination ain’t no world at all Kid.  I hate to say it, but these are the days of our lives. 

Good news is you’re only 36 Kid. This could just be a time of transformation.  …Growing pains.  And while you are young, you’re old in your mind Kid {A Thousand years old to be exact}.  …Just tired and impressed with little.  Good thing is, you’re no loser Kid.  I seen plenty a’losers in my day Kid and you ain’t them!  Your overwrought with talent just haven’t made it work for yourself like it should! …Not in these times anyway.  …Pea pickin’ shame Kid. This ain’t your time and it ain’t your space, which makes things feel repetitive, and less than amusing.  You’re everywhere and nowhere Kid.  And it’s hard for one to locate themselves in “Everywhere & Nowhere”?!  Ain’t no road map for that Kid {Removes his glasses…}  …Then there’s your kid. …Your reminder that YOU ARE worthy of some’a life’s goodness and wonder.  …Her unexpected gifts.  …Surprises Kid!  Ya gotta deliver for her.  But this….this ain’t livin…”

He sat there on his stool, glasses in hand and stared off into the distance.   

“Doc? …That it?” I asked. “Yeah, I mean I could go on all day but what good would that do ya?” he says. “But Doc you just repeated everything I just told you!” I say.

So the Doc says, “What’dya want me to say Kid? …Blame it on western medicine.  We can’t really diagnose you any better than you can diagnose yourself!”     

{…………….Ba dum bum}

                                                           * * * * *

{…Only my holistic peoples would get that one. …Or not…lol}

 …C’mon, we’re just tryna survive, while keepin live …in Studio5” ~h.kai

**Timfaaia: the acronym I invented to represent my frequently used statement ‘This is me, flawed and imperfect, I am.

…Grandmas Hands…

A while back my baby kept asking me to paint her nails.  All of my polish was looking less than desirable being that it gets very little use except for her. …I never paint my nails simply because I use  my hands all the time.  It’s not practical. They’d immediately get chipped and peel off and whats worse than thinkin you look fly but you have chipped polish! …Besides that, I’m a Mama and I don’t have tiiiiime to be paintin’ and repaintin all the time! These hands got things to do!

…Anywhoo, while I was at the store I thought I’d see what was over in my favorite “Wet N’ Wild” section for her.  I came across a lovely shade of pink that I felt especially drawn to.  So I take it home, paint the childs nails, it’s a hit of course. …Doesn’t take much to please her.  After she’s gone to bed I get this strange urge to paint my own nails with the same color.  I haven’t painted my nails in like 3 years.  And it was clear! I think I even remember the day and the time. …Shame. But my nails had gotten a little longer than normal so I figured “What the hec” and I go for it.  As soon as I’m done I have a strange moment and a realization.  My hands are carbon copies of my Grandmas, whose hands I’ve not seen in quite some time I might add!  She passed in ’91. Let me just say, when the hands “showed up”, they were immediately recognizable and a pleasant but unexpected surprise.  A surprise I could only respond to with a,  “Hellooo Grandmother! Well good to see you too!”

It was divine moment and a clear greeting and message.  Everything about them was her: the shape of my nails, my skin color, the nail polish color!  I suppose I never noticed how much they resembled hers being that I never polish them nor are they usually that long.  I had to take a picture of my hands that day so that I had something to go back to and reference again after feeling like they looked so much like hers.  –Just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things and sure enough, looking at the photo now, those are most certainly her hands.  But either way, I was honored and pleased and happy to see her.  …That is her photo there in front of my hands.

…Wonderful, pleasant, beautiful, classy, reserved and delightful she was.  They say that we receive visits and communications from the dearly departed in all sorts of ways.  …Sometimes we smell them, sometimes we dream them, sometimes we just think about them or remember a special moment we shared with them and other times? …Well, we see their hands in front of us clear as day after we paint our fingernails!  I certainly think that was one of those moments. 

Gotta be thankful for the magic moments. They are few and far between these days.

“….Feelin’ the spirit vibes in Studio5″. ~h.kai

Everything I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned on Facebook Today…..

 I read this on facebook today via one of my friends posts. ….Facebook, the site I love to hate. But I had to share this because it summed up and CONFIRMED exactly how I’ve been feeling for some months now and up until I read this was over using the word “wierd” far too much to describe the general state of affairs.  What about you? Can you relate to this at all???

E.T. Phone Home, Tell me I’m not alone. …In Studio Five that IS!!!!!!! -h.kai

———-

via Aina Olomo
We Are No Longer Present In The 3rd Dimension Anymore! This Is Why A Lot of You Are Feeling Disoriented, Confused, Lost Or Delusional At Times! Your Sense of Self Has Been Stretched Into The Fifth Dimension Where Most of Your Energy Resides! Soulfully You Are There! Physically You Are Here As A Fading Holographic Image! We Are Moving Faster Energetically Than Ever Before! Time Has …Sped Up So Fast It Is Only A Matter of Time When You Will Be Fully Present Into A Fifth Dimensional World! You Are Feeling Overwhelmed And Tired Being In Third Density Right Now As Your Mind Operates On The Theta Brainwaves – Your Dream State of Mind – When You Physically Sleep! Beta Waves Are A Thing of The Past! This Is Why Everything Feels So Surreal And Fake!

Physical Ascension Has Never Happened Before Without Physically Dying First! We Are Experiencing A Brand New Phenomenon That Has Unsurpassed Any Logic You Have Ever Encountered Within Any of Your Past Lives! It Takes An Enormous Amount of Energy To Maintain The Exceptional Amount of LIGHT Bombarding The Planet Through The CME’s – Solar Flares! We Have Divine Intervention From The Ascended Masters To Keep Our Light Shining Brighter, Stronger And MORE Powerful Than Ever Before!

We Are Transforming From Carbon Based To Silicon Crystalline Within Our Beingness And It Is Only A Matter of Time When We Will Be FULLY PRESENT Within The Fifth Dimension Where Your True Reality Resides Awaiting Your I AM Presence Within Your Holy Christed Self!

Remain True To Your Own Godself!
We Are All Experiencing This Together!
Always Know You Are Never Alone And
That Those Ascending Share Your Inner
Truth!

Love & Blessings!
Sapphire Stone

Ding Dong! It’s Holly.K Calling!

So.

…Do you know who this lady is here? Hm? Yes, THAT ladies and gentleman is Mary Kay of Mary Kay cosmetics. You are probably wondering WHAT in the name of Gods Good GREEN Creation am I going to say about Mary Kay the cosmetics lady! Well I’ll tell ya. So tomorrow I embark on a new journey. NO, I am not selling Mary Kay cosmetics people. But I AM taking wE.musT.gRoW : Couture for Change into the homes of unique and original women.  Women that don’t want the “everyday” cookie cutter fashion like the rest of these clones being bread on a daily. No way. I’m syked! Some ladies are hosting a wEmusTgRoW Soiree.  It’s going to be lovely and I’m thinking a little better in terms of being in my element.  One thing I can’t complain about is that my merchandise sells pretty well on its own.  Without a spiel or any of that.  If you didn’t already know, I never make the same thing twice. So there is never like a PLETHORA (pardon me while I wear that word out today because i want to) of the same skirt or shirt or pants or …anything. With the exception of The Club Cutie and the Sol Sista Tees, nothing is  really duplicated the same way twice. If anything, that is the challenge. I’m not good at mass production because of my artistic A.D.D. everything must change and we must grow! Those that know me know that I have a story for EVERYTHING, and wE.musT.gRoW is no different.  I’m hoping this will give me opportunity to provide the background on the line, what it meant to be created and what it means to be worn, etc. etc. etc.  I love giving my people opportunity to try things on and experiment and actually sit down with time to design for them or chat with them about who they are and get a feel for what they need.  See, while I’ve never ventured to express this in relation to how I market myself, I will say here today that I am more of a “fashion intuitive”. I know, I know that sounds silly. But it’s true!  I meet women and I feel them out. I can tell certain things about them or they will tell me and from that I can intuit what energy they need to go into that dress or jacket or whatever that is in some way going to “give back” to them.  And I ALSO have to say that so far my track records been damn good! I’ve had a reluctant person or two in there somewhere that I had to throw a “trust me” at but in the end they were always the happy customer.  I am happiest when I am “fashion intuiting”.  It gives me the most, I give the most back, the piece that is birthed is its own and the wearer is always happy in the end.  My repeat customers give me creative license, and I love them most (i said it).  My new customers want to. Lol. In all seriousness, it means a lot for someone to trust you. It means more for a woman to trust me with their look and how they will present themselves to the world.  It means EVEN MORE when the outcome is a success!

Now I will say, that I thought it would be funny if I could come up with some wEmusTgRoW indoctrination techniques like Mary Kay because….have you ever been to one of those meetings??? They are (no disrespect Mary Kay people) like a CULT! I’ve never seen women get so excited to be a part of something like a Mary Kay team! They sing songs, and play games and the enthusiasm level is frightening! And women BUY IN TO THE DREAM!!!! But oh well. ….As much as I’d like to say I was ready to brainwash the group and be super dooper cheery jumpin around with wE.musT.gRoW chants and songs and things, I’m afraid I don’t have all of that. I’m very laid back.  …And I talk slow.  …And I move slow too. Thank gawd the clothing is colorful eh?!  What I do have is a bloody fantastic model, some fly wears and a whole nite to get the finishing touches put together.  Here’s to hoping that there is only pure satisfaction granted from this new approach tomorrow.

I will try to have some pictures soon.  Wish me luck! {Sorry this post was a little rushed.}

‘Takin some new strides in Studio5″.

~hk

….O is For the Only Oooone I See….

Nikki Giovanni

Today I figured I would post another poem I made mention of in our Loving Without Expectation Class the other day: ‘Seduction’ by Nikki Giovanni.  This may be as good a time as any to confess that I have a greater love for the written/read word as opposed to the spoken.  I found this poem when I was a teenager and fell in love with it.  For some reason after I thought about referencing Kahlil Gibrans ‘The Prophet’ this one popped in my head next.  “Hm! Lemme go back and read that one again!” I thought. It wasn’t an obvious choice, or so I thought. Of course revisiting the piece reminded me why it posed itself as such. Perhaps I should let you read it first: : : : . . . . . .

‘Seduction’

one day
you gonna walk in this house
and i’m gonna have a long African gown
you’ll sit down and say “The Black…”
and i’m gonna take one arm out
then you-not noticing me at all- will say “What about this brother…”
and i’m going to be slipping it over my head
and you’ll rap on about “The revolution…”
while i rest your hand against my stomach
you’ll go on-as you always do- saying
“I just can’t dig…”
while i’m moving your hand up and down
and i’ll be taking your dashiki off
then you’ll say “What we really need…”
and taking your shorts off
then you’ll notice
your state of undress
and knowing you you’ll just say
“Nikki …isn’t this counterrevolutionary…”

 *     *   *

Okay, I can’t lie.  What I love first about this piece is that the woman, imagining this encounter with her lover STARTS the poem by visualizing what she will be wearing when this moment arrives.  This happens to me often, so I can appreciate it and kinda have to laugh to myself (corny confession but hey, it’s true).  Seriously, what I love about this piece is that it’s a beautiful example of this woman imagining herself loving freely without expectation in addition to having a confidence and almost blatant disregard for whether or not her lover will reject or reciprocate her actions of  ’seduction’ .  …There is apparently some question of whether he will willingly give her his undivided attention or not and put down his other mistress if only for a moment.  …His other mistress being work, the cause, or in this case, the revolution.  Many of us have had those moments where we envisioned ourselves doing something BOLD to reclaim our power and look good doin it.  …Sometimes we acted, sometimes we didn’t and sometimes well, the vision probably had to suffice or was better than the actual moment in real life! It says so many things! It says, “these are MY feelings and I own them, proudly!”  She’s feelin’ herself, and that’s always fly. It’s a testimony to THE POWER OF A WOMAN!  …And women are  powerful beings, if you didn’t already know. Lastly it’s a stunning example of someone (her) showing strength and vulnerability at the same time and I don’t know about you but I always think that’s HOT. Seduction is beautiful. …It’s open, it’s honest, it’s an act of giving….it’s just the shyt and I think we’d all agree on that.

…As I was posting this, I’m afraid I got sucked into yet another Nikki G. poem that I figure we should save for another day. ..But you know it’s killin me inside to hold it until next time! Anywhoo. ….What are your thoughts on this one???

“…Conjurin’ up seductions of the mind in Studio5″. -hk

L is for the way……

Sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett

I know we haven’t gotten to my debriefing about the class, but I just happend to come across this today and felt like it was worth sharing! We should talk about this for a while because we don’t do that here very often.  Besides that, I think I’m on a reluctant mission that has been in my brain for a while to make some sort of contribution toward the movement of “making love cool again” because I don’t know about you but I think something shifted among the people.  But this excerpt from Iyanla Vanzants ‘Acts of Faith’ addressed much of what was addressed in the class. I figured we could all benefit from it therefore, I had to post….

How do you know when you are really in love?  First of all, you would not have to ask the question. Love is knowing, it is not a condition or state  of mind. When you are loving, you are not doubting, judging or fearing; you are in a state of acceptance.  You accept yourself first, for who and what you are, and then the person you love, without question.  You do not want to fix him, change him, control him or help him. You want for the person you love exactly what she wants for herself. When you are in love, you feel vulnerable and know that it is okay. You do not hide your feelings, change them to fix what you think the other person wants, and you do not question what you feel. When you are in love, you give, expecting nothing in return, not even love. Love is an inner process between you and yourself that you want to share with someone, everyone.  Love is free. If your quest is to own, control, hold on to, protect, or take care of someone, they cannot be free and you are not in love.  Love is never wrong, seldom right.  It just is.
 
Love is in the midst of me.
 
From Acts of Faith
by Iyanla Vanzant

* * * *  * * * * * * * * *

“Keepin’ the hearts alive in Studio5″. ~hk

The Art of Love…..Oh My!

Sonia Sanchez and Jasmine Guy at Spellman College

….Tomorrow evening I’m facilitating a group on The Art of Love: Loving Without Fear or Expectation at Phenomenal Woman.  Phenomenal Woman is a group that was formed by Imani Latif who runs a fantastic organization called It Takes a Village. They run various programs that serve many but I’ve been affiliated with the “PW’s” for almost TEN years now! Hard to believe, it’s a lovely group.  Being that it’s been around so long, many of the ladies have truly grown together (and apart I’m sure) for but for the most part it’s been all positive.  The group is always changing and growing.  Imani started this group specifically to cater to the emotional and physical health and wellness of black women.  …Uh…and she has always provided free dinner and free childcare and if you are a mama, you can’t beat that.   In addition to some good social time with adults.  It has been beneficial to many in more ways than there are really time to name and it was the first group I was able to develop my art therapy classes on! For years it has provided a place where black women can safely share and gather.  They meet every other week, the topics range from everything to money matters to…..to…… dating, to family and friend issues, to gardening…you name it.  Anywhoo, I’m syked that tomorrow evening I’m facilitating ‘The Art of Love: Loving Without Fear Or Expectation’ in order to address how well we do or don’t take care of our hearts.  …Oh , what a special little organ. The ways in which it serves us physically are…well, you know, SPLENDIFOROUS.  And the ways in which it serves emotionally are well, you know….even MORE SPLENDIFOROUS! So I’ll have to report back and let you know how it goes. But for now I’m going to leave you with one of my most favorite pieces of literature ever known to man.  …In my book anyway. It’s one of those works that one must not only have as a staple in their library, but REVISIT OFTEN:‘The Prophet’ By Kahlil Gibran.  So ahead of his time he was.  The book covers everything from love to work and friendships, knowledge of self and freedom.  I fell in love with this book in the 90′s and it never gets far.  Read on…enjoy….and feel free to comment. We’ll have to continue our discussion on The Art of Love and loving without fear and/or expectation. I would love to hear what you all have to share about such a topic. ‘Cause I know you got SOMETHIN’!!!!

Kahlil Gibran on Love

 When love beckons to you, follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams

as the north wind lays waste the garden.

 For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.

He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

 Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

******

Sigh….Gotta keep the love alive, in Studio5 (and beyond!)

It Ain’t Easy to B.Fly! Meet Artist Jackie Edwards

In 1996 Jackie Edwards moved back home to Anchorage, Alaska from Atlanta, started her first set of locks, saw the VIBE Magazine cover with Lauren Hill and knew she needed “a hat like that”. So she rediscovered her old yarn stash, made her first hat and out of loneliness started to blog.  Before she knew it she’d launched ‘Butta.Fly Wears’ and invited an unknown following into her world of loneliness, creativity, self-discovery and motherhood.  In 2002 I too joined the list of readers gaining a sense of camaraderie and eventually a friend.  Nine years after of an on-line friendship, we met in person for the first time in May and had to find an excuse to “talk art” ‘cause that’s what we do! Meet Jackie Edwards of B.Fly Wears’:  

AB: Tell me something about being an artist of color in Anchorage, AK.

JE: I don’t know if I want you to print this, but, it’s lonely. I’m sure there are other artists, but I really feel alone and out of place.  There’s a lot of creative people here, but they don’t reflect me.  Anchorage is very multi-cultural. But there is no black culture here.

AB: Is there a common response you generally get about your work??

JE: How colorful everything is and how that really draws them in. I think color is a great thing and can really transform somebody.

AB: Who or what would you say is your greatest enemy or ally in the creative process and who or what is your muse?

JE: I can be my own worst enemy. Sometimes I question if people will feel the work as much as I do.  If something doesn’t come together the way I see it in my head that can affect things or slow me down from finishing something. My kids are my muse!

AB: I love that!  I remember early on your kids were always your models and the first to get the dibs on “B.Fly Wears”.  They became such an important part of the tone of the blog.  What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself on this journey?

JE: That I can do anything if I put my mind to it.

AB: What’s been one of the hardest things to learn ABOUT the artist journey or about “the process” and the greatest reward? 

JE: The hardest thing about the process was that I wasn’t prepared for how much of the business side I was going to have to do. It’s really hard to maintain that balance.  I thought I’d make a few things and sell to a friend or two but you are constantly having to be out there, meeting people outside of your circle and I wasn’t expecting that.  Just TRYING the self-employment thing was a huge turning point in my life.

AB: Tell me some the ingredients of your work.

JE: Yarn, feel good, a happy bright color, good thoughts and love in every single stitch and in that process there is always a cup of tea involved.

AB: Describe “Butta.Fly Wears” style? What are some of the consistencies in your work?

JE: Butta.Fly Wears is all about being colorful, comfortable and stylish at the same time.  My ideal customer is somebody that’s not afraid to be different, daring and wants to be outside of the norm.  I put a lot of time and effort into the quality of the work, so the stitches will be on point so I spend a lot of time on the finishing of my work so what’s really consistent is the quality.  Unfinished work really gets under my skin.

AB: Give me a common frustration:

JE: Striving for perfection.

AB: You know I love the fact that we first met by me reading your blog.  You were one of the first bloggers I followed and you converted me into one. I like to say that you were blogging before blogging was cool.  But you had such a following. …Did you realize what you were doing?

JE: I just started blogging because I didn’t have any friends, and all my friends were out of state.  I didn’t expect anyone to find me or read my stuff. It was just a way to empty my thoughts out and just share what I loved and what I was passionate about.

AB: How has your work affected your children?  I think it’s so important for our kids to be familiar with our work and more importantly our daughters. They need to know we have these skills and be exposed to them.  You never know how it’s going to affect them.

JE: Yes. I’ve noticed a difference between my two daughters. With my oldest it was still a hobby for me and by the time I had my youngest who is now 8, I was in full business mode and had been selling online. I was crocheting everywhere I went. All my youngest daughter talks about is how she’s going to be a fashion designer and how she and her friends are going to open a dress shop!

aw...the miles were merely a formality.

AB: Are there other mediums you work in regularly?

JE: No, but quite a few that I really want to tackle.  I want to work more on combining the needle arts and fine art.  I love all needle arts but I’d love to get into some painting and spinning my own yarn.

AB: What is one of the greatest things about Alaska?

JE: It’s gotta be the scenery and the mountains! No other place has mountains like these and they are right smack in front of my house.

AB: …Except Colorado!

JE: I always felt like Denver was sort of the parallel universe to Alaska!

Etsy page: bflywears.etsy.com / Blog: Bflywears.wordpress.com / Twitter: Bflywears / Facebook: facebook.com/bflywears.com

Black Girls & Butterflies

One of my "Grow Girls" hard at work...

So I think you know I’m in the midst of the wEmusTgRoW Fashion Intensive with The Grow Gurlz.  I haven’t really had a chance to report back before today but it’s going well! So I also figure I’ll use the blog to post about some of the class goings on! Last week the girls had to design their own textile.  After they designed their own textile on paper and then transferred the image to fabric they had to write about the process and their experience creating it. I am doing all of the assignments with them as well.  So I figured I would post mine and my write up.  Many of them felt like they didn’t have THAT much to say about it so I’m also providing mine as one example. 

 

…Hence the reason we learn to talk about the details. And more importantly, WRITE about them.  Mine probably could have been longer because I talk a whole lot but here is my write up and my images around my experience with the textile project:

Sometimes you have jobs to do or orders to fill that you’re excited about until you start thinking about everything you have to do to get it done.  Then it’s not that you’re not still excited, but you’re LESS excited than you were before but there’s another part to it. …When you get motivated and start going through the motions to work on it, often you find yourself in this very focused and peaceful state of mind. After a while you are once again completely committed and devoted to its completion and making it the best it can be even if it’s going to require more than you planned to put in or even had the time to put in initially. 

The draft on paper....

When I first started sketching my idea on my pad, I thought it was a pretty cool one. As I progressed, I wasn’t sure but decided I would follow through with it and see what happened as opposed to changing it.  I transferred my images to my fabric on pencil by laying it over my sketch & tracing it.  I decided that instead of using pencils, markers or even crayons I would use acrylic paint.  I got concerned that the paint may absorb into the fabric too much & start to bleed which would mean my images could get blurry or fuzzy and my lines would not be precise, clean and clear.  I felt like I had a pretty good solution which was just to use a neutral colored paint to go over my images first, allow it to dry and then go over it with the actual colors. That way my second layer of paint would not bleed through or “run” and my lines would stay pretty clean.  I had to thin out my paint a bit in order to make my strokes flow easier on the fabric.  I love color and had used a lot of colors in this one as

the painting process...

well as some very small details like silhouettes with small noses and lips and things that I didn’t want to get lost. …By this time I was committed to the outcome anyway and wouldn’t have felt as good if I started cutting corners and I knew that.  My sketch was pretty good and now I needed to see if I could do that in a way I’d be happy with on fabric.

 After I got it all painted I had to go in and tighten up my lines and used my sharpie to create my black outlines as opposed to the paint brush which just wouldn’t have been able to give me as fine a line as I needed.  The name of my textile print is “Black Girls and Butterflies”.  I named it this partially because it was the first thing that came to mind and second because I love what butterflies represent: transformation.  They begin as one thing, cocoon, come out only to have evolved into this beautiful creature.  From a personal standpoint, I feel like it’s similar to the journey of being a black girl or just a girl or woman in general (but of course I’m a black girl so that is what I know).  It is a journey full of constant transformations, adjustments and changes.  It is a colorful and

The finished product....

colorFILLED experience that always involves some aspect of healing without fail.  Incorporating the blue butterfly was my symbol of healing.  Blue is a healing color.  The more I thought about it, I felt like it was even more relevant to our class group!  …A class full of little black girls that are in the midst of an experience that will change them in some way.  This is also true for me as a teacher.  In whatever way the change comes, it will ultimately contribute to our growth and development as artists and young women and no matter how that happens one thing we can all be sure of is that it will beautiful and contribute to our beauty. 

When A Little Bit Says A Lot

As we were exhiting the vehicle today, The Seed realized she had her umbrella on the floor of the car. ….Conveniently it was now raining as we began to unload and attempt to dodge raindrops….

Me: You’ve got your umbrealla and everything? You’re so prepared!

The Seed: Yeah! I’m a princess! Princesses are always prepared.

Me: Is that what it is? Man… I wish I was.

The Seed: Thats because you’re a Queen! …And Queens are never prepared.

. . . . .

…Kinda feelin’ like there is a strong element of truth to that statement.          Now, if she only knew how much.

‘I mean cause ….who am I? …thinkin i know somethin.                                                     In Studio5′.

 

~H.Kai

…your hungry, your tired, YOUR TEENZ!

On this episode of “days of our lives in Studio5″, artist Holly-Kai pushes through on the mission to recruit 12 teens to participate in the wEmusTgRoW Fashion Arts Intensive! E.mailing, facebooking and persuading parents to send their teens to experience some true empowerment via the heart, hands and mind. What else to do? Lets see what else I can tell you….  This class is an intensive, 3 hour days, 6 classes that would normally cost up to $400 or more, we’ve managed to bring the cost down to $150 for those with a machine and $250 for those that need one.  We have a beeeeeatiful facility that I am teaching the classes out of at the Urban Land Conservancy with some fly city feel that looks out street level to the Park Avenue West goings on with lovely plush chairs (perfect for sitting at your machine for long periods), fantastic wood tables, gigantic dry erase boards a pleasant staff and what else can I say?!

I love teaching. ….I adore teaching. I value not only the learning process for myself, but being able to teach others. This subject is especially near and dear to my heart simply because fashion designing was terribly important to me at such a young age.  And while my mom was supportive in purchasing all of the books I was determined to study by, I would have loved to spend my summer or after school time learning to sew or taking a design class. ….Instead I had to stay on a mission to suck all the information from any lil ol lady I could find and take advantage of any opportunity presented.  All of that to say, I’ve taken great care to make sure that we are able to indulge these young people by touching on as much as we can in this class time.  Some of the ideas we’ll explore are :  Lines and form . color and texture . finding your voice through fashion . Artistic Integrity . Dressing for body  types and occasions .   Fashion as language .  taking the fear out of trial and error .  Fashion history: trends, icons and  important african american designers .   Quality Control … Some of the activities we have lined up are: Photography . sketching & drawing . Learning your machine . sewing by hand . garment reconstruction & deconstruction . pattern reading . writing about fashion . fashion illustration . how to shop at the fabric store . styling, etc. etc. etc.!!!! I haven’t even gotten to our class visitors and guests!

If students cannot pay out of pocket, they have the option to seek out other individuals, businesses or organizations to sponsor them through the class.  One of the goals of this class is to make full scholarships available to at least three students that may not otherwise be able to afford to attend . In order to do this we are asking individuals, businesses and organizations to come together and donate anything they can to put toward their tuition costs.  This class would ultimately produce the first all black youth fashion design team in the Mile High City. 

By clicking this super cool lil button that says DONATE on this page, you have the luxury or donating whatever you can afford to give.  We’ll certainly keep you posted on the class progress, let you know who you helped and what was accomplished! Help us make this happen. ….Your tithe, I mean your donation will not be in vain and will be much appreciated by some young future designer.  Remember: …You don’t have to go all the way to Africa to donate and make a difference. …You can make a difference on your home turf.

So lets see how it goes, I’ll keep you all posted on our fundraising progress! So here goes nothin! …I mean somethin!!!!

( i can’t make my button work, so here is the link) Donate Now!

…hopin’ you’ll give lots of dimes in Studio5!

~hk

Vending 101….it’s a dirty job but….

Photo by Mandle Rousseau for the Mod.Villians

When I was 19…or 20 …hell, not 36, I registered my first business.  I had no idea what I was in for.  Still a college student at Emerson College, my only resource had been the SBA. While the SBA was full of beautiful people that believed in me and my goal and fed me on another level, they knew nothing about marketing ART WORK but it was here that my TRUE education would begin.  The pursuit or my bachelors in film was still goin’  on, but now I was going double duty getting my other degree in “Self Employment”.  I had nothing .  Okay well, nothing but a line of fine art prints that I’d worked two jobs the entire summer to  be able pay to publish under the notion that I, ME, MYSELF would distribute them single-handedly.  Now I had no idea how lofty some of this goal was, but in hindsight it’s best I didn’t.  Had I known how much this was going to require of putting the “internal me” on the table, I never would have moved forward.  But I did, and got them EARLY.  In this situation, ignorance was truly bliss and in hindsight chock full of some PRICELESS lessons in regard to the nature of self employment and more specifically being a self-employed ARTIST.  Learning the ins and outs of the market places or arts festivals provided me a serious classroom.  Not only was I figuring out what worked and didn’t, the best way to display my work or my favorite: how to get over feeling so naked while everyone examined your work that had been created from this very private, personal, isolated place.  ….Though I’ve gotten over it now, my body still can recall the feeling.  Eesh! 

 

Sometimes when doing arts festivals here, I’ve noticed people get really stressed out if the day does not grant them the desired result.   I admit, I kind of hate to hear people stress over this, not saying I don’t understand it.  Most times the situation doesn’t permit me time to respond with everything I’d like to say.  There are a few things I’ve learned over time that have helped make market places and festivals less of a monster.  Initially I was putting this out for a specific market place here but I figured it may be worth sharing.  …I know I had no “manual” and there was no facebook or even internet at the time so hopefully it will help someone else.  I’m sure I’ll be adding to this list later, but here are just a few brief things that may help other entrepreneurs and artists too.  Perhaps later we can get more in-depth…..: 

 

CREATE SOMETHING FRESH AND NEW TO SELL

Even if its only one thing amidst your regular inventory, create something new! I’ve found that it gives me some incentive and more motivation for the day of the event. Not to mention, something else to feature to my existing clients and another reason to reach out to them.

 

MARKET! MARKET ! MARKET!

Create your own flier to circulate!  If you don’t have one or are unable to have one made, utilize the materials the arts cafe (or any other organization) distributes.  While it is about us, it’s ultimately about YOU getting the sales and traffic that you need for that day.  It also doesn’t hurt to send out your own press releases about yourself, who you are, what you do and that you can be seen at the Saturday Arts Cafe. While we do have an obligation to market this event we don’t know everyone! This cafe is marketed by one person and another reason why you are able to get space for the low, low price of $35. ….This cafe (and any other market place or show) is nothing without a little collective work and responsibility.

 

 

REACH OUT TO YOUR EXISTING CLIENTEL, SUPPORTERS, FAMILY & FRIENDS

This cafe was designed to support those without a regular storefront or location to consistently show their work. Let “your people” know where you are going to be for the month so that they may stop by and support ! Because they are already fans of yours or family, they will be most inclined to not only attend, but possibly bring you new clientel.

 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GALLERY TIME OFFERED

All participants in the arts cafe may use an hour in the beautiful Cousins Gallery if they choose at no additional cost.  Workshops are a great way to allow people to get up close and personal to you and what you do.  You can give a lecture or talk about your work or a particular piece, demonstrate a how-to, teach a short class, PERFORM, you name it!  SHOW people what you do and/or open up their minds to something new! …They will thank you for it.

 

KEEP AN E.MAIL LIST AT YOUR BOOTH

You probably already have one but if not, invest in a small notebook and keep a pen handy to track your traffic, what products someone was interested in or to simply remain connected to those that visit your booth.  When you add them to your database be sure to make a note of where you met them.  It may not be that same day, but eventually you may gain a new customer.

 

CREATE PURCHASE INCENTIVES

It never hurts to put one item on special for the day or send a coupon to “your people” via e.mail before the event for them to use on a purchase the day of!

For example: “20% off my bracelets at the arts cafe” or “$5 off your purchase of $25 or more”!  If you want to take it one step further, offer some freebies! Do you have small inexpensive items like, buttons, key chains, a magnet, etc??? Offer one of your freebies with the purchase of another item or discounts for referrals!  You can even be creative and offer something like a free chocolate chip cookie “with the purchase of” to the first 5 people that stop by! ….Whatever you like!

 

BRING SOMETHING TO DO

Time is money and money is time. So if you have to be in one spot for five hours, make sure its a win win for you by bringing something to work on while your there to ensure it’s time well spent.  That way when things are slow, you’re not really losing time because it’s allowed you time to work and what you’re working on can often serve as a conversation piece to passers-by.  Art is an automatic ice breaker many times. This cafe is about educating patrons on the  process involved in making art.  Don’t just do what you do, SHOW what you do so that people also get educated on the work that goes into making your product.  Sometimes gaining greater understanding of the process can be a major selling point and help someone to have a greater respect for your craft. 

 

PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE

I’ve been doing festivals and market places for about 12 years now.  One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes you make lots of money and sometimes you make none.  It doesn’t mean it was anything did or didn’t do, had or didn’t have. It helps to accept that we don’t know everyone’s financial situation (especially these days) or decision-making processes when it comes to purchasing, we can only hope that at the end of the day it worked in our favor. But above all, we must accept that it comes with the territory in this business. Sometimes I ask myself this before I agree to do it: “Will I be okay if I don’t at least make my money back that I put in?” And if the answer is “No”, I don’t go.  This is also a perfect time to get reacquainted with the saying, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game”.  Did your booth look nice? Did you have a good time? Were you organized and prepared? Did you make some good connections? Get good response to your work? Sometimes these things count as a win just as much as a financial gain (but I know the $$$ helps!).

 

 

FOLLOW UP

After the event is over, and you’ve given them something to remember you by (even if it’s just a good business card) most of us know the work doesn’t stop there.  Send a follow-up e.mail to the new names added to your e.mail list letting them know that you appreciate them stopping by and they are now on your e.mail list. Use the list to keep them involved in what you’re doing and keep yourself on THEIR radar. 

 

~Good Luck

Makin the buck

and continue to strive

….in Studio5 ~

 

 

It ain’t the 10 commandments but….

The Mod.Villian Mistress of Ceremoniez

Most of the people that know me know I am an artist that hates titles.  It was over ten years ago now that I admitted to myself that I was not only in love with art, but the process of making art.  It didn’t matter what art form it was, all of them intrigued me so I made the decision to begin to study everything.  I learned cake decorating, studied ballet, learned to knit and crochet….I was busy.  I work in various mediums,  do many things: Design: fashion, interior, graphic. Photography, mixed media, FUNKtional art, make-up, painting (acrylic & oil) cake decorating.  Community Organizing: cultural, artistic, educational, social….. and a B.A. in communications with an emphasis in Film. 

I may have mentioned that it took many years for me to not view my eclectic mix of skills as a handicap, but rather an asset.  Finally at this age there is only one title I am completely comfortable claiming and that is the title of “The Mod.Villian”, as in the Modern Day Vaudevillian.  The story of the Mod.Villians is a long one that I’ll save for later.  But for now suffice it to say a Mod.Villian is defined as follows: One that is committed to restoring tradition and excellence that has been lost;  One who utilizes every opportunity & various mediums and tactics to create; often wears face make-up to redefine what is beautiful and celebrate what is unique; Dedicated to fulfilling their life’s mission devoting themselves to individuality, art, activism, discipline, precision, innovation and elevation.  Founded in 2007, Mod.Villians defined the term “ARTivism” branding themselves as “ARTivists”.  Mod.Villians live by their own rules and ideas.  Mod.Villians are not religious, but spiritual.  …Mod.Villians are limitless beings with their own LIVE-style.  Below are “the rules” that the Mod.Villians live by better known as ‘The Mod.Villian Creed’.  After I read it to my girlfriend, she demanded a copy. …Then she demanded a URL for it.  So now I share it with you today.  It ain’t the 10 Commandments, but then again, why should it be? ~From the Mod.Villian Mistress of Ceremoniez: That’s ME.

The Mod.Villian Creed ( I )
Make a joyful noise unto your lord in EVERYTHING that you do.
Respect nature.
Judge no one.
Be honest with yourself.
Respect yourself.
Celebrate your gifts.
Celebrate your mind, body and spirit.
Don’t bore God.
Love your weaknesses.
Celebrate your strengths.
Sit at the feet of the children.
Tell stories.
Have stories told to you.
Respect each others time.
Unlearn your “I Mentality”.
Strive to top no one but yourself.
Never repeat yourself (figuratively speaking).
Strategize first, act second.
Grow a little, or a lot ALL WAYS.
 
Written by “The Mod.Villian M.istress of C.eremoniez”,
Holly-Kai Hurd c.2010

Feel free to download a copy for yourself. Happy 2011

"TRUST" N'Vira Mentalz w/The Mod.Villian Mistress"

Gimme My License! …Creative License That Is

[So we're going to proceed as though I've not, NOT blogged for ages. And you know I get bloggers guilt, mhm.] SO this is a jacket I worked on last week. Finally, some fashion talk right?! The Eco-Activist B.Boy, Cavem Motivation came to me the other week seeking out some customization in his wears for a performance.  His style sense is very unique and eclectic in general.  …B.Boy, classic, Afrikan, punk rock, you name it he rocks it all.  The “fashion mash-up” is no easy feat but I must say he is one person that always manages to pull it off successfully. 

The best part of any project is when people are willing to give you creative license.  Personally I think the results are always better when they do.  Still, I never take for granted the “gift” of creative license.  I know it’s not easy to pay someone and trust that what they come back with will be an accurate representation of you or simply to your liking.  Don’t mistake it, I appreciate some direction: “…What do you want the piece to do? What do YOU do? Is it for anything specific? How do you want to feel? Let’s talk body type? Color?”  When it gets to the point where people start trying to tell YOU how to make something, well….lets just say it can go from spiritual work to grunt work in a matter of seconds!   I’m pleased to report that here I was granted full CREATIVE LICENSE.

In the past one of my favorite things to do was funk-out old blazers.  Primarily by stitching the word GROW on the back in various prints and textures.  It started as my modern-day wEmusTgRoW version of the letter jacket.  You may have heard me reference my artistic A.D.D. before: I make something a few times, then its on to the next.  Unless there is a photo of the piece sitting in front of me at all times, it’s very easy for things to get lost in the  “outta sight outta mind” pile or amidst one of the many files in my brain.  In other words, it had been four years since I’d played with the blazers.  So when Ietef {Cavem Motivation} requested a GROW blazer, I was happy! After all it was time for me to revisit the blazer again and apparently this was a sign.  Throw in some creative license which is the monotany-free guarantee and its that much sweeter!

Being that I was revisiting a past design, I didn’t want to simply do the same old simple “GROW” on the back. It COULDN’T have the same old simple “GROW” on the back.  It had to be different.  After four years, I’m different right? So, ya know we have to keep it fresh.  So this time I recycled some leather, still used the letters, but thought I’d venture out and insert my “Fist Tree” in place of the letter “O”. 

I admit, I was a little scared.  I based the fist off of an image I’d found but still had to do some tweaking and freestyle the tree roots and things. One false snip, and it could have been all bad. You can’t really pin leather to wool or glue it so I just had to trust that it would stay in place, that nothing would shift under Kenny’s foot (Kenny is my machine), or pucker or bubble or anything like that.  Having to pick out stitches from wool and leather would have been nothing short of a nightmare!!! BUT….the risk I took.  We must grow right?!  Like walking on egg shells I stitched the Tree Fist first.

[INTERNAL THOUGHTS] …Get the hardest part out of the way first right? Stitch one finger….two fingers! Don’t get the lining caught under the stiches!…three fingersss!….(dare i get excited??) FOURTH FINGER STITCHED!!! Watch the lining! Then the letters:  Red thread, black thread? green thread? Red, black and green thread? Too much, too crafty, too cheesy, stay red. It represents the blooood…the lifeline. Yeah yeah, red it is. DAMNIT! The lining got caught! Somebody get the seam ripper! pick…pick…pick…sigh…pick, and we begin again.  Last letter! …..and….W…done!!!! That’s it?! That was almost too easy! Amazing! …And it stayed in place? Fear conquered.

GROW =because we must and TREE FIST =because while we must grow, our roots hold a lot and are signficant to our growth process in a multitude of ways. …”Ancestrally” speaking as well as individually.  Our foundation is what holds us up and is the beginning of any and everything.  How we think, how we see ourselves and how we ultimately move in the world.   The fist for strength.  It requires strength to GROW, and certainty, and trust in the process and the outcome.  If we’re talking about it being or affecting more than one then it requires a “solidarity” of sorts.  Last but not least….being that he is the “Eco-Activist B.Boy”, the word is something of a double entendre as it applies to him (I love that word!). Not only wEmusTgRoW in the spiritual sense, but hEmusTgRoW in the literal sense being that much of his work is dedicated not only to music, but to growth and sustainability in the green movement.  …As in literally growing things (i.e. community gardens, etc.). In addition to all of this, he recently married and had a baby…You see where I’m going with this? I think you do.

Overall, I must say the leather was very nice to me! It did what I asked of it! But I then I was calling on the assistance of the “Grow Gods” before I started.  I think they came through.  And THAT ladies and gentlemen is how the “wEmusTgRoW TreeFist Jacket” was born.

“…Keepin’ the fashion love alive in Studio5″.

-h.kai

If you are interested in a wEmusTgRoW jacket of your own, you may find them posted sometimes on my web site otherwise feel free to e.mail me at: wemustgrow.boutique@gmail.com.   

For more info about Cavem Motivation and/or the green movement check out:http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/MOETAVATION
http://www.reverbnation.com/c./poni/7286357
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdjcavem.dragonheadmusic.com%2Fabout%2F&h=5843e
http://DJCAVEM.COM

“So. …When did you first fall in love with Hip Ho– I mean Art?”

There's a story behind this pic..... ***

My oldest sister may be the first artist I’d ever known. …As kids I don’t remember her doing much else besides drawing.  She could not have been more than 11 or 12 but she was brilliant.  Very much a child herself, even then she drew with an advanced level of intensity and focus.  …As if she were some place you could never get to.  You could only wonder.  She was a typical oldest sister {there is another sister between us} : She had her own room, all of her toys and “trinkets” were immaculate and in perfect condition and IN TACT.  She never lost the pieces to anything.  You didn’t dare ask to borrow or play with any of  her things and I never dared interrupt her creative moments.  She was so engaged.  You had to ask the question, “Can I get in there?”  I respected her unspoken boundaries and kept my distance but she could not stop me from observing.   She was meeean and most times as you can imagine being the little sister, I was an inconvenience.  She and my other older sister were two peas in a pod, just a year apart until one fateful day, I came along …”the surprise”, 4/5 years later after they’d solidified their own connection.

 

"One of my sisters pieces age 13 in the corner she wrote: Done in the presence of Sidra (her friend) in gym 6/8/1983 Last day of school"

Her illustrations were not your average childs drawings with stiff, straight lines or boxy figures, no…   Mostly female subjects, they had movement and flow, with cool hairstyles and a very dainty but strong quality about them.  She could create proportioned bodies and profiles and shade!  …She could even use pastels! Which, at the age of 11 or 12 is no small feat.  Finally I could not maintain my distance any longer, temptation was too great.  I had to get me some of what she got and more importantly experience that place she kept going to.  I finally got the gumption to ask the big question: “…Will you teach ME how to draw???”  Thankfully she didn’t eat me, chew me up and spit my remains onto the floor, but just as I thought she might, she met me with a very nonchalant, “No”.  Somewhere in there I resorted to the plea but it got me nowhere and only annoyed her more.   Until one day….. ”The Regulator” came to my rescue: My Mama.  I don’t remember whether or not I told on her or whether she overheard my sister shoot me down hard for the “umteenth time”, but her message to my sister was clear and stern “TEACH YOUR SISTER HOW TO DRAW!”  As you can imagine she was not happy about the involvement of The Regulator, however to my benefit she was now forced to comply.  …You NEVER challenged the regulator unless you had a death wish so begrudgingly she accommodated.  …Now don’t think she went out of her way or anything, she didn’t.  But she did enough I guess. So she taught me how to trace.  That was how she taught herself to draw certain things.  Then freehand and then I just decided I would just copy everything she did.   …Again, can you spell ANNOYED?  But I didn’t care.  I was on a mission.

She would draw the most creative things, the coolest people and the prettiest women.  My drawings were weak attempts next to hers.  They never matched up and of course I expected them too.  They were still the drawings of a 6 year old while hers were equivalent to the drawings of a 20 year old.  Nonetheless I kept trying. 

All that remains: One of my copy cat attempts of her Eeork Women. On the left is one of my later sketches age 10 {ironicially crafted on my b.day 1985}

Then one day she created something that would change everything.  …It was like the mother load.  It elevated her to genius status and it was thee most creative thing I thought I ever bore witness to.  It was the creation of, and my introduction to THE EEORK WOMEN: Beautiful shapely (but not overly) Glamazons with some serious fashion sense that arrived on spaceships from the planet Eeork.  They were not jovial characters, they were stoic  but pleasant and appeared content and self-assured and last but certainly not least, they had antennas!  Not having the words at that age, I was in awe.  Dumbfounded. ….Overcome with excitement and joy!  SOLD!  I was a believer and in that moment I think the confirmation switch was flipped: …This would be my new religion.  I could not comprehend how she could have possibly dreamt up such a thing. Who? What? Where, where why how???  To her it was nothing.  …Like it was just all in a days work.  To me it was everything and unbeknownst to her she became my artistic Sheroe.  …Meanness and all.  I would still participate in the periodic sisterly spats and bickering, attempt to hold my own.  Quiet as kept, even in retaliation mode I secretly admired her, but never would have told her that.  I couldn’t really compete here either.  I never won our verbal fights.  She was cunning and linguistically clever for a 12 year old and knew words that gave her an advantage like …”Peon”. 

My shadowing progressed.  When folks would ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up she’d say, “An artist”.   So naturally when folks would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I’d say, “An artist!” {of course}.  I jacked the Eeorks a couple of times: Impressing my elementary school teachers with these imaginative glamazons they thought I was responsible for dreaming up.  I read her diaries. …Pardon me, I STUDIED her diaries.  She was a fantastic writer.  Her handwriting was a like that of a professional scribe (we come from penmanship divas too ;D) and more important to me than the secrets she was telling in there? Was the way in which she told them.  So plain.  So “tangible” and real, like a conversation but that’s another story.  Thankfully the older I got, I began to assume my own identity and took more interest in what the women in the drawings were wearing and was no longer under the influence of the Eeorks.  So by fourth grade I decided I would begin my “career” as a wedding dress designer and finally stopped trying to become my sisters clone but even still it was the Eeorks that were instrumental in leading me to fashion.  So I sold my fashion sketches at school: Signed, an HH Collection, w/date and time of creation thank you very much.

Page 1: The BBP: Lil Holly meets the Eeorks for the first time, my recreation. 3/2010

This month I became part of The Black Book Project: Where a collective of artists that do not know each other are broken up into groups of 3 and each group is to share one “black book”. Each artist contributes their piece and mails it to the next artist for them to do the same and so begins the rotation.  The pieces can be anything: drawings, collages, three-dimensional stuff whatever you feel.  The last year or two for me have been specifically about paying homage to my 9+ year old self, having some conversations with her and granting her some acknowledgement on some things.  Age nine was no joke.  She mapped this master plan out long before Holly-Kai did if that makes any sense.  My sister??? My sister did not opt for a career in the arts.  As she got older, she drew less and less.  Now she’s a therapist.  As an adult she is still not the warmest, most expressive or affectionate human being.  Maybe that’s why Hallmark is like her best friend.  …I think she’s a preferred customer or something.  Once or twice in birthday cards, her handwritten messages have referenced her admiration for my determination to do my own thing. …We come from a family of supporters of art or closet artists.  …People that made sure we were educated and exposed to the arts.  Not people that opt to make art their bread and butter…or advocate anyone else venturing to do so for that matter, ha.  So I decided to give my Black Book Project pages up to young Holly and my sister. 

Recreating: My sisters nonchalant reaction to my extreme excitement over the Eeorks. Done 3/2010

In my opinion there are a few sad parts to this story.  One being, I don’t think she ever felt like she was as brilliant as she is and has always been.  To this day, after being affected by many artistic influences, I still regard her as one of the greatest artists I’ve ever known despite the fact she hasn’t created any artwork in EONS.  …That’s saying something. I think she stopped making art with the exception of decorating her photo albums after she was in her twenties.  In fact, this past year, I asked her if she still had one of her Eeork drawings. I’d been thinking about documenting the process before now.  I was shocked when the answer was no being that many of her keepsakes are still in a trunk in my mamas garage (as our many of our things).  In fact she almost seemed surprised that I expected her to have them.  I was sad.  ….And two that she doesn’t realize all of this, is because of her. She was the conduit, the inspiration, the connector. …The person that introduced me and was instrumental in me falling in true, total, unhealthy, consumable love with Art via the planet Eeork and it’s inhabitants.

…Sigh. …Such is life I suppose.  One moment, shapes and molds an entire life.  I wonder how different the journey would have been had she not been the sister I was gifted.  But perhaps for now I should revel in the fact that thankfully, I don’t have to.  She IS therefore, I AM.  Give thanks.

…Contemplatin’ LIFE all up in Studio5. 

{And did I mention happy to be back with you again ?!

Love and beeeeeams of light.

h.kai

 

* * * The picture at the top  was some random photo love from my friend Dena D. She just happend to post this pic on my page while I was in the midst of working on this and had just finished my stuff for black book. She was and is unaware, but the striking thing about the photo is that it’s like an excellent interpretation of the Eeork women LIVE.  The dress, the stripes, the landscape, her alien quality, everything! It was perfect.  A perfect irony if you will. love it.

The Warm Up……

I promise my absence was for good reason, not due to my flakey-ness which does arise periodically. ….But don’t worry, I didn’t let it affect you….. So for now, let’s celebrate with some Diana! I missed ya’ll!!!!! I’m ready to talk fashion and bore you with all of my random stories!!!  I think I need you guys! I think….you…complete me. LOL! For now, the fact that I’m back on the blog is nothing more than a celebratiooooon!!!!!

Last nite my friend in NY posted this clip of Kelis performing at this club there.  Its not Diana but I’m this one too because it’s FUUUN! It starts out a little rough, but you feel like you’re in there and I like Kelis but I gotta give it to her she gives it up!!!! Let’s go to the club for a few minutes! I’ll let you buy me a drink so we can celebrate my happy blog return. ….Wait, no…hold on… you got some lipstick on your teeth. …yeah, right there. You got it!!!!  Let’s go! 

…Now say it isn’t live in Studio5!!!!!

Happy to be back!!!!!!!!

 

h.kai

Puppies are cute. This, is CRUCIAL.

THe Mod.Villians

Some of you don’t need any context for the subject matter today but many of you will. …Fear not. I won’t forget about you. In fact I promise to back track and provide the necessary context but I’m afraid there is a slight urgency to post this one first.

On February 20th , The Mod.Villians are hosting The 1st ToT.Tillion of 2010: A Formal “A’Flair” for children and families. I am confident it will be a party like no one has experienced to date. …At least not in this particular community. ToT.Tillion is a word I mashed up to illustrate a formal party, or ball being held for all children and/or ToTs, (though all ages are welcome) in which we all show up in our best most fashionable and imaginative wears. Unlike some other kid party places, the objective of this party is to not “dumb down” children while entertaining them at the same time. In other words providing them intelligent fun that can be enjoyed and edu-taining (as opposed to merely tolerated) by parents as well. One of Denver’s top DJ’s will be spinning the hippest kids music ever, a phenomenal vocalist / musician Natasha Renee is creating a special performance for children, as well as a magician, activities, games and Lillia, The Mod.Villian for the Children.

If you’ve not gathered by her name, Lillia stands for all things children. She is similar to, but different from an advocate, she is their voice, a conduit, a go between, the middle man, the liason between the children and adults. She does not merely stand for their causes she listens to them, represents them against the adults and tells them what they have in turn asked her to communicate to them. What we never said was that this letter you are about to read was not a letter. …It was a transmission. …A transmission from the energies of children and other advocates for children from the past, present and future titled: ‘The Children’s List of Demands’.

When this letter was distributed, many did not read it. …Understandably so, it’s long, but it was all information that was requested be shared so we still took the chance and as always figured the ones that were ready would read and those that were not well,……wouldn’t and that’s okay too. This letter was a call to action. Not a letter asking people to help US start these projects but asking THEM to start these projects throughout the community however they wanted to -but making it their own, independent of The ModVillians.  

 A select few read it and were in support, while some others sent back some “Amens!” and others were ready to begin the work. But then there was a large group of people that thought it was “cute”. They disregarded the fact that this letter was not some fictional story, not a way to market an idea, a transmission. …Messages from places unknown transmitted to the here and now, to the living. Messages demanding our accountability to our children in a not so typical way {at least as it relates to THIS community}. I provide this introduction to say this: The letter was not meant to be cute people nor should it be absorbed that way. If anything it should be absorbed as crucial. The letter was not from us, the letter was not from Lillia, we just knew that you needed it delivered in “digestible package”. …But I’m not sure that worked. The letter was real. I am publishing this letter again here. Perhaps I should have titled it: “The Spirits List of Demands FOR the Children Give these MF*ers WhatThey Want or else they will keep Hounding me / us with their feet on my neck day and night, day and night, day and night until the work is done!!!!”.

…How you think they woulda liked them apples?

………… Without further delay, here is the letter and may I say in advance THANK YOU for reading, YOU ROCK and YOU ARE A TROOPER .  Hopefully you’ll be around for my “back track” post: ‘The People With Their Feet on My Neck’:

The Children’s List of Demands : I

Words transcribed by ‘Lillia : The ModVillian’ as told to her by the children. .  . ModVille, Colorado .  .  .modvillians@gmail.com .    

January 21, 2010

Dear Community,

Sometime ago, back in 2007 I was elected the high honor by the children, as one of their many spokespersons.  A spokes person of a different kind but spokes person just the same.  As you may have already taken note, I am Lillia The Mod.Villian {pronounced mod.ville.ee.en} for The Children: Meaning I am no different from you only I consider myself a modern day Vaudevillian.  A storyteller of sorts utilizing various methods or mediums to communicate with you:  the people. Most times these mediums are used as “An Activism” for a cause.  In ModVille ‘The Cause’ is: US.  My cause is The Children.  The Children that are often written off as mere children that are now feeling an urgency to be thought of as individuals for whom decisions are not simply being made for but whom decisions are being made about.

 It is I, the youngest Mod.Villian that has been gifted the heavy but crucial task of relaying to you The Children’s periodic list of demands when there are some.  …And there will be many.  Many of the previous demands have long been lost among the rubble that is “piecefully” becoming our lives.  You already know that society is becoming more fragmented by the second and in turn, giving birth to even more fragmented minds, bodies and spirits.  So it is with tremendous urgency and sincerity that I come to you now with some very simple requests from The Children: those past, present and future powerful, young lives that are already, who they will be.  …Not to mention who we once were.  And if you know who you once were I don’t need to tell you the importance of the child mind and child energy.  I know these demands may seem strange, but after the experience of reading this letter is over, I’m only asking that you not discredit them.  …After all, that will cost you nothing. 

 The Children have requested we increase our travel time to their world.  They have grown tired of merely being accommodated at many of your adult events.  They want events all their own and have agreed in turn to make accommodations for you at such functions.  They are requesting events for them and about them.  They are more than grateful for things like summer camps and after school programs, reading time at the library…  Now they want more.  This list of demands is not entirely new.  The Children still want responsibility and to be busy.  They want art, culture, history, knowledge, family stories and of course you.  They also want EDUtainment for everyone from the babies to the teenagers that their parents can enjoy with them.  They are no longer interested in feeling like entertainment specifically for them is only available in neighborhoods outside of their own.  That entertainment may be for children, the problem is that it’s often not about these children.  Ultimately the presentation of this list asks that we remain mindful of the fact that we are in fact teachers however, now The Children are demanding our submission as their students. 

 The Children have requested the following:

• A Kwanzaa Play and/or Children’s Theater Group: for them to star in every year written for them and about them that they may “grow up in” and perform every year until the first children that performed it have become adults.  …And they want it to be a GOOD one with simple creative costumes that the community comes together to bring to fruition with music and a message.
• A Children’s Choir: reminiscent of the Boys Choir of Harlem or Up With People that can teach them skill, discipline, help them discover their passion and most importantly, enable them to begin traveling and seeing the world NOW from a young age so they may begin to understand that the world extends far beyond their back yards but is just as accessible.
• A Dance Troupe : of some sort that performs regularly around the city or the neighborhood.
• A Film Festival or Series: Where parents and children can come together to watch a short film or episode weekly or monthly for the babies as well as tweens and even teens that allows them to socialize with other children and parents to socialize with other parents.  Especially Mothers with young children.
• A Baby Book Club/Book Swap: Where books may be read, shared, traded or even discussed.  There can be many groups that accommodate various ages from the babies on up.
• A Child Friendly Party:  That is entertaining for small children and the adults who care for them as well as educational. A party with positive images and formal attire that makes them feel like royalty.  That makes their families feel like royalty.  Because when we feel like royalty, we act royal.  The Children say they want and need to begin socializing and meeting one another now.  …Growing up and made aware of one another now.  There are important partnerships and friendships that are in need of being formed among them as well as among their parents and families.
• A Renaissance School: For them to no longer just participate in the usual arts and crafts but to study the great artists now, learn technique now as well as manners and trades.  A school to be held in the summer time or during vacations that introduces them, regardless of age, about writing, painting, drawing, dance, fashion, etiquette, money management and more.

 They are asking that we creatively bring these things to life and that these things remain consistent and/or serve as models for others to then expand on as creativity is contagious.  Lastly, The Children thought you may express concerns about the financial support that is often required to carry out such activities and asked that I remind you that money is a formality here.  These groups can be started among families, in churches, in basements, in apartments, in rooms.  It is what comes from them that is most important.  They also ask that I remind you these projects are no different from any other in that they too have the potential to grow into a major source of cooperative economics for those that may agree to innovatively take on one or some of the aforementioned demands.  ….So long as the intention is not lost.  They said that you need not forget that each of you has something you can teach a child though you may not be a “licensed teacher”.  …And that even if you do not,  you know someone that does: Organize.

On February 20^th we, The Mod.Villians have committed to beginning the process of chipping away at this list with the ‘ToT-Tillion’: A Cotillion of sorts for “little people”.  The 2010 Tot-Tillion will celebrate children, imagination, family, individuality and promote confidence, education and of course love.  We hope that you will show your support in whatever way you can.  Perhaps that means simply sharing this letter with another.  If nothing else I’m hopeful that it means you stand in solidarity with our cause and our mission.  Perhaps you are thinking this is not relevant to you either because you are not a parent or maybe you don’t come in contact with The Children much.  You could not be more wrong.  In fact there is not a single soul this list of demands is not relevant to.  It is relevant to all of our futures and it is relevant to all of our pasts.  Your child self does not leave and The Children will not just appear one day to care for you in your old age.  The Children are here now, to care for you now and to begin the process of learning to do so now.  …And if you let them, The Children will teach you now but you must believe in them.  …Find the strength and power in humility and they will believe in you.  We have entrusted too much responsibility to “outsiders” like the school system.  Many of these responsibilities they know nothing about and are not equipped to teach simply because they are things that only WE can.  And now The Children are holding us accountable for that and will not rest until we comply.

 We cannot complain about The Children and expect them be involved and thrive as of a certain age.  We must bring them into the world that way: Working.  Doing their child work of discovering, learning, teaching, playing, growing, developing, intuiting and especially absorbing.  We can no longer try to make our world, their world because we are either too lazy to explore theirs or place too much importance on our own.  This is terribly unfair and often creates less than desirable results.  It’s time to be accountable to the idea that we must literally create a world(s) that facilitates but protects their growth process.   …A world or community that is to children what a greenhouse is to plants.  A world that strengthens them until they are ready to be planted firmly in the world elsewhere with strong roots.  These tasks ahead should not be looked upon as obligations or inconveniences but rather “permittable escapes”. 

 Please honor “these people”.  They are tired, and often born into the world weary. And that’s wrong.  They have given you so much. They give you so much.  They want to give you so much more. 

 The time you have spent reading this letter has been a gift and for it I thank you.

 

Lillia The ModVillian for The Children

I AM Lillia, The Mod.Villian for the Children.

Dedicated to individuality, art, activism, discipline, precision, constant elevation, innovation and all things children.

 I AM an ARTivist.

 …A disciple of ARTivism. 

Preparation …

Preparing 4....

Presented by {Lillia the Mod.Villian for the Children}

as well as the rest of ...{The Mod.Villians}

 Because:

“…The Children have requested that we take more frequent trips to their world.  They have grown tired of merely being accommodated at many of your adult events.  They want events all their own and have agreed in turn to make accommodations for you at such functions.  They are requesting events for them and about them.  They are more than grateful for things like summer camps and after school programs, reading time at the library…  Now they want more.  This list of demands is not entirely new.  The Children still want responsibility and to be busy.  They want art, culture, history, knowledge, family stories and of course you.  They also want EDUtainment for everyone from the babies to the teenagers that their parents can enjoy with them.  They are no longer interested in feeling like entertainment specifically for them is only available in neighborhoods outside of their own.  That entertainment may be for children, the problem is that it’s often not about these children.  Ultimately the presentation of this list asks that we remain mindful of the fact that we are in fact teachers however, now The Children are demanding our submission as their students”. 

–Excerpt from ‘The Childrens List of Demands’ transcribed by Lilia The ModVillian For the Children on behalf of the children.

…Feelin the ARTivist vibes in Studio5.

-h.kai

 

 

…The Interim….

work .

…I’m still here! My days have just been running together, pulling multiple unhealthy all-niters trying to play catch up and jumpstart a couple of new projects, teaching and of course my full-time job: mothering!  I really did have to take a minute after the death of Teddy P. …I know it may seem silly but I was really sad!  A little re-evaluation was in order.  But I gave him a lovely send-off  tribute, snatched up my mammas record player and the vinyl, brought it to my house, poured Teddy P. some gin, lit some candles and heard Teddy in a different way. 

…Now I’m back and thought I’d just post some of my favorite YouTube moments ’cause you know I love me some YouTube.  Also, we haven’t covered much fashion here lately –you know i get on my rants and start babbling about my random stories but I’ve got some goodies to share here as soon as my “catch up” is official.  So in the meantime in the spirit of getting us back on the topic of fashion, here is a very brief lovely interview with the late Yves Saint Laurent on black models, a clip featuring the work of one of my favorite BADASS innovative, theatrical, dramatique! models, Pat Cleveland and I suppose we may as well throw in some of the late Donyale Luna {who oddly enough wanted to be recognized as anything but black, still beautiful to watch} and hell for good measure we should add some of the late great model and business woman, Naomi Sims.

..Enjoy!

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…Keepin’ the love alive in Studio5…