Deviation: Winter 2019 by DAMchic Magazine

DEVIATION

WINTER 2019

D E V I AT I ON Letter from the editor: In this issue, we explored the concept of deviation and how deviating from the norm manifests itself within the people, places, and fashion that surrounds us. When creating this issue, each writer, photographer, and director interpreted the concept of deviation differently, and we encouraged each one to follow their own path. To some, deviation meant taking risks. The team travelled to far and wide, from Joshua Tree in Southern California to the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy. Photographers shot in water, through glass, at sunrise and in the dead of night, each in hopes of capturing an image that has never been seen before. Others searched for deviation and found it among the people that view and experience the world differently. They discovered untold stories of designers, athletes, cyborg activists, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and more. That being said, pushing every team member to do something completely unprecedented created a challenge. It was crucial to stay cohesive but at the same time stay unique. When combined, these ideas came together to form an unexpected narrativeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Deviation Winter â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19 presents the beauty and hardship of individuality, the difficulty in remaining authentic as well as the reward that comes with embracing who you are.

P H O T O BY N E O G OBE RT

With each edition, DAMchic continues to take steps in the right direction: collaborating with new clothing brands and designers, featuring students with a variety of interests and backgrounds, and continuing to tell stories of the world through fashion. I am so impressed by the time and effort put forth by the DAMchic team in tackling our most challenging issue yet. Each individually facing our own obstacles, we came to together to create something greater than any one of us could have predicted.

ANDREA MITEV ED ITOR- IN - CHI EF 2

THE TEAM

E D I T O R I N C H I EF AN D REA M I T E V

AS S I S TANT E D I TOR OL I V I A H ARBA N D

D E S I GN E D ITOR N ATAL I E L U T Z

L E AD P H O T O GR AP HER M I TCH EL L J ENS E N

P H O T O GR AP H ER S RAM Z Y AL - M U L L A CL AI RE N EL S O N CORAL AVE RY Y V ETTE C H A U L OG AN H OWE L L M I TCH EL L J EN S E N SI ERRA J OY N E R AL L A C E Y RA E M A SAFI N AB I L AH M A D

CON TR I B U TI N G DI R ECTOR S C O R A L AVE RY Y VE T T E C H A U ROMAN COHEN M E A G H A N E VA N S S I E N N A KA S KE L O G A N H O WE L L O L I VI A L A N G L E Y YOUNG OUM JESUS REYES SARAH ROGERS KE AT O N S PR I N G E R JENNIFER DIRSTINE Z A H R A J O S E PH

F R EELA N CER S

PA I G E PH I L L I P S VI C KI L I A N G TAY L O R BA R R O N L A N I KA I YAT O M I JO CARSTENSEN RYA N N E L S O N

e EC r F TI ea RI TI PH ON tu N re O G TO & W : S & D G RI te IR RA T ve I EC PH NG n TI A H : Y o O : PH W Si Jes rt N o O : e u rr s on TO M m a R G ika an J o e y J r. RA yl e i y n ne s PH a S A r Y: o d c t A er io l L st n ac en ey

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Refracted Beauty

DIRECTION: Young Oum PHOTOGRAPHY: Rae Ma

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C BEAUTY

STREET

STYLING: Paige Phillips PHOTOGRAPHY: Sierra Joyner

The Commute

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2 32 2

D x PH IRE O CT TO IO Su G N D b RA & PH IRE me PH W O CT rg Y: R I T TO IO e Lo IN La G N ga G: D : R R n L A Yv PH IRE in P H og e H tt ow a O CT as Y :Y eC TO IO ci el n H ve h l ow G N ta a RA : M R tt u el e PH e ea l C ag le h Y: au M han ea gh Eva an ns Ev & an Ch s loe Ke hn

THE COMMUTE S T Y L I N G : P a i g e Ph i l l i p s P H O T O G R A P H Y: Sierra Joyner

To most the passengers on a bus appear mundane but they are as vital to the city as the transportation system itself. They live and breathe the city, hopping from one bus stop to another whether to run a small errand or accomplish something great. Weaving through a concrete jungle as a collective but each on their own journey.

A LL C LOTHIN G FROM Z ARA

THE CITY IS ALWAYS MOVING,

AND SO ARE WE.

Steven Horton Jr. Steven Horton Jr. Designer Feature + DESIGNER FEATURE+ DIRECTION & W RI TI N G : J es us Rey es P H O T O G R A P H Y : Si erra J oy ner

On a Higher Plane

Art. Fashion. Two words that intuitively should go hand in hand. But in today’s world, the gap between the two gets wider and wider. Steven Horton Jr., a fifth year apparel design major at Oregon State University, is on a mission to bring clothing design back to an art form. Born in Yokohama, Japan in 1992 and raised in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Horton received his first undergraduate degree in fine arts with a focus in drawing and painting. Horton’s love for art and design center around contemporary minimalism. Horton expressed that being born and raised in Japan had a strong influence on his art and design aesthetic. Currently, he is inspired by the designs of Phoebe Philo, Rick Owens, and Jil Sander. In particular Philo’s simple yet powerful work as creative director of Celine, has served as inspiration for Horton’s own designs. In order to succeed in the fashion industry, Horton believes a designer must have a combination of organization and time management skills. When he first started designing, he would illustrate his creations on a physical sketchbook. However, since he got an iPad, he has been sketching digitally and using applications such as ProCreate, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Horton’s passion for creating beautiful clothing has encouraged him to continue refining his drawing and sewing skills here at OSU. When asked about the future, Horton said that he has high hopes of working for Nike or becoming a creative director for one of his favorite brands. He believes that fashion designers play an important role in protecting the art that goes into clothing. The industry must continue to value the quality of clothing and the process of creating it, explains Horton. With his appreciation for craft and his passion for creating art, there is no doubt that Horton is well on his way to achieving his goals.

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AI DE N : p ants MO NSI EU R D E G I V E N C H Y jacket S TE V EN H O RT O N J R . t-sh i r t CHOI RB O Y. sh oes CONV ERSE C H U C K TAY LO R 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

P HOTO B Y STE V E N HORTON J R .

CHRISTINE: pants L.L. BEAN jacket STEVEN HORTON JR. t-shirt GILDAN shoes NI KE A I R J O R D A N 1

ADAM: eyes NYX LINER lips BURTS BEES

Refracted

Beauty

D I R E C T I O N : Young Oum P H O T O G R A P H Y : Ra e M a

FIONA: eyes NYX LINER & BHcosmetics lips MAYBELLINE 15

HERE & QUEER Th e ci ty of C or va lli s i s h om e to d if f e re nt f a s h i on s ty les a n d gen res of mu s i c. Co r va l l is D I Y, B i tter h a lf B ook i n g, Ra i n b ow i n th e Cl o u d s a n d H au s of D h a r m a , a re j u s t a f ew com mu n ity orga n i z ati on s wh os e ef f or ts m a ke th e C o r va l l is a r t s cen e a s a f e p la ce f or m a rgi n a li zed f o l xs . D I R E C T I O N & WR I T I N G : S i e n n a Ka sk e PH O T O G R A PH Y: S a f i A h m a d

Corvallis DIY is a music collective with a focus on punk, hardcore, emo, and other sub genres of music in Corvallis, Ore. Their ideology centers around making local house shows and concerts more inclusive for POC (people of color), QTPOC (queer trans people of color), and female-identified folxs. Donald Orr, a past KBVR FM station manager and active member of the Corvallis DIY community, reflects on the impact of inclusive spaces; as they “allow for a truly inclusive community, and leave the scene open for people of color, LGBTQIA+ folx, and members of traditionally marginalized groups to feel welcomed. Many of the shows in the DIY scene, feature musicians/band members that are part of marginalized groups as well. Safer spaces allow for people to feel safe and welcomed, whereas they may not feel that way in other concert venues. The community focuses on uplifting diverse voices and music within the realm of punk.” Indiana Laub of Bitter Half Booking, an organization that sprung out of Corvallis DIY focuses on booking feminist bands, 16

political bands, bands made up of women, queer individuals, and people of color. As a show organizer Laub works to create a space where through music, people can become more aware of politics and social issues while simultaneously becoming empowered to work toward radical change. A key component in the DIY house show scene is to have an all ages venue space. “All ages allows shows to not just be focused on settings with alcohol, but on the music—it lets kids be a part of the scene earlier, Corvallis High School kids and new OSU students alike,” Orr said. When asked about inclusivity, Orr describes how it’s important to uplift diverse voices. “Within the Corvallis scene, we try our best to be as inclusive as we can. I don’t book the shows myself but I host shows in my basement, known as Mudville Stadium. The organizers of Bitter Half Booking try to be as transparent as possible—booking femme-fronted bands, POC bands, QTPOC bands, etc. and we list how accessible the space is,” said Orr. Alien Boy a group that describes themselves as a “loud gay band” from Portland, Ore.

kicked off their 2018 North American “Dreams and Queer Feeling” tour on a warm September night at Mudville Stadium. That night, a diverse group of folxs filled Orr’s basement, cramming together and bobbing their heads in unison to Alien Boy’s emo punk sound. Sonia Weber, lead singer and guitar player, discusses the difficulties of being a queer band and not feeling like you fit in. “We’ve found a lot of love in primarily straight/emo scenes which is funny to me— and sometimes we’re a little too pop punk for the queer scene at least in Portland… I wouldn’t have it any other way though, there’s so many more important things you could be doing with your life than being in a rock band, so if I’m going to do it, I’m at least gonna do it for the queers, ya know,” Weber said. After the success of prominent punk bands like the the Ramones and the Sex Pistols, “political punk” and “Riot Grrrl” music established itself as the anthem for anti-sexism, and anti-fascism. During the 1980’s there was a Nazi punk scene, which mistreated people of color, womxn,

and queer folxs, giving punk music a bad reputation. To combat the negative connotations of punk, newer bands like Alien Boy are making it known that, “if you come to an alien boy show, that sh*t won’t fly and... when I’m not feeling nervous I try to remind people to let womxn, queers, and poc to the front [of the concert].” This viewpoint is shared by Orr who hosted Alien Boy. “While there’s a focus on inclusivity, we also aren’t afraid to call out bigotry and jerkhood in the community. The fine line of maintaining a safer space while also being inclusive is being able to monitor when people aren’t portraying attitudes or actions of being inclusive themselves,” Orr said. Speaking out against hate in artistic spaces goes beyond music, it includes fashion too. Sonia from Alien Boy says, and believes that fashion has a large role in creating social change.

“There ain’t no revolution unless you’re lookin good!” Weber said, “Bands create other universes where we get to build and choose the way we run things, we choose our anthems, we choose our uniforms or there lack of...it’s the perfect platform for collaboration and real social change.” Two other community organizations that are actively creating inclusivity in Corvallis are Rainbow in the Clouds and Haus of Dharma. House of Dharma is a local drag family and artist collective that organizes PRIDE Corvallis and Rainbow in the Clouds that hosts a monthly LGBTQ+ dance party.

The events that we do in the spaces that we create help to normalize queer and trans nightlife here in Corvallis and are helping to catalyze support for folks in our community here,” Mirza said, “We not only have fun by engaging with these nightlife spaces but we’re also changing the culture of Corvallis by celebrating our community. Drag specifically challenges societal expectations surrounding gender expression, aesthetics and what it means to radically to find oneself which is privy to creating inclusive art space here in town.” In Corvallis, music and fashion are two ways of bringing communities closer and methods of embracing your authentic self. The intersectionality in the artistic community practices inclusivity and promotes self-expression in our society. Without fashion and music, safe spaces in Corvallis for marginalized folxs might not exist.

Dharma Mirza is a student at OSU and the mother and director of Haus of Dharma. Mirza explains that events allow individuals to establish community and defy the “marginalization that most folks who are queer, trans, or gender nonconforming” face. “Many venue performance art spaces are not always as friendly towards folks in our community and so we are creating an inclusive art scene here by providing safer spaces that critically engage.

Neon colors, ch ain h arn ess es an d powe rful boots sh owcase th e exo t i c s ty l e an d em e rgin g tre n ds of festival f as hi o n .

DIRECTION, WRITING & P H O T O G R A P H Y: L o g a n H o w e l l

Music and fashion go together like Mick Jagger and a leather jacket. Each musical genre attracts different crowds and unique styles. Punk rockers, hip-hop artists, and popstars serve as influential style icons, and attending live concerts provides an opportunity to experience their aura and get inspired. Especially in the last ten years music festivals have begun to take up more of the fashion spotlight. Over several days of a festival, different genres, people, and styles blend together, generating trends. As a result of large festivals becoming more profit-orientated, some have become ultracommercialized events. One of the most famous is Coachella, a two-weekend event in Indio, Ca. Since 2013 it has been averaging 105,000 daily attendees. At its peak, Cochella’s signature bohemian style overflowed onto runways like Saint Laurent and Emilio Pucci as lavish renditions of gladiator sandals, fringed sheepskin, and crocheted tops. Coachella became a mecca for anyone aspiring to be seen in the same place as their favorite celebrities, searching for fifteen minutes of fame and the perfect instagrammable moment to document their meticulously curated outfit. While high-

profile events fill the need for your next instagram post, others music lovers are looking for places where creativity can flow freely. Created as a way to escape from an over-commercialized world, smaller, lesserknown festivals are becoming popular. This is due to their ethos of community and creation of meaningful experiences. A focus on self-expression encourages one to wear their personality however they wish. “It welcomes every type of body type that there is. People are healthy, they’re dancing and loving themselves,” Briauna Pope said, an attendee of the new electronic dance festival Bass Canyon. “I think I’ve had the best experience there because it’s freeing. There’s a good sense of community there. Festivals tie into the idea of self-love and self-acceptance and respect for other people,” Pope said. At events like these new styles are emerging unapologetically, trends popularized by counter-cultures like Burning Man. Steampunk goggles, psychedelic scarves, and celestial capes make their way into the mainstream as people search for new forms of expression. One place where these trends thrive is at Lightning in a Bottle in San Antonio,

Ca. According to the ethos statement of Lighting in a Bottle, the festival values sustainability, harm reduction, cultural respect, and most of all, creating an environment for extraordinary experiences. They combine big name headliners and a carefree atmosphere with spiritual meditation classes, motivational speakers, and wellness workshops. People travel from across the country to see their favorite artists while finding holistic meaning in the exact same day. These emerging music festivals focusing on transcendence rather than commercialization are able to remain authentic. Each year they draw more patrons seeking not just a fantastic concert but also a life changing experience. Along with these creative environments come bold and exciting styles. Whether someone is rocking the newest drop from their favorite hype brand, showing-off a classic high-fashion piece, or threw on a thrift-store gem, festivals and concerts are their own fashion show and anyone can walk the runway. The greatest joy of fashion is getting to show off oneself, and it’s far more enjoyable when surrounded by those who appreciate it.

BRIANNA: Jacket (GLAMOROUS) harness LITTLE BLACK DIAMOND pants ARCTIX Shoes DOC MARTENS

S ILAS : ja cket FOREVER 21 P a nts T H E NOR T H FACE ba g IH EAR T RAVES

GRACE: top SHOP B GLITTZ pants GOODWILL

L A RI NASCITA R E A L E D I R E C T I O N : Ch l o e Ke h n & M e a g h a n E v a n s P H O T O G R A P H Y: Meaghan Evans

RANDI: dress V I N TA G E coat S T R A D I VA R I U S boots BALENCIAGA

MADDIE : sw e at e r C H AMP I ON ski r t MADDI E LEE sh oe s NI K E

androgyny

As we explore ge n de r fluidity, t he o l d rule s gove rn in g ge n de red fas hi o n are ch allen ge d n ew fash ion em e rges w i t h less con straints th an ever befo re.

D I R E C T I O N : Cor al Av ery & Sa ra h Rogers W R I T IN G: S ar ah Ro ge rs P H O T O G R A P H Y : Co ra l Av ery

When it comes to fashion in 2019, the question being asked isn’t “Why bend the gender rules?” but rather “Why not?” The fashion industry prides itself on having no limits and because of this gender is no longer confined and it’s boundaries are non-existent. There is no concrete “his” or “hers”; you are encouraged to do whatever makes you feel ablaze. Androgyny as a fashion movement, is reflective of societal progress progress of equality. “Being androgynous in the way I dress helped me confront my gender and sexuality. It helped me make visible who I am as a person,” said Mallory Lumistead, an Oregon State University student who identifies as gender fluid, “As I grew older and more confident, the lines between male and female fashion became more blurred to me, I use fashion as a way to express who I am. Growing up, I felt restricted, dressing androgynous helps me feel free.” Androgynous fashion aims to eliminate any boundaries or labels, so that the clothes create the narrative. The need for androgynous fashion was first recognized when women requested female trousers, so that they could be taken seriously in the professional world. Androgyny has progressed from when Coco Chanel created the first pair of trousers for women in 1931, or when Yves Saint Laurent challenged the retail gender divide with their androgynous “emancipation” line during the Winter of 1960. Mallory Nelson is an OSU graduate student and member of the Corvallis Rainbow Network, a community for queer students, faculty, and staff. Nelson explained that androgyny doesn’t necessarily correlate to sexuality. “To me, androgyny means rejecting that certain things are exclusively ‘male’ and ‘female’,” Nelson said, “It’s taking things 26

that are usually gendered and saying ‘Screw it, I do what I want.’” Androgynous fashion creates a safe space where women can wear a suit without it being seen as manly and a men can wear a skirt without it being seen as feminine. “I think that the way society divides men’s and women’s fashion does everyone a disservice. Segregating the two creates boundaries of expression that are totally arbitrary, and those bounds keep people from being as aesthetically adventurous as they might want. That being said, there’s much less attention paid to androgynous women than men.” says Nelson. Fashion challenges and creates change, whether it is to combat the gender divide, ageism, or discrimination. This year the Council of Fashion Designers of America established a gender neutral sector of New York Fashion Week. “Fashion helps bring identities to life,” Qwo Li Driskill said, an OSU Queer and Gender studies professor who identifies as genderfluid. “The fashion industry values androgyny because the fashion industry values progression, its an outlet for expression, and in many cases, the only way that someone can express who they are,” Driskill said. As our society changes and develops, we break free. The clothes we wear are a method of showcasing whoever we want to be that day, that hour, or that minute. There are no rigid rules or boundaries to be followed, it’s all up to you. So when getting dressed in the morning, always do it for yourself and wear whatever makes you feel your best. Fashion is more than merely a look—it is a lifestyle, and the colors are vibrant, no longer just black and white.

KILIE: overalls H&M jacket THRITED sweater MARC JACOBS

C O L B Y: top FOREVER 21 skirt H&M boots

DOLLS KILL

S U B MER G E D I R E C T I O N & P H O T O G R A P H Y : Yv ette Cha u

SYDN E Y: d res s GO OD W I LL

JAME S: sh irt & p an ts H&M

WOME N IN ACTION

How one of Southern Oregon University’s top wrestlers,

Sydney Norvell, turned her fear of rejection into determination—inspring female athletes everywhere.

W R I T I N G & D I R E C T I O N : M i k a y l a Soders ten PH O T OGRAPHY: Al L a c ey

25 seconds into the match go by when Sydney Norvell got her first take-down against her opponent. Once he was down, she was working cheap tilts, crossfaces, and everything else she had been practicing. Then, giving it everything she had, she gave him a hard crossface and cradled him. With all of her strength she squeezed him with her arm, so tightly that he had no other choice than to give up. The guy was on his back for about eight seconds until she knew. This was when Norvell pinned her opponent in her first match as a collegiate wrestler. Sydney Norvell is a former Southern Oregon University wrestler and current Oregon State University student. In high school, Norvell participated in co-ed sports such as gymnastics, swimming, soccer, and track but it wasn’t until her junior year that she became interested in wrestling. She wanted to challenge herself and she knew that she had the the mental and physical discipline needed to prove to herself and others that she could do it just as well or even better than the boys. “I’m not going to treat you any different than the guys,” said the coach of the wrestling team. But that was exactly what Norvell wanted. For Norvell there was no hesitation. “I dove into it like I was a guy,” Norvell said. She started going to practices and soon after, she inspired five other girls to join the team. Her strong willpower and determination led to her being one of the best on the team and being awarded the “Most Outstanding Wrestling Award”, an award unanimously voted on by referees and coaches across the state. Norvell started a movement in her community by proving that women can participate in a traditionally male sport. According to Norvell, male wrestlers would feel uncomfortable using their full strength against her. Sometimes they even opted out of 32

competitions because they didn’t want to wrestle a girl. All of this did not hold Norvell back. To continue with her wrestling career, she accepted a full scholarship to Southern Oregon University. While there, she had record winning statistics for both men and women. “Too many people hold back from doing what they want because they are worried about what other people will think. I took my fear of rejection and turned it into determination and showed people what I was truly capable of,” Norvell said. Although being a female wrestler has given Norvell confidence, she has also encountered push back. Her participation in what is perceived as a male sport was looked down upon by members of her own family. Usually they were all supportive and wouldn’t discourage her, but with her grandparents this wasn’t the case. “This was the toughest battle I faced, not being supported by my whole family in something I loved,” she said, “Winning is nothing to me unless I’m surrounded by the people I love when it happens.” n an attempt to make them understand, she asked her grandparents to just come watch one match and that was when everything changed. “They saw how successful I was, they saw how proud my parents were, but most importantly they saw the heart I had for the sport,” Norvell said. Now they are some of her biggest supporters. Through wrestling, Norvell became an advocate for breaking gender stereotypes and playing by your own rules. “We are the generation of change,” Norvell said, “never forget it.”

L E X Y: top NIKE shorts AMAZON

TRAISA: top FA S H I O N N O VA shorts FA S H I O N N O VA shoes NIKE

RESONANCE

E OF EAR TH

ISADORA: bralette TARGET slip skirt THE GLASS SLIPPER

OLIVIA: bralette TARGET slip skirt VANITY FAIR

A look into th e life of Moon Ribas, a n ava nt- garde artist an d cyborg a ctiv ist w h o deepen s h er con n ection w ith nature by in corporatin g tech n ology an d dan ce .

D I R E C T I O N & W R I T I N G : Ol i v i a L a ngl ey P H O T O G R A P H Y : M i tc hel l J ens en

People around the globe are more interconnected than ever; a plethora of knowledge awaits curious minds, thanks to internet search engines one can view the beauty of the world in the comfort of a living room. Although convenient, technology is also inhibiting human’s ability to connect with the natural planet. Moon Ribas, a 33-year-old avant-garde artist from Spain, is challenging the notion that technology is a divider for humans and nature. Ribas is a modern dancer and choreographer utilizing technology to further connect herself with nature rather than becoming separate from it. Her interest led her to inventing implants that are connected to seismograph readers, which track earthquakes happening around the world. The implants are inserted into her arms and vibrate in real time with earthquakes occurring in a specified location anywhere on Earth. Depending on the magnitude of the quakes the vibrations she feels range from weak to strong. The implants give Ribas what she calls her “seismic sense” and she uses the vibrations she feels to choreograph dance pieces. Her philosophy is that technology brings humans closer to nature when done in a holistic manner. This device led Ribas to becoming a self-identified cyborg, and she and her longtime friend and colleague, Neil Harbisson, co-founded The Cyborg Foundation in 2010. This foundation advocates for Cyborg rights as well as encourages others to become cyborgs to find alternative ways to perceive the world.

allow you to learn and those that allow you to feel, and they aim to have their members invent their own ways to interpret and perceive the world. While the creative technological endeavors of Ribas and the Cyborg Foundation are fascinating, they are not exactly realistic nor easily attainable. An entire team of scientists, private donors, and private doctors were all necessary in achieving a part-bionic life, not to mention years of prototypes and trial and errors. But we can all challenge ourselves to become more aware of our bodies and our movement. Donna Blatt-Ervin, owner and instructor for Modern Dance Technique in Corvallis, grew up dancing and using creative movement to connect with herself and the world around her. Blatt-Ervin shared the perspective of Alvin Ailey, a famous Modern dancer, explaining that he believed “that everyone should dance, everyone can dance, and everyone has something to say to dance”. Everyone has the capacity to move and becoming more aware of the body, more attune to it, aids in the observation of oneself amongst the world. Ribas does a performance called “Waiting for Earthquakes” where she gets on a stage, with a large clock and a name of a chosen location on Earth. During the performance, she and the audience will wait for her to feel the inevitable vibrations that will trigger her to begin to dance. Her movement mirroring the intensity of the earthquake occurring at that moment.

Moon is utilizing cybernetics in a way that will offer her mind and body a new sense; the ability to feel the Earth resonate through her body. In an interview with Allison Wagner of Raconteur Agency back in 2013, Ribas further explained her cyborg philosophy that humans do not have to be separate from the ‘machine’ and that it is “more unique and personal to embed it into yourself and create new perceptions.”

Blatt-Ervin noted the symbolism in that “what happens to the Earth, happens to her” and this element could be where the “elite cyborg artist” can shift to activist to convey a message about how humans are going about their lives, completely unaware of the massive changes occurring on the planet and perhaps within themselves.

Ribas promotes embracing technology in a manner that enhances the human experience rather than letting it become dull. This holistic and integrated approach may be far from the norm, but Ribas is not one to conform and she hopes to help others who share her vision through the Cyborg Foundation.

Becoming a cyborg may not be for everyone, but Moon Ribas and her band of cyborgs are stirring conversations to reflect and connect. The world and those who inhabit it are ever evolving; minds, culture, creatures, land and all that lies in-between. Ribas chooses to embrace the advancement of technology by allowing herself to become part of it. She has found a way to feel her Earth every single day.

The foundation creates the distinction between technologies that 39

LI FE â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S A DRAG

Drag fi nds a home in C or va lli s a n d creates a space for OS U s tu dents to partake i n a radi c a l f or m of s elfex pressi on.

W R I T I N G & D I R E C T I O N : Rom a n Cohen PH O T OGRAPHY: Ram zy Al - M ul l a

Drag blends in its style and execution from a mix of the political and the creative. Drag enables people to process trauma, establish a network, raise money for essential causes/associations, or as a space to rethink understandings of sexual orientation articulation, gender play, and gender expression. Drag was first established through cross-dressing for ceremonies and theatre in Native American, South American, Egyptian, and Japanese cultures. In 17th century Shakespearean theatre, there were male actors and many female roles. To resolve this, directors would cast men in female roles and partake in cross dressing. Because of this, the word drag was coined. Then, from the 1870s to the 1920s, drag was used as a method of mocking females. Men would put on acts as if they were women, ridiculing femininity. In the late ‘20s, LGBT bars were created and provided a stage for drag performers. Drag became a part of the queer community because they were more accepting towards individuals who choose to bend gender lines. According to the media company, The Odyssey, RuPaul’s Drag Race was the iconic TV show that brought drag into the public eye. The show became a cornerstone for queer reality TV, bringing many drag queens to stardom. Drag queens have also participated in other areas from movies and political movements. Although Corvallis is a small town, drag can still be found, especially 42

on the Oregon State University campus with organizations such as the Rainbow Continuum, SOL, Delta Lambda Phi and House of Dharma. “Drag shows do so much more than just entertain here! For many folks, the drag shows are spaces of liberation. For a lot of marginalized folk’s spaces like this it may be the only place they feel safe expressing themselves,” said Dharma Mirza, Mother of Haus of Dharma. “Drag events, for me, provide an opportunity to challenge societal expectations of gender expression, aesthetics, and art.” Drag blends in its style and execution from a mix of the political and the creative. Drag enables people to process trauma, establish a network, raise money for essential causes/associations, or as a space to rethink understandings of sexual orientation articulation, gender play, and gender expression. “Drag has allowed me to explore my identity that hasn’t been explored in a while. I am an indigenous queer two-spirit person. Drag has allowed me to go beyond my own preconceived idea of what I should look like,” said Kobe Natachu, a junior at OSU. Drag is a staple of LGBTQ+ nightlife and is constructing community within Corvallis. Normalizing queer occasions and drawing in the network without issues is crucial for creating solidarity and support inside queer networks.

THANK YOU! MODELS Shelby Weeks Xinyu Liu Jay Garmondeh Steven Horton Jr. Christine Cranston Aiden Tariku Kylie Avery Colby Bingham-Brasher Audrey McPherron Samantha Holland Tarisa Olinski Lexy Hayes Olivia Langley Isadora Costa Cardoso Emma Crispin

Mateo Garcia Viv Cai Tamara Lash Grace Martin Briana Pope Silas Fisher Sydney Meeuwsen James Duncan Ian Reed Long Nguyen Kobe Natachu Fiona Brunning Adam Rateb Randi Rammelsberg Madison Lee

CLOTHING Runway Fashion Exchange Goodwill Suite Zero

PLACES Corvallis Transit Center Dancing Oaks Nursery Joshua Tree National Park Boboli Gardens Learning Innovation Center The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building

THE

MAJESTIC

THEATRE The Majestic Theatre is the premier cultural arts venue in downtown Corvallis focused on supporting the vibrant creative energy of our local community!

WWW.MAJESTIC.ORG A member of the City of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department 43

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