folk
live authentic
Americana LANDSCAPES & CONVERSATIONS
A NOTE
Authentic conversations feel like a departure from the world we live in today. A world that is filled with negative news, negative moments, and so much hate. We wanted to create a space for positive experiences, authentic conversations, adventure, and positivity. A place to celebrate the world around us, the beauty of it all, and the shared experiences we have together. Here we share conversations we’ve had with makers, photographers, creators, and all around good humans. We hope their wisdom inspires you, educates you, and encourages you to go out, to explore, and to listen to everything that surrounds us. The sounds of nature speak far louder than the voices on any cable news network. — Go forth and live.
CONTENTS Issue One | 2019
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Photo by Brandon Roberts
Coffee Culture Gear Talk Letting Go A Mountain Girl Bumbling Around Buying American The City Girl Farm The Village Common Preserve The San Francisco Guide to Nature Eagle Rider Why We Must Protect Our Public Lands The Fog Lay Low Unruly & Untamed Luke Gottlieb Yoni Gill John Thatcher Mike Kelley Jay McDonald Journey On
Email: contact@folklifestyle.com
A MOUNTAIN GIRL Essay + Photography: Luke Gottlieb
I grew up in a small town in the mountains of Colorado called Carbondale. It sits about 30 miles downriver from the iconic ski town of Aspen. You can imagine the sort of beauty and culture that area harnesses. Carbondale holds everything that is dear to me; rivers, mountains, wildlife, ranches and about everything you can imagine a small mountain town would. Most of my time growing up was spent running around in the woods and on ranches, which a few of my friends lived on. As any mountain child could recall, these sort of upbringings can certainly shape you. Certainly, they have shaped me and as I continue the journey of photography, which often brings me to cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and beyond, it’s the mountains that ground me to the core. Over the last few months however, I was experiencing shoots that didn’t quite inspire me. So much of my work and projects take place in Los Angeles, where the pool of talented models, hair and makeup artists is endless. The industry is there in a big way, so over the last couple of years I have made it a point to be there often. As great as that is, it’s easy to get creatively exhausted and that is one of the biggest challenges for me in having an art form as my job. When you complete a project that truly speaks to you, that your truly proud of, you can feel that in a true and intense way. But getting to that point can be a hard and challenging road. Lately, I’ve been feeling the numbness of that weary road, and knew I needed to take a step back from the grind to focus on on finding new inspiration.
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TIPS FOR BUYING AMERICAN MADE 1. Invest in pieces that will be timeless. Luggage and bags are the best place to start. 2. Shop markets and fairs for handmade jewelry. Get the pieces in your hand to make sure they’re well made and will hold up. Look at Hobby Lobby to see if their pieces are sourced from there. 3. Check the stitching in denim. Is the crotch going to rip out fast. The US made denim industry is plagued with poor quality. Some brands will last a lifetime. Some brands won’t last a season. When in doubt hold off buying and grab a pair of Levi’s instead. 4. When buying bags look at the stitching and the seams. If you can see between the pieces of leather the piece will not hold up. 5. Most candle companies source their scents from the same bulk supplier. A $5 candle and a $45 candle often times both have the same scents. Go for brands like PF Candle Co that have custom mixed scents rather than the bulk standards. 6. A brand may say it’s American made, but in reality may only produce a small percentage of their goods in the US. Don’t buy blindly
thinking it’s all made here. Woolrich makes their blankets in the US. The majority of the clothes are made in Asia. New Balance makes a small percentage of their shoes in the US. Their US shoes are worth the investment. 7. If you’re looking to invest in boots, American Made is the answer. Red Wings can be passed down for generations. Go for Asian made sneakers and save up for American Made boots. 8. The best way to be introduced to American made makers is by going to markets and fairs. See the products in person. Meet the makers and hear their stories. My favorites are American Field on the east coast, the Country Living Fairs in the east, Made South in the south, and Liberty Fairs in the major cities. 9. Follow makers and brands on social media, you’ll save by watching for sales and buying directly from the maker. 10. Don’t feel obligated to buy American Made all the time. Buy what you like, when you can. Don’t waste money on things you’ll quickly tire of simply because it’s American made.
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THE CITY GIRL FARM Sometimes you meet artists that make you step back and think....where has this been all my life. Sally Jane is one of those artists. I grew up on a farm, surrounded by chickens, but I never realized I needed a chicken foot stool....until I met Sally Jane Linville of The City Girl Farm...
Who are you: My name is Sally Jane Linville, Creative Director of The City Girl Farm. I am also a wife, new mother, daughter, sister, and friend. What is your business: The City Girl Farm is a community of artisans sculpting beloved ‘Chicken Footstools’ together. The idea was inspired by memories of childhood pet chickens, pining after the sheep sculptures by Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne, and exploration of traditional art processes. Every chicken is oneof-a-kind, unique in posture and personality.A turned wood eggshaped core stands on bronze feet and is connected to a bronze beak. Feathers are fashioned with various fiber art techniques- felting, spinning, knitting, dyeing- and are upholstered by hand. The chickens can function as footstools and are the best at making people smile!
Where are you located: We design and fashion Chicken Footstools at thecgf studio in midtown Kansas City, Missouri. Bronze is cast outside of Lawrence, Kansas, and wooden eggs are turned in Hesston, Kansas. Each chicken’s internal frame is constructed by my father at our family farm in Lyons, Kansas. Tell us about your process to becoming a maker: I grew up on a third generation farm in central Kansas. My father is a crop farmer and my mother is a designer, with a lifelong interest in textiles. Childhood adventures flowed with the rhythms of our farm, family and rural community. I attended Kansas State University where I received a Masters in Interior Architecture and Product Design. My professors fostered a collaborative studio environment for students to explore curiosities
THE VILLAGE COMMON Former New York City residents Ben and Blake moved two hours up the Hudson Valley to establish roots and a brand in sleepy Catskill, New York.
Who are you? The Village Common Blake Hays and Ben Lebel.
the front porch that always attracted passers by to stop in.
What is the story behind The Village Common? Beginning in 1968, and from where we get our name, the first Village Common opened its doors in Avenel, New Jersey. It was run by Grandma Bernadette, current owner Ben Lebel’s grandmother. In its first incarnation, Village Common was an antique store of carefully selected, fine pieces from all eras. Grandma Bernadette also had beautiful plants and flowers for sale on
In 1984, the Village Common moved to Stroudsburg, Pa., on the property of the Stroudsmoor Country Inn, and was re-imagined into a country store by Susan Lebel, Bernadette’s daughter and Ben’s mother. Antiques were still available alongside candles, soaps, homemade canned goods, and unique gift ideas. Susan has since blossomed this once country store into a thriving floral and decor studio.
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TRAVEL
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PRESERVE Essay & Photography by Paige Denkin I was asked to write a quick piece about the National Parks and why they’re important. I spent a long time debating the rich and deep rhetoric I could create about our beautiful lands and how inviting and scared they are. But I couldn’t bring myself to write these words. At least not seriously, not whole-heartedly. After questioning why writers blocks would strike me on a topic I’m so fixated and passionate about, I realized the shallow facade of a piece I’d be creating if all I did was sugar coat our country and the way we treat our National Parks. So this isn’t a fluffy feel good piece about America, it’s a PSA in honor of our endangered land. A wish that we find the confidence and commitment to take a stand for the protection of our only planet and our beautiful country. Do I need to include an quick explanation of how magnificent our country’s terrain is? Perhaps. As someone who wasn’t afforded the luxury of travel while growing up, I’m still humbled by the smallest of foothills and the biggest of skies. Now as I near 30 years old, I’m happy to say I’ve at least driven from one coast to the other and had the opportunity
to see the differing atmospheres and topography. This country is massive, my friends. It is hearty, it is as diverse as the people who live here and it is drop dead gorgeous. And 100 years ago, Woodrow Wilson made the National Park Service a federally managed and funded bureau, allowing them to preserve and honor the magnificent sights and locations that make our country what it is. Though encouraged for personal and cultural gain, please travel vast corners of the globe as much as this life affords you to. Many of us cannot. But I know you have a weekend coming up that’s completely free. Maybe some of you have travel points saved up or a car sitting in the drive way that only knows the route to work and a few pokestops along the way. You need to do yourself a favor and make an honest attempt to visit as many of our National Parks as you possibly can. Now. With nearly 60 national parks, ranging from the deserts of Arizona and the mountain peaks in Alaska to the sands of Hawaii and the caves of Kentucky… they’re out there. They’re begging to be loved, viewed and respected. The lands give way to more than
UNRULY AND UNTAMED About two seconds. That’s what you have between being asked and your response; before you let on.
It’s important first, to acknowledge we’ve reached the era of total geographical and technological accessibility. Our generation has become comfortable, in such a way that we can begin to treat a trip to say— Vik with as much insouciance as some may have once— and do, their honeymoon to The Bahamas. So with this accessibility, it’s become less uncommon to cross paths with those whom venture frequently. I believe it’s the sheer magnitude of some variables that revolve around certain destinations; kilometers driven, meters climbed, batteries exhausted, that continue to garner an audience eager to follow along, and possibly take part in the journey through your response. Your response, however, is what you control. Following the great distances and scenes catalogued, you have a brief opportunity to contort history to serve the limelight into which you’re asked to share it.
About two seconds: to say the trip was perfect, or to tell the truth. We’d gone in, a band of misfit storytellers, documentarians, broken hearts and transcontinental navigators. We’d agreed to drive our friends’ [@floatballoontours] hot air balloon from Phoenix, some four thousand long miles, to Anchorage. Upon our arrival, the Cloth & Flame (@clothandflame) and Royal & Design (@royalanddesign) teams would rendezvous and fly the balloon over the great Alaskan frontier. We’d camp, cook and share in campfire tomfoolery along the way. We’d collect our cast as the journey unfolded, and exchange it as the screenplay called. We’d gather the endorsement of our favorite like-minded brands, and set course into the true unknown, unruly and untamed wilderness of the far, far north. We’d no idea what we were getting into, but as the selfproclaimed crew of the first Survey;
Words: Ryan Neal Cordwell & S. Cole Kiburz Photography: Constance Higley | 68 |
Life begins outside your comfort zone Mike Kelley is a Maine native, Boston resident, and wanderlust at heart that stole our hearts with his calm landscapes, cloudy skies, and images of coastal New England culture.
Why do you explore? I explore for one simple reason, fear of missing out. There are so many places in this world, without exploring and putting myself out there I am scared that I will miss out on truly incredible experiences. Why take risks in life? Life begins outside your comfort zone. Where are you from? Manchester, Maine. What is your 9-5? I am currently looking for positions in finance in Nashville, Tennessee. After visiting the city last summer I fell in love with the people, the music scene and the state’s gorgeous countryside. My 9-5 is job searching and working on my creative explorations. I recently rebranded my instagram account to showcase my interests in clothing, photography and all other aspects of design. When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Growing
up...well as a kid...I wanted more than anything to be a paleontologist. I was very much obsessed with dinosaurs and fossils so it was my dream to search for them as a career. Coincidentally I also loved managing money...this is what lead me to the finance field. What is your favorite place you’ve visited? In the United States I have two favorite places. Nashville, TN and Disney World (cliche I know) but it has always been one of my most favorite places to spend time with my family. Outside the US I am quite in love with Brasil. If you have never been I HIGHLY recommend it. The people are amazing, the food is unique and the landscape is extremely diverse, a recipe for a fantastic vacation spot! What place you most desperately want to visit? I would love to see China. There is something about Asia that has always drawn my interest. China seems to be one of the most “different” destinations for western | 101 |
ROMANCE YOUR WILD Jay McDonald brings a quality to adventure and photography that is met with equal amounts of humble humor and top notch skills. Known for his portraits in nature and his crystal clear landscapes he has stolen our hearts with his love of the wild.
Why do you adventure? Well, to be honest I have severe ADHD and I can’t stand being in one place for a long period of time. I wish I had a more poetic and whimsical answer for you but that’s the real life truth right there haha. Why do you explore? I think deep down inside of every one of us there is always that little curious spark. We were built to get up, go further, run faster, etc.. And simply because it’s 2018, a lot of people have settled. I just can’t be one of those people. The nomadic life is long gone, but there’s still a little bit of nomad left in each one of us. Why take risks in life? Life is too short not to. My older brother Kylan killed himself when I was 16 years old. That same summer, my life long very best friend’s Dad did the same. Prior to that, my Uncle (and more.. the list goes on but I think you get the point). It feels
like I have been surrounded by sudden death from mental health and other things my whole life. I value fulfillment, happiness, joy, adventure and love over anything else. The statistics that you and I should both not be alive right now are too high not to do something crazy and live a little. As cliche as it is for me to say this, you have to “Romance Your Wild”, because today might be your last chance. Where are you from? I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada What is your 9-5? I am a full time commercial photographer (yes not everything I shoot looks like my instagram)... I had pursued a promising career in exotic dancing but apparently “Chip and Whales” wasn’t very marketable and I wasn’t willing decrease my carbs or fat load. If I am going to bring home the bacon, I am gonna eat it too.
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JOURNEY ON I believe a few things.... Life is meant to be lived in community. Life is a journey. Conversations should be enriching, enlightening, and enthrolling. We are our own biggest road blocks. Travel often, travel far, travel to learn and to see. Never stop growing or learning. Give back as much as you receive. Spread positive energy in every situation. Be humble, yet speak confidently. Know your roots...spread your wings.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” — John Muir
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