FOUR Volume N°2 Preview: The Wander+Lust Issue

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Four Magazine VOLUME Nº2 · SPRING MMXIII

nicole camack founder + editor-in-chief ciara bird founder + creative director lead photographers joshua galloway, ashley sellner contributing photographers jana astanov, shamus coneys, matilda finn, amy herman, caroline knopf, andre michael, theo mercado, glenn roberson, ron royals, glyn a. stanley contributing writers ariene c. bethea, cpmaze,

ida divine, alice welsh doyle, liz mlaughlin, courtney perkins, michael j. solender, erin tracy-blackwood

cover

Dale Frank His night would lead to something other, 2012 varnish on canvas 200 × 260cm Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.

artists + illustrators ana elisa egreja, kirra jamison, karen ann myers, noa snir, summer wheat, zio ziegler

intern angel butler advertising + distribution advertising@fourmagazine.tv stockists@fourmagazine.tv

visit us online

www.fourmagazine.tv twitter.com/fourmagtv facebook.com/fourmagtv @fourmagtv

darren goins edepitnec eno, acrylic, serigraph, metal flake, sawdust on paper, 2011 new york by way of north carolina

contact

four magazine PO Box 480815 Charlotte, NC 28269 USA +1.980.224.0258 info@fourmagazine.tv

published quarterly All rights of this publication are reserved by FOUR magazine, Little Bird, LLC or third parties. All artwork is copyright of the contributing artists and may not be reproduced without their explicit permission. Their presence in the magazine implies that FOUR is authorized to publish them. This publication cannot be reproduced electronically, digitally, in printed or any other form, format or media without the explicit, written permission and approval of the copyright holders. FOUR accepts no responsibility for the documents submitted. Every effort has been made to contact and properly credit copyright holders— please contact us regarding corrections or omissions.

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N°2 letter

volume n°2 t h e wa n d e r + l u s t i s s u e

ana elisa egreja

when was the last time you did something that started with, “I probably shouldn’t be doing this, but…”? In these moments we are most alive. Let curiosity lure you in and ravish your thoughts.

Climax. Be adventurous. Normalcy is a riot—bizarre and absurd, and fear is a thief in the plight.

Don’t let her steal your identity. Bask blatantly. Want it so bad you can taste it. Let your passion absolutely consume you – it’s the gateway to freedom, the insatiable appetite of internal bliss.

We ravished and relished in intimacy, longing and wonder, moved by organic inspiration, outside the constraints of an editorial office—in people’s most personal places and deepest thoughts.

We’ve let our own hair down, with four’s constant evolution spawning a new look, bursting at the seams with fierce, wanton allure. Volume N2 is an exhilarating infatuation with the journey, an exploration into passions unapologetic. Exotic, illicit, and intoxicating accounts in visual and written form enrapture our foreplay: stroking culture, forsaking fashion, penetrating art and illustration, and seducing interiors. No, we don’t condone resisting temptation.

What would you do if you lost your inhibitions? Do it. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? Go. How would you live without worldly worries? Be free.

There are no do-overs. Indulge. Digress. Covet. Wander outrageously outside expectations, lust insanely after your own precarious provocations. Set the world on fire. Go ahead, orgasm.

Overwhelm your senses. Stay a little while longer. Explore a little deeper. Desire a little harder.

Because, the journey is all we ever really have and hold. Wander in it. Lust for it. Become your own naughty souvenir. nicole camack and ciara bird, founders of four magazine 8

DESIGN INTERVENTION by ingrid butler : giving furniture new life , one piece at a time ingridbtlr@gmail.com www.ingridbutler.tumblr.com

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N째2 contents

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ithaca

zio ziegler

whaling widow

an introduction

featured artist

fashion

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get lost

carpe diem skin

lit tle loft in the cit y

aureta thomollari

a poetic account

chris knotts

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lost in ( artistic ) space

ineffable jouis sance

the thrill of the chase

michelle armas

fashion

derby girls

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k aren ann myers

re aching quiet

the bluffs

featured artist

architecture design

a short story

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076

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in her element

finders , keepers

how they work

kirra jamison

deep branch studios

creative process

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080

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summer whe at

casual luxe living

power trip

featured artist

lisa sherry interieurs

chapoww

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088

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o1ne love

wr apped in color

pas sport for fashion

satish cherian

lindsey coral harper

event highlight

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portobello street

french by de sign

will smith

fashion

si mazouz

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swim against stre am

caleb cl ark

luca brazi

closet & casa

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knocturnal

bl ack venus

b-boy culture

maxim vakhovskiy

kirra jamison, kevin helms, deep branch, matilda finn

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this or that

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marketplace

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photography by sam mohan photo assistants: nimish jain & nikhil velpanur stylist: meghna bhalla make up + hair: brendon degee featuring carol gracias shot at the zuri hotel, goa, india 14

Ithaca When you start on your journey to Ithaca, then pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.

Do not fear the Lestrygonians and the Cyclopes and the angry Poseidon.

You will never meet such as these on your path, if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine emotion touches your body and your spirit.

You will never meet the Lestrygonians, the Cyclopes and the fierce Poseidon, if you do not carry them within your soul, if your soul does not raise them up before you.

Then pray that the road is long.

That the summer mornings are many, that you will enter ports seen for the first time with such pleasure, with such joy!

Stop at Phoenician markets, and purchase fine merchandise, mother-of-pearl and corals, amber and ebony, and pleasurable perfumes of all kinds, buy as many pleasurable perfumes as you can; visit hosts of Egyptian cities, to learn and learn from those who have knowledge.

Always keep Ithaca fixed in your mind.

To arrive there is your ultimate goal.

But do not hurry the voyage at all.

It is better to let it last for long years; and even to anchor at the isle when you are old, rich with all that you have gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.

Without her you would never have taken the road.

But she has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not defrauded you.

With the great wisdom you have gained, with so much experience, you must surely have understood by then what Ithacas mean. constantine p. cavafy

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noa snir berlin, germany

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get lost.

High fashion ambassador, LA-based luxury consultant and cofounder of DNA Luxury Aureta Thomollari allows us to live, travel and style vicariously through her blog and jet-setting journeys through locales like South Korea, Qatar, Egypt, and Lebanon.

Adventure is hardly the word for her chic, daring and unique sojourns, and our exploration into her world of luxe travel and fashion. interview by courtney perkins

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o you have a current style obsession for the upcoming season? I see the purpose of trends, I just don’t follow them. I buy what I love and dress according to my mood, thus the range is pretty wide and diverse.

With extensive travel comes knowledge of hidden shopping gems. What’s your most desired shopping destination in the US, Europe and Asia? They might seem like the obvious places, but they are the best: NYC (Bergdorf Goodman); Paris (Merci, Kiliwatch, Saint-Ouen Flea); Tokyo (Candy, Bedrock, Restir).

What types of museums do you enjoy? I love art, and going to museums is definitely a favorite activity of mine. I typically like modern art, and DC has some of the best museums and art collections in America: The Phillips Collection, the country’s first modern art

museum, being one of them.

The Hirshhorn – where I recently saw an incredible exhibit of Ai Weiwei’s – and the Corcoran are also great places for inspiration.

Other favorite museums around the world are MOMA, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Tokyo National Museum, and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, just to name a few.

Favorite flea market and most treasured find? Marchés aux Puces in Paris and Rose Bowl flea market in LA. A recent find that makes me smile was at the Rose Bowl—a gold/black heart necklace by Karl Lagerfeld. I look for pieces with stories, unique things that are timeless.

What makes a hotel top tier for you? Favorite hotel? Any of the Relais & Châteaux properties or Aman resorts; they really get it. It’s all about attention to detail, impeccably well-done customer experiences, and food! I am passionate about fine dining and they’ve served some of the best food I’ve had in the world.

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How do you remain chic on the road? What are key staples that a fashionista should always have at her disposal? A scarf, red lipstick, your favorite sunglasses, statement jewelry, and a fabulous perfume.

What’s your own personal packing routine? There is no method to the madness; really I just grab a few things and pack. Every hotel should have a steaming/ cleaning service for your clothes that require extra care. Always make the most of what you do bring with you, alternating lipstick and jewelry to freshen up your basics.

Any beauty secrets for covering up the inevitable jet lag? Drink a lot of water, use a face moisturizing spray throughout the flight to keep your skin hydrated, and sleep on the flight if you can. If possible, ask for cucumber slices to relax and soothe your eyes.

Journey with Aureta at: aureta.typepad.com

Lost in (Artistic) Space with Michelle Armas

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Painter Michelle Armas immerses herself in the throes of her creativity, allowing inspiration from her space to capture her as she creates. interview by ciara bird photographs by paige maitland

Tell us who you are, where you’re from, and what you do. My name is Michelle Armas, Michi to my friends. I’m from Houston originally, but is that really where I’m from? Space I guess, stardust, then my parents, then I guess Texas. Now I live in Atlanta, Hotlanta to my friends.

Your work explores a lot of organic shapes. Can you talk a little about your creative process or journey?

My painting is very physical. It’s a compulsion. When I am inspired, and that happens every time I look around, my natural reaction is to distill it to the most basic components: color, form, and negative and positive space. Once I lay down the first color, it’s like having a conversation with myself. Who knows what will happen next? Not me.

How did you start your career? You started out in graphic design, what made you start painting? I really started painting when I was a small child. It’s all I ever did, basically until I went to college and studied International Affairs. After one year “working in the real world” (barf), I enrolled to study graphic design and branding. I learned all about creation, and that I can make anything I want to. After working in corporate branding, I realized I needed to paint again to keep myself from jumping out of a window. Paint is like my sanity juice.

What items are essential for you to get started? No one else’s energy can be in my space. It takes a very long time for me to be able to paint with another person around.

“I need chaos in order to create” is something Francis Bacon said about his messy studio. Do you agree? Oh no! I need space, cleared of all visual and

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“I am lucky enough to get to wander around all blissed out on color and light and form, and then I put my visions on canvas and sell them.

It’s like magic.”

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spiritual clutter. Bright light and beauty around me, it has to be visually pleasing! I burn candles and have flowers. It’s the real deal.

What was the last experience that totally blew your mind? A few months ago I was battling this oppressive exhaustion all the time. I was seeing doctors and worrying myself like crazy. I sat down and made a list of things that absolutely had to change in my life, and implemented those changes like no work after 6pm, spend at least one day every weekend doing whatever I want, and making a real connection to friends at least twice a week... stuff like that. Within one week all my symptoms went away. All of them. My energy came back, it was a miracle. It was such a lesson to trust your instincts about what you need for your spiritual health, because it’s also your physical health.

How long have you been in your studio? Did you find it right away or was it a grueling process? Ha! I was on a vacation to San Francisco about two years ago.

It was a healing experience for me, I learned a lot about myself on that trip. I was just sitting on this rooftop terrace looking out over the bay and Blamo! I thought, “I have to get a studio as soon as I get home.” I went home, found an ad on Craigslist in about two minutes and drove over. Seriously. It was waiting for me.

What’s your favorite thing about the space? I can compartmentalize my work here, like mentally it’s all filed away in this physical place. The space is filled with so many blank canvases just inviting exploration!

Where would you like to get lost? I am going to have to go with Civil War era White House. Abraham Lincoln is having a vogue right now, but my friends and family know that he’s been my hero since I was a child. I would love to wander around that house unseen and just figure it out. If I concentrate really hard tonight, maybe I will dream about it!

What other art forms do you have a high appreciation for? Oh, it’s pretty endless. I love painters from the turn of the century who explored abstraction of portraits and the patterns! Oh, Klimpt is my homeboy.

I would have been an interior designer in another life.

Pattern! Oh, pattern is my homegirl.

armasdesign.blogspot.com

How amazing is it that Anthropologie sells your work? Pretty freaking awesome.

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knoct It’s a Monday night at Snug Harbor’s weekly event, Knocturnal and a crowd is anxiously gathered horseshoe-shaped around the stage. But the action is not on the stage; it’s spinnin’, rockin’ and kickin’ on the floor in front of them, as b-boys & b-girls get down with the power, intensity, grace and swag. interview by erin tracy-blackwood photographs by shamus coneys, austin caine + lovofoto

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recent and raging renaissance g-kicked the Charlotte-area b-boy culture something serious.

New dancers emerged, new loyalties spawned, and new alliances with national organizations formed. A weekly night show windmilled the craft honing, competition, and show offs to eager audiences.

Promoters rolled regional competitions to b-boys’ doorsteps on the regular. Dance studios called, demanding they teach their budding little b-boys all their best moves. And the beat don’t stop.

Stories are told of converting kitchens and dining rooms into practice spaces, and sleeping 10 deep in a single hotel room to battle at an out-of-state jam. Like most counter-culture art forms, breakdancing isn’t lucrative, and like most artists, these dancers aren’t driven by the potential for monetary wealth.

So why do they do it?

For some, it flares in the blood.

Fellow 19-year-old Matt Sanchez has already made a name for himself, but it’s still a name driving him to perform – his father’s. “I just met him, so I gotta impress him,” he says.

“People in the Bronx know his name, and I have to live up to that.” His father was an original New York b-boy. “A friend showed me an old video one day called Bronx Breakmasters and my mom was in it, with a man.

She was like, ‘that’s your dad!’

It’s the only time I ever saw the two of them together,” he says.

But they were always bound by the breaks.

Others are hungry to learn at a young age, and never lose that appetite. Teacher and pioneer of the Charlotte b-boy scene 2.0, Tron has been dancing for 16 years. California-born, he grew up in the ‘80s watching his uncle and films like Breakin’ and Beat Street. After spending years with his crew in San Diego, Tron decided a move to Charlotte was in order.

“I always heard about people going to a new scene and starting over,” he says. “When I came here the skill level was behind San Diego. I think just being here and sharing my knowledge with a select few has really helped grow the scene.”

“Scenes flip over – old cats stop dancing and new ones come in. That rebirth is going on in Charlotte right now. I want to bring the culture to the kids instead of them maybe, or maybe not, finding it on their own.

These days, they study YouTube for years before ever even coming out. I’m trying to give them a real world place to start.”

That ‘start’ comes midway through another path for some. B-girl Leah credits Tron with bringing the culture to her. Although the kids in her Michigan elementary school would battle at recess, she never learned any moves from them.

It was her college instructor who suggested she attend the annual battle at the Breakfast Club and it was there she met Tron and several other b-boys who took her under their wing and taught her not just dance moves, but the history that went along with them.

“It gave me more respect for the 30

art,” she says. “It’s an ocean of different historical puzzle pieces, deeper than I ever imagined.”

Dance became her primary focus soon after. She began battling for the confidence she needed to get into a cypher like the ones at Knocturnal.

“In a cypher I was too nervous to get out there, but in a battle I had no choice.

Eventually I lost all my inhibitions.”

“When you see a really great dancer expressing their style, you can tell who they are. Dance is helping me discover that about myself,” she says.

While some discover, some use it as a way to get lost. “Sometimes dancing helps me vent my frustrations, and sometimes it makes them all just melt away,” says Lauren, at two months in.

“I’m working really hard to get to a battling level and be given a b-girl name.”

For the reasons behind their passions and the different roads that led them here, these dancers all share a common chord – community, and it is evident every time you see them. They are always together, always cheering each other on, always down to help each another. They’ve built a strong foundation for this art form in Charlotte with power moves – and won’t stop rockin’ it. snugrock.com

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zio ziegler When I start a painting I have to be moved by the intuition of the moment. Paintings are often iterations of concepts and aesthetics, and then every once and a while I take a leap towards something vast and unknown. In order to take that leap I have to create a vacuum where I stop thinking consciously and start marking intuitively. I’m quite volatile when it comes to painting: sometimes I’ll make nothing I’m satisfied with for months – until I catch onto the end of this thread that leads to my intuition.

It’s a paradoxical path: if I start with the concept, and it ends up as I expected, then I’m not satisfied. If I start off with an idea, and the idea fractures into it’s own problems and I happen to resolve those problems in order to create the next set of problems, that’s progress. Progress is as fleeting as satisfaction, but that’s why I paint. The Nature of the Absolute is that there is only transience, and therefore the only Absolute in my work is non-absolute. It’s an improvisation without conclusion, and so my paintings are moments scattered across different surfaces. moral equilibrium, acrylic, oil and enamel on canvas, 2013 the ineffable now, acrylic, oil and enamel on canvas, 2013 33

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the nature of the absolute, acrylic, oil and enamel on panels, 2013 35

the bachelor, acrylic, oil and enamel on panels, 2013 carrying context, acrylic, oil and enamel on panels, 2013 36

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skirt & shirt leutton postle latex underwear jennifer manning headpiece stefania testa right page

headpiece stefania testa tights kishimoto 38

ineffable jouissance photography by matilda finn styling: soki mak make up: maria asadi using guinot skincare and kiko cosmetics hair: fabio vivan using bumble & bumble featuring cindy from premier model management

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dress disaya left page

jewellery naomi teal top la perla

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necklace naomi teal bra roberto cavalli trousers stefania testa left page

hat ekaterina kukhareva eyewear moo piyasombatkul playsuit wondaland

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The dining room informs that mixing styles of furniture is perfectly fine with its more contemporary table flanked by French chairs and a custom banquette.

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Casual Luxe Living

Lisa Sherry gave her clients’ family heirlooms fresh life while infusing some big city style throughout this Charlotte home. interior design by lisa sherry interieurs interview by alice welsh doyle

photographs by ron royals

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hen you visit the home of lisa and scott yarbrough, you instantly want to go exploring like a little child. It is hard to maintain decorum because you see glimpses into other rooms as you are greeted in the foyer. And just like a child, you feel yourself jumping up and down albeit internally. “Is that a mirrored wall in the powder bath that I see down the hall? Where did that cool collection of plates grouped on the staircase wall come from? I need that lamp!” And you will want to steal ideas left and right because when interior design is done right, it should create some envy-inducing spaces. And doing it right means understanding your client. The Yarbroughs moved to Charlotte after living in New York and London. “Lisa was a city girl, so she needed a look that was collected, layered, and urban with eclectic touches, and color. The Yarbroughs have two schoolage boys, so that was a consideration as well. She had a whole file of things she loved and a lot of family heirlooms,” says designer Lisa Sherry.

Family heirlooms can be a mixed blessing, but in Yarbrough’s case, she inherited outstanding pieces from both grandparents – many in coveted Lucite just begging to be put to use in a fresh way. “My grandmother Verna had great taste, and everything she did was stylish. I even have her Lucite silverware,” says Yarbrough. The Yarbroughs also had some French

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The long narrow living room contains a bevy of treasures such as the bold gold floor lamp, velvet tete-a-tete chaise, mirrored wall, and seating area with cut velvet zebra print chairs.

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furniture and accessories, which Scott loves because it reminds him of his native New Orleans. And Yarbrough wasn’t just open to reupholstering her heirlooms; she was open to totally transforming them. “Lisa took a dark walnut hutch, and sent it out to be lacquered in white. It looks like a totally different piece,” says Yarbrough. “It takes some bravado to totally change an old piece like that, but she was up for it, so we were able to incorporate more of her family collection,” says Sherry.

Both designer and client also appreciate the transforming nature of a “just right” fabric, which in this case turned out to be a cut velvet zebra print in a vibrant coral pink hue.

“I absolutely love this fabric,” says Yarbrough. “It totally transformed the room in a way I did not think possible and made it my favorite spot in the house.” Yarbrough also appreciates the arrangement and placement of the furniture and accessories in her revamped living room. “This is a long and narrow room, so you have to carefully consider each piece to

lisa sherry style 1. Don’t be too precious; you want your rooms to be comfortable above all. 2. Your interiors should look layered and collected – not like you went out and bought everything in one day. 3. In awkward spaces, carefully consider your furniture placement; you may have to be a little more creative like setting pieces on an angle or floating them in the room. 4. A mirrored wall can really open up a room, and the reflected light is lovely as well. 5. If you fall in love with a piece, go ahead and buy it because it is likely that you will find the perfect place for it.

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The kitchen is a showstopper with a mirrored tile backsplash, lamps, and dashes of lively color.

The outdoor living room’s Oly table grabs plenty of attention while an Ikea chandelier holds court overhead.

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A peek into the master bedroom reveals a custom upholstered panel behind the bed and chandeliers used instead of the expected bedside lamps.

A stairway wall is a perfect place to create a mini gallery with a collection; here an eyecatching grouping of plates does the trick.

Lisa and Scott Yarbrough with sons Oscar (standing) and Quentin (on the swing).

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ensure that the look is cohesive and flows well,” says Sherry. “Before it felt like three rooms, but now everything works together, and we totally use the whole space,” adds Yarbrough. Sherry unified the spaces with a single rug instead of separate ones as before. She also anchored the room with a custom sofa on a custom mirrored wall and a tête-a-tête chaise placed at an angle towards the back of the room, all united under a metallic silver-painted ceiling.

The smart and stylish ideas continue in the dining room with the oval, more contemporary table set at an angle and a custom, generous banquette and French chairs upholstered in a stripe with the chair backs hand-stamped by Kathryn, one of Sherry’s designers. Sherry discovered the stamp during a trip to France while working on the project. Existing curtains were given a fresh look, and cool details abound as a black lacquered ceiling is set off with a white glass chandelier.

The kitchen was an exercise in patience at times, but well worth the wait. “We had to go through a lot of samples when it came to the custom cabinets with black and gold trim,” says Sherry.

The kitchen really has a glamorous feel with the mirrored backsplash, hardware that looks like jewelry, lamps on the counter, Carrera marble, lemon yellow bar stools (one of Sherry’s paint transformations), and a lavender chandelier.

While Sherry works closely with her clients, the finale is when she sends them away to perform her ultimate magic. “It’s like a big reveal,” says Yarbrough. “You leave, and every last detail is put together—all the lighting is installed, the art is hung, and the accessories arranged just so. When we returned home, the children’s reaction was like we had just won the lottery! They were running around touching everything and exclaiming over each piece. It’s like they got it— everything looked authentic.” Which is exactly as it should be.

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black venus Our greatest journey in life may just be the one we sojourn inside ourselves, the one that must fight to filter through societal molds, shed and shave expectation, and extract our true selves. Unembellished, unadorned and untouched by worldly wares, Maxim Vakhovskiy’s intricate poetic portraits are psalms of beauty unabridged. photographs by maxim vakhovskiy written by nicole camack

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“patient observer and incessant dreamer,” this creative visionary shares a compelling story through each individual image. With photographic roots planted in his father’s eastern European makeshift darkroom, Vakhovskiy has created a catalogue of creative portraiture. Bound, booked, and beloved, his delicate insistence showcasing the virtue of the black woman – the black Venus – reverberates visual stories and freeing journeys.

“I’m celebrating ‘Black Venuses’ as women of today, women of power, women of passion, women representing a wide spectrum of beauty,” he says.

But these are no typical models. “Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, girlfriends, rebels – from artists to soldiers – they bravely give you a glimpse into their narrative of being a woman.” For these women, the project has been a passage into authentic selfexpression, without the brutal filter of social judgment.

Precious, personal artifacts, carried close to the heart and history, are occasionally engaged to help the story come alive. “My intent is to focus on the layer of heritage, showing women who have identity, pride and power,” he says. “The head wrap, for example, together with body language, becomes almost an accessory of African-inspired regality, a fabric helmet of courage.”

Redressing historical caricature of African women is no small feat. With specific negative connotations of “Venus” in black history, such as the Sarah Baartman saga, Vakhovskiy is moved to shed new light on old lineage. “I’ve undertaken the task, undeniably much bigger than myself, to overturn these connotations at least within the context of my work,” he says.

Drawn to the poetic solemnness of classic photography with simple light and haunting emphasis on the subject, the work of old-time African photographers like Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibe, the stark portraiture of Richard Avedon and contemporary masters like Mark Saliger and Paolo Roversi, Vakhovskiy’s vision transformed into a collection which sold out all over the world.

Vakhovskiy prides himself on photographing without concealing identities with unnatural, heavy direction and editing. The juxtaposition of the everyday woman, unclothed, un-doused in wardrobe and makeup sets, and editorialized is a far cry from the middling model calls for images of beauty and women. “The scars, stretch marks, birthmarks, freckles, and even hairy legs are all there,” he says. “I wanted to specifically tell the story of the body, which is one of the iconic representative elements to womanhood—the pregnant body, the muscle, the body hair, the hints of youth and age, the body art, and the visual signs reflective of various lifestyles.”

With an idea, a handful of images and a special amour for images de Africana and feminine finesse, Black Venus was spawn. “My first real work in portraiture involved a model of African descent,” he says. “She also happened to be my first real love. I became inspired by the universal beauty of black womanhood, by the soulfulness, heritage, the strengths, the vulnerabilities, an unconventional quality of goddess-ship. It felt like a very natural progression to make my work about that, something I’ve enjoyed dearly.”

Inspirations ignite from classical art, like Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” and versions of Madonna and Child, all being symbols of beauty, love, motherhood, and femininity. “The nude figure has long been used as an expression of ideals of human beauty,” he says.

“In these portraits, the nude is a shameless, honest and dramatic representation of the women.” As exposed as it could appear, the women wear the cloaks of their emotion, and elements more part of them than any clothing could ever be.

As we await the next installment of the Black Venus visionary, we can be inspired by the audacity to transcend layers of expectation and wander into the deep, unadulterated closets in our own, quiet mirrors.

As it turns out, the most intricate and powerful thing you can wear, is your authentic self. It’s beautiful, intimate, and unabashedly liberating. maximushka.tumblr.com 59

whaling widow Influenced by Edward Hopper and symbolism of water, time and reflection accompany the unraveling and suspense of waiting. Gothic New England is conjured and captured in an authentic Whaling Mansion. photography by caroline knopf art director: suzy weber styling: eddie schaknow make up: sergey logvinov, using chanel hair: herve bernard at sarah laird and good company nyc prop stylist: kyle jaques of signal gallery brooklyn, ny lighting: b2pro / retouching: camera works, inc. featuring alexa at supreme managementÂ

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slip and corset yves saint laurent body suit eres 69

blouse chloe vintage hat stylist’s own boots philip lim right page

hat ami goodheart/sotu dress oscar de la renta 70

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HIDELL BROOKS GALLERY same amazing

art... just more space !

1910 south blvd. suite 130 charlotte, nc 28203 | 704 334 7302 tuesday-friday 10-5 | saturday 10-3

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There’s always a method to the madness of a creator, obsessed with finishing touches and finding inspiration within the process. We slipped behind the scenes to see what propels the passions of a unique mÊlange of local creatives.

introduction by nicole camack interviews + art direction by ciara bird

david WATKINS occupation Founder of House of Abbeydale & Partner at GentlemansArmory.com best known for Custom and Ready-to-Wear items for Men home base Uptown Charlotte portait by theo mercado

Your background: Ad executive who made the jump into menswear in 2007 at the start of the financial crisis. Timing is everything! Wouldn’t change a thing.

Your working method: I prefer to really get to know my clients. Their lifestyle, where they like to hang, what they are trying to accomplish with their personal brand. It starts with a conversation to see if Abbeydale is a fit. If so, steps are taken to get all precise measurements, select fabrics, plan the wardrobe—the rest is smooth sailing. The tailors do their thing and my clients benefit from the results. Compliments ensue.

Describe the concept behind your company: Simple. To help the gentlemen of Charlotte dress better. As we are growing, the concept is not as local, but the purpose is the same. We stay focused on fit, and execute through classic and understated style with attention to detail.

Some rules of your studio: I would say first and foremost, be nice. I mean, it’s clothes and meant to be fun. Slim everything, skinny nothing. No crew neck t-shirts under dress shirts unless you plan on wearing a tie. Always tuck in your shirt when wearing a

sport coat. Man, my list is long. Stop in for the full gamut.

Items essential for you to get started: The first essential is a good idea of where the client is now and where he wants to go in the future. Style is ever evolving, so having a good perspective on what is trying to be accomplished keeps everyone on task. We do a lot of the steering but the destination is agreed upon. After that, essentials are my tape measure and a wellrounded selection of four season wool blend fabrics. The blue solid and gray solid being the most essential suits any man can own.

What could you do without: You ready for this contradiction? I think every man should have one great fitting black suit. That being said, I could easily do without it. I rarely wear it. It’s just not me.

Do you have any plans to expand into other areas: Yes! Our new retail space is now open Uptown, at 116 W 4th Street. Our ready-to-wear line will expand so other stores can offer it, and later, retail/studio concepts in other cities. It will be more about finding the right person than the right location.

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selena BEAUDRY occupation Artist best known for Bold use of color, Paint Piles, and intricate Installations home base Historic Southend photographs by ashley sellner

Your background: I received my MFA from Tyler School of Art. Your working method: I work on multiple things at once—paintings, works on paper, sculpture, installations.

What fuels your passion to create: It has always been something I’ve done. I get pretty cranky if I’m away from my studio for too long.

What are some rules of your studio: Watch where you step or you may get paint on you.

Sources of inspiration: Everything. I was driving in Los Angeles and saw a truck with stacked card board. the way the light changes throughout the day. memories, humor, weather, moods.

What could you do without: Lots.

Can you imagine yourself doing anything else: Not really. I was a waitress in college and grad school. If I could sing or write that would be interesting, but I can’t.

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chris STUART occupation Tattoo Artist best known for Traditional Americana and Script Lettering home base Plaza Midwood photograph by joshua galloway

Your background: No formal art training, I’ve just worked hard to get where I am.

possible. The day I quit learning and growing as an artist, is the day I quit tattooing.

Your first encounter with the tattoo culture: As a teenager, I was really close with an uncle who was heavily tattooed.

What’s the most challenging project you’ve ever done: Every tattoo is a challenge if you truly care about the outcome. I’m my own worst critic in so many ways, and I know it can always be better.

Your working method: Less is more! Tattoos need to be able to age properly so keeping it clean and simple will make them recognizable for many years to come.

Some rules of your studio: There really are no set rules as a studio. We just try to make the best tattoos we can.

How did you develop your signature style: I wouldn’t say I have a signature style. I continue to grow and learn new things, even after 16 years of tattooing, and I try to remain as versatile as

What was the last experience that totally blew your mind: It’s a toss up between touring the north island of New Zealand, and Italy.

Can you image yourself doing anything else?

Tattooing is my passion so even if I could’nt tattoo anymore, I would still be involved in the business. However, it has been a dream and a goal in life to speak to children about living a clean and drug free lifestyle.

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artwork by dawn okoro

Join a growing collective of creative services and small businesses, bloggers, independent artisans, craftspeople, and gallery + studio owners with an online presence in the Greater Charlotte area!

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