Fr en ch B K Pr es en t s
T he Experiment Iss u e
Fr en ch B K Pr es en t s
T he Experiment Iss u e
«Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a fucking sharp knife to it.» Banksy
The box. The box the box the box. What box? Look here, we’ve told you already, we don’t need your tatty box. We are Experimenters on a relentless pursuit of curiosity, of an alter nate universe. We didn’t find the Higgs Boson by sitting inside that box. The only path is the risk of the unknown, a non-trivial pursuit. «What do you want to be?» they fear fully demand. What box? Which check? «We want to be free,» we hum. So we leave all the little boxes, in pursuit of magic. All the while unfolding in truth that «where the freedom lies» is here, inside, the Experimenter.
ja c lyn@thereis nos ub jec t. c om
a lis a @f renc hb k. c om b enja m in@f renc hb k. c om
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thinkers & makers
«working for yourself is the only way to be yourself» Jasmine Takanikos
1. Personal mantra?
Jasmine Takanikos
Inspiration exists, but it must find you working 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway)
Principal, Jasmine Takanikos Consulting Group
- I long to be a professional dancer, and do a Pina Bausch piece - I used to be a poet - I studied Sufism & Mysticism as a teenager, I spent my teenage summers at whirling dervish/sufi camps in the Pacific Northwest 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? Working for yourself is the only way to be yourself. I realized this when I was working for someone else, 7 years ago 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? It means exactly that. The problem is that everyone has a different definition of the box 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? I want to build my real estate division- Higher, and give it the global presence it deserves. My boyfriend who is a designer/creative and I are starting a boutique consultancy focused on Design, Strategy & Marketing- called Online/Offline. I would like to see that take it’s baby steps this year www.jasmineconsultinggroup.com
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thinkers & makers
Jeanine Pesce Founder, Trend Consultant & Editor, Range
1. Personal mantra? We’ll figure it out 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway) - I was a competitive figure skater as a kid - I was the editor of my high school newspaper and received an editorial excellence award for my ground breaking expose called «love in the hallways» - I am a master number 11 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? When I was finally able to break the cycle of insanity and leave my full time job. I realized that I was making decisions about my career based on fear of failure and ego as opposed to passion and a positive work/life balance 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? Imagination and innovation, regardless of the industry, item or aesthetic 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? Healthy professional relationships, a happy garden and hopefully some babies www.thisisrange.com
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thinkers & makers
1. Personal mantra? Grace and charm will get you through just about anything 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway) - When I was 7 yrs old I found a 300m year old dinosaur - I was scared of the dark until I was 22 - I hate gin 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? It was probably while sitting in a consumer’s bedroom during one of the 140 hours of consumer insights work we did before we quit our full time jobs 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? An over-used term in corporate America? 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? An amazing and badass brand for young tomboys all over the USA www.wildfang.com
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Emma McIlroy CEO, Wildfang
non-fashion
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in play
© fr e nchB K 2013
«be kind; always make it better; talk it into the ground; work, do, move, act» Betsy Cross & Will Cervarich
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thinkers & makers
Betsy Cross, Will Cervarich
Co-owners, Designer & Director of Development, betsy & iya
1. Personal mantra? Eat breakfast; be kind; always make it better; talk it into the ground; work, do, move, act; if it doesn’t occasionally make you squeal/giggle/cry/sigh contentedly you’re not doing it right 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway) - There’s no formal jewelry-making or business training - We both have degrees in theatre - In 2005, Will flew one-way to Portland from back East, and rode his bicycle down the coast to see Betsy in California, just to see if there were any sparks between the two of them - Will was in an a capella band in college and Betsy is afraid of the kitchen (whoops, that’s 4) 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? Betsy: There are so many Ah-Ha moments. I think that’s part of the secret. It’s not just the day I decided to make jewelry (abridged story: coffee shop, no job, big red notebook, nothing to lose) or the day we figured out Will needed to quit his desk job to work full-time for b&i. Being successful in our business means an endless series of ah-has, believing in each one (at least until you realize it’s not the best ah-ha it could be), picking it apart, figuring out how to make it happen, happen better, bigger, quicker, more beautifully. If there aren’t a few ah-has every week or each month, I’d worry that we’re getting lazy or uncritical 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? Will: The box is either the thing you’re trying to build or the way you’re trying to build that thing or both. Being outside of the box means knowing (not just intellectually knowing, but a bone-deep knowing) that there is no box. There is no just add water version, no blueprint. You’re building your own box and it’s only as strong as you are analytical, whimsical, grounded, dreamy, conservative, and fanciful. The box you’re building is made from a million tiny boxes and building it right means knowing which sub-box needs the most attention at this moment and then figuring out how to give it that attention 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? Will: I want to create a brand new production and office space that will keep us productive and comfortable for the next few years, and cultivate efficient ways to continue getting the best from every team member of betsy & iya Betsy: I want to cultivate inner-calm, that comfortable stillness where great ideas breed, and I want to create (well, finish creating) some new designs that will blow. your. mind www.betsyandiya.com
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little altars
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thinkers & makers
1. Personal mantra?
Riley Messina Owner, Erba Floral Studio
Be organized and everything will be fine 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway) - I couldn’t swim until I was 12 years old - I don’t like sharing food with people. «Why don’t we just get one and split it?» No thanks - I love jets 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? I knew that I wanted to go off on my own for a long time and finally just did it, that was the ah-ha 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? I think that term is over used. It’s just another way of saying «do something out of the ordinary» 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? I want to deepen my International business relationships and continue the endless task of sourcing flowers www.erbastudio.com
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thinkers & makers
Rachel Mae Furman National Brand Ambassador, Art in the Age 1. Personal mantra? «Leap and the net will appear» -- John Burroughs Sometimes you just have to go for it and trust that everything will fall into place. You don’t always have to know the final outcome 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway)
- A few years ago, I bought a vintage Airstream camper and drove all around the country by myself for a few months. It was a thrilling and terrifying adventure
- I used to have a website called “Rachel’s Guide” that was all about where to go and what to do in Philly. The word “blog” didn’t exist yet (at least in Philly), but I made my web guy make me a “website that I could update myself” and would write in first person about my experiences at my client bars and call it “reality marketing.” I think I was on to something!
- My best friend is my Grandmom, who taught me how to be a lady and the perfect hostess and to have a love for entertaining. If ever in doubt, I routinely ask myself, “What would Grandmom Doris do?” and it’s usually the right answer 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business?
«sometimes you just have to go for it and trust that everything will fall into place»
For the past six years, I’ve been traveling the country as a National Brand Ambassador for a liquor brand, and have gotten the opportunity to visit some of the best cocktail bars and restaurants in the country. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of the most talented craft bartenders and really learn the history behind spirits and the cocktails we drink. And now, as the Ambassador for Art in the Age, which is based on the value of true craftsmanship, I’m also collaborating with artisans and craftsmen all over the country who are driving the movement for quality, handcrafted goods. I’ve been inspired to start logging my adventures and the thrilling lifestyle behind the spirits industry in my blog, Smoke & Honey 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? “Outside the box” means total freedom. It’s the freedom that comes with the confidence to do things your own way, without being imprisoned by fear or doubt or someone else’s rules 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? This year I want to create my blog, Smoke & Honey, and cultivate deeper relationships with all of the inspiring people I meet by sharing their story. I want to take inspiration from the road and create projects and ideas and experiences that express my love of spirits, cocktails and entertaining www.artintheage.com / www.smokeandhoney.com
Rachel Mae Furman
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nowness
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#fuckyes
© fr e nchB K 2013
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thinkers & makers
Jessica Bordner, Melissa Dejong Owners, Stay Forever Photography
1. Personal mantra? Keep it 100!! 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway)
- Jess and I went to 1st grade together and actually Jess’s dad and Melissa’s mom went to high school together (talk about a long family history)
- We started our company while eating beer and wings at a bar and wrote a business plan on a napkin - We got our business name from the second Twilight movie (when Jacob says something in his native language to Bella) translated to something like you will stay in my heart forever ... Stay Forever Photography 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? I think Jess and I would both agree that our ah-ha moment came a few weddings into when we first started the business. The first few weddings we were nervous and inexperienced and then after a few confidently under our belt we had a wedding that everything just seemed to click. I think that was a wedding that when we left we knew in that moment we were on the right path 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? As photographers we are constantly striving to be «outside the box,» and what that means to us is to simply be unique, and not just copy what everyone else is doing. As artists we are trying to always produce real images that are true to our look and style. When clients book us they fall in love with our portfolio and the emotions we are able to capture. We strive to never copy or duplicate our photos, even if we shoot at the same location. We want to keep improving and bringing each of our clients moments that they will treasure forever 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? New relationships with people in the wedding industry, yep we want to create some awesome new friendships www.stayforeverphotography.com
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thinkers & makers
1. Personal mantra?
Dayna McErlean Owner, The Colony at St. Johns
Work is the new relaxation 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway)
- I hate garden hoses. They get in knots and I hate wrestling with them. I’ve never found one that lasts, they are all just junky - I love artichokes - I don’t give up on things. I don’t take no for an answer and never let anyone tell me I can’t do something. My mom taught me that one 3. What was your «Ah-Ha» moment that got you started on your project / business? For about 8 years I’ve heard everyone talking about St. Johns and how they are all waiting for something to happen there. For the last couple years, I kept thinking someone needs to plant the right seeds to jump start the St. Johns growth and I was waiting for something more visible to pop up. My friend was contacted to buy this property (now The Colony), but he couldn’t close the deal, so I went for it. It was literally the gateway to St. Johns and the amount of possibilities, kind of gave me that Ah-ha moment. I thought, the space could set the tone for things to follow suit and make a huge impression in the community. Something about it just drew me in and kept me interested 4. What does «outside the box» mean to you? Connecting the dots 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? I want to curate, cultivate and culminate great happenings. My passion is to create places for people to come together, enjoy each other, and have great conversation and food. I’ve realized I love accommodating people and creating environments where they can thrive. Usually, it involves making something out of nothing www.thecolonystjohns.com
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open season
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focus
{ c/loud Project } by Benjamin Løzninger / FrenchBK
«It is through obliterating the dull bluntness of ocular r e ite r a tion, the f r e e ing up o f o u r m en t a l s p a c es i n the c onte xt of e v e r yd a y c o n s t r a i n t s , t h r o u g h t h e tr ue liv ing of a p e r p e tua l «h ea d i n t h e c l o u d s » t h a t we f ind r e lie f . Pe r ha p s hop e. A t t h e ver y l ea s t , a moment, a smile, a breath. Benjamin Lozninger’s C/loud
Ser i es a s k s o n l y t h a t w e p a u s e, w i t h a w r y s m i l e a n d a p i t c h ed b r o w, a s w e a c k n o w l ed g e w h a t w e a l r ea d y k n o w t o b e t r u e - - t h a t t h e f r eed o m p r o m i s ed i n o u r ever y d a y l i ves i s o n l y a s r ea l a s o u r a b i l i t y t o s ee t h e d i f f er en c e b et w een w h a t i s , a n d w h a t i s t r u e. » M ar g o t C ut i v e t , A LTA R S M ag az i n e
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you’re my fuel. you motivate me to be better. you make me stronger and happier. we are a super team. we’ll manage. frenchBK