Dive into the organization that keeps Austin’s local musicians playing pg. 22
Take a look at Open Arms, an Austin fairtrade fashion shop pg. 22
Discover what makes this local high school’s art program different pg. 22
Photo by Geoffrey Tian
Photos by Ashley Hannah
Photos by Alice Kemp
Photos by Chris Prinz
(Left to Right) : photo courtesy of Catherine Nicole, photo by Alice Kemp, photo courtesy of Amy Melsa, photo by Ashley Hannah,
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Table of Contents
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Dorian Colbert has played music for nearly 20 years. His membership in local Austin bands such as Cowboy & Indian and Leopold and His Fiction has granted him recognition from the Austin Chronicle. Read on to find out music’s impact on Colbert.
Q:
Q:
Colbert: I took lessons all throughout middle school and high school.
Colbert: Holy Fire by Foals, because of the refinement found in the drum patterns.
Did you take lessons when you were younger?
Q:
What is your favorite album at the moment?
Q
How often do you practice?
: Tell me the story of how your band met.
Colbert:
I practice in some form or another every day because I see playing music as a stress-reliever.
Colbert:
Q:
Q:
In which genre would you place your music style?
Colbert: I play multiple genres including jazz, rock, country, reggae... I like pretty much anything with a beat.
Q:
Which album would you say parallels your band’s message?
Colbert:
Well I play with several bands so I don’t know that there is one album that sums it up.
Again, this is a hard question. I meet most of the people I play music with through other musicians!
Which instruments do you play? Which one do you find yourself most comfortable with? I play drums, guitar, and some piano. I’m most comfortable with drums.
like to record live, and my best take is usually my first. Too much time in the studio can be unhealthy!
Q:
Q:
Colbert:
Colbert:
Colbert:
Do you have any EPs or CDs out? If so, elaborate on that process. The last EP I worked on is a yet to be released record by Leopold and His Fiction. I
Do you write music? What do you do when you have writer’s block? I write bits and pieces, ideas really. When I have writer’s block i put the work
down for the night. You don’t want to get too frustrated doing something you enjoy.
Q:
What do you do in your free time? Does playing music sustain you?
Colbert:
I play music in my free time, when I’m not working on a number of other projects. Music doesn’t sustain me, but it is certainly a necessity. I couldn’t do the other things I do without having music as an outlet.
Q:
What else do you fill your time with other than music?
Colbert:
I teach psychology at Huston-Tillotson University.
Q:
What role does music have in your life?
Colbert: Music to me is an artistic expression, and a way to relieve stress. What better way to do that than to beat up on things?
Q:
Do you ever get nervous anymore?
Photos Courtesy of Dorian Colbertt
Colbert:
converted barn on the side of a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I was touring with Phoebe Hunt, a local fiddler, and she knew the owners from a fiddle camp they had held there. It was the most beautiful place I’d ever been [to]. They even had their own beach we could hang out on. It was also a goat farm, and I got to milk my first, and probably last, goat while I was there. It’s experiences like that that make me glad I play music.
Q : “... there will
Can you tell me more about your experience at Stubbs?
always be an audience for your output.”
Q:
Top 3 songs at the moment?
Colbert:
Retrograde by James Blake; Out of the Woods by the Foals; Afro Blue by Robert Glasper feat. Erykah Badu
I don’t really get nervous anymore. It’s been over 20 years.
Q:
Q:
Colbert:
Can you tell me a really nice music-related experience you’ve had?
Colbert: Once while on tour, I got a chance to stay on a
at?
Which venues do you play
I’ve played most venues in Austin. Stubb’s outside was a particularly exciting moment.
Colbert: Well I’ve played
Stubb’s outside a couple of times. It’s exhilarating to play in front of such a large crowd in your own town. The last time, the band I was playing with, Leopold and his Fiction, was opening for The Cult, a popular band from the 80’s. We got to open up for ZZ Top the next night in Midland too!
Q:
Which tips would you give to someone just starting out playing an instrument? How about someone just starting out in the music business?
Colbert:
I would say the most important thing is to have fun with it. As soon as it stops being a release from stress, put it down for a while and try something else. you can always come back to it. As far as the business side goes, don’t let someone else place a value on your music or contribution. there will always be an audience for your output, though it may be small.
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he sun radiates on the many anxious heads of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) students gathered in the pavillion of Fiesta Gardens, nervous about the imminent showcasing of their respective talents. The chatter of the audience only adds to the intensity of the churning stomachs of the amateur participants, rehearsing for the final time. The talented youngsters pace in anticipation of acing their performances for Coffeehouse, an annual talent production that began 5 years ago. Sponsor Corey Snyder, a teacher at the high school, started Coffeehouse to feature the unparalleled abilities of LASA’s students. Upwards of 500 people attend this event, which highlights anything from singing to break-dancing. A student of the locally-based voice teacher Divy Nelson, Jasmine White has taken lessons since 8th grade, and focuses on a new song each week, eventually performing at differing venues each month. White plans
Program for Coffeehouse 2013 designed by Denise Arturi
to make sure that her peers recognize her capabilities and has prepared for the opportunity to do so. White credits her loved ones as those who inspire her the most to make it through events like Coffeehouse. “I want them to hear me and take me seriously as a performer. If I want to go pro, I need to go through with my plans at all times,” White said. “No one knows I sing. It’s like I live this double life and it’s about time to show them.” After weeks of preparation, White walks up onto the stage, wearing a navy blue maxi dress. She performs a jazzy rendition of Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man”, a song she had sung before during her performances at El Mercado, an Austin restaurant. She starts off powerfully and continues with intensity, her voice reverberating through the gardens. LASA freshman Rebecca Saulsberry also yearns to showcase her voice to her peers, but not without help from her friends Josh Jesudass and Nicole Plume. She states that working along with others adds a certain quality to a musical piece, though performing solo can allow more leniency. “[When alone], you can choose an act that will show your specific skills in the best way. You also don’t have to worry about practicing with others or worry about timing, etc with the other players. In a way, you can improvise a little,” Saulsberry said. “[But when with others], you aren’t completely alone on stage. The focus of the crowd isn’t only on you or the sounds and performance of you. You can use chemistry between the other players to enhance the performance. You will have a fuller sound and a more social experience overall. But, you also have to adapt your act so that it uses the different players in complementary ways.” Though she did not make the cut this year, Saulsberry still has hopes of creating a name for herself. “I [still] really enjoy performing no matter what it is, and I feel it’s an important skill to continue to practice,” Saulsberry said. “I thought this would be an awesome challenge to create music with other people and perform it. I have never sung for a performance either, so it would’ve been something new.”
Photos Courtesy of Douglas Cheong
Janet Aniekwu, a junior at LASA, has amassed a great magnitude of experience in the musical field through entertaining audiences at various coffee shops, cafes, and her home church. She has performed at Coffeehouse twice before, both times with original songs. “Freshman year I decided to audition because I’ve always wanted to get my voice out there but never really had the time. A senior mentioned it to me in passing and I considered it and submitted what would be the first original I ever performed in a formal setting,“ Aniekwu said. “I’ve kept doing it every year because it’s just exciting because you get to show your talent and play with amazing musicians as well as hear and see the talents of others.” Aniekwu sang an original piece titled “It’s You” freshman year. “The song was deeply from the heart so it was essentially emotions coming out on stage. I took a long time writing the song as well so when I performed and looked around in the audience seeing people smiling and bobbing their heads,” Aniekwu said. “It made me cry (afterwards, of course) because you never really know how your audience will receive your original.” This year, Aniekwu will perform two songs. The first song covers “Cosmic Love”, a song by Florence + the Machine, and consists of animated and quickly-paced piano melodies and grand drum beats. The second song, an Aniekwu original, incorporates the use of a piano, and saxophone and drum solos. Classmates Sofia Shapiro, Douglas Cheong, Henry Kellison, Andrea Canizares, Jeremy Jessin, and Jacob Yarnell will play violin, saxophone,drums, and guitar along with her. “My band’s act was a collaborative idea: Douglas suggested it to us and we loved the idea and thought the sound of the song matched our band sound very well so we all agreed it was a good idea,” Aniekwu said. “On the other hand, I created my original alone this year. I wrote the piano part as well as the sax riff with help from Jeremy who improvises throughout the verses of song.” Aniekwu also receives inspiration through her heritage, as her family descends from West Africa.
“ The song was so deeply from the heart so it was essentially emotions coming out on stage.” “My family is supremely musical by culture. Both my parents are Nigerian immigrants and Nigerian music, much like other African tribal music, appeals straight to the soul with strong harmonies, energetic drumming, and interchanging meter,” Aniekwu said. “Nigerian music and other African music has always brought my back home and sometimes inspires me to write music in my language.” Aniekwu and her band hold formal practices weekly and meets one-on-one with each other at various times during the week. Aniekwu believes that constant rehearsal ensures that the actual performance will run effortlessly. “Practice truly does mark perfect because you cannot just get on stage with three days of rehearsal and expect a smooth performance. The fact of the matter is that mistakes happen, so my band members and I try to perfect our
Janet Aniekwu sings “Cosmic Love” by Florence + the Machines with band mate Sofia Shapiro
Jasmine White, adorned with a red floral bow, sings “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield.
Photo by Leila Nyandusi
song as much as possible so that we’re overprepared for the performance,” Aniekwu said. “I personally work extensively with pianos, playing the backing chords at home to get a feel for the song and tuning any rough notes that there might be.” That determination for excellence shows through the confident execution of Aniekwu’s first songs. “I got a good reaction from my performances,” said Aniekwu. “We did enjoy being on stage together and will continue to play and write more music... You couldn’t help but feel happy after the music was done.” White felt pleased with her performance, and looks forward to singing again. “Coffeehouse is a fun, supportive school event where we all get together to hear our classmates sing and have a good time.” White said. “I think my singing was great and with that I was completely satisfied. Plus, the reaction I got all made me feel extremely happy and the excited to do it all over again next year.”
Check us out in the latest Austin Monthly Magazine.
A Struggle Worth Fighting:
Photo Courtesy of Todd Wolfson
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music can be therapeutic, too, saying that the passion that drives musicians to make music is also a very healing process. Johnson’s role as an outreach manager comes into play when trying to get musicians to overcome the social stigmas and get the help that they need. SIMS tries to capture the therapeutic value of music by reaching out to musicians and allowing them the opportunity to continue doing what they love. Without the pressures of mental instability and the inability to afford doctor visits, SIMS’ patients are given the opportunity to continue their music career. Johnson is grateful for the people that make the hard decision to choose music and a career path, saying that the community wouldn’t be the same if everyone chose a safe, secure job. For the very same reason, Johnson decided to help.
A growing organization, SIMS now has the ability to offer help to local musicians on a large scale. “Many times a client is reaching out with layers of issues,” said Johnson, who went on to speak about addiction, relationship stressors, and psychiatric needs that clients suffer through, all of which the SIMS foundation tries to help. With the expansion of the organization, SIMS has been able to help in many different ways. The foundation is currently working on representing the diversity of the Austin community in a variety of ways. A program devised to reach out specifically to the underserved communities, such as Latinos, and is just one of the ways they have assisted. Another way of reaching out, SIMS is offering support groups for the band members of the musicians receiving aid as well. These types of programs allows The SIMS Foundation to reach a broader range of people that are in need of help.
Photos Courtesy of http://www.simsfoundation.org
ila Johnson sat among the class of aspiring social workers in the University of Texas’s psychology department when Sandy Bruce, an eating disorder specialist with the SIMS foundation, walked into the room. Johnson, a musician herself, was moved by SIMS’ mission to help local musicians. Within just a week, Johnson began volunteering at the SIMS foundation. Johnson’s awareness of the struggles that people often face when choosing a highly unstable career path, such as making music, accompanied with the conversation that Bruce had with the class, helped to motivate Johnson to make a change. Johnson saw a chance to help musicians with the challenges that they face, and wasted no time in taking it. According to an article published by researchers Pavitra, Chandrashekar, and Choudhur of The Indian Journal of Psychiatry, creativity is also perceived to correlate with elevated stress and the refusal to seek help. Johnson experiences this in her job as well, saying that, “It is somehow socially acceptable for a musician, a writer, a painter to suffer with mood swings or addiction.” In an attempt to alleviate some of the challenges local musicians face, SIMS offers a variety of mental health services to those who can’t afford it. “Many of our clients are living close to the federal poverty line,” said Johnson, explaining one of the main purposes of the growing organization. SIMS steps in to make a difference in these musicians livespaying for doctor visits, counseling sessions, and addiction therapy. Later, the researchers agreed that the popular notion, “you have to be a little mad to be creative,” may play a part in musicians not seeking help. There is a fear in many musicians that receiving mental help means that others will frown upon them, and this contributes to the refusal to seek help. It is the social stigma, Johnson often thinks, that will prevent people from asking for help. Johnson thinks, on the other hand, that making
Photos Courtesy of http://www.simsfoundation.org
The SIMS organization didn’t start on this scale, though. Seventeen years ago, Sims Ellison, a beloved Austin musician, took his own life unexpectedly. Ellison’s friends and family came together to form the foundation. Johnson says the actions of the group of musicians and sound engineers who volunteered proved a true testament to how much the community needed an organization like SIMS. Since then, the organization has continued to grow. Johnson says, “The love that these people have in their hearts for Sims and the loss that so many feel helps to keep our services going.” Over the span of 17 years, the program has expanded. More qualified employees are available for assistance, and the number of people that SIMS affects has increased. Johnson said that when a client calls the SIMS Foundation now, a trained clinician will be readily available for them. Once in the SIMS program, a client may receive counseling, go through an addiction recovery program, or have the ability to finally see a doctor. SIMS’ sole mission is to provide the necessities for healthy, happy musicians in the community. “Our therapists also provide long term case management to ensure that [clients] are receiving the highest level of care and that their mental health is improving,” said Johnson. And, according to surveys, 98% of SIMS clients report an improvement in symptoms.
Johnson confesses that she doesn’t know any of the clients personally, because she works in the Outreach and Communications section of the organization, but she said, “I get to meet SIMS clients all the time when I’m working at a SIMS booth at an event.” And though the stories of the clients can’t be told due to confidentiality, Johnson says that often times, clients will approach her and say, “SIMS saved my life.”
Fueling the foundation, SIMS receives aid from the Austin community, which donates nearly $800,000 a year to the cause. Known for being The Live Music Capital of the World, residents of Austin hold music close to their hearts. This might explain the reaction from the community to help musicians. In addition to donors, 50 mental health providers around the city offer services for a substantially lower rate, allowing more clients to receive the same amount of help. These types of services go into helping 600 people annually, something Johnson takes pride in.
Sims Ellison, band member and songwriter for the local band Pariah, commited suicide in 1995 after a long struggle with depression.
“Sims’s presence is definitely felt strongly in the SIMS office,” says Johnson. She went on to say that many of the volunteers at the SIMS foundation knew Ellison well, and his friends and family keep the love for him close to their hearts. Johnson finished by saying that, “It is an incredible feeling when I hear that SIMS services have helped to prevent a tragedy... from happening. That’s all we want.”
spotlight Based in Austin, Texas, Catherine Nicole sells modern and feminine jewelry for every woman. Using copper, gold, and other minerals, Nicole creates great environmentally friendly home-made jewelry.
Layla Earrings in Morrocan Blue, $46
Annie Earrings in Rosy, $48
Fair Trade Nadia Cuff, $35
Tree of Life Earrings, $24
Eliana Earrings in Copper, $32
Photos Courtesy of Catherine Nicole
“A graduate of Parsons School of Design’s prestigious Fashion Design program, Catherine Nicole’s collections of modern statement jewelry are inspired by the idea that stories can be told by what we wear. She founded Catherine Nicole in 2004, shortly after returning Stateside from spending six years in Spain, and launched her debut collection in 2007. Ever the traveler, she took her designs to the road and began selling to select boutiques discovered while touring cross-country with her husband in a vintage Airstream. The collection was met with immediate praise and attention from both the national buying community and media. She developed her Chicks Against Child Brides program in 2011 from a hunger to root philanthropy into the core model of the business. The program gives $5 from every purchase to support her joint efforts with BRAC to prevent young girls from becoming child brides. She has additionally launched a campaign called Letters to Young Leaders, to encourage you people in America to send encouraging notes to the young women in Uganda that benefit from the program. You can learn more about Letters to Young Leaders at http://www. catherinenicole.com/mobilize.”
Charles Albert Shell Necklace, $50
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he soft murmur of a dozen languages fill the halls. The sound of sewing machines thump, thump, thumping up and down seeps out of the room towards the end of the hall. Walking through the doorway, shelves of different colored T-shirts line the walls. Women busily cut and sew pieces of fabric, the first steps in creating their products. Employees and employers sit side by side working together like one big family. A family with open arms. The idea was to create jobs and awareness for refugees,” said Trina Barlow, Director of Marketing and Communications at Open Arms, and they have done just that. By dissecting the shop’s motto “Employ, Engage, Enjoy,” the achievement of the goal becomes apparent. The business, not a non-profit, employs refugee women around Austin to work at a living wage in a community of caring people. “Volunteers are being ambassadors expanding the range of awareness about Open Arms and refugees to the community,” said Lacey Strake, another founder and director of operations. And all the while, whether hiring, working or volunteering, enjoyment is key at Open Arms. Leslie Beasley, founder and managing director of Open Arms, took a trip to Uganda in January, 2010 where she met a group of abused refugee women forced to leave
their homes. Yet, these women seemed happy, despite their poverty and isolation from society. “I marveled at the resilience of their spirits as we sang and danced together. Their dignity in the face of trials moved me deeply. I left
them knowing I wanted to do something to help refugee women,” wrote Leslie Beasley on her official Open Arms blog. But she still had a question- how could she make a difference in the United States? Upon returning the Austin, she became aware of the remarkably large refugee population in her own community. She saw the isolation and poverty these people suffered from, similar to what she had seen of the women in Uganda. Realizing that something had to change, she set out to create a business employing refugee women at a living wage. “We knew we were going to start something, we just didn’t know what yet,” said Barlow, who assisted Beasley in the making of the shop. They spent months trying to come up with an idea until one night, as Beasley and her husband brainstormed, a now nightly ritual, they stumbled upon a question. What do people have a lot of, but don’t really need? A simple answer- T-shirts. “As our minds raced, we talked about how t-shirts and refugees share a similar story: created with hope, but often tossed aside. With Open Arms, refugees (and countless shirts) will get a new start, a new lease on life,” Beasley wrote on her blog. They wanted a group of refugee
Photo Courtesy of Trina Barlow and Amy Melsa
The tags attached to products with a simple safety pin hold a sentimental picture of the founders and their first employee.
One of the Infinity Scarves sold on the website for $32, this scarf is made of donated T-shirts from stores nation wide.
working from 9am- 2am. When she got home, she slept two hours, woke up, got her kids ready for school then attended classes. The cycle continued until she grew extremely exhausted. Around this time the idea for Open Arms became a reality, they had their first employee, and others soon followed. “I went to the refugee services and I heard about Open Arms and they helped me get a good job here,” Tila Baskota said, a production specialist at Open Arms. She fled from Bhutan and lived in Nepal at a refugee camp for 17 years before arriving in the United States in 2010. With their name out and refugee services helping them find employees, Open Arms continued on the path to success. Within a few months, they had four employees: Flora, Tila, Flora, the first employee to work at Open Arms, cuts T-shirt fabric for Man Maya Mahat and Odile Moukissi. future scarves, skirts, and belts. “All of them didn’t have any sewing skills. They women to make skirts, scarves, dog toys, bags, anything just had to have the desire to work, and work hard,” Barlow they could sell, out of T-shirts. But how would they find said. And work they did, selling merchandise here and employees willing to take this big step with them? A step there, spreading the word about this new business with a conscience. potentially ending in failure? Their first big sales started at the Christmas Affair put on by Junior League of Austin, a local market. It acted as their test, to see if their T-shirt made pieces would really sell. Would this dream become a real, growing business?
Photo Courtesy of Trina Barlow and Amy Melsa
“We knew we were going to start something.”
Their first employee, named Flora, had fled from Southern Sudan with seven children. After finally getting her UN immigration application approved, she moved to the United States where her husband died shortly after her arrival. “Flora had become a friend, she was the first employee we endeavored to pay 11 dollars an hour,” said Barlow. Their friendship began before Open Arms had entered in the picture at Patton Elementary. Barlow and Flora both had children attending the school. They had seen each other a few times before, but Flora always seemed by herself. This time however, Barlow felt compelled to begin a conversation and hear this woman’s story. As they talked, a common theme arose. “She kept asking for help, she needed help finding a job,” Barlow said. So, they began searching for a job, together. “I became angry with the way people treated her. They didn’t care she wanted to be with her kids. They always spoke to me, they didn’t speak to her,” Barlow said. They went to interview after interview, facing rejection from too many. Each place assumed Flora’s difficulty with English would inhibit her work, or that she lacked the skills they required of her. She ended up at a job at Whataburger
(From left to right): Man Maya Mahat, Odile Moukissi, Flora Lado and Raya Thanoon throw ribbons in the air for a photoshoot.
The products sold. Here they realized the possibility in their shop. Online orders increased and stores around Austin started carrying the merchandise. Now, in 2013, the women still work. They make scarves, skirts, belts and headbands. While the beginning four employees remain, three more have also joined the
“The first thing you feel at Open Arms is that they are a second family to us.” team; Raya Thanoon, Mona and Christine. Products sell all over the nation, a few international companies have even approached them about selling in other countries. But the basis of the company and the community of all who work there remains the same. “Since we came from different countries and left our families there, the first thing you feel at Open Arms is that they are a second family to us,” said Raya Thanoon, a refugee from Iraq who is now the production supervisor at Open Arms. For many of the employees, Open Arms set in motion a healing process. Having these jobs has taught them to let go of what they ran away from and find independence and value in what they do now.
When Thanoon first came to the United States, she did not have a future in mind, only paying bills and getting a job. But, because of Open Arms, she takes classes to continue her schooling on electrical engineering. She knows now when she returns to her home country, as she plans to, she will have a life and decent job. “This will only happen with Open Arms. Any other place I would not think like this,” Thanoon said. For Odile Moukissi, Open Arms helped her find finality in healing. Forced to flee in the middle of the night after hearing gunfire, she ran through the jungles of the Congo for weeks with her children, never to see her husband again. Now, she smiles and laughs from joy given to her by the job and community surrounding her every day. “Every now and then, if something exciting happens at Open Arms, she will get up and dance,” said Beasley. A business, a community, a home. This shop has given refugees a chance, educated the community and brought fair trade into the spotlight. Each product holds a safety pinned tag which displays their company photograph, three women stand arm in arm, smiling. “It’s a very warm atmosphere at Open Arms,” said Barlow, “I see the relationship with the employees like our arm in arm picture, we are all linked together, arm in arm for this business.”
Photo Courtesy of Trina Barlow and Amy Melsa
Anna Naim, junior at Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA), has been sketching designs since she was 12 years old. Recently, she led the costume crew of her school’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera”. Read on as Naim elaborates on her design process and her sources of inspiration. When did you notice yourself being drawn towards designing clothing?
Naim:
I first started sewing in eighth grade, and I did a few week long classes where we learned how to do basic hemming techniques and how to follow a pattern. I actually started teaching myself to draft patterns and make my own clothes just after that, and I realized that it was something I really loved and would want to pursue in college. As far as just an interest in design in general, I’ve always loved looking at runway collections and learning about designers, and when I was about four I would do things like try to make myself a skirt by cutting up my dresses.
Q:
Can you explain to me your design process?
Naim:
I wouldn’t say that I really have a set process as far as designing. But usually I don’t sit down to specifically design something, unless I’m working on something like Threadfair or for my portfolio. Sometimes I’ll
see something that automatically makes me picture making something inspired by it, so I’ll start mentally designing the clothes from there. I do sketches when I have to, but right now, without a lot of knowledge about making fashion flats properly, I find it a little easier to have a basic idea in my mind and then go from there, especially as I end up changing a lot of the parts of my designs along the way.
Q:
What do you do to spark your creative juices when stuck?
Naim: If I’m having trouble getting inspired, I usually look through books and watch movies that I like the style of. Fashion magazines like Nylon, and websites like Humans of New York and The Sartorialist and The Man Repeller are also really helpful just as a way of seeing different people’s styles and the hundreds of ways you can put clothes together. I also have a lot of fashion encyclopedias (dorky, I know) and designer biographies and fashion exhibit guides and things like that, and looking at those is always inspirational.
Q
: Tell me about your experiences when you created costumes for Phantom. Naim:
It was pretty stressful because I really wouldn’t consider myself interested in costume design. I had a lot of fun working with Savannah Dew and making a really extravagant, huge dress, as well as getting to see my work on stage, but I also found it a lot more difficult to design period pieces. The restrictions of that made it a little more difficult to be creative but still make something that worked with the time period.
Q
: Which designer do you find yourself drawing inspiration from? Naim:
I have a lot of favorite designers who’s work I find really inspiring, in that they make me want to sew or that I have a similar aesthetic to their own. I love the designers behind Stolen Girlfriends Club (Marc Moore, Dan Gosling, and Luke Har wood), as well as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang,
Photos Courtesy of Anna Naim and Douglas Cheong
Q:
Rei Kawakubo (behind Comme des Garçons), Prabal Gurung, and Alexander McQueen. There are a lot of others (and more women than just Rei, I promise!), but I’ll stop there.
Q
: Do you have a favorite quote from a designer? Naim:
I really like “I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence” from Yves Saint Laurent. I’m not sure if that is necessarily my favorite, but I love this view of fashion.
Q
: Where do you get your fabric from? Naim:
Here in Austin I usually end up at Joann’s or Hancock, but neither has a really great selection. The Common thread is nice but small and sort of expensive. There’s a new store here that I’ve heard is really good but I haven’t been yet (and can’t remember the name). I tr y to buy fabric when I’m with my dad in California because he lives right by three massive fabric warehouses that have a really wide range of fabric for a really good price. (Those
stores are Britex and Fabric Warehouse in SF and Fabrics r Us in San Jose).
Q
: Which store do you enjoy the most? Naim:
Probably the best store Ive ever been to is Mood in New York City, of Project Runway fame. It was amazing, but of the stores I go to regularly, I would say probably Britex because it just has this amazing range of fabric, from simple cottons to hand knit missoni fabric imported from Italy.
Naim uses custom stamps and ink to imprint intricate designs onto the clothing she plans to showcase at Threadfair.
“If the color fits, wear it. ”
The Liberal Arts and Science Academy’s fifth annual fashion competition included clothing created and modeled by high school students in the Austin area.
Modeled by Rebecca Saulsberry Outfit designed by Sofie Blankenship
Modeled by Sophia Shapiro Outfit designed by Abby Kappelman and Calla Bordie
Modeled by Deborah Zachgo Outfit designed by Abby Kappelman and Calla Bordie
Modeled by Rowan Youngs Outfit designed by Abby Kappelman and Calla Bordie
An inside look into the artists and their one-of-a-kind program at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin.
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he pungent scent of acrylic paint wafts down the bright yellow hallway as senior Tyran Williams sketches out his latest masterpiece onto a large canvas hung on the wall. He meticulously mixes hues of purple to create the perfect shade before expertly applying the paint onto the canvas. Bit by bit, the swirls of color come together to form an underwater scene, complete with a trailing octopus and intertwining vines of seaweed. Gray masses snake up the wall portraying the beastly sea monster that now fills the canvas. A few days ago, the canvas seemed nearly blank, save a few crude sketches, but now it depicts a surreal aquatic image, the newest addition to the paintings hung in the art hall. Williams carefully taps excess paint off his brush before returning to his palette, splattered with paint. Inspiring works like these line almost every hallway at the Liberal Art and Science Academy High School ( LASA) in Austin. Here, students challenge themselves to create masterpieces that decorate halls, pamphlets, and t-shirts all around the school in the program run by teachers Ms. Michlik and Ms. Estes. This special group of students constantly compete to make a name for themselves by doing what they love-- art. For some students, learning how to draw and paint came naturally to them, while others had older mentors and parents who influenced their creativity and passion for art and its many applications in not only the art world, but also in everyday life. “I started actually drawing at a young age, about 6,” Williams said. “I started using numerous how-to draw books, most of them being cartoons.” Many students like
Tyran got their start by simply coloring in books, and this, he said, helped him to get a feel for the activity without the pressure of a blank page. LASA senior Hannah Rieden agrees that her dad influences her decisions to take art classes at school. “My dad used to draw pictures on our sandwich bags, and I thought it was the coolest thing,” Rieden said. “I wanted to be just as good as him. Art class helped me to develop my skills and gave me the opportunity to work with different
“Surrealism has the detail and precision that realism has but a lot more creativity. It gives the artist power.” mediums and draw things I would never have thought of drawing otherwise.” Today, LASA artists have the opportunity to enroll in various classes pertaining to the subject of art, including Art 1, Printmaking, Ceramics, Painting, Drawing, and 2D Design. In all of these classes, teachers encourage students to discover their own niche in the art world and build on the skills that they enjoy the most, such as surrealism or, like senior Glenn Sampayan, photorealism, which focuses on capturing the details and reality of a scene or object, much like a photograph. “I tend to draw photorealistic works most of the time,” Sampayan said. “However, my favorite type would be a mix of abstract and realism because not only does it
All photos by Alice Kemp
LASA senior Tyran Williams fills in his sketch with purple and gray paints, his painting coming to life on the wall.
depict life in the best way possible, but [it] also illustrates ideas in the most creative way possible.” On the other hand, senior Alex Dolan states that her favorite type of art is surrealism, an artistic and literary movement that expresses imagination as revealed in dreams. “I think of surrealism as the next step after mastering realism,” Dolan said. “Once you learn how to paint reality, you then have the power to play with reality and create things that could never be photographed because they could never exist. Surrealism has the detail and precision that realism has but a lot more creativity- it gives the artist power.” Other students agree that although difficult, complex skills help to challenge themselves to advance their skills and take more joy out of what they love to do. Whether painting, sketching, or sculpting, learning from older mentors and teachers grants artists the ability to keep improving on their favorite subject. “I know I haven’t done a single piece without asking Ms. Michlik 10 times if it looks alright, or what she thinks I should do to make it better,” Rieden said. “The constructive criticism is always welcome.” According to students, although the techniques of LASA artists remain widespread, going back to the basics does aid them in their mission to grow into multi-talented artists. Dolan said that she’s like to doodle when she doesn’t have a concrete object in front of her. “The neat thing about doodling is it is generally subconscious so the things that come out of it can be very interesting,” Dolan said. “It is much more creative than
LASA senior Glenn Sampayan staples his portfolio pictures onto his bulletin board.
life drawing for this reason. Life drawing requires spatial reasoning, so it is more difficult than doodling because doodling is all out of your head.” As with the variation of different art skills found at the school, the types of tools and mediums also provide diversity throughout the program. Some students prefer to use simple tools such as pen, while others select watercolors or markers for their main mediums. LASA senior Glenn Sampayan receives critiques from teacher Ms. Michlik while putting together his portfolio.
Black and white creatures stamped onto blank paper hang on the walls around the school.
“I like pencil because of the large range of shading you can use and the fact that it’s not permanent so your first attempt doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be sharp, but it also leaves room for improvement,” Rieden said. “But I’ve started using pen a lot more this year, and have discovered many different styles. I really like the precise nature of the pen and that it doesn’t smear. On the contrary, artist Tyran Williams said that he favors using markers, Prismacolor pencils, and pen because they offer more control as opposed to paint. Like Rieden, Sampayan said he elects to choose pencils for his pieces as watercolor and acrylic paints because he finds them more difficult to master. “I literally have hundreds of pencils scattered all around my house ranging from 8B (darkest compressed charcoal) to 6H (lightest graphite),” Sampayan said. “Those are pretty much my weapon of choice since my favorite medium is drawing in graphite and charcoal.” Not only has the art program created new opportunities for aspiring artists to further their skills in the subject and medium of their choosing, but it also
reminds students that their hard work will pay off. Every day, exciting prospects open students’ doors to a place where people appreciate their art and discover more about the truly great program residing in their own school. “The most rewarding thing about being an artist at LASA these past four years has been what I’ve been able to contribute to the school,” Dolan said. “I love seeing my art around the school-- drawings in the Liberator, the jaguar I drew for the senior class t-shirt, posters for clubs or events like Threadfair and Coffeehouse. It is really great to see the impact I have made by doing what I love.” The artists’ impacts on the school also left a mark in the process of selecting classes for freshmen Kate Stankiewicz. She decided to sign up for Art 1 for the following school year after seeing the talent and array of classes offered during her first semester at LASA. “My friend’s artwork was so inspiring. They did such a variety of things and I wanted to try it,” Stankiewicz said. “It seemed really exciting and there [are] so many different kinds of art the classes do, so if I’m not as great
All photos by Alice Kemp
LASA portfolios decorate many bulletin boards in the art hall. Students’ skllls range from pen and pencil sketches to colorful oil pastel and watercolor pieces.
at one kind, it’s okay because I will be able to try a new type soon. That way, I am not stuck with something I am very skilled at. I can then also get better at the things that I am lacking skill in.” Head art teacher at LASA, Ms. Michlik started her art education in the seventh grade, and continued to take art classes throughout high school. She received a BFA in drawing, painting, and printmaking in college before deciding to move from Dallas to teach at LASA. Michlik states that although the program had humble beginnings, it now grows and increases in strength every year. “[Mrs. Estes] and I have rewritten the entire curriculum and added two new classes that have sparked a lot of interest,” Michlik said. “I have noticed a huge change in the level of work that students produce over the past few years.” Michlik also feels adamant about the real life implications of art. “Art is important for everyone to learn, not only those who are wanting to pursue it in college or as a career. Understanding the creative process and how to translate ideas visually is important in many careers outside of the arts.” Like her peers, Dolan hopes to continue taking art classes next year at the University of Texas College of Fine Arts. Although she does not choose art as her main career, Dolan feels that opting to sign up for smaller art courses furthers her studies in other areas of her selected career, such as creativity. “Some of the future jobs I would like would be an illustrator, graphic designer, creative director- really any kind of designer that lets me utilize my art skills that I learned here at LASA,” Dolan said. “I want to be in a profession where I’m able to create.”
Black pen art pieces by Monk Conti showcase his skills of breadth and concentration in his portfolio.
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Through the Lens
Austin, the capital of the Lone Star State, has plenty of quirky icons that draw in tourists and locals to experience the true Austin lifestyle.
Mayfiel Park photo by Ashley Hannah
Castle Hill Graffiti Park photo by Alice Kemp
Guadelupe Street photo by Alice Kemp
Laguna Gloria photo by Alice Kemp