PREMIERE ISSUE
Reflections SUMMER 2011
Summer is...
Table of Contents HOME BASE
03 05 09
THE TROUPE CONTRIBUTORS THE HOT LIST
pg.
09 pg.
10
pg.
36
pg.
19 pg.
31 NOTIONS
11 15 17 19 21 23 27 29 31 33
pg.
27
pg.
24
S E A S ON A L S TA P L E S
White Light C L O T H E S T A L K E R : Vintage Reflections B E AU T Y M A R K : Behold the Bold P O L I S H E D : Joanie nie Dodds F A S H I O N F O R WA R D :
DEAR SIR THE NOOK BLACKBOARD FOOTPRINT:
Green Baby Green
BACK TO BASICS
pg..
15
Table of Contents pg.
27 SPOTLIGHT
35 41 43 47 47 57 59
REFLECTIONS EYES ON AMOS
Mr. Boddington S O U T H E R N R O O T S : Meet the Bakers pg. WA N D E R L U S T : San Juan, Puerto Rico L U G G A G E TA G : Quinault, Washington A B O D E : At the Home of Dwayne Hein & Nick Kindrick MAN OF MYSTERY:
60
pg.
pg.
49
pg.
42
44 SHELF LIFE
79 81 83 87
pg.
80
BOOK BANTER
Just a Moment F R A M E O F R E F E R E N C E : I’m Not a Pet Lover T H E C R I T I C : Flux Factory T H E WO R D :
Table of Contents SOUNDS
91 97 99
IMPRESSION:
Lady Greensleeves
LISTEN UP! E AV E S D R O P P I N G :
You Spoke, We Listened
pg.
105 pg.
97 PERSPECTIVES
101 105 111 117
If the Orchid Fits T H E D I R T Y G U V ’ N A H S : As Told by James Trimble b E N JA M I N M AT H E S : About a Dream M E G A N Z O T TA R E L L I : All Roads Lead to {San Francisco} co} COLLEEN MOORE:
pg.
94
I N S P I R AT I O N
123
pg.
124
131 133 137
Ashley Addair Jon Carr CJ Isaac Sarah Martin U N C O V E R E D : Melanie Sonier T H E L O C A L : Atlanta, Georgia T H E G I V I N G W E L L : Austin Hatcher Foundation THE LOUNGE:
Rachel
editorial director
Alli
crea tive
son
dire ctor
, u o Y o T s U m o r F We are beyond thrilled to finally share this premiere issue of Modern Ink Magazine with you! This has been an incredible journey filled with a dizzying array of notebooks, direction and misdirection, lessons taught and learned, laughter and breath holding, and finally now, exhaling. Many of you have asked how Modern Ink came to be. It’s actually a surprisingly simple story that goes something like this: We are very close friends who delight in dreaming larger-than-life dreams together over coffee. On a rainy Tuesday morning last October, we had one of our usual Starbucks meetings, to revel in the small victory of landing childcare for our kids, and to marvel at the many life changes creeping alongside of us. We each direct our own businesses of completely separate natures (Allison is the owner of The Modern Hostess, an event design company, and Rachel writes, edits, and blogs through her own Ink & Waters). Realizing our talents could play quite well off each other, we decided to start shooting scenes written, designed, and styled as a team. With
Allison’s passion for design, styling, planning, and basically making sets, places, and events look stellar and Rachel’s passion for doing the same with words, along with a mutual interest in interior styling, it was a match made in Heaven. What began as inspiration shoots evolved into merging our love of photography, words, and stories into this magazine and finding a team of creative contributors to share their knowledge. Working with such an incredibly talented group of people has both motivated and allowed us to continue expanding. It’s our sincere hope that you take as much pleasure perusing this issue of Modern Ink Magazine as we had creating it. Enjoy!
Allison & Rachel
HOME BASE
The Troupe
Allison Sprouse Allison Sprouse is a co-creator and the creative director for Modern Ink Magazine. Having begun her career as an advertising sales manager for a national magazine, she marvels at the full-circle irony of being back in magazine saddle after years of departure. As creative director, her hope is to serve both reader and contributor well through innovative means that push each person to think beyond themselves. In addition to her roles at Modern Ink Mag, Allison owns The Modern Hostess, an event planning and design company. Her work has been featured in several national magazines, as well as on many top blogs. Allison lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband and two little girls.
Rachel Wood Turner Rachel Wood Turner’s footprints can currently be found in Knoxville, Tennessee where she daydreams with her husband, their two young sons, and their baby girl. When she isn’t busy working as the editorial director for Modern Ink Magazine and donning the eclectic hats that being one of it's co-creators entails, she is freelance writing, editing, blogging, and interior styling for other projects. Prior to her work as a writer and editor, she worked in several city school districts as an educator and reading specialist...Rachel sincerely hopes that in her next life she can freelance as a traveling, antique-book-dealing, glitter-laden gypsy, known only by her middle name, Baila.
Modern Ink Magazine | 3
HOME BASE
The Troupe
Daniel Wiseman
Rob Bennet
Daniel Wiseman is a web layout specialist and
Rob Bennet is a technologist and application developer
illustrator from St. Louis, MO. He likes flying kites,
out of St. Louis, MO. If he is not developing a website or
hunting foxes, and learning as much as he can about
tinkering with some interesting new technology, he is
dinosaurs. When he’s not sitting in front of the
enjoying his family, and hopefully doing something
computer, drawing funny looking people, or taking
outdoors. You can check more out about Rob at
pictures of the world around him, you can probably
www.robbennet.com.
find him riding his bike for hours or cooking dinner with his lovely wife.
Susan McCanless Susan McCanless is a graphic designer, stationery enthusiast, and the principal designer/owner of J Press Designs. Her days are filled working with a range of clients: fashion designers, photographers and brides-to-be, whom she enjoys working with to help make the world a more aesthetically pleasing place to live. Currently living in Memphis, Tennessee, Susan also enjoys traveling, riding her bike and exploring the great outdoors with her husband, Jonathan.
Modern Ink Magazine | 4
HOME BASE
Contributors Claire Turner Balest Claire Turner Balest is busy actualizing her childhood dream of a life spent playing with lipstick, working as a freelance makeup artist out of Knoxville, Tennessee, and traveling as a regional artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. She works in all arenas: network television, print, theatre and weddings and was recently awarded “East Tennessee’s Best Makeup Artist 2010” by weddingdailytimes.com. She can be contacted at knoxvillemakeup@gmail.com.
Austin L. Church
Tara Kneiser
Austin is a vocational storyteller with a passion for
Originally from a small farming community in Nebraska,
personal transformation. He pays the bills by helping
Tara Kneiser moved to Denver to study photography at
businesses and organizations with marketing,
the the Art Institute of Colorado. After graduating and
branding, copywriting, and social media and currently
working as a magazine photo editor, she moved to
lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his wife Megan, a
Tennessee, where she owns and operates Dixie Pixel, her
beautiful and very patient woman.
photography business. She enjoys a quiet life, living in Oak Ridge with her husband and two children.
You can read more of his writing on his blog, gu.e: what’s left out: http://www.whatsleftout.com Modern Ink Magazine | 5
HOME BASE
Contributors
Ilene Liff-Mier
Sarah Martin
Ilene Liff-Mier grew up in Puerto Rico, went to school at
Sarah Martin is an interdisciplinary artist, professor and
the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and has had the
the Director of Communications for the L.A.F. Project. She
opportunity to travel half the world with her mother.
has been teaching photography and filmmaking since
She has continued living out her passion for travel,
2003 and is currently teaching photography and social
residing now in Atlanta, Georgia with her two
practice at the University of North Carolina at
daughters, Veronica Nicole and Rebecca Alicia, and
Greensboro. Sarah received her MFA in Photography
the best father and husband in the world, Alberto.
from Yale University in 2002 and her BA in Media Arts from the University of Tennessee in 2000.
Lindsay Saint Clair Lindsay Saint Clair has spent her life in the throes of a wild, raving love affair with the written word. The only things she likes quite as much as curling up with a good book and a glass of wine are her two beautiful boys and her wonderful husband. After nearly a decade in San Francisco and a short stint in Atlanta, Lindsay now resides in Chicago. She is currently working as a freelance writer and editor.
Modern Ink Magazine | 6
HOME BASE
Contributors Michelle Simpson Michelle Simpson is a New Jersey native that currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and soon-to-be baby boy. She has worked in the fashion industry for the past ten years, as a wardrobe and personal stylist, designer, and now as the owner of clothing boutique, Black Market Square.
Graham Yelton
Kara Werner
Graham Yelton has what can only be described as
Dr. Kara Werner holds a doctorate of chiropractics,
Obsessive Creative Disorder. With a passion for
graduating cum laude from Palmer West in San Jose, CA.
beauty and smart design, she specializes in graphic
Three years after practicing in one of the top sports
design, photography, and interiors. She loves all
therapy offices in San Francisco, she founded Monarch
things clever, surprising, simple, and a little crafty. Her
Chiropractic and Integrative Health Center in the
work can be found at www.grahamyelton.com.
bustling Laurel Village area. She has recently become a ‘Portlander’ and enjoys the sustainable lifestyle with the love of her life, Aaron, and their two-year-old daughter.
Modern Ink Magazine | 7
HOME BASE
Contributors
Gibson Penn
Alyssa Sprouse
Gibson is a self-proclaimed loaner who enjoys nothing
Alyssa ‘grew up’ in New York City – arriving
more than reviewing, critiquing, and producing music.
post-college graduation to chase dreams straight out
Other interests include (in no particular order: Star Trek
of “The Devil Wears Prada.” Following a steady
and alien costumes, Lord of the Rings battle reenactments,
march up the masthead in the beauty industry, Alyssa
Dungeon and Dragons miniature detailing and collecting,
recently traded in her subway pass and stilettos to
and Brazilian jiujutsu). He also enjoys irony, sarcasm, wit,
move back down south where she is reveling in a
and people who smile genuinely and speak their minds.
marvelously more sane and happy existence with her
Feel free to contact Gibson at gibsonpenn@gmail.com .
incredible husband and delightful baby boy. She currently works as an editorial consultant.
CJ Isaac CJ moved to New York from the southeast in 2010, shortly after attending Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Since graduating, CJ has worked for a number of commercial and editorial clients including EM2 Design, Robinson College of Business, Williams-Sonoma, Highland Bakery, New York Magazine, NY Times Best Selling Author Adriana Trigiani, Witness, and NBC Niteside. CJ is based out of NYC and is available for commercial work anywhere. To contact CJ or to view her work, visit her site: www.cjisaac.com
Modern Ink Magazine | 8
H O M E B A S E Hot Listt
Allison
Woven Drink Bucket www.westelm.com $59
Peach of a Pair Flats “I love how they’ve taken the classic wing tip & modernized it with a punch of peach” www.modcloth.com $104.99
Fleur Pink Artboard Frame www.obrienschridde.com $65 Modern Ink Magazine | 9
Kingston Road Dress www.anthropologie.com $228
Mermaid Bottle Opener “I am obsessed with mermaids…I think my daughters have inspired this – something about their beauty & mystery intrigues me.” www.fisheddy.com $18.95
Hot List H O M E B A S E
Rachel After Hours Clock www.cb2.com $149
Picnic Cooler "I'm all about retro green this summer, and this vintage-style cooler from Crate and Barrel will be doing double-duty as kitchen decor when it's not in use!" www.crateandbarrel.com $54.95
Salvatore Ferragamo Square Black Sunglasses www.sunglasshut.com $275
Turquoise Tears Necklace "I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, and this necklace is the perfect way to dress up my summer go-to outfits for dressy daytime or evening wear with heels." www.anthropologie.com $198
Bergman www.seychellesfootwear.com $90 Modern Ink Magazine | 10
N O T I O N S Seasonal Staples
WARDROBE WHIMSY
MARC BY MARC JACOBS FLOWER RING www.piperlime.com $78
EN PLEIN AIR DRESS www.anthropologie.com $258
COMMITTED CORRESPONDENCE CARDIGAN www.modcloth.com $54.99
AMELIE BY FRYE www.zappos.com $158 Modern Ink Magazine | 11
CYNTHIA ROWLEY CALLOWAY TOP HANDLE FLAP BAG www.revolveclothing.com $290
Seasonal Staples N O T I O N S
PAD PROVISIONS
HANGING AIRPLANT POD BY MUDPUPPY www.etsy.com $32
MS. TREAT www.growhousegrow.com $180 per roll
HAPPY www.jonathanadler.com $165
BALL CHANDELIER www.shopcandelabra.com $2487.50
DAYDREAMER SETTEE www.urbanoutfitters.com $579 Modern Ink Magazine | 12
N O T I O N S Seasonal Staples
FLIGHT SCHOOL
F1 RETRO PASSPORT WALLET www.flight001.com $18
MARC BY MARC JACOBS JUMBLED BIRD PRINT TRAVEL UMBRELLA www.saks.com $48
STRAWBERRY LATTE SHOULDER BAG www.modcloth.com $54.99
ROS E 4 REINES SOLID Perfumewww.usa.loccitane.com $9
Modern Ink Magazine | 13
BOOKBOOK CASE FOR IPAD 2 www.twelvesouth.com $69.99
Seasonal Staples N O T I O N S
ROB RYAN: BUNTING www.daytripsociety.com $36 BEECH WOOD TABLE CUTLERY AND NAPKIN SET FOR ONE www.sprouthome.stores.yahoo.net $4.50
DRESS FOR DINNER NAPKINS www.spoonsisters.com $5.95 for 20
WINE BARCHITECTURE COCKTAIL NAPKINS www.blueribbongeneralstore.net $5.50 per pack
CITY BOY PICNIC GRILL www.finnishdesignshop.us $229
TENNESSEE PLYBOO CUTTING BOARD BY AHEIRLOOM www.etsy.com $40 Modern Ink Magazine | 14
BY M I C H E L L
N O T I O N S Fashion Forward
D AY T IM E
WHITE
ROCKETDOG “MAR
EXTREME CAT EYE
P OLKA DOT FLA
www.urbanoutfitters.com
www.shopruche.c $45.99
$16
DEENA & OZZY MOTO ZIP HOBO BAG www.urbanoutfitters.com $69
COOPERATIVE TIE-BACK TOP www.urbanoutfitters.com $49
FALLING IN LUCK FLORAL EARRINGS www.shopruche.com $12.99 GARDEN DREAMS WIDE FLORAL BANGLE www.shopruche.com $16.99 TRADITIONAL BOATER www.us.topshop.com $40 Modern Ink Magazine | 15
LE SIMP S O N
Fashion Forward N O T I O N S
LIGHT
NIGHTTIME
FREE SKATE BLOUSE www.anthropologie.com $248 MARTINEZ RILUS”
VALERO OSCAR
LATS
www.zappos.com
com
$111.20
AFTER PARTY WHITE AND GOLD BANGLE SET www.lulus.com $20
J BRAND MAE BOOTCUT JEANS www.piperlime.com $167
JUICY COUTURE KISSING BIRDS RING www.piperlime.com $88
MOUNTAIN LAND GOLD & TURQUOISE THE GEORGIA TIERRA BLANCA LACE LEATHER www.sedgwick.com
EARRINGS www.lulus.com $15
$480 Modern Ink Magazine | 16
N O T I O N S Clothes Talker
Through the Looking Glass Vintage Reflections by Alyssa Sprouse
Looking back now, it began in my grandmother’s attic. To the unimaginative eye, an antiquated room overflowing with archaic yearbooks, National Geographic back issues stacked floor-to-ceiling, decaying wrapping paper and an ancient cloth mannequin teetering at attention in the corner, awaiting one final fitting. A room that wasn’t really a room at all – but merely an old crawl space converted to store the jumbled assortment of possessions acquired over a lifetime. That attic was a magical, mystical place. Growing up in Florida’s oppressive heat and humidity, we didn’t have an attic--or a basement. No one I knew did. It was just too darn hot. In fact, my grandmother’s attic was the first one I’d ever seen. I was seventeen, old enough to think I was old and far beyond such things, but still somehow young enough to believe in the possibility of buried treasure. My imagination won out that day and before I could help it, I found myself tripping and traipsing through boxes and old steamer trunks, pausing to glimpse at old photographs of people I didn’t recognize, and trying to figure out how anyone successfully wrote a term paper on a typewriter. My wander was aimless, my imagination wild. It seemed an awesome and strange action, to sift through the discarded relics of another life--of another age. Modern Ink Magazine | 17
Gradually I made my way back to an ancient armoire, reeking of mothballs and spilling over with dust mites. The budding clotheshorse in me began to get excited. What if...? I opened the doors to find hanging racks groaning with the weight of pantsuits and shift dresses reflecting every color of the rainbow. Electric blue. Fluorescent green. Violent orange. Even through the dusty plastic hanging bags, the colors were harsh, as were the polyester fabrics. It was like stumbling into Mrs. Brady’s closet in the 1970’s – not exactly my idea of hidden treasure. Closing the doors and wiping away the cobwebs, I began to pick my way out of the peculiar maze. A few steps from the door, one more rather nondescript trunk caught my eye, and my curiosity overtook me once more. I knelt down to see what it held, and to my surprise, I found myself looking at another maze – this one an intricate mess of black and tan gauzy chiffon that seemingly went on forever. I lifted it up high above my head, and the dress just kept unrolling. What began as a mess of filmy, transparent fabric quickly morphed into an evening gown--straight out of the 1960’s and my school girl dreams.
Clothes Talker N O T I O N S In this one moment, covered in dust, surrounded by the ghosts of people and possessions past, I fell in love. With a dress. With a dream. With a discovery. I had discovered vintage. Fashion, for me, would never be the same. That found-dress, without so much as a single alteration, became my senior prom dress, and I had never, to that day, felt more beautiful. More confident. More like an authentic version of myself – which sounds strange when wearing a piece of clothing that belonged to someone else. But for me that was part of the elusive, undeniable charm. Perhaps this dress had already danced at a prom, or met for drinks post-opera in Paris, or any number of possibilities swirling around my head. Then almost magically, it had become mine – bringing with it silent whispers of past experiences, and the promise of all it might hold for me. Today I enjoy looking back at the photographs of the girl in that dress. So young. So naïve. So certain of this one choice – even while standing on the precipice of college, adulthood and all that is unknown. Thus, my love affair with vintage clothing began--slowly at first, and then with more daring and regularity… an original Lilly Pulitzer my grandmother bought in Palm Beach. A pink and white organza frock dug out of an antique store in Michigan. A thirty-year-old Louis Vuitton Speedy bag on ‘permanent loan’ from my mother, which allowed me to feel polished and poised while broke and job hunting in New York City. A yellow and white floral shirtdress from the 1950’s for my first work presentation. A vintage brooch for my wedding dress, bought off a truck at the Chelsea Flea Market. A black eighties column dress for my elegant thirtieth birthday. And a royal blue Mexican caftan to embrace my burgeoning belly while pregnant this past summer. They are pieces from the past; they are pieces that have become my past. They are old, yet morphed into new for me. They are unusual, yet familiar. Those pieces are now some of my most prized possessions – reflecting where I have been, and projecting who I want to be...each one as unique as I.
The Hunt The places and spaces where I’ve stumbled upon some of my favorite vintage finds. New York City Brooklyn Flea Market brooklynflea.com 176 Lafayette Ave (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) 27 North 6th St. (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) This is far and away my favorite place to while away a weekend afternoon. The perfect blend of vintage clothing, eclectic collectibles, handmade art, retro furniture and inventive, delectable food.
Screaming Mimis New York screamingmimis.com 382 Lafayette Street SoHo, Manhattan
The Dressing Room thedressingroomnyc.com 75a Orchard Street Lower East Side, Manhattan
Daha Vintage 175 Orchard Street Lower East Side, Manhattan
Hairy Mary 149 Orchard Street Lower East Side, Manhattan
Beacon’s Closet beaconscloset.com 88 N 11th Street (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) 92 5th Avenue (Park Slope, Brooklyn)
Elsewhere… Goldmine Vintage 1123 Pearl Street Boulder, Colorado
Yellowstone Vintage Clothing 527 State Street Santa Barbara, CA
Honeypot 86 N. Lexington Avenue Asheville, NC
The Clothing Warehouse theclothingwarehouse.com Locations in Greenville, Atlanta, New York, Savannah, Jacksonville and Chapel Hill
N O T I O N S Beauty Mark
Skin
Behold t
B OB B I B R O W N N EW H Y D R AT ING G EL C R E AM Sun exposure can leave skin dehydrated and fine lines apparent...this new moisturizer from Bobbi Brown is the perfect summer solution: lightweight but hydrating, with tropical grass extract and vitamin e.
www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
$50
Lips
Eyes
“Rose Blossom” “Rated R” “Bateau Ivre” NA RS DUO E Y E S HA D O W These eye shadow duos from NARS definitely rock the “bright” trend: whether you’re ready to walk the runway or just casually mimic it’s trends, pack a punch of color with Rated R, or go for a sheer wash of color with Bateau Ivre. www.narscosmetics.com
$33 each Modern Ink Magazine | 19
“Guava” BOBBI BROWN NEW R IC H C O LO R S P F 12 Summer’s bright new lip colors are saturated and sensational when worn on their own, but layering them together gives a totally wearable runway look. www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
$22 each
the Bold
Beauty Mark N O T I O N S
Cheeks
by Claire Balest
URBA N D E C A Y A F T ER G LO W GL I D E - O N C HE E K T INT This silky formula is packed with nourishing vitamins and feels completely weightless on the skin. We love mixing the irresistible colors together to create different shades, but our summer favorite is this perfectly wearable bright pink blended into the apple of the cheeks. www.urbandecay.com
$24 in “Crush”
Nails OP I N A I L L A C Q UE R If you’re timid about diving into summer’s bold spirited makeup trends, the easiest way to jump-start the look is on your toes. OPI has intense, adventurous colors that look amazing in a pair of your favorite flip-flops.
“A Grape Fit”
www.opi.com
$8.5 “I Lily Love You” “Come to Poppy” Modern Ink Magazine | 20
N O T I O N S Polished
i n a o J
s d d o D e
Polished N O T I O N S Joanie Dodds is an American fashion model whose career began in New York City in 2001. She modeled in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago before becoming a contestant on America's Next Top Model in 2006. After coming in second place on the show, she relocated to Los Angeles to live and work. Her career has taken her to Europe and Asia, as well as into television and onto the big screen. She currently co-hosts a home improvement show on the DIY Network called, “Run My Renovation.” When we caught up with Joanie, she gave us the lowdown on her favorite beauty products, trends and advice, as well as what she considers to be her biggest beauty mishap! Tell us about the first make up product you remember purchasing? I remember being in tenth grade and buying a Cover Girl compact. It smelled like Noxema, and was a horrible shade, but without it I couldn't exist. I had to cover-up those teenage zits!
Who do you consider to be your beauty icons? Some of my beauty icons are Cate Blanchett, and Gisele Bundchen. Cate is such a natural beauty. When I heard she tints her eyelashes, I started too, and it has been amazing... one of my fav things that I must do!
What has been your favorite beauty trend? My favorite beauty trend recently is letting your roots grow out and lightening the ends of your hair. It saves money and looks bohemian chic. I also love using stains for cheek and lip. You can have the color without wearing a lot of makeup.
Gisele's hair is to-die for, and it’s been my color inspiration for years when it comes to doing my hair. She also always has a flawless tan, thus my obsession with bronzers for face and body.
And...what has been your least favorite beauty trend? I hated the lip-liner-only look. What a mess, but we all tried it.
What is the best beauty advice anyone has ever given you, and who gave it to you? I was told for stubborn eye makeup, use baby oil. The advice was given to me by a makeup artist, who also happens to be a drag queen, and of course it works perfectly. He'd know, right?!
What has been your biggest beauty mishap? I remember tinting my own eyebrows with jet black hair dye and getting it on my eyebrow skin. I looked like one of the Beatles for a few days.
WHAT’S IN YOUR MAKE UP BAG? Covergirl Blackest Black Mascara (large brush) brand matte black eye shadow Black Mascara
JOANIE’S
5 BEAUTY MUST-HAVES
1. Tarte "Park Avenue Princess" Bronzer 2. Kerastase Oleo-relax Serum 3. Physicians Formula matte eyeshadow quad in "Canyon Classics" 4. Kiehl's tinted moisturizer in medium 5. Kiehl's microdermabrasion cleanser
•
Black Pencil Eyeliner
•
•
•
•
•
Korres
Sephora
Shiseido Hydro Powder Eye •
Daily Conditioning Treatment
Benefit Benetint in Rose
Powder and Bare
drugstore
Korres Lip Gloss
Korres Gold Eye Shadow
Shadow Pot in Tiger Eye Lip Pot
•
•
•
Bare Minerals 'Light'
Minerals Mineral Veil
•
a few different
brushes for bronzers and Bare Mineral powders tweezers
•
nail clippers
•
tiny scissors
•
•
a pencil sharpener
Modern Ink Magazine | 22
N O T I O N S Dear Sir FOR
YOUR
BRADFORD
Ben Sherman Messenger Bag urbanoutfitters.com $64
Miansai-Braided Sailboat Keychain Stag Provisions stagaustin.com $78
Over View sunglasses kennethcolereaction.com $55
The Capital Automatic n i x o n n o w. c o m $700
Harborline by Crocs zappos.com $90 Modern Ink Magazine | 23
Hampton Summer Paisley silk tie bananarepublic.com $59.50
Dear Sir N O T I O N S FOR
YOUR
OTIS
leather iPod/iPhone case b y t o v i e c o r r i e o n e t s y. c o m $32
Imogene + Willie Plus T-shirt
Stanley Classic Flask amazon.com
imogeneandwillie.com
$15
$75
Lomography Diana+Parisian Camera urbanoutfitters.com $65
Campus 80’s shoes adidas.com
Webb glasses frames by Warby Parker
$80
w a r b y p a r k e r. c o m $95 Modern Ink Magazine | 24
N O T I O N S Dear Sir FOR
YOUR
DORIAN
The New Yorker
Big Dipper Arc Lamp
n e w y o r k e r. c o m $39.95/year
cb2.com $199
Danish Modern Storage urbanoutfitters.com $189
Chess abodeon.com $65
Portland by Trek trekbokes.com $1,729.99
Ben Sherman Chino Shorts urbanoutfitters.com $98 Modern Ink Magazine | 25
Dear Sir N O T I O N S FOR
YOUR
QUINTIN
iCade thinkgeek.com $99.99
Andrew Berg Lamp shop-generalstore.com $200
Buran chromebagstore.com
Bistro Blade Grinder
$140
bodum.com $29.95
Massive marshalheadphones.com $99
Death’s Door Gin deathsdoorspirits.com
Saga Credenza cb2.com $549
Modern Ink Magazine | 26
N O T I O N S The Nook g Book nt Colorin ia G y ll a e R Doodles: A y Taro Gomi b 8
m $17.8 oble.co
Going to the Zoo Pupp et anthropologie.co
m $28
esandn
barn
Furlicio pbtee
us Bean bag
n.com
Keep Calm Bandages urbanoutfitters.com $7
Plan Toy Chalet Dollhouse with Furniture amazon.com $204.99
Modern Ink Magazine | 27
$179
The Nook N O T I O N S
Hello Jungle Pop-up Placemat landofnod.com $14.95
Sckoon Organic Cotton Baby Ha-Ha Monkey Pants sckoon.com $24
Hand Tattoos from Talking Hands aplusrstore.co
m $8
Sense and Sensibility amazon .com
Penguin C lassics
$13.60
Lego Walk ie Talkies urbanou
tfitters.c
om $34
Modern Ink Magazine | 28
NOTIONS
d r a o b k c a l B e h T
Modern Ink’s creative director, Allison Sprouse, shows what is on her blackboard this month.
Hugo Guinness Linoleum Cut Prints “Don’t be afraid to mix and match! Let your creative spirit take hold. Don your walls from floor to ceiling with a vast array of artist pieces.” www.johnderian.com
Honeysuckle Pantone “Honeysuckle is 2011’s color of the year. Courageous. Confident. Vital. It’s a color for every day – with nothing everyday about it.” credit www.pantone.com
Dot Kuma Pillow www.areaware.com
$24
Petrie Leather 76” Apartment Sofa www.crateandbarrel.com
$3799
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NOTIONS
Midcentury Pink and Gold Lamps by School of Vintage www.etsy.com $20
Coqo Floral Curtain www.anthropologie.com $168
Cardamom Jellybaby “Small doses of pink mixed with rich colors add to the balance of masculine and feminine design.� www.madelineweinrib.com
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N O T I O N S Footprint
GREEN
BABY
GREEN by Kara Werner
Not only do we use colors to describe emotions such as tickled-pink, feeling blue or red-with-rage, we use them to describe a way of life—living green. The term, living green is often overused and has become clichéd when referred to as “organic” or as a “natural lifestyle.” The actual meaning of living green is frequently misrepresented and overlooked, lost under an umbrella of social dialogue, without much palpable application in our daily lives. Modern Ink Magazine | 31
Footprint N O T I O N S Living green is, if I may say, a way of life, a responsibility even. Aside from bringing your bags to the grocery store, or your re-usable cup to the coffee shop, or hell, even raising your own chickens and buying into an urban farm, I have often pondered it’s true meaning. Living in Portland has challenged this thought process...this city is known not only for it’s rainy winters, but also for walking the walk of sustainability. Portland has the most bike riders per capita in the United States, second only to Amsterdam worldwide. People here seem to have embraced a lifestyle shift that incorporates viewing the world as fully integrated within each part of itself. I am convinced that it takes that type of paradigm shift to transform daily dialogue and cocktail chatter about living green into an actual way of life. It requires a true awakening to realize we do not exist in a mechanistic world built of separated parts, disconnected or unaffected by each other. One must embrace a holistic perspective... everything is interrelated. Everything is alive, dynamic and connected within some sort of matrix, actively assimilated into the “big picture.” When we live with this holistic belief system, living green takes on an altered meaning. We comprehend that every thought and choice has a direct effect on everything else in our lives. Those choices, great or small, will either give more sustainability and life force to our existence in this world, or they will take away from it. The overarching concept to grasp when attempting to walk the legitimate walk in the quest toward living green, is to make each and every step in your journey count. Modern Ink Magazine | 32
NOTIONS
BACK TO BY LINDSAY SAINT CLAIR
In the modern w This is a place w
photo credit: Dewhirst Properties
Punch bowls Whatever happened to punch bowls? Now that classic cocktails are making a comeback, it’s the perfect time to resurrect this vintage party go-to. Let your own concoction serve as the centerpiece, conversation piece, and bartender all at once by creating a delectable imbibable for your next party.
Analogue time pieces
photo credit: Modern Ink
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It is, perhaps, one of the greatest achievements of modern man to have mastered the telling of time and to then have mechanized it and miniaturized it, until it fits into a pocket or onto a wrist. And before the mantle was merely the thin line that stands between the wall, mounted flat-screen television, and the decorative gas fireplace, it was often graced by a beautifully crafted clock. Whether it’s a vintage mid-century modern rendition or a new twist on a classic, keep time in your abode, or in your pocket, with the watchful eyes of a clock face.
NOTIONS
O BASICS
world, so many beautiful and useful things find themselves thrown by the wayside. where we resurrect the things that shouldn’t be lost.
Green thumb-print The French call it un petit potager, the Brits call it a victory garden, we’re calling it a green thumb-print. No matter where you live, you can find a tiny plot or a tiny pot to plant a few veggies or herbs. It’s good for your waistline, it’s good for your wallet and it’s good for your soul. The Earth likes it, too. Get your hands dirty.
photo credit: Graham Yelton
photo credit: Kalligraphia
Letter writing There is nothing quite so unexpected or quite so welcome as a handwritten letter. When it’s so easy to send a message on Facebook or email, it means even more when you take the time to write a letter. Forget about paying $6 for a card that sings songs when opened, just jot down a few sentences on a nice piece of paper and throw it in the mail. PS. Anything can be used as a postcard if it has postage and room for the address—so be creative. Write a note on the back of an embarrassing teenage photo and mail it off to whomever. Just don’t be surprised if it ends up on Facebook after all… Modern Ink Magazine | 34
S P O T L I G H T Reflections Styling by Modern Ink • Photography by Graham Yelton
!. the sleeping dust. refusing to stay dormant. toes dig recklessly through grit...a backward retreat, pouring through memory. enveloping the breath with a refusal to release her to herself. the tempest sways briefly and all is obscured. swaddled within grays. desires, inherited faults glowing deeply beneath her fiber...the constricted betweenness of it all...who she is. and the “her” existing further outside this one.
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Reflections S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Reflections
II.
the awakening
a constant light. unbridled and unkempt. spilling past the rusted darkness. surrounding her in wakefulness... unsolicited but somehow expected. translucency. pushing her forward to peek. the reflection. her likeness. spinning boldly through the muddy text. moving toward the path, unmolded and unscripted. daring to be filled with dimension. with depth. with motion. emotions. blurs and statics, beautifully reflecting one another into balanced shades of blue.
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Reflections S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Reflections
III. and then it clears. palpable life dangles loosely just beyond. unveiled and radiating a deep sense of self and worth. contentedness swimming in the unknown, and perhaps, even reveling in the incomprehensible strangeness of this particular moment. of fluidity. in the wide open spaces between the scripts and intentions. waiting for the life-breath. the mysterious and intangible journey. smudging the lines of fulfillment and acceptance. she finds the laughter in the muddle and the whispers in the mirror. unfiltered. solidarity.
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Reflections S P O T L I G H T
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SPOTLIGHT
Eyes on Amos Behind the Scenes with American Artist, Amos Oakes Describe your evolution as an artist. I started out wanting to be a comic book artist or animator. I was fortunate to have people fall into my life along the way that opened me up to the Pettibons, Rauschenbergs, Twomblys, and McCarthys of the world. I've moved from stale illustrations twenty years ago to interactive worlds full of paint, illustration, found objects, sculptural elements, and audio/visual sensory overloads. I've held on to my love of the Saturday morning cartoon and the bathroom stall scrawl over time‌roots. Your artistic style is definitely your own. How would you describe it to people who haven't seen your work? Yeah, umm‌I find it hard to describe because it's in a huge transition right now. As it stands, I guess I would describe it as dreamy. It takes on the role of a children's book illustration, circa 1915. With the multi-media, it becomes more like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Disneyland, circa 1968. Modern Ink Magazine | 41
Talk to us about what influences your work. My family is the richest influence in my work. My work has discussed the family unit often in the past. I think that my upbringing plays a heavy role: The South, religion, and storytelling. It's hard to pinpoint artists that influence me. I often feel like artists I love don't really inform my work at all. I can definitely point to Henry Darger, Arthur Rackham, and Neo Rauch as far as painting goes. I love them all for different reasons, but they do it for me. I'm really attracted to the work of Julian Hoeber right now.
o m
What piece are you most proud of, and what makes you feel more of a connection to it than to others? I made a piece titled, "They Curl Up and Quiggle" about a year ago. I had a show I was rushing to get done. Those were some of the best pieces I've created. I think it was because they came from a deeper spot, somewhere in my humid guts. I created seven paintings in forty-eight straight hours. When I was done I had my daughter name each piece. The
os
SPOTLIGHT If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Oh, that's so hard to answer. I've been about the states quite a bit and to Mexico, but never abroad. Maybe Iceland, so I could have a volcanic ash bath in a geothermal pool. Who or what defines 'style' to you? My wife. I would not be the artist I am today if it wasn't for her. I didn't read books or poetry before I met her. I wore a lot of leather before I met her‌creepy, huh? Our house is always in immaculate order and everything has its strategic place. Her ability to balance everything, be it art or utilitarian, is amazing. She has given me a completely fresh perspective on art and the world. Her beauty melts me also. How's that? To have a wife that not only embodies style, but is overwhelmingly gorgeous? titles were beautiful, of course; they came from an eight-year-old. The “Quiggleâ€? piece felt engaging to me because of the potential that was present in the mark making, color, and composition.
s e k a O
It's pretty difficult to know exactly why I like it so much, but it's one I don't share with people often. I was told by an artist-friend to never show work dear to you, so that you aren't tempted to sell it if a buyer happens to come along. What inspires you? Walking, Point Dume, Inspiration Point in the evening when you can see the sun sinking low into the Pacific, and Los Angeles looks like something electric. I'm inspired by people who are happy, regardless of their situation.
For prints, originals, and commission work, contact Amos Oaks at: licoriceslug@gmail.com. Modern Ink Magazine | 42
SPOTLIGHT
WHO IS THE ELUSIVE
Mr. Boddington? ONLY REBECCA SCHMIDT-RUEBENSAAL HAS THE ANSWERS
Tell us how Mr. Boddington came to be. I have been a stationer since childhood. I designed my own letterhead in elementary school and used to re-create library cards and book covers, until I was told by The Raleigh Public School 577's Library System that I could no longer do that. Twenty-five years later, I was eating croissants and jam with my new husband on an otherwise dull Saturday morning. By my third croissant, I announced it was time to finally get started on this modest dream of owning a correspondence studio. I went to the Apple Store to buy a fancy computer and started the business on Monday. Over the years, I've slowly built a team who is far more talented than I and who is taking the studio to the top podium. Mr. Boddington is for anyone who loves paper, no longer just me. Modern Ink Magazine | 43
SPOTLIGHT Your store is more than just a store; it tells a story. Tell us a little about that. It isn't just about the correspondence...it is about the tale it takes to get there. And since paper is becoming so old world, it is delightful to step back and enjoy the opposite of the fast-paced life. Mr. Boddington is an ideal muse to host this process. He is witty, curious, full of life and clever ideas. Paint the picture: A Day in the Life of Mr. Boddington’s Studio. Mr. Boddington typically rises with the sun, wherever he is. This morning, he is sipping black Kushi tea on the decks of an old World War I steamer in Antarctica while studying penguins. We received a telegram from him regarding the aesthetics of tiny black dots against stark white. Perhaps this will roll into a new pattern someday. The rest of the studio operates with a little more rhythm. The owner (Rebecca), three directors, and a team of artists all gather each day in the New York City studio to make the wheels turn. It is a "whistle-while-you-work" kinda studio... one that operates like a happy little submarine. This is because the directors are the best in their fields. Miss Sarginger takes care of clients (a tough
job on days when brides are feeling jittery); Miss Pickren looks through a magnifying glass to find the perfect shots to build our blog, takes a sip of Kambucha, and moves on to developing a new package for our social stationery; Miss Blanchat oversees all the hand-tailored production of the work. She can find an error smaller than the point of a needle. Waves of artists come in and out of the studio. These artists are a hardworking, talented group of people who would rather hand craft paper than wait tables to support their own endeavors. As clients of Mr. Boddington’s studio, what could we expect through the design process? Mr. Boddington's Studio is truly a collaboration with the client. We hang on your family's picture of the beach house in Nantucket. Could we see a picture of the fabric that upholsters the patio's chaise? Maybe show us the exact shade of blue used in the wallpaper you have loved since you were an itsy-bitsy thing? Our process moves at a snail’s pace. It is intentionally old-fashioned. There is definitely a place for all these blackberries and tweeting about...but isn't it nice to step back in time and move slowly?
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d od
n o t g in
B .r M Visit Rebecca at Mr. Boddington’s studio: 118 East 28th Street, No. 1014 New York, New York 10016 212.686.5953 • www.mrboddington.com
SPOTLIGHT How did you get started in letterpress? Letterpress and engraving are the only forms of fine printing. They still take an immense amount of artisanal work. It is an honor to print anything in either one of these forms, particularly since kings and queens centuries ago would have their own correspondence printed on them. We picked letterpress to start with because of muted colors but are increasingly interested in hand engraving. We have never seen letterpress with such a signature look - how do you make this happen? Thank you! We create many of our own fonts and hand draw almost all artwork. You can draw an apple three different times, and each turn it will look different. This keeps the design from looking duplicative. We are in love with the patterned envelope liners... what inspires these designs? Another thank you! The studio is pretty fickle with patterns. Some days we will draw one based on a client's creative direction. (Recently, we did one that matches vintage folk patterns used in southern India.) On other days, it is driven by a particular color (say... persimmon for example), sometimes by a period in history (always love the wallpapers from colonial England), and often our patterns come to us by pure mistake. We will be drawing one design, and from it will fall a new pattern. These are delightful surprises. What is the secret to your success? That is the easiest question on your dossier....a very hard working, talented and loyal team. What inspires you? My darling son is almost a year old, so I have been reading him old vintage children's books. I want to crawl inside Babar's world and wear his bride, Cecile's, lace dress. Brunhoff was a visual magician. Also, I am married to a man with a funny sense of humor, so there is a lot of laughter in my house. It is easy to be inspired when nothing is terribly heavy. If that fails, I drink a glass of wine and something will pop up in my mind. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? My friends and I always play this parlor game wherein
we ask questions like this. For ages, I have said “the moon.� People are always eager to tell me that the moon isn't really an option. Well okay then, I wouldn't mind sharing tea with Mr. Boddington on a steamer in Antarctica. My brain gets so frazzled, I find that I want to stare at beautiful landscapes. To me there is something about exploring unchartered territories. Are there any left? Who or what defines "style" to you? Currently I am curious about Wallis Simpson, The Duchess of Windsor. She was married to King George VI's brother, who was king for a hot minute and gave up the throne to be with scandalous Wallis. (See all about it in The King's Speech.) I also love the style of the old gangsters. There is something about wearing a three button tweed suit with a dusty blue Hermes tie, while robbing a local bank with a pistol.
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SPOTLIGHT
MEE T THE BAK ERS
& Ole Smok y Moon shine
The Where, The Why & The How: If balance is the key to a successful life, then Joe and Jessi Baker are two highly talented, proficient locksmiths. As owners of Ole Smoky Moonshine in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, lawyers, and parents to three young children, they are presented daily with an equation that would make most of us pull out our TI-81 calculators and shriek. Instead of succumbing to chaos, they retain a calm, focused demeanor--one they credit to a deluge of organization and energy, but also to maintaining flexibility, taking life “day by day,� and counting their blessings.
s r e k a B T he ! d o o r B r and thei
SPOTLIGHT
With the many hats they wear, how were they able to sustain sanity in the early moments of entrepreneurship and the massive undertaking that lead to owning East Tennessee’s first federally licensed distillery? Having realistic goals and being well-intentioned. They told Modern Ink, “There’s something to be said for doing what you love and what you enjoy. It’s a lot easier to deal with big challenges when you’re having fun and you’re passionate about what you are involved in. Life’s too short to just do it for the money.” For the Bakers, there has always been a palpable interest in making moonshine; in fact, Joe grew up making moonshine with his dad in Sevier County. Jessi told us, “[Joe’s] family has been living in the mountains for more than two hundred years, so the Appalachian culture runs strong in his roots. The craft of making whiskey is one of this area’s greatest traditions, and we wanted to share it with people around the world.” We can’t tell you how glad we are that they did...
oke ky and C n r e Smo l o O C s ounce nd 3 Mix 2 key a s i h . W er ice v Corn o e s cok ounce
Visit the Bakers at olesmokymoonshine.com or at 903 Parkway Ole Moonshine Holler Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
cken ne Chi i h s n and o rd Mo reasts b n e k Musta c er s chi d pepp oneles n b a 4 t l e a k Ta ith s ith ason w e dish w S . w y r o l l d t a a h p nas ve place i n cup oli e 4 h / t 1 , c i l and gar minced s ky e v o l le Smo 3c O f o ce. p 1/2 cu ue Sau c d e n b a r , a l i o ard B n e Must n i h s urs the o n h 4 Moo 2 for ith in this erve w e S t a . n g i r n i Ma ur lik e to yo stard k a b r the mu f o grill o n o spo a table an extr sauce. e u c e b bar Moonsh
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a Pork T enderlo in en to 35 0 degre Season es. the tend erloin w pepper. ith salt a In a larg nd e d u tch oven 1/4 table , heat spoon o f o l i v e the tend oil and sear erloin o n a ll sides. tenderlo Take the in out o f t h e pan and 1/4 cup add of Ole S m o k y C to degla orn Wh iskey ze the p a n . Put th tenderlo e in back i n t o the pan cover it and with a j ar of Pe Moonsh ach ine Sals a . Cover w and bak ith foil e to des ired don eness. Prehea
Rise an Mix 2 d Shine o White unces Ole S L ounce ightnin’ w moky ith s orang fresh sque 3 e juic ezed e.
t the ov
Moonshine for breakfast! Modern Ink Magazine | 48
S P O T L I G H T Wanderlust
SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO by Ilene Liff-Mier
San Juan, Puerto Rico has long been touted as a favorite destination spot for people in the United States due to its proximity to the east coast, currency and voltage ease, and the non necessity of a passport. Make no mistake, the Isle of Enchantment might be proximally convenient, but while visiting, you will feel worlds away. Whether you are meandering the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan or the sandy beaches of Isla Verde, sipping a piùa colada over a hushed oceanfront meal at Pamela’s in Ocean Park, or dancing the salsa at the Parrot Club, each moment will find you as pleasantly occupied or as deliciously absent as you wish. Modern Ink Magazine | 49
Wanderlust S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Wanderlust The colonial city was founded just after the island’s “discovery” by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and today it looks quite similar to its original appearance. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture is strict regarding preservation and renovation of structures and streets in Old San Juan, which aides in maintaining the cohesive aesthetics of the city, and encourages the soulful juxtaposition of old world and modern architecture. San Juan is completely surrounded by fortified walls which begin at El Morro, the largest fort in Puerto Rico. On weekends, people from all over fly kites and unpack their picnic baskets to spend an afternoon on the vast grassy area in front of the fort. At least once, purchase a ticket to go wander inside the fort. It has been beautifully preserved and provides an honest glimpse at how the Spaniards defended the island against Dutch and British sea attacks. The city is laid out in classically Spanish form, with gridded streets and plazas sprinkled throughout, plazas such as the Plaza Colon, named in honor of Christopher Columbus, and the Plaza de Armas in the main square of Old San Juan. During the holidays, it boasts one of the most spectacular light displays in the old town.
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Wanderlust S P O T L I G H T When to visit In addition to the obvious time to plan a visit, when summer temperatures only rise to a manageable average of eighty-eight degrees, winter holidays are also the perfect time to hit the San Juan beaches. Holiday celebrations begin in early December and last through the Octavitas, or the eight days trailing Three Kings Day in January. Following, is the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian, or the San Sebastian Street Festival. During this time, the street is saturated with dancing, congas and panderetas, singing and partying. It’s also one of the few times each year when the most highly acclaimed artists in the country are together to display and sell their art. Most of the art is cultural island art, saint carvings, and paintings, but there is also traditional Puerto Rican fare, candies, as well as handmade clothing and jewelry. Participation must be approved by the Institute of Culture, as they only allow inclusion to artists who maintain the traditions of the island in their work.
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S P O T L I G H T Wanderlust
Old San Juan Strolling the streets of Old San Juan is like stepping into another century. Streets are hilly and lined in cobblestone with colorful sidewalk cafes, shops, street vendors, cathedrals, and historical points at every turn. Though it’s easy to get sidetracked by the assortment of food options and street vendors along the way, sights such as the Castillo de San Cristobal with it’s impressive walls and vantage point, the Catedral de San Juan Bautista boasting gorgeous frescoes and the remains of Ponce de Leon, and the exceptionally beautiful Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis cemetery, which lies on the water and is steps from El Morro, are definitely worth stopping for. The food in Old San Juan is truly amazing, ranging greatly in style, flavor, aesthetics, cost, and uniqueness of setting. By the piers are street vendors who cook tripletas--the mother load of sandwiches! They are constructed on crusty bread with ham, roasted marinated pork and beef; they have mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a special sauce that is particular to each vendor. If you are visiting San Juan for breakfast, La Bombonera is a must. Though the service is usually very slow unless sitting at the counter, the food is traditional, and the locals regard it as a slice of heaven. Get a mallorca with ham and cheese, coffee, and top off your order with a freshly squeezed orange juice or lemonade. Later on in the evening hit SoFo, or South Fortaleza, where the hippest of the hip crowd linger. This is where the new breed of fusion restaurants have been popping up, such as Dragonfly, Parrot Club, and Marmalade. To enjoy one of these restaurants’ freshest and specialized meals, I highly suggest asking your server for his or her recommendation rather than ordering straight from the menu options, or purchase the chef ’s choice, if available. Outside of Old San Juan, but still in the metropolitan vicinity are the unique areas of Condado, Isla Verde, and Piñones. They follow eachother in a row, lining the San Juan coastline. Modern Ink Magazine | 53
Wanderlust S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Wanderlust Condado Condado is upper crust....a little fancier than other parts of San Juan, complete with Art Deco buildings, skyscrapers and ritzy shopping. This is where you find Avenida Ashford, home to Cartier, Gucci, Luis Vuitton, and a plethora of other posh venues. Also in Condado is a little restaurant by the name of Budatai, which in my opinion has the world’s (not just San Juan’s) tastiest mojito, and is definitely worth slowing down for. Directly across the street from Budatai is La Ventana al Mar, a grassy open area on the water. Depending on which day you visit, you might find anything from a farmers’ market to a free Puerto Rico Symphony concert occupying the lush space. Isla Verde Isla Verde, literally meaning “green island,” is situated on several miles of gorgeous golden coastline and boasts the most popular, glamorous beaches and resorts in San Juan. Many of these resorts contain the chic casinos of Puerto Rico and are home some of the best night clubs in San Juan-- Club Brava at El San Juan Hotel and Casino and The Upper Level Lounge in the Ritz-Carlton’s casino, to name just a few.
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Piñones Piñones is a diverse area, heavily influenced by African, Spanish, and native Taino Indian cultures. The road is dotted on both sides with Kioscos selling all kinds of fried goodies like bacalaitos (cod fritters), and alcapurrias, a type of deep fried tamale made with yucca root rather than corn and filled with ground beef or crab. Get some fritters, a cold coconut, and find yourself a quiet, rustic spot of sand, and soak in the ocean view while enjoying a feast fit for a king! Piñones has a lengthy boardwalk to cruise by bike, as well as several places to rent bikes by the hour...just follow the trail as it winds through the mangroves and to the beach. The views and the breeze are truly spectacular. Regardless of the section of San Juan you choose to traverse at length, you will find adventure married to tranquility, cobalt skies echoed in the hum of the surf, and vintage refinement blanketed by modernity.
Wanderlust S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Luggage Tag U.S.A.
Quinault, Washington is a community located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state... though it’s permanent population is quite small (think: under 300), the surrounding beauty is so distracting, you won’t notice the lack of locals...in fact, the lull after dark and the reticent breezes are some notable draws to the area. Although Quinault is only around a two and a half hour drive southeast of Seattle, we highly recommend doubling your driving time and taking the northern route through Puget Sound, Port Angeles, Forks (yes, the same Forks where the “Twilight” movies were set), and exploring the Olympic Peninsula for one of the most breathtaking drives you might ever experience passed rocky beaches, snow-capped mountains, and trees whose tops disappear into folds of sky. Once you reach Quinault, stay at the Lodge at Lake Quinault for onsite delicious meals (we mean gourmet not granola) and cocktails, swimming, canoeing, lake and rainforest tours, as well as rainforest hikes that boast scenes reminiscent of fairy tales, with moss-painted trees, bubbling streams, and tree bark swirled in every gradation of brown. If you aren’t one for hiking, pack several books and plant yourself in one of the many lawn chairs looking over the reflective Lake Quinault for one of the most spectacular sunsets in Washington. *Don’t forget rain gear, layers, and bug repellent, as summers in the Pacific Northwest can be gloriously chilly! Read more about the history of the lodge, surrounding areas, and accommodations here: http://www.olympicnationalparks.com Modern Ink Magazine | 57
Luggage Tag U.S.A. S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Abode AT THE HOME OF
DWAYNE HEIN NICK KINDRICK photography by CJ Isaac
When one enters the home of Nick Kindrick, a wellness consultant, and his partner, Dwayne Hein, a design and strategy consultant in the fashion industry, it’s difficult to articulate into words the juxtaposition of feeling at once completely at home and yet being utterly swept away by the sun-drenched space of stylish and understated elegance. Though they were not deliberately drawn to the Flatiron district of New York City, Dwayne and Nick envisioned moving together into a neighborhood in which neither of them had lived before, and with a combined New York City living experience of over twenty-eight years, the areas were easily narrowed down. The decision turned out to be what Nick describes as “serendipitous,” as the location proved convenient for both in terms of work. When they decided on their space, both agreed the floor plan was perfect, and fortunately not in need of any renovation. In addition to the copious amount of sunlight, the incredible city views from each window, the flooring and exposed HVAC, the kitchen was a huge draw, especially for Nick. Outfitted with generously sized windows, it’s spacious enough for “real” entertaining, quite important for someone who is a food connoisseur and extraordinary cook. “I cook about five days out of seven, so having a real, functioning kitchen was of utmost importance to me. The majority of people in Modern Ink Magazine | 59
Manhattan do not have real kitchens. I really do know people who store shoes in the oven.” When discussing the aesthetics of the house, Nick is quick to credit Dwayne with the palette of grays, neutrals, splashes of red cleverly woven throughout the living space, and the overall choices in decor. “I personally have no sense of style when it comes to interior design. I’m fortunate to have fallen in love with a man who inherently understands aesthetics and design. If it weren't for D, I'd be living in a very austere space. It's an even trade however, as Dwayne would be eating take-out most nights if it weren't for me. Dwayne describes his sense of style as diverse and contemporary, that it is influenced by 1960s European design, with some Asian pieces gathered from our travels...Both Dwayne and I have lived abroad before and we both love to travel. Most of the Asian pieces were acquired on trips to Asia. We also love to purchase books on our travels, books about the places we're visiting, or about artists from that area.”
Abode S P O T L I G H T
S P O T L I G H T Abode
“Dwayne's favorite piece is the sofa. As he put it, it's long and low, and since he's 6'4" he loves sprawling out on it.�
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Abode S P O T L I G H T
NIC K’ S TI PS FOR ENT ERTAINING 1. Doing as much as you can in advance is always important. 2. Clean as you go! 3. If there are more than 10 or 12 people, do yourself a favor: enjoy your guests, and hire someone to do the cleaning. 4. An accessible bar that's ready to go and great music going when guests arrive is great. 5. You can never have enough napkins. We collect napkins and love using all of them.
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
Abode S P O T L I G H T
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
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Abode S P O T L I G H T
“We both love globes, and when we met, we discovered that we mutually enjoyed collecting them. The rocks in elastic are small rocks a friend collected and bound from a trip to Block Island, Rhode Island...Dwayne likes to group monochromatically with an accent color. He also likes to group by shape, mixing geometric shapes to create visual interests.�
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
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“The bowl of beetles were found at a home furnishing store. Dwayne loves beetles. The Egyptian Scarab Beetle is the logo of his own line of apparel, which he started in 2003 and sold in 2008. Beetles continue to be a source of amusement and interest for him.�
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
Abode S P O T L I G H T
S P O T L I G H T Abode
“I've collected cookbooks my entire life. My first one ever was The Silver Palate. I read that from cover to cover when I was twelve....it was literally bedside reading for me. I told my Mom that we needed to start growing arugula in our garden before anyone in Tennessee had even heard of it. Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything is indispensable.
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Abode S P O T L I G H T “My favorite piece of furniture is the dining table. Eating is the heart of our home. It's wonderful that our lives revolve around such a beautiful piece of utilitarian furniture.�
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
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Abode S P O T L I G H T
NIC K’ S PICKS FOR NYC D INING 1. Eataly - for everything Italian. 2. Locanda Vinii i Olii - best Italian restaurant (in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn) 3. Eleven Madison Park- for special occasions 4. Dim Sum at Ping's in Chinatown 5. Gramercy Tavern- still great after all these years.
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
“The photograph above the bed w who is an aspiring photographer wall, as that would be the view
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Abode S P O T L I G H T
was shot by an old family friend r, Jordan King. We put it on the w if the wall were not there.�
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S P O T L I G H T Abode
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Abode SPOTLIGHT
“We found the bedside chests at a yard sale in East Hampton. We were driving to town for some groceries and saw them for sale on the side of the road. We went for groceries and came back with bedside tables.�
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SHELF LIFE
book banter THE ADULTS
What makes this novel almost impossible to put down is the voice of precocious and insightful protagonist, Emily Vidal, whom we witness evolving from awkward fourteen year old to (still awkward) adult in this coming of age debut by Alison Espach. The characters are flawed and endearing, and the story and voice so compelling, that you literally eat the novel up page by page, rushing on to see where Emily goes next, what ironic turn will end the paragraph that has begun so mundanely. In fact, the book is so startlingly enjoyable that it is easy to forget the pervasive yet subtle theme—this is about The Adults as seen by Emily, to whom they appear a separate species governed by difficult-to-understand rules. Even within the title, there is a separateness that relegates the territory of adulthood and it’s citizens to something foreign—something beyond a border of some sort. Where this maginot line exists is not clear to Emily, and as she slips into adulthood herself, the blurring of borders and definitions again confounds until there is no real difference at all. This point, however, is never lost on Espach who plays with the non-existent differences of childhood and adulthood by peopling the novel with mistakes, flawed characters, and lovers from mismatched generations. Indeed, age becomes of the smallest import in the relationships within the pages. Whether it’s the nine year difference between Emily’s parents, the love child (her step-sister) fourteen years her junior, her relationship with her high school English teacher (why is it always the English teacher!?) or her father’s fiancée who is barely older than herself, who is and what makes an adult constantly questioned: it becomes clear throughout the novel that there is no magical age at which adulthood can be reached. Instead, the mix of ages in the many tangled relationships hint at Espach’s truths: that mistakes can be
by Lindsay Saint Clair
made at any age, that relationships often cross the bounds of age, and that wisdom is difficult to attain in any stage of life. Emily is smart. She is quirky and ironic and funny. When we see her throughout the novel trying on different affects of adulthood, her voice is so authentic and embarrassingly honest that at times it feels voyeuristic, as though we’ve caught her in her mother’s closet trying on a pair of high heels. As she attempts to relate to and become part of the adult world, she also works to understand her broken family and to maintain strings of broken relationships. Yet all the while Emily is alone in her head and in her knowing, and there is no one who seems to truly understand her, except for her one time English teacher she continues to cross paths with, and her father who is absent for most of her adolescence. The main reason to read this book is Espach’s writing, which turns on a dime from banal details of life to heartbreaking truths, so that each paragraph may hold the entire thematic structure of the novel. I found myself going back again and again to tiny moments that were as subtle as they were masterful. Though the situations and nuances of the novel reveal the characters to be damaged and imperfect, Espach’s treatment of them is so tender, so gentle, that there is not a single one we don’t end up rooting for.
“I stood up
This Alan Ball-esque straighter and treatment of suburbia overemphasized my and the modern family consonants. There will have you laughing and feeling deeply. were certain ways Espach’s dead-pan wit and irony are perfection, you had to position and they propel us and prepare your forward to the next body for high sentence and the next. school.” Her wry humor is the rhythm that girds the story, keeping the narrative lively and fun even when reality and tragedy seep into the plot. Most importantly, meaning arrives in this novel as it does in our own lives: cloaked in mundane moments; and we ourselves are just like Emily Vidal, masquerading as “adults” and simultaneously wondering when we’ll actually become one—when we will cross that line of having, already, become.
SHELF LIFE THE PARIS WIFE
Set against the debaucherous backdrop of 1920’s Paris, and peopled with the greats of the Lost Generation, Paula McLain’s latest novel depicts Ernest Hemingway’s first marriage to the older and somewhat conventional Hadley Richardson. Told from Hadley’s perspective, the love affair and subsequent marriage are realistically rendered as is the vividly palpable world of interwar Europe, where they make their home. Hadley’s tireless devotion to Hemingway’s writing is outmatched not only by his own ambition, but also by the cultural pull of the time that ever tempts the young writer. Hadley must not only struggle to maintain her marriage, but also her sense of self as Hemingway’s work pulls him in and out of depressions and possible trysts. As the reader knows in advance, Hemingway will eventually leave her and go through several more marriages before ending his life, but it’s the tension between his passion for his art and his lack of attention toward Hadley that creates the main storyline in this delightfully melancholy love story. WEST OF HERE
This big novel, by Jonathan Evison, consists of many interwoven stories about the citizens of a small town on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula that straddle the century between the
town’s beginnings in the late 19th century and 2006. Throughout the novel, the primary character is the landscape which is not only ever present, beautiful and punishing, but that also undergoes dynamic change, crisis and resolution through the initial construction and eventual destruction of a massive dam on the Elwah River. In the earlier stories, Evison’s wonderfully epic language evokes the frontier spirit and naked ambition of the times, while the modern stories reflect the declining town with doleful realism matched by lovely, honest prose. The characters, however, are connected not only through their shared setting and ancestry, but also through the haunting specter of their unmet hopes, their intense longing for something just out of reach, and the ever present questioning of what might have been. The authenticity of the characters and the beauty of the landscape make this a lively and sometimes humorous read. THE TIGER’S WIFE
In her debut novel, Twenty-five year old Tèa Obreht creates a masterfully elegiac tale that plays memory and myth against the concreteness of place in the wake of loss. For Natalia Stefanovi, a young doctor crossing borders in an unnamed country of the Balkans to deliver vaccines to remote villages, the people she encounter paint a portrait of the war-torn landscape marked by otherness and a separation from cultural heritage. As we follow her journey, the narrative seems to wander off into different directions, the way one might explore a town without a map. But the unifying thread is the remembered voice of her grandfather, whose fantastical stories of the deathless man and the tiger’s wife form the heart of the novel. Obreht’s strength is her ability to spin a magical tale while never forsaking her modern protagonist. Heady with both memory and legend, Obreht’s writing can be beautiful and brutal as she attempts to capture the renegotiation of place and memory. Modern Ink Magazine | 80
S H E L F L I F E The Word
Just a Moment by Rachel Wood Turner I spend quite a bit of time (read: an exorbitant amount of time) flipping through family photos, visiting captured memories of my older boys as babies, and pouring over images of my one-yearold daughter at monthly mile-markers. Remember two months ago when Evie finger painted her shirt with beets?...hmmmm. Remember when Ziggy played “tikiti-boo” for the first time?...so cute. Look how sweet little Asher looks with curried rice in his ears... I recently encountered last year’s ChristmasHanukkah “family photo” during one of these many perusals...it’s in quotes due to it’s loose term-ness. When I contemplate holiday photos, I envision pristinely pressed and dressed children beaming white-toothed smiles before a flawlessly opened-boughed tree, a tree devoid of sprinkled gaps in the branches, and one with lovingly wrapped gifts in lavish reds and velvets under it’s thematic design...warning: this is NOT our photo. Our backdrop was a crooked and dreary-looking tree--lachrymose even, in it’s erratic and disheartened opening pattern, as if it’s feelings were hurt by the seemingly unjust amount of time we took to choose it, bring it home, and decorate it. Bough after bough bragged gaps, prematurely departed needles, and unbalanced ornaments, placed thoughtfully and irregularly by pocket-sized hands. Now I realize that most parents iron their children’s clothing before a family photo--this parent does not. This parent purchases kids’ holiday garb well in advance and generally neglects removing said clothing from shopping bags, until the magical moment of truths, hard and potenModern Ink Magazine | 81
tially embarrassing truths, surface...truths that answer questions such as, “Are the clothes wrinkled?” “Do they fit?” “Do they even match?” “Are there rips and imperfections?” This season, Evie’s dress fit; the boys were not as fortunate. Ziggy’s shirt was wrinkled enough to mimic a small shar pei, and it wore at least three sizes too big. I’m not sure whether to chalk his shirt-tucking-refusal up to age or genetic components, but this time, the refusal resulted in an overpriced shirt resembling more of a vintage knee-length frock than part of a calculated wardrobe for an eight-year-old boy. Asher’s shirt fit, but the pants swallowed his tiny six-year-old legs. They were so long, the pant legs could almost be rolled at the halfway point and still hit the floor; of course, we didn’t go that route. We opted instead for the more inconspicuous four-inchHuckleberry-Finn-cuff. The two miracles of our photo are that all three children appear to be gazing directly into the camera lens, and they all seem to be motionless. I won’t bore you with details of how many takes went into getting a picture without blurred limbs, eyes caught in the infamous devilish pseudo-blink, mouths oddly ajar, or without what I can only assume to be gang signs thrown by Asher. What I will share is this: if you rewound the film of our lives ten minutes prior to picture-time, you would glimpse Asher sprinting barefoot through the yard, rolling in the grass, and swinging with abandon--a decision brilliant enough to earn him the trophies of muddy feet, soiled hands, and grass-stained knees. You would find Ziggy smuggling powdery
The Word S H E L F L I F E
spit-up on dress wrinkled shirt grass-stained knees
chips from the pantry and drying his licked-fingers on wide-whale navy corduroys, which responded as Velcro for every crumb. You would see Evie waiting patiently, smiling, and absorbed in playful babbling, before saturating her gorgeous taffeta dress with spit-up. So that’s our photo: wrinkled, disorganized, uncoordinated, off-center, and ill-conceived. Clearly, it is “us.� Despite our best efforts, and in spite of my obsessive organization in other arenas of my life, that brief moment is a snapshot into our family existence. Reliving a fleeting second was finding the misplaced spark of clarity in an otherwise hazy moment. Those are my children, barefoot, blanketed by crumbs, wrinkles, and mud, encompassing a certain rawness only celebrated in childhood, and I cherish them for that--not for their pliancy and perfection, but for their wildness, unpredictability, and innocence...the most flawless characteristics of life captured, clung to, and appreciated only in hindsight. Modern Ink Magazine | 82
S H E L F L I F E Frame of Reference
I AM NOT A PET LOVER B Y A U ST IN L . C HUR C H When I was more of a boy than I am now, my parents bought my two sisters and me a subscription to Ranger Rick. We also collected sturdy flash cards with photographs of exotic animals, including a Bengal tiger with sad, wet-looking eyes, a polar bear shambling beside her cub, and a tiny poison dart frog with electric blue skin. The cards gave brief summaries of each creature’s habitat, diet, and extraordinary abilities. Tigers can leap thirty feet. Polar bears have black skin and are the largest bears in the world. One member of the poison dart family has skin that contains a painkiller two hundred times more potent than morphine. Modern Ink Magazine | 83
Frame of Reference S H E L F L I F E
Were those Amazonian tribes using poison-tipped darts to defend themselves or collecting frogs to get wasted? I now have my theories. I was hooked. I collected random animal lore the way bees collect pollen. I was on my way to becoming the socially inept enthusiast who responds to a polite question with an exhaustive analysis of the differences in coloration between largemouth and smallmouth bass. With this passion went a tender heart for all creatures great and small. We were driving down Granny White Pike in Nashville, Tennessee one day when I pointed to a furry lump of road kill and said, “That hurts me, Mama.” “It was enough to break my heart,” my mother says now, right before wondering aloud what happened to that sensitive, moon-eyed St. Francis in miniature. My wife Megan wonders the same thing. Thanks to a series of conversations, we now differentiate between animal lovers and pet lovers. I am the former, but probably not the latter. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not a pet hater. I quite like other people’s pets. I dog sat for Sophie the Vizsla and Grover the Bluetick Coonhound. I have only ever wanted to kick one animal: my parents’ cat Max. Modern Ink Magazine | 84
SHELF LIFE
.a. k . a , Max on” i n i M s ’ n a t a “S
My dad was in the hospital in preparation for a major surgery on his intestines, and my mom was with him. I was waiting to head back to Knoxville until I knew that Dad was okay. In the meantime, I was grilling burgers with some friends at my parents’ house. Max the Terrible had slipped out, and rain was falling in torrents by the end of dinner. I went outside to retrieve him. Max is a feisty one to say the least. Max is not what you’d call a “nice kitty.” I might also use descriptors and terms of endearment, such as “heinous” or “hellish fiend.” “Jerk” would also be appropriate. As I tried to gather him into my arms, Max bit me three times on my left wrist. Half a dozen bags of drip antibiotics, two nights in the hospital, and $2,400 later, I was free to go home and still trying to convince my mom that I had done nothing to “provoke” Max.
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“Provoke” was the word she used. Really? This feline has a screw loose. Shoot, he doesn’t even have any screws. He’s a cat. Cats don’t worry about propriety or social norms, which include not biting people who are trying to help it and not attacking grandmothers. My grandmother, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Sweetest Woman in the World, grew up on a farm and isn’t one to complain. She had tried to pet him, and no one noticed what had happened until I pointed out the ribbons of blood on her forearm. Max had slashed her arm open in three or four places. Max doesn’t think about the consequences of his actions. Yes, he’s sentient because he displays crude emotions like spite, rage, jealousy, and fear, but serious intellection isn’t a part of his daily regimen. He doesn’t engage in any of the pursuits that
Frame of Reference S H E L F L I F E distinguish humans from other animals, such as chewing bubble gum, lifting weights, and contemplating mortality. Max does appear to have some instinctual sense of indebtedness that prompts him to bring fish, birds, chipmunks, moles, lizards, and baby rabbits into the kitchen. One day, my mom found a skink’s blue tail detached from the lizard’s body, yet still curling and uncurling. Max’s devotion knows no bounds. These offerings must be his way of saying, “Thanks for all the opportunities to punish you for giving me food and feathery toys and perfumed cat litter. Thanks for coming down to the kitchen in your bathrobe and turning your back so that I can leap through the air, sink my claws into your back, and listen to your panicked pleas for mercy: ‘Max! Max!’’’ This has happened more than once. My mom has to back up to the counter, lower Max’s hanging body onto it, and then unhook his claws one by one. During the process, he entertains her by biting her hands. Despite all Max’s idiosyncrasies and his impossible-to-justify surliness, my parents buy him premium canned cat food as a treat— “Elegant Medleys” from a major brand name, a la “Wild Salmon Florentine in a Delicate Sauce with Garden Greens.” I copied that marketing drivel straight off the can. I fail to understand two aspects of the major brand name’s transaction:
Which part of multiple assaults is meant by “it,” and if by inflicting wounds he was trying to “mean” something else, then what did he mean? Perhaps he just is mean. What part of clawing did I misunderstand? Is biting a gesture of world peace? A plea for an end to hunger? I don’t think so. I don’t see mother cats causing their kittens to gush blood all over the hardwood as a sign of affection. A lioness may give one of her cubs a playful swat or carry one in her mouth by the loose skin on the back of its neck, but she doesn’t inject Bartonella bacteria into their bloodstreams with needle-like teeth. She doesn’t give them aggressive infections. No, we call that “biological warfare.” In most places, it is a crime against humanity. Max’s shenanigans say, “I’m a sociopath,” in any language. When my parents trim his claws, he makes this strident screeching, and I respond in fluent Cat, “Get over yourself, pal.” My parents no longer attempt to justify Max’s behavior. Not counting what my mom paid for him in a McDonald’s parking lot, Max is our family’s most expensive pet because his version of playing involves tearing flesh. Forget about Max. Here’s the second, more important, question: 2) Why do we feed our pets foods that cost as much per ounce as filet mignon, when, on average, one person dies every second of every day as a direct or indirect result of malnutrition?
1) Why does Max deserve a treat? If Max were a person, he would already be guilty of multiple felonies. You can’t put a grown man in the hospital and cut up a grandmother. Max hurts people, makes them bleed. But we’re going to reward him for being a violent jerk?
I hope to become a pet lover, but I also hope that my love of those creatures won’t obscure the connection between money and hunger. I’d rather see fewer pictures of children with distended bellies than more cans of major brand cat food. I’d rather save a life than spoil a pet.
“He didn’t mean it,” I’m told. Modern Ink Magazine | 86
r a S by
n i t r a ah M
The Critic S H E L F L I F E
Three years ago, the city Greensboro, North Carolina opened the Super G, a 76,000 square foot international grocery store in the middle of the outdoor shopping center known as FantaCity. Inside the Super G, one can find any item from frozen sea squirts to canned whelk...behind the grocery area is a group of vendors who make up the Super G Flea Market. They set up their booths inside wooden fence structures to sell clothing, various home items, used televisions and holographic religious art pieces. Modern Ink Magazine | 88
The Critic S H E L F L I F E Lee Walton, one of the most well known social practice artists and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, along with Greensboro native, Donovan McKnight, decided to rent a booth and begin a residency program where artists from all over the country could apply to make a site specific piece at the Super G. Recently, an artist collective known as Flux Factory drove from Long Island City, New York, to transform the empty stall into a utopian artisian village formed primarily of cardboard. Flux residents created the structure out of recycled materials with four individual “shops” replicating the public space of a traditional village. Flux’s mission, since 1994, has been to provide a place for artists to work closely with people whom they have never collaborated with before, with unfamiliar media, and within a stimulating and unique social environment. When I visited their site today, I encountered four of the artists hard at play (and work). Before turning the corner to see the structure, I was greeted by a booming voice belonging to Adrian Owen, who has been acting as the village opera singer all week. Wearing a red bowtie and gigantic silk flower on his lapel, Adrian took song requests from anyone who wanted to listen. He arrived from New York with several song books and has already performed nearly all songs in each book throughout the week. Adrian studied at Bard University, is in a heavy metal band called “White Limo,” and has been with Flux Factory for about six years.
ian Adr n Owe
Alison Ward, the village hat-maker, was crafting a plastic mannequin hand into a wearable accessory when I met her. Alison studied philosophy in college and is engaged in performance art. She has been with Flux for several months as an artist in residence and is clearly a believer in artistic collaborations. Alison says the reason she enjoys
Alison Ward
the residency at Flux is because artists get out of their independent studios and actually interact with each other and their community.
Jean Barberis, a Flux resident for over ten years, was busy making shoes in the cardboard village. Across the way from Jean, sat Georgia Muenster, who was dutifully preparing fresh donuts from a variety of ingredients people brought her from the grocery. The residents noted their visitors as mostly children and college students. “Adults would peer in. They obviously trusted us enough to leave their children here while they shopped, but they clearly didn’t know how to
Georgia Muenste r
Jean ris Barbe
interact with us or what to make of it all,” says Alison Ward. As an artist-run organization, Flux Factory is a distinguished cultural component of its Queens neighborhood and the greater NYC art world. For those readers out there who would like to learn more, or even apply to be a Flux Factory resident, get the full scoop at www.fluxfactory.org. If you are interested in being a Super G resident, you can fill out an application online at www.supergresidency.wordpress.com.
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S O U N D S Impression
Lady
GREENS LEEVES Styling by Modern Ink Photography by Dixie Pixel
Written in 1584, “Lady Greensleeves� is believed (but not proven) to have been written by King Henry VIII about his lover Anne Boleyn. This song was not composed until after his death. Alas, my love, you do me wrong, to cast me off discourteously. For I have loved you well and long, delighting in your company. Greensleeves was all my joy Greensleeves was my delight; Greensleeves was my heart of gold, and who but my Lady Greensleeves. Alas, my love, that you should own a heart of wanton vanity, so must I meditate alone upon your insincerity. Your vows you've broken, like my heart, Oh, why did you so enrapture me? Now I remain in a world apart, but my heart remains in captivity. If you intend thus to disdain It does the more enrapture me; and even so, I still remain a lover in captivity. I have been ready at your hand, to grant whatever you would crave, I have both wagered life and land, your love and good-will for to have. Thou couldst desire no earthly thing, but still thou hadst it readily. Thy music still to play and sing, and yet thou wouldst not love me. Modern Ink Magazine | 91
I bought thee kerchiefs for thy head that were wrought fine and gallantly; I kept thee at both board and bed, which cost my purse well favorably. I bought thee petticoats of the best, the cloth so fine as it might be; I gave thee jewels for thy chest, And all this cost I spent on thee. Thy smock of silk, both fair and white, with gold embroidered gorgeously; they petticoat of sandal right, And these I bought thee gladly. My men were clothed all in green, and they did ever wait on thee; all this was gallant to be seen, and yet thou wouldst not love me. They set thee up, they took thee down, they served thee with humility; Thy foot might not once touch the ground, and yet thou wouldst not love me. 'Tis, I will pray to God on high, that thou my constancy mayst see, and that yet once before I die, Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me. Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu, to God I pray to prosper thee, for I am still thy lover true, come once again and love me. Greensleeves was all my joy Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves was my heart of gold, and who but my Lady Greensleeves.
Impression S O U N D S
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S O U N D S Impression
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Impression S O U N D S
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S O U N D S Impression
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SOUNDS
Gibson Penn gives us his view on new albums ANGLES by The Strokes After several years on hiatus, which included a successful run at a solo album by Julian Casablancas, the garage-rock sound of The Strokes is burning it’s way back into your headphones. Time has passed for the band, it seems, as they continue to flip the calendar pages of the 1970’s sound that built a name for them, to now dating them with elements from somewhere in the early 1980’s. After becoming disenfranchised with traditional studios, the band decided to record the bulk of their fourth album in guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr.’s home studio, with the assistance of engineer Gus Oberg, who contributed to Julian Casablancas’ solo effort. The change in recording venues yields a slightly more polished, but by no means overtly gleaming, update to the band’s well known lo-fi, garage sound. Casablancas’ almost “lounge singer” delivery of catchy-but-insightful lyrics, blended with the high energy guitars and solid rhythm, keep you in the familiar territory of their typical New York CIty/CBGB sound, but the new production elements will fast-forward you into the 1980’s, where echos of The Cars make you long for parachute pants and fluorescent colors. Alternating between bouncy and straightforward rock pieces, Angles will keep you mentally caffeinated on a long summer evening drive, or keep your friends singing along at a late night pool party. High points: the cascading vocals and dark lyrics of “Machu Picchu” and the harmonizing guitars and sing-along chorus of “Under Cover of Darkness”
WASTING LIGHT by Foo Fighters If you’ve been alive at some point since the early 90’s, chances are you’ve been listening to something touched by the seemingly magical hand of multi-talented Dave Grohl. After stepping out from behind the drum set of Nirvana, Grohl has proven himself not only as a charismatic guitar-playing front man, but also as a songwriter capable of churning out hit after hit with the Foo Fighters. Modern Ink Magazine | 97
SOUNDS Known for using expansive recording techniques to vary their sound, the Foo Fighters have changed their game yet again, this time recording the entire album on good-old analog reel-to-reel tape...in Grohl’s garage. To ensure the listener appreciates the band’s attention to this “old school” detail, a small snippet of the original master tape the album was recorded on is included in the first run batch of CD packages. This “back to basics” approach translates into an album stocked with full-speed-ahead rock tracks that have enough texture and dynamic variation to keep you wondering what punch Grohl will pull next. Wasting Light is perfect as the backdrop for a high energy workout, a hot day at the lake, or as the soundtrack for whatever summer extreme sport you’re into. High points: The opening track “Bridge Burning” sets the speakers on fire right out of the gate, and the mathematical rhythm of “Rope” leads into a melodic chorus that you will find yourself singing when you least expect it.
FLUX OUTSIDE by Royal Bangs The Royal Bangs have come along way from the suburban Knoxville, Tennessee basement where they recorded their first album, We Breed Champions. After being discovered by The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, and signed to his record label, the band’s third album, Flux Outside, is on it’s way to securing the guys their ticket to commercial success. Being labeled “indie rock” and having a three piece set-up (vocals/synthesizer, guitar, and drums) deceptively simplifies their sound. The Royal Bangs daftly weave vintage minimalistic layers of sound into a sonic experience that can only be described as a “headphone album.” Always upbeat and soulful, the complexity of the music will keep you intrigued long after your iPod’s battery is left in smoking failure. Flux Outside is perfect pumping over the home-stereo for a Saturday night party, or when slipping on over-the-ear headphones, drink in hand, for a quiet night of aural euphoria. High points: the searing lead guitar of “Silver Steps” and the indie-rock hymn “Dim Chamber”
Modern Ink’s summer sunset playlist: (song) Generator (First Floor) Young Blood Changing Rope Spitting Fire Make Some Noise Help Is On The Way Get Away Buoy Cosmic Love Dim Chamber
3:07 4:06 3:20 4:19 2:52 3:31 3:57 3:35 4:51 4:15 4:42
(artist) Freelance Whales The Naked and Famous The Airborne Toxic Event Foo Fighters The Boxer Rebellion Beastie Boys Rise Against Yuck The Joy Formidable Florence + The Machine Royal Bangs Modern Ink Magazine | 98
S O U N D S Eavesdropping
WHAT’S THE
1 ONE THING YOU WISH
YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
KNEW ABOUT YOU? “I liked them better before the implants.”
“Most of the time, I’m laughing at him... not with him!”
“Ask me what I’m thinking. Check in with me and really be interested in the details.” For our next issue, email us at hello@moderninkmag.com and tell us your equation for the perfect partner (e.g. equal parts Clive Owen (looks), Stephen Colbert (wits), David Beckham (build), Ben Stiller (style), etc.) Modern Ink Magazine | 99
Eavesdropping S O U N D S
“I go crazy without a little time to myself everyday.” “It’s not usually the kids who clog the toilet.”
“I can’t think of a thing!!! I’m a blabbering mouth, and he listens.”
“Dinner and a movie is NOT an ideal date night.” “I think she looks best first thing in the morning without makeup.”
“I don’t like purple clothing.”
“When he texted and said he was almost home, I greeted the delivery guy in lingerie thinking it was him.”
“It’s not always about the money.”
“We have a maid who does the housework, but I take the credit!”
“The cat didn’t knock the glass of red wine onto your grandmother’s tablecloth...”
“I almost didn’t go on a second date with you, but four years of marriage later, I’m so glad my brother convinced me to.” Modern Ink Magazine | 100
PERSPECTIVES
If the Orchid Fits... by Colleen Moore
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photo credit: Dixie Pixel
PERSPECTIVES As far back as I can recall, I have been fascinated by and have admired lovely, lady-like things. I was the child who carried a purse, sported dress shoes to the horse barn, and wore dresses whenever possible. I only played with dolls to change their outfits, and dressing up for me truly was "dressing up." One of my earliest childhood impressions was a book about a little girl who took ballet. It wasn't the dancing that kept me interested in the book--it was the drawings of the costumes. I remember sitting with my sister and staring at the pictures, debating who would wear the short tutu and who would wear the long one. That was when the wheels in my head first began to turn--I loved the idea of making those decisions--which fabric was best for what costume and on whom. I began taking ballet at the age of eight. I always enjoyed ballet and the art of movement, but I think deep down it was those darned costumes that truly stole my heart. I remember sneaking around the hallway corner in the dance studio I grew up in, with hopes of stealing a peak at the costumes and tutus hanging upside down...oh, how I desperately wanted to grab one and put it on! In the following years, I became very involved in ballet, and after the obvious wonder of what role I would be performing, the next important question to me was, "what costume will I be wearing?" I spent hours of my life drawing and sketching everything from costumes to ball gowns, and I delighted in every minute of it. This is the role I would later play in life-costumer, designer, and constructor of all things beautiful. I decided to pursue a career, not in design, but in dance. To this day I wouldn't modify that choice, though sadly my career as a dancer was cut short by a serious knee injury, again steering my life in a different direction. I graduated with a degree in dance, but I knew my path needed to head toward something else. I just wasn't certain what that something else was. After graduation, I spent a few years "coasting." I waited tables, taught ballet, walked dogs...I began making things. I taught myself how to sew while in high school, and decided to utilize what I had learned by making my own clothes. I also slowly began making pieces for other people: odd things here and there, but one project in particular was of interest to me. A friend of mine was getting married, and she asked if I could make something special for her hair. She knew I made many of my own costumes and hair pieces for ballet and thought I would enjoy designing something for her wedding. Not only did I enjoy it, I instantly knew it was where I wanted my career to head. So, I did it. It was gradual – a job here, a job there, while continuing to work my other jobs. I found it so rewarding, that it didn't matter how much of my free time was occupied; it was how I wanted to spend my free time. I laugh now thinking back on those formidable years...working out of my apartment, with cats roaming around and guests sitting on my goodwill sofa! I am so thankful to each of those people; they trusted and allowed me to gain experience and a reputation, while I built my confidence and skills in the process. Modern Ink Magazine | 102
PERSPECTIVES I knew I needed to open a shop of my own. My business was rapidly outgrowing my apartment...all you needed was to look around. The kitchen table was completely overrun with fabrics and craft supplies; a huge garment rack hung in the hallway, and bridal magazines were strewn about everywhere! In 2008, I found a little store front absolutely perfect for me and opened my shop, White Orchid Bridal. Why "White Orchid"?... quite simply, orchids are my favorite, especially the white ones. Since opening in 2008, my life has been a roller coaster ride. My shop is unlike any other bridal shop around, and I wouldn't have it any other way. When I initially opened, my concept focused more on custom accessories and vintage dress redesign and reconstruction. To my surprise, there was an interest in custom gowns, so that was the direction I moved toward, designing and sewing custom wedding gowns.
Please visit Colleen at www.whiteorchidbrides.com Modern Ink Magazine | 103
Each day of the week is unique, and each project I work on is varied from the last. It's impossible not to walk away from my shop with unique and different...I never make the same thing twice – that would be boring for me! Some days I sketch and design; other days my hands are stained red from dying fabric, or I am busy taking apart someone's mother's wedding dress in order to make it wearable again. I absolutely cherish what I do. It's difficult and challenging in so many ways, yet nothing compares to seeing a blissful bride walk out my door. I'm an old-fashioned person--I put an incredible amount of hard work and time into every item I design and create...weddings are special and should remain that way. My goal is to continue designing and creating heirloom quality work in a time where everything is mass-produced and packaged. I like knowing I offer something rare, something one cannot find anywhere else, something personal...something special.
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Dossier:
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Colleen Moore your go-to drink is: coffee in the a.m...wine in the p.m. you collect: ments vintage christmas ornaments your favorite travel relic is: I haven't traveled enoughh to have a great one yet! your perfume: lavender oil your favorite book: Better Homes and Gardens Sewing Book (circa 1961) ...I still reference it! favorite band: Hmmm...don't really have one. I mostly listen to classical and jazz. the person who would play you in a movie: I get told I look like Christina Applegate..I'll go with that! in another life you'd be a: person living off the land you could live off: sunshine, great conversation, wonderful music, wine, and of course, coffee best three words to describe yourself: creative, inventive, hardworking Modern Ink Magazine | 104
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THE DIRTY as told by lead singer, James Trimble
On April 23, 2006, The Dirty Guv’nahs stepped on stage for the first time...we thought it would be the only time. In fact, we, was just a group of random acquaintances--six guys that didn’t even know each other as friends, but who had been brought together by a series of random events, a benefit concert in downtown Knoxville's old city, and a multitude of ridiculous late night conversations. Modern Ink Magazine | 105
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GUV’NAHS Our first show transpired because a friend of ours happened to be looking for a benefit concert opening band, promoted by Diana Warner and headlined by Sister Hazel. Justin Hoskins had an easy answer. At dinner with Diana, he said, “I’m in a band...we’ll be one of your opening bands,” to which she wisely replied, “You’re not in a band. I’ve known you for ten years! But if you are in a band then you can be the opening act.” Justin assured, “I am definitely in a band. We just started.” And the band literally began in that breath. We decided to name it after a friend of ours whose nickname was, “The Guv’nah.” The Guv’nah loved rock music, as we all did, but none of us had actually been in a band. The Guv’nah had recently broken his ankle and was on crutches, so he was unavailable to be in it, but he helped orchestrate the formation of the band and our members. Like I said, most of us didn’t know each other, so The Guv’nah was our only connection. Modern Ink Magazine | 106
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Let me back up for a minute: After Justin's dinner with Diana, he went home to tell his roommates (which included me at the time) that we had to start a band, because we were committed to a show he’d booked for us in ten days. There was a lot of laughter, but he was completely serious. That’s where The Guv’nah came in. We practiced for a few nights but sounded pretty horrible, so The Guv'nah insisted that other people join. Eventually we got to six members, and thinking we sounded decent enough to play in front of people, The Guv'nah was satisfied...honestly though, we still sounded really terrible. The day of the show came, and we played four cover songs along with three original songs to a near-empty parking lot of people. It was amazing. I was twenty-three years old and had never sung in front of people until that moment. In fact, I was only elected lead singer by default because of my poor guitar playing. “James, you should just be the singer,” Justin told me after a few practices. The rest of our story is just as ridiculous, but it’s very far from fun and games, jokes and luck. We’ve worked harder on this than anyone I know, many of us working close to eighty hours a week for four years now in order to sustain both the band and a daytime desk job or grad school...it's been different for each of us. We have all sacrificed, which is what’s really drawn us together as a unit. It’s been difficult passing up other careers, grad school opportunities, and accepting disapproval from certain friends and family, because we want to make rock music for two cents an hour. For clarification, we’ve had an unbelievable support base from friends and family, but there’s always that uncle who calls you an idiot for being in a band, or there’s that high school buddy who says stuff like “when are you gonna give up on this man?” Despite all of the challenges, it’s just worked. We’ve always felt that we had something special that shouldn't be given up on, and we’ve pushed through because of it. Feels good to be making, like, ten cents an hour for our hard work as opposed to the previous two cents an hour...we’ve almost given up so many times… but fortuitous little things happened along the way that convinced us to stay in the game. One such occurrence was in April 2009, probably our biggest watershed moment, when we rented out the Bijou for a cd release show. We sold about two hundred tickets ourselves, in advance. The Bijou holds 750 people, so we thought: this is good, at least it won’t look completely empty. Our hope was that 350 would show up for the show. We were shocked when 695 people paid at the door that night. I literally felt as if I was living in a dream--it was insane. Another monumental moment for The Dirty Guv'nahs came when I got a call from Levon Helm Studios in August 2009, and they asked us to come up to Woodstock and record an album with them. Sure, it wasn’t a call out of the blue… I mean, we’d probably sent them between ten and seventy-five emails the previous year--apparently persistence works. The phone call went like this, “Hey, this is Justin Guip with Levon Helm Studios. I finally listened to some of your demos, and one or two of them
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actually sound really good. When can you come up to Woodstock to record an album?” Us: “December is the only time that will work cause a lot of us are still in school.” He said, “Ok. Ten days in the studio will be $X (enough to buy a car)… y'all good for it?” Of course I said, "Sure." That’s a very abbreviated version of the story. The truth is that we said, “yes” to the amount well before we had the money. In fact, our band account had very little in it when we booked the studio time. Fortunately for us, Levon’s studio didn’t request a deposit. It was September 2009, and we only had until December tenth to come up with the money, as well as write twelve more songs to record a new album. Needless to say, none of us slept much at all during that seventy-five day stretch. We stressed about where the money would come from, called everyone we knew in the music industry (which was only about seven people), and began mapping out how much money each of us would need to contribute to make our recording dream happen. We still didn’t have enough, so we prayed for a miracle--the real kind of prayers you pray when you are sick and throwing up all over the bathroom floor because you drank too much or had food poisoning. We were earnest, and we were crazy. We still are. Believe in what you want, but ten days later the miracle came in the form of a call from a New York City marketing company that worked on contract with a Fortune 500 company. They found us on MySpace and had a promotional opportunity for the exact dollar amount we needed for the studio time. We accepted it and immediately fell out of our chairs! The cd we recorded is out now, and it has done well for a local/regional band, but we’re already working on some fresh new music. We’ve also got a new booking agent who is kicking ass for us, and we’ve got our first manager who believes in us, and whom we fully believe in. Things are looking up, and we’re dreaming even bigger. Just like any business endeavor, you’ve gotta dig in and be committed to the long difficult hours and challenges specific to your dream. In the music industry, one challenge since the digital revolution, is that everyone thinks music is free--like music is something that’s ok to be stolen. But what can you do… ? Work harder. It's really the only answer, and with a band, the hardest work is not in making the music, or getting creative with marketing or your business ideas. It’s sticking together as a team while doing all of that and only making two cents an hour. As you read this, we will have recently finished playing in Austin, Texas at the SXSW Music Festival, which is one of the biggest music festivals in the world. We were there along with the other 250 plus bands that are still chasing the dream...the dream of playing music and inspiring others for a living. Music still matters, and that’s why we’re still doing it.
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James Trimble your go-to drink is: George Dickel and Sun Drop you collect: brown thrift store pants your favorite travel relic is: a travel bag I bought at a gas station tion in Georgia, still use it on every trip your cologne: none your favorite book: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes favorite band: The Rolling Stones the person who would play you in a movie: Eddie Murphy in another life you'd be a: pediatrician or a psychiatrist you could live off: Chick-fil-A spicy chicken sandwiches best three words to describe yourself: ambitious, eager, dreamer
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About a
DREAM Thoughts by Benjamin Mathes
Here’s the problem with dreams…one day, early or later in life, we realize our dream, and this is a problem—a big problem. See, dreams are great as long as we never realize what our dream actually is, as long as we can float through life and convince ourselves that dreams are for dreamers, and dreamers have no place here in the real world. As long as we believe that, we’ll be fine. But, as soon as the dream is realized, as soon as we allow the fullness of our imagination to take control, we recognize just how big that dream is and how impossible it would be to actually achieve it. Then, like an ant hill in a thunderstorm, we feel small and insignificant in comparison, so why even try? Why keep going? It’ll never happen. Modern Ink Magazine | 111
PERSPECTIVES There’s no way. Just stop. You want to know what sucks…? I was five when I realized my dream. Yeah, five. What a great way to start life—with a dream….silly kid. When Mrs. Brotherton needed three volunteers to play the third, fourth, and tenth "little indians" in the kindergarten class Thanksgiving Day skit, I jumped up to be all of them. "No. Don' be a role hog, Benjamin." But it was like this inner world began to burn in me. There was a fire in my gut that wouldn’t stop burning unless I was every "little indian." I could do it, dammit, and I could do it better than Heather Hatfield. I’m an actor. I can’t help it. It hurts not to be one. This is where it began, and between kindergarten and high school I played three trees, two rocks, two Santa Clauses, and a spider. And still it burned, this dream. The Puberty Of My Art I don’t think I realized the enormity of my dream until my voice started to change. I loved high school; it's where my dream upgraded from playful, unabashed hope to a more structured if-then (as in, ‘if you want to be an actor, then you have to do it like this’) kind of passion. Looking back, I know that shift was a downgrade…but at the time, it felt mature—like late nights at Waffle House, smoking, and kissing. Despite my new structured approach to dreaming, I learned to love the theatre: the smell of the wood, the heat of the lights, the taste of the make-up, the rush of the applause, the power, the twelve-hour rehearsals, even the notes, the lead roles, and the awards. It was here that I cried; I laughed; I loved; I fought; I felt my first boob (hers not mine), and I grew up.
I met Linda Wise, my high school teacher, and Hylan Scott, a mentor friend. Linda showed me what it meant to be an artist. She demanded respect for the work, and I respected her demands. Hylan opened my eyes to artistic freedom. He was a working actor, and I was enthralled by the life he seemed to live. That life was my dream—to be a professional actor. But my adolescent fear took hold. I told myself that I could never be that good, I could never do that. That dream was too big. I’m fine right here, where I can do it right. Where I can do theatre the way it was supposed to be done: here in high school. That’s enough. No need to want more. If only I could reduce my dream to something smaller, then I could achieve it--silly kid. There it was. I had discovered the true path to fulfillment! Make it smaller. Expect less. Hope for less. Convince myself that being actor is stupid, childish, and unreasonable. Who needs all that attention? Those people are weird; I mean, have you seen what goes on in Hollywood? I was very reasonable, and reasonable people are good at finding reasons not to do something, so despite being recruited to some of the most prestigious acting schools in the country, I decided to go the traditional route. I went to the State University. I know! I'll be a teacher! Something normal. Something reasonable. Something secure. I can do that. Reduce the world, and increase my significance within it! Big fish/small pond sounds good to me. Acting was just a high school thing. I'm a grown up now. Time to move on. Right? It still burned. So, to put a little water on the fire, I did a musical at the local community theatre. I had one line, "me, sir, me!" The director, Tom Coleman, asked me to stay after rehearsal. He liked the way I did my line and offered me my first, paying, professional acting job. For two years, I toured around rural Georgia playing Rumpelstiltskin for elementary school kids, and I had Modern Ink Magazine | 112
PERSPECTIVES the time of my life. I must have signed more than 1,000 Rumpelstiltskin autographs--eat your heart out, Brad Pitt. Then one night after a show, the fire in my belly started to burn to the surface. I began talking to Tom about what I thought acting was and how I approached it and why it was important to me. He stopped me and said he would pay me to teach what I was mouthing off about, if I was serious. And there I was, eighteen years old, touring as an actor, creating a class and teaching a way of working that I was figuring out as I went (some things I still use today), and beginning to regrow the dream.
meetings with me to offer their support and to let me know they were sorry I ever had to defend a success. They encouraged me to follow it and go to New York City before I finished the four years of training. So I did. I followed the show to the city. The dream was big, too big. I had to do something to shrink it, and I had to do it quickly.
S*** Or Get Off The Pot Some say I did it for a girl...of course I did.
A Bite of the Apple As soon as I got to New York, I began making my rounds to different agents. Because of the soap opera, I was the new kid on the block, and everyone wanted to meet me—to see what I could do for them.
I left my fairy tale tour and my small class, and I went to finally ‘study’ my dream. I was accepted into a prestigious conservatory to study acting. Dreams and behavior were beginning to align.
I learned very quickly that there are different levels of agencies: small, medium, and large. In general, the bigger the agent, the more powerful, and the more opportunities they could create for me.
I thrived in my studies, met creative people, wrote music, had my heart-broken (by the girl!) and rediscovered my dream in its full potential. It was dangerous...very dangerous...it's dangerous because I was surrounded by people who had reduced the size of their dreams, and when in my third year, CBS called and offered me a role on the soap opera, "As The World Turns," those people worked their hardest to pull me back down where I belonged. I was the crab trying to get out of the box, and they had their pinchers in me, pulling me back—“If we can’t, you can’t!”
It came down to two agencies: a small one and a large one.
Friends spoke badly about me, lied about me, and ignored me. Teachers had meetings and argued about whether I should be punished for accepting the role-even the Dean had a meeting with me. I remember the university had a giant event to celebrate my first episode…none of my actor friends showed up, just a few higher-ups and random people who didn’t know me.
Clearly, the large agency was more in line with the size of my dream, but they were so big, I convinced myself that, like my dream, they were too big for me. I came up with every imaginable reason why I shouldn’t sign with them—I’ll get lost; they’ll be too cut-throat; the office is so far from my apartment; the views are too good from their high rise…again, I was very reasonable, and reasonable people will always find reasons not to do things.
The small one was a two-person, one room operation. Good people, blue-collar, lots of phone calls, and a water fountain. The second one was in a huge office off of Fifth Avenue, with plenty of suits, receptionists, security checks, a beautiful elevator, and they offered me a drink every time I was in the office.
I felt alone...but I wasn’t. So, I signed with the smaller agency. Before I knew it, my instructors requested individual Modern Ink Magazine | 113
PERSPECTIVES I stapled my own headshots and resumes, walked five flights of stairs, and had to get my own water when I got there.
Head West Young Man There was only one place to retreat after I reduced my dream: graduate school.
They worked very hard for me, and though I was able to work in theatre in New York and around the country, I was never able to get into huge Broadway auditions or in for major films.
Of course, that’s not what I told myself. I told myself my dream was just changing, not being reduced. Now, I wanted to be a professor of acting. Settle down in some cute college town, get a steady income, work within the system, and get a real taste of middle class crack—security. Silly kid.
But that was ok. After all, I didn’t want things to get out of control...didn’t want things to get too big. I remember “going to producers” (which is what we call the second or third round, or in this case, the fourth round of auditions) for an unknown HBO pilot called "Entourage." I was reading for the lead role, some hotshot actor who navigates the ins-and-outs of Hollywood with his entourage, and they liked me. My agents called and told me to keep up the good work; HBO was excited about me, and this could be a great way to start a career in New York—HBO even had me clear my schedule for a possible cast-bonding trip to Vegas. I was getting excited. But reasonable people aren’t supposed to get excited. If we get excited, we may be let down, and could hurt. Better to prepare for failure. I worked hard to convince myself I didn’t really have enough television experience; they would probably find someone in Los Angeles with a more impressive resume and more powerful agent; I didn’t really want to have to deal with moving to Los Angeles, and I wasn’t good looking enough; I was too young, or I wasn’t in shape enough to play this role. And besides, that show would probably never get picked up anyway… That way of thinking affected my auditions. On my last read for "Entourage," the producers and casting directors asked me if I was ‘ok’…The feedback they gave my agent was something like…” Yea, he’s great, but something was missing in his last read. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.” At the time I didn’t know it, but I was very good at sabotaging myself...very reasonable.
Two and a half years into my time in New York City, I decided to go to grad school and get an MFA in Acting. Sure, they’d train me to be an actor, but I also needed that degree if I ever wanted to settle down into the new version of my dream. I chose a school in Southern California with a good reputation for training actors, and one which would allow me to teach. I turned down a school that had a much better reputation for training actors, but wouldn’t allow me to teach. I was awful in school...just wanted it to be over. Give me my piece of paper and let me move on--not the best attitude, and it blinded me to many opportunities and lessons. I was not an artist—quit treating me like one. Try as I might, I couldn’t escape the flames of acting, and upon graduation, a very powerful manager (as opposed to agent) decided she wanted to represent me. I rolled my inner-eye at the thought of being an actor again and at living under the enormity of that dream. But, I convinced myself that getting a few small roles would make me a more marketable teacher. I’ll act so I can teach. My manager wasn’t on the same page. She used to tell me that being an actor was like being an athlete, and she was right. She worked me. She had me in rooms I believed were above my pay scale. I was meeting with agents, lawyers, and producers—people who made Hollywood run. I was auditioning for lead roles on every show that’s on TV—from "Glee" to "Law and Order LA," you name it; I read for it…and I sabotaged myself all along the way.
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PERSPECTIVES I did book a few things. If you saw the movie, "City Island," there I am, working with Alan Arkin and Andy Garcia. It’s a great film...go see it. If you’ve seen Chris Rock’s, "Death At A Funeral," I had a hand in the development of that film and got to work with Chris Rock--also worth the watch. But mostly, I spent my time defending my limitations. I argued with my manager, telling her she expected too much from me; I was new to LA. Why wasn’t I reading for smaller roles? I was tired of driving… I learned that when you defend your limitations, they become yours--you get to keep them. I separated from my manager and decided to go it alone. The big wake up call came from my wife (go figure). It didn’t take long before I was teaching at a university, at a studio in LA, and I had lots of private clients. I was making pretty good money as a teacher, and I remember saying to my wife, “I’m doing exactly what I said I would doteaching!” to which she replied, "Then you should have said you would be acting!” Like a ton of bricks, my self-imposed-dream-reduction hit me across the face. Why didn’t I do that? I used to —I used to tell people I was going to be the greatest actor in the world. I used to call myself an artist. Now I was just avoiding the difficult. I was hiding out in the “great in between,” where there is no risk of failure and no promise of success. I had reduced my dream to something achievable… and I had achieved it. How reasonable. Don’t Be Scared To Turn On A Dime "Don’t be scared to turn on a dime." My dad told me that one day, and so did my mom, but I bet neither remember it. I guess I never realized I could turn on a dime--my own dime. You can change the way you see your place in the world, and you can regain the significance lost when you realized the scope of your dreams.
That was it! I never brought all of myself. I was always leaving something in the reserve tank, playing it safe and hoping not to mess up, trying to do things right, and not having the courage to do things wrong. I decided to surrender to my dreams and my abilities, to allow for possibilities and for greatness, and to follow everything that happens as a result. Sounds like some cheesy "Oprah" episode, but it’s the way I approach my acting, and I guess its silly to assume the way we approach our art is different from the way we approach our lives—it’s the same brain, last I checked. "So turn on a dime, son. Stop being so reasonable. Go to bed on empty. Leave nothing in the reserve tank. You can’t be an artist if you’re trying to get things right. And take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously…" I decided it was time to live in my integrity, to align my behavior with my dreams—embrace a true fidelity to life. Everest didn’t get smaller for the people who reached the top, and Hollywood didn’t get easier for the people who’ve made it. It was something inside them. It’s the actual belief that the only thing I can’t accomplish is the thing that is larger than my commitment...my attitude will monitor my talent. It’s working out pretty well so far. I quit the university job and even turned down two tenuretrack offers. I teach on my own terms, which has made me more in demand than I ever imagined. I work with celebrities, actors, clergy, business people, and even family. I see my teaching as an art, and I bring everything I have to the process. I’ve connected acting and teaching, approaching one the same way as the other—with all of myself. I recently shot my fifth project this year, and a short film I shot last year has won five "Best Picture" awards around the country. I have a full team of representation on my side, and the future looks bright. Oh, and I live at the beach.
I found a teacher, Stuart Rogers, who has changed the way I see my art. He taught me that art isn’t a mystical thing we roll our eyes at like the new-aged section of Barnes and Noble. Art is defined by the amount of ourselves we bring to any process. It doesn’t matter what you do, if you put all of yourself into the process, it's an art. Modern Ink Magazine | 115
Now that sounds reasonable.
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Dossier:
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Benjamin Mathes your our go-to drink is: m Adams Boston Lager Sam ou collect: you ntage port vintage our favorite travel relic is: your a yarmulke I almost got killed over in Israel our perfume: your Oldd Spice Fresh your favorite book: Pillars of the Earth favorite band: Mumford and Sons the person who would play you in a movie: Mark Ruffalo in another life you'd be a: a baseball historian you could live off: pizza and beer best three words to describe yourself: love my iPhone Modern Ink Magazine | 116
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ALL ROADS LEAD TO
SAN FRANCISCO
B Y M E G A N Z O T TA R E L L I
MY GRANDMOTHER GREW UP IN THE BRONX, AND AFTER MOVING TO A SMALL TOWN ON THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA, YEARNED FOR C I T Y N O I S E . M AY B E I T ’ S I N M Y B L O O D …
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PERSPECTIVES I grew up somewhat poor in a small town, and when our limited means allowed for adventure, we'd set about on a much-needed “creative” vacation, typically meaning camping close to home. Our biggest trip was when I was twelve, when my mother, sister and I drove up Highway 1 to Oregon to visit family friends. Passed the endless blue of the Pacific, through the soulful redwoods, my eyes glimpsed San Francisco for the first time. I peered out the window to the fog-filled horizon of Victorian archetypal homes seemingly squished together, the financial and banking buildings grasping the heavens, and a bridge which indeed appeared to be made of gold. I was enchanted, a welling of sensation arose from within me, and I yelled to my mother from the backseat: “I’m going to live here some day!” I was a world away from its bright lights, its tasty cuisine, its artful beauty. But I was gonna get there. Years later as I became untethered from the threads of my childhood, my travels began. I studied art in Florence, Italy, and became accustomed to the fast pace of the renaissance metropolis. Once I returned stateside, I didn’t want to linger in one place. I moved to Santa Cruz for a brief stint working for the state parks among the redwoods I had driven passed years ago on that fateful road trip. Then I moved in with my grandmother while I figured out how and where to finally finish college. She was indeed influential in my choice. To the south lay San Diego, where a sunny life of flip-flops and tanned skin appeared not such a harsh fate. To the north: San Francisco. Immediately my tan turned pale; my vision turned to a hazy fog--cold, but intoxicating. The fog opened its arms to me like an unveiling, and suddenly I knew that my life simply wouldn’t work anywhere else. I could see myself bundled in mittens and a trench coat in July, running through the city streets with full command, yet I couldn’t see any details of where I was headed. My grandmother recalled her youth in New York. I remembered the self-pledge of ten years prior as a revelation of my life to come. The mystery lay before me, thrilling as my prior days of art and travel: San Francisco it was. I moved quickly, arriving to the splendor of concrete grass and rolling hills. I studied maps of the city to navigate the confusing grids and numbered avenues. I drove my beater car, winding through the oneway streets with no left turns allowed, memorizing paths
to my favorite cafe and shops. Then after receiving more parking tickets than the beater car was worth, I traded it for the faulty buses, bought a MUNI pass and attempted to live like a "local," which essentially means someone who has lived there for more than five years, as the born-and-raised kind are a diminishing lot. I reread On the Road and The Dharma Bums, and in the typical early 20’s rite of passage fashion, became obsessed with the poetry that the heavy smoking Beats had created in North Beach decades before. I learned bartenders' names and picnicked at Alamo Square. I went to shows and saw obscure bands that I could never see in my small town. I saw as much art as I had in Florence. I lived in an apartment building heavily occupied by young enthusiasts like myself, and we became a quick family. We'd touch base daily as I'd often done with my own family, and meet on the back communal stoop for a smoke and glass or five of wine to recall our busy days. We forged a friendship through neighboring homes literally stacked on one another, with no privacy but with no opportunity for loneliness in a new city. I finished college and suddenly felt like I needed to settle. Some friends couldn’t traverse from being a college transplant to getting a job and affording the lifestyle of a city resident. I did what many young women in their 20’s do in San Francisco and became a nanny to a wealthy family in Noe Valley to help pay the bills.
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PERSPECTIVES
One day I attempted to walk through the door of my favorite local bar and was halted by my future husband who asked for my ID, clearly unimpressed that I tried to come in like I owned the place. After we started dating, I better learned the daily perks of living urban: the bike rides around the city (avoiding the hills whenever possible, of course), the barbecues in the park, the Giants games, perusing old book stores, the date-nights at our favorite restaurants or trying a new spot. Did I mention the food? Yuuuum. My grandmother and I used to argue for hours about San Francisco vs. New York cuisine. When I moved to San Francisco I embarked on a crash course of good eats. The city laid its best plates out for me like a feast of bounty; I had only to be brave enough to try it. San Francisco doesn’t Modern Ink Magazine | 119
lack for creating a true dining experience, whether it’s in a five-star restaurant or from a food truck. Now when friends or family arrive for a visit I take them on eating safaris, navigating the city’s restaurants one meal at a time on a campaign to learn about the neighborhoods through their food. Even in a city of seven by seven miles, there are endless possibilities. The neighborhoods of San Francisco, I learned, are as defined by their food and shops as they are by their cultural aesthetic: among them, the Mission, a Latino community and growing home for hipsters and the otherwise hip; the Castro, an oasis for the gay and lesbian community; the Richmond, an Asian melting pot of Chinese, Japanese, Burmese, and Korean communities assembling their home-style restaurants on
PERSPECTIVES Clement Street, which some of us like to call the real Chinatown. And then there's the Western Addition. Ah…home. It's a community of neighbors, most everyone knowing each other from the local bars and a few establishments that have more recently defined it as a destination spot. The last ten years have seen major developments in this neighborhood. The Western used to be seen as a "high risk" neighborhood, with restricted liquor licenses and a warning to outsiders that they may be mugged. For me, the experience was quite different. I saw friends at every corner, the regulars at Fly, 821, and Chances bars or the cafe simply known as The Cafe. I learned the history of the Western Addition, the residences built on bedrock which became a quick refuge after the 1906 earthquake, and the midcentury jazz awakening that brought greats like Billie Holiday and John Coltrane to the area regularly. I moved into my husband’s massive rent-controlled flat and transformed our backyard plot (which is hard to come by in the city) from a sand pit into an urban oasis with shade loving plants and a fire pit. We got a rescue dog and joined the dog-lover subculture of San Francisco, meeting people at the dog park for play dates and writing community boards to argue for canine rights and access to the city’s great outdoor spaces. I learned that, not surprisingly, there are more dogs than children in the city. Nonprofits flourish here. I went from working for preschools in low-income, under-served communities, to working for HIV education, and then on to working for a veterans’ rights organization. Unfortunately part of living urban is seeing a convergence of homeless, and in San Francisco, many are veterans. And sadly working in service means seeing firsthand the way the community survives. My job is at the heart of the community, close to 6th street with its gritty residential hotels and vagrant drug addicts (although there are some great bars and restaurants too). Every city has one of these neighborhoods, a plot for the beggarly, and often where the city planning “urban revival” or “beautification” begins. But often those terms are also associated with gentrification.
hood revealed through the hills; leaving the Western Addition, on to Hayes Valley, then SoMa, enjoying a cup of coffee and waking my mind for the tasks of the day. Luckily living urban affords a somewhat “live global, act local” lifestyle. Although the city has one of the worst public transit systems, I’m able to go without a car (although my husband must often commute outside of the city with one), most restaurants and grocery stores feature local and organic foods, the small mom-and-pop stores still exist here, and we’ve done our best to keep out many major chains that drive away business from the smaller operations. In essence, the Bohemian individualism, the cultural diversity that San Francisco has in its roots, makes for a city with staunch durability. Living in San Francisco is almost like living in Neverland. People here may age but they often don’t act their age. In fact, it’s more like they have a slower scale of development. I didn’t realize this until I had lived here for a few years, and I would visit my hometown to find old friends settling down and having children when I was still partying till 3AM most nights. To them, I was immature, but to San Franciscans, I was just right. Many of the juveniles are artists, designers, and people in the restaurant and bar industries. San Francisco is an eternal rebellious teenager. As I’ve grown older in the city, I’m learning about different ways to enjoy it. My husband and I are expecting our first child this fall, a child who will learn the world through the lens of San Francisco. And I’m going to relearn the city through the lens of a parent, visiting all of the amazing children’s museums, walking to parks, paying an arm and a leg for daycare so that I can maintain my professional career, and even despising the lousy public school system. Luckily, although I have to pay more for it, I’m able to treat my future city kid to a life of cultural richness in a place of true beauty. And now, my favorite neighborhood bar where I met my husband has a daycare center next door. I see this as a symbol of my life in the city, the old and new paired together. At any age, I’m bound to enjoy it.
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Dossier:
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PERSPECTIVES
Megan Zottarelli your go-to drink is:
A Hendricks gin gimlet. If you’re in San Francisco, NOPA’s is by far my go-to; if not, my recipe calls for mix of 1.5 oz gin, juice of ½ a lime, spoonful of agave syrup, and a floating basil leaf.
you collect:
Antique Japanese geisha dolls. It became a hobby of mine as a child while learning
Japanese history. I ended up cleaning out a little old lady’s lot at a nearby swap meet, and the rest is history. But of course I consolidated to four dolls once I moved to the city and keep them more for their nostalgic value.
your favorite travel relic is: seashells from the shore of Mal Pais, Costa Rica. I know it’s bad to take them, but the beach was literally covered, and I was compelled take a treasure from that breathtaking beach. Now they adorn my bathroom terrarium and remind of the days frolicking through the surf.
your perfume: My husband can’t stand the smell of perfume, so I use lavender oil.
your favorite book: Favorite books compiled can almost create a biography of your own life. Naming only one would merely define a glimpse of it. But if I must, my most recent favorite is Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishigiro… it definitely evokes the moment in all of us when we realize youthful innocence must be unlearned. It’s so beautifully moving as Ishigiro's work always is.
favorite band: My mother is a folk singer, so that genre remains influential. If I had to list one— oh hell I can’t! Damien Jurado, Simon and Garfunkel, Band of Horses, Great Lake Swimmers, The Secret Sisters, Iron and Wine, Joni Mitchell, The Swell Season, Iris Dement, The Decemberists, and many others!
the person who would play you in a movie: ne with a head full of curls. Drew Barrymore. Or someone
ou'd 'd be b a: in another life you'd
g studying y g Orangutans g Primatologist in Borneo and Bonobos
in Africa. (You may think it funny, but this was one of my 20 unfulfilled majors in college.)
f: you could live off: Sushi or Indian food.
best three words to describe yourself: Serene, unruffled, joyful.
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I N S P I R AT I O N The Lounge
there is work to do here
ASHLEY ADDAIR
To view Ashely’s work, visit her site: http://noroomforhipsters.wordpress.com/photo-gallery-ashleys-work/
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The Lounge I N S P I R AT I O N
p is for paint Ashley Addair is a Knoxville-based artist active in the local art community. She is a founding member and host of The Mason Jar: an informal venue dedicated to discovering, sharing, and playing in creativity; regularly collaborates with other artists for Good Packaging: a quarterly subscription to art and music; has commissioned works hanging around the country; and shows regularly in gallery and retail spaces across the Eastern U.S. with work in private collections internationally.
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I N S P I R AT I O N The Lounge
JONATHAN CARR Jonathan Carr is a writer, editor, and multimedia artist who has spent the past decade immersed in the worlds of design, art, creative writing, and journalism. In 1999 he founded Negative Space Media the brand through which he has produced his work since that time. In 2000 he founded Magazine Minima (2000-2009), recognized as both the first website and magazine devoted to short form writing as well as the first online magazine built entirely in Flash. In 2001, he received a grant from the Iowa Writers Workshop for a multimedia art/poetry collaboration with Thomas Swiss, Professor and senior editor of the Iowa Review Online. From 2001-2006 he worked as the Director of New Media for the premier literary net hub Web Del Sol, in 2002 he produced the one-off Online Art show 07(g) in conjunction with WDS, showing the work of premier designers and artists from around the world. In 2001 he became a contributing editor and Editor of Design, Art, and New Media at 3am Magazine, based out of the Sorbonne. In 2003 he became the West Coast Representative of the renowned Electronic Art site Rhizome.org, based out of the New Museum in NYC. In 2005 he was recognized in Poets & Writers Magazine as one of the five important voices in short form writing, his site Magazine Minima was separately recognized as one of the five important sites devoted to short form writing. He has worked as a designer, curator, editor, contributing editor and contributor for numerous other magazines, sites, galleries, shows, collectives and other such ventures. Jonathan's work has been published and/or shown as well as anthologized well over 50 times. His articles, interviews, fiction, poetry, and multimedia/design art have appeared in: 3am Magazine, (group), Shift jp., Poems that Go, In Posse, Double Room, Drunken Boat, The Voyeur, Diagram, The Del Sol Review, Comrades (U.K), Minima, Artifact, Get Underground, Paper Tiger, and others. He is currently at work on his first novel, tentatively titled The BlackBird's Eye.
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The Lounge I N S P I R AT I O N Bleach listen she says listen her eyes a slow receding wind I almost cannot recognize you without the sound of traffic/humming through the background car horns yelling ambulance flashing mourn pavement city caterwauling your hair she says/you cut it all/where did it all/disappear too? you cut it all you cut/all the bleach out that I put in her fingers run through familiar to arch my neck into subterranean repositionings then silence unraveling upon us making strangers of us both
before the dinner she is in the other room changing outside street lamps and telephone lines become sudden and botanical in the moonlight night makes a mirror of the window you find yourself a stranger in the inky translation she calls your name she wants you to see how she is become symphonic combustible at the fountain in san pedro swallows bathe chirping joyous binary code into the sky Modern Ink Magazine | 126
I N S P I R AT I O N The Lounge
Carrie styling: Carrie LeMarca
CJ ISAAC
To contact CJ or to view her work, visit her site: www.cjisaac.com. Modern Ink Magazine | 127
The Lounge I N S P I R AT I O N Ketch hair: Clay Nielson Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, CJ moved to New York in 2010 shortly after attending Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Since graduating, CJ has worked for a number of commercial and editorial clients including EM2 Design, Robinson College of Business, Williams-Sonoma, Highland Bakery, New York Magazine, NY Times Best Selling Author Adriana Trigiani, Witness, and NBC Niteside. CJ is based out of New York City and is available for commercial work anywhere.
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I N S P I R AT I O N The Lounge
SARAH MARTIN
accordian
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The Lounge I N S P I R AT I O N
shell oil Sarah Martin is an interdisciplinary artist, professor and the Director of Communications for the L.A.F. Project. She has been teaching photography and filmmaking since 2003 and is currently teaching photography and social practice at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sarah received her MFA in Photography from Yale University in 2002 and her BA in Media Arts from the University of Tennessee in 2000.
Sarah’s work can be viewed at www.theothersarahmartin.com.
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I N S P I R AT I O N Uncovered
MELANIE SONIER www.ideegeniale.blogspot.com
We were fortunate to catch up with the incredibly stylish and innovative Melanie Sonier, creator of and blogger at www.ideegeniale.blogspot.com. She filled us in on what influences her style as well as what motivates her blog, and shared with us her top ten picks for this season: “I grew up in Ontario, but was living in Vancouver, British Columbia before moving to New York in 2008. I think my surroundings influence my sense of style. Being in New York, and Brooklyn especially, I feel like anything goes. No one questions you on how you dress or what you look like. It's a very creative city that offers diversity in every industry. For me, living in Brooklyn and working in the fashion industry, I feel like I get to experience some pretty amazing opportunities that might not be available if I were living somewhere else. I hope to share these experiences with my readers through my blog and inspire other girls to create their own sense of style. Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't have a unique sense of dress. On my blog, most of my outfits are either from thrift store finds or remixing what I already have in my closet. I want other girls to get the message that style doesn't aways have to mean following the latest trends.” -Melanie
“I'm always looking for a nude nail polish shade, and Essie always comes out with a new one for me to try.” essie.com $8
“I love this brightly colored Ikat print bag. Matt & Nat have the greatest selection of vegan bags.” mattandnat.com $235
“I've recently re-acquainted myself in my kitchen. This book has saved me many times when I've had to impress friends for dinner or parties. Anything I've made from this book has turned out amazing!” amazon.com $15.95 Modern Ink Magazine | 131
Uncovered I N S P I R AT I O N “Olivia Mew’s illustrations are really cute but current... like adding tattoos to her doll-like girls.” etsy.com $2
“I love unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry. You know that no one else will be wearing it.” etsy.com $65
“It's almost that time when I start living in my Toms. I'm loving the new colors and prints for this summer.” toms.com $54
“I love the dusty red color and of course the Peter Pan collar. It's perfect with it's 3/4 sleeves. modcloth.com $99
“I love these vintage looking spectacles! Plus, for every pair sold, Warby Parker donates a pair of glasses to charity.” warbyparker.com $99
“All I need to do in the morning is spray this into my hair, mess it up, and I'm ready to go.” amazon.com $12
“I'm in need of some bright color in my new apartment! What better way than to add some fun bedding to a bedroom.” urbanoutfitters.com $78
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I N S P I R AT I O N The Local
It Takes a
Village
by Adrienne Tankersley
Newly married and renting in an upscale in-town neighborhood, my husband and I were tentative first-time-home buyers. In 2005, we bought our home in the hip, bohemian neighborhood known widely as East Atlanta Village, and did it with the mindset of surviving there for three years, selling for a profit, and moving to a different neighborhood more suitable for raising a family. The first of many surprise turns in our life was the news of our first baby to arrive in the middle of 2006. The second surprise turn was the realization, after just over a year in our house, that this neighborhood was exactly where we wanted to call home; for we were among the best group of neighbors we could ever imagine, as well as part of a wonderfully eclectic area. From our doorstep, we walk to unique restaurants, the bank, the Post Office, concerts, and I currently walk with a neighborhood group to and from our local elementary school each day. Located only three miles from the center of downtown, we have quick and easy access to the countless amenities that Atlanta has to offer. Years ago, while we were still in the process of purchasing our house, we joined an online discussion board for East Atlanta Village (called affectionately ‘The Buzz’), and it was through this online community that we built and strengthened our actual community. Through The Buzz, people in our community are able to swap furniture, children’s clothing, recipes, plants, and fire wood, as result of the occasional downed Modern Ink Magazine | 133
The Local I N S P I R AT I O N
tree. We found our church home by talking with people on The Buzz, and we also made decisions on doctors, plumbers, and other service providers. In 2008, a tornado wreaked havoc on the city of Atlanta, and our neighborhood was well in its path. Before the sun rose the following day, a rescue group formed from our online discussion board, and neighbors took to the streets with chainsaws and pick-up trucks to clear the roads and people’s driveways. Other neighbors helped care for those folk’s children, delivered food to the volunteers, and checked on elderly neighbors’ needs.
we were their own. Two sets of these parental figure neighbors actually provided a roof over our heads while the roof we owned was being rebuilt. In our neighborhood, we attach ourselves to grandparent figures, and we care for them by helping with minor home repairs or by donating a dishwasher to a sweet hard-working grandmother who has never had one. Many work-force aged folks in Atlanta are here without any family nearby, and we are among those. This makes having a real sense of home more important than I could ever express in words.
This gave me a deep sense that we were home. The more I thought about it, we had all of the ingredients of home in the people who surrounded us. There are the sibling-like folks our age with kids our kids’ ages who have been friends with our babies since babyhood. Then we have the more parental friends, who regardless of age have looked after us and cared for us like
We celebrate holidays with traditional fiestas such as an Easter egg hunt in the park, and a group trick-or-treat, called EAV-O-Ween, complete with costume contests for people and dogs. But, I would have to take a chance and say that we are the only neighborhood who had not only Santa Claus show up to our tree lighting, but also a circus elephant from Imperial OPA Circus. Modern Ink Magazine | 134
I N S P I R AT I O N The Local The generosity shown by neighbors has blown us away over and over. For the first two months of our son’s life, our meal calendar, organized by a friend from The Buzz, was packed full, and we forgot how to cook for ourselves. This same group of folks came to our aid on Christmas Day this past year as we were trying to make it out-of-town before the snow-storm hit. Just as we loaded our family vehicle, two children, dog, and all of our Christmas loot and hit the downtown connector, our electric system started shutting down. We had to turn the car around, and we did not even make it the full three miles back to the house before we broke down in a parking lot. Snow was already falling, and there was no foreseeable way we were going to make it out of of the city to spend the holiday with family. Without even ticking fifteen minutes off our clock, three neighbors showed up with an extra vehicle for us; they helped us swap all of our things into that vehicle, and we were on the road again. It still makes me weep when I think about it. It is because of our selfless and giving neighbors that our neighborhood elementary school has a volunteerbuilt organic garden that is integrated into the curriculum. This happened because two of those neighbors are master gardeners, and aside from volunteering time in the garden, they volunteer time in the classroom for every child in the school, weekly. They partnered with school officials as well as Georgia Organics to create a program that could help the children not only learn to appreciate the Earth, but also allow the Earth to assist in teaching them the skills to pass tests. This was enough to attract the attention of First Lady, Michelle Obama, and the one school she chose to visit in the United States on the anniversary of her “Let’s Move” campaign was our own Burgess-Peterson Academy. While many factors attract people to visit, hang out, or even buy a house in our area of town, it is the community of one-of-a-kind people that make it a place to call home for us. If it truly takes a village, the only one that we love to call home is East Atlanta Village.
Write to us for our next issue at hello@moderninkmag.com, and tell us what makes your town/city a remarkable place to live! Modern Ink Magazine | 135
I N S P I R AT I O N The Giving Well
The Austin Hatcher Foundation As hosts of an annual event to raise funds for pediatric cancer research, Jim and Amy Jo Osborn were fairly knowledgeable about the first signs of pediatric cancer and the challenges it can bring to families. When their first child, Austin Hatcher Osborn, was born on August 25, 2006, Jim and Amy Jo had little reason to guess that their healthy son would be affected by the disease. Austin Hatcher, who the Osborns affectionally called Hatch, even attended his parent’s annual pediatric cancer fundraiser at only seven weeks old, showing his support as the patient, loving baby he was. A few days after the fundraiser, however, Amy Jo began to notice that her normally content and healthy son was exhibiting strange symptoms. After calling the pediatrician, Hatch was taken to the emergency room, where he was eventually given an MRI. The MRI revealed that Hatch had brain tumors.
atch H d n a o Amy J
“We just sat there crying and holding and hugging Hatch,” says Amy Jo, “but I remember having the feeling that we would get passed this. We have worked with children that have survived cancer for the last four years. I know Hatch is going to make it. Later that day, Hatch was airlifted to the Children’s Hospital Cancer Center in Atlanta. Jim and I didn’t sleep a wink that night.”
“That night, the reality of Hatch surviving came to life in my heart,” says Amy Jo, “I have never felt so empty. I never imagined this would be something that could happen to our son.”
The next day in Atlanta, the Osborns discovered that the tumors were not only in Hatch’s brain, but had spread down his spine and had completely taken over his central nervous system. After more testing, the tumors were found to be malignant and Hatch was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive and rare types of tumors found in children.
“Hatch was only 8 weeks old. His type of cancer did not have many treatment options and he was too young to withstand most treatments,” explains Amy Jo, “After hours of trying to understand that there was nothing we could do, we made the decision to take him home. We brought him home on October 11 and, for seven days, we watched him lose all function in his tiny
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The next day, an oncologist explained to the Osborns that the survival rate of Hatch’s condition was less than 10%, with most survivors being over the age of three.
The Giving Well I N S P I R AT I O N body. The feeling of knowing that I would not watch Hatch grow up was overwhelming. On the morning of October 19, 2006, Hatch took his last breath in Jim’s arms, as I sat next to them on the floor. He was only 9 weeks old, but he was the strongest little boy we have ever met.” After the tragic loss of their son, the Osborns decided to start an organization that would both support pediatric cancer patients and their families, as well as honor their son’s life, and the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer was born. The mission of the Foundation is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. “The pain of losing Hatch is nearly unspeakable still,” says Amy Jo, “but we’ve come to feel a deep desire to do all we can to help erase the effects of pediatric cancer.” In 2009, the Austin Hatcher Foundation opened its first Hatch’s House of Hope at Erlanger Medical Mall in Chattanooga, TN. Hatch’s is a landmark pediatric cancer care center that provides children and their families with the tools needed to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer, as well as the skills essential to live meaningful and productive lives as cancer survivors. Hatch’s offers dozens of unique services to families struggling with the physical and psychological effects of pediatric cancer, whether the affected patient has just been diagnosed or is already entering adulthood. Among these services are individual and family counseling, academic support, cognitive skills remediation, physical and speech therapies, problem-solving and social skills training, art and music therapies, marital and financial counseling, and diversionary therapy events. “At Hatch's, we help families by equipping and empowering them with the educational, social, and emotional skills that are essential to navigate through this difficult journey,” says Partricia Kassebaum, clinic director at Hatch’s House of Hope, “For families, having a healthy, happy marriage takes work on a good
Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, TN
day; keeping finances in line is tough on a good day; having children with happy, healthy relationships takes lots of work on a good day. With cancer, all these issues face incredible challenges. At Hatch's, we help each family member identify and work through these difficulties.” According to the National Institute of Health’s 2009 statistics, one in every 320 children will be diagnosed with cancer before reaching the age of 20. Additionally, approximately 70% of children undergoing cancer therapies display delayed learning deficits in the areas of working memory, which involves reading comprehension, following directions, brain processing speed, and behavior difficulties. “At Hatch’s, we do baseline and follow-up neurocognitive assessments with each child child, to prevent and treat any difficulties at school or with family relationships,” adds Kassebaum, “We provide cognitive remediation to help the child go on to successfully complete their education and become productive individuals. We also do well-checks for emotional, relational, and educational issues, which allows us to be crisis prevention, not just crisis intervention.” Modern Ink Magazine | 138
I N S P I R AT I O N The Giving Well
partnering with three prominent racing series- the American Le Mans Series, the Cooper Tire IMSA Lites Series, and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge- to present its Fueling Potential: Racing to Win campaign. The campaign will host several programs across the country in conjunction with the travel schedule of each series. The American Le Mans Series, for example, will host diversionary therapy programs for pediatric cancer patients in each city along its Series, both at the track and through local hospitals. In order to provide it’s essential services, the Austin Hatcher Foundation hosts several fundraising events throughout the year, both nationally and locally. In addition to funds, each event also works to raise awareness for the important work of the Foundation. Many of the Foundation’s national fundraisers incorporate Jim’s connection to the motorsports world. These include benefiting from the proceeds of specific cars sold at Barrett-Jackson collector car auctions across the country, as well as from events hosted by the Foundation’s partner series, such as the American Le Mans Series’ charity golf tournament. The Foundation’s local events focus on involving the surrounding community in the work of the Foundation. Some local businesses, such as Pandora’s European Motorsports and Hair Benders Internationale, host special events and donate the proceeds to the Foundation. Other businesses donate money or services to the events held by the Foundation. These include an annual blind wine tasting event in February and the annual Celebration of Life and Hope, held during Pediatric Cancer Awareness month in September. Also held during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month is Shop Local Shop Hope, a campaign through which local businesses pledge to donate a certain
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The Giving Well I N S P I R AT I O N of the Foundation. Many of the Foundation’s national fundraisers incorporate Jim’s connection to the motorsports world. These include benefiting from the proceeds of specific cars sold at Barrett-Jackson collector car auctions across the country, as well as from events hosted by the Foundation’s partner series, such as the American Le Mans Series’ charity golf tournament. The Foundation’s local events focus on involving the surrounding community in the work of the Foundation. Some local businesses, such as Pandora’s European Motorsports and Hair Benders Internationale, host special events and donate the proceeds to the Foundation. Other businesses donate money or services to the events held by the Foundation. These include an annual blind wine tasting event in February and the annual Celebration of Life and Hope, held during Pediatric Cancer Awareness month in September. Also held during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month is Shop Local Shop Hope, a campaign through which local businesses pledge to donate a certain amount of their proceeds in the month of September. By inviting local residents to attend each event, the community is able to take part in the work of the Foundation in a fun and memorable way. In addition to fundraisers, the Foundation is also sustained by the generous support of its loyal volunteers and donors. If you, too, would like to become a supporter of the Foundation, there is no shortage of ways to become involved. Please visit www.hatcherfoundation.org or contact Austin Hatcher Foundation at 423.834.4443 for more information.
Amy Jo, Jim with Annabelle, Zoe (Hatch’s little sisters)
James Michael (the newset addition!) Modern Ink Magazine | 140
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