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As if graduating college isn’t already surreal enough for us, the unanimous vote for this semester’s theme made surrealism the main element in Revival’s tenth issue. The term “psychedelic” can have different connotations in various forms, but the intent behind our title this semester was to stray away from conventional meanings of the word and to focus our attention on the playfulness and abstraction that comes with it. By using odd effects and design approaches, dreamlike experiences were createdand our hope is that you’re able to appreciate these curious intentions while flipping through the pages of this issue.
The publication you’re holding in your hands is the collaboration between several exceptionally talented staffs, each of which brought new and exciting ideas this semester. We daresay this issue holds some of our strangest and most exciting work to date, and we all eagerly took this opportunity to break the rules and get outside of our comfort zones. We couldn’t think of a better way to end our college careers and to present this finished product as a result of our last semester at the helm of Revival. So, without further ado, we’re pleased to introduce you to the Psychedelic Issue. Cheers,
Inside, you’ll find an entire menswear collection (pg 22), using movement as the driving force behind the shoot, and an accessory showcase with a strange twist (pg 11). We interviewed talented artists both near and far by featuring a spotlight article on an Integrated Studio Arts student (pg 8), and an interview with an Iowa State graduate now living and working in Arizona (pg 46). We also opened a call for submissions to the student body with aims to expand our inclusion outside the magazine.
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As a sophomore transfer student from Iowa Central, Caleb Henkelman is getting used to all things Iowa State. Henkelman is focusing on Integrated Studio Arts within the College of Design and enjoys the core programs that are offered; especially metals and photography.
After Iowa State, Henkelman plans to attend graduate school, where he will study to become a teacher. This will allow him to work on his art while still maintaining a steady income, a common challenge for emerging artists.
I sat down with Caleb to chat about school, where he gets his passion from, and his future plans. One of his favorite things about being in the College of Design is its versatility - there are multiple schools all housed in the same building, allowing students to converse and collaborate together on their projects despite their major classification. The basement in particular is a maze where you can expect to see all styles of art, be it 3-D installations strung from the ceilings or paintings left propped up to dry.
Henkelman’s father also went to art school and taught him how to draw when he was younger. These moments were crucial in his artistic development as his father sparked the creativity that has fueled him ever since. Aside from art, he also has a passion for music; Caleb is able to see and hear things that most others will just overlook. It’s evident that countless hours are spent in each of his pieces, whether it’s the vibrant colors being used in a painting or the subtle shading found in his drawings, originality is flowing off of each page.
RE VIVAL MAG A ZINE “Prayer” 2014 Caleb Henkelman Charcoal on 400 Hotpress Bristol
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The universe began with a bed sheet left crinkled on the floor after Time and Space had an explosive one-nigh stand. Light-years later in the after glow, Eve sinks her teeth into the apple that would become every apple of every apple pie Nana made for every family holiday. Adam said it was too sweet, but he was never one to experiment with taste.
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O Romeo, Romeo was though. Sin turned from a red delicious into a rose, and Romeo wanted to taste even sweeter, so he tasted death and Juliet cleans his plate from the dinner table, scrubbing it in the sink with suds of holy water blessed by the Roman solider who nailed Jesus to the cross. When Space wakes up to find relief between her thighs, the universe will end spinning in a washing machine, soaked in bleach.
POETRY SUBMISSIONS MALLORY GUNTHER DESIGN LINDSEY ETZKORN Issue 10
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B e e keeping in the winter of 2014/15, Tennessee reported the loss of 70 percent of it’s bee population. The first time I tripped acid my toes were black, baked in dirt under the Tennessee sun. I met a nice man, Tony. He seized and fell on top of me, crushing my lips into dry ground.
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The taste wasn’t that bad, until it mixed with salt water. I was okay until I wasn't.
I cried until my eyes were d u s t e d over, dr y like the dirt trapped under my f i n g e r n a i l s .
I found comfort in a blanket of shady oak trees, a s t h e l e a v e s , s t i l l l u s h , spun in the breeze.
Laying back in the grass, I c a n o n l y wonder where all the bees have gone.
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JOURNALISM JADE MART DESIGN NICK MERUTKA
The doors of Iowa State’s Mental Health Services office are opened more than one might think, yet the negative stigma around the terms “mental health” leaves many college students untreated. Under the constant pressure of such unusual lifestyles where the word ‘routine’ is more of a faraway dream, we tend to find ways to muster up enough sanity simply to get by. Michelle Roling is the Clinical Care Coordinator at Iowa State’s Student Counseling Services, and she believes that “the biggest misconception [most people have] about anxiety and depression is that it’s a completely controllable choice.” The brain’s chemistry shifts drastically in your 20’s, making it even more difficult to sustain healthy transitions between phases of life. “The most difficult part of college is balancing it all,” Shelbe Schlag, a sophomore in Elementary Education says. Some students see the weight of their packed schedules as the driving force of motivation, while others succumb to the overwhelming responsibilities that are a part of everyday college life.
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A typical Monday for Iowa State running back Clifford Kwah-Mensah starts with the sound of a blaring alarm at 5:15 a.m. for his morning workout. “I would say mentally when you first start it’s definitely challenging; you go through phases of wondering whether you want to really do this- especially balancing school at the same time. But, as time has gone on and with constant adjustments, it’s affected me in a very positive way because I love the drive and having a different challenge everyday,” Kwah-Mensah says. Besides the stress that comes with the shift in scenery, students are competitive; seemingly now more than ever. We compete with one another for the best grade and then we compete with one another for the best job. We, as ‘millennials,’ live in a generation where going above & beyond of what’s required is expected, and finding ways to remain original in a world that virtually shares every moment the minute they happen is ultimately stifling our abilities to be unique. “It drains me, but I know in the end that it’s all worth it. I’m not the same person I was when I came here two years ago…or even two days ago,” Schlag says. With approximately 42% of students suffering from anxiety and 36% suffering from depression, the constant state of imbalance in a college student’s lifestyle is something to be regarded with care. “Essentially, one drags the other along with it,” Roling explained, in regards to the tight-knit relationship between anxiety and depression.
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“These are supposed to be the best years of our lives, right?” Twelve credits are required to be enrolled as a full-time student at Iowa State, and on top of that, most students have at least one part time job on the side. Hours of studying, campus involvement and enjoying the social aspect of university add up. After all, these are supposed to be the “best years of our lives,” right?
The student counseling services offer a ‘biofeedback’ program that serves as a tool to help observe the body’s physiological response to simple, everyday tasks. Benefits from this procedure include reducing chronic stress, anxiety, increased emotional regulation, developing better coping responses and decreasing selfconsciousness. “It’s a great way to train the brain if you are struggling with depression,” Roling offers in regards to the program.
Being aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy mental stigma is the first step to being able to implement the necessary changes to help steer clear of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. While it’s difficult to reach out for help in times of trial, don’t succumb to being bogged down by the pressure, and also be a friend and encourage those around you to seek help and the services that Iowa State offers.
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Pastel Daydream PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL ZIERKE
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JOURNALISM MADELINE BAKER ILLUSTRATIONS TARA EFOBI DESIGN HANNAH JONASSON
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The seventies were a decade of revolution - from the conservative backlash that elected President Richard Nixon,to the fight for women’s rights. This revolutionary time would come to be remembered as the decade that was characterized by social movements such as radical feminism, gay rights, environmentalism, and the anti war movement. The feeling of revolution was in the air and it extended into every aspect of society, fashion being no exception.
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Fashion trends tend to reflect the style and personality of the time period they are created in. For example, restrictive garments such as the corset reflect a time when women had little metaphorical freedom. During the transition from the 1910s to the 1920s, women were starting their fight for more rights. Their emotions can be seen in the looser, boxy silhouettes and in the more revealing flapper dress. The seventies are no exception to this trend. The experimental nature of the decade can be seen in the often-mismatched patterns that were layered together; the overwhelming feeling of freedom that was felt is seen in the looser styles that were worn, such as peasant blouses and the often-billowy maxi dresses. Kimonos, bright floral prints, fringe, suede, fur vests, jumpsuits - revolutionary looks that identify seventies fashion, and all of these are trends that can be seen on the runway and in stores today. It’s almost impossible to walk down the street without seeing someone paying tribute to this revived trend.
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For reasons unknown, however, 2015 brought with it the iconic seventies looks our parents rocked back in the day. Fashion designers are paying homage to the decade that raised their parents, but it was no surprise that this style revival was like catnip to billions of consumers. Millennials: one of the most liberal generations America has ever seen. Millennials: the generation that created the iconic ‘hipster.’ Millennials: the generation that embraces constant change. With all of these characteristics, how could we not fall in love with a look that signifies not only social revolution, but also a time in history where everything seemed new and exciting? In addition to bringing back the style of the seventies, 2015 also brought many ties to the political atmosphere of the time. The war on Planned Parenthood reminds many of the fight women fought to gain the rights to abortion in the first place in Roe V. Wade in 1973.
Style bloggers and fashion magazines today have been documenting the seventies’ return in current fashion. These bloggers and journalists create a “how to” on mastering these trends today. They cite brown suede skirts, turtlenecks, floral patterned pieces, fringed jackets and bags, and anything earth toned as some of the basic staples of the seventies look. These garments represent not only the look of the seventies but the feeling it inspired during the time. These styles that are so indicative of America’s fashion history that they were thought by many to be a part of our distant past; millennials doomed to know of the decade only through their textbooks and parents’ old yearbooks.
The constant call for cleaner energy solutions and the ever improving way we value the earth reminds us of the beginning of the green movement that started in the sixties with the publication of “Silent Spring” and went on to flourish in the seventies. The fight for marriage equality is reminiscent to the gay rights movement in the seventies, when the biggest win was the removal of “homosexuality” from the list of official medical diseases. With all of these recent social and political ties to the seventies it really is no surprise that fashion trends are swinging that way too.
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PHOTOS CODY OSEN JOURNALISM CASSIDY FISCHER DESIGN LIZZY REED & MEGAN KILGORE
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“Alright, Cutlets, tell me what you want to know,” Alabaster Black bluntly says as we sit down at a nearby coffee shop. (Cutlets is a nickname Black has for me- a story that should probably go untold.) We chat for hours about nipple pasties, corsets, and fishnet tights. Black tells me about the burlesque character that she portrays on stage, the emotions that run wild behind the scenes, and the fears that are being conquered right in front of the audience’s eyes. “I signed up in order to gain body confidence. I’ve always been a little self conscious of my butt and boobs,” Black begins. “We had a ‘tassel day’ earlier this year where we crafted pasties and tassels for our performances. That was when I figured out that everybody was as self conscious as I was.” Some join burlesque in order to experience something new, some to conquer fears, and others to get onto the stage again. Whatever the reasons, burlesque is definitely unlike anything they’ve ever done before. If you are interested in their five-month apprenticeship program or just a few classes, these women offer it all. Stop by with your friends, family or bridesmaids for an actionpacked couple of hours or sign up for the fullthrottle apprenticeship program and show them what you’ve got.
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The quote, “It ain’t gunna spank itself ” floating over a photo of bare butt cheeks catches my attention as I walk into an electric blue painted studio.
“They work to promote body positivity, self-care, anti-shaming, acceptance and equality for everyone.”
Hidden on the second floor on Main Street, the Iowa School of Burlesque continuously produces badasses of every caliber. I’m welcomed into a room full of mirrors, delicious cake, and laughter. While indulging in dessert, the Iowa School of Burlesque troop discusses their opening number. Curating ideas, each burlesque dancer contributes to this process, emulating a democracy. Leading the group is the mastermind behind the Iowa School of Burlesque, Phoenix L’Amour. Hair matching the paint on the walls, a presence that could make anyone smile, and over a decade of teaching experience, L’Amour is ready for anything life throws at her. “Growing up, I was always told how to do everything. I never fit into any of these ‘molds’,” L’Amour explains. “This place started with me in a room by myself just makin’ shit up. Burlesque reinvigorated my love for performance and has since been my outlet whenever I need an escape. My entire life revolves around burlesque and what it can do for people.” L’Amour’s partner-in-crime, The Governess, is just as welcoming and bold, but twice as vulgar and three times as loud. “Burlesque found me, honestly. Phoenix just asked me one day: ‘Wait a minute, do you want to host shows for us?’ And the rest is history,” The Governess says in-between bursts of laughter. Together, L’Amour and The Governess lead the apprenticeship program at the Iowa School of Burlesque where they work to promote body positivity, self-care, antishaming, acceptance, and equality for everyone involved. The duo leads a group of daring individuals for a five-month period where they learn about the origins of burlesque, stage presentation, costume creation and assembly – and they definitely have a little fun along the way.
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Perceptions of burlesque come from Christina Aguilera and Cher’s performances in the movie Burlesque or Nicole Kidman’s performance in Moulin Rouge. When people are introduced to the real thing, they are astounded. During the Iowa School of Burlesque 2015-2016 apprenticeship, Cadaverina Von Corpse, Vixxen Vermillion, Hell-Cat Jack, Lenore Evermore, Demolition Deshane, Alabaster Black, Mercury Retrograde, Max Power, and Petty Treason will unleash their talents to make the audience’s jaws drop yet again.
“Characters are considered to be alter egos of each person participating.”
Characters are considered to be alter egos of each person participating, so they can create whichever type of personality they want. They are encouraged to use a variety of different inspirations in order to build their burlesque character – from history classes, role models and science; the Iowa School of Burlesque has used all kinds of inspiration techniques.
“I’m not like Cher – yet,” L’Amour quotes herself when choosing her own burlesque name. “I couldn’t go by only ‘Phoenix’ just yet. I had to get a reputation for myself.” “We wanted something that was strong, commanding and one word. It just seemed right,” The Governess smiled as she recalled choosing her alter ego’s name. “I wanted something that would portray a character similar to myself, but bigger.” “Choosing my name was one of the hardest parts,” Retrograde reminisces. “I wanted it to describe my alter ego’s persona. When Mercury is in retrograde, everything is going wrong and I wanted my character to represent the darker side of reality.” Petty Treason laughs quietly as she begins the background story of her stage name, “I am a history nerd. ‘Petty Treason’ was inspired by a crime and punishment course that I was enrolled in. I wanted to join burlesque to conquer my confidence and body issues. I have always been involved in theater, so when I saw a poster about this place at a coffee shop, I was intrigued.” “Hell-Cat Jack was created from a word association activity that we did in one of our first classes,” Jack admits. “I wanted my character to incorporate aspects of dominatrix and qualities of a female gangster from the 1920’s. Having recently moved to the area, Jack wanted a way to meet new people and get involved in the community and when she found burlesque, she knew it was right. Loving control both in her life and in burlesque, she wanted her character to have this quality as well. “If people don’t like it, that’s cool. I’m going to do whatever I want,” Jack fiercely states.
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“I usually do things in order to trick my future self into doing brave things,” Power says timidly. “I chose Max Power, based on a character from The Simpsons, because I wanted a strong name.” “Lenore Evermore came to me one day after a few different name exercises,” Evermore says as she remembers the struggles she went through to find a great stage name. “When I was 14 I was inspired by an act that I saw on YouTube, the dancer looked gorgeous and she didn’t fit any of the typical norms. I’ve always been involved with the stage whether it’s dancing or theater, so I wanted to get involved in something that could really push me outside of my comfort zone.” Working together for the past five months, the 2015-2016 Iowa School of Burlesque troop has created a thriving environment where they are capable of inputting their ideas and where they are not afraid to be themselves and say what they feel. After five months spent working towards their graduation show, they can see the spotlight at the end of the tunnel. Many different fears are being conquered, amazing dance moves created and creativity being pushed to the maximum.
“The atmosphere... is full of honesty, openness and humor.”
39 The atmosphere created by L’Amour and The Governess is full of honesty, openness and humor. Working with each dancer individually as well as a group, they build a new team during each five-month apprenticeship program. As the dancers collaborate with each other in order to choreograph their opening number, Black recalls some of the dance moves done by the prior graduating class. “Now remember,” L’Amour interrupts. “Each graduation show is meant to showcase the group’s personality. We need to think of new things that are representative of you guys as a whole.” The whole class gets quiet, turns and looks at each other and begins piecing together unique ideas that will be used in their opening number this year. If you’re interested in the Iowa School of Burlesque, head to iowaschoolofburlesque.com
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When I came to Iowa State University for school in 2012, my only associations with Iowa and fine art were Grant Wood’s American Gothic a n d stereotypical landscape paintings of glowing green cornfields. After attending school here for four years, surrounded by innovative creators (and cornfields), my opinion of art in the midwest has drastically changed. I’ve met some incredibly creative and driven artists through the university as
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One such Ames native is named Ben Mackey. Mackey attended the University of Iowa for fine art, is a self-proclaimed “film and television junkie” and has a female cat named Bruce Dern. While he chose to move to sunny Arizona, he still considers the state of Iowa his home.
He returned to Ames’ local comic book store, SHIELD, to do a signing for the first issue. I attended his signing and had the pleasure of chatting with him, learning a bit more about his background in art, how he got started, and what led him to work on a project as interesting as Saints.
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Revival: What made you want to pursue a degree in art? Ben Mackey: Art has been an essential part of my life for as long as I can remember. There has been no point in my life that I remember not drawing or making art in some capacity. When it came time for college, it stood as the ultimate culmination of a life spent doodling. I don’t think I really considered anything else? I guess I was a Spanish major for a couple years...but that was always the “slightly more pragmatic” fall-back major in case I bombed in the art department. On top of a lifetime of drawing, my parents were endlessly supportive of pursuing an art degree. I didn’t even have to wage any battles against parents insisting on “a more financially secure” field. R:What were your main influences during your college years as an art student? R: What did you think you’d be doing after graduation while you were in college? BM: I honestly had no idea! I mean... in a vague sense I had some ideas, but they were these rather tenuous “oh wouldn’t that be cool” ideas that were floating around in the aether. I definitely hoped to make it as a freelance artist and illustrator who maybe was making a comic on the side, but beyond that the details were rather unfocused.
BM: My professors were an enormous influence on me. Coming out of high school being the “kid that draws stuff ” I had a bit of an ego in regards to my drawing skills. I was pretty sure I had this drawing thing down, and could handle whatever curves the courses threw my way. BUT BOY! I was wrong. My professors pretty quickly deconstructed my entire conception of what art was on both a personal and societal level. But then, over the four and half years, helped me build my skills back up to a place where I could continue pursuing art outside of the college setting. Art history also introduced me to a massive array of classical artists that were totally foreign to me before. Artists like Giambattista Tiepolo, Pontormo, Singer Sargent, and many more. Their works have influenced my art production profoundly.
R: What sent you from Iowa to Arizona, other than the nice change of weather? BM: I went down to Arizona to help on a friend’s film shoot for about a month and then traveled out to San Diego to visit some friends. I was feeling restless and looking for somewhere new to live. The month I spent in Tucson was quite lovely and met a number of marvelous human beings. It was my last week in San Diego and made the decision to move to Tucson on something of a whim and two suitcases! R: When you started Saints, how did you get in touch with Sean Lewis? BM: Sean and I met on the set of a stage production he was putting on called, “Out of Bounds”. I had been hired to create some projected illustrations that would tie into a character’s backstory. I also helped out with some set design, painting a giant handwritten note on the floor. It was while Sean and I were in the theatre, painting away, that we started to toss around our mutual love of comics and graphic novels and our additional mutual desire of one day making one. Things kind of snowballed from there and we met over coffee and started talking more seriously about making comic.
“Three Oranges” 2014 Acrylic on canvas board. Image Courtesy of Benjamin Mackey.
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“Our Atomic Mother in Glory” 2015 Digital Illustration of Robert Kerman & Ryan Ottley’s characters in Invincible. Image Courtesy of Benjamin Mackey.
R: How does the creative process work for you and Lewis?
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BM: It will start off with a collaborative brainstorming session (either in person, over the phone or email) where we hammer out the big plot points and issue arcs. From there, Sean will write the first draft of the script/story. I’ll get that from him, create a rough draft of the 24-32 page comic, and then send that back his way. Once he sees my artistic direction, he’ll rework the dialogue and text to more precisely fit the art. Then, once I have that reworked text, I will start creating the final inks and colors for the book. It’s a great back and forth that keeps things fresh and evolving throughout the process. It takes about a month to do a single issue. R: Where do you draw your inspiration from for Saints? BM: Man, that is tough. In all honesty, no one thing stands out as a “biggest influence”. Saints is very much a synthesis of all the disparate artistic/narrative fascinations of both Sean and myself. Definitely broad topics like literature and art history play major roles. I give many a nod to famous art works throughout the book.
BM: Unfortunately this is probably the most uninteresting part of the story. Sean and I created the first issue of the book and sent out the 24 page PDF of the issue to various publishers. After a couple months, IMAGE was the first to respond back. They wanted to greenlight the book and pick us up for a series! We had our respective days of jubilation and then got to brainstorming the next issues. For those looking to break into the world, I guess...the biggest thing to keep in mind that everyone’s entry into the world of comics is incredibly different. Every publisher has different submission guidelines and types of things they tend to print. The more the merrier! Full issues are great because they show a prospective publisher that you have the chops to fully flush out and create a world.
R: When we spoke at your signing, I asked you about how you connected with Image publishing. A lot of our readers are students in art and design, and I’m sure they’d be interesting to hear about your experience. Can you explain your experience for us?
BM: For me, the stories that I find most interesting are literary works of Catholic figures like Saint Augustine and Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Reading their perception of themselves in relation to the cosmos, society, and religion is decidedly fascinating. Getting something so intimate and personal that can be traced back to the Middle Ages (Hild) and the 4th century (Aug) is very sobering. I also love reading Apocryphal texts like the Book of Enoch, The Book of Nicodemus, etc. It’s fascinating to see those books that were considered to be unworthy/ too heretical for standard Christian canon.
R: Do you have a favorite story from Catholic literature?
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“Saint Jude” 2015 Digital Illustration. Image Courtesy of Benjamin Mackey.
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R: What is your favorite part about working in the comics industry? BM: At present, I am excited by the newness of it all. Sean and I are both incredibly green in the world. We are being published alongside folks who have been working in the industry for 20 years. It’s amazing company that I endlessly honored to be a part of. It definitely lights a fire under my feet to keep pushing forward to better my craft.
“Divine Inspiration” 2015 Digital Illustration after Giambattista Tiepolo. Image Courtesy of Benjamin Mackey.
R: What is your favorite part about working on Saints? BM: Character design probably rises to the top of the deck of favorite parts. Getting to design fallen angels, apathetic saints, and grungy metalheads is just too much fun. Also, being a nerd for catholicism for a few years and now getting to draw a world so fundamentally steeped in that is downright amazing. R: Can we look forward to any other projects coming from you soon? BM: Yes! More projects are being brainstormed and worked on as we speak. They are still in the early stages...but let’s just say it bears some thematic relations to SAINTS but is a bit more on the hellish side of things. Saints #8 will be released May 6, so check out your local comic store to get caught up. You can learn more about Ben and his latest work on his website, benjaminmackey.com.
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Af ter D ar k PHOTOGR APHY R AC H E L Z I E R K E G E N É T JE A N-P I E R R E
65
BODYSUIT DANSKIN SHOES NIKE
WINDBREAKER BRANDY MELVILLE SHOES ADIDAS SHIRT NIKE
Issue 10
67
RE VIVAL MAG A ZINE
68
SHIRT ADIDAS TOP TRIANGL
Issue 10
69
MESH TOP TJ MAXX TOP TARGET SWIM BOTTOMS AMERICAN EAGLE
SHIRT + SHOES ADIDAS
SWIMSUIT TARGET SOCKS AMERICAN APPAREL