The Brick Magazine - October 2021 by The Brick Magazine Ann Arbor

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THE

OCTOBER 2021

MAGAZINE

ARTOBERFEST: PIVOTING DURING TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY LIVING ON THE VEG!

PLUS! AN UPDATE ON BREAST CANCER

Jill Damon

BUILDING A HANDMADE TREASURE

ANN ARBOR

“it has to be more than pretty; it must be livable” R E F L E C T YO U R L I F E ST Y L E . www.birchdesignassociates.com R E S I D E N T I A L • COM M E RC I A L

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BRICK

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MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2021

Publisher • Sarah Whitsett

Managing Editor • Tanja MacKenzie

Art Director • Jennifer Knutson

Copy Editor • Angelina Bielby

Marketing Director • Steve DeBruler

Cover Photographer • John Sobczak

Contributors >> Melissa Matthews Dr. Lisa Profera

April James Allison Buck Dr. Alon Kahana

Alice Queen Maria Sylvester Marji Wisniewski

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CONTENTS 6

Artoberfest: Pivoting During Times of Uncertainty

Building a Handmade Treasure with Jill Damon

An Update on Breast Cancer

Who Wants Tighter and Clearer Skin?

Play Leads to Clari-Tea

The Pandemic Opens Portals of Clarity

Living on the Veg!

History of the Vibrator: We've Come a Long Way

Artoberfest: Pivoting During Times of Uncertainty by Allison Buck

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f the pandemic did anything positive for non-profits, it was that it brought clarity to their purpose.

Those with strong missions were able to look at their current programs and pivot to offer new and different options that continued to drive them towards their mission. The Guild of Artists and Artisans was no exception. The Guild’s mission is to promote an appreciation of the visual arts and to maintain a support network for artists, which provides educational, mentoring, and marketing opportunities. It predominantly achieves this mission through large-scale fine art fairs, including the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. With all live events canceled in 2020, the pandemic left a wide open hole for introspection and creativity. As Executive Director Karen Delhey said, “We were asked to ‘pivot’ and find new ways of doing things. So we did, and we made it through.” She went on to say that despite all the new programs, “the pandemic has made us see how important the human connection and the community are to our live events, and how pivotal our fine art fairs are to our artists’ careers.” It’s the stories of the connections these artists make with fairgoers, the friendships they create with their collectors, and hearing the artists report record-breaking sales that gives the Guild’s staff the energy to work into the wee hours of the morning during the long fair nights. Event production is anything but easy, and while this past year has brought into focus how unpredictable it truly can be, it has also provided perspective on how important and impactful arts and cultural events are on the community. The Guild stayed focused and was excited to get back out into the community with a hugely successful Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair in July of 2021. Fueled by that event's success and the renewed realization of the importance of these types of events, the Guild is proud to be able to introduce A2 Artoberfest (Oct. 9 & 10, 2021). As a truly community-driven event, A2 Artoberfest will bring the arts back to the streets of downtown Ann Arbor along Fourth Ave. from Huron north down to the charming Kerrytown Market & Shops. The fair will include 100 jury-selected artists, live entertainment, food vendors, art activities, and several adult beverage offerings including craft cocktails from the Ann Arbor Distilling Company, mead/cider from Blom Meadworks, and wine from Graham + Fisk’s Wine-in-a-can. The Gutman Gallery, a fine art gallery and shop launched by the Guild in February of 2020, is located at 118 N. Fourth

Photo by Sharon Mccutcheon

Ave. and will be within the footprint of A2 Artoberfest. As part of the fair, the Gutman Gallery will be hosting a free printmaking art activity in partnership with the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission and the Toledo School for the Arts. Attendees will be able to bring their own item to “stamp” with one of the three artist-designed manhole covers used by the City of Ann Arbor. Participants may create their own stamps for printing as well. For more than fifty years, the Guild has been helping raise community awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the visual arts and working to maintain a support network for artists. A2 Artoberfest will provide another opportunity for folks in and around Ann Arbor to enjoy fine art in a smaller setting than the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair while also enjoying the festive spirit of fall with live entertainment, food, and beverages. Allison Buck is currently the marketing director for the Guild of Artists and Artisans and the chair of the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission. She holds a master’s degree in art administration from the University of Michigan, Flint and two bachelor’s degrees in photography and English from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 2017, she was awarded the Tamara Real Emerging Leadership Award by the Arts Alliance for her successful work supporting the arts, sciences, and humanities throughout Washtenaw County.

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Photo by John Sobczak

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Building a Handmade Treasure with Jill Damon by Marji Wisniewski

aving recently visited 16 Hands in Kerrytown, I was excited to interview the owner, Jill Damon. Her shop is bright, colorful, and filled with artistic creations; any one of them could be the perfect gift for a special person or to treat yourself. What I didn’t know until meeting Jill is that she’s not only a business owner, artist, and Townie, but also an Ann Arbor treasure just as special and unique as the art in her shop.

A Hippie Finds a Home I learned about 16 Hands for the very first time in 1977 while driving down First Street. A small, faded paper flyer stapled to a lamp post with a picture of a big loom caught my eye. I pulled over and jumped out of the car to see what it was about. It was from 16 Hands, which was looking for another exhibiting member for their co-op. I of course had to check it out. I didn’t plan on becoming an artist for a living. I had been interested in drawing and making things for as long as I can remember. Both of my parents were pretty creative, so museum trips and conversations about color and design were common in our household. They valued and appreciated art and creativity. Growing up in the Ann Arbor School System where the art classes were great and plentiful (back then), I took as many as I could. The Ann Arbor Art Fairs also played a huge role in my love of art and making things. It made me think that art might actually be a way to make a living. I never imagined how hard that might be. Deciding on my major in college was hard; was I supposed to pursue my passion for art, or focus on something else that would provide a more stable income? I decided on

Social Work and Psychology at MSU. After graduating, I worked at a Planned Parenthood Teen Clinic and then got a job as a medical social worker. I the meantime, I continued to do weaving and macrame and sold it at local art fairs. One of my best memories of that time was showing at the original Free Fair, which was adjacent to the original Ann Arbor Street Art Fair on N. University. What a blast that was! After a few years in the medical social work field, I was completely burnt out. I loved the position, the patients, and Chelsea Hospital, but was frustrated with the lack of services after discharge. The lack of affordable inhome care and the shortcomings of nursing homes were truly tragic and heartbreaking — not only for the elderly, but for the young people in need of moderate levels of supervision and assistance. I regrouped and decided to switch course and follow my passion, knowing that it would probably never provide much income. And then I couldn’t get enough of it — I was weaving and knotting (macrame) all night long. I learned how to weave from my mom and from books. I knew in that moment on First Street, looking at the tattered job posting on the lamp post, that I had found October 2021 | 9

where I belonged. I joined the 16 Hands collective, and despite moments of doubt, I’ve never regretted this path.

8 Artists and Their 16 Hands The name 16 Hands stems from a simple idea: Everything was handmade by eight artists (with two hands each). Each co-op member worked in a different medium. In the early days we had a jeweler, potter, woodworker, leatherworker, weaver, and printmaker, and I was focused on textiles. Now we represent hundreds of artists and creators. It’s quite a change from the early days, but shoppers really appreciate the variety and selection. For the first seven years, 16 Hands was a pretty loosely-run ship, operated by eight artists with differing business styles and no actual business training. We did share a strong belief that art enriches life, that we could make this store work and support each of us. We played different roles in managing the co-op and took turns minding the store. One member was known for sitting in front of the ice cream parlor next door and playing chess while on duty, barely looking up from his game to greet the incoming customers. (We’ve come a long way since then.)

Photo by John Sobczak

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Being part of 16 Hands in the beginning was really a blast. All of us were experimenting with our craft and figuring out how to make our pieces appealing to buyers. Members came and went over the years, but there was always a multinational mix, which I really enjoyed. Three of the original founders had immigrated here from Morocco, Bulgaria, and Russia. Later there were members from Sweden and Taiwan.

Our monthly business meetings could get pretty lively with all the cultural differences and a few drinks, but we always managed to find common ground and move forward. Decisions were made by consensus. I loved everything about it.

RECURRING THEMES AT 16 HANDS NATURE. I’m a nature nut, so we carry a lot of nature-themed pieces in the shop.

I remember a conversation we had around a bounced check we had received. One member thought we should ignore it the first time and see if the customer came back. A second person thought we should write a nice letter and ask them to pay us. The third artist thought we should be really aggressive and go to the customer’s home (possibly armed) to demand our money. We were all over the map with management styles.

SUSTAINABILITY. We are mindful of our global footprint and try to spread the word. We are avid recyclers and use a lot of recycled supplies. Our bags, gift boxes, and tissue paper are all made in part with recycled materials. Many of our artists are very sensitive to this as well, and use sustainable business practices and recycled materials. We’re about to launch a campaign to raise awareness about the crisis of plastics in our waterways.

Recovering from Hardships

TEXTILES. Textiles are always represented in the store in one form or another — as hats, scarves, clothing, table linens, wall hangings, etc — because that’s a special love of mine and my staff.

The co-op dissolved in the mid ‘80s when several members moved out of state. The four of us that remained decided that in order to survive, we had to change our business structure from a co-op/consignment gallery to a more traditional retail structure. The economy was pretty bad and several more members had to leave and get day jobs. In 1988 I was the last one standing and became the sole owner. In 1990, a great retail space opened up on Main Street, next to Espresso Royale Cafe. I had been wanting to move 16 Hands to Main Street for years because there was so much more foot traffic than on West Washington. So we moved to Main, and immediately business was booming. Things were going well at the shop for more than a decade when the first big crisis hit. The fallout from 9/11 took years to recover from financially. In addition to the emotional trauma the world was undergoing, it was a big loss for 16 Hands because on top of the enormous loss in sales, I had just (on the very morning of 9/11) taken on several large business expenses — new carpeting, new custom-made jewelry cabinets, and then there was a costly computer software crisis. The upside was that the terrorist attack seemed to make the general public more appreciative of all things handmade, especially American-made. The 2008 financial crash came several years later, followed by a major recession. This hit me hard both professional and personally. Sales dropped dramatically and unexpectedly. I was forced to let staff go, which was difficult for all involved. A couple of family members helped me out financially, but I still wasn’t able to cover the rent or my mortgage.

HANDS. I’ve always loved drawing them, and the imprint they leave on handmade objects feeds my soul. To me it represents kindness, nurturing, making, and sharing. The hand is a symbol used in all ancient cultures. EMPOWERING WOMEN. One of our goals is to empower women in the US and in other countries to be more self-sufficient by giving them a market for their crafts. The Fair Trade Association assures that they work in a safe workplace for equitable pay, and return some of the profits to the community. CLAY. Not long ago, clay seemed to take a back seat to blown glass in popularity. I’m now seeing a ton of exciting ceramics and pottery, which is really exciting, so we’re bringing in more of that. MICHIGAN-MADE AND LOCAL-MADE. The importance and impact of this is becoming more widespread. In the case of 16 Hands, shopping local reaches beyond the business itself and extends to all of the local makers we support. By selling their work and the work of the many American suppliers we work with, we are supporting sustainability on a global scale. GREAT DESIGN AND ORIGINALITY. Always a must in whatever form, be it a notebook or garden sculpture. COLOR, COLOR, COLOR. You will not find any beige in 16 Hands. I live and breathe color!

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Fortunately, with the help of some now forever friends, 16 Hands was able to find a new home. We would not still be in existence if not for the grace and generosity of Tom and Cindy Hollander (owners of Hollander’s Paper and Books) and the flexibility of Kerrytown Management. They allowed me to occupy part of Hollander’s second floor Kerrytown space where they had been showing home decor. After two years in that location, we moved 16 Hands down the hall, still on the second floor in Kerrytown Shops, and that’s where it remains today. I see many parallels between the Kerrytown community of shop owners and the 16 Hands co-op that was created back in the ‘70s. Kerrytown is full of small locally-owned businesses (which are largely owned by women). There’s just a wonderful cooperative spirit there, and we all cheer each other’s successes and help each other out.

Silver Linings in Uncertain Times For a person who lives with depression, ADD, and social anxiety, running a business can be more challenging. I’ve often avoided opportunities to network and be more active in our community because of it. I can’t tell you how many events I’ve planned to go to over the years — and really, really wanted to — but then couldn’t get myself out the door. I know this has gotten in the way of growing the business, and it’s an ongoing battle within myself. Photo by John Sobczak

I already lived with depression, and it became harder than ever to manage it during these rough times. I was the mother of three sons (with only one still at home then), recently divorced, exhausted, and totally overwhelmed. I didn’t want to leave my house of 20+ years on the Old West Side of Ann Arbor, but thought I just had to keep 16 Hands open. Looking back, I realize that I was immobilized by depression and didn’t know what else to do. The only way out seemed to be selling my house and putting the equity into saving 16 Hands. In normal times, I would have been able to refinance and use some of the equity. But because of the housing crisis, banking regulations had changed, and this was no longer allowed. So, I sold my cherished home but saved my beloved shop. In retrospect, selling my house was probably not the best decision, but I really had no choice about closing 16 Hands on Main St. The rent had gotten so high that it was totally out of proportion with the foot traffic and sales potential on that street. Ironically, the space 16 Hands vacated sat empty for eleven months after we moved out.

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However, I did find other ways to support my community that felt more comfortable. I’ve donated to hundreds of organizations, mentored countless artists and new small businesses, and participated in many fundraisers. I was also on the Main Street Association Board for many years as well as the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair Board and Selection Committee for about eight years. These last two years dealing with the uncertainty of COVID-19 have been the greatest challenge that the shop, my staff, and I have faced. We made it through the lockdown in 2020 with the help of the PPP loan, a GoFundMe campaign, a small but dedicated staff, and our absolutely amazing patrons. They shopped with us online more than they normally would have, just to help us out. It was so gratifying to see how much people cared about 16 Hands. Unfortunately, two of my employees and myself had to stop coming into the shop because of auto-immune illnesses. Our remaining crew was somehow able to get us through the next year with me working from home. They worked so hard and did an awesome job, for which I’m eternally grateful.

We did a lot of brainstorming to come up with ways to pivot the business in ways that would help our customers get what they wanted (in terms of gifts) and maintain a small income stream. 16 Hands continued to offer free gift-wrapping and added free local delivery and curbside pick-up. We’ve stayed relevant by focusing on what makes us special — providing meaningful, (mostly) American-made gifts and offering great customer service. Shifting our product mix a bit to accommodate people staying at home has helped a bit too. Offering more items like handcrafted puzzles, art/craft kits, and supplies has been a big hit. We also added more handcrafted items that would help make working from home more pleasant. It’s important to make wherever we work and live reflect our personalities; this invigorates and soothes us, especially in such trying times. In 2020 I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease; it makes me extremely tired, which means I’m working from home most of the time. I’ve been getting caught up on all kinds of things, but it’s really frustrating not being in the shop on a regular basis because I really love everything about it.

Selecting artists/makers to show and working with them has always been my favorite role, so I’m focusing on the joy that I find in that. I absolutely love being part of the circle that connects artists to the public. It’s a win-win-win!

Retiring Townie I’m so grateful for the enormous support we’ve received from this community — they are a very loyal and appreciative lot. Some have been coming to 16 Hands for 40+ years! Even those who have moved out of town stay in touch through our website. When I was young I never envisioned being in business, and especially not in retail, but it’s been such a delight for the most part. I love my staff, we work hard and have fun doing it; but I’m ready to move on. I’m looking forward to retiring and spending time with friends and family (including my three grandkids!), traveling, and making art (not to sell, just to enjoy). After all these years running 16 Hands, to finally have time to do my own creative work will be a dream come true. My health needs more attention than I can give it while running a business, and I’m looking forward to enjoying more of what Ann Arbor has to offer. I feel like a Townie who wants to get reacquainted with her town. My first choice would be to sell 16 Hands to someone who already loves it and wants to carry on our mission while adding their own special touches. I’m willing to help with a transition as needed. I still get excited about all the things I want to do at 16 Hands and the new work I would love to bring in, forgetting that I won’t be there forever. I’m optimistic that 16 Hands will still exist in some form. I hope this article can be someone else’s flyer stapled to a lamp post, and that they choose to take the road less traveled. It’s been the ride of my life. With a passion for marketing that started as a young girl, Marji Wisniewski created her own marketing and communications organization in 2017. As owner of Blue Zebra Marketing Solutions, she helps local and regional businesses and non-profits tell their story through branding, graphic design, content creation, and PR, focusing on customized solutions for each client that are more unique than a zebra’s stripes.

Photo by John Sobczak

A Michigan native, Marji received her bachelor's from Western Michigan University and master’s from Wayne State University. When not working you can find her gardening, doing Pilates, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her family and two dogs.

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An Update on Breast Cancer by Alon Kahana, MD, PhD

Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova

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ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For this column, I am honored to be joined by Dr. Tara Breslin, MD, Director of Breast Care at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor and at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia*. Dr. Breslin is a renowned surgical oncologist and breast surgeon. She completed a surgical residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, followed by a fellowship in surgical oncology at the world-renowned M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, also in Houston. She has been practicing in the Ann Arbor area for the past five years, and her practice is dedicated to caring for patients with breast cancer and breast problems. I had the privilege to sit down with her and discuss some important topics to keep in mind this month. Dr. Kahana: Thank you, Dr. Breslin, for your willingness to share with us your expertise for a column in The Brick Magazine. Today we will cover prevention, early detection, recent advances in treatment, treatment outcomes, and health disparities regarding breast cancer.

Invasive means that the cancer cells have invaded beyond their natural tissue environment. In contrast, “in situ” means that these cancer cells are confined to the milk duct, representing an earlier form of cancer usually detected during screening tests.

Dr. Breslin: Thank you for having me.

Like other cells in the body, breast cells carry receptors for female hormones and growth factors. Cancer cells that express such receptors are considered more “differentiated” and hence behave differently, somewhat less aggressively, than cancer cells that don’t express these receptors and hence are considered more primordial or “stem cell-like.” The most aggressive breast cancers are called “triple-negative” because they don’t express receptors for estrogen and progesterone (female hormones) or for the human epidermal growth factor. These cancer cells are the least differentiated, i.e. most “stem cell-like,” and are harder to control. However, newer types of treatments have shown promise even for the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Research is making a difference!

Kahana: Breast cancer is a major public health concern in the United States and globally. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women after skin cancer, with an average lifetime risk of about 13%, meaning one in eight American women will develop breast cancer. In 2021, approximately 282,000 American women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and about 44,000 women will die from breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer (i.e. the number of new cases diagnosed each year) is rising, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. While breast cancer death rates have been going down for older women, death among women younger than 50 has not changed in many years despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. There are several different types of breast cancer: ductal vs. lobular, invasive vs. in situ, and receptor positive vs. negative. Can you please briefly comment on these types? Breslin: Ductal carcinoma is the most common type; it arises from primordial (i.e. “stem”) cells that have features of the cells that form ducts that carry breast milk. Lobular carcinoma forms from primordial cells with glandular features, i.e. milk-producing cells.

Kahana: You mentioned early diagnosis. There has been some controversy about self-exams and timing of mammograms. Can you please share with us your experience? Breslin: Early detection of breast cancer through routine mammography is a high public health priority. Screening mammography is recommended for women of average risk beginning at age 40. Earlier screening may be recommended for women with a family history of early onset breast cancer or of multiple family members with breast and/or ovarian cancer.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or medical condition. The author is not responsible for misuse of this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling or care. Anyone suffering from illness should consult a qualified health care professional.

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Photo by National Cancer Institute

Self-examination has been de-emphasized in recent years as a routine practice. This is because studies have failed to demonstrate a correlation between teaching breast self-exam and improved survival after breast cancer diagnosis. However, we still emphasize that women should report new breast findings, concerns, or symptoms to their primary care provider. Early diagnosis is important, because women diagnosed with tumors at an earlier stage typically have smaller tumors and are therefore able to undergo less invasive surgical procedures and have fewer side effects from treatment. Extensive research into the biology of breast cancer has identified molecular markers associated with more or less severe forms of breast cancer. As a result, molecular genetic tumor profiling allows us to identify tumors at higher risk for recurrence. Based on molecular profiling, we are able to provide targeted therapy recommendations, i.e. personalized medicine.

Photo by National Cancer Institute

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Kahana: You mention molecular profiling and targeted therapy. What is the future of targeted therapy for breast cancer?

Breslin: Traditional tumor markers included tests for estrogen and progesterone receptors on the tumor as well as a test for abnormalities in HER-2, a receptor for the EGF growth factor. Tumors with an abnormal HER-2 protein tend to be more aggressive. There are drugs (monoclonal antibodies) which specifically target the abnormal HER-2 protein. These drugs in combination with chemotherapy are very effective at treating patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer. Immune therapy enhances the body's ability to eliminate abnormal cells (tumor cells) by stimulating white blood cells — T cells — to attack the tumor cells. This approach is becoming more and more important; harnessing the body’s own immune system to clear the tumor cells is less invasive. In addition, by linking an antibody against the HER-2 protein with a toxin, we can target cells that express the abnormal HER-2 protein. Kahana: Unfortunately, despite all the advances in cancer care, there are significant disparities in rates and severity of breast cancer among women of different ethnic/racial groups. Why is that? What can be done to improve the situation? Breslin: It’s true, the significant improvements in outcomes and survival following breast cancer diagnosis are not realized by all groups. This disparity is especially notable for women diagnosed at later stages. African-American women are at more risk for more aggressive tumors and for delayed diagnosis — a double threat. We can and should do better with early diagnosis of Black women with breast cancer. Socioeconomic risk factors also influence worse outcomes. Poverty, lower educational attainment, and lack of health insurance are all associated with reduced access to preventative and screening healthcare, lower-quality nutrition, and reduced regional access to high-quality breast cancer care. Studies are ongoing for strategies to improve outcomes in vulnerable populations. Kahana: What additional information would you like our readers to know about breast cancer? Breslin: In addition to advances in medical therapy, the link between cancer and modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise have been scientifically validated.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is a widespread problem. In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Calls to our 24-Hour Helpline are always free and confidential.

24-Hour Helpline (734) 995-5444

4100 Clark Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 www.safehousecenter.org This means that there are some factors that are in our control which can decrease breast cancer risk. There’s also data showing that weight loss, exercise, and smoking cessation are associated with improved survival after breast cancer diagnosis. Kahana: Thank you very much, Dr. Breslin, for sharing with us your knowledge. We’re very fortunate to have you leading the Breast Cancer Center in our community. And to our readers: Please visit our website for links to the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. You’re welcome to leave comments about this or other medical columns. *Disclosure: St. Joseph Mercy and St. Mary Mercy are part of Trinity Health. I hold surgical privileges in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery and am on staff at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia.

Dr. Alon Kahana is a professor of oculoplastic surgery at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine. He was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, and grew up in Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate studies in biochemistry at Brandeis University and received his MD and PhD in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. In 2007, Dr. Kahana was recruited to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, where he rose up the ranks to become tenured faculty with an international reputation in orbital surgery. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters and reviews, and has given 100+ lectures throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Kahana sees patients in Ann Arbor, Livonia, and Flint, and operates at multiple locations throughout Southeast Michigan.

October 2021 | 17

Who Wants Tighter and Clearer Skin?

by Lisa Profera, MD

Photo by Jill Burrow

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he answer to clearer and tighter skin with zero downtime is here!

I’m so excited about the latest radiofrequency (RF) technology. It non-invasively produces visible results without surgery. Everyone wants younger and clearer skin, but most people don’t want surgery or a significant recovery period. Most (about 80%) of aesthetic services performed these days are non-surgical, and many techniques are getting better to meet the growing demand. People want to see results, but they don’t want to take time off from work or from their busy lives to get those results. We have great interventions for wrinkle control (with low doses of neurotoxins), volumization (with fillers), and pigmentation correction (with lasers), but the missing link in the world of skin rejuvenation has been skin tightening. For those of us who would rather not “go under the knife,” our prayers have been answered. Radiofrequency technology is not new, but now we finally have safe treatments that are effective and affordable. In my BRICK article from August 2020 (“Look Younger Longer”), I summarized the factors that affect visible aging and what can be done about them. In the March 2021 edition of BRICK (“Artistry of Facial Rejuvenation”), I wrote: “As we age, we not only lose collagen and elastin, but we lose fat and other supporting structures. We experience ligament laxity and bone loss as well. A good facial artist will understand what is happening in the superficial and deep layers and know how to properly correct them.” Good skin tightening technology adds another dimension to this process. I like to think of RF as building a strong foundation for your skin. A good analogy I like to use is building a house. You must start with a solid foundation, or the house will collapse. Radiofrequency is not a laser, so you don’t have to worry about sun exposure and pigmentation issues, and thus it can be done at any time of the year. RF targets the deeper layers of the skin (dermis) and induces collagen and elastin formation by using heat. The Vivace® Microneedle RF device combines microinjury plus heat for state-of-the-art deep dermal collagen induction (and it’s FDA-cleared). It contains 36 goldtipped needles that deliver RF energy at 31 depths of penetration to gently heat and tighten the skin. It reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and pore size, while improving skin

tone and texture. The procedure is comfortable since the skin is numbed with a local anesthetic. Afterwards, the skin is a little red, like a mild sunburn. Patients receive a post-procedure kit that includes a specialized serum and a cooling peptide mask specifically formulated to enhance results. After a few hours, the redness subsides, and no one will know that you had anything done. You can go out and socialize that evening! Research demonstrates that the best results occur with four to six treatments about four weeks apart each. It’s excellent for acne scars, other scars, cellulite, and stretch marks too. Areas most commonly treated are the face, neck, and décolletage. It’s even safe for use over the thin skin under the eyes. Any area of loose crepey skin will respond — upper arms, abdomen, above the knees, etc. What I like about the Vivace® system is the added depth of penetration. Other RF devices may only treat to a depth of 1 mm. The Vivace® Microneedle RF penetrates to a depth of 3.5 mm (through the dermis and into the subcutaneous fat layer). This not only tightens the skin, but it burns the fat! Delivering heat and energy from 0 to 1.8 mm deep has a tightening effect. The wound healing response induces collagen and elastin production to strengthen and volumize the skin. Deeper delivery from 2 down to 3.5 mm targets fat. So, if you have any troublesome areas that are saggy and baggy, this might be the perfect solution. Be proactive: addressing problems now may save you from needing more invasive and more expensive procedures in the future. Want tighter, clearer, glowing skin for the holidays? Treat yourself to Vivace®! To find a provider near you, visit https://www.vivaceexperience.com/find-physician/. I’m the Medical Director at Northville Beauty Spa; if you mention this article, we can give you a great package deal. Invest in your skin and look your best for the holidays and beyond! Owner and Founder of PROJUVU MD; Aesthetics and Lifestyle Medicine in Ann Arbor, MI; Expert Injector, Medical Director; Facial Innovations Medi-spa, Ann Arbor; Medical Director, Northville Beauty Spa; Certified Medical Marijuana Doctor; Certified doTERRA Essential Oils Expert; BEMER Independent Distributor; CrossFit® Level 1 Trainer www.projuvu.com • 1-844-PROJUVU • drprofera@gmail.com www.facebook.com/projuvu/ Request to join my closed FaceBook group, www.instagram.com/youressentialoilsdoctor/

Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this article has been designed to help educate the reader regarding the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that the author and any other entity referenced here are not liable for the misconception or misuse of the information provided. It is not provided to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The provider of this information shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity concerning any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this information. The information presented is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling or care. Anyone suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult a qualified healthcare professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

October 2021 | 19

Play Leads to Clari-Tea

by April Lynn James, PhD

Photo by Peggy Anke

t was during my doctoral studies at Harvard that I first began to take play seriously. Some two decades ago, I was working my way through what I lovingly

20 | The Brick Magazine

call “boot camp for the intellectually inclined.” Like many graduate students, I spent an awful lot of time sitting in libraries and at desks typing at computers. Often these

desks and tables were placed at a height conducive to poor ergonomic habits, which means that one winds up sitting in unhealthy positions for hours on end. One day while typing in my usual chair in one of the usual reading rooms, I noticed a tightness in my right forearm. When I went to see my doctor about it, she said that it was tendonitis, and that I should see a physical therapist. I did so and was given stretches and advised to soak my arm in ice water, take anti-inflammatories, and get massages to relax my shoulders, back, and arms. All of these helped, but I wanted more than temporary relief. I wanted complete healing. Since I felt that the main issue — aside from the mental anguish of being a graduate student — was that I spent way too much time sitting, I resolved to get moving. More importantly, I decided to get moving in fun ways. I took dance classes (both baroque and modern), I took mime workshops, and I juggled. I had taught myself to juggle years earlier following the instructions in Juggling for the Complete Klutz, a slim paperback that came with three square bean bags in a little mesh bag. I then joined the Harvard Juggling Club as its only graduate student member. I basically set out to have as much fun as possible during my studies, and a funny thing happened — the tendonitis went away and stayed away! I got through graduate school having taught myself a more valuable lesson than anything I learned in my musicology classes: Self-care includes play. It’s something we know as children and forget as adults. Focused play, of which juggling is but one example, helps alleviate life’s stresses. It’s a form of movement meditation. I regularly take juggling breaks, especially if I’m feeling stuck while writing. Physical activity increases blood flow and causes you to breathe deeper, which clears the mind and gives new ideas the space they need to flow into one’s consciousness. Juggling also clears one’s vision, literally. After spending hours staring at a computer screen, juggling relaxes the muscles in the upper body, including those around the eyes. Furthermore, juggling helps ease emotional blockages though teaching perseverance and self-forgiveness. Everyone drops the ball from time to time; handling the little drops you experience while juggling can help you deal with seemingly bigger drops in other areas of life. I now teach juggling within the context of what I call the PLAY framework. PLAY stands for Positivi-Tea, Listen & Look (to good music, at good images, etc), Awe, and Yoga (+ Movement). Taken together, these pillars teach

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us to defy the gravitational pull of the negative habits and thoughts that we take on over the course of our lives. It’s safe to say that a PLAY-ful life is a healthier one. April Lynn James, PhD is a pioneering entrepreneur, speaker, author, and soprano. She earned her doctorate from Harvard University in 2002. She is the corporeal half of April plus Madison, a Wonderlandinspired expressive arts and holistic wellness enterprise fueled, in part, by the whimsical rhymes composed and declaimed by her guardian angel, Madison Hatta, Sonneteer. Their PLAY-shops help people lead healthier and happier lives through a combination of Positivi-Tea, Listening, Awe, and Yoga (+ Movement). A former professional juggler, Dr. April also teaches “Juggling for Stress Relief” to those looking for a fun and easily transportable way to get out of their heads and into their bodies. She may be reached at dr.april@ aprilplusmadison.com and if you would like more PLAY Practices, feel free to download her (plus Madison’s) free eBook at tenwaystoplayitforward.com. Personal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aprillynnjames/ April plus Madison LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aprilplus-madison/?viewAsMember=true April plus Madison's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Aprilplus-Madison-1414392788775159 Website: aprilplusmadison.com Free eBook: tenwaystoplayitforward.com

October 2021 | 21

The Pandemic Opens Portals of Clarity by Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC

Photo by Tim Hufner

22 | The Brick Magazine

ear reader: If I were to guess, I’d bet that the experience of the pandemic has shed new light some aspect of your one truly precious life. It’s a present worth unpacking. Let me untie the ribbons of this unexpected gift for you here. Clarity is, by definition, “the quality or state of being clear.” Clarity is the direct manifestation of our being in full alignment with ourselves. It’s the result of a lot of momentum with no resistance. To me, clarity signifies inspired right action following deep reflection. Gaining clarity is like being carried by a gentle flow downstream. There’s absolutely no current to fight. The feeling of certainty lights you up from the inside out.

Slowed Time Brings Refinement Navigating the pandemic has been a multifaceted experience, to say the least. And for many of us, it has included a gradual slowing of time. This occurred naturally as restrictions kept us closer to home, enabling us to take pause from our worldly routines. For me, slowed time presents an opportunity to clear out the clutter of my heart and mind — the perfect pause, a time for reflection. Slowing down brings peace, order, and focus. I’m able to reconnect with myself. Within the gift of spaciousness these COVID-times offered, perhaps you’ve contemplated what feels especially meaningful and good. Maybe you zeroed in on specific desires or new pursuits of interest. Most likely, refinement in one or another area of your life has been the result. Chances are you’re living more connected to the heart of what truly matters to you. COVID has indeed been our teacher. The lessons offered have resulted in individuals adopting new habits, rituals, and rhythms in their life. New learnings open us to greater consciousness. With this awareness, we become even more compelled to explore fresh paths and new ways of being. As the ever-curious soul that I am, I’ve enjoyed asking many in my social circle what realizations living through the past year and a half has brought into their lives. The answers I received fell into four categories: clarity about relationships, personal growth, work, and self-care. As you digest what others have shared with me, consider, too, what has awakened in you.

Clarity About Relationships A number of individuals I polled said, without a moment’s hesitation, that the pandemic brought them much deeper appreciation for the close relationships in their lives. As a result they were even more committed to devoting time, energy, and care to these intimate connections. Several individuals said their realization was that relationships were “all that really mattered.” One of the people I spoke with had lost a close friend to COVID. She found herself still reeling from the suddenness of the loss. This experience heightened her resolve to be in more frequent, meaningful contact with family and friends. She was more determined than ever to more vulnerably share her authentic self with others dear to her. Another individual spoke of her discovery of the power of asking thoughtful questions of those she cared about. These inquiries opened up unexpected, profoundly powerful insights on both sides of the conversation. This woman made a new commitment to herself. She vowed to stay ever-curious and regularly ask her inner circle friends to tell her about yet-discussed areas of their lives and experiences. Then there was the powerful realization a friend shared about how the pandemic gifted her a pause wherein “time, recurrence, and commitment” with a new beloved fostered a deep trust in their relationship. For her, it was a trust she felt might not have developed in the same way had life been filled with its typical hustle n’ bustle. For this couple, career travel demands ceased because of COVID restrictions. This allowed their connection to blossom in unexpectedly deep and beautiful ways.

Clarity About Personal Growth The area of personal growth was a hotspot for transformation! One individual I talked with shared this powerful process she went through: revaluating her gender! “I was finally about to break away from the shell I was in to truly become who I’ve always been,” she said. “Since I was home by myself, the usual societal pressures weren’t on me. This helped me have a lot of introspection on my life and who I am outside of what society says I’m suppose to be. It felt like the whole metamorphic process caterpillars go through to become butterflies. That’s the best way to describe it.” Wow. Just wow, right?! Again, here we witness the blessing of COVID downtime.

October 2021 | 23

Another beautiful soul shared how personal decisionmaking become easier. She felt a much greater understanding of what-was-what for her. With this confidence about her beliefs, she could more easily take a stand for her positions. We speculated that most likely the life-or-death realizations COVID placed before us prompted the nudge to take quicker, heartfelt, and authentic stances. I, myself, deeply resonated with this reality. Being pushed up against the backdrop of a possible risk of life empowered me to confidently speak my truth, and this new conviction continues to flow within me. Personal boundary-setting feels effortless; I can feel a fierce, solid “yes or no” intuitively arise within me. There’s also the compelling sense to stop screwing around! It’s time to stop going undercover, time to take those risks I daydream about. Time to have a greater impact. There’s no time like the present for full, personal expansion and expression. That’s my clarity. Then there was the lovely and extremely insightful high school student I spoke with. She eloquently shared: “Something I came to understand better was who I am and what I want from life. Before COVID, I didn’t think much about the future or even what I was doing in the moment; I was ‘stuck’ in a routine. Each day I had school, then I’d come home and power through my homework, then go off swimming. It was enjoyable, but it didn’t give me room to think of or try new things. Once COVID happened, my life routine was thrown off, and I was like ‘What do I do with my life now?’ During COVID, I found new passions such as field hockey, self-care, running, and coffee-making! I finally had time to process my life and who I was. I realized I was more that just routine. I had other interests an aspirations in life.” Such richness and wisdom here with her words. It’s a wonderful reminder of the treasures that self-reflection brings to those of all ages when we give ourselves unhurried time to do so. The pandemic forced us into changed daily rhythms and routines as time slowed. Moving forward, perhaps we might simply harness our personal power of choice and skip the pandemic part.

Clarity About Work Who needs an office anyways? This by far was the resounding message many received. The pandemic, along with its work-from-home mandates, opened new workrelated horizons for many. Fresh perspectives on how and where one can work became crystal-clear for a number of individuals. As the awareness of the glorious work-life

24 | The Brick Magazine

freedom portal opened, unexpected relief followed. Long work commutes disappeared. Comfy work attire surfaced. And suddenly, the notion of a laptop open on one’s favorite beach didn’t seem that far out of reach. Another aspect of career realizations several of the folks I spoke with expressed revolved around the awareness that what they were doing day in and day out was far from desired. The grind had to stop — it was time to pivot and reinvent themselves in the direction of more richly, personally satisfying activities. Clarity around work also included a fierce determination to have it easily reflect who they were and what they loved. In other words, work that didn’t feel like work!

Clarity About Self-Care Numerous people I spoke with are enjoying and celebrating enhanced self-care rituals as a result of increased leisure time they experienced with the pandemic. Renewed commitment to tenderly tending to their bodies, fitness, and overall health was strong for many. Another key component of this clarity around the importance of nourishing one’s body, mind, and spirit could be seen in a general increase in regularity of practice routines. “Routine” is the key word here. Commitment to keeping one’s routine became easier amid the spaciousness of pandemic days.

And So It Is As we recognize the ways in which golden portals of clarity opened for many of us during the past months, let us not forget the hardships, grief, and profound losses experienced worldwide. My hope is that the power of each and every persons’ wakeup-calls can serve to offset or cushion, if only a wee bit, humanity’s pain points. And so it is. Let nothing snuff out the ever-constant force of self-empowerment within you, my friend.

Maria Sylvester, MSW, CPC is a certified Life Coach in Ann Arbor, MI who loves empowering adolescents, adults, and couples to live from the HEART of what really matters to them so that they can bring their fully expressed, vibrant selves into the world. She has a special gift for helping women reclaim their feminine power, and embrace their radiant, sensual, sexy spirits. Their lives transform. They soar into their mid-life magnificence! www.lifeempowermentcoaching.com Instagram: @life_coach_maria Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeEmpowermentCoaching

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October 2021 | 25

Living on the Veg! by Melissa Matthews

Photo by Ruth Georgiev

ince jumping headfirst into plant-based eating three years ago, it’s hard to argue with the positive impact it has had on my life. Once a heavy drinker, smoker, and cheese eater, I had no idea that the medicine to cure my toxic habits was right there in the produce section of the grocery store! While I knew vegetables were healthy, I had no idea that creating a lifestyle focused on plant-based eating would change my life and eventually end up saving me. Growing up in the Midwest, I was encouraged to indulge in the four main food groups: meat, potatoes, dairy, and corn. My mom, who was an aerobics instructor and runner during my adolescence, cooked dinner almost every night.

26 | The Brick Magazine

We ate meat, veggies, starch, and of course washed it all down with an ice-cold glass of milk. We ate ice cream for a treat, which changed to frozen yogurt in the ‘90s, and I hardly have one memory of eating anything that was not saturated in ranch dressing, specifically cheese-covered pizza on Friday nights. The truth is, we didn’t know any better. While we were never allowed things like Pop Tarts, Spaghetti O’s, and Fish Sticks, we certainly didn’t know that what was being promoted as a healthy, balanced diet was actually playing a huge role in causing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and many other serious health issues.

The controversy regarding veganism and whether it’s a healthy lifestyle continues. I’m not a doctor, but what I can tell you is that changing my eating habits to exclude meat and dairy made me feel better almost immediately. I went from being sluggish, unmotivated, and withdrawn to energized, goal-oriented, and confident. Since physical health can only be achieved when someone is mentally healthy, I have no doubt that for me, plant-based eating was the first step. Being healthy takes work on all sides. To show this, here’s a timeline of what happened to me when I cut out meat and dairy and started eating like my life depended on it. It was March of 2018. I was about 75 pounds overweight, chronically unmotivated, and just going through the motions. I spent most of my evenings watching mindless television, snacking, drinking wine, and sitting sedentary on the couch wondering why I was tired and anxious all the time. My sister (who had already adopted a plant-based lifestyle) suggested I read a book called “The Cheese Trap” by Dr. Neal Barnard. I finished it in two days. Not only did this book change my life, but I’ve also lost count of how many people I bought it for and/or recommended it to. It was mind-blowing to learn that the very foods I found comforting and seemingly satisfying were playing a huge role in keeping me unwell. Reading about cows standing knee-deep in their own fecal matter, spending their lives attached to a milk machine while their babies were snatched away from them minutes after birth, made me sad and sick. When I learned about what was in cheese, the process of how it was made, and the fact that humans can become addicted to it because of the concentrated levels of casein, I knew it would be worth it to at least try to cut out dairy and meat. The next day, I decided to give it a shot. The physical effect it had on my body is proof I will never go back to eating the way I used to again. Within the first few weeks, my skin looked clearer, brighter, and polished. I was sleeping though the night, which I had not been able to do in over a decade. I quit snoring and found myself bouncing out of bed in the morning feeling rested and rejuvenated instead of lethargic and weak. When I ate, I felt satisfied instead of full. I never felt overloaded or gluttonous, which in the past was the exact thing that had been mentally sabotaging any motivation I had to lose weight or exercise. My allergies seemed to basically disappear. I was breathing better, moving easier, and thinking clearer. I felt myself craving healthy things — healthy foods, healthy activities, and healthy thoughts. Over the next few months, I started losing weight, which made it easier to exercise without pain. I didn’t even know

that for years I had been putting so much pressure on my joints, which was why even climbing up the stairs made my knees crack and ache. I began to realize that I wasn’t out of breath anymore from simply unloading the groceries from the car. I could jump on the trampoline with my son for hours instead of minutes. I noticeably had more energy; by the end of each day, when I would normally be tired and ornery, I would choose to do projects around the house I had been putting off for years or take walks with my friends. I was also able to recover faster from pulled muscles, fatigue, or common soreness that comes from acclimating to a regular fitness routine. I hadn’t felt that good in years! As the months passed, I lost a total of 80 pounds and began competitively running, signing up for as many local races as I could. I cut out all the bad habits, and started treating my body as something that deserves love and fondness instead of a place to store detrimental food, negativity, and shame. I realized that becoming mentally strong is the jumping-off point of what it means to encompass whole-being wellness. Eating a plant-based diet made me feel good and powerful. Feeling good gave me the energy to stop being sedentary. Before I knew it, I was conquering goals, encouraging others, and most importantly, living my life instead of slowing killing myself. If you put good in, you get good out. Eating a plant-based diet allowed me to use my body to her fullest potential. Being well and staying well does take hard work, but illness, whether mental or physical, is much harder. Encouraging people to fuel their bodies with foods they can thrive on will always be at the forefront of my passions. Our bodies work hard either way, whether we are well or unwell; living an unhealthy lifestyle will always take more work than doing what it takes to feel and be well. Watching people succeed with the power of plant-based eating and exercise is a gift I will never take for granted. Melissa Matthews works at Preferred Title Agency of Ann Arbor. In addition to working in the title insurance industry for over 20 years, she also runs a wellness business called MindfullyFit.org., and is a certified personal trainer. She was recently featured in the plant-based eating national publication called “Forks Over Knives” as well as “The Exam Room” podcast, which examines vegan nutrition and medical news. She grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has a 13-year-old son. Her passions include wellness, fitness, family, and helping others find what makes them want to make healthy lifestyle choices. Instagram @melissaannmatthews33

October 2021 | 27

History of the Vibrator: We’ve Come a Long Way

by Alice Queen Photo by Maycon Marmo

28 | The Brick Magazine

often find myself wondering what my life would be like if I had been born fifty or a hundred years earlier. Watching both my mother (to a lesser degree) and my grandmother (to a higher degree) suggests that my life would have played out very differently. But then, when I look back at the feminist movement, there’s no doubt that many from that generation made the kind of life I live possible, including the privilege of being able to enjoy my sexuality as an independent person. One of the most significant changes, I believe, is the ability to enjoy sex as an individual rather than something you can only do with your spouse. Sex toys play a big role in solo enjoyment, and I’m forever grateful to all feminists who pioneered and normalized their use! This led me to wondering how the modern vibrator came to be and what changed along the way.

The History of Vibrators: A Timeline The technology behind today’s modern vibrators was first developed in the late nineteenth century, around 1880. Since then, social beliefs and collective ideas about sex, pleasure, and relationships have dramatically shifted. As it often happens, change, although steady, was slow to begin with and very much confined to subcultural groups. However, once it managed to come to the surface, it quickly gained traction! The feminist movement of the 1970s (or parts of that movement) has certainly contributed to the visibility and normalization of sexual pleasure for non-cisgender males. Here’s a timeline of the main events in the history of vibrators: Source: Vanilla Is the New Kink

The BC Days There’s absolutely no evidence, but some claim that Cleopatra created the first vibrator by trapping buzzing bees in a gourd! This myth first appeared in The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices in 1992. What we do know is that Cleopatra had a busy love life. We can safely assume that seeking sexual pleasure has been a priority — probably an unspoken one, in many cultures — for thousands of years.

Who Are the Key Feminists Who Normalized Vibrators? Joani Black opened the first sex toy shop, Good Vibrations, in San Francisco’s Mission district in 1977. The store quickly became a safe place for sexpositive people to gather. Black was also a passionate educator who believed in more equitable relationships. The original Good Vibrations store has been turned into a museum and Good Vibrations still exists to this day, although they operate under a very different business model. Betty Dodson was a New York City-based masturbation educator. She ran workshops in her apartment dedicated to female masturbation and sexual empowerment. Dodson was a big fan of the Hitachi Magic Wand and often talked about the clitoris as the most important sexual organ. Del Williams was one of Dodson’s workshop attendees. Encouraged to continue to masturbate beyond the workshop, Williams went sex toy shopping! The experience of shopping in large department stores was so disappointing that she decided New York City deserved a dedicated female-owned and -operated sex shop. That’s how Williams became the founder of Eve’s Garden.

a medical tool to treat common disorders such as pain, headaches, and irritability. There are claims that physicians of that era used Granville’s device to treat women’s “hysteria” without their consent. Although there’s no evidence to confirm this actually occurred, women being labelled as “hysterical” and having things done to them without their consent were certainly not unheard of. Nevertheless, what we do have evidence of is a medical awareness of the device’s sexual potential, and doctors advised against using the vibrator on women for pleasure purposes.

1880s: Early Technological Advances

The Early 1900s: Vibrators as Sexual Pleasure Devices!

The first known electric/mechnical sex toys were developed in the 1880s, a time when more recognizably modern technology started to appear in medical devices. The English physician Joseph Mortimer Granville is credited to have developed the first known electric vibrator as

Finally, the inevitable happened. In the early 1900s, vibrators started to be intentionally used for what they do best: giving users orgasms! That said, it wasn’t always that straightforward; manufacturers still officially considered them medical devices.

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1970s Feminists The 1970s were arguably one of the most pivotal periods of change in human history. A lot of the ideas that gained traction in the 1970s did start a decade or two earlier, but it was then that awareness of women’s liberation — including their sexual liberation — became mainstream! It’s no surprise, then, that sex toys came out of the closet and were proudly announced as “orgasm devices.” Vibrators finally became a symbol and a tool of sexual empowerment! Not only did they give you powerful orgasms, but they also allowed you to have one whether you had a partner or not.

1990s: Sex Toys Arrive on Prime Time TV Sex and the City aired for the first time in 1998, introducing us to the four New York City friends who were unafraid of sex. Like many things that we thought were revolutionary at the time, when you look back at that show twenty years later, it’s clear to see that it wasn’t as progressive as we believed. But Sex and the City was indeed the first time in TV history when vibrators were openly discussed and celebrated. It’s no surprise that sex toy sales, particularly sales of rabbit vibrators, escalated while that show was on air. Advertising also reflected mixed intentions. On one hand, these manufacturers would advertise them as a headache cure (among other medical claims), but on the other, they would insert more cheeky messages about “feeling better” and “forgetting your worries” — all paired with images of women winking and smiling. Vibrators as openly-discussed sexual pleasure devices were still confined to underground groups, such as erotic publications and porn performances — subcultures that “decent” women stayed far away from.

1960s: The Debut of the Magic Wand It was around the second half of the twentieth century that vibrators finally became a household object. But once again, things were not that straightforward. “Personal massagers” became more common and acceptable, partially due to Hitachi’s Magic Wand — a personal massager shaped like a wand. Initially branded as a shoulder and neck massager, it did not take long for clit owners to realise the Magic Wand was capable of other wonderful things, and orgasms became easily achievable. Hitachi, a manufacturer of power tools and heavy machinery, quickly distanced themselves from the Magic Wand. Advertising was still pushing the health benefits message, but a revolution was taking place inside our homes.

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Modern-day Sex Toy Industry The history of vibrators is also the history of entrepreneurship. Black, Dodson, and Williams all saw the need for a safe space that was not created and dominated by cis-men. While we can now rely on e-commerce and shop for sex toys from the comfort and safety of our homes, the industry is moving more and more towards female and gender-diverse-designed, -owned, and -operated businesses that go beyond the retail experience. There’s an increasing emphasis on non-gender-specific products and an acknowledgement that we still have some work to do to close the gender pleasure gap. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt about it: In just over a hundred years, the vibrator and the sexual empowerment associated with it have gone from hush-hush to mainstream. Be thankful for not only our technological advancement, but for our amazing social progress as well! Alice Queen is the founder of Vanilla Is the New Kink, a site about sex toys with a different "flavor" (pun intended!) than what she predominantly saw online. As a lateforties mom of three, she often found that people thought she had "retired her vagina." So, Vanilla Is the New Kink was born to celebrate mid-life sex and sexuality. Alice's pronouns are she/her.

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