VÉCU
independent artists
Summer Bliss
JUNE/JULY 2012 photographer FRANCESCA SECOLONOVO
vecumagazine.com
elizabeth coletta www.elizabethcoletta.com
VÉCU PUBLISHER The Coleman Group
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Delina C. editor@vecumagazine.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Melissa Lee vecumagazine@gmail.com TRAVEL EDITOR Lorena F. www.traveldesignery.com FEATURES CONTRIBUTOR Murissa Shalapata www.canadianculinarytravel.blogspot.com
Cover Photo: Francesca Secolonovo
CONTRIBUTORS Vivienne Mok, Francesca Secolonovo, Yuki Minami, Melissa Coleman, Elizabeth Coletta www.vecumagazine.com
SUMMER heat
We Are Handsome is the embodiment of Indhra and Jeremy and everyone else who has a love for the beautiful things in life. Their desire to create, design and share perfection has understandably made them a hit with the world, but We Are Handsome still remains true to their roots.
WAH
WE are handsome Every piece is 100% Australian designed, every thread is Australian sewn and every We Are Handsome suit is loved.
THE
romantic 2012
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 5
what dreams may come
photography/styling/hair & make-up Vivienne Mok model Victoria Rigby @Cassie Mayer Ltd.
T-shirt: American Vintage Petticoat: Vintage Veil: stylist’s own Flower Hairpins: H&M
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 7
Silk Tulle Dress: Anne Valerie Hash Leotard: American Vintage Skirt: Vivienne Mok Flower Crown: Stylist’s
Silk Tulle Dress: Anne Valerie Hash Leotard: American Vintage Skirt: Vivienne Mok Flower Crown: Stylist’s
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 9
Blouse: Vintage Headband: Vintage
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 11
Cotton Gauze Dress: Vivienne Mok Flower Crown: Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 13
Lace Collar: Vintage Lace Blouse: Vintage Jacket: JDC Skirt: Vintage Gloves: Vintage
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 15
Lace Collar: Vintage Lace Blouse: Vintage Jacket: JDC Skirt: Vintage Gloves: Vintage
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 17
Lace Collar: Vintage Lace Blouse: Vintage Jacket: JDC Skirt: Vintage Gloves: Vintage
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 19
T-shirt: American Vintage Petticoat: Vintage Veil: stylist’s own Flower Hairpins: H&M
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 21
T-shirt: American Vintage Petticoat: Vintage Veil: stylist’s own Flower Hairpins: H&M June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 23
TRAVEL DESIGNERY
BIG SUR, California
by Lorena F., Travel Editor www.traveldesignery.com
Beautiful Big Sur, scenery so gorgeous you’d think you were looking at a painting. From the views at Nepenthe restaurant high up in the mountains to the splendid cascade at McWay Falls, vistas take top honors here. Another definite must see is Pfeiffer Beach, a hidden gem reachable only through an unmarked 2 mile path of rough, curvy backroads. Once there, you think you had walked onto a movie set, it’s that dramatic and that vast. Though the beaches of Big Sur may be too savage for swimming, the panoramas make a trip all the worthwhile. This is Mother
a c , r u s bigJune/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 25
BIG SUR by Travel Designery
t s a o c . r u s g i b June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 27
t s a o c . r big-su
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 29
BIG SUR by Travel Designery
MCCWAY.FALLS
NEPEN
THE
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 31
BIG SUR by Travel Designery
R E F F E I PF H C A BE June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 33
Dress Vintage, Dangle and Hang
splendid days in bloom photographer Francesca Secolonovo model Dayana @ Leni’s Model Management hair Luca Gallina make up Polly Mann stylist Viennty
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 35
Dress Vintage, Dangle and Hang
Tassel Kimono, True Decadance Blouse, Zara Hair Accessory, Stylist’s own June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 37
Jacket, Stylist’s own Lace shirt, Beyond Retro Skirt, Holly Mansel Socks, Topshop Shoes, Stylist’s own
Headpiece, She She Rose Millinery Jacket, Stylist’s own Lace shirt, Beyond Retro Skirt, Holly Mansel Socks, Topshop Shoes, Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 39
Top, Morua Designs Belt & Skirt, both Zara Earrings, Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 41
Sunglasses, Celine Shirt & Shorts, both Zara Belt, Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg.43
Headpiece, Stylist’s own Dress, Josh + Nicol Shoes, Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 45
Illustrator
YUKI MINAMI Japan
www.yukiminami.com
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I live Nagoya-City in Japan. I’ve been painting for about four and half years. I take a place some group exhibitions or solo exhibitions in Japan and USA.
What are some of your early art memories?
SAKURA Exhibition. From the first, this group exhibition titled ‘SAKURA Exhibition’ is to be held in the blooming season of cherry blossom. (In Japan, we called ‘SAKURA’) This event is planning for the purpose of introducing Japanese artist and their talents to all over the world. I participated in this event for the past several years. There are more and more people from any other countries who participate in this event. Also the number of countries is increasing.
What things have you learned about your craft since then? I’ve never learned from anyone. I’ve been painting with watercolors when I was a child.
What inspires you?
A beautiful view, people, pictures, arts, also fashion and music are inspire me.
Formal training?
Nothing. I think the most important thing to make great works is to just be gentle.
Plans for the future?
I would love to work with Hollywood, fashion brands, and musicians. Also, it’d be wonderful if I could hold solo exhibitions all over the world.
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 47
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 49
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 51
WANDERFULL TRAVELER Chinatown, San Francisco
by Murissa Shalapata, The Wanderfull Traveler canadianculinarytravel.blogspot.com The Golden Gate Bridge is celebrating its 75th year on May 27th, 2012. During my first trip to San Francisco I was accompanied with people who had been there and done that so I only saw the Bridge through the window of a restaurant. I saw the hazy red beams through a dissipating fog and I was satisfied. I had more important matters to attend to of the literary sort. I was looking for traces of Beatnik history. Beatnik: A rebel against anything mainstream or commercialized. A group of writers, artists or citizens feeling marginalized and rebelling against the oppressive culture. They would often gather at cafes where they could express their artistic style and drink beer. Often thought of as a precursor to the “Hippie” who also practiced “free love” and dabbled in cannabis. (My own definition.) The Road by Jack Kerouac inspired my first poem now published in various small chapbooks and anthologies. I called it Salvation from the Rest of ‘Em and it turned out to be a smash hit with most of my writing colleagues and readers (save for my grandparents). I wanted to get a feeling of what San Francisco was like for those free lovin’ spirits of old. At first the only sign of poetic rebellion against the Man was a well-fed white bearded transient defecating into a sewer with his pants around his ankles. He used the business market news as a replacement for Charmin Ultra Soft. It wasn’t until my visit to Chinatown where I accidentally stumbled across a memento mori set in stone in front of a tea shop that I found a trace of history.
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 53
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest Chinese population outside of Asia and, in my opinion, the best in the world. With the majority of the residents unable to speak English there are times when you forget that you are in California, let alone America. Red and gold lanterns span Grant Avenue along with signs that read in Cantonese/Mandarin with the occasional English subtitle. The smells of spices and cooking oils fill the hot air and with so many authentic restaurants it is difficult for the unaccustomed Chinatown traveler to find the best of the best. Along the main strip of Chinese markets, tea shops and specialty stores I found what I was looking for in the cement. His name written in gold, Chinese and English symbols, upon a cement square on the sidewalk. It is found before Kerouac Alley which you can follow to another street that holds City Lights, the famed book shop that was brave enough to publish Beatnik works during a time of modesty and sexual oppression. However, all I saw when I looked down the narrow curving alleyway was a neon sign that
advertised margaritas. Instead of tequila I opted for tea, a welcomed change of pace during my San Franciscan trip. The tea shop, Vital Leaf Tea House, is a wonderland for those who enjoy a herbal cup or use it for medicinal purposes. When I peaked into the small and yet cozy store I was beckoned in English by a young Asian woman who told my crew and I to take a seat along the wooden bar. She showed us the day’s selection of teas that we could taste without charge. One after another she prepared the tea with the traditional tools. It was much more complex than the usual tea bag or loose leaf soaked in hot water like I do at home. This tea, Oolong Blue People Ginseng for example, had to be rinsed with hot water to rid it of any excess debris then she would work the swelling pebbles with more hot water until it was a greenish-grey in our small cups. The taste was as complex as any wine but when I tried to duplicate this at home it fell flat. I do recommend purchasing the same tools the tea shop uses which are available in various designs and colours at the back of the shop.
The selection of teas would impress any connoisseur and the names would inspire any poet. When I inquired about a tea perched high upon a shelf and labeled $90/ounce all she said was that I don’t need it. My best guess is that it is used as a natural aid for erectile dysfunction or an unknown cure for baldness. The staff was very friendly and even recommended the best restaurant for Dim Sum called New Asia. The lineups were long but this further guaranteed authenticity. Take the time to get lost in the best Chinatown of the world outside of Asia. What you’ll find is not only delicious but inspiring and historical. San Francisco is an important check point for any foodie where one can find the most authentic Dim Sum outside of China and the most delicious Italian food outside of Italy... but that’s another story.
Recommended Reading Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Vital Tea Leaf 1044 Grant Ave. San Francisco, CA 94133 Tel: 415.981.2388 Fax: 415.981.2389 Email: vitaltealeaf@yahoo.com Vital Tea Leaf 905 Grant Ave. San Francisco, CA 94133
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 55
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 57
Knit Dress: Seiko Taki Cardigan: Sharon Wauschob Leotard: American Apparel Top: Vintage Socks: TopShop Harness: Pagan Poetry
ANGEL of Light photography/ hair & make-up Vivienne Mok styling Vivienne Mok & Seana Redmond model Sammie @profile Model Management
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 59
Dress: Seana Redmond Knit Coat: Seana Redmond Bra: American Apparel Socks: Stylist’s own
Dress: Seana Redmond Knit Coat: Seana Redmond Bra: American Apparel Socks: Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 61
Knit Dress: Seiko Taki Cardigan: Sharon Wauschob Leotard: American Apparel Top: Vintage Socks: TopShop Harness: Pagan Poetry
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 63
Dress: Anne Valerie Hash T-shirt: American Vintage Leotard: American Vintage Skirt: Vivienne Mok Socks: TopShop Shoes: Anne Valerie Hash Headband: Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 65
Blouse: Kate Moss x TopShop Shorts: TopShop Socks: Topshop Shoes: Anne Valerie Hash Gloves: Vintage
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 67
Blouse: Kate Moss x TopShop Shorts: TopShop Socks: Topshop Shoes: Anne Valerie Hash Gloves: Vintage June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 69
Blouse: Kate Moss x TopShop Shorts: TopShop Socks: Topshop Shoes: Anne Valerie Hash Gloves: Vintage
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 71
Dress: Vivienne Mok Blouse: Kate Moss x Topshop Socks: Topshop Shoes: Anne Valerie Hash Flower Crown: Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 73
Dress: Vivienne Mok Blouse: Kate Moss x Topshop Socks: Topshop Shoes: Anne Valerie Hash Flower Crown: Stylist’s own
June/July 2012 VECU Magazine pg. 75
Bershka