Issue 28

issue 28

winter 2014

{tap} style, literature, & fashion culture style, style, literature, literature, & & fashion fashion culture culture

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contents} s} nts} ents} ntents} ontents} contents} WINTER 2014

4. Introduction 6. A Note From the Editor

by Geneva Gleason 8. Slate

by Tomokazu Hamada 16. A Sizable Difference

by Kelly Williams 18. Meet the Artists

by Charlotte Lee 24. A Fashion Footprint

by Brandi Boehm 32. Teen Spirit

by Tomokazu Hamada

FAREWELL

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ISSUE 28

GENEVA GLEASON Editor-in-Chief Hannah Rahel Fashion Editor Alexa Derman Literature Editor

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Clara Smith Politics Editor Publisher TAP Magazine

Š TAP Magazine 2014. All rights reserved. www.tapmagazine.net

Special thanks to Teen Art Gallery and National Eating Disorders Association.

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{winter 2014} Ask my friends what I’ve been talking about for the past week, and the first thing they’ll say is Beyoncé. Actually, it’s the only thing they’ll say. A devoted subject of Queen B, BEYONCÉ has been nothing short of a transcendental experience, not just in terms of music and fashion, but also as a woman, especially a woman with a lot of growing to do. The album was released a few days before some very impotant college decisions for me, and I’d be lying if I said listening to “***Flawless” on repeat for three hours wasn’t the only thing that kept me sane that night. Beyonce has a knack for connecting to her audience in a way that few, if any, other artists in various media have mastered. As the editorial staff of {tap} compiled the components of the winter issue, our main priority was returning to {tap}’s mission statement and reevaluating what we really want to accomplish as a 21st century feminist publication.

To me, fashion is important because it serves as an empowerment tool, and I want {tap} to be a catalyst through which young women can access fashion in a way that energizes them. Fashion is given a bad rep by many (and not without supporting evidence) for being an industry that degrades women and reduces us to the clothes we wear and the image we present to others.

But by taking ownership of the art, by demanding that fashion is for us, not for others, the industry will become irrevocably feminist, and starting with this issue, {tap}’s mission is to spread that message.

After all, we all wake up flawless. {page 7}

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slate {page 8}

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A Sizeable Difference

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) applauds Abercrombie & Fitch for its recent decision to expand its clothing line to include larger sizes.

Currently, A&F does not offer women’s clothing in sizes that exceed large, equivalent to a U.S. size 10. Additionally, consumers have reported that A&F’s clothing runs smaller than typical standardized retail sizes.

The upscale clothing manufacturer’s move follows a major outcry – and declining profits – after a 2006 comment from CEO Mike Jeffries was widely recirculated in the media earlier this year, saying that the upscale clothing chain catered only to “cool” and “attractive” kids.

A Change.org petition, launched by NEDA’s Proud2Bme teen ambassador Benjamin O’Keefe, 19 – who has suffered from an eating disorder himself – called for the retailer to “stop telling teens they aren’t beautiful and to make clothes for teens of all sizes,” generating more than 80,000 signatures.

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NEDA, O’Keefe and other teen activists met with A&F executives in May to discuss the company’s “hurtful and discriminatory” comments, its exclusionary sizing practices and to ask for change.

In response, the fashion retailer agreed to take “concrete steps to demonstrate our commitment to anti-bullying in addition to our ongoing support of diversity and inclusion.” A&F did launch a line of anti-bullying t-shirts in October, however the line did not include plus-size options, which NEDA found to be counter to the entire point of the dialogue.

The news also inspired an extensive and ongoing boycott by consumers, with some moms mailing A&F clothes back to A&F corporate headquarters; teens picketing local stores; and even garnering support from such Hollywood stars as Miley Cyrus, Ellen DeGeneres and Kirstie Alley.

Commented O’Keefe, “When thousands of people join together to fight for what’s right, change truly does come. Tens of thousands joined our movement and told Abercrombie & Fitch to end its discriminatory practices and to embrace consumers of all sizes … and now they have! If we raise our voices together, we are heard.”

Added Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of NEDA, “The National Eating Disorders Association commends Abercrombie & Fitch for listening to these kids and changing its practices to embrace people of all sizes. We hope they will continue to foster inclusiveness and size diversity in all of their efforts. We also applaud Ben and the other young adults who raised their voices to implement change.”

Proud2Bme is NEDA’s interactive website for teens and young adults. Launched in October 2011, Proud2Bme is committed to serving as a forum for young people to discuss and receive support regarding body image, self-esteem and eating disorders. The site features articles about topics ranging from fashion and beauty to news and entertainment, while promoting self-confidence and positive body image. Proud2Bme also aims to empower young people to become advocates for self-esteem and activists against bodysnarking and negative media messages. Visit proud2Bme. org to join our community!

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), headquartered in New York City, is the leading U.S. non-profit organization supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. Each year, NEDA helps millions of people across the country find information and appropriate treatment resources through its toll-free, live helpline, its many outreach programs and website. NEDA advocates for advancements in the field and envisions a world without eating disorders. For more information, visit www.MyNEDA.org

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meet the artist {page 18}

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{winter 2014} What do you find most significant about youth involvement in the arts?

I think it’s important for everyone to be involved in the arts, but I think art made by young people is especially important because it’s completely unique. Fresh minds have fresh new takes on the world and are able to present it in a way that other people have never thought of before.

What is your medium of choice? How does it help you to convey the message you wish to convey?

My favorite thing to do is make photographs. You can literally do anything with it. You can take a photo of anything, and if I need to I can manipulate the photo by various post processes to make the image look like what I originally had in mind. So it’s easy to convey pretty much any idea.

Is there anything from which you consistently draw inspiration for your work?

A lot of it for me has been my environment. I’ve always lived next to the ocean and that inspires me as well as the nature around me. Other artists that I follow and music have also had a huge impact because it’s such a big part of my life.

Do you predetermine meaning or does it arrive later in your work?

Meaning usually arrives after I develop my photos. Honesty, half the time I have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m going with a photo but usually it will come to me as I’m working on the image.

Where do you want art to take you? Where do you want to take your art?

I want to take my art with me so that I can look back and see where I was a month or a year ago. It’s a direct reflection of who I am. It will always be something that I’ll do, but I think it would be great to be able to create things for a living. I guess I just want to take my art to new places.

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lisbeth chie {page 22}

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{winter 2014} What do you find most significant about youth involvement in the arts?

I believe that art is a great way for young people to express their feelings.

It helps let out frustration and anger in a more productive way.

What is your medium of choice? How does it help you to convey the message you wish to convey?

I try to stay away from just using one specific medium. Using a variety of media helps me express myself better.

For example, I could find paint to be more useful to me when doing landscapes, and markers I could use to draw people. I also find that it is just more fun to be able to use different media and it stops me from being limited in anyway.

Is there anything from which you consistently draw inspiration for your work?

Whenever I need to get my “creative juices” flowing, I find it helpful to just pick up a book. There’s so much creativity bottled up in a book. The stories and characters developed by the author never fail to give me inspiration.

Do you predetermine meaning or does it arrive later in your work?

No. When I create any art I work with what’s already there, any emotion that I may be feeling, I channel it into the drawing. I do not sit down to purposely make a sad or happy piece. Even once the drawing is done, I may not see anything but another plain old drawing. Maybe a couple weeks later, I’ll revisit it and see the anger or joy in the picture I made and that is what makes doing what I do so special to me. It’s my way of recording memories and thoughts.

Where do you want art to take you? Where do you want to take your art?

I hope to be able to make a name for myself, whether it’s in the fashion industry, the street or in selective homes. I hope my art inspires others to be creative themselves and do something that makes them proud. I want art to keep helping me express myself, to take me deeper inside my head where my creativity blossoms.

What is the meaning for you of this particular work?

This particular piece represents freedom. The freedom we have to fly, to do things for ourselves. Its probably one of my only drawings that was done with some emotion I didn’t even know was there. I didn’t realize what I was doing until the piece itself was almost finished. The art piece These feathers that fall embodies my character growing into a more independent person. {page 23}

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a fashion footprint Meet Amilee Turner. Photographed by Brandi Boehm and reported by Geneva Gleason.

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Turneround Couture is a high-fashion line of dresses that emphasizes old Hollywood glamour and elegance while referencing modern trends. The brand, designed by Amilee Turner, is intended to reach out to women of all ages and extend to the interests of all cultures, sizes, and personalities. Said Turner, “The types of dresses and garments we women wear define us and the image of ourselves we want to portray,� emphasizing her mission to create a timeless imprint in the fashion world for all women to feel beautiful and part of the world of fashion.

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teen spirit {page 28}

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