Vol. 35 / Issue 5 / March 2017
Marching On How women are making history here and now p.6
Photo by J. Renae Davidson
Letter from the Editor @dhirschnews
@dhirschnews
/dhirschnews
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o me, March is a month of joy and promise. It’s that much closer to spring and daffodils and days without coats. It’s anchored in aquamarines and bloodstones which symbolize courage. It’s Women’s History Month and National Reading Awareness Month. And best of all, it’s the month that my daughter was born. The saying, “Here’s to good women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them,” seems to ring extra true to me in March. Maybe it’s the memory of bringing my girl into the world and keeping her alive and well for the past 13 Marches that makes me feel hopeful, here and now. No matter what is going on in the world, March makes me feel that great change is possible, even if it’s preceded by chaos. Our outer world feels quite chaotic right now. With so much fear and uncertainty hanging in the air I know it’s hard to stop and smell the roses. Rather than planting our own possibilities we’re living in reaction mode; to the news, to tweets, to press conferences and policy changes. Some of us are marching, others are opting out entirely and somewhere in the middle is what we’re missing in the meantime, joy and promise.
bliss to birth in INTERSECTION and how it truly does take a village. Meet an MSU Denver alumna in Love notes: Lisa Brown Roberts in IMBUE and see how it’s always the right time to follow your passion. If you’re feeling heavy then let yourself lighten up with the ladies of Belles and Chimes, an all women’s pinball league featured in TECHNOSPHERE. Finally, remind yourself that you fit, just as you are, by reading Branded: Annafesta in THREADS. The world may not feel full of joy and promise right now but that’s a good thing. It reminds us that courage and creation is an inside job. What we want to feel around us has always been within us. So, if you’re tired, rest, don’t quit. Weed your garden of distractions, of anything that doesn’t lift you up. Clean the slate. Let your earth run dry and when you’re ready, cultivate your wildest dreams. We need you to. Here’s to good people. Everyone of us. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
The name for March in Slovene is sušec, meaning the month when the earth becomes dry enough so that you can cultivate it. If your inspiration has run dry then turn to Marching on in METRO and meet four amazing women committed to cultivating a better tomorrow. Get to know the uplifting work of the Denver Health Doula Program: Bringing
Deanna Hirsch Editor-in-chief, Metrosphere
Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 1
Staff Editor-in-Chief
Creative Director
Director of Met Media
Deanna Hirsch
Ethan Casady
Steve Haigh
dhirsch6@msudenver.edu
ecasady@msudenver.edu Assistant Director
Managing Editor
Art Director
Teresa Diaz Soriano
Maddi Troisi
tdiazsor@msudenver.edu
mtroisi2@msudenver.edu
Ronan O’Shea Production Manager Kathleen Jewby
Metro Editor
Words
Alysha Prieto
Victoria Edstedt
Office Manager
aprieto4@msudenver.edu
Joella Baumann
Elizabeth Norberg
Adam Barnhardt Intersection Editor
Jasmine Krapf
Cheyenne DeChristopher
Gardell Neal Jr.
cdechris@msudenver.edu
Dayna L. Himot Derek Gregory
Imbue Editor
Maria Muller
James Burky
Bianey Bermudez
jburky@msudenver.edu Photos Technosphere Editor
Sara Hertwig
Kaitlin Benz
Brandon N. Sanchez
kbenz@msudenver.edu
Karson Hallaway Lindsey Milburn
Threads Editor
Carl Glenn Payne
Kayla Klein
Nikolai Puc’
kgash1@msudenver.edu PR Associate Photo Editor
Preston Morse
Victoria Edstedt
pmorse3@msudenver.edu
vedstedt@msudenver.edu
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Cover Emily and Alfonso Wimbley were among many gathered out in front of the Colorado State Capitol Building during the early morning hours of Jan. 21 in preparation for the start of the Women’s March on Denver. Photo by Sara Hertwig Met Media P.O. Box 173362, CB57 Denver, CO 80217-3362 No part of this book may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior permission of Met Media, except in the context of reviews. Printed by Frederic Printing
Table Of Contents METRO The people, places and things that make MSU Denver and the city of Denver the best place for miles.
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6. Marching on 15. Sanctuary story: Felipe 18. Yasi queen!
20. Making change: The $20 turns toward equality
INTERSECTION Profiles and columns devoted to the various, valuable intersections of identity and community.
IMBUE A celebration of the arts and literature community and local creative happenings.
TECHNOSPHERE The latest and greatest in tech, gaming and nerd culture.
THREADS Features on fashion that transcend the one-size-fits-all status quo.
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23. Paying it no mind: Honoring our ancestors 25. One nation, under drag 29. Denver Health Doula Program: Bringing bliss to birth 32. The gay’s gaze: Intersectional superheros
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34. All the right moves: Mercury Cafe
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40. Belles and Chimes
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36. Love notes: Lisa Brown Roberts 38. Imbue review: Go Set a Watchman
42. Cheers, beers and boardgames 46. The coolest nerds in town: All C’s Collectibles
48. Branded: Annafesta 50. Tastemaker: Elysia Izquierdo 53. Blushing beauty: Bianey gets a makeover 56. About town: Women on Auraria
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Five Points ee
Buffalo Exchange 226 E. 13th Ave.
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lvd
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Center For Visual Art
Auraria Campus
City O’ City Fluid Coffee Bar MSU Denver Arts Building Auraria Library
Denver
The Market at Larimer Square
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E Colfax Ave
York St
2526 E Colfax Ave.
E Colfax Ave
Santa Fe Dr
Tivoli Station, 300 Level
The Bardo Coffee House
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E Colfax Ave
Tivoli Brewing Co.
1628 16th St.
St
North Captiol Hill
Emmanuel Gallery
Tattered Cover Book Store
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Broadway Blvd
King Center
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51 Broadway
Downing St
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lvd
Cherry Creek
The Molecule Effect Racine’s E Alameda Ave
Marching on By Alysha Prieto
Photo by Sara Hertwig
What began as a Facebook event turned into a global movement on Jan. 21. The Women’s March brought millions of women, men and gender non-conforming marchers together all over the world to peacefully protest for equal rights. In Denver, Leslie Herod, Jacki Dixon Marsh, Suzie Q. Smith and Dafna Michaelson Jenet graced Civic Center’s Greek Auditorium stage. They shared their stories and spoke of struggle and hope. Most importantly, they focused on the need for action. ere, they re ect on the record-breaking event and Women’s History Month. They also offer advice on how to keep the equal rights movement alive long after the Facebook posts fade.
Rep. Leslie Herod, District 8
Why should we celebrate Women’s History Month? Herod: Women are still marginalized and women of color even more so. Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate and honor all the overlooked accomplishments of many successful and important women. Dixon Marsh: It’s recognizing how far we’ve come. I think whenever you look at anything historic it’s a look backward but it gives you a little glimpse into the future. That’s one of the important reasons to do it. Let’s set our sights going forward. This is where we’ve come from and what we’ve accomplished, and here’s what yet has to be done. Michaelson Jenet: I believe it’s important for us to highlight, a time to pay attention and focus and tell stories. Let’s start with the oldest history book there is, the Bible. Most of the stories are about men and told by men. Unless we put ourselves in the narrative, to coin “Hamilton” the musical, we’re not going to be there. Women’s History Month gives us a dedicated time to tell the stories of women. Smith: I would honestly rather there not be a Women’s History Month. I would rather women’s history be integrated in all curriculum year round. Wouldn’t that be delightful? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It’s so important to pay attention to the narratives we are given. Stories and words shape 8
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Photo by Moses Street
Photo by Brandon N. Sanchez
METRO
Jacki Dixon Marsh, Jewelry Designer everything in our perceptions of the world. They are very powerful so it’s really important to listen to as many narratives as you can. That’s how you get closest to the truth. And the fact that women make up more than half of the world population and are left out of so many of the narratives, clearly something is wrong.
How would you describe being at the Women’s March on Denver? Herod: It was a celebration of women. Seeing all different kinds of women – young – old, all different races and different nationalities coming together to take a stand and say that we have power and we’re going to use it was inspiring. It was empowering. It as definitely a day ill never for et. Dixon Marsh: I stayed at the Aloft Hotel. I walked out as women were starting to gather and it literally brought tears to my eyes. Most of my life has been me, myself and I and small pockets of women, trying to stand up for ourselves in a pretty scary, male-dominated world. To see that many women and all of the support that they had from husbands, family,children and to have it be so upbeat and positive, it was very touching. Color didn’t matter. Nothing mattered other than we were women, we were together and we were supporting each other. Michaelson Jenet: It was exhilarating. I was standing right in the front, holding the banner. I was a part of leading the march, standing next to the organizers,
Photo by Benjamin Lzicar
Photo by Brandon N. Sanchez
Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, House District 30
Suzie Q. Smith, Poet & Activist
cheering at the top of my lungs. Even though my the world. The unity that we saw that day doesn’t husband, who was standing behind me, kept saying, have to end with the women’s march. It actually has “You have to speak. You have to stop screaming.” I to continue every single day to make the changes couldn’t stop. The beauty of all of those people that we want to see. coming together and cheering along and willing to spend their day and their time out in Dixon Marsh: A few. When I was a single “Even that way. It was exhilarating. mom and supporting my son I was happy though that my job paid enough that I could put food on the table and buy him clothes. Smith: It was encouraging to see so women I knew I was being underpaid and many people show up and to see that are 51% of I wasn’t being paid as much as my level of passion and intensity. I really the workforce male counterparts. I didn’t have hope that it leads to additional a choice. I needed to support intersectionality. I think that we’re population right my son and myself. But now at in a unique position right now now, women’s rights this age it dawned on me that where a lot of different groups are still on the chopping those male counterparts are can get together and unite going to get a lot more in in ways that they never have block every single day.” retirement. It’s common before because so many –Dafna Michaelson Jenet sense and so simple, different marginalized but it has really hit groups are under attack. me in the last couple Just knowing that we’re at that place right now, where we can really affect longof years that by not standing up for myself when term change. I was working, and I worked twice as hard as my male counterparts for half the money, that now their retirement is better than mine. What message did you hope to get
across during your speech?
Herod: I wanted women to know that we are not defeated, that our voices are heard, and that if we want to make change what we have to do is be involved. Be aware of what’s happening in the system and then use our voices. Speak up. Stand up. Write letters. Show up. And we can actually change
Michaelson Jenet: I had a theme because I had written a poem the day before that I read during the march. My message was that it’s time for us to pay very close attention. If things happen that are going to put you or people that you love at risk, you have to step up. It’s your obligation to step up and speak out in defense. We are in a time where we cannot Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 9
Photo by Victoria Edstedt
sit back. We are obligated to take a stand and not anticipate that someone else is going to take that stand for us. We must make it for ourselves.
is an exploitive process. Ensuring that our kids, regardless or their Zip code have the opportunity for the same good quality education which isn’t true right now. …When you can go to any community and the majority of the males are not behind bars Smith: The message that I was mostly trying to ecause of racial rofilin and mass incarcerations. convey is we are all very powerful, especially together. Those are the kind of things that show me that we can claim success, I don’t think that it ever ends. In terms of the equal rights movement, …Continuing to have that discussion and what does success mean to you? continuing to do better as a society is what I “The think success looks like in equal rights. Herod: Success one is acknowledging that difference we don’t all have the same opportunities between now Dixon Marsh: Success would mean for success. I think that’s become really and six months apparent to me in this building, in the that down the road, and I hope ago is that women Capitol, when I notice my colleagues sooner than later, that we have are active. They’re don’t even know or believe that equal representation throughout women or that people of color are our society, that we stop seeing showing up and they’re oppressed or aren’t treated the gender, and that we stop pushing folks like me and same in society. There are so stereotyping. That’s the most their leaders to show up.” many people who just deny. harmful thing that we can do. –Leslie Herod You had a black president. You’re good. And that’s just Michaelson Jenet It not the case. means equality. Right now the things that we Even further, then it is looking at where all of those are fi htin for, for e am le, equal ay for equal or , factors of oppression are having a true impact and when that has changed, then we will have reached equality. When people are not discriminated against our institutions and getting rid of them. Getting in acceptance to school, in hiring for jobs, in running rid of the prison industrial complex because it 10 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
Photo by Sara Hertwig
for office not that e are color- lind ecause don t think color-blindness is what we want – but when we respect and value all colors and all ethnic diversity, then we will have equality.
prove that I’m equal. I love to run long distances and at that time they didn’t let women run long distances. So, I ran in men’s road races. When you talk about women competing in more endurance events, whether it be cycling or swimming or running, we actually get pretty Do you consider yourself a close to competing as equals. Is feminist? Why/Why not? If that a feminist? Say you have two so, when did you know that basketball players. Both are men. you were? You have one that’s 6-foot“There’s a lot of different 6 and one that’s 5-foot-10. Herod: I do. As Bell Hooks ways to get involved, so it’s How is that really any different wrote, “Simply put, feminism really important to honor that than a woman who might is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and be smaller in physique? I and value every person that can oppression.” There is no doubt think I always thought I could get in where they fit in.” I support these goals. When I compete with men. first heard of feminism, thou ht –Suzy Q. Smith it was a white woman’s struggle. Michaelson Jenet: Yes, I do consider But as I began to fall in love with the myself a feminist. I consider myself a work of Bell Hooks, Audrey Lorde and feminist because I stand up as a woman for the rights of women and men. As others, I realized that I was indeed a a feminist I am always working to make feminist. I do know that I was exposed sure that women have a place and a voice at the to sexism and racism at a very young age and I’ve table. I work a lot with women. I work with female always known it was wrong and that I would grow entre reneurs. or ith omen in the non rofit up to battle against it. s ace. find my lace amon omen often, and that network that we must build for one another to Dixon Marsh: It’s a term that I don’t honestly think lift each other up and create the echo chambers so of myself as. thin ve een fi htin all my life to Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 11
Photo by Victoria Edstedt
Over a 100,000 people participated in the Women’s March on Denver that ended outside the Colorado State Capitol Building at Civic Center Park.
METRO
that we can be heard above the echo chamber that has been primarily male, is I feel my calling.
information that you don’t know the answer to. Seek out communities that you’ve never been involved in. Just be there as support. Ask questions and be helpful.
Smith: Feminist is a complicated term. Womanist is probably something I would use more regularly. ut hen e loo at the te t oo definition of hat Dixon Marsh: Find your core issues. What speaks to feminism is definitely am a feminist and definitely you? Pick no more than two to four, and research. believe in equal rights between all genders. I think I Find out the arguments for and against and make probably knew that when I was very little because I contact with the groups that believe as you believe. have a brother who is 18 months older And then offer your help. than me and I knew that I wanted everything he wanted and felt like I Michaelson Jenet: Start “ I think the only way women deserved everything he deserved. at home. Figure out the are going to have real security We’re different genders, but other thing that matters to you and real control over their than that we’re very similar and most. Find out who’s working own future is getting equal our basic wants and needs were on it and join them. If nobody’s very much the same. It became working on it, start working on it. numbers of women on every clear to me as we aged that board, every commission, local people treated us differently Smith: Reach out. There are so government, state government, many organizations. And it’s also and we had different privileges, and national government.” different opportunities, and a really great place to be in Denver different responsibilities. right now. In Colorado we have more That always confused me, non rofits er ca ita than any other –Jacki Dixon Marsh and it was never really place in the country. Assess your own something that I could personal passions and resources and I get with. promise there’s an org for that somewhere. There’s definitely some lace for you to lu in ecause we all have gifts. We all have talents. We all have What advice would you give to aspiring privileges. We all have resources. It’s just a matter activists who don’t know where to get of assessin those and findin hat you re most started? connected to and hat fi ht is your fi ht. Herod: The good thing is that it’s everywhere right now. If you’re nervous but you’ve heard about a racial justice meeting or a march or prayer vigil that you have never gone to before, just go. Show up and see what happens. You have to tune in. Seek out
For more interviews from the Women’s March including Nadeen Ibrahim and Robin Kniech, visit mymetmedia.com/metrosphere/marchingon
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Sanctuary story: Felipe By Victoria Edstedt
In a recent YouTube video message, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said, “If being a sanctuary city means that we value taking care of one another, and welcoming refugees and immigrants, then I welcome the title.” What does it feel like to hold the title of “undocumented” in Denver? Here’s one man’s story.
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e stood there in the Arizona desert cold and scared. His blue T-shirt and black slacks seemed less appropriate now than in Xalapa, Mexico, and every time he glanced at his dress shoes, it made him feel foolish. He wanted to look good for the job interview, but instead he had to run from the police, hide and run again with 120 other people whom he didn’t know, yet understood. They were all crossing American borders to afford better lives for their families in Mexico. It was February 2000 and he planned to come back soon. Seventeen years later, Felipe A.* still remodels houses in Denver. For a long time he did construction and even managed his own siding repair company while paying for his children’s education. Mexico, here he once held an office jo , ecame a distant memory. “It wasn’t much money. I was making about $200 a month,” Felipe said. One day his brother-in-law offered him work in Denver for $500 a week so Felipe decided to risk everything and invest in his family’s future. “I had the possibility to give school to my family, eli e said. y oldest dau hter finished university, my sister finished university, my youn est
daughter earned an associate degree, and I tell my son, if he wants to go to the university, now is the time while I am here.” When Felipe left, his son Alexis was only 3, daughters Janeth and Betzaida were 8 and 11. “I never, never, never forgot this day. I always remember my children’s faces – it broke my heart,” Felipe said. Unfortunately, all of them grew up away from their father, who was patiently working and sending money back to Mexico every week. “It’s painful, but the sacrifice is orth it, eli e said. am ha y because I provide a good life to my family.” Over the years, Felipe learned one simple truth: It’s impossible to control the course of events. He got divorced and lost many people he loved and cared about, including Felipe’s only hero, his mother, ofia. fter she died am not the same uy, eli e said. “Nobody ever thinks that when you move to the United States you give up a lot. When I lost my mother, I lost part of my life.” The unexpected happens and you have to adapt. “Before, I had many goals,” Felipe said. “Instead of opening my eyes to a new day, I kept thinking about Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 15
Photos by Victoria Edstedt
Unfortunately for Felipe, his children grew up away from him. His son Alexis, left, is now 20. Daughters Janeth, middle, and Betzaida are 25 and 28.
“They think we are trying to steal their jobs, but we are not,” Felipe said “The difference is that we work six days a week, nine-, 10-hour shifts when they work only four days for six hours. We start same uildin s and finish in a month they finish in two.” Usually, Felipe ignores dirty looks and rude comments. “I don’t have the papers. “I pay I am an illegal guy so I can’t say anything taxes because I don’t need any problems and that’s what they want.” because it
what I will be doing tomorrow or the day after. But I don’t anymore.” Now he sets short-term goals and tries not to make any plans. “Otherwise, you are not enjoying the moment. You need to live every day a hundred percent, not even a hundred percent, a thousand percent,” Felipe said.
Yet, it’s hard for him to experience even a hundred percent because in the eyes of the society, he is just another immigrant. Felipe said that racism is still a big makes me feel problem in the United States. He’s honest, makes me met people who were not only disrespectful of his culture, but feel like a good citizen. ho also tried to ic fi hts Every dollar benefits over it. Everything they couldn’t the city and the state.” achieve was blamed on Latinos: inefficiency at or , failure to –Felipe A. decrease crime rates and inability to avoid taxes.
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Despite all this, Felipe is not bitter. He learned English and strives to be a valuable member of a local community. “I pay taxes because it makes me feel honest, makes me feel like a good citizen. Every dollar enefits the city and the state,” he said. Sadly, it doesn t enefit eli e.
Felipe holds an amulet his family and friends made for protection before he crossed the border between Mexico and Arizona in 2000. It was supposed to grant a safe trip and no further complications at customs.
The money that he spends at the store and on the rent ultimately goes toward the school system and other city needs, but he doesn’t share any of it, not even basic health coverage. eli e has a s ecial individual ta identification number that allows him to pay taxes without a Social Security number. “The state knows you are illegal, but they don’t care,” he said. “They receive your money and if you are paying too much, you don’t get it back.” It’s estimated that the undocumented immigrant population in Colorado reached 180,000 in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center. It’s an enormous income o ithout many e enses. This is why comprehensive immigration reform is needed – so people who’ve been here for a long time, people who are hard workers and pay their taxes, would have options to gain some security and raise their standard of living. All Felipe has is a tiny studio apartment that he rents, an old Pickup
truck and many regrets about missed opportunities to be with his children. “If I knew that would happen to me, I would stay in Mexico,” he said. Sometimes Felipe thinks of going back, but many doubts tear him apart. “I am 50. If I move back to e ico no , may e ouldn t find a jo ecause I am old,” he said. Nevertheless, he looks forward to reuniting with his family one day. Felipe’s journey took longer than anybody could imagine, but he is grateful. “Everything I did during these 17 years made me happy,” Felipe said. Editor’s note: Felipe’s last name was withheld to protect his identity.
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Photo byJacke Blackson
YaSi queen! By Teresa Diaz Soriano
D
ropping beats in her bedroom since she was a teenager, hip-hop soul singer Yazman Azimi divulged her journey in the Denver music scene during a recent phone call. Through the moniker YaSi, Azimi explores her identity as a young, Iranian-American woman and translates that into songs she hopes will inspire others to listen. The 23-year-old, who has recently gained internet notoriety, didn’t get there overnight. It’s no surprise that Azimi’s solo career is booming because she is going full force. “I never went hard at music in high school,” Azimi said. “I mean, I did choir on and off, then I would
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want to do something else, but I would end up going back to music.” She got a taste for the music industry in 2013 when she sang backing vocals with local band H*Wood. It instilled a new passion to pursue music. Azimi attributes her growth to Brandon Bordeaux, better known as H*Wood. “At the time I was timid, very insecure, I just looked uncomfortable on stage,” she said. “[But] I credit him with the live factor because he gave me a lot of opportunities to be on stage at the Fox Theater, the Gothic [Theatre].”
METRO “I feel like I have to work a lot harder than my male During the summer of 2016 she had the opportunity counterparts for the same recognition and to play a few festivals and solo shows in respect that they get,” Azimi said. Denver. During her sets, she feels it’s her chance to reveal pieces of herself “You watch all these up-and-coming she isn’t gutsy enough to share in artists just getting really big off a rereal life. While she is performing post of a song or one subtweet on stage, she has no reservations “Being vulnerable is and it catches fire, zimi said. about who she is. the greatest experience “You always hope you can catch you can give yourself the fire. “You go on stage and you sing these songs that are your as a human.” Azimi’s discography includes darkest moments and it’s cool the EP “Stranded Feelings” and that people reciprocate that,” her latest single, “Pink Caddy,” Azimi said. “Being vulnerable is –YaSi released earlier this year. Many the greatest experience you can of YaSi’s lyrics glide over tingling give yourself as a human.” trap beats reminiscent of artists like As YaSi rises in the music industry, she The Internet and SZA. The single “B4 We” garnered the young star likes on SoundCloud,and is learning the curves of being in a malemuch love among blogs. dominated industry. Check out YaSi on social media: soundcloud.com/yasimuse facebook.com/YaSimuse/
INTERSECTION
Making change: The $20 turns toward equality By Joella Baumann
T
he catalyst making the biggest change to our currency since 1929 started with some housekeeping.
Lew’s speech, while eloquently written and well -placed, fell short for many. Especially the many Hamiltonians and fans of the acclaimed Broadway musical.
The Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence Despite dreams of reinventing the ten program was established to stay getting denied, hope wasn’t lost. ahead of counterfeiting, which is Barbara Ortiz Howard and Susan the primary driver for currency “I freed a thousand Ades Stone created the Women redesign. In June 2013, the ACD slaves I could have freed a on 20s campaign. Women on recommended to the secretary s is a non rofit, rassroots of the treasury, Jacob Lew, thousand more if only they organization that aimed to that the $10 note be the next knew they were slaves.” compel historic change by redesigned note. persuading former President Obama to dedicate the $20 Last year, Lew announced that –Harriet Tubman bill exclusively to women. decision to the nation. He spoke of American women over the The president can direct the decades surmounting challenges, treasury secretary to make the beating odds and a need to spotlight change, and with at least 100,000 votes, them in way that can also spark the one can get the president’s ear. That’s how conversation about wage inequalities that continue today. many names it takes to petition the White House for executive action. The Women on 20s campaign received well over a half a million votes. “To the Americans who use it, our new $10 bill will convey something powerful. It will deliver the “It was inspired by the ideal that commemoration message that our nation is an inclusive democracy, of the inclusion of women in the American where opportunity, justice and equality are not democracy happened in 1920 with the passing limited to a few, but available to all,” Lew said. of the 19th Amendment giving women the right
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Courtesy of Yann Guitton
to vote and as homage to the contributions to the women of our country,” said a spokesperson for the campaign. Women on 20s also stated that the removal of symbols of hate, intolerance and inequality to enable equality regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual preference or identity was a necessary step in our country’s quest for democracy. These statements refer to the current portrait on the $20 bill of our seventh president, Andrew Jackson. While Jackson was celebrated for his military prowess and for founding the Democratic Party, he was a slave owner. He supported passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, commonly known as the Trail of Tears, which drove Native American tribes off their land and into Oklahoma to make room for white European settlers. The Women on 20s campaign actually started long before Lew’s decision and announcement to make any chan es. he idea first came to cam ai n founder Howard in 2012 and it took until 2014 to start a non rofit or anization that ould s end the next year compiling a list of great American women. They would then whittle that list to a top15 women who would be presented to the public
via social media for voting. arch sa the first of three rounds of votin . Six hundred thousand people voted and Harriet Tubman was chosen, edging out Eleanor Roosevelt and Rosa Parks with 30 percent of the total vote. Over that next year a public media battle ensued that included chiming in from politicos on both sides of the issue and included a haphazard amendment from Republican Rep. Steve King to stop the production of a $20 bill with a woman on it. King introduced an amendment to bar the Treasury Department from spending any funds to redesign paper money or coin currency. “As much as she did, she didn’t change the course of history,” King said. On April 20, 2016, Secretary Lew again addressed the public. “I have been inspired by this conversation and today am e cited to announce that for the first time in more than a century, the front of our currency will feature the portrait of a woman – Harriet Tubman on the $20 note,” Lew said. Also noted was the unexplained decision to keep Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 21
Courtesy of Creative Commons
Andrew Jackson on the back of the $20 bill. Winston Grady-Willis, professor and department chair of the Africana Studies department at MSU Denver, spoke of Tubman’s importance and the huge success to have her chosen. “Given the place of enslaved African -American men and omen and s ecifically the mar inalization of African women, the absolute absence of ownership over their bodies, Tubman’s activism, her agency stands in stark contrast to that,” Grady Willis said. “I think it’s very, very important not only for folks to understand that but to also, in a society in which heroism, when connected, when gendered when seen in connection to womanhood is often always placed in exclusively white terms. To have Tubman given prominence in this way is profoundly important.” Tubman was born a slave, grew up illiterate doing the hardest kinds of labor, suffered the side effects of a traumatic brain injury her entire life and still was able to free herself from the grip of slavery. 22 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
Tubman realized that her own freedom from slavery was not enough and returned 19 times to a place where she had been brutalized. She rescued hundreds of slaves on trips that took weeks or months at a time. Tubman never lost a single person to anything but the elements along the way. Not only did Tubman dedicate her life to freeing her people, but she also spoke publicly to jumpstart the women’s suffrage campaign and worked with the Union Army as a cook, nurse, scout and spy. Most famously, she led the raid down the Combahee River of North Carolina and freed hundreds of enslaved Africans. So coveted was her capture by the Confederates that a bounty of $40,000 was placed on her head. Today that ransom would equate to over a half-a-million dollars. Tubman was exceptional by any terms, still she always yearned to do more for her people. “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves,” Tubman said.
Courtesy of Creative Commons
Paying it no mind: Honoring my ancestors By Cheyenne DeChristopher
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he deep purple and blue hues that once seemed to complete carefully painted eyelids, and angry red gashes that were carved just inches from neatly styled wigs, now cannot be found. Their protest signs, once dripping with fresh ink of political scrawlings, are now carefully fashioned safety pins and rainbow duct tape placed securely over small, thin lips. heir trem lin fin ers ound a ay on ey oards, giving a false sense of justice to pseudo activism work, as they continue to step on the backs of black and brown ancestors who gave them the very right to engage in these chat room wars. This is what happens when we ignore our ancestors. It has been over a year of hearing hateful and violent rhetoric, Nazi sympathizing and the rise in acceptance of white supremacy. Now is the beginning of a new presidency that threatens the
very existence of many marginalized communities in the United States. For those of us affected, we have to sit and wait to hear of the next executive order or Cabinet nominee who could literally decide who has the legal right to live and take space in the U.S. However, not all of us have something to fear. hite, af uent, cis ender, ay and les ian men and women have little to agonize over, yet they take up the most space in terms of vocalizing their fears under this new presidency. According to the 2012 report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, queer people of color and especially transgender people of color were more likely than their white, gay or lesbian, cisgender counterparts to experience physical violence, police violence and discrimination. So, while the most vocal and privileged members of our community worry over Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 23
INTERSECTION
their right to adopt, or maintain marriage equality, we have people who fear for their physical safety, or the ability to get and maintain a job with their sexual orientation, gender identity and most importantly, skin tone. It is now that I think back to the founders of the contemporary LGBTQ movement for equality. People like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, black and brown trans women of color who were homeless and working within the sex industry during the time of the Stonewall Riots. Johnson and ivera ere some of the first eo le to resist arrest by police who were unlawfully raiding a known safe space for the LGBTQ community June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York. It was the action and fearlessness of these strong women, who literally offered their lives for the movement of gay liberation that we have milestones such as marriage equality. But we as a community do not honor the legacy that they have left us.
broken. I have been thrown in jail. I have lost my job. I have lost my apartment for gay liberation and you all treat me this way? What the fuck’s wrong with you all? Think about that!” Rivera and other queer trans people of color were not celebrated and continue to be ignored as mem ers of the community. t the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the very woman, ohnson, ho thre the first shot lass as not allowed to march at all in the Pride procession. This trend continues even today and is visible in everything from the bathroom legislation to the rain o a avin hi h at a march intended for eo le of color s ecifically. As a queer person of color, I always show up for my race before my sexual orientation or gender identity. It is common for people of multiple oppressions to prioritize one identity over the other, and for myself the decision was made easily enough. I cannot take off my skin, and the threat of physical violence and discrimination is ever present. I do not mean to invalidate the oppression that white LGBTQ people experience, but in looking at our community as a whole, they rarely if ever have concern for their human rights.
“I do not believe in a revolution, but you all do. I believe in the gay power.”
2016 was the deadliest year on record for trans people and s ecifically trans omen of color, with the Advocate reporting over victims. n the first month of 2017, we lost two more trans sisters of color. But the mainstream LGBTQ community does not speak out on behalf of our murdered family members because many are unwilling to risk their own comfort. They are much more willing to respond to vaguely homophobic Facebook photos than show up at a march, speak with a queer or trans person of color and actually work toward including this further marginalized group within our larger community.
Rivera, in her famous Christopher Street Liberation Day Rally speech, denoted the sharp divide, she witnessed in the community back in the early 70s. After working her way up to the stage and amid overwhelming hostility and booing, Rivera said, “Your gay brothers and your gay sisters in jail that write me every motherfucking week and ask for your help and you all don’t do a goddamn thing for them. I have been beaten. I have had my nose 24 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
–Sylvia Rivera
This is why I challenge our white, cisgender community mem ers s ecifically to honor the work of those who came before you and risked their lives for your rights. Examine the privilege in identity you hold as white people, despite your queerness, and find ays to hel your lac and brown queer and trans siblings. It is during this time we desperately need you to show up and take action, not hide behind a computer screen. “I do not believe in a revolution, but you all do. I believe in the gay power. I believe in us getting our ri hts, or else ould not e out there fi htin for our rights,” Rivera said.
One nation, under drag By Adam Barnhardt
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call rings out over the PA the last Friday of every month at the popular gay nightclub Tracks. “Everyone get in your most uncomfortable positions!” announces Morgan Taylor, the club’s manager. The doors swing open and an onslaught of neon and sequin royalty bursts through. This night is unlike any other at Tracks. Tonight is Drag Nation, and for fans of both local drag and of the popular reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” it is a sacred event. To those outside of the drag bubble, there is a rich history and tradition to drag. Be it Vogue-era New York, or Elizabethan England, the truth stands that cultures of all types partake in this age-old performance of gender. Something very profound occurs on stage and backstage at these particular nights when the worlds of national drag and local drag collide.
22 for the House of Montaldo of 25.” LeCher e lained that ontaldo had to fi ht for the ri hts of her drag daughters. “As a male being a girl you still had to wear three articles of clothing when you went out or you would be arrested.” This refers to the archaic three-piece rule in the 1950s and 1960s that dictated how feminine women were allowed to appear in public. Yvie Oddly is a local queen to whom MSU Denver is a prior stomping ground. Oddly stated, “I’m really glad I had Metro coming out ecause it as the first lace could start to see LGBT people in everyday setting, and also have spaces where I could interact with them on our terms, so to speak.” Oddly majored in theater during her time at Metro, which is notable in her stellar stage presence. She extrapolated on how counter-culturally si nificant dra is ra is punk. I get to see that everyday. I go out of the house in my boy form, I’ll have my nails painted, or I’ll have a little makeup on and people can’t help to stop and look,” she said. “It is really li e the i est middle fin er you can ive to the establishment.”
“It is really like the biggest middle finger you can give to the establishment.” “We’re on a spectrum,” Taylor –Yvie Oddly explained, “Denver is kind of in the middle. You have other places like Alabama, Milwaukee, Butt-fuck Florida where you don’t really have that scene at all.” Nevertheless, local queens itness firsthand the uddin com etitiveness Denver queens offer. “These girls are hungry,” said Vivian LeCher, a local queen.
LeCher is from House Dual (pronounced doall) and House Montaldo. The house system is an aspect of ball culture in which queens group together and represent a particular namesake. Some houses have drag mothers and fathers whom they represent on stage, but the rules vary from place to place and from house to house. Nina Montaldo is LeCher’s drag mother. “I am daughter
uddenly the dance rehearsals and the final touches on makeup ceased and local legend Nina Flowers rallied the ranks. “It is really fucking kicking out there,” Flowers stated in pre-show ritual. “Let’s get out there, have a good time and kill it guys!” When the queens took the stage, you could hardly hear the thumping beats of Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez over the raucous crowd. Through the clouds of smoke and writhing bodies Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 25
Photo by Karson Hallaway
Vivian Le Cher
Jada
Photo by Karson Hallaway
Detox
stood two stunning audience members enjoying the festivities. Ivy Viola and Anka Shayne spoke to ina lo ers in uence t s li e ala a os syndrome. e are very in uenced y Puerto ico ecause ina is one of our only in uences here, Shayne said. Nina hails from Puerto Rico and has spent nine years in Denver. “When I moved here nine years ago, drag was seen as a very traditional aspect of our culture. It was not really seen as an artistic form. I was on season one of “Drag Race,” and obviously “Rupaul’s Drag Race” has done so much for the art of drag.” Flowers said. “I came here with nothing, no money, no friends, no job; all I had was Antonio.” Antonio Purcell de Ogenio is Nina’s partner and booking agent. They will celebrate their 10-year anniversary in June. Flowers closed out the night with a magical rendition of “Karma Chameleon,” channeling some Boy George realness. A special guest to Tracks was “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season five and all stars season t o finalist eto 28 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
cunt, ho had this to say a out enver feel like I’m family here. My mentality is whenever I go any here, even if it s the first time ve een there, I feel like what we do in being drag artists, to me there’s always this unspoken bond we all have.” Ivy Viola said, “Drag is 90 percent backstage and 10 percent on-stage,” which was a testament to the majority of the work that drag queens do backstage. “It’s a painting. You don’t want to see a aintin half finished, said Purcell de enio, describing how vital that 10 percent of stage time is. hat can e affirmed y these notions is that drag is deeply personal. Privacy is just as key as exhibition. But within this personal dichotomy there is a sisterhood that exceeds boundaries. The T and the shade might dictate our assumptions about how these divas associate, but the truth is that comradery is key in their kingdom.
Denver Health Doula Program: Bringing bliss to birth By Jasmine Krapf
I partake in the nesting and the apprehension, though I am not the mother bearing ripened fruit… I am merely a shadow, a backdrop, a soft hand appreciating the curvature of her rosy flesh… I am a welcoming sigh as the stirring slips into something more, something poetic and sure… Laboring is an art form… you see other worlds through movement and rhythm. You witness biology in its truest form, in its raw and unshakable glory. My face is damp with consistency when she looks to me. I worship her transitory phase – she blooms, but not without struggle – she looks to me, I help her find her rhythm – she looks to me, I reassure, I smile, I whisper in low tones- she senses, she embraces, she lunges, moans, weeps, dances – deep guttural laughter, belly like a drum – she purges, she sways, she shakes with trepidation – she looks to me, I find her, she pulls herself from the darkness, crowning, burning, crimson rings, and animalistic strength, power beyond measure – she looks to me, she finds herself – a wriggling, wet newcomer at her lap, at her breast, in her arms – she looks to me, I look to her. Oh, sister, oh, woman… oh, sweet powerful conduit.
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hildbirth is undoubtedly a major life event for everyone, no question. In the media, and in many social circles, pregnancy is often portrayed as a transformative time of celebration, excitement and mystery. But oftentimes, the very mystery, s ecifically the dar er as ects, can ei h much more heavily on some than others, inducing feelings of fear, uncertainty, and even dread. f you re not in the health care field, and even if you are, you may be unaware that in the U.S., black women are about four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than white women; and a New York City health report cited by Women’s eNews in 2015 states the likelihood was as high as 12 times in New York from 2006-2010. Awareness of these numbers has inspired many experts across the spectrum, including doulas, to strategize and affect major social change in maternity care. You may have heard the word “doula” in your social circle at some point, maybe in passing or maybe your granola-and-yoga-obsessed cousin had a doula at her birth in Boulder. Many mistakenly believe a doula and a midwife are essentially the same and are interchangeable titles for the same job. Actually, unlike a midwife, a labor/birth doula does not offer medical services, but instead offers emotional, physical and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and early postpartum.
According to numerous sources, including a 2011 article published on PubMed Continuous su ort for omen durin child irth, e find that, statistically speaking, if you have continuous doula support throughout labor, you and your baby are more likely to have better outcomes. When the outcomes of labors of those who do not receive continuous doula support are compared with those who do, we see that doulasupported labors are faster, easier and have fewer complications. Supported people also experience fewer interventions, decreased risk of cesarean section, higher APGAR scores (measurement of baby’s condition after birth), and a higher initiation of breastfeeding – by a lot, actually. With the avoidance of unneeded and costly interventions, doulas can therefore be considered cost-effective for both families and their health insurance providers. A recent study published in irth ssues in Perinatal are, a journal y and for maternal and infant health professionals, suggests around $1,000 per birth could be saved on average thanks to the presence of doulas. Positive outcomes have proved that we can combat persistent race-based disparities in maternal and infant health by providing pregnant people with access to information and continuous support. Data has consistently shown that empowered people are more likely to take charge of their own health care needs, while consequently reducing Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 29
o co
Phot HDP
y of D urtes Face book
health care costs even beyond pregnancy and birth. As a teen mother, I had a (volunteer) doula at my daughter’s birth nearly 10 years ago, back when it was still a foreign concept in popular American culture. Having a normal, physiological labor and birth (non-medicated, non-interventional) had been my plan all along and I was especially relieved when I accomplished it in the face of major adversity. However, the overwhelming majority of people experience at least some form of intervention, be it instrumental, pharmacological or surgical, and while access to emergency medicine is essential if the need arises, evidence suggests that most medical interventions during labor and birth are actually unnecessary and, in some instances, even harmful. As stated in First Do No arm nterventions urin hild irth, an article u lished in the ournal of Perinatal ducation dvancin ormal irth, e find that routine use of intervention, without valid reason, can transform the process from a normal physiological event into a major medical or surgical procedure, which then leads to increased risk of poor outcomes. Today in the U.S., modern doula care has often been viewed as a service traditionally accessible to white, middle-class women, the very demographic with the already lowest infant and maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Ironically, 30 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
many doulas, myself included, began the work s ecifically to hel lo er rates of oor outcomes in marginalized communities, where this work is undoubtedly needed most. It’s true that white women have better birth outcomes than women of color. And that’s not surprising, given that studies have shown clear evidence that real and perceived racism lays a si nificant role in irth dis arities. With these stats continuously alarming my mind, I was both relieved and ecstatic to hear about a local, hospital-based doula program taking root just last year. Still in its infancy, but with over 50 births already attended, the Denver Health Doula Program is alive and thriving. When I asked Skylar VanSteemberg, a volunteer doula at Denver Health, what inspired her to volunteer for the ro ram, she said elieve all eo le deserve to have positive birth experiences. Doulas [at Denver Health] are available to anyone who wants one, no questions asked and no fee required. I am so, so proud to be a part of the Denver Health Doula Program.” VanSteemberg is the co-owner of Luna Doulas. She is also an organizer for the Colorado Doula Project and identifies as a full-s ectrum doula. s a queer erson, VanSteemberg is particularly interested in serving LGBTQ families. She aims to support all families across the spectrum of reproductive experience.
INTERSECTION According to DHDP founder and director, Phoebe Lehr, there are currently 30 doulas on staff. Lehr is employed at Denver Health and is a certified nurse-mid ife and omen s health nurse practitioner. Lehr earned her professional degree from the University of California, San Francisco. While living in the Bay Area, she developed the highly successful volunteer doula program at San Francisco General Hospital. She also co-founded The Birth Justice Project, a doula program that provides free doula care and support to birthing people in the San Francisco jail, as well as multiple addiction and recovery centers in the San Francisco community.
area. People prefer to be cared for by people who look like them, speak the same language, and are from the same cultural background. I founded the DHDP because I wanted to increase access to doula care for marginalized families, and increase the diversity of birth workers in Colorado.
Can you share more about the basic components of the unique trainings the doulas receive? What do you believe are the most significant topics covered during the meetings?
I wanted to increase awareness about all the various types of families in the birthing community, and give local doulas tools that are useful when working with specific populations. Not all births are the same, and not all birthers have the same needs, so you have ehr also shared P s vision to approach each situation individually in order to provide 1. To mitigate health disparities the best support for as many by providing equitable, accessible, people as possible. Some of “Studies have shown culturally responsive birth support our in-services include health clear evidence that real disparities for a diversity of people and families. in the U.S., supporting and perceived racism survivors of abuse, LGBTQUIA 2. To decrease the gap between families, families experiencing plays a significant role the need for doula support and perinatal loss, addiction and recovery, in birth disparities.” access to doula support in incarcerated populations, perinatal mood disorders, self care, and many more. the birthing community at Denver Health for traditionally I want doulas to be aware of the beautiful marginalized families. diversity of families in the world, and similarly, these families deserve to be cared for by culturally aware 3. To grow a community of social justice-oriented doulas. Trans people are particularly discriminated doulas that will act as change agents at Denver against in the U.S., and by raising awareness of the Health and the greater community. unique needs of this population, I hope to improve What inspired the creation of the Denver the quality of care that trans people receive. According to Lehr, DHDP’s mission is “to provide excellent, compassionate, culturally responsive and meaningful doula support for people and families of all kinds at Denver Health.”
Health Doula Program?
Doulas have been used for centuries to complement a birthing person’s health care team. Recently, high-quality evidence has supported this type of emotional and physical nurturing during childbirth as an underutilized yet highly effective way of reducing perinatal comorbidities. At Denver Health, doula use is very low and lots of our patients could really use excellent, culturally appropriate support. I have also observed a striking discord between the diversity of Denver Health’s patient population and the cultural and linguistic homogeneity of birth workers in the Denver metro
What is some feedback you’ve received from families who’ve birthed with Denver Health doulas? uotes from our families served include eaven sent us an angel.” “We were so lucky to have her,” “I really appreciate her help,” and “I absolutely loved my experience with the doula, thank you so much.”
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The Gay’s Gaze: Intersectional superheroes By Adam Barnhardt
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n 2015 there was a rumbling among fandoms and film lo s a out a ne et i series called “Sense8.” The rumor was that this show was one of the first to finally find a ay to diversify their cast and plotlines to accommodate alternative lifestyles. Could it be real? A show where we’re not promptly killed off or replaced? A show where queer people and people of color are not on the wayside of white, cisgender, hetero man’s journey? Was this real life? I had not died, this was not a higher plane, It was all true. The Wachowskis, responsible for “The Matrix” and “V” for Vendetta,” had created a series in which eight characters all from different countries and different walks of life suddenly gain the ability to communicate with one another psychically. There is Will, a cop in Chicago, Wolfgang, a thief in Berlin; Riley, a DJ in London; Lito, a closeted gay actor in Mexico; Sun, a kickboxing businesswoman
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in South Korea; Kala, a pharmacist in Mumbai; Capheus, a bus driver in Nairobi; and Nomi, a trans hacktivist in San Francisco. The eight characters become what is referred to in the series as a cluster. They can communicate as if they are face-to-face. It occurs at will, sometimes when the characters least expect it. Their connection is so deep it transcends their boundaries. But unfortunately, they are being hunted by a shadowy government entity that seeks to close their cluster. t first it seemed ito and omi ere holdin the LGBT torch. Nomi is trans, and in the early minutes of the series, the concept of trans-exclusive radical feminism is explored. Nomi is discriminated against by her peers within the community, at a Pride gathering no less. She is equally mistreated by her own family. Lito is closeted because his
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movie persona is tragically hetero. Because of this, he lives a secretive life outside of the limelight. What became clear as the show progressed was that all ei ht of the characters have a more uid sexuality. According to IMDB, writer/director Lana Wachowski considers all the characters pansexual. This can be noted by the mid-season orgy. Nope, not a typo. There is a mid-season orgy. It should be noted that both Wachowskis’ are trans women. It’s essential that if a show prides itself on its diversity it is aptly diverse. Jamie Clayton is a trans woman playing a trans woman (Nomi). This representation is important. Lavern Cox kicked the door open with the role of Sophia on “Orange is the New Black” and has more or less guided the masses into understanding intersectionality. That being said, if representation in the confines of a jail ma es you uncomfortable, “Sense8” provides us with what is arguably our first televised trans su erhero.
wasn’t enough. If there is any proof that minorities are this starved for quality content that re ects their values, it’s the fact that we are willing to wait a whole year for another hit. A well-conceived story matched with a dose of accurate representation makes for a potent drug. This series gave me goosebumps in abundance. I think the reason for that is that all the characters are “the other” in their own way. Lito, Nomi, Kala and Sun are alienated by their gender, sexuality, society and/or culture. Wolfgang, Will, Capheus and Riley are victims of their occupations and abilities. In this tense we have class, ability, gender, orientation, race, society and culture all clashing in an extrasensory way. I cannot think of a better example of intersectionality on film. t is as if the Wachowskis tried to cram all the complexities of intersectionality into one character and when that character burst the seams, we got “Sense8.” It cannot be confined, sim lified, or localized. It’s in many ways a mirror of our global perspective or lack thereof. “Sense8” sheds the callous of the national, of the individual and leaves you ith the truth our humanity.
“A well-conceived story matched with a dose of accurate representation makes for a potent drug. ”
Now for the bad news. Due to the strin ent filmin schedules and other forces, season two will not be around until May. In December 2016, fans were tossed a morsel in the form of a Christmas/New Year’s special, but it
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IMBUE
All the right moves By Gardell Neal Jr.
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oving to the rhythm of a different groove is the hardest step one will ever master. On any given day, the world, its inhabitants, or both, are attempting to pull everyone and everything in one direction, usually their own, no matter how much insistence is placed on being an individual. But it is through a belief in those steps of individuality, composed of practice, dedication and hard work that one can see them not only earn respect, causing heads to turn in appreciation and awe, but also become something impossible to ignore or resist. Having spent over four decades attempting to perfect its steps in an effort to make all the right moves, downtown Denver’s Mercury Cafe has turned into quite the established performer.
can be found sweating, smiling and learning a myriad of dance styles like swing, the jitterbug,and even the tango, Mercury Cafe provides an eclectic mix of entertainment for all. Resident and nonresident rofessional and amateur musicians oc to the Mercury Cafe either to offer their talents, or to hone them, many of them even having gotten their start or big break there. The adrenaline throughout the entire cafe is not only intoxicating, but palpable, and most of all fervent. Keeping large groups of people not only happy and entertained but also loaded with energy is not an easy task, yet one look at Mercury Cafe’s menu and it is not difficult to fi ure out ho they are a le to ull it off.
“All organic, all the time,” Megenity said. From the ingredients and spices to the meat and veggies Within the business community, Mercury Cafe and even the whiskey, this ever earth-conscious is a mover and shaker whose unyielding energy cafe is completely invested in the kind of green stems from two of the earth’s natural that grows as opposed elements, wind and solar power. to the kind that folds. For Once inside it becomes undeniably them, the impact from an apparent that these elements are organic menu on the health “We are all part of the highly contagious as the atmosphere, and lifestyle of the customer mood and crowd are a breath of far outweighs any monetary revolution trying to fresh air that illuminate the spirit. value gained from doing the change the world for the contrary. By partnering with Mercury Cafe is a two-storied meltin ot over o in ith local purveyors who have a better.” creative thinkers, professional strong focus on organic farming and amateur artists, poets, and limiting the damage done –Marilyn Megenity dancers and musicians. to the environment, Mercury Cafe Marilyn Megenity, Mercury is relentless in its commitment to Cafe’s owner since its offering healthy food to its loyal inception in 1975, has patrons. The challenge of going green worked hard in creating a sanctuary of sorts, a has not always been an easy one, and in our current green, welcoming environment where that wealth climate the stakes for going green, let alone staying of talent can ourish throu h community su ort the course, have gone exponentially higher. and a healthily served palate. In a world full of uniformed chaos, the “Mercury Cafe acts as a safe If there were any business and person well space in a time of resistance,” Megenity said. equipped to handle the odds, it would be Mercury Cafe and Megenity, a woman of impeccable Not a room in the place is empty, and each area insight, tenacious grit and the will to see any job, offers something unique and special to its visitor. small or big, to its fruition. It is no wonder with Whether it is the soothing and relaxing sounds of her as the proprietor that the place functions and jazz and classical music playing in one room, the operates as well as it does, and it all stems from community theater and concerts happening in Megenity’s having her hands in every little nuance another, or upstairs in the dancehall, where folks that permeates her little three-ring circus. She 34 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
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can’t help but be fully involved. It’s part of who she is. “I am a greedy person,” Megenity said. “I have to have it all.” And she makes it work, in spades. All in the face and in spite of her male, ego-driven counterparts who assumed it unthinkable and unimaginable that a woman could not just purchase her own business but manage it successfully and turn a rofit. To that the supposed would-be actress turned multi le- usiness o ner just ashes a ry smile in the knowing that that same old boys network is now following her well-established lead on how to thrive in a competitive marketplace. Imitation is the hi hest form of attery. tartin out in business very small and working from the ground up, Megenity learned early what it took and meant to foster and grow within a local community. That sense and knowledge of community is apparent when witnessing not only her relationships with her business partners, but also with her staff, the musicians and artists who showcase their talents at Mercury Cafe, and most especially, with the clientele who make it all possible.
by Carl
Glenn
Payne
“The relationship between owner, staff, artist and community are the key component of any successful business,” Megenity said. In her eyes, these connections have a greater value beyond simply the business end. “We are all part of the revolution trying to change the world for the better.” In fact, the greatest joy for Megenity comes not from owning a successful establishment but from imparting her knowledge and expertise onto those around her while simultaneously giving them opportunity to gain prominence in their own right. The joy in knowing that one of her chefs has attained the culinary heights they dreamed of ascending or that an artist or poet has accomplished their goal of being heard in mass imparted through her wisdom or chance is what gets her up in the morning. That mindset, along with a want and need to preserve the earth that Megenity describes as, “abundant, lovable and fun, e itomize hy ercury afe doesn t just fit in but stands out.
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Photo by Karson Hallaway
Lisa Brown Roberts, who graduated from MSU Denver, enjoys writing on young love in the late hours of the night.
IMBUE
Love notes: Lisa Brown Roberts By Kaitlin Benz
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ach letter of each word in a book, to some, are just those. Letters that make up words. The words, combined with others, create a story. To the reader, these are simply stories for entertainment. For the author who carefully crafted these stories, they are so much more. They are the culmination of a lifelong goal, a dream come true. Lisa Brown Roberts is living the dream
Brown Roberts started to get serious about writing an entire book in 2011. By 2013, a publisher stepped forward to represent her and the book was published in 2015. Now she is more comfortable with the process and would like to branch out into ritin adult fiction stories. he said that those stories would be different from what she usually rites ecause they mi ht e omen s fiction books in which romance is a subplot but not the main storyline.
Brown Roberts is a novelist who writes young adult romance novels living in the suburbs of Denver. A graduate of MSU Denver, she has published The best moment of it all came immediately four novels in the past 18 months – “How after her first oo as u lished. t as the (Not) to Fall in Love,” “Playing the Player,” culmination of a lifelong dream,” Brown “It was the “Resisting the Rebel” and her most recent culmination of a Roberts said. As for the future, she is book, “The Replacement Crush.” going to keep writing – at 4:30 in the lifelong dream.” morning as she does day in and day From a young age, Brown Roberts out, in order to write her books had the fire in her heart for readin while still making time to spend –Lisa Brown Roberts and writing. It has always with her family. been a dream of hers, but she struggled to determine if it was ro n o erts re ects on her something she could ever make a career of. When life and is proud of everything that got her to this college began, she intended to major in English or point. “I felt like I wanted to do this, and I don’t creative writing but things did not pan out exactly want to look back and regret not doing it. I thought as she had hoped. She continued to pursue her I would be published much younger than I was, but passion for writing and became actively involved that’s OK and it still worked out,” Brown Roberts said. in the local chapter of the Society of Children’s Lisa Brown Roberts will be be featured on the local Books Writers and Illustrators. Brown Roberts’ author panel for the 2017 Colorado Teen Literature friends in the critique group pushed her to pursue her passion. “It helped me much more than any of Conference on April 1 in the Tivoli Student Union. my college experience had,” Brown Roberts said.
Contact info: Email: Lisa@LisaBrownRoberts.com Mail: P.O. Box 100-264, Denver, CO 80250
Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 37
IMBUE
Imbue review: Go Set a Watchman By Victoria Edstedt
W
hen Harper Lee published “To Kill a Mockingbird,” it immediately became an icon of American literature among the works of Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain and J.D. Salinger. Such success made her one of few omen to receive a Pulitzer Prize for fiction and orld ide reco nition. t as the first and the only novel Lee ever intended to share. Yet, 55 years later, a disturbing sequel called Go Set a Watchman came out and challenged the minds of many devoted readers. People who grew up with “To Kill a Mockingbird” felt disappointed and misled, especially Americans. Good old Maycomb and its hero, Atticus Finch, are iconic. The book was a symbol of the nation’s progress, freedom from prejudices and equality for all, but “Go Set a Watchman” turned everything upside down. The book offers a new perspective on the characters we’ve idolized for so long and invites conversation about life at the turning point. Everyone has a place that s a re ection of their childhood. hether you get to visit often or not, one day you come back and it’s gone. What happened? Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch asks herself the same question. She lives in New York now and travels to Maycomb every year for two weeks. This time however, Jean ouise doesn t find the lace she called home. The south is going through a painful, yet necessary transition and she doesn’t know what to make of it. Not only is her whole town drastically transformed, but people Jean Louise loved and deeply cared about ended up on different sides of the civil rights movement. Calpurnia, Finch’s retired black maid, was the only mother fi ure ean ouise and her rother, em,
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had. Despite the long history, Calpurnia greets her coldly. Their conversation remains cold, so Jean Louise leaves in confusion and despair. Even her father, a man of principle and law, a man with all the answers, a man whom she idolized, appears to be someone else. or the first time, ean ouise is on her o n. She must overcome illusions of the past in order to acce t the tumultuous resent and find a ay
into the future. “Go Set a Watchman” elegantly captures the hardships of growing up on a psychological level, which is a unique personal journey that can last for years or end in a day.
confrontation necessary to boost sales – rather they invite others to experience the writer’s creative process and provide readers with more context in understanding the value of a final roduct.
“Every man’s island, Jean Louise, This novel is all about self“While Go Set a every man’s watchman, is his discovery, passion and wisdom. Watchman is a reflection conscious. There is no such thing There is not much action or of another era, it will as a collective conscious,” said suspense compared with “To Kill Dr. Finch to his niece, trying to a Mockingbird” and the book is always be significant in explain the notion of personal highly criticized for underdeveloped times of change.” progress and how to deal with characters, a weak storyline and it. Be your own watchman. Pick up racism. Remember, though, it was never that book if it interests you and don’t intended to be published and the fact hesitate if you are uncertain. While “Go that Lee agreed to do so is controversial. et a atchman is a re ection of another era, it ill al ays e si nificant in times of chan e. As it turned out, “Go Set a Watchman” is a This novel is truly a gift, so take it. failed draft of “To Kill a Mockingbird” for the reasons listed above. Yet it was never advertised as such, because drafts don’t usually spark the
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Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 39
Denver’s first all women’s pinball club, Belles and Chimes, invites female players of all skill levels to observe, play and have fun. Tournaments are held bi-weekly.
Photos by Karson Hallaway
Belles and Chimes By Dayna L. Himot
W
omen of all ages looking for social interaction and a new way to challenge their skill sets have found an underground community ith a different ind of layin field. i e a ers of the s, elles and himes, a in all clu for omen in enver, is resistin out-of-date stereoty es. or these ladies, the focus of their fun is on what it takes to make skill shots and earn e tra alls. elles and himes is the ne est cha ter from the ori inal clu , hich started in a land, alifornia, in . heir rimary o jective is to offer a fun environment to lay in all ith other omen. here are multi le s ill levels of layers in the clu from novice to orld cham ion. hese omen come from all ty es of ac rounds, includin city and overnment or ers, nurses, la yers, ta accountants and hoto ra hers. here are no restrictions on ho can lay, e ce t that you have to e a oman. rans ender omen are elcome to join as ell. he rou meets the first and third hursday of each month, hostin i ee ly tournaments to qualify for the finals in ril. ne of the reasons aley a ard chose to move to enver ith her hus and as for the the in all scene and it didn’t take her long to start tracking
40 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
/bellesandchimesdenver bellesandchimespinball.com pinballmap.com/colorado
do n other omen ho shared her enthusiasm. he is e cited a out the o ortunity for as many omen as ossi le to lay and have a ositive e erience. e ve chosen to try round ro in style hich means every layer lays each layer once, a ard said. a ard e lained that their a roach to the ee ly tournaments is an effort to ive everyone an equal chance to lay. ndrea astien started layin in all less than a year a o and too a ard s su estion to et the all rollin for elles and himes enver. s a selfroclaimed introvert e trovert ho started layin in all rimarily for herself, she no loo s for ard to the time s ent ith the omen of elles and himes. e re all really ood friends. e han out and learn from each other and ive each other ti s, astien said. n e ruary, the enver clu hosted its ic off ith a launch arty at the u arcade and ar on ast olfa venue. hey meet the first hursday at u on olfa in enver and third hursday at uc oo s est in a e ood at .m. he cost is to lay. ll s ill levels and dro -ins are elcome to attend. f you are a man, you are elcome to atch ut leave the i in to the ladies.
P
Cheers, beers and boardgames By Derek Gregory
overs of oard ames, card ames and craft eer ho live in the enver area are in reat com any. social meet-u rou called enver oard ame i ht meets ee ly to e lore these assions at various re eries throu hout the metro area and the turnout is something that must e e erienced to truly a reciate. avin one myself, it is easy to understand hy. enver oard ame i ht cele rated its fouryear anniversary on an. at eryl s eer o. in enver. hey have met every ednesday since the rou e an, even on holidays. met ith or anizer, drian ichardson, and lon time layer ach c nally at iction eer o. on an. . ore than eo le layed oard ames and dran eer. he rou dominated nearly every ta le in the house.
ma e ne friends hen he moved to enver. e has missed only one Wednesday since he discovered the rou on the r enver su reddit. he rou is tremendously o ular ith oth the layers and the local re eries. hey have seen steady growth in regular participation since its one-year anniversary. e ent from havin the challen e of findin laces that ould e illin to have our rou , ichardson said. o , e re tryin to find laces that can accommodate our rou . t s a reat ro lem to have, ut durin the first year, the situation as a it dicier.
“A moment to learn and a lifetime to master.”
eer and oard ames is a near- erfect com ination for a Wednesday night social event. enver is ell no n for its craft re eries and artisan eer-ma in . oard ames have experienced a resurgence in popularity over the ast several years and are no i er than ever. midee rea from the demands of or or school is a terrific ay to et over the hum .
here ere times hen thou ht a out dro in it that first year, or cuttin ac to once a month, ut e eathered the storm, ichardson said. e did our first-year anniversary and it s een nothin ut ro th ever since. here s not a ee that oes y that don t meet four or five ne eo le.
–Jeff Jackson
“I think that is one of the reasons why it’s lasted so lon , c nally said, ho has een a re ular for most of the rou s four-year run and ori inally joined to 42 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
c nally a reed. ne thing that’s nice is that a lot of us have ecome friends outside of the rou ecause of this, he said. riendshi s are reat, ut rou s dominated y a strong core of friends are often intimidating for new layers. enver oard ame i ht reco nized this danger early on and took steps to make the group more elcomin to curious ne comers.
Photo by Karson Hallaway
From left, Steve Castner, Dan Woods, Nancy Bernudez and Karl Uschold play The Labyrinth, a fun maze game with moving squares and pathways. Many follow the r/Denver Game Night, for upcoming events and access to the Reddit page where they post locations of meet-ups. ne of the i est transitions e made, ri ht around that first-year mar , as to ma e a very conscious effort to e less cliquey, ichardson said. e made the transition from lon er, heavier ames to shorter, more social ames. his strate y hel ed e and the rou s re ertoire. i e many dedicated layers, the rou has mem ers ho enjoy lon er, strate ic ames that require more of a time commitment to learn and lay ell. ein art of a rou that focuses on shorter, more social games has helped these players network and meet others ho enjoy the heavier ames, outside of the rou . “We’re always trying to introduce new games to eo le, ichardson said. y collection of ames is a out no , and ach you re over , ri ht m at a out
no ,
c nally said.
he cro d at iction re in o. is near-ca acity. Players of all a es are re resented at the ta les and there is a nice mix of participants who eat from the food truc , ar ed just outside the door. he
artenders are usy fillin drin orders. quic lance at the layers reveals a very diverse rou . e ve ot mem ers, eo le of various races and a es, ichardson said. e are very inclusive. nother lon time layer, eff ac son, as ea er to lay a ne a stract ame called antorini, hich just came out an. . ac son e lained that a stract oard ames are a ty e of ame ith no randomness. ood e am le is hess, here t o layers ho re resent enerals, direct their armies to capture or eliminate the other layer s in . he theme is lar ely irrelevant to the ame lay itself and can e enjoyed even com etitively ithout referrin to its attlefield theme. ichardson and c nally ere e cited to lay a round of antorini and invited me to join in on the fun. ac son quic ly e lained the rules as e divided into teams. o turns in, as sold. he ame moves quic ly and felt very intuitive. moment to learn and a lifetime to master, ac son said. i art Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 43
P of the fun is the team as ect, hich allo ed one of us to set up the other to potentially make a winning move on our ne t turn. understood immediately ho antorini lays com ared ith chess, ut the social as ect of team- ased lay added a hole ne dimension. ortunately, the three ere ood s orts, ta in care to explain how each turn moved the game forward for my team, or loc ed the other team from innin on their ne t move. It turns out that this type of analysis comes naturally to the trio for a ood reason hey are co-host on a ee ly odcast they ve created called ile i h ame uys, hich they started in une . ac son is articularly assionate a out a se ment he calls he loody inute, hich focuses on a ame called lood o l a ame he descri es as
fantasy fantasy-foot all or ord of the in s u y. hey are articularly roud of their fast turnaround time for each e isode. hey record on ondays, edit on uesdays and release each ednesday. his allo s them to cover some of the more ephemeral aspects of the oard amin ho y, such as ic starter ne s a out ne ames and rojects, hile it s still ossi le for listeners to e lore and ac them. enver enthusiasts of oard ames and lovers of reat-tastin eer are al ays elcome to join in on the fun, meet others ho share their assion and enjoy a mid- ee rea from the daily rind. he rou is dedicated to sharin their ho y ith oth new and veteran players alike and with multiple ta les runnin a ide variety of ames each ee , there has never een a etter time to jum in and lay somethin ne .
Follow Denver Boardgame Night on Reddit at
Where: Varies, see current schedule
www.reddit.com/r/Denver/wiki/wednesdaymeetup
Cost: The cost of a beer.
Facebook: @DenverBoardgameNight
Listen to the podcast (new episodes each Wednesday): www.milehighgameguys.com
When: Every Wednesday night, 6 p.m. until close
GCA9H=A9G H<9 @=6F5FM 75B 69 5 @=HH@9 TOO EI=9H"""
STUDENT & FACULTY DISCOUNT!
With your valid ID. (Happy Hour excluded)
Photo by Lindsey Milburn
All Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collectible is a comicbook shop as well as a gaming arena based in Aurora carrying action figures, barbies, comics and trading cards.
The coolest nerds in town: All Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Collectibles By Maria Muller hirty years a o, havin a love for comic oo s meant affiliation ith the nerd community. oday, one ould e hard- ressed to find someone ho hasn t seen, or at least heard of, the current trendin movies ased off of and arvel comic oo s. eroes li e iderman, atman and a tain merica that have all een around for over years are ainin a hole ne eneration of fans. omic oo enthusiasts su ort their favorite heroes in the form of -shirts, elts and hats. ou name it and they ve ut a su erhero or villain on it. e er characters such as ead ool and arley uinn, ho have ecome o ular favorites after recent hit movies, have lured fans into comic oo stores. ood store ill have those dedicated nerds from years a o, ho are no ha y to
share their vast no led e of the comic oo orld ith everyone ho ants to learn. ocated off of nterstate and outh ilene treet sits the small sho called ll s ollecti les. ere, oth lon time comic nerds and ne found su erhero fans can e found e lorin comics. ll s ollecti les, a family-run store that carries comic oo s and vinta e items, e an as a coin sho o ned y ary and ally arns orth. heir t o sons, ason and ames, e an to learn the usiness at the youn a es of and . he rothers ere uyin and tradin s orts cards hen their first sho o ened in . n the late s and early s, s orts cards ere a hot item and the oys ersuaded their dad to add Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 45
P
cards and comic oo s to their store. e sa the collecti ility of them, ames said of his dad, and he loves comics himself. e read arvel as a id in the s. he arns orths created the ll s ollecti les format in . he store has moved locations a few times throu hout the years, ut has stayed in urora and een family-o ned and o erated for years. hen al in into the store, customers can often hear the rothers ehind alls of shelved comic oo o es havin lively discussions a out s orts teams, the layers, comic oo s and the latest arvel and movies.
Jason noted more people coming into the store after the release of ead ool. onder oman, a hero ho has never ty ically sold many oo s, is currently peaking with the anticipation of the ne onder oman movie comin this summer. hris Pac ham, ho has een or in at ll s ollecti les for years, noted the growing support for comic oo s and the characters. e sees a lot more omen ho are uyin comics for themselves and venturing into the comic oo and su erhero culture. ometimes, ne comers come into the store to ask him for a ood series to start out ith. hile ringing up a parent whose kids stand close-at-hand tal in a out the latest atman ith youthful ener y, Pac ham recalls hen readin comic oo s made someone an outcast.
“We’re the cool kids now, it’s weird.” –Chris Peckham
lthou h comic oo s are their i est sellers ri ht no , the store uys, sells and trades all different inds of memora ilia. t s ood to e diversified, ason arns orth said. oins, cards and comics they ve all had their moments. oth rothers a ree that the release of ne movies has hel ed increase the o ularity of comic oo s.
e d have to ear another shirt over the comic oo shirt so e ouldn t e ridiculed in school, Pac ham said lau hin . he other day told my friend, ee, e re the cool ids no , it s eird.
All C’s Collectibles is located at 1250 S. Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80012.
eBay store for collectible merch:
M-F: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Facebook: /AllCsCollectiblesInc
46 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
stores.ebay.com/allcscollectibles
Photos by Lindsey Milburn
Branded: Annafesta By Maria Muller
A
woman walks into a clothing store, searching for a ne outfit. he s ots the erfect one dra ed on a mannequin. n ious to see how it will look on her, she searches throu h the rac s for her size. er e citement quic ly fades, as she realizes nothing comes larger than a size . isa ointed, she leaves. oo many omen e erience this and everytime it ha ens, they ecome more frustrated and feel a little more defeated.
to connect sha es and incor orate color hel s curvier omen feel eautiful, se y and confident. an anello has or ed tirelessly to turn nna esta into the rand it is today. er journey to fashion desi ner asn t ainless.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone thought I would take time off. But my job was a huge support.I needed my job to survive cancer.â&#x20AC;?
he search for hi h quality, attractive clothes in i er sizes is hat rom ted fashion designer Anne Fanganello to create AnnaFesta, her own clothing line. avin one throu h a scenario much like this, Fanganello decided to take action and in 2010, she created her collection. arryin sizes - , her line of clothin caters to omen ith a fe more curves. an anello ays s ecial attention to a oman s ody and creates clothes that accentuate all the ri ht areas. er a ility
olorado native, an anello attended ast i h chool hile learnin attern ma in and se in at the areer ducation enter. he ent on to study costume desi n at the niversity of olorado at oulder. y the second semester of her so homore year, she as teachin the class. er desire to try somethin ne and learn to s ea talian had her on a lane to taly at a e . he lived in itzerland and taly in the early s as a seamstress learnin the roduction rocess.
â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Anne Fanganello
48 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
an anello s career ath led her to e or ity, here she started out cuttin atterns for liza eth
ayman. n five months, she moved u to desi ner and ith every e erience re more. or ed at ictoria s ecret ma in noc -off clothes at a chea er rice, an anello said. here as a lot of ac -sta in there and learned hat didn t li e. or years in e or ity, she or ed ith desi ners li e anette e ore and ac Posen. Fanganello worked all sides of the sewing needle; desi nin , roduction and mar etin . he mentored oth desi ners early in their careers. t the hei ht of her career, she found a lum in her reast and as dia nosed ith cancer. ithin t o ee s, she had sur ery and a lon attle ith treatment e an. hile still or in full time in fashion, she ent throu h a lum ectomy, a mastectomy, rounds of chemothera y and radiation thera y. hrou h it all, she as still or in , mana in em loyees, runnin roduction, fittin s, technical and run ay sho s. veryone thou ht ould ta e time off, an anello said. ut my jo as a hu e su ort. needed my jo to survive cancer. lthou h she eat cancer her medications affected her attitude and moods. or the first time in her life, she didn t enjoy her jo . es ite her successful career, an anello had never een more unha y. he needed to chan e somethin in her life and she decided to never do fashion a ain. t as difficult to jum off that money cliff, an anello said. ut ot u and moved ac to enver in . he s ent t o years as an events lanner. er attitude im roved, ut the medication affected her ody. an anello ained ounds. he didn t feel
as ad a out ainin ei ht as she did a out ho much it affected her ardro e. n e or , she ould desi n an outfit or dress for famous omen and sim ly ma e another for herself, ut in enver, her access to clothin as limited. s a result, in 2010, Fanganello created AnnaFesta and found herself ac in the fashion orld. hen omen ear clothes too small, they end u loo in li e a sausa e, and if they re too i , they loo li e they re earin a tent, an anello said. study sha es and colors and ma e clothes that accentuate the ri ht curves. e ant clothes to fit our ody. omen s vie s of themselves are chan in an ello said. hey ant hi h quality clothes that loo ood on them and ma e them feel eautiful. hrou hout her fashion journey an anello faced o stacles that ould have defeated most. n the end she not only came out a survivor ut a cham ion. f she had to o throu h it all a ain she said she ould. o an anello fi hts to ma e all omen feel fa ulous at any size.
Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 49
ay w la al H on rs Ka by os ot Ph
Elysia IIzquierdo, hair stylist at Salon Posh, feels her fashion style and passion for hair pairs well with her personality.
Tastemaker: Elysia Izquierdo By Kayla Klein enver hair stylist lysia zquierdo re u ith cosmetolo y rooted in her family tree. er mom and aunts did hair, and her grandma did nails, so it asn t uncommon for zquierdo to ounce from salon to salon li e a child mi ht ounce from lay round to lay round. f asn t at my mom s salon, as at my randma s or somethin li e that, she recalled. zquierdo remem ers atchin her aunt or in a salon her uncle uilt in the asement. hile her eauty-savvy family mem ers made sure she loo ed resenta le every day, the eauty industry instilled a sense of artistry and acce tance in youn zquierdo. he started eauty school in hi h school and raduated from the rtistic eauty olle e at . fter ards, zquierdo erfected her craft at the veda nstitute on the th treet all, then relocated to the herry ree location. ith over ei ht years of eauty e erience, zquierdo no or s at Posh the alon. 50 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
Opportunities to highlight tylin has offered zquierdo countless o ortunities to enhance her a ilities and her re utation. he salutes the ind and o en arms of her artistic co or ers under hom she learns ne techniques every or day. here m at ri ht no is a really ood lace, and ve een a le to ro a lot and have eo le ho are ood e am les and ho can follo , zquierdo said. utside of education, zquierdo said stylin for a other s ay se ment as the est o ortunity she s had to esta lish her ractice. he sho s roducers ic ed moms for a mommy am ush, then zquierdo and her co or ers ot to style their hair and do their ma eu .
Staying on top of the trends he only ay for zquierdo to maintain her earned re utation is to no the trends and ho to e ecute
them. verythin is movin so fast. e ent from the om re to the alaya e, from these vivid colors to these li ht astel colors and e tensions. t s just one thin to another, so you have to ee u ith it, she said. side from cosmetolo y classes, hich zquierdo finds and ta es on her o n time, she loo s to social media and the red car et to oint her in the direction of the ne t i thin . n fact, zquierdo often references ou u e tutorials to rush u on ma eu and stylin s ills.
Sticky styling situations
Past ad hair styles, zquierdo has dealt ith her fair share of ad clients too. here as one time hen as or in in herry ree , and this lady as ettin hi hli hts done. he said, ll e ri ht ac . m oin to o ste out to my car. he never came ac . ever. e called her, and it ent strai ht to voicemail. thin she ave us a fa e num er, zquierdo said. uc ily for zquierdo, hi hli hts ta e more than just rocessin ith foil to ma e erfect. his articular client al ed out efore zquierdo could tone the color, so everyone at the salon ho ed the hi hli hts turned out rassy instead of londe.
o matter ho many times zquierdo creates an outstandin om re, she still has to e the earer of ad ne s.
t s not just clients ho leave salons ith lau ha le dos. efore raduatin eauty school, zquierdo ent throu h a rou h hair hase herself. he hardest art is hen they as ears of hair maintenance and “It’s filled with big, artistic for somethin that you no restrictions from her eautypersonalities. It’s more isn t feasi le, zquierdo said. focused family came to a oil t s ta en me a little it of hen zquierdo as . he diverse, more accepting. I time to learn ho to say, ou tried to mimic oan ett s couldn’t imagine myself doing have too much hair for that, iconic sha y cut, ut had anything else.” or, ou don t have enou h hair no idea ho to o a out it. for that. he hard art is tellin –Elysia Izquierdo eo le, o, you can t do that. just too my feather razor and ent to to n, she said. hen, uc ily, zquierdo no s ho to tal loo ed in the mirror, and as li e, a client out of a ad decision and his is terri le. erri le. o more do it su est a etter alternative. yourself, at home razor haircuts for me. ve ro n u a lot since then.
The good, the bad and the ugly
zquierdo s favorite transformation ta es natural hair to vivid laces. he s ecifically cited ri ht in s and ur les as colors of choice. he do nside to colored hair is dama e. hile zquierdo adores vivid colors, she isn t in love ith the astel hair that many clients request, and for ood reason too. a in hair astel is a rocess ith little ayoff. ou need to stri the hair to here it s essentially hite. here s no i ment left. o, there s nothin for the color to hold onto. t s one in li e a ee , she said. 52 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
Why nothing beats the beauty industry f zquierdo asn t a hair stylist, she ould still e in the eauty industry. he inclusivity and creative outlet that eauty artistry allo s is unmatched y any hite-collar rofession. t s filled ith i , artistic ersonalities. t s more diverse, more acce tin . couldn t ima ine myself doin anythin else.
Before
Photo by
cCall
Keenan M
Blushing beauty: Bianey gets a makeover By Bianey Bermudez
am y no means a rofessional ma eu artist, at least outside of my head. nside of my head, am the est of the est hen it comes do n to my o n face. don t consider myself a creative or artistic erson, ut hen do my ma eu , am all of the a ove. t s not a out coverin u the arts don t li e a out my face, ut ettin to create somethin fun and different. t s a out havin the confidence that can roc anythin ith my est face for ard. s a connoisseur of eauty, s end more time and money on my face and hair than d li e to admit. ve never s ent a day in a eauty class, ta en cosmetolo y courses or even o ened a oo a out ho to do ma eu and hair. n the other hand, have s ent countless hours atchin rofessionals on ou u e, readin the ords of my favorite eauty editors and follo in the ardashians eauty re imes.
ve erfected my an les and slayed my eyeliner in . y contour has een racticed, mastered and chan ed. y li s have een over-lined, underlined, matted, lossed and om red. am, to ut it sim ly, a control frea hen it comes to my face, my hair and my clothes. verythin is the ay ant it. ve even had the same hair stylist since as , and oo my hair a ointments months in advance alon ith meetin s to determine hat style m oin to try ne t. asically, don t li e stran ers ettin to decide hat et to loo li e. o hen my editor said my name and ma eover in the same sentence, anic ed. fter anic ed, had an an iety attac , and then after the an iety attac , the ni htmares e an. ome mi ht call me dramatic, ut this is a real thin . haven t found the clinical name for fear of someone else doin my ma eu yet, ut m sure it s out there. Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 53
fter my dramatic meltdo n realized that the eauty of ma eu is that you can easily ta e it off and chan e it at any time, and it ouldn t e so ad to see someone else s art on my face, et s just ho e my ne t article isn t a out tattoos. s stood in front of the amaste veda salon ith s eaty alms and a caffeine rush, ho ed for the est. fter meetin dam ort s, hair and ma eu e ert, my nerves ere all ut one. t hel ed that the salon itself as a rela in environment ith a total yo a vi e. he salon s lo o, honor the divine in you, as dis layed on the alls to further em hasize the zen ins iration. he u stairs as a dedicated ar er sho area ith a eeney odd feel, minus the head cho in , of course. he do nstairs as chicly lined with two rows of mirrors and hair stations, along ith another area desi nated for hair ashin . he aitin area follo ed suit ith some s lue and reen couches. t as a su er nice environment that made me feel totally at eace ith my fierce inner self. ort s, a eauty school raduate and licensed rofessional, has een in the industry for years. is accidental love for ma eu started ith a assion for theater, hen he started or in ehind the scenes 54 | Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5
at sho s. ort s fell in love ith hel in eo le and ein a le to transform someone to oost their confidence. hile ort s loves or in ith customers everyday, he as ires to e an educator and teach others his s ills. ein a le to ma e someone eautiful, it can really hel someone see a different ers ective of themselves, hen you can sho them just ho to enhance their est features, ort s said. ort s also said that one must loo at ma eu artistically. indin the ri ht an les of the face and no in here to add the ri ht roduct can ma e all the difference. loo at it as an art form, ecause you really are aintin a face, he said. he ma eover e an ith a lovely mini-facial that included a hot towel steam and some natural, good smellin roducts on my face. his as mostly to ta e off the ma eu already had on from a revious event, ut it as my favorite art of the hole thin , ecause it as incredi ly rela in and made my face feel reat after ard. hen, as laced in a chair here ort s or ed his ma ic on my face, as in sim le questions throu hout and ivin me some ti s alon the ay.
After
Photos by Keenan McCall
ollo in the sur risin ly rela in e erience, sa the results. reco nized the erson in the mirror, hich as hat as most orried a out. t as definitely different from my usual loo , ut that s hat the e erience as all a out tryin somethin ne . to make someone y smo y shado and it can really help i mented chee s ere a see a different fun chan e, and my hair as of themselves, so lamorous and voluminously ouncy. show them just
hile thou ht this rocess as oin to e scary and nerve- rec in , it honestly as rela in and thera eutic. ne hat he as doin throu hout the hole rocess lendin , rushin , concealin . t as li e dro in the rush myself and lettin someone else ta e it. “Being able
beautiful,
he roducts ere all veda. s a someone ve etarian, should have loved perspective the all-natural roduct line, ut it s never een a favorite when you can e ce t for a cou le of li how to enhance their n the end, felt stu id a out ein roducts. he i mentation best features” so dramatic a out my ma eover. in the eyeshado s as a Even though the glamor went down little lo , ut ort s ne –Adam Cortés the shower drain at the end of the his ay around these ni ht, the e erience itself ill last me hiccu s and made them a lifetime. han you, dam, for ta in the rush more i mented than thou ht ossi le. from an overly controllin ma eu frea . fter my ma eu , ort s offered to style my hair. his time as comforta le enou h to say yes, For more of Bianey’s beauty misadventures ithout hesitation. check out her blog, Heels ‘N’ Feels at mymetmedia.com/metrosphere/blogs
Metrosphere Vol 35 | Issue 5 | 55
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