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VERTICAL IS… A CELEBRATION VERTICAL IS… A MOVEMENT VERTICAL IS… A LOVE LETTER
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We are on Cloud 9 to celebrate VERTICAL’s 4-Year Anniversary with “Fly Girl” featuring fashion by local designer Sandra Hagen. “In the Red” seeks signature lipstick and showcases an illustration by Becca Barton. “Magic Touch” explores the imaginative world of Janet O’Rourke.“Statement Pieces” hangs with Scott Menaul, creator of captivating art to anchor home décor and “Fant-Aztec” offers a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine served with an artful side. Still hungry? Pull up a chair for “Leslie @ Lunch” and get the dish on Studio 10 TV’s Jerome Ritchey. VERTICAL is designed to uplift our community by celebrating its treasures. Each feature leads us on a voyage of discovery. Shining a spotlight on art, artists, fabulous people, places and things is our way of radiating positivity. As the story of VERTICAL unfolds, we invite you to join us on a journey rich with possibilities. Get VERTICAL...and be part of something fabulous! S.W.A.K. (sealed with a kiss)
Publisher & creative director Leslie Joy Ickowitz
Art Director James Burgos of BLVD//creative
Assistant to the Publisher Becca Barton
Contributing Photographers Leslie Joy Ickowitz ✵ Brandy DeMarzo
Contributing Writers Becca Barton ✵ Heather Lambie Janan Talafer ✵ Tracy Ann Guida
Digital retoucher Russ Robinson
Get VERTICAL...and be part of something fabulous! VERTICALTampaBay.com Copyright 2013 VERTICAL™ Tampa Bay. All rights reserved. Reproduction, either in whole or in part, is forbidden without written permission from the publisher. Articles and advertisements published in VERTICAL Tampa Bay do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. VERTICAL Tampa Bay assumes no liability for the content and shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. All letters and press releases sent to VERTICAL Tampa Bay may be unconditionally assigned for publication and are subject to VERTICAL Tampa Bay’s editorial comment. VERTICAL Tampa Bay is not to be held liable for the quality or performance of goods or services rendered by the advertisers in this publication. Printed and distributed by Creative Loafing.
Photographer: Brandy DeMarzo
Lighting: Curt Leimbach Stylists: Pamela Bloomgren, MOD Productions and Leslie Joy Ickowitz Hair: Bill Baker Makeup: Pamela Bloomgren Model: Mary Butterly, Level Talent Group Wardrobe: Sandra Hagen Designs Jewelry: Florida Craftsmen
Platform Shoes: Ivanka Ska
Lighting Assistant: Dylan Ireland On Set Assistants: Becca Barton & Tristan DeMarzo Post Production: Russ Robinson Shot On Location: Albert Whitted Airport Special Thanks: Biplane Rides and Safari Choppers
Sponsored by: Creative Loafing
IN THE RED Searching for Signature Lipstick Story and Illustration by Becca Barton
Lipstick is universal—loved by both men and women for its beautiful appeal. From red to maroon, pink-tinted to purplehued, there is a shade for everyone and a statement to be made. Color variations can take a look from young-girl-playing-in-her-mother’s-makeup-drawer to confident, strong and sexy woman. Finding the perfect red lipstick is as triumphant an experience as locating the best little black dress. My own fascination with lipstick began after watching Dionne and Cher’s painted escapades in the movie Clueless. I was so moved, in fact, that I went out and bought my first lipstick—a bright purple from Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Wal-Mart cosmetics line. I wore it faithfully for a while but after scaring off more than a few people (myself included, after seeing pictures), I gave it up. Since then, I’ve sat on the sidelines of the lipstick game, unable to find a shade that didn’t make me look like I was emulating a clown. However, it was Jessa’s persistently wine-stained lips on the TV show Girls that finally convinced me to pursue my signature shade. I set off for Sephora where smoldering reds, orange-hinted, shimmering purple-reds, and straight-from the-bottle deep wine burgundies lined the shelves. After trying on upwards of 10 different lipsticks, I settled on the one—a perfectly crimson NARS lip pencil, aptly named “Cruella.” The search is an arduous process. Women spend precious time trying tube after tube—red after pink after purple—to find the stick that best suits them. And yet, with all of the available choices, most women remain fiercely loyal to one. Much like there is a wand destined for each wizard, there is a lipstick for each woman. They may flirt with other colors but like love at first kiss, once they find their signature lipstick, they don’t often switch it. My father, a lipstick expert in the same sense that I am a football expert—which is to say I observe it and have an opinion about it but don’t fully understand it—believes my mother is most beautiful on those occasions when she wears lipstick. Its presence signals a thoughtful approach to the total presentation—that pretty pout serving as a divine finishing touch. As a lipstick devotee for almost a year now, I can safely assert that its effect on the wearer is a positive one. A colorful method of self-expression, lipstick provides a visual affirmation of femininity and confidence. So go ahead, paint the town red!
MAGIC TOUCH A Fairy Fantasy
Story by Janan Talafer ❧ Photography by Ryder Gledhill ❧ Art by Janet O’Rourke Designs ©
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eautiful sensual fairies with names like “Enchanted,” gorgeous mermaids sure to lure sailors off course, and colorful zodiac signs swirl around in Janet O’Rourke’s imagination before taking shape on paper, wood panels, puzzles, calendars and coloring books. Her designs are also found on the spectacular handpainted sculptures, bowls and containers that she and her husband Jay create together in their St. Petersburg studio, a combination art studio and woodworking shop. Their sculptures start as pieces of “found” wood salvaged from storms. The wood is cured for about a year before it’s ready for Jay to tackle, using his talent as a wood turner to carve, shape and sand the emerging forms. Then the “blank canvas” is ready for Janet to apply her magic touch. She sketches designs on the sides, applies pigment in vivid, eye-catching colors and carves little decorative touches on top. The end result is pure fantasy—finished pieces like the “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” with a rabbit on top, a brilliant blue Siren standing on a wooden vessel embellished with stars or a purple bird perched on a shapely container. Welcome to the enchanting fairy world of Janet and Jay. “I fell down the rabbit hole and never got up,” jokes Janet, who has been drawing and communing with the fairies for as long as she can remember. Her mother, who was British and also an artist, spun stories about fairies for Janet and her siblings in lieu of television. “Fairies are magical; I’ve always believed in them,” she says. The couple have been collaborating on art since the 1970s when they met at a Renaissance fair in California, their home state. Over the years, they got married, moved to Oregon, raised two children, who are also artists, and developed an international reputation for their stunning, highly polished hinged-boxes made from exotic hardwoods.Their fine art boxes—Jay O Boxes, jayoboxes.com—can be found in private and corporate collections, art museums and galleries around the world. But today their focus is less conventional, more mystical. Their first step was to stop using hardwoods because they are too expensive, not eco-friendly and terrible for the rainforests, says Janet. Instead, they began using tree limbs downed by storms, wood like maple, poplar, ficus and grapefruit. Then their art began to morph into something more sculptural, colorful and whimsical. Maybe it was the influence of the fairies?
Two years ago, they came to St. Petersburg, drawn by the beach, Florida’s tropical flowers and the idea of a simpler lifestyle.They moved next door to Tracy, Janet’s best friend from childhood. Their current project is a book of original illustrations and positive affirmations called A Fairy’s ABC, A Dream Come True. “Doing this book is a dream come true for me,” says Janet. Each letter of the alphabet has an affirmation and a fairy. Think B for beauty and K for kissable. Using colored pencils, Janet is sketching the fairies on 20-inch by 24-inch wood panels that will be framed and later used as a traveling display.Then the panels will be photographed and sent to the publisher so the book can be assembled, printed and ready for sale this fall. The fairies will be delighted. janetorourkedesigns.com
That Page: Dancing Fairy This Page: Coloring Book Mermaid
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A: Magic B: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party C: In the Garden A
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STATEMENT PIECES Customized Home Fashion Story by Heather Lambie ❧ Art by Scott Menaul
Outdoor art festivals make quite a scene locally and across the country. The people-watching and the street food are delicious, but the real draw is the thrill of the hunt for a one-of-a-kind statement piece. You know, the one with the brilliant colors and emotional appeal that will seamlessly tie together your eclectic furniture collection. Often times, however, that perfect piece is tainted with tones not found in your home, or the beautiful work that gripped you is just too small for your space. Enter local artist Scott Menaul, a degreed electrical engineer and professional photographer who—without meaning to—solved the impossible for modern art collectors. As a photographer, Scott’s appreciation for geometric shapes and light refractions in nature led him to a fairly new genre of art he calls digital abstraction. “Some people see my artwork and think, ‘Oh, that’s easy, it’s all done on the computer,’” Scott says. “But it’s much more than that.”
At the expansive Menaul Fine Art Studio in Clearwater, he points to a stunning piece called “Halcyon,” which looks like an electric blue waterfall on a jet-black background. It’s hard to imagine without seeing it in person, but this piece of abstract digital art so closely mimics nature that the colors vibrate and mist seems to spit so that I wipe the back of my neck expecting it to be moist from the waterfall. To create Halcyon, Scott delicately poured paint down an angled canvas, letting the drips fall naturally just as water would. He then photographed the drippy canvas, uploaded the photo to his computer and manipulated the individual drips with color and transparency layers. In the end, the art is an amalgamation of traditional paint and canvas, photography and graphic arts. It is modern mixed media. For homeowners, hoteliers and art enthusiasts alike, Scott Menaul’s mixed media creations open doors to large scale, big impact artwork that is both accessible and customizable. “Everything in the home is about art,” Scott says. “The sculpture of the furniture is art, the material on the chair is art, the collective interior design is art, and of course the wall art plays an important part. Art like mine is often the finishing touch that brings a whole look together.” Interior designers understand this and have begun commissioning Scott to complete their client’s projects. “Designers or individuals may have trouble finding the right piece for a room because they’re trying to match a certain color,” he says. “They can give me a paint chip or a fabric swatch and I can match it perfectly and work it into an abstract piece that adds an element of interest.” Scott regularly checks his ego at his studio door, welcoming input from those who want his art. “If they are interested in being a part of the artistic process, I allow them to suggest colors and shapes,” he says. “I like that when someone views an abstract they bring a lot to the table, their experiences, their reactions. In seeing things differently than another person would, they contribute to the artwork. It creates conversation and dialogue with the people viewing it, and I enjoy that,” he says. It’s clear the public enjoys all he has brought to the table, too. Menaul-art.com
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FANT-AZTEC Stirring Art & Cuisine
Story by Tracy Ann Guida ❧ Photography by Leslie Joy Ickowitz There is something magical about Mexico. Growing up in northern California, I was introduced to Mexican culture at a young age and was captivated. At the age of 16, I became friends with a woman I worked with named Blanca, who hailed from Los Mochis, Sinaloa in northern Mexico. Her English was flawless, but I preferred to speak with her in Spanish and within a year I was practically fluent. Blanca took me under her wing and taught me about authentic Mexican cuisine. I learned about the history of certain dishes and discovered ingredients I never knew existed. Her and her family invited me to their hometown and I was ecstatic. It was my first trip to Mexico and I found myself immersed in a culture that was passionate about family, food, art and celebration. It was that trip that sparked my love affair with Mexico and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Tampa Bay has some fantastic Mexican restaurants and one, in particular, truly captures the passion of Mexico in every aspect. Since my first visit to Catrinas Cocina y Galeria last summer, I have fallen in love with this little gem in South Tampa. Combining food and art, the Catrinas experience is both a visual and culinary celebration. The first time I walked into Catrinas, I was enchanted by the vibrant colors of the interior and the incredible art dressing the walls. It was reminiscent of my
first experience in Mexico.The scent of tantalizing food filled the air and music filled my ears. As I looked over the menu, tears filled my eyes when I spotted a Mexican delicacy that I had been searching for since my arrival in Tampa almost ten years ago. “Huitlacoche” is a corn truffle native to Mexico and very hard to find. Served in either a corn or flour tortilla and blended with poblano peppers, onions and fresh cheese, huitlacoche is just one of the many highlights on the menu.The taste is hard to describe. One must really experience this flavorful dish for him/herself. I was so impressed by the authenticity of my meal and insisted on meeting the culinary genius that created it. After being introduced to Chef Tisbeth Mejia, I asked if she could sit with me for a while so I could learn more about her background and this incredible restaurant I’d just discovered. Tisbeth Mejia was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico literally in her grandmother’s kitchen. Growing up, she was taught to value and love three key things in life: food, art and family. It is no surprise that Tisbeth would go on to become both an artist and a chef. After graduating from the Universidad de Guadalajara, she went on to pursue her passion for cooking and opened a seafood restaurant in her hometown. After 11 years in Mexico’s restaurant industry, she headed to Tampa and focused her efforts on her art. With the opening of Catrinas Cocina y Galeria in May of 2012, Tisbeth has been able to combine her three loves by bringing delicious food and gorgeous art to her customers—who have become like family. She proudly displays her art on the walls and the menu is a tribute to her grandmother’s recipes. Each and every dish is truly a culinary masterpiece. Seafood is one of Tisbeth’s specialties and she gets up to handpick the freshest fish while most of us are still sleeping. Each piece of fish is like a canvas to Tisbeth. Spices and fresh ingredients are like paintbrush strokes and as they blend together, they result in delicious works of culinary art made with love. If you desire to take an authentic culinary journey and taste the flavors of Mexico, Catrinas is the perfect vehicle. catrinascocinaygaleria.com
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Leslie @ Lunch WITH JEROME RITCHEY
Story and Photography by Leslie Joy Ickowitz
The birthday boy showed up in a black herringbone button-down, crisp camelcolored slacks and cuff links. I wore a smile plastered across my face—as I often do in Jerome Ritchey’s presence.
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’ve known Jerome for a few years now. He’s the co-host of Studio 10 TV, the local show on 10 News WTSP-TV that I’m proud to be associated with (appearing on air once a month with VERTICAL). I first realized I wanted to get to know him better hot off the heels of aWANDERLUST segment we did on air together, where I arranged for a fleet of very rare, exotic vintage cars to be delivered to the station. Jerome came flying out the doors, aiming for those cars with the thrilled enthusiasm of a child on a roller coaster.As I am myself a car freak, it was immediately clear, Jerome and I shared this in common. So over lunch at Mad Dogs and Englishmen (a spot he chose in part because he’s a fan of 50s and 60s culture, and where he appreciates the availability of Boddingtons on tap) we discussed cars that get our heartbeats racing. If he could own any exotic auto in the world, Jerome picks the Ferrari Daytona. NICE. My first choice? The Aston Martin Vanquish.From his phone, Jerome showed me a picture of a 1959 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Holiday SceniCoupe he is restoring. It’s been in his family since his great uncle purchased it in 1959 and in Polaris White over SilverMist paint, the car looks pretty mint. His first car was a somewhat trashed diesel Mercedes. “Everyone thought it was so cool because it was a Mercedes,” he says. “But the floors were rotted and to time its 0-60 performance you needed a calendar, not a stopwatch.” So our delicious salads came—a chicken curry for him, mine had spinach, avocado and bacon—and in between leafy green bites, we visited some more. I learned that before his TV career, Jerome was a radio DJ for 10 years on pop music stations, starting at WCIL-FM in Carbondale, Illinois where he was the market’s top rated radio personality. Pop is not his thing. He prefers alternative rock and standards like those loveable gems from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. It was during this portion of the discussion that it became clear that hearing “Red Red Wine” by UB40 or Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” would likely make Jerome’s ears bleed. “But it’s a great song,” he says in defense of the latter, perhaps realizing that his opinion on the matter is a bit snarky and that it could be alienating to others. I sense this because I can be the same way. Did I mention we are both Capricorns? Back to why I’m wearing a smile to lunch (along with black jeans, a black and gold blouse, a gold branch necklace given to me by designer Dolly Donshey, gold shades,
rad shoes and an arrowhead ring): It’s because Jerome is funny—and entertaining. I almost always see Jerome in his zone—on set at Studio 10. He hosts the show alongside Co-host and Producer Holley Sinn (who I’ve made no secret of thinking is one of the most fab gals in town) with super cool Executive Producer Mark Thorn and a team of good people. Jerome’s style, which combines engaged interaction, humor and an element of surprise makes for entertaining television. Viewers are often treated to revelations of random knowledge he seems to have stored up, leading many to wonder, “what will he say next?” It’s fun watching Holley navigate Jerome’s terrain, with her own keen sense of humor, intelligence and effortless wit. “She is a genuinely good person,” Jerome insists of Holley in his list of the best things about her. “And she’s very good at what she does.” What he doesn’t like about his professional existence is, “Having to wear makeup. Other than that, I have no complaints.” “Everyone’s got a great story to tell,” Jerome says. “And nothing is more entertaining than the truth.” He was describing the special occurrence when a story unfolds organically in the moment. Like when he got Jane Seymour to shed light on air about a time she and Christopher Reeve stole a plane and flew around together. On the topic of romance, Jerome first discovered Mad Dogs and Englishmen while traversing MacDill Boulevard with the love of his life, wife Wendy Ryan (the ABC Action News anchor). “She is a dream,” Jerome says. He recalls that they thought it looked great so they popped in one afternoon. “We sat outside. Love their burgers.” His idea of a great date night with Wendy involves a jazz club with some good wine for her and a great martini for him. So that was filling.
VERTICAL IS… A CELEBRATION VERTICAL IS… A MOVEMENT VERTICAL IS… A LOVE LETTER
HELP SHAPE THE FASHION INDUSTRY. AND YOUR FUTURE. A focused education can help you launch a career where you express your love of style and knack for business. Talented instructors will guide your learning in our creative community. Move your future forward.
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FASHION & RETAIL MANAGEMENT Bachelor of Arts See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data,alumni success, and other important info. The Art Institute of Tampa is part of The Art Institutes, a system of over 50 schools throughout North America. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy University. The Art Institute of Tampa is a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design. Parkside at Tampa Bay Park, 4401 North Himes Avenue, Suite 150, Tampa, FL 33614-7086. Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 3110. ©2013 The Art Institutes International LLC. 080713
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