1
Copyright Š 2011 by the artists published and A Story Unravels | Ashley Noel Hennefer All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions. Your support of the artists’ rights is appreciated. A Story Unravels/Desert Underground Publishing Ashley Noel Hennefer Wildflower Magazine | March 2011
2
march 2011 table of contents
page
4 - editor notes
international women’s day - page page
6
8 - featured artist: audrey clark 12
dreamland: poems by ashley dodge - page
14 - we stand with planned parenthood in full bloom: photographs by sarah hall - page 16 page 20 - women warriors: an essay good reads for gothic girls - page 24 page 26 - celebrating spring members&updates - page 28 page
3
freedom • war • history beauty • strength • dreams integrity. Through popular culture we can see a resurgence of women warriors - and how that still poses a threat to so many.
This is an issue about struggle. As women, we face a multitude of obstacles in our lives. How we choose to overcome those obstacles is what makes us unique and special. From embracing the spring to holding on to the bleakness of the winter; from finding beauty in unexpected places to expressing the stuff of our dreams; from pushing our bodies to their limits or fighting threats to limit our bodies, we all share a battle.
Featured Artist Audrey Clark’s photographs reveal the lost history of overlooked locations. Women around the world come together to stand up for equality and access to necessary resources. Ashley Dodge’s poems unravel a dreamscape where the pain and joy meet and transform into reality. I hope you will take these thoughts and reflect on your own struggles and triumphs, and may we have a greater appreciation for the many battles we each face.
March was Women’s History Month, and we have honored the women who pioneered the path for us by expressing ourselves with honesty and
Happy reading, Ashley Hennefer, editor 4
5
nevada honors
international women’s day
Women around Northern Nevada gathered on March 8, 2011 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. There was a raffle, a three course meal, performances and guest speakers. The night also featured women students from local Nevada colleges and unversities, and highlighted their struggles and their accomplishments. Colors of green, gold and purple - the official International Women’s Day color - were prevelant in celebration of the anniversary and Mardi Gras. Men and women were in attendance. The proceeds from the night go toward next year’s scholarships for Nevada women. Visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/ to see images and stories of celebrations around the world. 6
Above, teachers from the Washoe County School District pay an homage to music from the past. Below, women around the world gathered to honor women who have fought for equality.
7
magic in the
mundane Cover Artist Audrey Clark finds art in the unseen, uncovered and unconventional
8
Model: Terri Seamann
new found love I started doing photography for a career a little over a year ago. I have always loved being the one behind the camera since I had taken Photography in my junior year at DHS. eye of the beholder I find Inspiration in the history of things and places, I see an old building and I see it as it was when it was in it's prime, the people and the way it lived and that's what I try to bring back. artsy and craftsy I have dabbled in painting, I do some writing and I am an avid scrapbook and card maker. urban inspiration I like the urban decay type pictures, nature pictures and I am starting to work with actual portraits and really loving it, I am looking to start a social issue portfolio in the next months. Check out more of Audrey’s art at Etsy.com under LOPPhotography and Facebook page, Life On Paper Photography. Contact her at Lifeonpaperphotography@gmail.com. 9
10
11
Model: Trevor Clark
dreamland poems by Ashley Dodge
Fitting
Last night I dreamed of Ireland even though I've never seen it and of the ocean mists— so different than the West Coast but I walked the streets of San Francisco and still felt lost. I dressed in summer to fit the season— sundresses, blonde hair, sunscreen but I hate the sun and the heat makes me sick I walked the shore of a Southern California beach and wish it would rain. But in the frost of deep winter when all the trees have died and I feel alive from the grey— heavy clouds hanging low on the horizon walking along the river's edge, watching children building snowmen in a valley of trees, under a blanket of white I put my headphones on-- shake the snow out of my hair, sit down on a bench and wait for the moment to come when I'll hear your voice, whispers on falling snow. 12
Sleep Deprived Midnight crept in but three a.m. ran, Before I knew it the sun was rising and I fell out of Wonderland. Fell out? you ask as if you think it's down below But see, in Dreamland Wonderland is high, high above. I document these thoughts in journals, pages bought from the local giant bookstore and read them aloud to friends who think I am crazy and need to stop taking the melatonin. But I tell them, no, my mind never stops and the melatonin shuts it off even if the side effects are bad dreams. And because, in the daytime, I see white rabbits out of the corners of my eyes— and fairies ducking underneath the doorway when I walk in with a handful of groceries, small glimmers of light and movement on white walls and strange shadows dancing in the light of my vanity. These are why I need a break by the time night falls. 13
we stand with
planned parenthood Students at the University of Nevada, Reno gathered to speak up about the proposed funding ban for Planned Parenthood
14
March 2nd, 2011 was a busy day for the students at the University of Nevada, Reno. Between the onset of midterms, a large rally to protect the university from budget cuts, and the threat of a ban to finance Planned Parenthood (a service that many students use frequently), it seemed nearly impossible for students to prioritize. Despite this, many students took the time out of their day to attend a Speaking Up session in support of Planned Parenthood.
Over 20 students turned up to write letters, send emails and text messages, and make phone calls to the Nevada representatives, including Dean Heller and Harry Reid. The rally was covered by the Reno News and Review, who wrote a column about the efforts of male and female students alike. Many of the students shared their experiences with Planned Parenthood, from HIV testing, birth control options, and abortion counseling. All the students agreed on one thing - whether a person is pro-choice or not, it should be the obligation of a society to provide family planning services to ensure a healthier population. On April 8th, the budget will be voted on once again by the U.S. legislation. Find out how you can rally in support of Planned Parenthood at plannedparenthood.org. 15
in full bloom photographs by Sarah Hall
16
17
18
19
women warriors a new wave of film heroes is on the verge. no longer just pretty faces or supporting characters, classic female archetypes are holding their own in combat, wit and strength. so why is the public so threatened? an essay by ashley noel hennefer
20
Left, Alice in armor; right, Baby Doll of Sucker Punch. Photos courtesy of Disney and Warner Brothers.
You have all the weapons you need. Now fight.[Sucker Punch]
I
as my interest in girl-oriented, hybrid genre art increased, the films representing these ideas seemed to cease to exist. As college began, my interest in films waned dramatically. A newfound love of video games provided enough cinematic entertainment and a diverse approach to female identity represented in dynamic multimedia. While I still watched movies, rarely would I seek them out the same way I voraciously devoured new literature, games and music. When I found out Tim Burton, one of my favorite filmmakers of all
used to go to the movies every weekend in high school. My best friend and I would pay for one ticket, and spend the rest of the day sneaking from film to film. For a few years I saw almost every new release, and considered myself a bona fide film geek. There were movies I found myself gravitating toward more than others. As my taste in literature became more refined and feminism became a larger part of my identity, I often sought art with strong female characters and hints of surrealism. However, 21
time, was recreating Alice in Wonderland, I felt my love for film rejuvenated. Not only is Alice a story close to my heart, but I appreciate the respect and strength Burton implements in his female characters. I followed the film’s progress, and remember when an image of Alice in her armor was released. That’s when I knew this would not be just any interpretation of a classic tale. The movie did not disappoint, and the final scene of Alice embarking on a journey of her own doing remains an image that will never leave me. When I first saw the trailer for the wild, dirty action film Sucker Punch, complete with a predominately female cast adorned in some epic sets of armor, I knew that my dreams were finally coming to life on screen. Like Alice, Sucker Punch lived up to all of my expectations. I connected with each of the main female characters, felt my heart race with theirs as they dueled dragons and bombs, felt the pain in my chest as they were injured. I envied their braveness, their skill and most of all, their friendships. While I found these movies full of meaning, the overall consensus for these movies was very negative. Critics and viewers alike said both films were silly interpretations of imagination gone haywire. Many brushed off stories with depth because the visual style alienated the audience. They called the movies an adolescent display of girl power, ignoring entirely a portion of the population who is
capable of seeing the metaphors and symbolism so strongly represented in both films. I believe that men and women alike still do not take heroines seriously. I can’t fathom how one can brush off Alice and Sucker Punch so easily, as if they are stories without heart, without beauty, without truth. The themes of freedom, of intellect, of being in control of one’s destiny have too often been meant for boys only. As the new generation of women emerges into adulthood, how can we stifle this art? I truly believe a subconscious mindset of privilege prevents many from viewing these films from any other perspective from their own. Of course one would brush Sucker Punch off as stylistic silliness – how could a story about girls in an insane asylum, dueling with machine guns and katanas in garters and school girl outfits, possibly have meaning beyond serving as a visual spectacle intended to entice and entertain? However, this precisely proves the point of the films that girls, even in the midst of a life or death battle, are underestimated champions viewed only as surface level creatures. Both Alice and Sucker Punch embody females who do not necessarily have to become men to become soldiers and win their wars. A woman can be feminine and still be a fighter. She can choose to express her vulnerability or her sexuality and still be skilled with a sword or a gun. We need to give women in action roles a chance to exemplify warrior 22
traits in the ways that they see fit. Not all battles will be fought the same. I will continue to find inspiration in these female characters. I know firsthand how wearing a skirt reduces other’s opinion of you to the most powerless girl. When I rally as a feminist in a dress, I’m judged by both my peers and my enemies. The strength of feminism is in the many choices we have to determine how we want to represent ourselves in our fight for equality. We can find a power in our femininity. I know how fast I can run when my legs are free from the shackles of jeans, how high I can lift my boot-laden legs covered only in the fabric of a skirt to jump, to kick. Don’t tempt me.
photos by Warner Brothers and Disney
23
good reads for
Classic Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontĂŤ Dracula by Bram Stoker The Collected Works of Edgar Allen Poe
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Fantasy The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice Necronomicon by H.P. Lovecraft The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray Tithe by Holly Black Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare 24
gothic girls In the midst of the spring sunshine, flowers and warm rainstorms, some of us still seek the cold, the dark, the woeful. Here’s a reading list to whisk you away to the moors of England, a silent cemetary or the depths of dungeons until the harvest returns...
Modern Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman The Hanged Man by Francesca Lia Block Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Romantic The China Garden by Liz Berry Evermore by Alyson Noel Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr Divine by Choice by P.C. Cast 25
how to celebrate the
spring
• turn your awesome winter scarves into tops and skirts • go for a hike in Lake Tahoe • clean out the dust from your computer • go on a photo adventure • bake cupcakes for your colleagues/ classmates/friends • volunteer to help clean up a local park • get some cool patio furniture from a thrift store and throw a party • read “spring and all” by william carlos williams what did you do to celebrate the equinox? send in your pictures, poems or other spring art to wildflower.magazine@gmail.com 26
27
Wildflower
members Kelley Hodges - Wild Member “Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.� Anna Belle Monti - Rebel Member Allison Young - Rebel Member Rachel Casiano - Rebel Member
Wildflower is seeking columnists for the website! You have the freedom to write about anything - family, sex, fashion, video games, D.I.Y. Compensation is based on experience and frequency of articles. Submit your pitch to wildflower.magazine@gmail.com today!
wildflowermagazine.com New look. New content. New features. New look. New content. New features.
wildflowermagazine.com 28
29