Blog Posts: May 2010
Tabi Tabi Po
A good friend of mine that helps run 1:AM Gallery in San Francisco is putting together an art exhibition benefiting the victims of the recent Typhoons. I wish I could go.
If you know anybody in that area please urge them to check out this special show.
1:AM gallery presents “Tabi Tabi Po,” a multidisciplinary group exhibition that explores the rich and colorful creatures of Filipino Folklore through Urban Contemporary art, featuring artists who are either Filipino or have Filipino ancestry. The Kapre, Manananggal, Dwende, Tikbalang, and Aswang are just a sampling of these haunting creatures that will be brought to life in this exhibit. This exhibit will explore the cultural significance of Filipino folklore- both myth and reality. It aims to explore the migration of native Filipino tradition, from its rural origins of the countrysides of the Philippines, to the urban cities of Metro Manila, and across the Pacific and Atlantic: the San Francisco Bay Area, the streets of Los Angeles, the Boroughs of New York, the beaches of Hawaii, and the mountains of Norway. Tabi Tabi Po will be a multi-media installation, incorporating sound, structures, murals, indigenous craftwork and, of course, original 2-d art.
A percentage of proceeds will be donated to relief efforts in the Philippines who have been affected by Typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma). Donations will be going directly to the communities that have been most impacted by the Typhoons. Proceeds will go to BAYAN Philippines and BALSA (Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan / “People’s Cooperation for the People”) Relief Operation.
Event Dates
VIP Reception: Nov 12 from 8-10pm
Opening Reception: Nov 13th from 7-10:30pm
Bindlestiff Puppet Show: Dec 5 from 5:30-8pm
Closing Reception: Dec 12th from 6-9pm
Address:
1000 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103
Website:
www.1AMSF.com
Stateside Artist Roster:
Angry Woebots (LA, HI), Stuter (LA), gaNyan (SF), Marikina (SF), Gem Mateo (SF), CeCe Carpio (NY), Pancho Abalos (HI), Mark Canto (LA), Miguel (Bounce) Perez (SF), Boohi (SEA), England Hidalgo (SF), Jerrel Conner (LA), Nic Cowan (LA), Andre Sibayan (SF), Ciriaco Sayoc II (SF), J2 (SF), Marc Aure (SF), Peabe (CHI,SF), Marlon Sagana Ingram (SF), Minette Lee Mangahas (NY), Erik Siador (SF,LA), Cat Chiu Phillips (SD), Isabel (Pepper) Roxas (NY), John Yoyogi Fortes (SF), Allison Torneros (LA), Mel Vera Cruz (SF), Simbulan (LA), Ray Haguisan (SF)
Philippine Artist Roster:
Analog Boy Agimat, Krayolaeater, Bru Sim, Mica Cabildo, Nico Puertollano, Katwo Puertollano, Jigger Cruz, Sam Ramos, Kim Baroma, Abi Dayacap, Luis Lorenzana, Jon Jaylo
Norway:
Jet Pascua
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Download the press release learn more about the event: Tabi Tabi Po Press Release
Also, read more about Filipino folklore in Mikee Tuason’s article ‘Hit or Myth’, in the October 2009 Issue of Rogue Magazine on stands now!
Iconic Photos
Get ready to spend a good chunk of your day perusing this site: Iconic Photos. An amazing collection of photos accompanied with notes for context. It’s a great lesson in world history as well.
Some of the good ones:
Winston Churchill by Yousef Karsh
“Karsh asked Churchill to remove the cigar in his mouth, but Churchill refused. Karsh walked up to Churchill supposedly to get a light level and casually pulled the signature cigar from the lips of Churchill and walked back toward his camera.”
Read more
“The Falling Man” by Richard Drew
““The Falling Man” is a photograph taken by Richard Drew at 9:41:15 a.m., on September 11, 2001 of a man falling from the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in New York City. The man in the photograph remains unknown”.
Read more
“In 1917, Elsie Wright, 16, and her cousin Frances Griffith, 10, borrowed a camera belonging to Elsie’s father and took two pictures of what the girls claimed were fairies in Cottingley Beck, England”.
Read more
“In April 1957, Hollywood was hosting a dinner party for the Italian actress, Sophia Loren at the Romanoff’s. Mansfield’s bosom again became the feature of a notorious publicity stunt intended to deflect attention from the Italian star”.
Read more
“The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville” by Robert Doisneau
“Although Doisneau worked in Paris as a street photographer and stole many an intimate moment of Parisian couples, this classic shot was staged. However, this fact didn’t prevent the picture from gracing the walls of many freshman dorm rooms since its first production in 1986. More than 500,000 posters and 400,000 postcards have been reprinted from the original”.
Read more
“Child with a toyhand grenade in Central Park, NYC.” by Diane Arbus
“The boy in question was Colin Wood, the son of tennis player Sidney Wood, who was caught “in a moment of exasperation”, his hands claw-like, his face maniacal. Arbus captured this photograph by having the boy stand while moving around him, claiming she was trying to find the right angle. The boy became impatient and told her to “Take the picture already!”
Read more
The Death of Omayra Sánchez by Frank Fournier
“Fournier himself won the World Press Photo prize in 1986 for this portrait–which reflected his own feeling of powerlessness. Omayra’s agonizing demise, surrounded by journalists and photographers, was followed live on television all over the world, and started a major controversy: in such a situation, wouldn’t it have been better to offer help rather than to take pictures? Is it possible to show the suffering of others without violating their right to have their privacy respected? For the photographers, it is of the utmost importance that the public be informed.”
Read more
Behind the Scenes: Ornusa Cadness
The day of the shoot couldn’t have been more ominous. For one thing it was the day after former President Aquino’s burial and people were either emotionally weary or reeling in from hours upon hours of traffic due to the long procession from Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial. Secondly, there was a typhoon lingering over Manila and areas and provinces to the north of the capital. But despite this the persistent (read: somewhat stubborn) Rogue team decided to push through with our scheduled shoot at Corregidor Island. Never mind the passive pleas of make-up artist Ines Lobregat and the innocent texts “are we pushing through tomorrow” from cover girl Ornusa Cadness, we were determined to brave the supposed roof high waves crashing on Manila Bay’s Roxas Blvd. In the end, our failed trip to Corregidor was due to the fact that everyone (except the ever punctual Mark Nicdao and company) reached the ferry terminal late and thus missed the only boat for the historic island. Bummer indeed. But since we were all there and had nothing better to do for the day (for me at least0 we deicded to take an impromptu road trip to Subic that very second. So from the CCP complex we journeyed all the way to Subic in the province of Olongapo which proved to be a much better, if not completely insane, plan of action.
The long trip towards this former American base and free port was long and exhausting, but in between the stops of convenience stores, long stretches of highway, and seemingly endless tollbooths (goodness, how many people are making money from these roads?) I got the chance to talk with Ornusa and get to know the woman I was going to dress/undress.
I love the fall campaign of Chanel, shot by the house’s Creative Direcor Karl Lagerfeld, which was one image I kept in mind during the planning process.
We really wanted a dark and brooding shoot, mystical and bewitching but still elegant and beautiful. It was our intention to produce a cover editorial that matched the mystical/Halloween theme of the October issue but also different from the stark and predominantly whites of our September issue’s Solenn Heussaff’s cover shoot.
Oh and I love a girl with short hair. Linda Evangelista was a working peg for me, she’s one chick who can definitely carry a cropped do and look hotter than hell.
It was pouring throughout the shoot, but the gloomy atmosphere and the colors produced by the gray skies and subdued sunlight totally worked to our advantage.
Always the trooper, Ornusa lays on wet pavement for our top view spread.
Impromptu touch ups from Ines.
A group shot for the road!
The team was supposed to stay an extra night and head over to Zambales the following morning, but we decided we had gotten all the shots we needed. The next morning, Zambales was devastated by flash floods. Luck be a lady, one named Ornusa.
Ornusa was the perfect girl for this shoot and our spontaneous adventure. She’s chill, funny and goofy, unassuming, and perfectly professional. I didn’t matter that we were dragging her ass all the way to Subic in the pouring rain, Ornusa knew she was a part of the team and we all set to make a stunning photo shoot.
Be sure to pick up a copy of Rogue’s October issue for Ornusa’s beautiful shots and her revealing write-up in The Story of O by James Gabrillo.
Classic Comebacks
Classic Comebacks
I’m always up for a good revival. It is my firm belief that there really isn’t anything out there that the world hasn’t already seen or an idea that hasn’t already been thought of, and the concept of recycling and reviving isn’t more evident than in the world of fashion.
If it isn’t the 80s that are coming back, then it’s the 90s, if it’s not the 90s then it’s the 50s. We’re constantly looking back in order to sprint forward.
The idea of recycling is more relevant than ever. With the global downturn more and more people have begun to rethink their wardrobe, giving new life to their exisiting pieces. There is a great emphasis on creativity as opposed to hopping to the nearest mall and buying the latest thing off the rack.
But while not everyone may have an extensive archive…er…wardrobe, fashion brands are beginning to realize that in a world that has grown sick of “it” things and “must haves,” their heritage and archive pieces are what stands out the most.
Here are some things that I’ve come across that have gotten me really excited (style-wise…)!
COLE ROOD & HAAN CO. Yes folks, it’s Cole Haan. The quintessential all American leather brand has gone back to its roots and presents this exquisitely rugged and authentic capsule collection of classic masculine styles. Their beat up, rugged, and absolutely the perfect look for the guy who can’t relate to Prada’s spiked shoes or Dolce&Gabbana’s pointy silhouettes.
Some standout styles:
“Daddy”
“Boot Leg”
“Fly Boy”
“Messenger Bag”
“Trafton Cole, William Rood & Eddie Haan were craftsmen of fine shoes in 1920s Chicago who took a chance by starting their own company. As a tribute to their timeless vision and entrepreneurial spirit, we re-introduce Cole, Rood & Haan—a new line of handmade shoes inspired by vintage designs.”
GANT If you have more Ralph Laurens in your closet than you’d care to admit, then maybe it’s time to switch things up a bit and explore other “Americana” brands. Gant celebrates its 60th anniversary this year with six limited-edition shirts inspired by its archive designs.
The look is woodsman-sy and may at first glance seem better fit for a lumberjack or Paul Bunyan, but the designs and styles are made current with slight reworking for a more contemporary look and fit. I’m really liking the chambray pullover (inspired by a forties Gant design) and the check shirts–pieces that can easily be worn with your favorite jeans or worked with a pair of tailored slacks.
FLORSHEIM Let’s face it, Florsheim isn’t necessarily the first brand you think of when you want hip footwear. It’s the kind of place you go to when you want a pair of sturdy, traditional, no-frills kind of shoes—from basic lace-ups to proper slip on loafers. But the collaboration between this over a century old company (founded in 1892 in Chicago, Illinois by Milton Florsheim) and the avant-garde label Duckie Brown (founders Steven Cox and Daniel Silver are better known for their pink curduroy suits and patent leather ensembles than their classic American aesthetic), has defiitely raised some eye-brows in the industry.
Not quite the traditional Florsheim customer.
The story of this unlikely marriage began with the plea of an 18 year old who wrote the Duckie Brown duo asking for a proper suit for prom. The designers were happy to help the stylish teen and suggested he pair the suit with a pair of Florsheims. As luck would have it the folks over at the shoe company read about this incident in an article and were in fact searching for a design collaboration in the thread of Thom Brown for Brooks Brothers. The end result is a small yet substantial collection of Florsheim classics with a pinch of “runway.”
I’m really liking the two-tone wingtips (taupe and orange? Genius!), colorful brogues, and the brogue lace-up boots. Also worth mentioning are the star-spangled “Patriot Boots.” Not exactly the most subtle piece, but definitely a standout style.
Available at Barneys New York and Odin
