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In the Medium of Play-DohBy Amy Joyce QuailBellMagazine.com At the age of 25, I’m starting to wonder when I’ll begin to consider myself a full-fledged adult. I have my own health insurance, a 401k from a previous employer (that counts, right?), and I do my own weekly grocery shopping. On paper, this makes me appear as what could be considered a useful member of society, but even so, I avoid labeling myself a “grown-up.” That’s reserved for people at least 10 years older than me, no matter how old I get. But while I might not claim the label, some of my current habits certainly do it for me. For example: the best time to go to the grocery store, I’ve found, is late on Saturday evening, a routine I adopted when my partner was often working late nights at a restaurant and I was left to my own devices. After, say, 8 p.m. on a weekend night, the grocery store is never crowded, which is one my bigger pet peeves, and I can feel free of judgment when stocking up on Ukrop’s rainbow cookies. Really, though, the fact of the matter is I like doing things by myself, and I may as well take care of chores when I have the chance. During one of these solitary trips, I was wandering up and down the aisles, and had satiated myself with three bags of broccoli instead of a pint of ice cream, but not for any reason that could be construed as “healthy”: I’ve simply been unsuccessful in locating the peach cobbler flavor of Ben and Jerry’s, and I refuse to settle. One thing about certain grocery stores is that there’s always some sort of knick-knack dispersed throughout the aisles, whether they’re fake moustaches or bags of tiny plastic dinosaurs. It just so happened to be containers of Play-Doh among the frozen foods, which also serves, inexplicably, as the greeting card aisle. I pushed my cart by the box, the bright colors of the lids all a jumble against the plain white cardboard into which they were all nestled. Perhaps because this past winter has seemed exceptionally brutal (by Southern standards, anyway), the Play-Doh threw into sharp relief some of my earlier memories from childhood: Play-Doh wholly reminds me of the spring time. Whether I recall sitting on a plastic Playskool picnic table outside in my family’s backyard, mashing out shapes and squeezing the colorful lumps in my toddler hands; or on the floor of the kitchen with the back door open, a breeze blowing through, and me perched on the splat mat reserved especially for indoor artistic endeavors. While my creations weren’t exclusively in the medium of Play-Doh (I had a decently sized collection of watercolor palettes), the bulk of my output did consist largely of Play-Doh flowers that had been shaped from old cookie cutters my mother had set aside specifically for this purpose. I paused, contemplating buying one or two of the little tubs. I wanted to snap the plastic lid off and inhale that distinct salty scent that only Play-Doh has, pop the little squared-off ball into my hands, and roll the stuff absently in between my fingers. A flower, even a crudely-shaped one, might not come out of it, but it’s close enough to spring to count, and I’m not enough of an adult to say no. Generally found at home with her nose in a book, Amy Joyce someday hopes to move to beautiful Savannah, Georgia and have a kitty cat of her very own. Sometimes she ventures out into the wide world to partake in pan-Asian cuisine and a game of trivia at a bar. But in the wise words of Tom Waits, "I might go out and have an educational and entertaining evening, but I don't have fun." #Playskool #PlayDoh #FirstThingIEverMade What's the first thing you remember making? A mud pie? A Barbie doll dress? A comic? Send us your essay about this memory and any relevant details. Please include a brief bio. Due April 30th!
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Being the Dual Authority and Breezy Fun ReadBy Jennifer Rohrbaugh Nesossis QuailBellMagazine.com I am 34 years old and I am currently the programs officer at the Virginia Historical Society. I graduated from the University of Virginia in 2002, where I double majored in Anthropology and Archaeology and minored in Biochemistry. I received my MA in Art History with a concentration in Museum Studies in 2007 from Virginia Commonwealth University. While I was attending VCU, I began working at the VHS as a work-study student in the education department. In 2005, I was hired as a full-time outreach educator and traveled across Virginia taking history programs into classroom, libraries, community and retirement centers. In other words, I was a traveling history teacher. In 2011, I transferred to the publications department. Today I also spend time working with the web and digital resources department on video and podcast projects, our recent website redesign and managing the VHS Facebook page. In 2007, a former colleague and I created the VHS MySpace page and brought the VHS into the world of social media. Since then, I have been involved in social media at the VHS. When writing for the VHS Facebook page, I keep in mind that the page is a representation of the VHS as an organization. Some of our Facebook followers will never be able to visit our physical building and our digital platforms may be their only connection to the society. I know that people see hundreds of posts in their Facebook feed so I try to keep my posts short and include images and links whenever appropriate. Since people see the VHS as an authority on Virginia history, I want to be educational and informative. I try to not be too formal and I aim to have a casual, personable, and at times humorous voice. While working on the VHS website redesign, many of our stakeholders and visitors kept mentioning how much they value the work that the the VHS staff. With this in mind, I highlighted the VHS staff a holiday cover photo. I am in the early stages of planning a Meet the Staff series of posts that will highlight participating staff. I really like the idea of highlighting VHS staff to our Facebook followers because it puts a face with a name and will help show off the great work and projects that staff work on behind the scenes. Since not all of our followers are able to visit us in person, I like to show what is going on around our campus. I really enjoy creating new graphics for our page. One of my favorite cover photo graphics was for Black History Month where I listed the names of famous African Americans from Virginia in the background. I received a lot of compliments about this graphic because it was able to inform our audience about events taking place at the VHS, but was also educational at the same time. I think everyone enjoys learning and reading about random factoids. I am always looking for Virginia history related facts that I can include in our "On This Day" series. I spend a lot of time at night and on the weekends following current events and reading about social media trends, so sometimes I will come up for an idea to post about from something that I heard on the radio, saw in the news or is a trendy topic at the moment. I like to inform our Facebook followers about events taking place at the VHS or history related events and programs that might interest them. I also use the VHS collection as inspiration for posts and will highlight relevant items from the collection (for instance, a post about Valentine's Day cards in the VHS Collection in early February or asking who everyones favorite woman in Virginia history is and highlighting those women). If you're managing a Facebook page for a major cultural institution, have fun! I always look forward to spending time creating posts, designing graphics, and helping answer questions from our Facebook followers. Always be on the lookout for great content and how you can use current events in your posts. Have a social media plan and comment policy. Continue to review these. Social media does not only happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and requires working outside of these normal business hours. Managing social media for a major cultural institution requires a lot of commitment and investment to make it succeed. Keep track of your analytics. Your analytics will help you learn about your audience and track your performance to show you what type of post is working and what is not working. Set social media goals. Some social media goals could be trying to post X number of posts per day or trying to drive more traffic to your website. #Interview #Facebook #VirginiaHistoricalSociety #History #SocialMedia
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Quail Bell(e)s All Atwitter!Hey there readers! Did you know that we're not only active here on QuailBellMagazine.com, but also on Twitter? (And Facebook, duh.) For those of you who don't stalk our About blog, you may not be aware that we have recently warmed up to the Twitterverse. Follow us @QuailBellMag. Our editor, Christine Stoddard, is also tweeting away @CStoddard. Here are several screenshots of folks showing us hearts and hugs on Twitter—and there are waaay more! C'mon, check 'em: #Twitter #SocialMedia #Tweets #FollowUs #ShamelessPromotion
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When Little Things Are a Big DealI was asked weeks ago to write a piece for Quail Bell about my journey to becoming a published author, but I wasn’t sure how to begin. I considered coming up with a catchy hook which would liken the publication process to something which is not the publication process, but that could be trying too hard and I didn’t actually think of a decent comparison. Best to keep it simple, so I’ll start at the start. Not the absolute beginning, because almost everything in my life could have had some role in leading to me writing Missing Parts, but when I actually started writing it: It was around midnight on November 1st, 2010. I only remember the date because it was the first day of NaNoWriMo, the annual event prompting many to attempt writing a full novel over a thirty day period. The previous year, I started writing a bunch of nonsense at the beginning of November, and turned that into several thousand words of unfinished novel, so I figured I’d try again. I wrote about 200 words, went to sleep, and when I woke up I decided I wrote a bunch of nonsense which I couldn’t do anything with, and I hardly looked at it again for another month. During that month, I got my creative juices flowing by doing some other writing, and then I revisited my couple of pages about this guy suffering from a home full of a stinky cheese and bizarre car problems, and thought about it until I came up with logical reasons why the things which happened on the page could happen in a coherent story. Once I made those discoveries about the world I’d been creating, writing became a lot easier. I was also going through an especially tough time in my life, and wanted to prove to myself and others that I could do at least something right, which provided the additional motivation to write the story like it was my job, which I feel is the only way to properly complete any substantial work of fiction. Even if you have a job already, writing should be treated like it is also your job. And I wasn’t working at the time, so I was able to devote almost all my mental energy to writing this book. A few months later, I thought I was finished. If my book was a traditional-length story, I would have shopped it around to traditional publishers and hoped one would give me a chance. But at barely over twenty-five thousand words, I didn’t know what to do except self-publish. That went poorly. I sold maybe a couple of copies and had terrible formatting issues, so I gave up on it for about a year. The only reason it ever saw any life is I knew the founders of Curiosity Quills Press from a previous project, and sent them a query which led to a publication contract, but they told me upfront that a lot of editing would have to be done. A lot of editing had to be done. This was my first time exposing my fiction to professional, highly critical editors, and apart from grammatical mistakes I’d missed, there were passages that needed to be axed, others that needed fixing, and major holes in the story which sometimes required several new pages just to fill in the blanks. By the time I finished the first two rounds of major editing, which may have taken more time and effort than the original writing, the story got about seven thousand words longer in spite of thousands of words being deleted. But it also got a lot better. It was almost ready. And there's till a lot to be done. At my own insistence, the book went through two rounds of proofreading, and the blurb and author bio and acknowledgments also needed taking care of. And the cover. They may seem like little things, but when it’s my book being published, everything is a big deal. And with the help of the Curiosity Quills staff, as well as fellow authors willing to offer blurb help, it all finally got done. I’m not finished, of course. There’s still marketing to do, and more books to write, but at least now I know I published a book once, and I can do it again. #CreativeWriting #PublishingBusiness #Kindle #SmallPress #AuthorSpeaks
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Making Excuses to Watch Something ElseLights, camera...criticism! This post's guest, Paul Anderson, is half of the UK duo behind Strangers in a Cinema, a film blog started in 2012, and one we Quail Bell(e)s rather fancy. (His partner in crime is fellow ex-film student, Pete Wall. Learn more about the pair—the self-proclaimed 'strangers' here.) Ever interested in le cinema and why other bloggers blog, I shot him a few questions over Facebook. Here are my Q's and his A's in this trans-Atlantic interview: What would you say is the main difference between an average person and a cinephile? The main difference from my perspective is the a cinephile will watch films out of interest rather than necessarily purely for enjoyment. I think a cinephile would be open to films of any genre and be fully willing to embrace both mainstream and more artistic films, both have their strengths and weaknesses and should be embraced as such. How do you decide whether or not to watch a movie? And how do you decide if you're going to review one? Well, when you are trying a grow a website you don't really want to turn work away! On a more serious note, we don't have a criteria for reviewing films. We pride ourselves on reviewing anything and everything that comes into our inbox. In fact, the response has been so encouraging that we rarely have to go out a look for films as there is stuff coming in every week. Ideally with a bigger team we could cover more but that's just how it is for the moment. With movies more readily available than ever, do you think people should be more or less judicious about what they watch? A very interesting question and one that is quite difficult to answer. With Netflix especially the choice of films is vast and that is a double edged sword. For example I received Act of Killing as a Christmas present and have only finally watched it last weekend. Every time I considered watching it, I knew it would be challenging and made excuses to watch something else...to most people that wouldn't be an issue but countless DC animated movies (whilst entertaining) aren't exactly expanding my filmic horizons! I guess it's a very personal thing... What movies are you crazy about this year? The Raid 2: Berandal is very high on my list. The original film was a near flawless example of frenetic action cinema that raised the bar to a very high level. It's also great when the original director returns for a sequel and tries to take things to even great heights. Interstellar is another one I can't wait for....Christopher Nolan in space, nothing more really needs to be said! Oh, and I am very excited to finally see Eli Roth's The Green Inferno as it should be prove to good old fashion OTT gory fun! How do you see your site growing and changing this year? Well, that it is the big question. The site has done better than we ever anticipated when we set it up back in 2012. We are in the midst of giving out awards for the first time and people seem to like that so far. Recruiting a larger consistent team of writers is key to building the site and getting the name more recognition. I've been privileged to sit on the panel of some short film festivals and would love to do a larger number of events. I feel what we do is important not only because we get to see some fantastic films that don't often get a wide release but also to give up and coming filmmakers a place where they get an impartial take on their work, and also let them talk about their films if they so desire. The short answer to your question is to put in a lot of hard work and engage with more and more filmmakers as the year goes on. #Interview #Film #StrangersInACinema #Cinephile #Movies #UK #FilmReviews
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The Place with the Colorful ColumnsBy Quail Bell Camera Eye QuailBellMagazine.com A snapshot of a new Quail Bell Crew favorite: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, lovingly known as 'CHAW,' in Washington, D.C.'s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. They make stuff and inspire community members to try their hand at developing their creativity and technique, too. Quail applause, please. CHAW.org #CommunityArt #Creativity #CommunityEngagement #ArtWorkshops
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The Reader's Manifesto I read to escape. I read so that someone else’s pain entertains me, so that I feel small in comparison, so that my grandeur’s pride is tainted. I read to escape myself, the gray colors of the sky, the sound of the rebuking chimes carving their way through the silence I hold in my hands, fastened by the images the words are creating, fixed in front of my eyes so I see nothing else. I read because I am as afraid as much as the characters are. I read because I am cynical. I read because I see their big picture while they are immersed in the details. I read because I can afford ridiculing them. I read because they grow under my watch, regardless of my warnings. I read because their presence widens my bed, and opens to new scopes my morning, because with them my nights are never again lonely. I read because I have to check on my friends. I read because I need a new shadow. I read because I am losing my voice. I read because there is a new definition of patience, of virtue. I read because I celebrate myself, because I love all the characters and despise them all the same, because they say what I cannot, what I had not, what escaped me while I was escaping something else. I despise them for robbing me the sanctity of the emotions I thought belonged to me alone. I hate them for sharing my pain, for using the same analogies, for using better analogies, for facing their demons, for being their own demons; I hate them all for being my demons. I read because I have envy and it flourishes my curiosity, because their names have stood the test of time, reputation and dust, but mine is forgotten before it is kissed by the dust. I read because I envy their silence between the lines, their short pauses that aren’t denied recognition, their words that stretch themselves in my imagination, occupying some of my memories, making them changed. I read because the train awaits me, because the airplane missed its departure time, because the cab is never noisy enough to make me open my book. I read because the fixed grin of the model on the magazine does not promise me paradise, because all the sex tips Cosmo has for me do not compare to the longing of the words that were separated by a comma. I read because I have to, because I have no choice: not even a choice of what book to read. I read because it haunts me and I haunt it. I read because it is my tranquility and it is my cure. I read to breathe and to see my breath perspire beyond the now; I read because I long to the times when there was no I and for the times when there will be none, no more. I read because reading resembles me, signifies me, elevates me, shatters me, knocks me down, makes me lose it, creeps into my dreams, into my words, into my bath, into the first conscious moment after my awakening, because it bumps me up, because it is saddening yet enervating; it is deadening yet I live more lives, I live everybody’s lives, I live through them, for them, against the blankness of their future, beyond the final scenes of the book. I read because I have to grow, because books are my wings, because my imagination is more important than my knowledge. I read to tease my ignorance, to retrace what I knew, to bathe in a new light what I thought unchanged. I read because I am greedy and books are a rabbit’s hole to Never Never land. I read because I have my legs dug in the soil but my head in the clouds. I read because it is my duty. I read because I have no time, because I gain time, because reading buys me time. I read to forget, and half way through I change my mind, I read to change my mind and reach a new conclusion. I read because I learn nothing. I read because I do not care that much; because I care too much. I read to laugh, to allow myself the indulgence of speaking loudly to the habitats of the other realms, I salute them in my mornings and bury them down my unconsciousness, they wake me up in my dreams and tell me again what I have failed to see in their distraction. I read because books do not judge people, because they are true to their word. I read because I like lies, sophisticated intentional lies with an aim. I read because music is not enough. I read because I like the sound of the waves when they carry the heroin back to shore, when they wreck a ship and continue their ritual dance. I read because I can smell a blue flower in winter, because the sun burns my face at night, because I like being annoyed by the chattering noise of a party in a book, because I sneak to people’s minds, hearts and bedrooms. I read because I change perspective, because not enough men let me in their hearts. I read because I am lost, because I do not want to be found. I read because I celebrate triumphs, because I smile when the characters smile. I read because of the anguish of their tears. I read because they are free. I read because I am angry, because books are my vent; they are my therapist that talks instead. I read because I am boringly young. I read because I do not have to. I read because I cannot help it. I read because I can carry the world in my pocket, because I cannot stop wondering, I read because life is sterile. I read because one life time is not enough. Jessica Malo was the Fulbright teaching assistant for Florida State University's Arabic department at the Modern Languages and Linguistics from 2012-2013. She has two bachelors in English Literature and Radio-TV from the Lebanese University in Beirut. She has been working for ten years now in teaching, translating, reporting and writing. She has a published book under the title “Folie A Deux” and several poems and articles in major Lebanese newspapers, in addition to a blog. #Reading #Books #Literature #ArabicTeacher
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He Played Pooh Sticks in Forest Hill ParkI had a good phone voice, folks told me. You should try narrating audio books for children, more than one friend had said. Since high school, I had found myself cupping the receiver a few thousand times. Two stints on a magazine call center alone had given me enough phone time to rival an operator. And yet that Wednesday morning, my voice temporarily vanished. I stared at the computer screen and picked at the split ends in my curls. A website that probably hadn't been updated since 1998 stared back at me. It was the official online presence for a one-hit wonder 1950s doo-wop group. There was no email address anywhere, only an address with a P.O. box located in a Southern city I had never visited. It was a Southern city I probably never would visit—and I say this as a charitable Southerner. I had to figure out the home phone number for the band's only surviving member. If my time as a reporter has taught me anything, it's this: WhitePages.com tells you much more than it should. I typed the singer's name into White Pages and guessed that he might be living near that P.O. box. His name popped up. It appeared that more than one man by his name was living in the same city. No problem because White Pages always gives you approximate ages for each search result. I chose the only person, biologically and historically speaking, who could be him. Then I did what I was supposed to do two weeks ago: I dialed. My voice is on the softer, more feminine side. When I'm scared, it gets too high. When I'm terrified, it disappears. As soon as the man answered the phone, I recognized his voice. I paused so long that he might've hung up if I hadn't suddenly recovered and introduced myself. Too squeaky and too fast, I explained that I had recently produced a short film that would be shown at art galleries and submitted to festivals. My director wanted permission to use his band's hit song. On our shoestring budget, we could not offer a royalty unless the film won a cash prize at a festival. “Why I'm flattered,” the man said, his voice wavering a little. “It's nice to think that after all these years, that song still means something to somebody, especially at 9 a.m. on a weekday.” The song had recently played on a major television show, but we didn't discuss that. Despite his age and famosity, he said that he was pleased that we wanted the song, that of course we could use it, and that my call was “one for the archives.” I chuckled, relieved. I asked if he would sign a release form, but he told me it wasn't “necessary for something like this.” As my confidence swelled, so did my voice and it became deeper and richer than normal. I started to tell him about the project, but he seemed more interested in where I was based. He interrupted me out of excitement: “You know, my whole mother's family is from there, the south side, across the river. I remember that much. I lived there when I was really young.” Then he paused. “Are you familiar with the Winnie-the-Pooh stories?” “Yeah, Christopher Robin?” “Right. You know the game Pooh Sticks? I used to play it in the park there. That's where I learned it.” I laughed, enchanted by the thought of this elderly man as a five-year-old throwing sticks in the creek and watching them float downstream with another tiny child. A park I knew from college adventures had been his Hundred Acre Woods. After I reconfirmed that we had permission to use his song, I thanked him and hung up the phone. But Pooh Bear remained on my mind for the rest of the morning. #WinnieThePooh #ForestHillPark #ChildhoodMemories #Nostalgia
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Are Your Our Next Face? The Quail Bell Crew seeks models for its signature Photo Tales. Our models may come in any shape, color, or size, but they must possess self-confidence. All shoots are produced and photographed by women, so no worries about the male gaze. Contact us today and you might see yourself featured soon. #Modeling #Fashion #Looks #SpectrumOfBeauty
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Art in the Streets By Spencer Turner QuailBellMagazine.com The Virginia Center Latin American Art (VACLAA), a non-profit arts and culture education organization based in Richmond, Virginia is excited to announce its upcoming fundraising cross-cultural awareness event, The Great Busk, A celebration of street performance, which will take place in the RVA Artwalk on Broad Street from April 3rd to April 5th and include an exhibit of memorabilia from the Black History Museum and the Valentine Richmond History Center related to the life and times of dancer, entertainer business man and Richmond native, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, as well as a two-day busking competition. Busking is a term which references the spirited hustle of talent and charm that has generated income and notoriety for street musicians, dancers, magicians, acrobats and others throughout time. The Odyssey and the Illiad of Homer might well be two of the earliest examples of how this time honored tradition has influenced world culture. Musicians interested in participating in the competition need to register at Sound of Music Studios on April 22nd from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All registered musicians will be photographed by JLua Photography and receive a free promotional photo of themselves in digital format. Thursday, April 3rd, the event will kick off with a music dialogue at Candela Books hosted by WRIR DJ Carl Hamm which will run from 7 to 9. Beer and Wine sales will support VACLAA’s ImaginArte Education programs in Richmond Public Schools and Nueva Vida: a support network for Latin@s with cancer and their families local renowned international musicians Frederic Blasco, Marlysse Simmons, Rei Alvarez, Giustino Riccio, Barry Bless, Mikemetic, Nate Matthews and Jonathan Vasser will convene at Candela, which is currently hosting a photographic study of Appalachian musical culture by artist Lisa Elmelah, American Folk. The discussion, entitled, ‘Real Music, on the Real’, will explore how the deeply complex roots of folk music have informed their style. On Friday, April 4th and Saturday, April 5th from 5 to 10 p.m., upwards of 30 buskers from all over the area will convene on 401 W. Broad Street—the site of Moore’s Autobody Shop—to play fifteen minute sets on behalf of VACLAA. IFestival-goers can purchase Great Busk Greenbacks to reward performances they appreciate. Additionally, they can use Great Busk Greenbacks to make t-shirts with Studio Two Three, become part of Bill “Bojangles”Robinson and Shirley Temple’s historic moment on the silvers screen in a Happy the Artist drawn cut-out, or contribute to a larger-than-life cardboard puppet of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, himself, that will tower over the event and move through the crowd. La Milpa will be on hand with the most authentic Mexican tacos in town and Happy Empanada will be selling Panamanian delights. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Nature's InfluenceBy Raquel Lynne QuailBellMagazine.com Running has many advantages. Those who know me well know I use every opportunity to get to know those around me. One rainy run group day, I jogged alongside a man who upon learning about my love of fashion writing was more than excited to introduce me to a close friend of his, a designer and creator of couture headpieces. Later that afternoon, I had the pleasure of getting in contact with the beautiful Cuban-born, Miami-based designer Anilu Oms (pictured in the middle above). What follows is our conversation: When did you realize you wanted to become a designer? I have always leaned towards the arts and design. I studied graphic design, and have taken courses in architecture and interior design. When I was little in Cuba, I used to listen to classical music in my house and I used to go to the opera and the ballet with my mother. Moreover, my grandmother had great manual skills. She studied art at a well-known school. I remember playing at her house when I discovered a beautiful collection of hats from the '30s and '40s, which years later was the inspiration for my first job as a costume designer. When I graduated, my husband asked me to be the costume designer for the film he was directing. This experience opened doors [in the] television, film and theater [industries] for me. But my career as a milliner is another story. Tell me a bit about your work. My work is a manifestation of my background as a designer. My headpieces are eclectic and avant garde. I use many natural fibers, dried leaves, seeds, organza, plastic, crystal and feathers. Also, I include embroidery and twigs; I feel very connected with nature. Each piece is one of a kind, no two are alike. It is very emotional for me to create this and for the client, [each piece] is magical. Who would you really like to wear your designs? My client loves and appreciates art, knows that she looks good and [will attract] attention. My headpieces are sculptures. I create couture headpieces that [can] be used on your head and be displayed in a particular place in the house [for] everyone [to] admire. I design for every woman. Which items from your collection do you tailor for clients and why? All my headpieces are tailored to my clients. In the first meeting, I ask for their tastes, personality and I study the type of event. Fortunately, all my clients know what they want. How did you get here? This is the story of my career as a milliner: My daughter, the young designer Fabiola Arias, asked me to help her in a fashion show when she was still a student at Parsons, and I thought it would be good idea to create headpieces to complement the beautiful dresses, so I filled my bag with all sort of tools and materials and flew to New York. The result was fabulous. Since then I’ve made the headpieces for all her collections. Who would you say has influenced you the most? I am not influenced by people, but by nature, texture, colors, and shapes. I was born in Havana, Cuba, an island with bright sunlight and strong colors. The cinema magazines and the movies [from] Hollywood's Golden Age were part of my daily diet at home. All of that background influenced me. However, I love Philip Treacy. My style is completely different, but he is an inspiration to me. What are some of your accomplishments? My headpieces have been exhibited in Tokyo Fashion Week, World Expo Shanghai 2010, Fashion Houston and several seasons of New York Fashion week for Fabiola Arias’s collection. I collaborated with Gloria Estefan for the video "Hotel Nacional." Also, El Museo del Barrio (New York) auctioned two of my headpieces. But, my major accomplishment is the emotion I feel when I hear the reaction of the audience and the clicking of cameras in a fashion show. I still have a long way to go, but I'm enjoying all of this a lot. #Fashion #Hats #HeadPieces #UniqueDesigns
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Where Stories Come FromBy Laura Steadham Smith QuailBellMagazine.com I write because I might be the worst person I know. I write because azaleas bloom in spring. I write to remember what it felt like to run through the woods as a kid. I write to become someone else. I write because one of my favorite sounds is pride in my Dad’s voice. I write because other people are infinitely more interesting than I am. I write because I am too many different people to keep track of. I write because I over-think everything. I write because I’m a narcissist. I write because I hate myself. I write because I’m not good at talking. I write because counseling costs money and booze is bad for my liver. I write because I think that, maybe someday, I’ll figure things out. I write because I’m lonely. I write because Laura Ingalls Wilder. I write because I don’t want to admit I wish I had gone to med school. I write because I have to. I write because I’m too type A to function and need a place for my thoughts to go after I’ve organized all the dishes in matching pairs and made to-do lists of all the clutter inside my head. I write because sometimes music takes too much energy. I write because sometimes I want to. I write to say something beautiful. I write because I want other people to understand each other. I write because I don’t understand anyone. I write because knowing thyself seems like a good idea. I write because I think empathy is the most important virtue in the world. I write because I’m too selfish to be empathetic. I write because I like words—their rhythm, their melody, the way they fill a space with sound and light. I write because the world is connected. I write because people are all the same. I write because people make no sense and are totally different. I write because I want someone to listen to me. I write because I found myself in books. I write because I read so much as a kid that I have weak social skills and making friends is hard. I write because sometimes finding a quiet hillside to watch leaves fall and read about other people’s lives becomes lonely. I write because good people do terrible things. I write because I like making people laugh. I write because I cry when I see kindness and I’m not supposed to feel things that deeply. I write because I like drinking coffee and staring out the window. I write to prove to myself that I’m not lazy or spoiled. I write because I might not be lazy, but I’m definitely spoiled. I write because color and imagery glitter and I like shiny things. I write because magic. I write because my grandfather built his own house, and I want someone to remember. I write because my grandmother carried demons until she died and passed them on to her children. I write to exorcise them, and I hide my stories from my family. I write because my story is one of many. I write because sometimes red clay roads lead to warm fireplaces and fried catfish and happy dogs. I write because sometimes wraparound porches hide bodies. I write because everyone loves to hate rednecks. I write because I do, too, but I am ashamed when I meet people with dirt under their fingernails because I know I don’t work that hard. I write because I’m angry. I write because I’m hopeful. I write because I don’t know how to change my own oil or drive a four-wheeler—only how to hold onto the back without falling off. I write because I’m a glutton for punishment. I write because an ex-boyfriend told me writing made me brave. I write because I spend less time on Gchat these days. I write because I’m manipulative and hypocritical. I write because I’ve been doing it so long I think I have to. I write because I like telling stories. I write to play pretend as a grownup. I write because nothing about me feels very grown up—not my stack of self-obsessed journals or the receipts stuffed in my desk drawer or the scuffed shoes under my bed, the ones I used to wear to punk shows. I write because I’m crazy enough to believe I could tell you something about yourself. Laura Steadham Smith's work is forthcoming in Quarterly West and The Red Clay Review and has been awarded the Colby Kullman prize and an AWP Intro Journals prize in fiction. She was also recognized by the Southern Writers Symposium as a notable emerging writer. #Writing #Authorship #Literary #ArtistManifesto
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The Artful Noodle StandPeriod dramas are a genre of film that many directors go to when they want to use the past to highlight or analyze a political or social issue that rings true to this day. This can be from using the Salem Witch Trials to make a criticism of the Red Scare (The Crucible) or using a mutiny as a piece of propaganda twenty years after the event (Battleship Potemkin). By looking to the past, a film director and/or screenwriter can look at how little time has changed. This allows them to use nostalgia as a tool for discussion and reflection. The 2001 Hong Kong film In the Mood for Love (Fa yeung nin wa) is a film that, while set in the 1960s, brings to light how people look at relationships and the troubles that come from opening yourself up to another person. The film is about a man and a woman, Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs. Chan (Maggie Cheung), who each rent a room in an apartment with their spouses. The two of them deal with their spouses going on long business trips and working late. However, the two realize their spouses must be having an affair. The two attempt to figure out how such an affair could have started, with the couple recreating the scenes they think occurred, while also trying their hardest to not fall into an affair themselves. The film is interesting because it uses the period of the film, an era were Hong Kong underwent political and social change, and uses it to comment on factors that can still be found in the present. The director, Wong Kar-wai, shoots the film with a wonderful eye for detail. There are plenty of scenes shot in slow motion, focusing on the brightly colored walls and lingering on the blank canvasses that are the faces of the leads. The style is dreamlike, turning a trip to the local noodle stand into a work of art. This all works perfectly to tell the story of the characters. Both Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan are lonely, introverted people. Even though they each have rooms in a communal apartment, both prefer to eat alone in their bedrooms. The world of In the Mood for Love is similarly empty. We never see the faces of their spouses, most scenes in public places are devoid of people, and very few characters have full names. It's a city where people prefer their solitude, and can even go out of their way to avoid direct contact with one another. Still, what really makes this film work is the two leads. Both Leung and Cheung sell their parts, each giving an emotional performance that makes them both very sympathetic. They attempt to have a relationship of some kind, yet try their hardest not to get too close to one another. To them, having an affair would make them no better than their spouses. They attempt to get around this by writing a martial arts serial together, but ultimately their feelings for one another become to difficult to deal with. In the Mood for Love is one of the best films from Hong Kong and is probably Wong Kar-wai's magnum opus. It's a meditative film about the nature of relationships, but is also a very Chinese film, a perfect representation of the cinema from the nation. The themes and motifs in the story are still relevant today, giving the film a very universal quality. The story could have been set in 2001 or 2046 (which is when Wong Kar-wai's next film, 2046, would be set, continuing the story of this film) and it would still have just as great an impact as it does. It's a story that is so perfect that it will surely be Wong Kar-wai's best remembered film. #Film #FilmReview #InTheMoodForLove #PeriodFilm #HongKong
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A Mockery of The RVA Brand Richmond, Virginia has experienced a lot of change and attempts at change over the past several years. One notable example? The city's branding. The branding of RVA has been one of the more successful campaigns, as a recent article attests. A collaboration between a variety of groups, including the Martin Agency and VCU, the RVA logo has been personalized to fit many applications. But activists have recently reclaimed the logo, completing changing it to communicate their social messages. Local activist Alan Schintzius pointed out that the RVA abbreviation had common and frequent usage that existed before it was taken and adopted by VCU and Venture Richmond. Aaron Reinhard is a local businessman who owns RVAstickers, which he says is now often confused by customers with the Venture Richmond stickers. Reinhard's company has been around since 1953. The powers and missions behind these branding campaigns do not speak to all Richmonders. These branding attempts are seen as part of a larger gentrifying marketing strategy, which does not speak to them and does not include them. Venture Richmond has been a spearhead of the RVA logo, and involved in many aspects of pushing that logo and image of the City. For many Richmonders, Venture Richmond is part of the problem with the City. Venture Richmond is a non-profit organization which receives hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money from the City annually. Their CEO Jack Berry makes over $200,000 a year. But Venture Richmond is involved in many, many projects which are finding strong resistance within the community. From Venture's attempts to gain tax exemption for an area near Tredegar Ironworks that they want to use as an ampitheater, to their support for the Revitalize RVA plan, the organization is currently up to it's gills in controversy. There have been claims that Venture Richmond is violating the IRS rules regarding non-profit status and need to have that status revoked. There have also been claims of shady dealings between Venture Richmond and Mayor Jones (who sits on the board), including giving them and their campaigns a free ad in a Parks and Rec publication and more. With so many creative people in this city, it is then no surprise to find that there is a new move of Richmonders who are re-branding some of the corporate brands that are pushing a certain image of Richmond. What seems to have started when local activist F. T. Rea posted a handdrawn sketch of a "Looting RVA" logo (below) has blossomed into a full on re-branding effort by the people in opposition to Venture Richmond, Loving RVA, the Revitalize RVA Shockoe Stadium, and more. The motivation behind the initial Looting RVA drawing according to F. T. Rea was, "a sarcastic response to what I viewed as a propaganda piece that richly deserved to be mocked. I certainly didn't mean to say anyone is literally looting Richmond. But I did intend to provoke viewers into thinking about the motives behind the public relations campaign, itself."
Then a person who prefers to remain anonymous created this digital version of the Looting RVA logo, saying, "I don't really need or want personal attention for the redesign. I'd rather it serve as a public resource that can be continually edited and revised to bring attention to the poorly thought out stadium plan by the mayor and his and Venture Richmond's ongoing attempts to privatize the city." The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Autonomy, Ruthlessness, and SexualityBy Zack Budryk QuailBellMagazine.com Editor's Note: Spoiler Alerts for Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, and House of Cards. It’s extremely important to be able to recognize a work as problematic, even if it’s something you enjoy. With that in mind, fiction featuring the femme fatale archetype tends to have a woman problem. The noir genre, which codified the trope, has a deeply misogynistic streak running through it, as does the femme fatale character itself. A woman who uses sex and deception is presented as exponentially worse than a man (or a woman, for that matter) who relies on physical coercion.
I’ve never believed the solution to problematic plot devices was to stop using it altogether, though; it can be far more instructive—and entertaining—to deconstruct it. Femmes fatales are no exception, and recent television and literature has given us a new class of characters that coexist as amoral, antagonistic characters and as vessels for solid points about feminism and their place in their respective worlds. Amy Dunne, the title character of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, initially appears to be a nonentity. For the first half of the book, we know her only through the lens of her unfaithful husband Nick as she goes missing on her birthday and evidence points more and more to Nick’s culpability. That’s when the book throws us for a loop by revealing that Amy is in fact an utter sociopath, and since learning of Nick’s affair has fabricated a mountain of evidence against him before leaving town to let him take the fall for her murder. On the surface level, Amy as a character definitely has her issues from a feminist perspective, but what we see of her true voice gives us the image of not just a brilliant, devious woman hellbent on revenge but of someone lashing out at patriarchy as viciously as possible. Soon after Amy’s true nature is revealed, she goes on an extended tear against the “Cool Girl,” a type of person she argues doesn’t actually exist, but rather is a sophomoric male fantasy some women are smart enough to exploit. “And if you’re not a Cool Girl, I beg you not to believe that your man doesn’t want the Cool Girl…there are variations to the window dressing, but believe me, he wants Cool Girl, who is basically the girl who likes every fucking thing he likes and doesn’t ever complain. (How do you know you’re not Cool Girl? Because he says things like: ‘I like strong women.’ If he says that to you, he will at some point fuck someone else. Because ‘I like strong women’ is code for “I hate strong women.’)” The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
It's Primavera, Fledglings!By The Quail Bell Crew QuailBellMagazine.com 1. Play with a disposable camera and capture snapshots of daffodils and bumblebees for your bulletin board. 2. Transform a mason jar into a terrarium. Stuff it with moss and other natural objects culled from your yard, the park, or your favorite creek. 3. Visit a new city. It can be a “torn-up town.” The only rule is that it must be a place you've never visited before. (Might we suggest Portland, Maine, Iowa City, Iowa, St. Augustine, Florida, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?) Wherever you decide, read up on it, choose a travel buddy, and go. 4. Take a trip to your local archives. If you live in a bigger town or city, the archives might be housed in the historical society, university, or state or regional library. If you live in a smaller place, you might have to hunt for the historical treasures of your town. Maybe a local church or school keeps old documents, photographs, and other items that tell the story of where you live. 5. Visit your grandparents. If you're accustomed to only seeing them for the holidays, here's a great chance to see them in a new light—literally the spring light! 6. Go to an open mic night and read a poem. It's not as scary as you might think. In fact, here are some tips, so calm down already. 7. Make a scrapbook or keep a journal. Too middle school? It doesn't have to be. Avoid writing about your math class crush or the woes of wearing braces and you're good on the grown-up front. Or not. You're a grown-up. Do whatever you want. 8. Find a fabulous old frock at a thrift shop or rummage sale. Rock it. To answer Spencer Johnson's question “What would you do if you weren't afraid?”: Wear whatever the hell you want. 9. Prepare a fresh salad using local ingredients, whether pulled from your own garden or bought at the farmers' market. Give it a test run and serve it to friends for your next gathering once you've perfected it. 10. Get hooked on a new band, preferably one that 's high-energy and doesn't take itself too seriously. 11. Read in a book in a genre you don't normally try. Perhaps a banned or challenged book? (Then write about it and submit your review or personal essay to us!) 12. Kick one toxic habit in your life. Find a nourishing one. This is a time of rebirth. 13. Knock on a neighbor's door. Have a chat. If you live in a neighborhood of porches, spend an evening porch-hopping. 14. Save a baby bird—smartly. 15. Bring a notebook or sketchbook to a playground and observe children playing. Write or draw something that inspires you. (Don't worry about being creepy. Just don't hit or kidnap a child...duh.) 16. Chalk up the sidewalk for an afternoon. Just read your local vandalism laws first. 17. Sit by a body of water for a while with nothing but your thoughts. Turn off your cell phone. 18. Bake something for somebody. Say zucchini bread? 19. Make cards for friends and family to wish them a happy spring. 20. Learn a poem, prayer, or verse of some kind to thrust you through those days when it's hard to appreciate the sunshine. #Spring #NotTwee #Primavera #ToDoList #YOLO
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Belmont est belle.By Starling Root QuailBellMagazine.com Glimpses of Charlottesville, Virginia's historic Belmont neighborhood on this early spring day. #Charlottesville #Virginia #Belmont #Neighborhoods
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Two Silent Film Actors Live On à la FacebookBy Paisley Hibou QuailBellMagazine.com The Quail Bell Crew was wondering who ran the Facebook fan page for silent film actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. So we asked. The answer? Mary Moreland, a wife and mother living in the Pacific Northwest. She grew up watching classic films and, as an adult, started her own collection. Here is what Moreland had to say about administering this cyber hub for Pickford and Fairbanks aficionados: What inspired your love for Pickford and Fairbanks? My interest in silent film began several years ago. I became fascinated by Mary Pickford, along with Douglas Fairbanks, for their contributions to film, and the part they had in the early years of filmmaking. They both capture your attention on film. Pickford and Fairbanks were Hollywood’s first power couple and were welcomed wherever they went as Hollywood royalty. What are some of your favorite Pickford and Fairbanks films? It is very hard for me to choose my favorites. My favorite Mary Pickford film is probably Stella Maris (1918). Mary played two roles in this film: the beautiful Stella Maris, and the not so beautiful Unity Blake. Taking on the part of Unity Blake was rather surprising at the time. Mary was known as “America’s Sweetheart” and “Little Mary," and to play a part unlike this stereotype was a questionable move on her part. She performed brilliantly in both parts and the film is known as one of her best today. As for Douglas Fairbanks, The Thief of Baghdad (1924) would have to be my favorite film. Known for his swashbuckling films, Fairbanks brings that into this Arabian fantasy to make one unforgettable film. What inspired you to start this Facebook page? I started my Facebook page, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, because I wanted to share my love for them and silent film. I am surprised at how many people have not even heard of Pickford and Fairbanks! I hope to somehow help the public become more familiar with them and aware of their films. They had an integral part in the formation of the early years of Hollywood. Pickford and Fairbanks, along with Charlie Chaplin and D.W Griffith, founded the film studio United Artists in 1919. They were also two of the 36 founders of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Where do you find your images? I am constantly building my collection, and the images that I use come from various sources. The internet is a wonderful resource for images and historical documents. What do you suggest for someone trying to get into watching silent films? My advice for someone who is new to silent film would be to just jump in! There are silent films to interest everyone. Some people feel like silent films are an acquired taste, and in a way, they’re right. We are so used to talking, sound effects, music, and just plain noise in our films today. Silent films are so visually stunning that they do not need sound. Cinematographers used lighting and angles in a way that brought so much emotion and feeling to a film. In recent years we have seen a revival in silent film with such movies as The Artist. This sparked an interest in the classic silent films from the 1920s and earlier. I hope that we can keep these early films alive, and share them with the people of today along with the generations to come. #SilentFilm #Cinema #Facebook #Fans #MaryPickford #DouglasFairbanks #ArtHistory The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Mixteco/RVA Makes Online DebutLate last year, our editor completed her Emerging Artist Puffin Foundation photography and essay project, Mixteco/RVA. The final product was printed on card stock and measured five feet long! Now The Quail Bell Crew has put the project online for your viewing pleasure. Mixteco/RVA is Christine Stoddard's personal exploration of linguistic injustice in her home state of Virginia. Credit for designing the project for both print and web goes to Quail Bell art director Kristen Rebelo. Download it free here and like it on Facebook. #MixtecoRVA #PuffinFoundation #Photography #Essays #SocialJustice
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On the Porch, Through the Bushes Just creeping on the neighborhood. #Porch #Night #Suburbia
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In Your Own SkinBy Fay Funk QuailBellMagazine.com I see a lot of advice on how to do things alone. It’s a common question especially in the Internet age as more and more activities that once required human interaction can be done virtually. It’s usually framed as advice on how to meet new people, how to go out alone and make new friends. Even as we grow more distant we desire human contact more and more, and instead of being natural it becomes a behavior we have to learn. I did it, learned how to be alone. When I moved from New York back to Portland, Oregon the only people I knew were my parents, and I had no obvious outlet with which to meet new people. My closest friends lived in different cities and states, and sometimes countries. I have always fallen more on the introvert side of the spectrum of personality, but this was the first time in my life when there was no one around for me to see. I was used to personal space, not complete solitude. It felt strange, not wholly bad, but also not good. After a few isolating months, I made the decision to put myself out into the world. I went to local concerts to get myself out there, and at first it caused me a lot of anxiety. The first night I went out alone I planned to take my dog for a walk beforehand, and my anxiety was so palpable that my dog refused to go on a walk with me, running back up the steps to our house when I tried to walk him, leash and all. Concerts are inherently social events. That’s why I was going, and why I was anxious. Most people go with their friends. That’s always what I had done in the past. Now I was almost always the only person alone at any show I went to. Over time though, it got easier. The anxiety subsided, and as I became more familiar with the music Portland had to offer I started to enjoy going shows alone. It’s a different experience from going with friends, which I also started to do, slowly, as the faces around me became more familiar. There are pros and cons. There’s complete control over the direction of the night when going out alone, and feedback and conversation with friends. Both are good. Both are necessary too, I think, to being comfortable in your own skin at all times. I think it’s a mistake to frame doing things alone as a means to meet new people. I did, of course, because that happens by virtue of participating in the world. But it was never my primary goal. Because if you don’t meet anyone after a night out by yourself the night feels like failure, and that’s not how it should be. When I went out to concerts, I went out to enjoy the music, and anything else that happened that night was incidental. No night was a failure. Being alone feels like being abandoned. It felt that way even though I chose to move far away from all my closest friends. It felt that way even though my parents were around. And that was not an easy feeling to get over. It took months of trying, trying not to be dependent on someone else to enjoy the world, trying to be happy with just myself. All the anxiety and abandonment was worth it though, for the ability to take care of my own emotional needs. There are no more friendships simply out of convenience, toxic relationships formed to avoid loneliness. I can fill the voids those relationships filled on my own. So I would recommend to everyone to learn how to be alone. Not how to meet people while alone, but to to just be alone. It can be awkward and painful at first. It’s a struggle for a long time. But once you can do it, it’s the most freeing sensation there is. Nothing can stop you. #Relationships #Friendship #Solitude #Society #PersonalEssay
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Book 1, Number 11 "Do not dwell in the past. Do not dream of the future. Concentrate the mind on the present moment." -Buddha There's something to be said about the combination of morning sun, great coffee, warm apple strudel and having the perfect place to write. As I'm writing, I greet another writer as he too basks in the morning sun, in this little slice of heaven found at Kefa Coffee in Silver Spring, Maryland. Kefa serves organic coffee and their house soup is a bread bowl. Now do you see why I feel so cozy? As I sit here and let the sun melt away my ego (the inflated part), my heart begins a new rhythmic pattern. This new pattern resonates love, warmth, truthfulness, harmony, peace, acceptance and contentment. It's funny the mental and emotional distance we must go to get there—not to mention how many wrong turns we take to get there, only to wonder, have we really arrived? My hope for you this morning is that you allow the sun to melt away those parts of you that hold you from being authentic. That you find your slice of heaven. That you let your heart find a new rhythmic beat. Contentment is yours, mine and ours for the taking. So let's take it. Now. Swiftly. Inspired. May your day be bright. Recommended Reading: "10 Ways You're Wasting Your Life and Are Just Too Afraid to Admit It" from Elite Daily #Coffee #Morning #WakeUp
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An Artist Chasing ChaosYou may have seen Jacob Eveland's work before, either here on Quail Bell or at exhibitions featuring Richmond, Virginia's rising artists. Having spent his childhood in the country, Eveland draws inspiration from nature, animals and history. We caught up with Jacob to ask about his new solo show, "Chasing Chaos," which will open at New Normal Apparel on April 4th and will include a gallery show, apparel designs for sale and a live painting session by the artist. Your show is called "Chasing Chaos." What is the idea behind this? In addition to my signature illustration work, I've created over 60 small pieces for this show. I experimented with them to learn how mixed mediums play off one another. It's a series of numerous varied pieces moving in one direction. This group of works is related to a graphic novel I am working on, sort of a sub-story. Can't give all my secrets away...I will reveal more about my graphic novel at the show. Your work tends to feature animals and inspirations from nature, which you've said stems from your childhood life in the country. Has living in a city affected your work or changed your inspirational process? I don't feel living in Richmond has changed my inspiration. I love living in the city and appreciate the culture and diversity it offers. To me, Richmond has a small town feel similar to the town I moved from. Like Lebanon [Virginia], it's surrounded by inviting natural settings, is rich in history and touts beautiful architecture. I spend a lot of time hiking in the surrounding parks, and exploring along the James River. Will we see your pen and ink illustration style in this show or have you been experimenting with any new mediums? I will have pen and ink illustrations in this show, but I have been experimenting more with different mediums. These variations are apparent in the 60 pieces some I did for this show. What is the process of preparing to do a live painting? I start with a rough sketch to develop my composition. Secondly I refine my sketch and build a panel large enough to accommodate it. Prior to painting at a show, I complete the outline in pencil. I make sure I've packed the necessary equipment: drop cloth, paint brushes, paint buckets, rags, water to ensure I don't have any glitches once I've started. I'll be replicating my black and white ink work via my live painting. Do you think creating pieces in front of a live audience changes the relationship of the artist and the spectator? I have only painted in front of an audience once at a gallery show, and while painting public murals. It's similar to an art demo. I've done them for high school and VCU students. Observers are always unsure if it's okay to talk to me while I'm working. I really enjoy talking with the spectators, and assure them that they won't disrupt me if they ask questions or make comments. I like the rapport between artist, created work, and observer. It gives the work meaning and helps bring it to life for people who don't create art. It gives them a better understanding of the process. It can be a little awkward at times when your back is to the observer and you're communicating without looking at them. I like to be fully engaged when talking to people, so I try to spend time with them face to face, too. I enjoy connecting with the spectators at a show; it's energizing to explain my work and share in their reaction to and feedback about it. For this show, I plan on spending quite a bit of time talking to my guests, and will focus on painting when traffic slows. Sometimes you just need to read the crowd to figure out what makes sense: communicating about art or creating it. "Chasing Chaos" opens on Friday, April 4th at New Normal Apparel (212 E. Clay St. Richmond, Virginia). See more of Jacob's work here. #Interview #ArtistInterview #JacobEveland #ChasingChaos #SoloShow #NewNormal #GalleryShow #Illustrator #RVA
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Confessions of a Former Porn HaterWhen my first boyfriend in college admitted he had watched porn before we got together, I cried. It’s far from my proudest moment, but it happened. I was 19, unsure of my body, insecure in my desirability. I’d only ever watched about 10 minutes of porn. It was with a group of my girlfriends, huddled around a tiny TV in one of our college dorm rooms. We’d turned it off after the first anal scene, claiming boredom. I’m fairly certain none of us was actually bored. So I cried, my boyfriend at the time claimed he didn’t want porn anymore, and we never spoke of it again. Our relationship ended for a lot of reasons, but one of them was a lack of sexual compatibility and communication. The irony was that, at the time, had someone asked I would have claimed to be very sexually liberated and open. I read Savage Love! I was willing to talk about birth control! I liked having a lot of sex! I mean, I knew I had some jealousy issues, but preferred to blame them on the fact that my high school boyfriend had cheated on me with a friend of mine. Never mind that I had cheated on him with a girl, too. Never mind that those things are utterly unconnected anyway. Of course, along with porn, strip clubs were verboten, tantamount to cheating. I never quite hit the point of telling a partner that watching porn was cheating, but I did when it came to strip clubs. Another woman! Who was right there! Naked! Again, I am not proud. Now, I’m not certain what my logic was. I don’t think there was much logic there, in truth. I know that when porn, strip clubs—any naked woman who wasn’t me, who was desirable and tugging at my partner’s attention—came up, I felt this red-hot pain in my chest. I know I felt ill. I know that I felt out of control, like the floor had dropped out from underneath me. I don’t know if there ever were logical thoughts—more a lot of “NO NO NO NO NO NO NO” and a physical reaction that I wanted desperately to stop. So I called porn and strip clubs ”anti-woman” and “demeaning," told boyfriends that I should be enough for them. I caught myself giving the side-eye to pretty girls—girls who I would have flirted with. I found myself blaming not just men, but women for how I felt. I was a goddamn mess. But then two things happened: I started watching porn myself, and I became friends with women who worked or had worked in the sex industry. The first, watching porn myself, was born from being with partners who were not into the same things I was into, and from spending a full year being single. I had sexual desires that were going unfulfilled, and watching porn would placate those desires, if briefly. I didn’t watch a lot of porn, but I did read a LOT of erotica. The second happened quite without intent. First, I met a woman through mutual friends who happened to work as a dancer in New Orleans. She also happened to be articulate, witty, self-assured, tough, creative, and intelligent. Not to mention poised and gorgeous. I recall being intimidated by her when we first met, not knowing a thing about her profession. And then I realized I thought she was pretty damn cool. Only after that did I learn what her job was, and by then I was already seeing her as this totally amazing woman I wanted to become better friends with. My brain didn’t even get the chance to judge her for her job. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
A Lesson From The WildBy Sara Allie QuailBellMagazine.com “When you don’t have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it’s sex. When you have both, it’s health.” -Marilyn Monroe My aunt recently became a yoga instructor and I attended one of her class sessions in Owings Mills, Maryland. She described many poses during the introductory class. One of the poses she described and artfully illustrated was Downward-Facing Dog. This pose imitates the way a dog naturally stretch his body: front legs forward, head bowed, rump in the air. This pose builds strength as it stretches the whole body. It also rejuvenates the entire body, calming the nervous system and helping to relieve stress. My aunt taught this pose as a transitional pose that led to the understanding of other yoga poses. So she demonstrated another pose: Turtle pose. My aunt insisted that all of us, no matter shape or size, would be able to master the turtle pose. The turtle pose involves flexibility and strength of the arms and legs. She insisted that as long as we breathe through each pose, we can accomplish it. The turtle pose imitates a turtle withdrawing into its shell. This pose represents a mental withdrawal from distractions. From an exercising standpoint, the turtle pose strengthens the back and abdominal cavity. But it also brings mental peace. So, as a class, we breathed through and attempted the turtle pose. Every single one of us succeeded. Peace at last. #Yoga #Meditation #TurtlePose #Fitness #Peace
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