Art, Design, Thing I Love, Things I Make

Why an Athletic wear line?

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Why an athletic line? The primary thematic focus of Explorations in nude is perspective. I think that the main reason for societal disconnect be it in the form or racism, sexism, classism, ageism and or homophobia is due to very warped perspectives and lack or connectivity through empathy. I’m committed to self awareness. Rules, boundaries, lines and groups are all constructs. I’m interested in deconstructing the constructs that don’t work. I know that’s super broad, here’s an example. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 16 years. I initially took a break from meat because I was kinda grossed out. I found my self in the supermarket in my late teens staring at the ground beef thinking this could be anything…it could be human flesh for all I know. That lead me on a super journey into food, health, origins, cultural relevance and symbolism. One of the wonderful things about agency is the ability to make choices. I value that, My ancestors have worked so hard to ensure that for me.  If i know I have to eat and I have a choice of what to put into my own body and how to move my own body,  I’m going to exercise that privilege…for myself, for the ancestors and for health of the future. I’m going to celebrate that privilege by eating clean, being mindful, practicing yoga and getting sleep. Don’t get me wrong there is a wonderful beauty in perseverance. You know making lemonade, chitlins eating parts, ie cows foot, goats tail etc. Perseverance is the co-founder of hip-hop, jazz, soul food…black in America.  wonderful things come out of perseverance. I’m interested in what’s in beyond perseverance. What’s beyond surviving? perhaps thriving, connectedness, understanding, fearlessness. Let’s do away with validation. Let’s unapologetically be the very strongest individuals, making up the strongest community. No more asking permission. If being fly inspires you to work out, be bold, live your truth, love yourself, be healthy, be active, and eat well etc, I’d like to support that journey. I’ve created textile patterns inspired from the art series. Pictured is ‘Between The Lines’ reversible sports bra and shorts
Enjoy this latest manifestation of creativity…and get moving.

IMG_5456

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Events, Things I Make

JUNKPRINTS IS GOING TO PHILLY: SAT JUNE 11th

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On Saturday, June 11th, 2011 Junkprints will be in Philly at the 10th Annual B-Boy BBQ in Philly. This yearly experience is going to be quite spectacular. It is an oppurtunity for people of all walks of life to exper…ience all aspects of hip-hop culture from graffiti to breakdancing, emceeing and deejaying. Every year there is influx of 400-500 people to the site of the B-Boy BBQ where they can witness local, national and internationally renowned artists in action and shop the nearly 100 vendors selling everything from spraypaint and clothing to food and face painting. This event is in the tradition of Rock Steady Day, Meeting of Styles and other large scale hip-hop events. I’m super duper excited to be participating in this event. This is the very first time The junkprints goodies will be in the streets of Philly. Don’t miss this one day opportunity.

48th and Westminister, West Philly
Saturday June 11th, 8am-8pm

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Design, Thing I Love, Uncategorized

Props Rock: Willi Smith

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I come from a frugal, not cheap family. Trust me, there is a difference. My mother and I enjoy going to off-price stores like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx in order to find what we call “hidden treasures”. Out of all of my various trips to off-price stores along the east coast there is one trip that I distinctly remember. My mother and I went to a TJ Maxx store in Maryland when I was in middle school. I remember looking around in the women’s wear section and noticing some clothing by a designer named Willi Smith. The first thing I thought was, “Since when did Will Smith have a clothing line?” Then I thought that they had spelled his name wrong.

Later that night, I looked the name “Willi Smith” up online and learned that before the “Fresh Prince” inspired people worldwide to get “Jiggy Wit It” there was another man who showed us how to dress in Big Willie Style.

Philadelphia born fashion designer Willi Smith, who is unrelated to the “Fresh Prince”, has been referred to as “the most successful black designer in fashion history.” When it came to his work as a designer Smith preferred to be known more for his raw talent than his skin color. Although he would admit that his skin color gave him few advantages, he would often be annoyed by the attention given to him based on it.

Willi Smith was known for his use of brightly colored fabrics that were comfortable, loose-fitting, and moderately priced.

In 1976 he co-founded his company “Williwear” with Laurie Mallet. Although his clientele include the wealthy by the early 1980s, Williwear had grown to become a popular clothing line in youth culture and was referred to as “street couture”.

Willi Smith died unexpectedly in 1987 at the age of 39 after contracting shigella and pneumonia while on a trip to India. His death was determined as a result of AIDS. Willi Smith once said, “Models pose in clothes. People live in them.” According to Richard Martin, there were “countless fans of his sportswear style who may never have known-or care- whether he was Black, White or any other color”.

The style Willi Smith was accurately summarized in his obituary in the Village Voice which said that his clothing expressed, “the designer’s democratic urge: to clothe people as simply, beautifully and inexpensively as possible”.

Now when I go to TJ Maxx I am proud that I know about the designer, not the rapper,  Willi Smith.

Flashback: Black Style: Willi Smith

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Art, Design, Thing I Love, Things I Make, Uncategorized

Etsy HQ Wall of Records

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Yesterday we (me and Mr. Tough Dumplin) completed the installation of the Etsy HQ wall of records! Rockin it it rockin it yes we are rockin it. Now I can truly say I have incorporated a Milli Vanilli image into a professional project I’ve worked on. Girl you know it’s true!

plan your work, work your plan.

‘Stay Handmade’ created from laser cut backs of album covers filled with 12″ vinly. Etsy letters cut from 12″ LPs over orange arcylic circles on square clear acrylic panels.

Desk features 12″ and 45 vinyl.

Each record is linked with 1″ binder rings through upcycled white grommets from the close down belt factory.

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Events, Random, Thing I Love, Uncategorized

COSTA RICA HAS NO ARMY

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Which sounds fantastic to me.

Hey Ya’ll I’t’s chanel aka the Dooky aka the junk-prints maker rump shaker.  Just wanted to clarify. Miss Anuli has been holding down the dooky for the last few posts.  Anyhoot Since the whole whirl wind holiday season I’ve been abit scarce inside the Internets. That’s because i’ve been gearing up for this Costa Rica Trip!!!! Helllz Yeah. I’ll be there for february. Last year I realized that this nomadic lady has grown some roots and hasn’t really strayed far from BK in while. Which has proven to be a great thing and allowed me to focus, but it’s also made me really antsy. I’m not accustomed to being one place for too long and have a tendency to think about all the other things I could be doing if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now…in fact I’m doing that right now.  I have  this list of things that I would like to so between now and death. It includes learning to surf, learning to walk on my hands,  learning to farm, building a house (from the ground up),  traveling the world, doing a photo documentary of a band on tour, creating (assisting in establishing)  a sustainable community,  running a company, seeing the sun rise for a month consecutively, Visiting Alaska,  Driving an ice cream truck from coast to coast. The list is super duper long and most tasks involve traveling. I love to travel, and think I get crusty when I don’t get out and about enough. So last year around this time I decided that i was going away for a while. I decided that NY sucks in the winter and that I don’t want anything to do with he retched place, so that would be the best time to go. I hate the cold so all cold places where ruled out. I eventually want to build a place off the grid and in a tropical region (primarily for the food and vegetation), so I decided to head to Costa Rica for a month to do some research and surfing!!

Over the last few years I’ve poured my entire existence into junkprints which has yielded some awesome results, but in the meantime I haven’t gotten any of the other things on the list done and often wonder if I’m getting lost in my head of junk. Well, that being said, new junk is in the works and includes some work with some heavy hitters like um Nickelodeon, ReadyMade Mag, Birkenstock,  SXSW…just to name a few. Can’t devolve the deets but I’m gonna be on fire this spring…just you wait. In the mean time, if you’ve been to Costa Rica share your stories!

oh and Junkprints.com will be up and running for my travel duration. I’ve got some nifty folks holding down the shipping and customer service so all orders will go out as scheduled 😉

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Uncategorized

DESIRA PESTA and the TAILED NAKED DUDE

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Let me tell ya’ll about Ms. Desira Pesta. She’s an amazing person, who just so happens to be pretty intelligent, uber talented and blessed with a fantastic sense of humor. She’s my studio neighbor and maker of clothing and accessories. I’ve been contemplating running off with this dress, changing my name to something long and epic like Gloria Rosetta Angelica Gonzalez-Hernandez  and wearing large sunglasses for the rest of my days.

Unlike me she actually laid out on the beach this summer and sent me a link to this page on her flickr. Beyond the fact that he’s nude…he started to grow a tail. I kid you not this image has not been altered. Maybe his mom really was a bitch.

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