Doubled up on assignments Monday with a fashion shoot with the soon-to-open Club Monaco at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and since I was there, shot some video of New York-based artist Mika Tajima talking about her work, “Extruded Plaid (Suicidal Desires),” part of the art exhibition “One Way or Another: Asian American Art Now,” on view through Aug. 31, 2008.There’s also a small peek at the concurrent exhibition, “Shu: ReinventingJoleen Oshiro does the voice over on the video, one for the art geeks with a Modernist bent.
Photos by Nadine Kam Peter Shaindlin with Bud League of INspiration, in front of one of Shaindlin’s nude figures, covered for our PG readers. Bud mixes Energie with an Armani Collezione jacket and a little tattered, shredded cloth “for a little effect.”
Honolulu Design Co., Stage restaurant, HonBlue, Bouvier Productions, Matthew and Louise Evins, and our other co. HI Luxury, sponsored “Body & Soul,” a photographic exhibition and auction celebrating the human figure June 12.
On view were framed photographs by Nic Gariaeff, and 4-by-8-foot images by Volcano artist Chiu Leong and Peter Shaindlin. Who knew the Halekulani chief operating officer is also a budding artist? “It’s just a hobby,” he said humbly.
Father and daughter Chiu and Asia Leong in front of one of his clay-covered figures.
While there I caught up with the lovely jewelry designer Asia Leong, who was also there as a photographer to support her dad. She’s back home from her other life in Paris and says she’ll be here for a while. What would be weird for most people to know is that I’ve written stories about her twice but never met her due to the magic of the phone interview. I just recognized her from her photos, and with her dad there as one of the featured artists, put two and two together.
The invitation called for über-chic attire, and people were asking, “What does that mean?”
Not much here, where a come-as-you-are attitude prevails. I, for one, wasn’t about to go home and change, and just wore my teal BCBG work dress. But I did have some fun clothes spotting.
From left, Michele Henry, Malie and Walter Moran. Michelle is wearing an ostrich feather-trimmed dress from BCBG.
From left, Charlotte Hutton Cox, INspiration’s Donna Sakamoto in a dress from Adore, and boots, and Austin Cox.
Charlotte Cox’s black dress was simultaneously simple and chic, and when I asked about the label, it was even cooler when she reached down the front. I was like, “Oh, you’re wearing it backward.” Done that before when I either think the back is prettier than the front, or it’s so low cut in front, I prefer to wear the back forward, but the dress by Amsterdam designer Percy Riaus can actually be worn five ways.
She said she looked at it five times before trying it on, hoping that it wouldn’t fit. Of course it did and she couldn’t resist taking home her ultimate black dress. The museum exhibition developer just moved here and is looking for a job, BTW. She has a good eye …
The statuesque artist Dana Forsberg, was, like photographer Elliot Takane, impressed by the large-scale images created with the help of HonBlue. Forsberg is wearing an ensemble by an Argentinean designer.
If you saw the brief item about tokidoki creator Simone Legno’s appearance at Nordstrom 1 to 4 p.m. June 7, here’s a picture of the tokidoki for Onitsuka Tiger Snow Heaven 72 boots — created for the Sundance Film Festival — that will be given away.
I don’t know what size it’ll be, but you can also try your luck at winning a pair at http://blog.tokidoki.it/ You’ll have to brush up on your tokidoki history though, and answer six questions about Simone, tokidoki and Onitsuka Tiger. Sizes available online are in women’s 9-½ to 10-½ only, which pretty much rules out all the little Asian girls that turn out at all his local signings.
Here’s the Skaffs vid you asked for from last night’s event at Split Obsession, where, because Luke dropped in rather suddenly, fans were unprepared. They actually had to ask him for paper, and then people resorted to passing him dollar bills to sign.
Split Obsession owner Bruce Chin really dug deep when he whipped out a crispy $10 bill. Whoo-hoo!
Geez I’m supposed to be writing a story now, but I turned once again to Animoto.com, which is like Hamburger Helper for your photos and video stills, mashing them together with music and special effects the average person just doesn’t have access to, and coming up with something worth serving.
Try it on fashion, girl’s night out photos, whatever!
Photo by Nadine Kam Skaffs’ Luke Feldman at work. Check out his site at http://skaffs.com/
Looking for something to do tonight? Check out the Skaffs live painting demo tonight at Split Obsession.
I’ve been waiting to catch up with Luke for months. Last time he was in town I got ditched at the Kahala (boy troubles), so I called Luke to pick me up. Except he didn’t have a car. Ah life … it all works out, somehow.
And if you haven’t heard of Skaffs yet, don’t worry, you will very soon.
Just saw the preview for “Speed Racer.” Not really one for the kids; not for adults either. It’s totally about the creative set: game designers, animators, and believe it or not, the fashion crowd. Well, I had to look at something being that the story is simple, the dialog campy, the characters cardboardy, but the clothes they do work with everything that’s going on in CGI. Let’s just say it’s the first film that ever made me feel like running off to Hollywood to be a stylist on a costume crew.
The weird thing about the movie is that it is so futuristic yet it’s actually set in the early to mid-1950s. They reference a pivotal 1943 race when Speed was about 10 and the action takes place in his young adulthood. The costumes reflect the period with crisp polo shirts, sleek sheath dresses and other narrow, spare silhouettes. The early half of the film is full of bright primary and complementary colors and a lot of royal purple. In the final Grand Prix race icy silver, metallics and brocades dominate. Total eye candy. It was so retro, yet so contemporary it didn’t look much different from what’s on high-end retail racks today.
As I watched the credits scrolling I noted they had one vintage buyer on staff. What a great job, though I imagine it must have been difficult to come up with costumes that could hold their own against such a fantasy landscape.
Of course, being susceptible to images, I have a new inspiration for my summer wardrobe, and it’s not Christina Ricci, but the Korean pop star Rain as the racer Taejo.
Belated post from April 13 Japanese Women’s Society Foundation fashion show, “Open Your Tansu.” Been filling in for someone on vacation, so it’s been a grueling three weeks doing two jobs+. Didn’t have much time to edit my video from the show until yesterday, tho’ I don’t know why it’s so pixelly. I swear it’s clear when I’m looking at it direct from camera to computer.
The show opened and closed with dancers from Iona Pear opening and closing a tansu set up on stage. Takeo and Eric Chandler, back from the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas, were first on stage to present their 2Couture designs.
After that, students from Chieko Yamaguchi’s Kimono Samba classes showed their creations. Emcee Pamela Young said they were so nervous they couldn’t eat anything before taking their turn on the runway. It’s a big stage when you’re a newbie.
The last time Yamaguchi was here in January, I asked her if any of her students had surpassed her. She laughed and said, “Not yet.” And after seeing her designs, I’d have to agree. From what I could see up close, her work involved more labor than she let on in trying to encourage people to take up needle and thread to transform unused kimono into street-ready, contemporary garments. She conducted a workshop in the days following the show, which had to be extended to allow students to finish their projects.
It was different from a typical fashion show, in which garments are put up for sale, in that none of the Kimono Samba pieces were available for purchase. It’s that whole “teach a man to fish” philosophy geared toward teaching skills others will also be able to pass on over time.
Speaking of passing on good things, I was seated on a table with Audrey and Ed Case, who brought living gardenia plants from Maui for all at the table. Just before Earth Day, it was a thoughtful gesture and good idea to get people to start thinking about green giving and planting as much as possible.
Nadine Kam photos Jennifer Tunoa is Kurenai Yuuhi from “Naruto.”
Back from Kawaii Kon at Hawai’i Convention Center where the cosplayers were out in full, colorful force.
Strangely enough, I was in street clothes and they were looking at me like I was the
odd one. It was noticeable when I was getting names of some people and others were around me doing the “oohh,” purr-y thing. I felt like Dorothy in “Wizard of Oz” when she’s discovered by the Munchkins, who come out of the bushes to check her out. SB photographer Cindy Ellen Russell was there and filled me in: “They think you would be a great cosplayer because you’re tiny like the characters.”Hmm, come to think of it I already have a pink Betsey Johnson dress and corset that looks like a Misa Amane outfit.The event goes on to 9 p.m. April 19 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20 if you want to check it out or be checked out.
Kanoe, front, is Suiseiseki from “Rozen Maiden,” with Chani, from left standing, Ursula, Cynthia, Amanda and Blair. Amanda, in red, is Shinku, the main character. Kanoe paid $300 to have his costume made by a dressmaker. I asked him if it felt weird to wear a dress. “Kind of,” he said, “but you get used to it.” Below, the original Shinku and Suiseiseki.
Ashley Silao is Misa Amane of “Death Note.” Her lenses look like one called “Red Wolf” from Exotic.lenses.com’s stock.
Theatrical contact lenses are part of the costume for many. The Contact Lens Co., was among the dealers offering every style and color of lens. The most popular is the white with black pupil “Zombie.” Lenses were selling for $40 to $80. Check out www.exoticlenses.com
I was tempted to get a pair, but I already wear normal lenses and they do need upkeep and cleaning, so I probably wouldn’t unless I had a specific event in mind. The woman there said once a month cleaning is recommended, but that sounded like too little.
In the dealer’s room, Audra Furuichi and Scott Yoshinaga — who I met online at Twitter.com — were behind the table showing their nemu*nemu books and T-shirts. At left, Krystine Nakano helped drum up business by strolling the grounds with a handmade, stuffed version of Anpan on her head. She has really great posture because that pup wasn’t secured. Other people had to tie their animals to their heads. (more…)
Nadine Kam photos Bianca Bennett models a raglan-sleeve dress designed by UH senior Courtnee Lee outside of Michael Hoyt’s Norae Shanty. Sitting outside is Jeff Nisbet.
Was on the University of Hawaii campus yesterday to do a story on the senior fashion show, “Absolute Fashion: All Bottled Up,” taking place April 27 at the Sheraton Waikiki. Tickets are $40 for the 11:30 luncheon fashion show, and those unable to attend can get a sneak preview at noon April 19 at Kahala Mall.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m easily distracted, so I couldn’t help but take a timout and step into Norae Shanty, located right between the APDM department at Miller Hall and the Art Building, where photos were being taken of the fashion.The shanty is the work of visiting Minnesota-based, Asian-American artist Michael Hoyt, who creates work to “build bridges within and beyond community.”
Inside, he was there with a laptap programmed with karaoke music in his version of the Korean norae bang. The bangs are isolated retreats that provide a more intimate experience than larger karaoke bars, which can possess a more competitive and embarrassing spirit, according to Hoyt.
The shanty was built here with materials donated by www.reusehawaii.org.
Inside, Brian Laura, Jeff Nisbet, Young-Joo (June) Lee, Kelli Mercado and Sarah Breiby were singing up a storm, and I have to say, not all that well. (You can see for yourself in the accompanying video.) But it truly was a welcoming, inhibition-lowering experience. They tried to scare me by forcing me to sing and blocking the entrance out, but they didn’t know that I spent about 5 years singing in bands, so it’s no big deal to me. I have to say, most people pick the deadliest songs in karaoke. Like, they wanted me to sing “Losing My Religion,” one of the longest, dullest songs in the world in karaoke time. I considered doing Incubus’ “Drive,” but went with the short, sweet “Closer to Free” by the Bodeans, something they could join in on with relatively little pain.
Nadine Kam video
I asked Hoyt, who’s set up Norae Shantys in Minnesota and Chicago, if he ever gets tired listening to the bad karaoke, and he said, “Not at all. I love it; it’s crazy!”
I arrived on campus at about 2:15 p.m. and Mercado was already in the shanty. When I asked her when I was about to leave if she had to be in class, she said, “I came here after my class ended at 1:30 and I’m still here!” It was 4:30 p.m. and by then she and Breiby were dancing around outside the shanty. “I’m not even drunk and I’m having fun!” Breiby said.
The Norae Shanty made its debut April 4 at First Friday, and will also be open 1 to 2 p.m. April 17, and 5 to 8 p.m. April 18. There is a possibility of extending hours by calling 956-5253.
Nadine Kam photos
A detail of an Eli Baxter installation.
From time to time the way other people dress can inspire me to bust out my camera. So it was when I spent Friday afternoon at The Contemporary Museum during a walk-through of the TCM Biennial of Hawaii artists featuring site-specific installations of Eli Baxter, Vincent Goudreau, Javier Martinez, Yida Wang, Cade Roster, Wayne Zebzda and Meidor Hu.
I enjoyed walking around Wang’s exploration of breast cancer with an installation of hanging Latex breasts, Cade Roster’s series of manga-inspired Plush Gaiden, and Eli Baxter’s sculptures of recycled, polished bicycle tires, inner tubes and molded wax, somehow reminiscent of Alexander McQueen fashion designs.
While there, I ran into TCM’s PR officer Pualana Lemelle and took a photo of her in the museum shop next to the Art-O-Mat, which dispenses miniature pieces of art, whether jewelry, collage or a small sculpture for, last time I checked, $5.
Pualana Lemelle wears an Express wrap dress and gold Western boots from Catherine’s Closet in Manoa.
That reminded me I had a couple of photos of Neiman Marcus’ Contemporary Sportswear/Theory Specialist Alen Ajed. I’m in that department a lot, most of the time just looking, and he’s typically wearing designer, top to bottom, though in his own colorful style. I like that he’s not afraid to wear color and have fun with clothes.
Alen Ajed at the recent Hip Event wearing an Etro shirt with a watercolor-wash print, D&G jacket, Cicinnelli pink pant, Prada belt and Paul Smith tie. His favorite part of the ensemble are his Paul Smith floral design shoes.
On another occasion, I took Alen’s photo (below) with Donna Walden, who also caught my eye because she was wearing this season’s flora-, insect- and fantasy-inspired Prada shoe. Shoes that beautiful have to be uncomfortable, I thought, but Donna said they’re really comfortable.
Alen wears an Etro jacket over a heart-print Prada shirt with a Gianni Versace tie. I cut off the toe of Donna’s shoe, so below are details from Prada’s ad campaign.
When I highlight some of these pieces, I get emails or on Twitter, tweets along the lines of, “What is that supposed to mean?”
Well, to most people, nothing. I don’t want people to walk around looking like fashion clones or slaves. These are just the things I find particularly beautiful and enjoy seeing because they bring an element of beauty into daily existence. It serves the same function as a flower arrangement in an office or lobby, or, if so inclined, a Precious Moments figurine on your desktop. I don’t intend to encourage people to go out and consume, but I am inviting people to train their eyes to see more and to see the ordinary elevated through art.
