PATTERNS AND TONES

I caught a few sets by Ron and The Reapers at The Famous Barkley Restaurant and Bar last month and couldn't stop dancing! These musicians are the finest around. Their selection of music from the 50's and 6T's unveiled their wealth of knowledge and taste. From a beautiful cover of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers to making the unforgettable "Thirty Six Twenty Two Thirty Six" by Bobby Bland their very own, they kept the place jumping all night long.  Headed by Ron Silva on vocals, guitar and bass, this band consists of rock 'n' roll royalty from Dave Fleminger on keys and guitar, Richard Larson on drums, Peter Miesner on guitar, bass and vocals and Chris Davies on guitar and bass.  We were also treated to the amazing vocal stylings and range of Chloe Lou who is a perfect complement to these impeccable musicians. I recently caught up with Ron and below share a brief interview I did with him to accompany...

Flora as Fashion: Elise Wille Deviating from following the exact line of the vegetation surrounding my model, I constructed a floral patterned high-waisted skirt instead. I suppose it was the architectural element of the building behind Elise that inspired me to come up with a different approach to this image.  It was also the vertical nature of the Bird of Paradise she was standing in that hindered construction of a skirt. I just didn't see how I could build apparel that would come up from the ground and still look like something she could wear. I played around with shapes and forms until I loosened my self imposed restrictions of only working within the framework of the surrounding plants and ended up fabricating this lovely tropical sarong. The color choice was certainly inspired by the vibrant flowering heads of the fan shaped crown. A native to South America, Bird of Paradise has thrives in warm climates and coincidentally is the official flower of the city of ...

Flora as Fashion: Erin Anderson I thought a lot about camouflage while pondered how I would approach this weeks image. Flora has always been a place for birds and animals to hide, as cover and protection from the outside world. Cloths can do the same thing. They can explain our mood, make us feel safe and comfy or help provide a barer. In fashion, we can either blend in or stand out. Applying camouflage into the fashion world has brought this utilitarian design to a new level. The abstract print was designed for military use back in the 30's to allow personnel to blend in to their enviroment, away from enemy detection. But in the fashion world camouflage-inspired prints are a perennial trend and a fashion staple that returns, like leopard print, in various incarnations. Rarely do these interpretations blend in as their military counterpart do. The non-representational pattern is a mass-produced visual language that is immediately recognizable. In development of the print...

Flora as Fashion: Loryn Molina Fashion has always taken a cue from nature. Organic forms lend themselves to the artist's eye and can become a starting point for design and inspiration. Mimicking the curvature of natural flora, this piece today slowly emerged from the background. I didn't see the cloak at first but after studying the image for several days, it suddenly presented itself and I was quickly inspired to craft this lovely garment. Symbolically, cloaks are mysterious. They hold intrigue and help disguise its owner. It is a blanket of protection from physical elements and spiritual harm. With this in the back of my mind, I chose a darker palate to accentuate this feeling and I am delighted with the results. Julie Green April 7, 2018