INTERVIEW
conducted by Aaron B. Jackson
9/1/06
How would you describe your design style?
Elegant punk (rustic urban with a frill)
How did spending portions of your childhood in Asia influence your work?
I lived in Okinawa but traveled through Taiwan, South Korea, and mainland Japan. In these places they were consistently breaking the rules of what the western world considers “fashionable”. There were many reasons for this, including lack of resources and funds and being forced to conform. Similar to the Okinawan student forced to wear uniforms, living on a military base, meant limited options for clothing. If you wanted to dress differently and be unique then you had to be creative, and sometimes that meant going overboard. The Okinawan’s always shocked me with what they would wear and whether it was pleasing or not I enojyed my response. They would mix plaid with stripes, polka dot skirt with big boots, red with hot pink, it was “beauty in the breakdown”, to quote a Frou Frou song. There was totally freedom and no rules.
Name some artists that have influenced you, and why?
First and fore most I have to say the biggest influence in this venture has been Hans Haveron. He is an amazing painter and airbrush artist, along with many other creative talents that he is more then capable of wowing people with. Through all the doubts and fears, he has held my hand and pushed me to see my potential. Some local close to home artists have been Tiffa Novoa (whom I noticed was also a deva), Skin graft (Jonny and Cassidy), Ramona designs, Shira Loa jewelry designs, Adam T, Do Lab, Rafael and Stefino @ SI, Lucent Dossier, cause they can’t do anything else other then manifest their dreams. They know how to unlock the treasure chest!
How did you become involved with the traveling circus troupe Clan Destino and how has that shaped your artistic career?
AAHHH my peeps! They have been my heart and soul through the breaking and cracking open of what is inside. They have experienced the moments of crawling to the times of flying….and then back down again. They have always held the space and supported whatever crazy idea I had. I remember when Steve Samo was apart of Clan Destino and asked for me to perform about four years ago. I was scared to death of making a mistake. Instead I fell in love with the dance and the fire. I had watched my sister climb her way to Broadway all the while in admiration, never thinking that I would be able to perform.
I have had the opportunity to be on front stage and behind the stage. I prefer the corners and directing, but don’t mind every once in awhile engaging a crowd. Putting on performances and choreographing is a huge passion of mine! I want to do more and would like to do another fashion show in the winter. I will always be indebted to Clan Destino… special thanks to Siobhan- for being our rock.
Your fashion shows aren’t just runway shows they are performance extravaganzas. What is it about the runway show that you feel lends itself to other forms of live entertainment?
Runway shows aren’t enough. Who really cares about the clothes- they just add to what really matters… they create the mood, they are apart of the atmosphere, so that people can feel. Ultimately, when people come together, it is to share a vibration, a tone, a frequency. I want to tell a story, to connect, the models are not untouchable, they are like you. Plus it may be stressful, but it is more fun to play on the so called “runway”… make them laugh, drop their jaw, and then lick their face.
What social messages, if any are you trying to convey with your work? Do you feel your work can help create a dialogue in regards to gender stereotypes?
I actually just did a documentary on the Beast Reality show that was in late June. I don’t so much think that I am after stating a point based around gender but more so body acceptance. I brought in the animal theme so that women of all shapes, sizes, and demeanors could feel good about their beauty. It is not about this perfect idealized picture that is painted by the media, but exuding beauty through confidence, which comes from the inside. There is a lot of pressure for women to focus on their exterior and not enough focus on the interior. It is important for woman to feel as if she is being witnessed in her truth, which means accepting the shadows. I have just finished a degree from Santa Barbara Graduate Inst. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Somatics, which is the body. In practicing different internal (somatic modalities) such as, breath work, authentic movement, sequencing, and guided imagery there is more awareness brought to regulating and grounding. I would like to encourage women whom have never had the chance to model, to do so. I want women to be able to experience being adored and I think by creating it more in a ritualistic way that walking down the runway can be someone of a passage. I have experimented with this idea in the past, of asking women for the first time to model while at the same time encoorporating somatic modalitites, which encorage them to stay grounded through the experience.
Can you tell us some of the plans you have for the future?
Yah… to do more fashion shows, and to keep sewing. I would like to try and work with a couple seamstresses to replicate some of the designs that are most popular, either here in LA or abroad. I am working towards staying in community and have found my roommate, Arin, to be a wonderful resource for learning how to do so. I would like to still teach and counsel if not now in the future. To give back!
What is your favorite food?
Avocado!
If possible, could you explain a bit of your creative process?
No, I can’t make sense of it.
Originality seems to be a big concern for you in regards to your designs. Do you find it hard to consistently be ahead of the curve?
I don’t know what the curve is … so it makes it easy. I really have no idea what I am doing … I am just doing it…
