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| Our former leader |
“We believe in art, love, harmony and creating an economy where artists share their inspiration through gorgeous creations and feed their families in the meantime.”
We residents of San Luis Obispo often mutter about the lack of 'stuff to do' (well, I don't because I have a 3 year old and I suffer from the opposite affliction) BUT, in case you were starting to feel culturally starved, have I got some news for you! Okay, go get a pen, position it over your open hand, and write this down:
Don't ever say I never did nothin' for ya!
CRAFTINISTA believes not only in promoting local designers, but also in doing good for our community. We like to mix our business with philanthropy because it feels right, and because we know that building strong supportive communities begins with us.
when i first met c. bennett (cory anderson) he was at a cafe sporting a hoodie with an embroidered twin pop above the pocket. now, my father is an incredible embroiderer. in the 70s he had this green vest with a huge griffin sewn into it that i revered, it was groovy, to say the least, but i, on the other hand, could not sew myself out of a...what? a paper bag? a prom dress? a straight jacket? anyway, i digress, so, this mr. bennett tells me that the twin pop is in fact a pocket for an ipod. so, not only was this a mad brilliant use of DIY action, it was a hip display of a heartfelt symbol, too. that twin pop said to me that here was someone who saw the reward in sharing (after all, that was the point of those delicious chilled confections, no?), someone who saw himself as a part of something bigger, someone that loved humor and childhood all mixed up with practicality and whimsy. i liked that. so, without further ado, meet c.bennett, artist, designer, photographer, embroiderer and newest 'nista.
You know that feeling, when everything happens at once, like you have been sitting on this egg for frigging ever, wondering if it is going to hatch or just hard boil? Well, a couple weeks ago, my, your loving Godfather's, egg
hatched and out sprung an acceptance letter to Cal Poly's Master in Public Policy program 2010 and a gorgeously painted model named Alysia Hendry, who will now grace the cool exterior of a bottle of 1800 tequila as a part of their artist bottle series. ( I feel I can say the model was gorgeously painted without emanating too much obnoxious braggadocio, because when a collaborative work of art is so lovely, it almost feels ego free.) So, enough about me, life in general is getting exciting to say the least as the support local movement continues to grow here in SLO county. This Saturday March 20th, CRAFTINISTA is hosting an indie shopping event at Carve, the annual all women's surf contest in Cayucos starting at 11 am. I am also pleased to announce that Picking Daisies in the Creamery downtown will host CRAFTINISTA's Spring/Summer trunk show on Thursday June 3rd. Finally, for all of you localistas, I stumbled upon this cool local organization that deserves a big fat shout out for the local DIY community called Upcycle SLO, whose blog is filled with events and great tips. Also, if you haven't found Neal yet (you'll want to pet his beard, I am just warning you so you are not overtaken by the urge unawares), and his killer art store (dry those tears from the loss of Law's 'cause this little shop packs a punch!) check out San Luis Art Supply; run by a real artist, and a good one, too-plus, he can order anything you need, although his grasp of the basics from everything from brushes to silk screening materials is so scaled down functional, it will blow your mind. Plus, he also uses his shop like a gallery that features local artists. 1116 Morro, right next door to Baxter Moerman, the most incredible jewelry design studio and retail space in town featuring streamlined organic and classic pieces; a must look, and the Granada Bistro featuring a great little wine list, a decor straight out of 1960s Paris and serving up CRAFTINISTA's own, Amy Bakes Cupcakes. So, in a nutshell, as each day passes and I see more and more local good stuff coming to fruition. One of my heroines, Margaret Mead says it best; "Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
When I showed up on thursday morning to paint my models for the Embodiment human canvas show that is being put on by Native Lounge in downtown SLO, I was not sure what to expect. I had formulated a few ideas after selecting my models at the casting call, but, as a painter, I knew that ideas can only really be treated as a starting point, because once you begin, anything can happen. Painting on human beings, of course, throws in another element of inspiration, and I was prepared to evolve with what came next. What I did not expect was the incredible exchange, for lack of a better term, of energy between myself and my models. Dragging paint across another human being with a soft brush, focusing intently on the desire to connect with another body by allowing myself to read the skin, the personality, the shape of muscle and bone to transcend the realm of static art into something completely and totally alive. The way the paint would dry on a hair or over a scar all became part of my adoration for my models. Each line, each color, completely chosen by my own interpretation of their being. I felt intense amounts of boundless love for my models, not jaded by words or judgements, but as two people, artist and muse, forming that instant bond that has shaped art and design from the very beginning. And being in a room full of all of this electric energy, the banter of the models, the deep focus of the artists, was totally electrifying. I felt a deep love for humanity that day; the pleasure of beauty, adornment, comraderie and complete freedom of expression. As an artist, I felt the freedom to move with color inspired by the moment, and I witnessed the models absorb all of the deeply felt creative juices of their artists and become more than human, they became beauty itself.
I watched a documentary last night entitled Fado. It was a collection of performances done by Portuguese Fado singers or Fadanistas; Fado being Portuguese for destiny or fate. The songs were heartfelt and crooning; graceful trills emanated from deep inside the singers' bodies only to be released through mouths quivering with emotion. These Fadanistas, their eyes would be shut, their faces turned upward as though the only escape from their longing, their heartbreak, was to send this sound up into the ether to be consumed by the sky. The words used in these songs have no real direct translation into English, but convey messages of deep emotions; longing for homeland, jealousy, love, passion, revenge, and betrayal. I noticed 'fado' was used as a noun, a verb and an adjective. (Lila Downs sings of being more 'fado' than another woman competing for her man, and wins him back because she could sing fado, and that made her a real woman.) When the first singer used the term 'Fadanista', I immediately thought of Craftinista and the many definitions that surround our moniker. Craftinista is beyond what it initially implies: crafts for sale. Craftinista also translates to local economy, harmonizing with our community, support for local artists, demonstrating strength in numbers, rejection of poor working conditions, networking, taking an active role in our lives, bringing awareness to the money that we spend, creating beautiful things and sharing them with the people that surround us. We are a group of professional designers who run businesses, but together, we are not a business, we are an idea in action. We are our own sweet piece of the revolution.*
