If you know anything about streetwear and design, then you should immediately know these two gents. Jeff Staple, creative mind behind Staple Design and Reed Space sits down for his fifth installment on his Q&A series “1-2-1 w/jeffstaple” with graffiti and design icon Leonard McGurr better known as Futura. The two discuss topics from the current state of streetwear, its future and how Futura would like to be remembered as a artist. Take 10 minutes out of your life and listen.

Jetsetter: one of the in-crowd, one of the beautiful people, one of the glitterati, trendsetter, person about town, member of café society, social climber. That definition appropriately fits Mik Jagga, former creative director to Greedy Genius and now his very own footwear brand; Passport Collective. I caught up with Mik and chatted about his experience designing on both coast and the manifesto of Passport Collective. Enjoy!

Who is Mik Jagga?

A collector of things fashionable and rare, a liver of life, a lover of culture and  a skilled designer

Since you’ve been given that nickname, do you feel any pressure to live up to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mick Jagger?

Ha! My man Dao Yi from ( Public School/ Black Apple ), gave me that nickname like 10yrs ago, it just seemed to stick, As for the pressure, nah! My whole team is made up of Rock Stars in our own right, seems like we are constantly blessed to do things that make history! Funny enough, I partied hard at Santos last summer and was fortunate to meet the real Mick Jagger, cool as hell, I hope to have that type of kick when I’m his age, word! Continue reading “Q&A: Mik Jagga” »

Check out this video interview with Mark Mothersbaugh (of Devo). He speaks about his DIY approach to making all forms of art and about the making of his video piece “Bora Bora Manta Ray” which can be seen as part of Scion’s Installation 6: Video – national art tour. Scion launched the sixth edition of its successful art tour, “Installation 6: Video” in January at its own 4,200 square foot Installation L.A. Space gallery in Culver City. Having visited Austin, TX in February, the tour now moves on to Wichita, Kansas, a brand new market for Installation. The show opens at Tangent Lab, 143 N. Rock Island, 3rd floor, Wichita, KS 67202 on March 26th with a reception from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. The exhibit will run until April 10th. Continue reading “Mark Mothersbaugh Video Interview – “Scion Installation 6: Video”” »

In retrospect to all that’s occurred in Jay-Z lifetime, he continues to knock down barriers with collaborations and sponsorships deals to let you know that dealing with the big boys may not always be that bad, but then he is the reigning king of Hip Hop so what brand wouldn’t want to work with him. Absolut Vodka presents this short film by director Danny Clinch to pay tribute to the Big Apple in this black and white short film with Jay-Z.

“NEW YORK (March 22, 2010) – Today, as part of an ongoing creative collaboration with JAY-Z and Madison Square Garden (MSG), ABSOLUT® VODKA introduces “NY-Z” – a 14-minute short film featuring JAY-Z and directed by popular music and culture photographer Danny Clinch. Featuring exclusive footage of JAY-Z and John Mayer as they prepare for the September 11 benefit concert at MSG, NY-Z offers a rare glimpse into the life of native New Yorker Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter as he discusses his hometown and what it means for an artist to “arrive” with a performance at the world’s most famous arena. The short film is available for viewing at facebook.com/ABSOLUT. Continue reading “NY-Z: An ABSOLUT Collaboration with Jay-Z” »

I recently watched a documentary on BBC about women with large breasts and how they cope with them. The documentary follow three women who feel uncomfortably defined by their naturally large bust size. So I decided to do my own experiment and find out from women that I know how they truly feel about their cup sizes; how they appreciate, love, hate, and handle their breasts.

Desboobs – Co-Founder of The Boobs

What age did you begin to blossom?

I started to show signs of my lovely lady lumps around the age of 11. While everyone was still swinging from monkey bars, I had to go shopping for training bars. I figured it was as much considering everyone in my family is pretty well endowed. They had mentioned early on that I would be “blessed”. Yeah thanks!

What was your childhood like with above-average breast?

It was alright, I mean boys were perverts as usual. There was only one other Desiree at my junior high besides myself and whenever they would reference me they would say, “Oh I mean Desiree with the huge boobs”. So since I was young, I had already had boobs coincide with my name. I guess I’m not as offended or shy when people call me ‘Desboobs’ or ‘Destitties’ or just plainly boobs. I do remember this though, the one thing that pissed me off was the fact that boys thought it was hysterical to snap my bra. I had those annoying and ugly minimizer keep your big breasts in check bras and whenever they snapped it, it was not pleasant. I basically wanted to punch anyone in the face who decided to go for it. This was daily. Continue reading “Q&A: Me and My Breast” »

Throughout our journeys in life, we meet individuals that give off a certain energy and you immediately know that this person embodies a force that will impact culture and lifestyle. One of the many people I’ve met on my journey happens to be Alexis Mincolla, after meeting Alexis last summer at our mutual friend’s office (David Gensler of The KDU) and talking about his latest venture, Prometheus Spring, I knew he was onto something big. I recently spoke with Alexis to find out what’s the ‘Overthrow‘ is all about and what void he plans to fill with Prometheus Spring.

Please introduce yourself for those not familiar:

My full name is Alexis Van Ess Mincolla and I’m a 27 year old artist and serial entrepreneur.

Where are you originally from?

Well, I was a natural birth in the South Shore of Boston on a place very dear to my heart called Nantasket Beach. From there grew up in the New England boarding school system and then went off to do my university in Rome, Italy. Continue reading “Q&A: Alexis Mincolla” »

Q&A with Director Mark Hopkins

Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders is a riveting documentary following four volunteer doctors serving in post-war Liberia and Congo. This is the first time Medecins Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has allowed uncensored access to its field operations. The result is a real look at day-to-day operations in a field clinic with no overly romantic notions of the good that MSF does and overt clarity that MSF cannot solve every medical issue in the regions it serves.

Dr. Divinder Gill is 26 years old, serving in his first mission with MSF, and is stationed in a remote clinic where he is the only expatriate. Dr. Tom Krueger is a veteran surgeon who closed his 20-year-old private practice to serve his first mission with MSF. Dr. Kiara Lepora is a veteran MSF volunteer and is the head of mission in Monrovia, while Dr. Chris Brasher has worked for MSF for 9 years and reached his burnout period. Each of their stories is revealed with honesty and care as the doctors share their candid views on the importance of their work and the frustrations of the tough choices they must make, given the limits of available technology, supplies, and their own abilities. Continue reading “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders” »

Name / Alias: Jasmin aka Vintage Vandalizm

Where are you originally from? Queens, NY

What made you launch Vintage Vandalizm? I wanted to be heard. I started a blog so I could express myself emotionally & fashionably. Blogs these days are less personal, all about what’s new, what’s in and blah blah blah… where are your opinions? You go through endless blogs, seeing the same things and you find yourself bored to death wanting more, wanting to know if the person behind this blog has a soul… I put my soul into my blog, I give it all I’ve got. Continue reading “Q&A: Vintage Vandalizm” »

Let me take you back a few years. While attending college in Massachusetts, I worked in the school’s writing lab, teaching mostly international students about the proper use of commas and semi-colons. As a student writing tutor, many of my fellow tutors were professors. One of whom was English professor Laurie Stolarz. One day in the lab, Laurie was telling me about how she had just finished a teen fiction novel and that she was shopping it around to publishers, hoping to strike gold.

Fast forward a few years …

I’m now living in Texas, pursuing a graduate degree and working part-time in my favorite store, Barnes & Noble. One day, I was at work shelving books in the teen fiction section, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a series of books – Blue Is for Nightmares, White Is for Magic, Silver Is for Secrets, Red Is for Remembrance – and all by … you guessed it.

It seems that everyone and his pet hamster are writing a book or screenplay (yours truly included). What makes all these people believe that they actually have something interesting to say is totally subjective. Most will not achieve the level of success that they fantasize about, but every so often, one star shines a little brighter than the rest. Continue reading “Q&A: Laurie Faria Stolarz” »

Frank Sabatella, Writer/Director, Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet

Tell us a little bit about yourself… how did you get into filmmaking?

OK, a little about myself. I’m 31 years old and I grew up and lived on Long Island all my life, moved around a few towns here and there… I love NY and don’t think I could ever live anywhere else. I have always loved art and film and I’ve spent most of my life pursuing an artistic and creative career. Filmmaking seemed the natural progression for me after years of photography and photo illustration. Ever since I was young I had always written stories and I think filmmaking was always sort of in the back of my mind. After a few experimental films on my own and after college, I went to film school and began working consistently on sets ever since.

When did you realize you wanted to be a director?

It’s an interesting question, because I don’t know that I can pinpoint a precise moment when I decided I wanted to direct. When I was much younger, like 11, 12 years old, I would take my dad’s old VHS camera and me and my brother and our friends would make dumb little horror movies in our backyards and on our streets. We would write up these quick scenarios and just go out and shoot them and then watch them in our basement. It was just what we did in the summertime mostly because we were bored and it was fun for us. But at that age it doesn’t occur to you that you are a filmmaker or what you are doing is directing, it was just what we did. As I got older and started to really get into the filmmaking craft and the process, I sort of looked back and realized that I had always wanted to do this, that I had always been doing this. I had done some DP work throughout the years which I did enjoy very much, but I really preferred directing because as a director you have the most creative say in a project, you really get to bring your vision to life, and you do this by collaborating with all these other talented and great artists on the set. So it just became the most appealing to me to direct because I love telling stories, I love creating visual elements for the story and I really love working with other artists to bring a story to life. Continue reading “Q&A: Frank Sabatella” »