UNDER MY BED

A sad announcement...

2010-03-19T18:13:00.007-04:00

Dear readers and contributors,

You may have noticed that all I've posted lately are photos. I think it's time to tell you that UNDER MY BED is taking a break - but don't fear! We'll be back (hopefully sometime soon), better than ever. I'm working on managing things a little differently, so you can expect to see some changes when we return.

I'm still looking for submissions to go up when we re-launch, so send whatever you'd like to undermybedonline@gmail.com. I'd also like to open interviews up to everyone so we can have a whole bunch in the future. If there's an artist, photographer, or any other creative person who you want to know more about, e-mail me and we'll talk about it.

Remember that you can click the links on the right hand side to see old artwork, read old interviews, etc. Don't forget about us!

Thanks and talk to you all soon,

Stephanie Fereiro

2010-03-19T12:34:00.002-04:00

Photo of the day by Ana Cuba.

2010-03-17T13:42:00.002-04:00

Photo of the day by Shelby DiMarco.

2010-03-15T12:11:00.002-04:00

Photo of the day by Arden Wray.

2010-03-12T13:58:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Yuli Sato.

2010-03-11T10:17:00.001-05:00

GET OUTSIDE!

2010-03-11T10:12:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lucy Diamond-Phillips.

2010-03-10T19:03:00.004-05:00

WORN FASHION JOURNAL
needs reinforcements!

WORN is currently offering internships
for those seeking hands-on and relevant experience in
fashion and publishing
with Canada’s leading independent fashion magazine.

Because WORN is a small magazine,
our interns work alongside our editors,
writers, and graphic designers
helping with real tasks
(never fetching coffee or picking up dry cleaning)
and getting a chance to show their stuff.

Why choose WORN?

WORN is an independent print publication

dedicated to offering a unique and inclusive perspective on fashion and style.

Our readership is expanding dramatically throughout Canada and internationally.

We are increasingly recognized by fashion lovers,
vintage hounds, academics and artists
as a truly unique and smart magazine
for people who want
more fashion and less fluff.

WE ANSWER TO READERS, NOT ADVERTISERS.

The deadline for new intern applications is
April 1st, 2010
Look for applications and
learn how to become a wornette in 3 easy steps at
wornjournal.com

2010-03-09T11:55:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Noni May.

2010-03-08T09:48:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lona.

2010-03-04T10:26:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Sabino Aguad.

another ghost

2010-03-03T10:10:00.006-05:00

Photo series by Brianne Burnell.

2010-03-03T10:05:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Ivy Finkelstein.

they made a statue of us

2010-03-02T14:05:00.004-05:00

A playlist for this sunny Tuesday:

"Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z (feat. Alicia Keys)

"Us" by Regina Spektor

"Hysteric" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

"Tourist" by Julian Casablancas

"Sun Giant" by Fleet Foxes

Silke

2010-03-02T11:42:00.001-05:00

Noni May's first video portrait.

2010-02-24T08:28:00.003-05:00

Photo of the day by Katie Watson.

A Tasty Art Lesson

2010-02-23T11:31:00.011-05:00

Many painters paint food, many chefs create culinary works of art, and 25-year-old Megan Fizell does an interesting combination of both. By day she works at an art gallery in Sydney and is a freelance photographer, and by night she creates original recipes inspired by famous paintings.

For the past year, Fizell has been combining her studies in art history and art business, and her passions for food and photography, to create a very palatable art lesson on her blog, Feasting on Art.

Otiena Ellwand talks with Megan Fizell about art, food, and cooking up a life with both ingredients.

O.E. Where did you grow up and how did you end up living in Sydney?

M.F. I grew up in Michigan. I moved to London to get my MA degree in Art Business and met my partner traveling in Portugal. He was also living in London and after dating for a couple of years I relocated with him back to his home in Sydney.

O.E. Were you interested in art and cooking as a child?

M.F. I have always had an interest in art but I was helpless in the kitchen when I was quite young. I was known in my family as the one who burnt soup. My mother mostly bakes and the only dish I ever asked to learn was my great-grandmother's lefse, a traditional Norwegian flatbread. My grandfather has a big garden and throughout the summer we were supplied with fresh seasonal produce. It wasn't until I moved to London and adapted to city life that I was able to realize my luck as a child.

O.E. What's your favourite art period? How has work from this period influenced your work?

M.F. Mid-nineteenth century French painting is my favourite. Artists including Manet, Delacroix, and Géricault were beginning to break away from the traditions of the academic schools of art. The artists of this period were laying the groundwork for some of the most radical changes in representation and preluded the popular movement of Impressionism.

O.E. If you could make anything based on any painting, which painting would you chose and what would you make?

M.F. I would definitely recreate Wayne Thiebaud's 1963 painting titled Cakes if I had the time and energy or reason to make so many sweets. Maybe someday... or else I could do a cupcake version.

O.E. What do you look for in a painting before you design the recipe to go along with it?

M.F. It is summer here in Sydney and I have been cooking with a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. I try to pick paintings based on what is in season at the moment. I often select paintings with two or three ingredients depicted to make developing the recipe a bit easier. If there are numerous ingredients I will either break the painting into two recipes or just pick the central elements to adapt.

O.E. Which painting was the most difficult to adapt into a dish?

M.F. Logistically, the Mondrian Pound Cake was the most difficult. I was trying to conceive a way to make the cake that was not too time consuming and relatively easy. I got about 90 per cent of the way there but I still need to work on the recipe to get the colouring to bleed through the segments.

Cotan's Still Life with Quince, Cabbage, Melon and Cucumber, was the most difficult painting because the ingredients were so disjointed. It took a lot of experimentation to make a quince, cabbage, melon, and cucumber into a dish where the flavours work together.

O.E. Did you see the film "Julie & Julia"? How do you think blogging about food compares to writing a cookbook?

M.F. I did see Julie & Julia although I preferred the book. Blogging is great because you get instant feedback from your readers. I imagine writing a book would be similar, albeit more work over a longer time frame, to a dissertation. After working six months on mine I found it hard to separate myself from the writing— blogging circumvents this problem. It turns a larger body of work (I have around 60 posts on my website) into short segments that are published every week or so. It is like digital photography compared to analogue film, you can instantly put your work out to your audience rather than waiting to see what will develop.

O.E. You have been blogging for a year. Why do you think there is so much interest in what you're doing now?

M.F. I think there is a particular interest in home cooking in the present economic climate. The Internet is full of food blogs filling this need and people respond to ideas that are a bit different with a new perspective. I think this is why there is an interest in my blog in particular. I present two creative outlets, food and art, in a new manner.

O.E. What's next for you and for your blog?

M.F. I am hoping to bring my concept to a wider audience. I have been doing collaborations with other bloggers where we take the same painting and adapt it into a sweet and savoury recipe. I really enjoy seeing the way someone else interprets the same work. I am currently holding a recipe contest to mark the one-year mark of the blog and I cannot wait to compile all of the entries. I am also working on a few different proposals; in an ideal world the blog would materialize into a column or book.

O.E. You've traveled to many parts of the world. How has travel influenced your cooking style?

M.F. Traveling has provided an excellent opportunity to try new cuisines and ingredients and has made me insatiably curious. I blogged about my trip to Mexico and my very first taste of Mole (a recipe that I subsequently adapted on my site). Living in London was an excellent base for travel and I found myself cooking the dishes I tried on holiday as soon as I returned home. My souvenirs were exotic ingredients and accessories for my kitchen. A cheese plane from Oslo, beautiful olive dishes from Turkey, a carved wooden spoon from Prague, and a set of coloured liquor glasses from Venice are among the treasures I carted from Europe to Australia.

O.E. I have chosen two paintings: Still Life on Kansas River and Pentecost. If you were to make a dish based on each, what would you make?

M.F. Oh! I think from the first painting with the pears and apples I would make a drink recipe to keep with the liquid theme. I think a pear and apple cider with ginger would be great.

As for the second one... there is so much going on in the composition! I mostly see fruit, although I think there is a leg of ham in the forefront and a giant fish in the background. Staying with the fruit theme I would make a port jelly with fresh fruit suspended in it.

Bon appétit!

Pictures by Megan Fizell.
Text by Otiena Ellwand.

2010-02-23T11:30:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lona.

2010-02-18T12:47:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by April Rotelli.

2010-02-17T00:45:00.002-05:00

By Mary Virginia Carmack.

2010-02-17T00:44:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lucy Diamond-Phillips.

wings!

2010-02-16T11:14:00.002-05:00

By Andrea Manica.

2010-02-12T16:49:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Sophie Van der Perre.

2010-02-10T23:32:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica Bialkowski.

sun and shadows

2010-02-09T11:09:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lona.

2010-02-05T12:04:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jason Rowe.

2010-02-03T16:42:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica-Naomi.

tweet (tweet)

2010-02-02T22:59:00.008-05:00

I forgot to tell you all that I've jumped on Twitter once again. I swear I'm actually using it this time, (maybe even more than I update this blog)! If you want to follow...

twitter.com/stephanieie

2010-02-02T00:46:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Nicole Miller.

Mia Nolting talks backyard fruit trees, excessive list-writing, sketchbook travel diaries, and scientific surveys.

2010-01-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

Mia Nolting is a 26 year old illustrator, language scientist and photographer who hails from Portland, Oregon. She takes inspiration from small-press books, young adulthood and the ocean, and has illustrated for Bitch Magazine, Penguin Publishing, and The New York Times Magazine, among several other publications.

Mia is a teacher, a lover and a dreamer. Her drawings speak for themselves, and they say a lot - sometimes more than you want to hear.

Here's my interview with the lady herself.

S.F. How old are you, and where do you live?

M.N. I'm 26 and I live in Portland, Oregon with 2 great roommates in a big old house. We have fruit trees in the backyard, which I'm looking forward to this spring.

S.F. When did you start drawing?

M.N. I've been drawing my whole life. The first drawing I remember doing was called "Yellow Girl" when I was three. My mom still has it.

S.F. Were you artistic as a child?

M.N. Definitely. I was lucky and had art classes in my elementary school. My teacher was from Transylvania and wore table cloths as skirts and was generally pretty wacky. Her classes definitely influenced me, in addition to my parents being supportive of my wanting to pursue art. I think they're still nervous about it.

S.F. How much of your time do you spend making art? What else do you do with your time?

M.N. I make sure that art is a huge part of my life, whether I'm getting paid or not. I don't have a day job, but I have a million little things going on that add up to somehow being able to pay rent: I do a lot of freelance illustration and miscellaneous design work, I work as an art model, I assist both an artist and a poet in their studios, I teach Photoshop classes, and help out in the Illustration department of the art school I recently graduated from. My studio is in the back of the Together Gallery, where I show work from time to time. I just got back from doing a month-long internship in Los Angeles learning about movie poster design.

S.F. What exactly are you working on right now?

M.N. My friend Rachel Peddersen and I just finished the first issue of a publication we're putting together called and&review. I'm working on a map of ancient Portland trees with my boyfriend. I've got two solo shows coming up, and I'm going on tour with a band in the spring so I'll do some kind of project about that. I've had a lot of requests to design tattoos recently, and I'm also collaborating with my friend Ryland Knight, who is a writer, on a visual poem book. I'm also helping the young adult author Nina LaCour with some bookmarks.

S.F. Tell us about your survey project. What has come of it?

M.N. I just sent out the last survey ever, so the next step will be to tally all of the results. I've got 2 years worth of data to go through, and I'm planning on making a series of pie charts and graphs tracking participants' emotional states over 2 years. The science part of it isn't totally accurate, though, since the questions have changed with each survey. It's a project that'll let me use the visual language of science, which I find really beautiful.

S.F. Tell us about the use of words and short phrases in your drawings.

M.N. I've always loved language - the way it sounds and the way it looks. Before I transferred to art school, I studied linguistics and literature and took French classes. I've also always been obsessed with typography, so drawing letters comes very naturally to me. The phrases often just come to me while doing other things like biking or dishes, and those tend to be very personal and refer to some kind of romantic dilemma. I also gather a lot of phrases from eavesdropping on conversations in coffee shops. A lot of times I'll be drawing someone and also draw something I hear them say.

S.F. Who are some artists whose work has influenced your own? What else inspires you?

M.N. I'll just make a list: Saul Steinberg, Mike Mills, and John Copeland. Rachel Salomon was sort of a mentor for me when I was in college, and I still ask her for advice from time to time. Other things I look at are old typography specimen books, Polish movie posters, and random images on tumblr, and lots of publications, magazines, and zines whose names I never remember. I listen to music mostly written before 1970, and I also think that the 60's and 70's were a great time for design in general, but maybe that's because I wasn't alive then.

S.F. Tell us about all the lists you make. I'm an avid believer in keeping lists, too.

M.N. I think it just comes down to writing, and liking the way writing looks. I also like how complicated things can be distilled or compacted into a simple list. Lists make everything seem less overwhelming.

S.F. Can you tell us a little about your recent travels?

M.N. This was a big year for traveling for me. I went to Berlin and Poland this summer, for no particular reason except that my friend asked me if I wanted to go and I said yes. After Poland I visited my old relatives in Hawaii, and after spending the summer in Portland I went to L.A. for a few weeks for a very short internship at a company that designs movie posters. That was a great experience but I love too many people in Portland so I came back. Now I'm here for a while because I moved into a cute house and I spent all the money I made last year! I always at least keep a sketchbook during my travels, and use that as a way to document where I've been. I think that sketches are more reliable than photographs in terms of being able to remember an experience, because when you draw something you have to look at it closely for a long time.

Illustrations by Mia Nolting.
Text by Stephanie Fereiro.

2010-01-29T11:18:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Anna Solveig.

J.D. Salinger, Rest in Peace

2010-01-28T14:14:00.004-05:00

2010-01-28T09:18:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Laina Briedis.

A little message from Jessica Devic...

2010-01-27T21:41:00.005-05:00

Jessica Devic has an idea that will help with those winter blues. She's a lovely girl who wants to take photos of you, free of charge. Take advantage, have some fun, and make a new friend while you're at it. Read on for Jessica's message.

You and I, we hate winter. It's cold and depressing, yet admittedly quite pretty. You and I, we like to make the best out of a crappy situation.

You want some pictures of yourself? I like to take pictures. Here's the deal... You pick up processing-included film, we walk around the city, we find cool spots, I take pictures of you, we hang out, we be friends. I won't charge for time or whatever - just the cost of film.

The result? You get pretty pictures of yourself that are not your typical awkward posed shots, *shivers*, and you still have money in your pocket since film is a beautiful, cheap invention, and overpriced photographers are not beautiful, cheap or an invention.

No time limit, nothing formal or elaborate, since that would be considered 'work.' I'll get the film developed and give you all of the shots on a disk.

This is only available for people in the Toronto area, and does not include typically commissioned work such as fashion shoots, formal portraits, etc. This is 'you buy me film, we hang out, you get pictures' super-day. It's a limited time kind of deal - winter only.

If you have any questions, e-mail me at jessica@devicfotos.com.

I'm dying to shoot you. Buy some film.

Text and photograph by Jessica Devic.

a tear in time and space

2010-01-27T21:24:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lucy Diamond-Phillips.

Who loves the sun?

2010-01-26T13:47:00.006-05:00

Woah! I was gone for a while, wasn't I? Well, I'm back. I'm trying to be back. Once again, please forgive me for failing to post for days on end... I think this is the longest time I've gone without posting, and honestly, I feel bad about it. I hope those of you who click daily aren't disappointed. Please keep coming back. Expect to see my interview with Mia Nolting soon! Read the book review I did for WORN! Enjoy yourselves, be safe, keep warm.

Stephanie
xx

Photo of the day by Judit Piñol.

2010-01-19T12:43:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica Devic.

2010-01-15T13:00:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Laina Briedis. Interview coming soon!

The Bird on my Head, according to Grandma.

2010-01-14T18:13:00.008-05:00

This is my grandma. My mom's mom. Both of my grandparents used to design and sell jewelery for a living, but my Grandma also wrote several short stories for magazines in her spare time. She thought it was really hilarious when I wore this flower (pictured below) on my head on Christmas day. She kept asking where the bird who lived in the nest on my head went. Of course, I'll never live it down.

Since my birthday was yesterday, my mail box was a little more full than usual. My grandma decided to send me a card and a letter - and of course, the letter had to go like this...

Dear Stephanie, (alias 'Curly'),

We have been searching high and low for that BIRD who flew out of your nest. Occasionally we heard flapping accompanied by strange chirping noises. Then, I had the kitchen window open one morning, and something whizzed by my head and disappeared. But just now, a little man (see enclosed pirate-like fellow) knocked on the door and said, 'Is this your BIRD?' I knew you wouldn't believe any of this if I didn't send a picture of the bird on his shoulder.

I Asked the BIRD if he wanted me to pack him into a big box and punch some breathing holes into it, and ship him off to you in Toronto by United Postal Services. He said, 'Are you kidding? I like it here!'

Right now, I'm pleased to report that he is perched on the edge of Grandpa's cereal bowl, eating bird seed. When I ask him how he's doing, he just says, 'Ah, what a life!'

Happy birthday!

Love,
Grandma & Grandpa

[Oh, and the "enclosed pirate-like fellow" is a temporary tattoo of a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder. I can't decide if I should save it or put it on.]

2010-01-12T13:36:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Nicole Miller.

changes! craziness! hold your horses!

2010-01-12T13:23:00.005-05:00

Hello, lovely readers. If you don't see your submissions up yet, it's not because I hate them. They'll be up soon. Right now is just a crazy time! Yes, I know, "school just started and isn't very busy yet." School, however, is not my entire existence. You can find me at WORN a lot lately, and generally just enjoying real sleep, friends, and life. I'm not exactly sure at this point what the fate of UNDER MY BED looks like. I feel like a change is in the works. I can't tell you what it is, though, or what that change will mean. I'll keep you posted. But for now, stick with me. I can promise that at least a couple of good interviews are currently on their way to you, and, as usual, more beautiful photos. Keep sending your submissions, questions, and comments to undermybedonline@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate each and every one of you.

Stephanie
xx

beautiful things

2010-01-08T11:39:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica-Naomi.

2010-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Photo of the day by Yuli Sato.

2010-01-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

Cut & paste by Stephanie Fereiro.

2010-01-05T20:00:00.000-05:00

Photo of the day by Katie Hill.

2010-01-04T12:03:00.001-05:00

Photo of the day by Arden Wray.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T13:29:00.006-05:00

It's 2010, and everyone's already talking about how this (new) year is going to top all years, or at least be better than the last one. 2009 was good to me, and I hope it was good to you, but we're heading into a new decade and I can feel in my bones that everything just goes up from here. I hope you're all optimistic and excited and busy writing down your (achievable) resolutions.

Send your favourite work from 2009 to undermybedonline@gmail.com. Or, even better, make a resolution not to be afraid of showing people your art, writing, or photographs. Make a resolution to start showing the world who you are.

I wish you all a very happy new year.

Love,
Stephanie

2009-12-30T16:55:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica-Naomi.

2009-12-29T11:15:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Megan McIsaac.

2009-12-28T13:14:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Katie Watson.

2009-12-25T23:18:00.001-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS, LOVES!

2009-12-23T12:58:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Sabino Aguad.

"I have to go home." "You are home."

2009-12-22T17:01:00.007-05:00

Thanks to Anna Fitz for posting this and reminding me how happy this clip and the entire movie makes me. I know Almost Famous is sort of a cliché favourite film, but from the first time I saw it, I just knew I'd watch it a million more times. I've probably seen it at least 20 times now (on VHS!) since I bought it for about two dollars a few years ago. It just never gets old.

2009-12-22T09:01:00.001-05:00

Cut & paste by Stephanie Fereiro.

2009-12-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Photo of the day by Yuli Sato.

Fifi Lapin's Advent Calendar

2009-12-21T21:41:00.005-05:00

I can't believe I forgot to tell you about this until now. Visit Fifi Lapin and check out her wardrobe advent calendar - it's been 21 days already, and she's counting up to the 25th of December, with a cute outfit or two for each day. Enjoy!

IT'S TIME TO PANIC! PANIC NOW!

2009-12-21T14:21:00.011-05:00

So, here we are, only a few days before Christmas. Can you believe it? I'm sure there are a bunch of you - including myself, oops! - who haven't finished holiday shopping just yet. IT'S TIME TO PANIC! PANIC NOW! Just kidding. Relax. This doesn't mean you're a bad person, or that you should make a New Years resolution to finish all of your shopping in November next year - because you know you'll break it.

Buying an appreciated gift can, obviously, be difficult under pressure. Sure, we'd all love to have time to wander the city's thousands of boutiques and all-sorts shops, until we stumble upon that perfect little something for our mother, cousin, brother, or cat. Unfortunately, real life is happening too, and that Saturday when you were supposed to be grabbing brunch with a friend and shopping for hours turned into a last minute study session for your exam on Monday, (which you also put off for far too long).

Do not fear! I'm here to give you a little list of what I like to call "gifts that everyone you know will find useful, but that also seem personal." Most of these just so happen to be gift cards. This may sound rude or unthoughtful, but hey, so does "stopping at the grocery store on the way to Christmas dinner and picking up an extra-fancy cheese ball and coffee for your aunt." Yeah? That's what I thought.

So, here it goes. Read carefully.

1. A gift card for LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics: Not only does this say, "Go on, pamper yourself. You deserve it." But, it allows them to pick out the perfect soap or face mask, catered specifically to their skin-type - something people would often rather pick out themselves. If soaps and masks aren't their preference, LUSH also stocks a variety of bath bombs, hair-care, natural perfumes, lotions, and much, much more. Oh, you may think this is gender and location specific, but it isn't! The gift card can be used at any LUSH store, or on the shop's website, and they stock tons of stuff for women and men.

2. A gift card for Chapters, Coles, or Indigo: This is pretty self-explanatory. Everyone loves Chapters - especially if they live near a huge one (like at Richmond and John, in Toronto). Your gift card can buy music, movies, books, magazines, candles, tea, stuffed animals, chocolate, cookies, journals, picture frames... Just about anything. My dad and I had an oddly long conversation recently about how someone could go to Chapters and get all of their Christmas shopping done - they have everything. So if you choose to be a little more creative, and opt out of the gift card idea, go to Chapters anyway and pick out cute gifts for the whole family.

3. A (you guessed it) gift card for the nearest big mall*: Once again, self-explanatory. A mall gift card can be used in all stores or restaurants within the mall. If your uncle isn't much of a shopper, he can always go fill up on New York Fries or Manchu Wok. Or, he can buy something nice for your aunt's January birthday. This can seem a bit impersonal, because, well, it's the mall. I don't think I know anyone, though, who wouldn't enjoy shopping on someone else's tab.

4. For mothers, fathers, and close friends: Go to the nearest store that sells gift items. Seriously, almost any store will do - even some of the nicer grocery stores. Pick out a cute picture frame and buy it. Then, go home and find a picture of you with the person you plan on giving it to. Old and/or hilarious pictures are preferred. Put the picture inside the frame, and write a little note (on nice paper) to tape on the back, which will spark memories of that time you two went to the zoo and imitated baboons, or the time you took photo-booth pictures at the mall on Halloween. Anyone with a heart will love it.

5. Cold hard cash: Who doesn't want a little padding in their pockets?

Well, that's it. If there's someone you know who won't like at least one of the ideas I listed above, then you're in trouble and you should consider pretending you have H1N1 and just skip Christmas dinner. I'm only kidding, just like when I told you it was time to panic. You'll find something. Give it a little thought. Brainstorm, make lists, and be creative.

Enjoy giving and receiving; spend time with the ones you love; sleep in an extra hour or two; and stuff yourself with a delicious, home-cooked meal. Merry Christmas!

Text by Stephanie Fereiro.

2009-12-21T14:15:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Judit Piñol.

Arden Wray talks childhood eccentricity, familiar models, intimacy in all things, and enlightenment by The Virgin Suicides.

2009-12-19T14:10:00.009-05:00

Arden Wray's photographs make you think. Well, they make me think. They make me wonder if her subjects are posing by direction, or if they're simply their natural selves in front of the lens. If the former is true, they're extremely talented actors. Being completely yourself in front of a lens isn't easy - you hold yourself just a little stiffer; check your posture and facial expression. However, the people in Arden's photographs don't only seem naturally emotional, vulnerable and real - they just are, thanks to the close relationships most of them share with the 20 year old photographer.

I don't think anything I could say about Arden's photography would do it justice. So, I'll let the images speak for themselves, and I'll let Arden fill in the gaps.

Arden is in the photography program at Montreal's Concordia University, and was studying for an art history exam when I called her this afternoon. She took the better part of an hour, though, to speak with me about everything from Cowboys and Indians paraphernalia to our shared obsession with The Virgin Suicides.

After a brief discussion on the annoyance of late exams only a few days before Christmas, our interview started here:

S.F. Tell me what you were like as a kid.

A.W. Haha, well I was kind of eccentric; fashion forward. I've had a lot of the same friends my whole life that have always teased me for showing up to the fourth grade wearing, like, a tube top and a fur coat. I’ve always been creative in my own way, and very studious, which is kind of a funny thing to balance sometimes. I went to very academic schools all the way through, and transferred to McGill with that mindset. Then I decided I wanted to switch to Concordia to pursue something creative with the majority of my time, not the minority.

S.F. When did you first start taking photos?

A.W. Casually, I always have. Taking photos that really mattered to me, I started in high school. I started taking portraits of my friends for my art class, and I discovered I was really excited about it. I had amazing art teachers who really encouraged me with it. It sort of made me take myself seriously for the first time.

S.F. How often do you find yourself taking photos?

A.W. Constantly. My favourite way to shoot is to just bring my camera with me wherever I go.

S.F. Film or digital?

A.W. I never use digital. I think for me, I don’t want my photos to look exactly like a captured moment. I don’t want it to look exactly like real life. I like little imperfections and grain, and real light that I think film captures when digital can't. I like blur, and when things are a little off.

S.F. Who or what do you like taking photos of most?

A.W. Familiar people and familiar places. I really like shooting people I know very well. I'm happy with taking pictures of people in places that I feel comfortable in, and of people I feel comfortable with. I shoot a lot inside; in my apartment or friends' apartments.

S.F. When you’re not taking photos, what are you doing?

A.W. I have lots of collections. I love decorating, so I collect weird little groups of funny things like viewfinder slides. And I have a Cowboys and Indians themed bedroom wall, which I’m always collecting stuff for. I’m pretty interested in anything aesthetic.

S.F. Have you had any gallery shows yet?

A.W. I’ve only been in group shows. I showed twice at the Hotshot gallery in Toronto. And then I had a show with two other girls at the Visual Arts gallery on the Concordia campus. We put together the idea for it and curated and hung everything for the show.

S.F. What are you working on for the New Year?

A.W. I’m working on a series that I started in September, and I think it's going to continue into the summer. It’s about the process of nesting. It goes with the themes I generally work with like intimacy, vulnerability, comfort and trust.

S.F. How do your parents respond to your passion and talent for photography?

A.W. They’re crazy supportive. My whole family is really supportive. I come from a fairly creative background - my mom is a writer, and now she directs television shows, and my dad works in the film industry. Both of my grandmothers paint, and my grandfather is a poet and playwright.

S.F. What kind of impact has photography had on your life or relationships?

A.W. There are people I've become closer to because of it. Certain shoots have affected my relationships in a really strong way, because I’m going into someone's space and trying to get them to open up to me.

S.F. What is the difference between the photos you put in your Keep Warm photo diary and the photos in the galleries on your website?

A.W. I try to be more selective with the website, whereas Keep Warm is me spilling out everything I've done lately. I'm trying to look at the website from a more polished perspective. I really think about what belongs together, and what makes a series, whereas Keep Warm is more of me spilling my guts.

S.F. What's your favourite photo that you've taken?

A.W. My favourite photo is constantly changing. At this particular moment, it's a shot that I initially overlooked on the roll and it took me a couple of weeks to come back to it and realize that I actually really, really like it. It's a photo I took of my friend Natasha, very hungover on her couch early in the morning when I was visiting her in Ottawa. I like the colours, the textures, and the softness of her body and face. I'm using it in the series on nesting that I'm working on right now.

S.F. Explain your series work. Why 'Women' and 'On Comfort and Intimacy'?

A.W. I think they share the same themes. 'Nesting' is going to fit really well, too. They're all me exploring the kind of intimacy we can achieve in each context. All of my friends are in the same situations as me, living away from home, in a funny limbo that I find interesting - between living with the families we were born into, and the families we will eventually create. There’s this bond we really have at this age, because it’s like we’re building these connections and units that we can rely on. I think I'm often including myself in that. More so in the 'Women' series. I think I'm really showing the relationship between the person in front of the camera and me behind it, through the vulnerability that's shown.

S.F. Has going to school for photography changed the way you see it as an art?

A.W. It’s hugely changed it. I'm forced to really look at technical aspects, which I hadn’t before. It's made me a lot better as a photographer. Part of that is really sharpening my technique and learning about lighting. I also think part of that, too, is having this pressure on me to constantly produce. It’s odds – the more you're shooting, the more likely you are to hone your own style and figure out what works and what doesn’t.

S.F. A lot of your photos catch people in very vulnerable positions. Is this intentional?

A.W. I don’t know why, but that’s what I’m drawn to. I think that’s because the kind of photographs that I really connect with are ones where you feel yourself connecting with the people in the image. I like to produce something that I think is honest and really shows something about the person in the image.

S.F. What kinds of things inspire you?

A.W. I really like food – good food is my number one favourite thing. I'm inspired by funny little old things that I find; by the people around me who interest me and excite me; by places that I visit and places that I haven’t yet visited, but that excite me too; and by beautiful movies. I really hold dear The Virgin Suicides, and that has really shaped my understanding of myself. I saw the movie when I was 12, and had this immediate realization of finally being like: "This is it. I understand how they feel; how they talk. I understand this music." It was like this moment of identity.

S.F. Have any artists in particular affected your work?

A.W. Sophia Coppola, definitely. I love Wes Anderson, too. The simple quirky little shots he does of peoples' desk drawers, or what they're wearing, I really appreciate. Photographers I'm really into are William Eggleston and Stephen Shore. When I saw their work I was suddenly so passionate about it. On a different level, I've always really loved Nan Goldin. She’s a really different kind of photographer. My high school art teacher told me about her because I guess the photos I was taking reminded her of Nan’s. I saw them and was blown away.

S.F. In ten years, if you could be anywhere with any career at all, where would you be?

A.W. I would simultaneously own a vintage store in Portland, Oregon, with my best friend Mel, and exhibit my photos on the side. I’d be doing some sort of freelance set decoration, and have a cute baby who would come to work with me.

S.F. That sounds perfect to me! Your question from Shelby DiMarco is: What’s your favourite photo or piece of art?

A.W. My favourite photo or piece of art… Probably Van Gogh’s Portrait of Joseph Roulin.

S.F. Can you give me a question to ask in my next interview?

A.W. Yeah! What movie or book would you associate with your art, if you had to show them together?

Photos by Arden Wray.
Text by Stephanie Fereiro.

le marché

2009-12-18T09:01:00.000-05:00

Cut & paste by Stephanie Fereiro.

daydreams

2009-12-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Photo of the day by Yuli Sato.

2009-12-17T13:06:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica Devic.

Make Your Place

2009-12-17T09:00:00.007-05:00

This little book - it really is little, 5 x 7 inches - is a handy guide to all things home and health-related. From natural remedies for everything from headaches to cuts and scrapes, to recipes for cleaning and skin-care products, Make Your Place has it all, hand-penned, zine style. I picked up my copy at the Microcosm Publishing table at Canzine, but you can buy yours for five bucks by clicking here.

notebook cut & paste

2009-12-16T16:08:00.005-05:00

By Stephanie Fereiro.

I was away from a scanner for a while, so now I'll have more cut & pastes (whatever you want to call them) to show you in the next few days. Please ignore the see-through paper.

2009-12-16T13:24:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Laura Marie Scott.

2009-12-15T13:37:00.003-05:00

Photo of the day by Lucy Diamond-Phillips.

2009-12-14T23:43:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Ariel Rosenbloom.

7777

2009-12-12T16:16:00.009-05:00

Since the summer, UNDER MY BED has had 7777 views (according to the little box at the bottom of the page). Seven-thousand-seven-hundred-and-seventy-seven views. Try saying that five times fast. I'm not sure if that's a lot, as far as hits go, but it sounds like it and I'm so happy. Thanks, everyone.

Photo of the day by Nina Pechkovskaya.

Mary Virginia Carmack

2009-12-12T16:14:00.001-05:00

I'm so blown away by Mary Carmack's work. So blown away that I don't have words to describe it. Are words really necessary? I don't think so. See for yourselves.

2009-12-11T13:31:00.003-05:00

This photo reminds me of Christmas dinner. Can you believe it's coming so soon? I can't wait to be home with my family and out of this (big) city into my own (smaller) city. As much as I love Toronto, I'd rather be where my family is at Christmas, wherever that may be. Lots of stuff is coming your way in the next couple of weeks!

Photo of the day by Claire Dollan.

to: stephanie

2009-12-11T13:20:00.002-05:00

One of my favourite little blogs, Notebook Doodles, was taking 100 requests for illustrations not too long ago. I suggested the quote, "I'll love you 'til the end of the world," which comes from a song I always seem to hear on my occasional visits home for weekends. I can't tell you who sings the song, or even what it's called, but it slips into my mind quite often. So, a big thanks to Notebook Doodles!

2009-12-10T15:18:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica-Naomi.

2009-12-09T17:56:00.002-05:00

Sorry that I fell off the face of the earth this week. I'm happy to say that as of this morning, all of my school work for the semester is done. Now it's interning at WORN, getting ready to go home for the holidays, making lots of pretty things for you (and this blog), and snuggling up with the always-growing pile of books and magazines I haven't had time to dig into until now. I hope you're all well, and that finals aren't hitting you too hard!

xx
Stephanie

Photo of the day by Jessica Bialkowski.

News bloopers.

2009-12-03T22:40:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is my last day of broadcast class. The last day of all classes, actually. Watch these news bloopers to celebrate. They're funny, just like the title says.

on the move?

2009-12-03T22:39:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Lona.

2009-12-02T19:16:00.004-05:00

Vote Otiena Ellwand for The Eyeopener's Arts & Life editor.

2009-12-02T18:23:00.004-05:00

Photo of the day by Arden Wray. Interview coming soon!

so much appreciation for everything this girl does

2009-12-01T16:05:00.006-05:00

Amazing work by Andrea Manica.

2009-12-01T16:04:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Paul Beefs.

carly on a wall

2009-11-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Photo of the day by Brianne Burnell.

Okay, so that wasn't my only post for the weekend.

2009-11-28T12:10:00.002-05:00

Who dat? Click here!

My Milk Toof, and my only message to you for the weekend.

2009-11-27T10:44:00.005-05:00

This may solve all of my mid-finals blues.

Click here to see more. It's amazing.
You're welcome.

pools of colour

2009-11-26T18:00:00.002-05:00

autumn in puppet land

2009-11-24T14:06:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Keri-Anne Pink.

"Give us Money, We are Pretty" from the WORN blog. Donate to WORN and help make it all happen.

2009-11-20T10:49:00.006-05:00

Remember that time
(you know the one I mean)
where those people compromised your bank account
and cleaned out your savings
and ran up your credit cards

and then the bank shut down your accounts

and then you couldn’t pay for any of the distribution costs,
or pay back your mom the money she lent you
to fund your independent fashion magazine?

Remember that?

Oh no, wait a minute, that wasn’t you
THAT WAS US AND IT JUST HAPPENED.

We know it’s almost the holidays and things are tight all around
but we’re holding out our hats to you, our readers and supporters.

A bit of lousy luck has left us in a tight spot,
slowing down our ability to deal with the distribution
that pays for our beloved little publication.

Any donation would be appreciated
$5 bucks, $10 bucks, everything counts
(hey, it’s not like we were rolling in dough to begin with)
Help us get back on our feet
and get back to making
WORN

~~PRESS THE LITTLE YELLOW BUTTON TO DONATE~~

Thanks for all of the donations! Your support has been overwhelming.

2009-11-19T11:32:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Sophie Van der Perre.

2009-11-18T12:58:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Katie Watson.

French Almond Macarons with Chocolate Ganache, by Mellissa Brophy.

2009-11-18T12:49:00.003-05:00

First off, French macarons aren’t like the coconut macaroons you are probably imagining. They also aren’t the easiest things to make and there is plenty of room for failure. But if you do mess up and they don’t come off the parchment and crumble, they still taste just as good, just don’t serve them to French people. French macarons are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Traditionally you sandwich two together with ganache in the middle, but you can put anything in the middle really. There are also a million variations of this recipe. There are pistachio, cassis, chocolate, lemon, fig, lavender, and hazelnut macarons, to name a few. I made 5 batches of different macarons yesterday, and this recipe seemed the best for a first try.

Makes about 16 sandwiched macarons.

THE RECIPE:

Macarons:
1 ¼ C icing sugar
1 ½ C almond meal
3 large egg whites
¼ C super fine sugar
¼ tsp cream of tartar (they’ll turn out without this usually)
pinch of salt

Ganache:
4 oz semi-sweet chocolate
½ cup cream
2 tbsp corn syrup

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment.
Preheat your oven to 300 F.

2. Sift together icing sugar and almond meal.
Whisk egg whites until they are foamy, then add the salt. Whisk again until the whites form soft peaks, then add fine sugar to egg whites and beat until stiff and firm.

3. Gently fold almond mixture into the whites until it’s completely combined.
Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and pipe inch-wide circles onto the baking sheets, about an inch apart. Tap the sheet firmly against the counter to flatten the macarons out a little.

4.Bake for 20 minutes, or until they are firm and the bottoms are dry. Let them cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.
They should keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

For the ganache:
Chop up the chocolate into small pieces. Heat the cream & corn syrup in a small pot, until it just begins to boil around the edges. Remove from heat and add in the chocolate, stirring until it melts. It’ll look like it’s not thick enough and you’ll be tempted to add more chocolate to thicken it up but don’t! It’ll thicken as it sits, don’t worry! You’ll also want to let the ganache cool completely before sandwiching the macarons.

TIPS FOR BAKING:

1. Don’t skimp on the egg whites being super firm.
2. If the macarons don’t come off the parchment easily, place the baking sheet slanted in your sink while it’s still hot and lift up the parchment enough to pour some water down behind it. This should steam and it’ll make the macarons easier to lift up.

Words and photo by Mellissa Brophy.

2009-11-17T14:29:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Ananda Serné.

petit garçon

2009-11-13T10:59:00.001-05:00

Photo of the day by me! Missing my baby.

Oops...

2009-11-12T20:37:00.004-05:00

I have to apologize for the next-to-no posts coming your way this/next week. Between school, interning and writing for other things, Under My Bed is having a difficult time fitting itself in. In the mean time, find me at WORN Fashion Journal and Antler Magazine. You'll be entertained, I swear.

Photo of the day by Brianne Burnell.

Today, remember.

2009-11-11T16:15:00.003-05:00

Remember those who have died and are still dying to save everyone else.

2009-11-11T16:14:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Ellie Niemeyer.

2009-11-10T09:46:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Ana Cuba.

We Are Fucking Awesome: An Art Collective

2009-11-07T07:13:00.002-05:00

We Are Fucking Awesome, otherwise known as WAFA, is a collective of talented men and women from around the world who combine their abilities to create joint-effort works of art.

Vinny Pacheco, or Mudchicken, is one of 12 artists in the collective, and was happy to talk to me about WAFA and all that surrounds it.

S.F. Hey Vinny. How did the idea for WAFA come about?

V.P. Art-making is usually a personal journey. This is something we recognized from the beginning, before the creation of WAFA. Most artists spend time alone in their studios, fighting the good fight without a support structure, and with little or no exposure to other artists. The idea for the collective came out of a basic need to reach out to other artists who were on similar journeys to our own. A need to share experience, skill set, and moments of discovery. A need to explore this mystery together.

In The Awakening, members of WAFA contributed found images, paint, Polaroids,
and several other mediums to make a mural on an abandoned truck.

S.F. What did you do to get it started? Who is the other co-founder?

V.P. Well first and foremost, each member of WAFA is a co-founder. There is no board of directors, no president; it is an artist-run organization, and we all have an equal stake in the collective and its future. In the very early stages though, it was just two of us -- Sundry Sullen and myself. Sundry and I were lucky to find ourselves in Seattle at the same point in time. I had just relocated from Los Angeles, having left a corporate job behind to pursue art making full-time. Sundry had been busy doing his work in Seattle, and had been making friends with a lot of talented artists. We both knew that there was something burgeoning in Seattle, and there was a chance to build a real community. We didn't do much initially to get it started, we just started talking about art, all the time. We both found it beneficial to check in on each other's work, and to talk about epiphanies we'd had along the way. We also began to work on collaborative-based projects together -- zines, t-shirts, and murals. It was refreshing, and we wanted more of it. Sundry had the initial idea to form the collective, and together we shaped the direction we wanted to take it. At first, we invited every artist friend we knew to join and be a part of it, both locally and globally. Then after some time, we got a studio together with a couple other members, Nik Perleros and Dustin Zormeir. Our time in the studio is when we realized the true benefit of an artist support system and need for collaboration.

S.F. How do you recruit an artist to take part in WAFA?

V.P. Initially, we began inviting artists to join. We have since decided that having artists approach us would be more beneficial to the progression of the collective. We have found that the artists who seek us out tend to be more active in the community. They come to us with a base understanding of what we are about, and are more willing to play a role in what we are doing. The collective is made up of artists who are giving a genuine effort to find their work and their place in this world.

S.F. What do you look for in members?

V.P. We are looking like-minded individuals to share the journey with. Mostly though, we are looking for artists who have an interest in the idea of collaboration, who want to take an active role in this collective experiment.

S.F. How many artists contribute, and what do they do with WAFA?

V.P. There are currently 12 artists in the collective, primarily working on collaborative-based projects (2 or more people working together on a project). As members, we all have the opportunity to propose project ideas to the group and to decide whether or not to participate. In the past, we have worked together on zine projects, public murals, collage books, gallery shows, and mail art projects.

For the WAFA Mail Art project, artists send postcards back and forth.
Each adds his or her own unique touches and mails the card on.

S.F. What has been the largest or most successful project completed by the collective?

V.P. I would have to say that our website has been the largest and possibly most successful project we have completed. Being a global collective poses a unique challenge -- How do you keep 12 artists from all over the world engaged? How do you keep everyone up to date? We needed to create a space where we could all come together, and the website has been an important tool in building this community. As far as collaborative projects though, our most recent Postcard project has been an amazing experience. It is a mail art project, originally proposed by Brandi Strickland, where participating artists create work on blank postcards and send them out to other members. Then, the receiving artists work directly on top of the cards until they "finish" the card or decide to send it on to another. It's been one of the most personal and unifying projects we have done.

S.F. What do you enjoy most about taking part in a creative community like WAFA?

V.P. I personally love the opportunity we have to reach out to each other. I can share in-progress works with other members, I can ask questions. My time as an artist, up until now, has primarily been a solo thing - experimentation and discovery done on my own. I am lucky to have a community of friends to share time and ideas with now. Working on collaborative projects with everyone is amazing too (that's the icing on the cake) but the community aspect is what I love most.

S.F. What do you find to be most challenging?

V.P. The most challenging aspect in a creative community like WAFA is getting everyone to contribute to its growth. We have 12 members, but unfortunately, not everyone participates in our projects or discussions. It is difficult because in a collective like WAFA, we cannot survive without the direct participation of our members. Each artist is integral, and it's been a challenging task communicating that.

S.F. Have you found that working in a collective benefits your creative abilities?

V.P. Absolutely. Working with other artists on the same project has been an eye-opening experience for me. As artists, we have a tendency to shut out other artists and external factors. We are all on the hunt to find our own work, and at least for me, there is this fear I have of being overly influenced by what someone else is doing. I have tried to hold tight to my own ideas, and my own aesthetic. Being in a collective has allowed me to let go of all that. To really open up and get back to the process of play and experimentation.

A series of nine collage books was passed between contributors who would add or
subtract pieces in order to take away individual personality from the final product.

S.F. What are your goals for the future of WAFA?

V.P. I would love to have more artists involved in the collective. People who will take initiative, and people who have ideas on where to take WAFA in the future. That would be the most rewarding for me. It has always been my goal to get WAFA to a place where I could take a step back and become a regular member. Since the beginning, I have had a large role in building the collective and facilitating activity from its members. I think now we are finally in a place where it can run on its own, through the will of its members. It's an exciting time.

All images by the WAFA Collective.
Words by Stephanie Fereiro.

Click here for the We Are Fucking Awesome website.

2009-11-05T22:49:00.002-05:00

Outta town for the weekend, sans laptop.
See you in a few days. xx

2009-11-04T10:16:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Nicole Miller.

2009-11-03T12:10:00.001-05:00

Photo of the day by Nicole Williams.

2009-11-02T08:06:00.002-05:00

Photo of the day by Jessica Devic.

The Living Dead

2009-11-01T19:36:00.004-05:00

Photos by Stephanie Fereiro.