LAS CRUXES: RETAIL HEAVEN

With the new Las Cruxes location opening up (just above the old one in the old Fresh Up), I thought I'd get a sneak peek to the store and talk to owner Veronica Ortuño to get an insight to what makes the store as unique as it is.

Las Cruxes is definitely one of my new favorite spots around town. Not only does she curate a great vintage and artisan collection for both men and women, she showcases interesting art, sells zines, books, and vinyl from local artists and abound. I love how she easily marries the clothing, jewelry, music and everything else carried in her store. It's truly a "lifestyle" store, rather than just a retail space.

Veronica was also nice enough to answer some questions I had for her about her store and herself.

ME: What is "Las Cruxes" exactly? Where does the name originate from?

VERONICA: Las Cruxes originates from the Spanish word: Cruces -- which translates to the crosses. The spelling variation is intended, as to not confuse Las Cruxes with the city in New Mexico. A lot of people have trouble with the pronunciation: pronounced Las "kroo-sez" or "kroo-says".

I apply this word to the integration of diverse and creative movements. Las Cruxes is a movement in itself - where art (visual, literature, fashion, etc.), music, and culture intersect. In a lot of ways, I feel our generation lacks a cultural uprising, because we've become so detached from intent -- it's detrimental. I believe there needs to be intent in what we do, otherwise it loses meaning and sincerity. Additionally, I try to focus whole-heartedly at keeping to my convictions of DIY ethics and underground culture.

What are some great/new things we can expect with this new store location?

With the expansion of the space, I'm able to do in-store shows now, and it'll be easier to curate bigger/more interactive art installations. I've also been working on a small clothing/accessories line for Spring and Autumn, and Mikaylah Bowman and I are collaborating again to make screened, air-brushed, and marbled silk dresses and one-piece pantsuits.

What is one thing in your store you'd suggest for a metal head?

Christian Mistress paraphernalia. Or maybe the Sabbath pins.

A tourist?

Any of the locally made items: records, zines, jewelry, or clothes. For the most part, they're not readily available outside of Austin, which makes them even more special.

A vintage collector?

Some of the vintage Moroccan/African jewelry pieces I have. They're so beautiful and unique.

Me?

Being an editor, I think you'd enjoy the NUTS! fanzine. My friend Ben Trogdon compiles and curates the zine; he interviews artists/musicians and documents happenings in the current Olympia, Washington scene. He's also an amazing photographer and told me it's one of his dreams to shoot a fashion editorial some day!

Also, what made you want to get into retail (since I knew you to be a Carrot / musician for so long before)? Are you still doing that?

I've always been fascinated with clothes. Clothes-making mostly… as an art-form. I was sewing and making clothes for my Barbies when I was very young. In 2008, I moved to Portland and continued redesigning garments and began reselling (both handmade and vintage pieces) online to help with my college tuition. Needless to say, I didn't turned back. It never feels like work to me, because I thoroughly enjoy what I'm doing.

Playing music has been harder to focus on lately because so much time has to be sacrificed to pursue this venture. The Carrots LP is currently in post-production and should be released by the summer, but there are no tentative plans to play shows. I continue to make an effort at staying musically active, whether it's booking shows or running my radio program. With time I do have to myself, I write music on a Micro-Korg and drum machine or play drums in a Black Sabbath cover band called Children of the Grave. We have a 10 year old singer who rules so much!

Las Cruxes website
Las Cruxes Facebook
Las Cruxes Twitter
Las Cruxes on Yelp

***To celebrate the new location's opening, Veronica is hosting a party (RSVP on Facebook) featuring works (zines, video work and live show by his band Breathing Problem) by local artist Rusty Kelley. His work will be on display a the store through the month. I'm definitely coming out after I close up the buydefinition.com BLOWOUT SALE. See ya there!

VOYEUR #4: ARIEL BENDER

Presenting Ariel Bender's submission to Voyeur - here are just a couple of snaps. Check out the rest of them and read the interview on the site.

On top of being one of the more interesting characters I've come across in life (I met him at a Polysics concert in Dallas when I was 17), Ari is also in this rad local Dallas band Missile. Check the music out on Facebook. Their music videos are so well-produced. Here's one of them:

GOOD LUCK SIR

We Are GLS from Danny Yirgou on Vimeo.

Here's some great work coming out of Austin. Photographer Danny Yirgou, who I worked with on a shoot for Bleach Online fronts GLS. If you stop on 0:06, you can see a short clip of our shoot together. Can't wait to see the rest!

HIATUS + NEW VOYEUR

Sorry for the absence guys. It's been a long holiday season + traveling. I will be uploading a whole lot more come mid-January.

For now, please check out the latest VOYEUR feature on Ben Aqua, a local artist/musician/gaylien.

Here's just a peak, for more follow this link.

UPDATE: VOYEUR II, KRISTIN MEGUMI WONG

Intrigued?
Check out wearevoyeur.com

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Curiouser and curiouser...

FEMME ET VELO

It looks like tumblr photos like to expire on you after a while and leave dumb looking blank x boxes. I am choosing to ignore this out of spite and sloth.

Because who doesn't love a babe on a bike?

I was recently asked to model for a new Austin blog Femme Et Vélo by Shari of Charm School Vintage. After a short style session, hair and makeup, 4-5 hours of shooting around town and lbs of sweat, Zach Hunt (on film) and Mike Andrick (on digital) snapped what seemed like a million photos of me and my 1970s Schwinn Breeze. The photos are starting to crawl online, so I thought I'd show off past snaps from the blog.

via_femme et velo

Here's a sneak peek Shari posted on her blog.

MOHAWK TONIGHT + DENIM & DENIM-ER

So excited to show off some pieces Star of Dog + Pony and I have been working on as of late. Here's just a sneak peek of some of the reword denim we've been making. It's Beth and I just hanging out at The Grand.








Photos by Kathleen Tso
Model Beth Zimmerman (and me)


You can check out these shorts and more at The Mohawk tonight for Austin Psych Fest and Sailor Jerry's event with bands Dum Dum Girls, UFO Club, Night Beats, Mark Sultan/BBQ and Shapes Have Fangs. See you tonight, chums.

Sneak Peek: Bleach Online Fall 2011

Photo set sneak peek for Bleach's Fall issue.

Photo by Lauren McKinley
Model Sara Gwiazda
Styled by myself

MUA Jacqueline Fernandez
Hair by Sara Cummings

Productivity

Doing a shoot today at Ace Motel.

Keep your eyes peeled. Maybe I'll give you all a sneak peek before it's released in the next issue of Bleach Online.

photo, Lauren McKinley
model, Sara Gwiazda
mua, Jacqueline Fernandez
hair, Sara Cummings with Propaganda
and style by me.

Yelling at the Sun with Paul Banks

All of you know that I'm a fan of my friend & musician Paul Banks & The Carousels. I made a behind the scenes video of them back when I was still in school. I filmed the band recording in studio for their first full length album, which is being released November!

Do be sure to go to their album release party at Stubbs, Nov 6!!!

Note: Song in background is unfinished, sneak peek cut of "I Don't Cry"

In even more exciting news, the album, titled Yelling at the Sun, features drawings and slogans by writer and editor Dave Eggers, best known for his memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Looking great so far. I have had the privilege of hearing some songs from the album (including the one in my video) and must say, I think it is going to be a great one!

The album will be available as a digital download and vinyl LP come November. I'll keep you updated!

Big things coming...

1. My annual birthday party! (Flier coming soon -- today!)

2. An editorial/lookbook for one of my favorite vintage retailers in town!

Keep your eyes open.

PS -- As always, sorry for my lack of updates!

Dream Interview

Photos by Ellen Rogers

Coming soon to BleachOnline ...

How do you roll?

Well hello hello, I'm back!

Okay, so, my Internet has been rocky since I have been back to Austin (yesterday) so once again, another horrible blogging week. New York was amazing, so perhaps I'll be updating with some vaca recap photos. I am excited about revisiting sometime in the near future.

I have even better news though!

Maki "How Do You Roll?" Sushi is finally opening tomorrow - June 1. I have been awaiting this day for a while, calling the Domain location and asking more than twice haha. Who wouldn't want to check this out.

It works a little something like this:

1. You get to pick a wrap - the traditional seaweed or a newer soy kind.

2. You pick the meat (or nonmeat) you want - salmon, crabstick, tuna, you name it.

3. You get two veggies, or more for additional cost - carrot, tofu, avocado, etc.

4. You can add a sauce on top - including my favorite eel sauce

5. A number of sides - miso, edamame, etc.

Enjoy!

Read about my previous experience there!

Let's go!!!

LES ARTISTES: Grace Rogers

An interview with Grace Rogers,
the mind behind Les Artistes: The Revolution

Les Artistes is a brand new art & fashion show being put on at the Scoot Inn this Saturday for the first time. Grace came up with the idea when she felt like she kept hearing from her artistic friends about their slacking due to the difficulty in finding a gallery that would show their work the way they wanted it to be shown. From this lament, Grace decided to put on an art show for her friends. Combining this art show with her own desire to put on a fashion show (having quite the knack for fashion as a model), Grace has put on her own larger-scale multi-artistic show. It should be a very good time and show the city what Austin "artistes" have to over.

How did you pick the talent to be featured?

I picked the artists because some of them were personal connections that had consistently impressed me and the others were recommended by the artists I knew. I was also wanting to bring together an eclectic array of artists that would represent a variety of art mediums.

Andrea McArdle is painter and personal friend since childhood who has been painting and doing all types of art since she was three. Francesco di Santi is a portrait artist who did some amazing portraits and personal stories about Hurricane Katrina who I met at Monkeywrench Books. And Chantelle Rodriguez who I met her through a friend is a great collage artist. The other three artists were recommended by the artists I knew personally or other friends.

The fashion designers, two of them I knew personally - Aaron Torres and Lindsey White from Cream Vintage. I love vintage clothing. It's one of my favorite stores, and I got to know them as friends after seeing them so many times in the store and at fashion shows we were all involved in.

Have you thrown anything like this in the past? Did you run into any difficulties putting this event on?

I have never thrown an event of this size before. I am just a very ambitious person, sometimes over-ambitious, and sometimes to my detriment. I just had this idea after returning from a magical, glorious trip to Marfa where I was in a fashion show there and inspired by all the people I met out there, who have now become my friends.

I had always wanted to put on my own fashion show and after the trip to Marfa, I was inspired to make my dream a reality. It became a fashion and art show after the first interest meeting where Andrea McArdle encouraged me to add an art component. We didn't want this event to be "just another fashion show". We wanted it to be more. I added the social activism component to galvanzie artistic and creative and everyday young people. I wanted them to realize that we each can take responsibility especially as young people, to become involved in and fight for something we believe in.

The difficulties I encountered came from being over-ambitious. Haha. I really was working on "Marfa-concept" where you just think up something and magically it all just comes together. With an event of this size, that doesn't work here in Austin. Basically, I ended up taking on the majority of the responsibility after all four committee members all dropped out of the project. But I said to myself "No matter what, I am getting this done. I promised the artists and designers this opportunity, and I'm not going to let them down".

So I had to coordinate with all six artists, all four designers, all 26 models, find the venue, figure out lighting and sound, print the posters and fliers, get all sponsors, find a DJ, and schedule fittings and meetings at my apartment. I have a chronic pain disease, so this project has been very over-whelming for me to do virtually alone.

What do you have in mind for LES ARTISTES in the future?

It is opened-ended what is next for Les Artistes: The Revolution. I would like it to become a bi-annual tradition here in Austin. If not, it will become a yearly production. There is so much wonderful artistic talent lying virtually undiscovered here in Austin and for that talent to thrive we need the continued support of the Austin community with events like this.

What are your expectations for the party?

My vision of what the show will be is less of a party and more of a revolutionary event. A fashion and art show. We are hoping people will come to be inspired, to check out the art and the clothing the designers have for sale, and maybe buy a couple of pieces.

But there will definitely be a party aspect. It will be fun, rowdy, and energized. First of all- we have Soul Track Mind opening the show. They are an amazing Soul band whose lead singer Donovan Keith sings like Aretha Franklin and dances like James Brown. He is great with the audience and knows how to keep a party going.

After the band plays and after the fashion show, we have DJ Josh Wenzel (a last minute addition) who will spin an incredible mix of Soul, Funk, and Dance music for the after-party.

I expect everyone will have a great time, be inspired by the art pieces they see, the stories they hear from the artists and designers about what went in to making their pieces. I expect people to be wowed by the fashion show and the fabulous set design. And I expect everyone to have a fabulous time- especially at the dance party after the fashion show! I'll be out there, shakin' rattlin' and rollin'.

Details:

Scoot Inn.

Saturday.

May 22nd.

Doors at 7:30pm.

Art Show 8pm-12am.

Fashion Show 9:30-10pm.

for your pleasure / hello 1992

Bleach Online's "Hello 1992" issue is getting ready to launch Wednesday, which is so exciting to me, because I contributed a number of pieces. I am happy to say that Bleach is upgrading and changing up the layout for your aesthetic pleasure.

There will be a million intriguing, provoking pieces this time around, including street artists, musicians, filmmakers, etc. Along with the release of the issue, we are throwing you all a party! Manolo Black, Orion and uLovei will be DJing, images from the issue will be projected, and the drink specials will be spectacular! ($2 Lone Stars, $2.50 other beers,$3 frozen drinks)

Come one, come all to Lanai Wednesday night -- I am excited to see the reveal myself, from the artistic mind of Daniel Perlaky AKA City on Fire

Here are some sneakviews of the issue (via Bleach Online Drop):

Behold, Sarah Silverman?

Something I thought may interest the good readers of this blog. Apparently Sarah Silverman will be coming to Book People in Austin to promote her book, The Bedwetter, April 28. Check out the event on Do512.

This cover is slightly problematic to me. It is weird to see Sarah Silverman in a fashionable military jacket, even if it is a couple seasons late. I suppose she probably does care about fashion in her spare time, it's just such a contrast from her pigtails and baggy pants in "I'm F*cking Matt Damon."

I have never been a big fan of Silverman, especially since the "chink" incident -- c'mon comedians, you can come up with better jokes than racial slurs...

However, I know everybody likes an opportunity to meet a celebrity. Plus, I know there are a lot of Silverman fans out there. I may be the only one who doesn't love her that I know of. I for one just like to hear about events at a book store rather than a bar or club every once in a while. I mean, I read a book for pleasure for the first time in what feels like centuries last week and remembered the joys of literacy.

Inspired by spring time.

Unknown, Vogue Nippon, Numero Korea 2008, Vogue Australia

Which reminds me...
This is going to be great -- Mexican Summer x Gorilla vs Bear. jj was on my wishlist for SX10.

SNEAKVIEW No.1

This is definitely worth going to... let me preface the event by saying that Bleach Online (as you guys ought to know a local online publication that I have been working for) is going to be giving the public a sneak preview of their upcoming issue "Hello 1992," which I will be guest editor for. I personally know there will be a lot of good-looking photo spreads and thought-provoking interviews. Check out the last issue, "Cannibalism," to get a feel of what Bleach Online is all about. If you don't already have Bleach Online Drop on your blog roll / Reader, you should add it -- there are updates on events, issues, past artists.

The White White Lights, Photo: Daniel Perlaky

Other than Hello 1992, there will be live sets by bands, including The White White Lights, who will be premiering songs from their unreleased album. DJs will also be spinning. An added bonus, after-hours the Independent will be BYOB or BYOL. I am pretty exciting about going to this one after the clothing swap put on by miss Tolly and Sarah Dean. That one ends at 10, so you've got plenty of time to go to both.

Lemme reiterate:

AFTER-HOURS

See you Saturday !
Besos