Here is an essay that I composed for my Black Aesthetics class. There was no prompt, so this is a response to my thoughts, the society I live in and a culmination of my studies in Sociology from the African American/African paradigm. Do respond with your thoughts.
As a black artist or musician, is there ever an expression of your experience that can be accepted for mere virtue of its quality and aesthetic quality instead of being judged as a "black artist". In an attempt to understand the idea, I considered the idea that race may be central to the lived experience. It depends on if you define yourself and your art by your race or your humanity. Additionally, if art is the expression of the art is central to the self, then is race central to the self?
As an artist that expresses herself through fashion, I do not count race as central to my influence or even a factor at all as to what I chose to wear. What one chooses to wear is an external manifestation of the inner self. This self, which has largely not been acclimated to the ways of black pop culture first- hand, I consider my manner of dress significantly influenced by my surroundings. As a matter of fact when I come to think of it, no one else I know dresses the way I do, so my identity is so individual to myslef that it is neither defined my race or my surroundings but rather the antithesis of my lived experience. I look within and to other artists/celebrities to derive my way of dressing. So in my case, race is in no way central to my expression but rather a an additional characteristic that others use to differentiate me from my peers at a superficial level. Some may say that my manner of dress is an attempt to assimilate into mainstream culture, but most Tech students are complacent with sweatshirts and jeans. So not me.
So is race central to expression as an artist? Can a black writer write about their lived experience without race being an issue? Quite often not. Black identity is often pegged as the antithesis of mainstream "white" culture. Essentially if you are not a mainstream writer adhering to cultural "norms" then you must be the only other alternative, a "black" writer. And that should be ok right? Not! As artists and vessels of expression our work should speak for itself and be free for interpretation that is free from the confines of social prejudices. Art is transcendent and expression of life. If we consider art as a bridge to bring us together, then race is in no way an indication of one's validity or limitation as an artist.
Some may argue that race is central to identifying the artist, as much as gender is an indicator to understanding the artist and coming closer to understanding where their art is seated in its expression. In that light, race is as important as geographic location or the individual's age. These factors should never be an arbiter of the art or artists' validity or be used to marginalize and limit their ability because of where they are from or because of their lived experience. So can an artist ever transcend the lived experience? Maybe. But our understanding of each other can be molded by lived experience, and never confined to it. We can be molded by our lives, but in essence we cannot be confined by it. It can be used to guide our experience and help to understand but not limit our understanding of artistic expression but rather use it as a facet of understanding.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
SLAP IN THE FACE!
Ok, so a visit to the Bloomies at home this weekend rendered me speechless, Mummy and I discovered they NO LONGER sell Juicy Couture.
Not ok. And to top it off the sales clerk, whom I've never met before (slightly disturbing) had the audacity to mock our dismay and confusion. "What is this here? Marc Jacobs? What happened?", Mom asked me. The Juicy Couture display had been otherwise replaced by another designer I like. But still, it wasn't Juicy.
I couldn't answer, my mouth was agape with dismay and confusion. "I have no idea Mum. Where else could it be? I need it in my life!" So she proceeded to ask the sales clerk 'Where is your Juicy collection'
"We don't sell Juicy anymore" the salesclerk replied Mother and I took a synchronized 'GASP!'
"B-b-but, what happened?"
"I dunno"
"What do you mean you 'Don't know'?"
"Uuuhh, uuummmeee, I guess you'll have to ask our buyer?" Her voice raised in confusion. Get on that, I thought. Mental to do list number 2,456 of things to do and know. I was violated and someone needs to hear a piece of my mind. The online selection pales in comparison to what I could get in the store. What am I going to do!
Be prepared to get a piece of my mind Juicy Couture/ Bloomingdale's! This is NOT OK!
Signed:
Your favorite Southern Fashionista
Not ok. And to top it off the sales clerk, whom I've never met before (slightly disturbing) had the audacity to mock our dismay and confusion. "What is this here? Marc Jacobs? What happened?", Mom asked me. The Juicy Couture display had been otherwise replaced by another designer I like. But still, it wasn't Juicy.
I couldn't answer, my mouth was agape with dismay and confusion. "I have no idea Mum. Where else could it be? I need it in my life!" So she proceeded to ask the sales clerk 'Where is your Juicy collection'
"We don't sell Juicy anymore" the salesclerk replied Mother and I took a synchronized 'GASP!'
"B-b-but, what happened?"
"I dunno"
"What do you mean you 'Don't know'?"
"Uuuhh, uuummmeee, I guess you'll have to ask our buyer?" Her voice raised in confusion. Get on that, I thought. Mental to do list number 2,456 of things to do and know. I was violated and someone needs to hear a piece of my mind. The online selection pales in comparison to what I could get in the store. What am I going to do!
Be prepared to get a piece of my mind Juicy Couture/ Bloomingdale's! This is NOT OK!
Signed:
Your favorite Southern Fashionista
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Behind the Scenes at Chantilly Lace
One word comes to mind when customers enter the small bridal boutique in Blacksburg: over-stimulation. Long gowns, short gowns, white, green black and blue gowns grace the walls as racks and display trees grace the sales floor. If you understood the merchandising jargon just spewed at you, then you are an insider. To the rest of the population, welcome to the world of owning and running a clothing retailer which is a daily task for the owner and associates of Chanitlly Lace on University City Blvd. in Blacksburg, Va.
Started in 1990 by owner Marla Kemsey, Chantilly Lace offers to outfit your entire special occasion, be it your wedding, prom, or pageant, and promises to make sure your date looks spiffy too. " We’re just kind of a one stop shop because we have...pretty much everything except for the venue and the flowers. So pretty much everything," associate Brittany Rawls said.
Rawls’ day begins with opening the store, making sure everything is in place, neat and organized. Then at 10 a.m. they open the store an from then on they are “running around like chickens with [their] heads cut off,” says Rawls. It’s that wonderful time of year when the end of prom season and the beginning of wedding season overlap. Not to mention most college sororities have their formals this time of year.
“UPS drops off our new shipment, we unpack, tag and steam them, book the customers that need to come pick up and try on their dresses and set up alterations.” said Tara Loniewsai, an associate at the boutique. At this point Kemsey the owner steps in. She is an extraordinarily difficult woman to get a hold of, but between all the alterations that are scheduled and potentially overlap, it’s understandable to see how.
“On a Saturday, I spend most of the day, working with customers...sometimes I’ll have 15 or 16 fittings back-to-back every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the morning and then they slack up in the afternoon in addition to the fittings, I also help the customers accessorizing.” Getting details down such as what earrings to wear for an every day outfit could take a matter of days. Imagine a wedding gown.
Kemsey has a degree in design but doesn’t have time to do all the alterations herself. “I train the seamstresses, but I don’t have time to physically do all the sewing. There can be times where we have a 100 dresses in line waiting to be altered...If they’re behind [altering the dresses] then I will step in and do as many as I can.” ‘Can’ is the critical operative word here. Kemsey also owns and operates Kent Jewelers on Main St. in Kent Square. Just before being interviewed, Kemsey had come from a meeting with a women’s club to showcase her jewelry and promote Kent Jewelers.
“I have great staff at both [Chantilly Lace and Kent Jewelers]” Kemsey said, when asked if she had an assistant. “I just take care of the big stuff. No, but gee wiz, that’s a novel idea!”
What separates Chantilly Lace from your average bridal shop, like, David’s Bridal is that they are a custom bridal shop and not a ready-to-wear retailer. In a wold of fast- paced high speed “order it off the internet and you’re set” world. Each of these dresses is bought straight form the designer and is fitted just to your size.
“If you wanted sleeves added, or the neckline changed, or I often will have to make maternity bridesmaid’s dresses. Kemsey said, “So we’ll work with a dress that the bride’s chosen and modify it. It Just depends on what the customer wants. Some of the designers will do modifications ‘in house’ and some of them won’t,” “You can tell in their face, they’re smiling, and you can just tell they’re comfortable in it. They also stay in in longer than any of the other dresses. You don’t even have to say it. Just right off the bat. Just from working here, you know,” said Brittany Ashe “When a bride has found just the right dress. It’s instinct.”
“There are the ‘Bridezillas’ even in Blacksburg’” said Ashe. “They just bring stress with them too us! They’re very detail oriented which, I don’t blame them, it’s their big day. They want it to be how it’s supposed to be.”
“Honestly, the dresses, I love the dresses.” said Tara Loniewsai, also a sales associate. “And seeing people try them on and see their faces light up”. For these women, dresses are central to the whole operation.
The owner herself has traveled up and down the east coast and the midwest to find just the right gowns for her shop. Every Spring and Fall, when most designers present their lines for the coming season, Kemsey travels to Chicago or New York to go to “market” and check out designer’s featured styles for the upcoming season. One look around, one could only imagine how extensively Kemsey works to keep such wonderful clothes on the racks season after season.
Started in 1990 by owner Marla Kemsey, Chantilly Lace offers to outfit your entire special occasion, be it your wedding, prom, or pageant, and promises to make sure your date looks spiffy too. " We’re just kind of a one stop shop because we have...pretty much everything except for the venue and the flowers. So pretty much everything," associate Brittany Rawls said.
Rawls’ day begins with opening the store, making sure everything is in place, neat and organized. Then at 10 a.m. they open the store an from then on they are “running around like chickens with [their] heads cut off,” says Rawls. It’s that wonderful time of year when the end of prom season and the beginning of wedding season overlap. Not to mention most college sororities have their formals this time of year.
“UPS drops off our new shipment, we unpack, tag and steam them, book the customers that need to come pick up and try on their dresses and set up alterations.” said Tara Loniewsai, an associate at the boutique. At this point Kemsey the owner steps in. She is an extraordinarily difficult woman to get a hold of, but between all the alterations that are scheduled and potentially overlap, it’s understandable to see how.
“On a Saturday, I spend most of the day, working with customers...sometimes I’ll have 15 or 16 fittings back-to-back every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the morning and then they slack up in the afternoon in addition to the fittings, I also help the customers accessorizing.” Getting details down such as what earrings to wear for an every day outfit could take a matter of days. Imagine a wedding gown.
Kemsey has a degree in design but doesn’t have time to do all the alterations herself. “I train the seamstresses, but I don’t have time to physically do all the sewing. There can be times where we have a 100 dresses in line waiting to be altered...If they’re behind [altering the dresses] then I will step in and do as many as I can.” ‘Can’ is the critical operative word here. Kemsey also owns and operates Kent Jewelers on Main St. in Kent Square. Just before being interviewed, Kemsey had come from a meeting with a women’s club to showcase her jewelry and promote Kent Jewelers.
“I have great staff at both [Chantilly Lace and Kent Jewelers]” Kemsey said, when asked if she had an assistant. “I just take care of the big stuff. No, but gee wiz, that’s a novel idea!”
What separates Chantilly Lace from your average bridal shop, like, David’s Bridal is that they are a custom bridal shop and not a ready-to-wear retailer. In a wold of fast- paced high speed “order it off the internet and you’re set” world. Each of these dresses is bought straight form the designer and is fitted just to your size.
“If you wanted sleeves added, or the neckline changed, or I often will have to make maternity bridesmaid’s dresses. Kemsey said, “So we’ll work with a dress that the bride’s chosen and modify it. It Just depends on what the customer wants. Some of the designers will do modifications ‘in house’ and some of them won’t,” “You can tell in their face, they’re smiling, and you can just tell they’re comfortable in it. They also stay in in longer than any of the other dresses. You don’t even have to say it. Just right off the bat. Just from working here, you know,” said Brittany Ashe “When a bride has found just the right dress. It’s instinct.”
“There are the ‘Bridezillas’ even in Blacksburg’” said Ashe. “They just bring stress with them too us! They’re very detail oriented which, I don’t blame them, it’s their big day. They want it to be how it’s supposed to be.”
“Honestly, the dresses, I love the dresses.” said Tara Loniewsai, also a sales associate. “And seeing people try them on and see their faces light up”. For these women, dresses are central to the whole operation.
The owner herself has traveled up and down the east coast and the midwest to find just the right gowns for her shop. Every Spring and Fall, when most designers present their lines for the coming season, Kemsey travels to Chicago or New York to go to “market” and check out designer’s featured styles for the upcoming season. One look around, one could only imagine how extensively Kemsey works to keep such wonderful clothes on the racks season after season.
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