Women Who Made History: Princess Grace of Monaco

Princess Grace of Monaco; otherwise known as the actress Grace Kelly, lived every little girl’s fairytale dream – of being a world famous Hollywood actress and marrying a Prince.  After tragically dying in a car accident aged just 52, Grace’s life itself was like an onscreen movie. Here, in our opinion, is why she was a woman who made history.

Grace Kelly was one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses in the 1950s. Ranked 13 in the list of top female stars of American cinema by the American Film Institute, Grace’s name is spoken in the same breath as silver screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.  These women were in a league of grace, dignity, class and elegance of their own that most actresses nowadays can only dream of, but more importantly, they were amongst a group of early female go-getters. During a time where male stars dominated, women such as Grace Kelly fought to become on a par with their counterparts.  From the 50s; at the height of Grace’s career, the era in which she won her first ever Golden Globe for her part in ‘Mogambo’,  Grace and the elite few, unbeknown at the time, set the standards for female actresses of today.

Grace had more to offer than just being a beautiful and talented actress; she wanted to show more depth to her character instead of what was portrayed from her Hollywood persona.  At the tender age of 26, Grace gave up the life of flashy lights and fame to take on her role as the Princess of Monaco, alongside her husband Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. A mother to three children – Caroline Louise Marguerite, Princess of Hanover, Albert II, Prince of Monaco and Princess Stephanie Marie Elisabeth – Kelly still managed to start and actively be involved with improving arts institutes in Monaco, leading to the ‘The Princess Grace Of Monaco Foundation’ to support local artisans.

After much outcry in Monaco over movies she starred in, and not being able to fulfill her yearning to act, Grace began a series of poetry readings and narrating television shows.  Arts was Grace’s passion; a passion left behind in Hollywood but never forgotten.  In 1963, Grace founded the Association Mondiale des Amis de l’Enfance (AMADE) – in Englsh, the World Association of Children’s Friends – an organization which promotes and protects children’s rights. AMADE is still going strong till this day, ensuring that Grace Kelly’s legacy lives on further than her superficial reputation of just being an actress and marrying a Prince.

Grace Kelly was a princess, a mother, a wife, a movie star, a fashion idol and a humanitarian, and will forever be an icon to women all across the globe.

If anyone is interested in finding out about the evolution of Grace Kelly as a style icon, her wardrobe will be on display at the V&A museum in London.  Accompanying the contents of Grace’s wardrobe - from her time as a Hollywood actress and as Princess Grace of Monaco – will be film clips, posters, photographs and also her Oscar statuette. The ‘Grace Kelly: Style Icon’ exhibition will begin on the 17^th April 2010 and run through until the 26^th September 2010.

Image Layouts: Yee

Women Making History: Gabriela Hernandez

“I want to make a mark of what I am and who I was in the world…

I want to contribute something worthwhile through this line and inspire young women to follow their dreams.”

Gabriela Hernandez, founder of Bésame Cosmetics Inc., has brought artistry and romance back to the cosmetics industry. She has created a line infused with a romantic sensibility that is rich in historical details. Her inspiration for it all was sparked by a combination of her background in art and design, a love for feminine detail, and fond memories of her glamorous grandmother.

Today, we are excited to honor Gabriela as a Women Making History and share her story with you.

Gabriela, above, with Bésame boutique displays. The gold bullet packaging of her lipsticks is reminiscent of the decorativecases used during the post-war 1940’s when metal was in big demand for the war.

Immigrating to the United States from Buenos Aires, Argentina at the age of 12, she taught herself English and attended school in New York. After finishing high school in Los Angeles, she realized her true passion for art, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the prestigious Art Center in Pasadena, California.

Gabriela’s professional career includes photography, art direction, fine art painting and design commissions. Also an accomplished make-up artist and cosmetic historian, Gabriela’s perspective is truly unique.

Launched in September 2004, Bésame Cosmetics was a culmination of Gabriela’s passion for design and her desire to create an original cosmetic with details and formulas that make women feel glamorous and unique. Gabriela created Bésame to become a company that reaches beyond the product, one with solid morals, which acts as a strong role model for young women.

Lifetime TV visited Gabriela at the Los Angeles home she shares with her husband, 16 year old son and 7 year old daughter age 7 and interviewed her for their Real Women series. View this video along with others from Gabriela’s video blog, covering inspiration, mascara and more, by visiting the Bésame Video Library.

Hernandez's was first inspired by her grandmother's original 1940s lipstick tube...technical drawings used by the factory to make the molds for the lipstick tubes helped her develop her product.

Bésame is committed to creating truly unique artful cosmetics, hand crafted to empower women to feel feminine, elegant, and glamorous. Besame is dedicated to creating responsible luxurious products that enhance beauty and improve well-being.

Gabriela's grace and elegance is translated in her writing...

M.I.S.S.: What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

I find all women in business and public service inspirational. I admire women who dream and make those dreams come true in any field that interests them.

M.I.S.S.: You have a background in art and design, how did you get involved in the cosmetics industry?

I was asked by a client to design cosmetic packaging for several brands and became familiar with the process of production. It was challenging and I enjoyed the creative process of designing very feminine products for women. I was able to use this experience to design my line.

Bésame Classic Masterliner pencils are soft and velvety. Each pencil has two tips with complementary colors. There are 3 variations for eyes, 3 for lips, and one dual pencil for the brows. All are packaged in Bésame's signature gold-plated look.

M.I.S.S.: Why did you decide to start with lipstick?

The lipstick was the most iconic product of the era and I could make beautiful colors reproduced from the antiques I had collected in my travels.

M.I.S.S.: You employ tried and true processes and authenticity is a big part of your branding. Why is this important to you? Do you feel like you are keeping the lost art of lipstick alive?

It is important to me because I treat my products as I do artwork. I want to make things that I am proud of and that would make women feel special. The way we produce our items is also important, since we still hand pour our lipsticks and hand press our powders. We produce the quality, the feel and the craftsmanship of the past.

M.I.S.S.: The line has expanded to include lip glaze, lip and eye pencils, rouge, eye shadow and powder compacts. Do you have any plans to expand the line? A fragrance perhaps?

Yes. We are working on many new products as we speak. Our Souffle Foundation is returning, as well as a new balm and rouges. We are considering fragrance in the future.

The Bésame Classic Enchanting Lipsticks and Voluptuous Lip Colour sets are both affordable and make one bold statement—Be Glamorous Everyday!

M.I.S.S.: One of my favorite things about Bésame is the packaging and the vintage feel of the products – it has a very “lady like” vibe to it. Are your customers receptive to the vintage feel? Is it important to you to convey that “lady like” vibe with your products?

I am glad that I am communicating this with my designs. I do want to create a “lady” ambiance with my products. The way the products look contributes to the way the make you feel when you use them.

M.I.S.S.: What’s your favorite Bésame product that you’ve created?

The lipsticks hold special meaning for me, since they started this journey into cosmetics, but all my products are special since I work on them personally for months to years before they are ready to be released.

M.I.S.S.: Who do you want to work with?

I would really enjoy working with other designers, specially fashion designers. Any creative collaborations would be interesting since co-creating is a great leaning experience for me. Anything that lets me grow as a creative would be wonderful.

Bèsame signature embossed metal collectible cases hold Alluring Eye Shadows, elegant gold metal compacts house Cashmere Powders and a true recreation of a vintage rouge case with half-dollar mirror contains Boudoir Rouge.

M.I.S.S.: What part of creating cosmetics is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?

The most challenging is working on the formulas. There is a give and take in chemistry. You never get all you want, it is trial and error and compromise between efficacy, wearability and safety. I have learned patience from this process and have come to enjoy it. What I dislike the most is paperwork.

M.I.S.S.: Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career in the beauty industry?

Like any business, it has good and bad points. You should like the field enough to overlook the bad and relish in the good. Life is too short to waste it doing something you hate just for money.

Thanks so much, Gabriela!

For more information on Gabriela and Bésame products, please visit: www.besamecosmetics.com

Follow Gabriela on Twitter and feel free to ask her questions! She might just answer them in her video blog! Twitter.com/besamegirl

Terry Richardson Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Not sure if this is really “news”, but apparently, Terry Richardson is a perv. Um, have you seen his photos? Was there any doubt about him being a dirty person who probably didn’t hold women in the highest regard?

What’s different now is that the proof is not only in the photos, there are many women finally coming forward about their disturbing experiences with the famed photographer. The ladies at Jezebel broke the story and are “listening” – that is, if you had, or know of someone who had, sexually harassing contact with Mr. Richardson, they are taking submissions. You can read more about it on Jezebel:

Meet Terry Richardson, The World’s Most F—ked Up Fashion Photographer

Exclusive: More Models Come Forward With Allegations Against Fashion Photographer

I was never really a fan of Terry Richardson because his perverted-ness came through in his photos – now that I know how he actually treats women on set, I have utterly no respect for the man.  It’s a little pathetic who people put on pedestals because they are “cool” without actually looking at their character.  For me, Richardson is up there with American Apparel’s Dov Charney.  I wonder if this will have any effect on his career…let’s hope it does.

For today’s Women Making History feature we honor Dina Selkoe—one half of the husband and wife team that runs Karmaloop.com – the top online retailer of name brand and underground streetwear.

Of Russian nationality, Dina was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, a small country north of Iran once part of the Soviet Union. At the age of 4, Dina’s family emigrated to the United States where she was raised in Brookline, MA.

After completing high school in Brookline, where she first met Greg, her future husband and Karmaloop founder, during their freshman year, Dina received her B.A. from Boston University, J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Masters in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Dina and Greg began dating seriously after college and married in 2002.

If this isn’t a modern-day fairy tale, I don’t know what is! Read on…

Dina & Greg of Karmaloop.com

Greg Selkoe began Karmaloop in 2000 while the two shared the 3rd floor of his parents’ house in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. In law school, and during her early career as a lawyer, Dina was a major supporter of Karmaloop and assisted as much as she could with its growth – even taking mail to the post office on her way to class.

Soon after Karmaloop’s success, Dina Selkoe left her job at a law firm to begin working exclusively as the head of Karmaloop’s women’s department, quickly growing the department by 250% during her tenure. Dina gained expert knowledge at predicting trends in fashion and determining consumer buying patterns.

Dina, in a great mini, with Greg & friends...

In the past two years, Karmaloop has grown from an online retailer to a significant voice on streetwear trends with the launch of its blogs and KarmaloopTV. To continue the company’s growth, Dina is now the Creative Director of the company – partially overseeing the women’s buying department, sending a weekly email newsletter to Karmaloop’s growing roster of female customers, designing and overseeing the new women’s blog, conceptualizing and overseeing the women’s Look Books and other editorial photo shoots, and working with the lead designer to develop the look of Karmaloop’s new VIP program. However, Dina’s most significant long term project at the company is a new KarmaloopTV show called “Globaloop,” an international affairs and history program designed to educate young people and increase political and social awareness.

Same Sex Marriage, Parts 1 of 3:   Same Sex Marriage

More on Dina below:

Women Making History: Dina Selkoe of Karmaloop

A Q&A session with Dina…

M.I.S.S.: What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

Women in public policy/human rights – Shirin Ebadi, Aung San Suu Kyi, Madeline Albright, Hillary Clinton, Condi Rice (even though I don’t dig her politics- especially her affinity for Baby Bush Duvalier), and the three current/former female supreme court justices- Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.

Women Making History: Dina Selkoe of Karmaloop

M.I.S.S.: You were originally a lawyer and now you are the Creative Director of one of the largest online stores. How did you make the transition?

I actually transitioned from lawyer to the women’s buyer (versus Creative Director) – I didn’t really have a plan and overall it was a good transition. I moved from doing boring work in a dull and stifling environment to doing something I loved in a super fun and stimulating environment with lots of people I liked around me all the time. Having an attorney’s anal attention to detail and organization definitely helped. I learned on the job, but, luckily, it all clicked together nicely.

Women Making History: Dina Selkoe of Karmaloop

M.I.S.S.: Karmaloop has many facets from retail to Karamloop TV. What’s your favorite Karmaloop project that you’ve worked on?

I love working on Lookbooks and my favorite recent lookbook is our tribute to Grace Jones … fun with mirrors! But my favoritest project these days is Globaloop, which is our newest show on KarmaloopTV. Globaloop is a political and current events program whose aim is to provide our audience with interesting information and stories about important global and domestic issues in an entertaining and concise way. I write and edit (actually, stand over the real editor’s shoulder) the pieces and host some of them. Globaloop is an amazing opportunity for me to get extra educated on a variety of topics while also hopefully helping others get a little info too. Recent pieces include a 3 part series on Same-Sex Marriage, US involvement in Afghanistan beginning in 1979, Burma and Shepard Fairey: Social Activism Through Art. Topics in the works include The Animal Rescue League, Philanthropist Bobby Sager, UNICEF, Darfur/Sudan and Iran. Globaloop also has a weekly news rundown hosted by my buddies Panda and Jose and a Pet of the Week adoption clip.

From the Karmaloop’s Global Journal: Shepard Fairey: Social Activism Through Art, part 1:

Women Making History: Dina Selkoe of Karmaloop

M.I.S.S.: Karmaloop has worked on interesting collaborations in the past including Puma. Who do you want to work with in the future?

Yes, love! We’ve had some great collabs with brands including Crooks and Castles, Hellz & Roxy Cottontail, Married to the Mob, BLVCK SCVLE, and currently have projects in the works with Han Cholo, Joyrich, Crooks and Castles and Android Homme. We are starting to do more collabs with artists and other creatives (versus strictly brands) – a bunch of the Karmaloop gang is going on a trip to Tokyo this April (reminds me, I need to book hotel) and we would love to do something with photographer Yasumasa Yonehara.

Women Making History: Dina Selkoe of Karmaloop

M.I.S.S.: How do you go about finding new brands to feature on Karmaloop?

I’m not really involved in actively seeking out new brands for the site now that I am no longer the women’s buyer, however, I always keep an eye out for cool brands and people/brands still send me stuff that I pass along to our women’s buyer, Jasmine.

Women Making History: Dina Selkoe of Karmaloop

M.I.S.S.: What part of being the Creative Director of Karmaloop is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?

Having so many diverse projects (from site enhancements and planning trips to document review and editorial stuff to Globaloop) makes juggling, timing and prioritizing quite tricky!! I honestly don’t dislike anything about my job –maybe feeling overwhelmed at times, but that’s to be expected – and I’m trying to get into meditation.

M.I.S.S.: Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career path similar to yours?

Try to get into an organization that you love or you’re whose general product/process you’re interested in and work your tail off – hard work and commitment pay off – they get you noticed and help your boss or colleagues know that they can give you more responsibility and more sophisticated projects and that they can rely on you. Once you have an organization in mind, don’t be afraid to reach out to people there even if you don’t know them – I get tons of emails and Facebook messages looking for jobs or internships and I always pass them on to the appropriate department here (unless I hire myself ).

Thanks, Dina!

• Check out the site’s lookbook for 2010:

http://www.karmaloop.com/lookbook/10/grace/lookbook.asp

• Sign up for the Karmaloop Ladie’s Email:

http://www.karmaloop.com/LADIESEMAIL.ASPX

• Stay up on Karmaloop via the links below!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karmalooprepcode
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KARMALOOP
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/MYKARMALOOPBOSTON
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25423499@N04/

"Girl Drive: Criss-Crossing America, Redefining Feminism" Book Review & Give Away

The “F” word – no, not the four letter one – perhaps one that is even more controversial – FEMINISM.  It’s one of those words whose true meaning has been so perverted that rather than being empowering, it often stirs up negative connotations. In Girl Drive: Criss-Crossing America, Redefining Feminism, Nona Willis Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein sought to find its meaning.

Nona Willis Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein are childhood friends who came up with the concept for Girldrive.  In 2007, the ladies set off on a cross-country road trip visiting cities including Chicago, Detroit, Flint, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Tulsa, Austin, Las Vegas, Jackson Hole, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Provincetown and New York, among others.  Interviewing about 200 women, Nona and Emma wondered what feminism meant to them and asked questions such as “What do young women care about? What are their hopes, worries and ambitions? Have they heard of feminism, and do they relate to it?”

When I received Girldrive from the publisher, I immediately started reading – I was intrigued, and wanted to know what other young women thought about feminism.  Girldrive is a very quick read and you don’t need to read it in order – you can hop around from city to city.  The book includes text and lots of photos that the ladies took on their road trip.  The photos help to bring each woman’s story to life.  You can purchase Girldrive on Amazon.com.

For a chance to win a free copy of Girldrive: Criss-Crossing America, Redefining Feminism, just leave a comment below letting us know what feminism means to you.  The contest is open for one week and all comments must be up by Tuesday, March 23rd midnight PST.  Contestants and shipping address must be in the U.S.

I had the chance to meet Nona Willis Aronowitz a few weeks ago in San Francisco – stay tuned for a video interview and Women Making History feature.

Girldrive trailer! from Girldrive on Vimeo.

The Ladies of Mex and the City: (L-R) Ruby, Marina & Iris!

Mex and the City is a cultural website and blog created to promote the free thinking, enterprising, and artistic efforts of young creatives in New York City. The site reflects a community of tastemakers, trendsetters, and culture mavens who have access and connections to the city’s key movers and shakers, fashion designers, gallerists, boutique shops owners, restauranteurs, hoteliers, media executives, and philanthropists.

The collaborative project was created by a group of friends—Iris Avelar, Marina Garcia-Vasquez & Ruby Vizcarra—from diverse backgrounds in fashion, editorial, public relations and hospitality passionate about art, travel, culture, and nightlife. M&TC speaks about the increasing Mexican culture in the fast-paced New York landscape in a fun and personal tone.

Their motto:

Working to develop the best sense of self.

Working to be successful at what we do.

Working hard to play hard.

Mex and the City and photographer Carlos Alvarez Montero recently  joined forces to present Racial Profiling, a portrait series highlighting prominent and influential Mexicans in New York City. The title speaks to the heady issue of the mixed race and the multicultural experience that makes up a contemporary Mexican identity.

Mex and the City and photographer Carlos Alvarez Montero present Racial Profiling. The profiles are up now at www.mexnthecity.com

The ladies collectively nominated an inaugural group of profiles based on their charisma as leaders in their field and for their experience and contributions to a greater New York. The group ranges from hotelier, jewelry designer, producer, web designer, restaurant owner, interior designer, writer/editor, artist, photographer, gallery owner, etc, etc.

The unique and inspiring project is up now on the Mex and the City site.

Below, the ladies get intimate with us via the handwritten surveys below!

Women Making History: Marina

Women Making History: Iris

Women Making History: Ruby

Q&A time with the ladies of Mex and the City!

M.I.S.S.: What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

MARINA: Joan Didion, the great American journalist and novelist she was the first woman journalist to be accepted by the old-boys club of world politicians and presidents. She used her demure looks to get her in. And the indigenous Guatemalan revolutionary, Rigoberta Menchu.

IRIS: Growing up I looked up to “La Doña” Maria Felix an icon of the Mexican Golden era of Cinema in the 40’s. She was the example of a strong independent woman of her time, you can say she is to Mexico what Bette Davis is to the US. My ultimate is Coco Chanel she was a self-made woman who built her name with dignity and elegance.

RUBY: Frida Kahlo – for her passion, her fight, her amazing style, and her endless love for Diego.

M.I.S.S.: You each have different professions from being a restaurateur, writer/editor and fashion producer. How did you meet?

MARINA: Iris and I met in San Francisco when we were both working for Planet magazine, she was in business development and I was an editor. Ruby and I met through friends one summer in Barcelona. Ruby was living and studying there for school. When I moved to New York, Iris and I became roommates. Ruby and I reconnected when she moved from Barcelona to NYC. We then became a rat pack so to speak. We admire each other and we make each other laugh.

The ladies in Williamsburg, in front of wheatpasted TACOS posters Marina designed—inspired by Focus Gatorade ads—to mark Iris's restaurant, La Superior's first anniversary.

M.I.S.S.: What inspired Mex And the City?

MARINA: Mex and the City was inspired by everyday run-ins with people who seemed to ask 100 and one questions about Mexican culture and ethnicity. I found that I kept getting the same questions and repeating the same answers. Being Mexican in New York is definitely not the same as being Mexican in California. I decided that a blog would be the best way to disseminate information and I knew that I didn’t want to do it alone so I asked the girls if they would join me. I figured since we each came from various industries we could really touch on those cornerstones. The blog initially was to show how much access the three of us had in our downtown universe. If we three Mexican girls could make it in NYC, others could as well. We wanted to show how the world could open up for you with determination and strong work ethic. We really believe being Mexican has everything to do with it, using what our mama’s showed us! You know good solid foundations.

M.I.S.S.: What is your goal for Mex And the City? Do you have any projects lined up?

Our goal with Mex and the City is to create a community. We love that the content resonates with people locally, nationally, and internationally. We would like to build out that community to unexpected cities that are burgeoning with Mexican communities. And yes we have plenty of collaborations in mind and in planning. We are definitely looking forward to the World Cup festivities.

Right: Marina & Ruby birthday at La Superior (owned by Iris), Left: Iris as featured on jauntsetter.com.

M.I.S.S.: What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on?

Working with the photographer Carlos Alvarez Montero on our “Racial Profiling” series has been an incredible honor. Carlos is an exceptional human being with great academic and emotional intelligence. We found that our goals with the editorial package were definitely in sync. We wanted to show the world how rich our Mexican experience is, that being Mexican comes in a variety of colors and experiences. It was our goal to show Mexican creatives in beautiful light and to promote their endeavors with the rest of the world.

M.I.S.S.: Who do you want to work with in the future?

We always want to work with creative and brilliant young professionals. We want to work with brands that get what we are doing, TOMS shoes, Converse, Jumex, Novamex, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Brand, Vice, and fashion collabs, from our own t-shirt’s to working with photographers/editorials, etc. on something fashion!

La Superior, co-owned by Iris in Williamsburg, has been featured in New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out NY and Zagat...just to name a few!

Ruby onsite at her job with Gilt Groupe!

Belongings is a project consisting of portraits of Marina's things and poems she's written. Above: Green Prada Heels.

M.I.S.S.: Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career path similar to yours?

MARINA: Follow your passions. The three of us are doing what we love best, Iris with hospitality, Ruby with fashion, and me in editorial. The blog is a lot of work but it is extremely rewarding. Life is hectic and challenging anyway so you better enjoy how you spend your time and who you spend your time with.

IRIS: Find creativeness in everything you do and it will keep you motivated. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, it’s ok to start doing odd jobs here or there as long as you can take all those experiences and skills and apply them to your dream job!

RUBY: Dream big, go big and never give up. It will happen.

Thanks so much ladies!

For more info on the ladies and their amazing projects, visit the links below:

Email: mexnthecity@gmail.com
Visit: www.mexnthecity.com
Follow: mexandthecity.tumblr.com

Iris’s restaurant: lasuperiornyc.com
Marina’s website: mg-v.com

Note: The Mex and the City logo was designed by Tanya Avelar—Iris’s sister!

Saelee Oh is an LA-based artist who creates new worlds with her drawings, paintings and cut paper and although her work is delicate with themes of nature and animal symbolism, her message of female empowerment definitely shines through.

The 2003 Art Center College of Design graduate, who has given presentations at prestigious universities like Harvard, has shown her work in galleries and museums across the world. Her most recent solo exhibition, titled Infinite Roots, showed at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery and introduced us to new works on paper depicting a peaceful and organic world, imaginative and full of life, like the artist herself.

Saelee and Infinite Path from Infinite Roots at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery.

Saelee on Infinite Roots:

“The roots of a plant are what secure it to an interconnected underground where all life is nourished, as the buds and leaves bloom above. The show title, Infinite Roots, alludes to the deep reaches of our intrinsic inner desires. The tone of the work in this series is bittersweet with hints of nostalgia. The pieces appear delicate and frail but the stories they tell are about timeless strength.”

Saelee Oh's Infinite Roots and (above) a detailed look at one of her hand-cut pieces.

Installation view from Infinite Roots at Jonathan LeVine and (above) Saelee with friends at the opening.

Women Making History: Saelee Oh

M.I.S.S.: What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

Wow. There are too many, but I will just mention my best pal, Lana Kim
because she is sitting right next to me and she is a beautiful person inside
and out. All girls need good girl friends and Lana couldn’t be any better.
She’s there for the good times and the bad times and her genuinely pure
heart, enthusiasm for life and sense of humor is always inspirational.

M.I.S.S.: How did you get your start painting? Were you always artistic?

I’ve always liked drawing and making things with my hands. We had a family
friend and art teacher named Mrs. Simmons who taught us a lot of things in
her garage studio and encouraged us to be creative, to do whatever we wanted
to do and to find our individuality.

M.I.S.S.: What’s a favorite piece of art that you’ve created?

I can’t say that I really have one favorite… I like to look forward and
think more about what I want to try next and what I haven’t done yet rather
than dwell on the past.

Submersion from Infinite Roots and the nature-loving artist on a horse in Hawaii...

M.I.S.S.: Your subject matter often involves nature and animals. What is it about nature and animals that intrigues you?

They’re magical and powerful. Nature is the ultimate force. Moby Dick still
lives and is immortal forever. Weather can never be tamed and we bow our
heads down to her like a passing Queen. The language of animals is based on
intuition.

M.I.S.S.: Your work has a feminine aesthetic. Is that a conscious choice? Do you consider yourself a feminist artist?

I think it’s natural because it’s a big part of my self identity. I grew up
with 3 sisters and I like the company of females. I also don’t go out of my
way to try and conceal my femininity or to make it more androgynous in order
to appeal to a different audience. (I’ve heard of some other artists trying
to do this.) That effort seems insincere to me. If feminism means trying to
be the best possible woman that you can be and to love and support other
women while doing so, then yes. I want to be empowered and to encourage
others to be too. I want to be allowed to do anything that a man is allowed
to do but do it in my own way.

M.I.S.S.: You’ve lent your art to different kinds of products from wall decals, t-shirt graphics and iPhone cases. How does it feel to see your work on different canvases? Is designing artwork for product a different process for you than painting?

The work that I do for products is split between being designed with the product in mind and having created the artwork without the product in mind and then later it’s licensed and reformatted onto a different output. I enjoy doing these types of projects because in the end in creates a different place in the world for art outside of the gallery setting.

Saelee Oh and Upper Playground teamed up to bring you her art on tees for a girl or a boy!

M.I.S.S.: Who do you want to work with? Are there other kinds of products that you would like to see your work a part of?

I would love to work with other creatives who are talented and passionate about what they do in other industries such as fashion, film, music, interior design, writing, architecture, baking, landscaping (I can go on and on…) I’m a Curious George so I would love to learn as I watch and I think interesting work can come from unexpected match ups. It’s easy to get absorbed into the world that your work is normally expected in, but the real surprises and new ways of solving problems or being creative come from meeting people who think differently.

Built By Wendy, Todd Oldham, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Amy Sedaris, David Sedaris, Aimee Bender, Wong Kar Wai, Design Within Reach, Target, Wes Anderson, Thai fruit carvers, PJ Harvey, Neko Case…topiary garden landscapers call me!

M.I.S.S.: What part of painting is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?

There’s always that moment in the middle between getting inspired by what’s in your head and heart and trying to finish a piece where I just question everything. I become very existential and self loathing. The slower the paint takes to dry and the later it is at night, the more mentally exhausting it is… That always passes though and waking up after resting your eyes is a miracle. It works every time. Also, I hate cleaning my brushes and getting fresh water to clean them. I don’t know why.

Saelee's illustration for Giant Robot Issue 55

M.I.S.S.: Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career path as an
artist?

Putting your work out there for criticism can be intimidating, but have confidence in yourself to keep moving forward. Art and beauty are subjective. Don’t worry about trends. Don’t worry about success. Don’t google your own name. Always try to push the limits of what you think you can make. Dream big. Get a good chair with a high back that supports your neck, stretch often and have good posture. Look for inspiration outside of the art world. Don’t be late and flakey. Editing out something is just as crucial as adding something. Save your image files as .tifs not .jpgs. Have an electric tea kettle by you to have hot water in the wintertime because sitting still for long hours will make your fingers and toes numb even if it’s indoors in southern California. Think about the big picture, clear your mind, in order to be receptive to ideas and be humble and grateful.

WOW! Such great advice! Thanks Saelee!

The artist has a list of upcoming shows up on her site but M.I.S.S. highly recommends you not miss the Ed Emberley show curated by Caleb Neelon at Scion LA on July 17th 2010. Artists Seonna Hong, Matt Leines, Raul Gonzalez, Christpher Kline, Saelee Oh and the great Ed Emberley, himself, will make giant murals inspired by Ed’s books on how to draw to be donated to children’s hospitals. More info to come!

For more from the whimsical artist visit: saeleeoh.com/

Margaret Sanger: Social Activist

Many women cannot fathom a world without the renowned birth control pill or other preventative methods, the familiar friends women use to be in control of their sexuality. I guess we owe Margaret Sanger, born to the city of New York in 1883, a big thank you. Sanger was a leading social activist in advocating birth control and woman’s health.

Sanger worked as a nurse, and grew aware of the ill effects of unplanned/unwanted pregnancies. Therefore in 1912, she decided to leave her practice and fully devote herself to the distribution of birth control information. Unfortunately, she had to deal with the Comstock Law passed in the United States, a public campaign for legislating public morality. This law prevented the distribution of birth control devices and information regarding these “immoral” tools. It’s amazing to imagine with our 21st century lenses that a woman having a say in when or if she gets pregnant was considered to be immoral. But it was.

In 1913, Margaret Sanger founded a paper called “Woman Rebel”, but she was indicted for “mailing obscenities.”  Upon her flee to Europe, the indictment was lifted. Three years later, she set up the first birth control clinic, where she distributed diaphragms.

In 1921, she founded the National Birth Control League, an organization which provided information on preventative methods through lectures and other workshops. Although she was arrested several times for delivering such messages of choice to women and protesting the infamous Comstock Law, she continued to be a voice for American women.  She saw all these rather  as minor set-backs; in 1942, she contributed to the formation of the Planned Parenthood Federation.

If you want to check this woman out further you can read The Autobiography of Margaret Sanger online for free!

Sources:

About.com:Women History

The Web Chronology Project

International Women’s Day began in 1911, at a time when women all over the world were working toward women’s suffrage (the U.S. didn’t give women the right to vote until 1920!). Clara Zetkin, Leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day – a Women’s Day – to press for their demands, and International Women’s Day was born.

At M.I.S.S, everyday is a celebration of the achievements of women, but we honor this day with the rest of the global community.  Please visit the official International Women’s Day website for info on events and how you can get involved.  Next year marks the 100th year anniversary – time to start planning now!

Image Source: Reuters

A Statue of Female Pharaoh Hatshepsut

As a lover ancient Egyptian culture, I find the story of female pharaoh Hatshepsut fascinating! Hatshepsut, meaning “Foremost of Noble Ladies”, was one of the most successful and longest reigning female pharaohs in ancient Egypt history. During her reign as pharaoh, she brought great wealth to the nation, re-established trading relationships, and initiated building projects that resulted in some of the most beautiful and classical architecture ever seen in Egypt. She became the prototype for many other rulers including Cleopatra and Nefertiti, who used several of Hatshepsut’s techniques during their reign. She was successful in warfare, but was also noted to be one of the pharaohs who established the longest peaceful era in ancient Egypt. Her goal was not to abuse her power, but use it to better serve her surroundings and her people. Although she faced many obstacles as a female pharaoh, she was able to jump social hurdles which resulted in the upmost respect from her people and the ability to be the leader she was always destined to be.

Hatshepsut was the eldest daughter of Thutmose I and Aahmes, both of royal lineage. Her father, King Thutmose, ruled Egypt for approximately 12 to 14 years and her mother Aahmes was the sister of Amenophris, who was pharaoh of Egypt for 21 years. After the death of Hatshepsut’s father Thutmose I, her half brother Thutmose II succeeded the throne. Hatshepsut married her half brother Thutmose II, which put her in a unique situation to gain power after his premature death. Although Thutmose II had a son (not born to Hatshepsut), he was still too young to assume the throne. It was then that his stepmother, Hatshepsut, began to make decisions on his behalf. After only a few years of doing this, Hatshepsut was soon named pharaoh and given full royal capabilities.

Hatshepsut’s reign was during a time when women in ancient Egypt were not only allowed to rule, but were also allowed many of the same economic and legal rights as their male counterparts. However, Hatshepsut was still faced with the sad reality that equal rights did not always result in equal treatment. She would sometimes dress in traditional male garments and demand that people refer to her as “king.” Much of the artwork of Hatshepsut also depicted her with a traditional male headdress and a false beard. When it came to Egyptian art, many believed in depicting things not as they were, but rather how they should have been. Even though she succeeded all expectations as pharaoh, there was still no escaping the traditionalist beliefs of some people in her society.

It is believed that Hatshepsut ruled for about 22 years before allowing her stepson Thutmose III take over. During that time, she accomplished many things that were not only admirable, but inspirational to future pharaohs to come. She organized expeditions which led to the trading of many resources including ivory, trees, and cattle. She also expanded territory and was able to hold order in Egypt. She restored and built temples that brought tremendous amounts of art and beauty to Egypt that remains unmatched by other pharaohs. Not much is known about her death, but it is believed that she died around 1458 BC and was middle aged. However, the life and legacy of Hatshepsut lives on. Her reign as pharaoh is inspiring and the perfect example of how women can assume positions of power successfully and respectfully. All hail Queen Hatshepsut!!!

Links:
http://www.biography.com/articles/Hatshepsut
http://www.egyptologyonline.com/hatshepsut/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Hatshepsut/

Recommended Reading:
“Hatshepsut, His Majesty, Herself” by Catherine M. Andronik,  Joseph Daniel Fiedler (Illustrator).  Available at Amazon

Image Layouts: Indieprince