Issue 04 April, 2010CREATE & INSPIRE

When I started TUSK a little over three months ago, I really did not have many expectations. I simply wanted to create something that showcased cool and inspiring people I have come across. I knew I wanted to keep it positive and interesting and I hoped that it could eventually be a forum for artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and non-profits. It has evolved quite a bit in a short amount of time, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.

This month I bring a story to you about an incredible local clothing designer, Tricia Hoke. She has just completed her new line and I was lucky enough to create a photoshoot to showcase a couple of her pieces. I had a great group of people by my side that helped make it a unique and fun shoot. Enjoy my interview with Tricia as well as the photo shoot featuring her clothing starting on page 6.

Last month I introduced you to Jenny Luper, a great writer that has decided to be a consistent contributing writer to TUSK. I am so happy she is a part of TUSK and I’m happy to share some of her stories with you this month. Check out part 1 of her short story “Student of Noise” on page 14 (and keep a look out in the next issue for the ending of this edgy and delicious tale). You also don’t want to miss the “Vampire Cage Match” on page 04; a delightfully bloody spin on your average book review.

I have had lots of incredible people contacting me about being in TUSK and I look forward to finding the time to bring them to you in future issues. There are truly gems of people around every corner in this great city.

Starting this month, 10% all ad sales for the month will be donated to that months mentioned non-profit in the “From the Heart” section. This month TUSK is happy to send a check to The Delores Project for $20.00. It’s not much, but it’s something.

Cheers!DeniseOwner of Faddis Creativecontactdenise@faddiscreative.com

TUSK MagazinePublisher: Denise FaddisEditor: Denise FaddisContributing Editor: Jenny LuperPhotographer: Denise Faddis Art Director: Denise FaddisGraphic Designer: Denise Faddis

Wit, charm, and intelligence are unifying characteristics of my current favorite television characters.

1. Hank Moody; Californication.

2. Don Draper; Mad Men

3. Councilmen Doug Wilson; Weeds

4. “Birdie” Draper; Mad Men

5. Andy Botwin; Weeds

6. Silvio Dante; The Sopranos

7. Mr. Big; Sex in the City

8. Butters; South Park

9. Miranda Hobbs; Sex in the City

10. Frasier Crane; Frasier ‘

We could be friends

A few of my favorite things

This month I Love...

Light

Public Image LTD:North American Tour 2010

Where: Ogden Theatre When: 8:00pm Sat 4.24.10

Collection Showing by Tricia Hoke

Where: Beatrice and Woodsleywww.beatriceandwoodsley.comWhen: June 10, 2010

The Happs

You can’t have a light with-out a dark to stick it in. ~Arlo Guthrie

Light gives of itself freely,

filling all available space. It

does not seek anything in

return; it asks not whether

you are friend or foe. It gives

of itself and is not thereby

diminished. ~Michael Strassfeld

By Jenny Luper

Could Edward Cullen face off against Dracula and win? Could the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt wrestle Eric Northman of True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series fame and beat him? I’m sure Lestat would get a kick out of the match, maybe even a date, but that’s hardly the point. The crux of the matter is that there are so many different vampires running rampant through today’s books that we don’t really know who is the be all end all of the vampire world. Who would win in a cage match?

First, we need to set up some rules. Necks can be bitten, heads can be torn off, and blood can and will flow, but the powers that each has must be the ones that are attributed to them in the books. (Look for titles and authors after the winner is declared so you can follow along and either agree, disagree, or all out hate the outcome of this cage match.)

So, who are our contestants? We have Count Dracula in the red corner, a creepy, tall, and thin man with glowing red eyes. According to Bram Stoker, he has the power to change into any form including dust, he can “direct the elements” such as the wind, fog, and snow, and can command animals to do his will. Edward Cullen is seated in the blue corner, handsome and perpetually nineteen, he is our vegetarian vampire, meaning he won’t bite humans, only animals. That’s why his eyes are so pretty and amber-colored.

Lestat de Lioncourt and Eric Northman finish out the other two corners, looking exceedingly tall and like they could give Fabio a run for his money as cover models for romances. They are both exceptionally strong and always make sure that the spotlights reflect beautifully off their hair. However, they have both killed multitudes in their long lives; Lestat especially when he dated the Queen of the Damned, and Eric Northman just for the sheer

length of his undead life (over 1000 years).

The cage must be made of silver, then blessed, to keep the contestants in the ring and make sure they don’t want to venture into the audience for a snack. But who throws the first punch, or goes for the first throat as the case may be? Dracula is getting a little ancy over in the corner; he apparently has some business to attend to after the match so he starts it off by materializing over to Edward Cullen. Edward, unfortunately, is mooning over Bella and is distracted. Half of his blood is drained when Lestat ventures into the fray. He wants some of the blood action and he uses his incredible strength to pull off Dracula and then grasps Edward in a beautiful embrace of bloodletting.

Dracula isn’t easily distracted. He turns into mist then seeps in between the tight hold Lestat has over Edward. Immediately, Dracula transforms into a wolf, pushing Lestat back and

Review a few

disorienting the poor vampire who has now fallen in love with Edward. Lestat is trying like mad to open up his veins and give Edward some of his blood so they can fly away together, but Dracula hasn’t finished feeding. He turns his wolf attentions to Lestat and attempts to tear out his throat. They struggle for a bit, but eventually Lestat succumbs to his wounds. He calls out to Edward as he dies that at least they will now be joined in death.

One may ask where Eric Northman is when this fight is taking place. He’s enjoying the match in the corner and watching as two players are already dispatched. Dracula is tired by now after struggling with a vampire that had such old blood in his veins. The blood of Lestat and Edward can be sustaining, but it was hard fought. Eric knows this. Though Dracula is a smart vampire with great business acumen, Eric is wily. He knows that he would like someone else to do the killing of other vampires (too many legal headaches in the vampire hierarchy) and would much rather only kill one than three. He uses his super

strength and lightening fast speed to look as if he materialized in front of Dracula, then sinks his teeth into the wolf ’s flesh. Dracula is drained in a flash then crumbles to dust. All Eric has to do is spit the fur

out of his mouth and leave the ring a champion, but alas, that ring is made out of silver. He can’t leave unless someone lets him out.

So who is really in charge? Who has dominance over the multitudes of vampires? Well, it must be whoever convinced them to get in the ring in the first place.

Check out Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, Charlaine Harris’ Dead Until Dark, and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. Let me know if you agree, disagree, or whatever you might think!

Email me at TUSK@faddiscreative.com

Why should you advertise in TUSK ? TUSK readers are diverse, genuine, and motivated individuals looking for businesses like YOU: diverse, genuine, and motivated to sell your product. Our ads are affordable and perfect for a small business trying to increase exposure! You can buy month to month as you can afford it. No year long contracts to sign.

Learn more at www.faddiscreative.com

Tricia Hoke

{TUSK} Tell us about yourself ?

I’m a pretty laid back creative girl who enjoys a good glass of wine and nice conversation! Personal ad fodder aside… I am an independent fashion designer, showcasing and selling my collections on my website… www.triciahoke.com.

I focus on the unique, the avante garde, the art, but I try to keep them affordable. I love to explore with cloth and tend to sculpt with it rather than focus on trends. I keep my collections neutral colors, and I often design in very easy fabrics (ie: jersey knit, broadcloth, etc). It keeps costs accessible, I do not carry inventory, I can respond to customer requests easily, and I feel that it keeps my collections timeless. I do one collection a year, they are available for three years, and I currently produce it all by custom order.

{TUSK} Tell us about your new line?

Well, each collection has convertible pieces… and 2010 is no exception to that. I am also still pretty fond of tubes… which if you have seen the “Ring” collection from 2009 you will see that it is a pretty important shape. I am also currently loving peplums!

This years signature collection is called “Cher Ami”. Cher Ami was a passenger pigeon who served in WW1. This pigeon (link to the story) actually became a decorated war hero!However most of my original inspiration was brought about by the birds who live in the alley where the door to my studio

was last summer. I started with color inspirations, but as researched on the net I developed a kinship for them… I’m not really a “bird” watcher… I just think they are funny and smart little birds.

Once I came across Cher Ami, I found my fabric inspiration…Cher Ami means dear friend. A dear friend is someone who is always there… If I translate this to my closet, my dearest friend would be a pair of sweatpants. Too bad I cant wear them anywhere! Wouldn’t it be great if you could have “fancy” clothing that was made from sweatpants? Keeping the grey, and the “pied” white of the pigeon coloring, I could design in French terry, jersey, and muslin.

{TUSK} When did you know you wanted to be a clothing designer?

I think I was born this way. It’s a bit like a mutation at birth! Honestly, I was very young. My father taught me to sew when I was 5. I was re-designing my paper dolls by age 7. I made much of my wardrobe in high school.

{TUSK} What do you love about Denver?

You know, I do love Denver… It’s spacious, but you always see people you know everywhere. Its pretty easy to network and meet friendly folks with good advice! I think there are many opportunities here, yet it is also challenging. In Denver people seem really open to the idea of art and fashion… however, I often find myself feeling rejected… like my ideas

Tricia Hoke has a true ability to conceptualize and implement unique design. Her clothes are imaginative, fun, and beautiful. Tricia truly brings art and function to the table in one harmonious vision. Her clothes are rare and one of a kind, just like she is. Story & Photography by Denise Faddis

are too crazy or out there. (Denver is still pretty conservative fashion wise, and people do not dress to the nines here all of the time) This rejection of course just inspires me to push the envelope further, and teaches me balance… so it’s a good but hard thing to deal with. I just figure that if I keep designing what I want, people who like it will find me! After all, it is Denver, we are bound to meet sometime!

{TUSK} What inspires your designs?

Lots of random things… if you haven’t noticed already. Google Image search is one of my best friends. I also, like any designer, pay attention to fashion magazines and the such.

{TUSK} What is your favorite item to design?

My signature collections, I get to put all of my creative gumption into the yearly collections. I get to be crazy, because my whole reason for doing these collections is to grow and feel inspired as a designer.I am also super into re-purposing. The clothing line I had before my signature was called Potential Fashions, and it focused on recycled things. I love deconstruction.

{TUSK} Who is your favorite designer?

Maison Martin Margiela, Madeleine Vionnet, Wolfgang Joop Wunderkind, Francisco Costa, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Sans, Velvet, Carol Young, Helmut Lang, Lynne Brunning…. Just to name a few.

{TUSK} Where can fans buy your clothing?

www.triciahoke.com!

{TUSK} Who/what inspires you?

It comes pretty organically… I’m not often just inspired by pretty dresses, I usually am thinking about something completely off beat, and listening to strange music when I design. Lately, Dmitri Shostakovich, Bar Kokba, and Carla Kihlstedt.

{TUSK} What else do you love to do?

I love to read, but never have time anymore. I love to hang with my family and just watch movies and stuff…. I work a lot, and I love it, but honestly, with work and family I don’t have much time for anything else.

{TUSK} If your designs had a soundtrack, what songs would be included?

Lately, Dmitri Shostakovich, Bar Kokba, and Carla Kihlstedt.

{TUSK} What’s next for you as a designer?

I am currently working on this very question? I think I might go to school, I do not have a degree in design, and I think it might be nice. I would love to go to Paris and learn real couture techniques, and expand my skill set as a designer. I also have like 6 other things I want to do… but sleep is something that I also want, so I need to work out a plan for myself.

{TUSK} Can you share with us some of your immediate goals for your company?

No. Can you give me some? Ha ha. I’m taking this really slow. My last company I jumped in with both feet, and made lots of mistakes… which I learned from… hence the taking it slow. I just want to create, grow, and share what I can do with people right now. I am looking into manufacturing, or some other sewing services to deal with my impending orders which will be coming any day now…(right?)… but I have yet to find a comfortable situation. I also take a whole year to post and market each collection… it’s a lot of work and effort.

{TUSK} What is your favorite piece of clothing that you wear over and over?

My “Velvet” brand jersey knit dresses in beige and black… a silk, black, oversize tube scarf, jeggings (I love jeggings), sweaters and sweatshirts.

{TUSK} What sorts of people wear your designs?

People who wear any of my signature collections really value the artisian element of clothing. They like the idea of comfort and the appeal of avant garde, and accept that they can exist together. Most of all they are pretty fashion adventurous, and do not like wearing uniforms.

{TUSK} What do you love most about owning your own clothing line?

The process of creating is very fulfilling. I feel like it brings me closer to god (whomever or whatever that may be) when I am creating things with my hands. It’s very, very satisfying.

Cher Ami Featuring clothing design and inspiration for Creative Direction by Trisha Hoke

Photography, Creative Direction and Set Design by Dense Faddis

All Clothing Design- Tricia Hoke; www.triciahoke.comMakeup - Lillian Marsh, www.firelilyconcepts.comHair - Joy Dyk SilviaModel - Kara StarzHair Accessories (page 8) - Starz Selection, http://starzselection.etsy.comLocation provided by Kerry Pastine, www.trueselfessentials.comSpecial thanks to 5280 Digital and Shannon Garcia

All Clothing Design- Tricia Hoke, www.triciahoke.comMakeup - Lillian Marsh, www.firelilyconcepts.comHair - Joy Dyk SilviaModel - Kara StarzHair Accessories (page 8) - Starz Selection, http://starzselection.etsy.comLocation provided by Kerry Pastine, www.trueselfessentials.comSpecial thanks to 5280 Digital and Shannon Garcia

A Student of NoisePart 1 of a short story by Jenny Luper

He moves from his bed. Unmade sheets are scattered around him, a pillow rests slightly above his belly to cushion his laptop as he writes. He knocks over the sixth cup of coffee he has stationed on his nightstand (he had to ask for extra cups as the housekeeping staff is so stingy). It was only half-drunk and its lukewarm contents spill down the heavily lacquered surface, soaking into the pamphlets of what’s new that month on the pay-per-view channels and what lovely breakfast items he can have delivered to his doorstep in the morning if he wishes. He thinks of it as hotel swag. He hoards the notepads and free pencils while mentally chastising the hotels for this blatant and so obvious a use of marketing gimmicks.

Normally, he would be upset at this waste of perfectly good coffee and lament the time spent making himself another cup, but he is so curious and slightly worried at the sounds coming from the bathroom right now that he pays the mess no mind.

He walks quietly over to the bathroom door but does not step in. It is easy to walk quietly here; the floor is cushioned and soundproofed by the carpet. The bathroom floor, however, is not. He is now used to hearing the private sounds of other people in this hotel. He has heard those sounds for the past four days. That is what burns him up inside, that these moments are supposed to be private. Nothing is sacred when you can hear the reverberation of a self-induced orgasm echoing through the toilet. He feels like he is leering into their bathroom; the most personal of all rooms! He is embarrassed for and by them. It makes him uncomfortable and queasy.

Though at this moment, he is queasy for a different reason; the sounds he hears echoing softly through the toilet (softly, this time) are of crying. A “no” is repeated twice in between gentle sobs. It wasn’t a loud “no”, it was soft too. It sounded like it was spoken through cotton or gauze. He can’t tell which because it also has traveled over water and who knows what sorts of things water will do to a voice. He stays on the carpet. He contemplates sitting down on the floor cross-legged as the crying has now gone on for at least ninety seconds (he like to count things, time being one of them) and he is getting tired of standing. This crying has affected him.

But he knows what crying sounds like; he has heard enough of it in his life. He can tell the difference between the “I hate you because you won’t give me what I want (insert name of ‘you’ here: dad, boss, or boyfriend)” and the “I hate you because you’re firing me and (here’s the kicker) you don’t know what you’ll be missing”. That last addition to the “I hate you” can be appended to crying jags from the ex. He knows what sounds accompany skinned-knee tears and grief over a dead pet. This is different. This is something that he hasn’t heard before and is unknown in his field of comprehension. This has a “please don’t hurt me anymore” undertow that he has never before heard but is pulling him along nonetheless due to its foreignness.

He is overcome by empathy and sits down on the carpet. The only thing he can think to do to help is to stay there, waiting, with her. Unknown to her, but in his mind, he is a presence of comfort. Unseen, but felt because his caring is so new and deep that it must count for something.

He waits, listening. One of his feet falls asleep and he is stuck with the pins and needles piercing his skin. Yet he doesn’t say a word. He believes that if he can hear such a soft sound as this beautiful woman’s sobs (she must be beautiful, her cries are so sweet and soft) then she must be able to hear him too. He has to move his legs, stretch them out, but he does so slowly so as not to make any extra noise to alert her to his presence; he doesn’t want her to be embarrassed that he heard her in such an intimate way. It is no such luck; his

Jenny Luper is earning a Master of Fine Arts in writing from Spald-ing University. She enjoys the allure of writing the strange short story, odd poetry, and above all, writing with enthusiasm. She is excited to be sharing her writing in this and future issues of TUSK.

knee pops, loudly. He is middle-aged (that is what he tells himself, but he knows that he can’t keep up with the façade; if he was middle aged, then he would have to live to 104). Immediately, the sobs stop. He worries it is because of his loudness and damn soon-to-be arthritic knees. He should have taken his Glucosamine and Chondroitin; though it would be easier just to chew on crab shells all day long to get the same effects. He is about to say something, getting the awkwardness over with and possibly meeting the sweetly sad woman when a second voice enters the absence of crying; a jarring accompaniment to the silence.

“Get up.”

The tone of the voice is rough and deep. He can tell it’s a man speaking and it seems to affect the speaker of the sobs so he has no choice but to assume they are together.

“I said get up. We need to talk about,”

The speaker is interrupted by the sound of glass breaking. Henry is shocked. He has known that the voices and the emotion that he heard traveling through the water were essentially different to him but it was still within the realm of what he considered ‘believable’ though not ‘normal’.

The crying has stopped. A growl of immediate pain echoes through the toilet and the sound of what he thinks is fabric ripping.

“What the HELL, Diana!”

Henry has now stepped over the carpet, over the thin line of metal that holds down both the carpet and tile, and onto the bathroom floor.

His shoes are still on and they make a clicking sound the moment he enters the bathroom. He hopes whoever it is in that bathroom with her can hear his shoes and knows he’s being heard. He is now a hero; his shoes click more loudly than any he has ever heard and it is the sound of dominance. If only they hear.

Read the rest in the May issue of TUSK coming April 15th.

THE DELORES PROJECT

The Delores Project is named for Delores Big Boy, a Lakota woman who frequently lived on the streets of Denver. Her situation was complicated by health, developmental and substance abuse issues, as well as physical and sexual violence.

Although Delores sought aid from various Denver agencies, sadly, she fell through the cracks in the system. Delores died while living on the streets June 8, 1999. In forming the shelter in 2000, we chose to honor her memory so that we could always continue our work with a commitment to ensuring safe shelter for every woman and support for those in transition.

Did you know:

* In 2009 The Delores Project sheltered 515 individual women. * There are approximately 1,606 single women who are homeless in Denver on any given night.* * There are approximately 125 emergency shelter beds for single women in Denver. * The Delores Project sheltered an average of 54 women each night in 2009. * Over 31,000 meals were served at The Delores Project in 2009. * Each month 10–20% of the women working with our transitional advocate will move into a more permanent living situation. * On average women stay at The Delores Project for 101 nights.

*Number determined by Metro Denver Homeless Initiative Point-in-Time survey in January 2009. Post Office Box 1406Denver, CO 80201-1406Phone: 303-534-5411Fax: 303-534-1387

http://www.thedeloresproject.org/

From the heart

Mission: The Delores Project

provides safe, comfortable

overnight shelter and

services to unaccompanied

adult women who are

homeless and have limited

resources. The model of

service is one of hospitality,

respect, and regard for the

dignity of each guest.

Note worthy non-profits

Photos and text from their website.

TUSK Magazine is part of Faddis CreativeAll rights reserved

Please contact me and tell me what you think. Do you know a great company or artist you think I should visit and possibly write about? Let me know. Do you own a product or clothing line you want me to feature? Contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Enjoyed this issue? Send it to your friends and coworkers.

Please let companies and people you read about in TUSK know where you heard about them. Also, visit our website to learn more about advertising opportunities with TUSK.

Peace,

Denisecontactdenise@faddiscreative.com http://www.faddiscreative.com/TUSKMagazine.html

Transparent PeaksBy Denise Faddis

Turn around

along the path providedthe path unguided

find my way through growth and destructionlife and indecision

crafts learned and applied

surface speaksurface speak

not knowing what is to belife at hand - life in me

screaming time lines, haunted pasteternaldeep

fire deepso much fireso much spit

path of wonderwonder works!Works for me.

Keep the path clearclear for NONE to see

paths clear of bread crumbslonging for transparent peaks.

FreedomBy Denise Faddis

My waning mind

like the moonhalf lit to see

the other half dark to all but me

my ropesmy skinmy love my sinIn loving memory of my

Father-in-law, Carl Faddis