TUSK Fall 2010 Issue

1 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 2010


There is a special spark that is ignited within us when we meet someone that we like or admire. A new found friend or mentor can light us up in a way only interaction with another soul can. I often marvel at how special it can be to connect with another human being. It’s a feeling that can generate new ideas, passions, and discovery. I go through times in my life when it feels like I have nothing in common with anyone on the planet. I feel isolated, strange, disconnected, and quiet. Other times I am on a fun ride; soaking up time with a new found friend or reconnecting with someone from the past. Both interactions can make things seem new and exciting again or bring light to a piece of yourself you had shelved for one reason or another. I am thankful for the many new and reawakened interests, feelings, and people I am currently connecting with. After some months of feeling less than nourished, I am enjoying one of those beautiful and fun rides that remind us that the next peak is just over the valley.

This month it is my pleasure to introduce you to a talented young lady that is interning with TUSK for a few months. Anna Elizabeth Chávez is currently finishing up her last semester at The Art Institute. She has impressed me with her willingness to learn, photography and writing skills, and great attitude. We had a fantastic time working together on this month’s photo feature, “Gypsy Punk”. My concept was brought to life in my head during a road trip up the West coast. I was listening to one of my favorite bands, Gogol Bordello, while driving through Oregon and the song Pala Tute was blaring. A perfect breeze came through my window and as I stared into the vast forest I could start to see each image form. The lyrics of the song literally gave me a vision of a shoot I just had to bring to life. With a fantastic team, we did just that. I was happy to give Anna the honor of being the photographer behind our amazing cover photo. Read more about Anna on page 27. There you can also find more information about Jenny Luper; TUSK’s Contributing Editor and Copy Editor since our March 2010 issue! I am so thankful for Jenny; her help, her humor and her friendship.

You may have noticed a bit of a new look for this issue. I have had fun watching TUSK evolve and I thought I would evolve some of the design elements as well. This month is the beginning of the new TUSK schedule. Rather than monthly issues, TUSK will now be seasonal. I couldn’t think of a better season to begin. I hope you enjoy reading this FALL 2010 issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

Cheers!

Denise Publisher - TUSK Magazine [email protected]

TUSK MagazinePublisher: Denise FaddisEditor: Denise FaddisContributing Editors: Jenny Luper and Anna E Chávez.Copy Editors: Jenny Luper and Shane FaddisPhotographer: Denise Faddis Contributing Photographer: Anna E. Chávez Creative Director: Denise FaddisGraphic Designer: Denise FaddisIntern: Anna Elizabeth Chávez

Photograph by Anna E. Chávez

TUSK MAGAZINE


DELICIOUSLY DEMENTED

A store clerk is checking prices of tomato soup as she hears a man mumbling nearby. He’s wearing a mask. She does a quick double take then turns around to see if he needs help. “Can I help you find something, Sir?” Mumble, mumble, snort, then one fast heavy breath. “It would help if you took that off, Sir. I can’t understand what you’re saying.” The man reaches a hand caked with dried blood up to his hockey mask and scratches his ear. “Real-ly?” he said in a muffled voice, “You want me to take off the mask?” “It would make helping you a lot easier. You could see the difference between the varieties of soups with-out moving like a crab every two feet. And that’s got to be awkward when you check out.” The man sets down his machete by the beef bouillon cubes. The parts of the metal that aren’t cov-ered in drying yet sticky goo gleam

in the fluorescent light. “Most of the people I’ve known have never seen me without my mask.” “Well, maybe it’s time. Is that why you’re looking at the organic soups? Do you have a special de-ficiency or allergy? That’s why you have the mask?” “No, I’m a vegetarian. I spend most of my day, um, slaughtering. It’s hard to eat meat when you’re around blood that much of the day.” She sets down the scanner and draws her hand to her chest. “Oh, I totally understand. I’m in canned

goods all day and I swear that I have to buy fresh veggies or I will scream. I can smell the metal and glue in my sleep!” “I know!” He nudges her arm for emphasis. “I can smell the blood even when I get home. But it

doesn’t help that it gets in all of my clothes. You’d think people would be more considerate, not trying to spill anything on you, but no.” “People are so rude.” “And the lake water smell,” he sighs, “I hope that doesn’t bother you.” “You live by a lake?” Her eyes open wider. She tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear and bites her bottom lip. “Yeah…” “Wow, that must be nice.” She smiles at him and rocks back on one foot.

He leans against the shelving in the posture universally known as “being cool”. “Name’s Jason.” “Amy. Nice to meet you.” “Likewise.”

Stop ‘N Go(Down the road from the lake and past the summer camp)

By Jenny Luper

LEAF & Pumpkin Compost

Treat your Halloween jack-o-lanterns and pumpkins to a second chance by composting them with Denver LeafDrop!

Find out more at http://www.denvergov.org/OrganicsPrograms/LeafDrop

The man reaches a hand caked with dried blood up to his hockey mask and scratches his ear. “Really?” he said in a muffled voice, “You want me to take off the mask?”


Laurie Maves W

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Story and Photography by Denise Faddis


TUSK: When I look through your art I am first drawn in by the colors and movement. There is a living vi-bration that seems to connect them to one another. I can’t help but think that is your personal energy greet-ing the viewer; letting us know there is a penetrating undercurrent to these big eyes and bold shapes. How would you describe your art to someone that has yet to view it? Wow I think you are right on., and that is a HUGE compli-ment from you, and makes me immediately think, “she gets it” and as an artist, I appreciate it when my work is under-stood. It’s my personal energy, the energy of my soul, that of the collective universe. All of it. My art is about energy, first and foremost. Personal connection and the visceral feelings I hope to elicit from my audience. My poppies are very serene and calming, and those are how I feel on many days, and my lollipop heads struggle with their hearts, their existence, and how to get to the next space in time, and sometimes I make landscapes, sometimes I make figures with gritty teeth. I try to capture the gamut of feelings that our physical selves are capable of feeling/experiencing. TUSK: My favorite pieces of yours are from your Dia De Los Muertos series. “So This is the New Year Estrellas and All” and “5 Poppies for the Dead” are my personal favorites. If you had to, which one of your pieces would you choose as your personal favorite? “Venus and Poppies Door” from 2003 (page 7). I just love Sandro Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” painting, that has always been one of my favorite paintings, and this is my ode to that brilliance. TUSK: I know it is important to you to stay as “green” as possible. What sort of customs do you practice when creating new art to stay true to your passion to be earth friendly? The bulk of my painting surfaces come from recycled doors,

sometimes the full door (sans any hardware), sometimes part of a door. When people put them out by the trash, it just makes me sad, but then ecstatic because I just found a new surface to make something coolio on. I use a lot of Oops paint from home improvement stores, and I most often use water-base paint, as much as I can. I have used books, and magazines, and other “found” printed material for layering and texturing. Almost 99% of my wardrobe is recycled (re-claimed) and I paint on previously-owned handbags. TUSK: You are known around Denver for your amazing live paintings of musicians at work. What is your favor-ite part of live painting? I love the music. I love live music. It gets in me, moves the brush, creates the moment. I love the challenge of creating a portrait of the band during their set. But making the sound into color is just the coolest thing. TUSK: Do you have a most memorable event that you have painted live for? For Film on the Rocks this past summer with the band Some-thing Underground at Red Rocks Amphitheater. To be lucky enough to paint live on stage at that Amphitheater is one thing, but to then turn around and look at 10,000 faces, that’s a whole other ball game. That is jawdropping unbelievable TUSK: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Don’t forget to breathe.

TUSK: What do you enjoy most about art and painting? That you can re-invent yourself and your paintings whenever you want. But more so, that it’s a true way of connecting with others, emotionally, spiritually, and presently. This is how I best connect with the universe (I KNOW people think that is cheeseball) and when I paint I am completely in my authentic

Laurie Maves


self, and that skin fits really really well. TUSK: What is your most impactful childhood memory? When my kindergarten teacher, Ms. Marske, wrote on one of my drawings, “Laurie is a very good artist.” I still have that drawing. I should go find that drawing for my next group show at Studio Shakta for “Body of Work” TUSK: Laurie, I love the idea of discovering more about our true selves through producing art. You mentioned that you have always had a real desire to paint women and as the years passed, you started to realize you were discovering different parts of who you were by the wom-en you depicted. How has being a painter helped you grow as a woman?

I was raised to be strong and smart. Honest and hardworking. My parents did not understand the art world, or what that meant, so they never really directed me to be a painter or an artist. They just wanted what was best for me, and in that – that I should pursue a career that would financially provide

for me. And that financial success equaled life success.

When I realized that my own success, as my own soul- which includes all these aspects of myself: as a woman, as a mother, as a partner, as a daughter, ... That I had to define my own success, and that meant to pursue something in this lifetime that I felt completely authentic doing, and that my own suc-cess for me equaled joy, happiness, fulfillment and purpose...that I could best reach those goals by being and doing what I do best. And that is create.

As a woman, it is very difficult at times to be an artist, a paint-er. I think in the art world, women are compensated at less than 40% than that of men (you can check on those figures by going to GuerillaGirls (http://www.guerrillagirls.com/in-terview/index.shtml ) and so every opportunity I get for PR/marketing/etc. is brilliant! That I am a woman artist, that I am a woman live painter, that I am definitely a business wom-an...that I am here to rock this existence. I am here to inspire men and women, boys and girls to pursue their purpose in this lifetime. Mine is art.

Below: “Venus and Poppies Door” by Laurie Maves


TUSK: I noticed you are now selling one of a kind paint-ed handbags. What made you decide to offer this option to your fans?

He Haw, you said “fans.” One of my friends, Stephanie Mc-Nutt wanted a painting, but thought she might not be able to afford one (which is silly, I told her, because I always find a way for people to afford my stuff.) So she suggested to paint on a handbag...and so I did, and about 300 bags later, I’m still making them. I see the bags as 1) a great way to recycle 2) a great way to get my art mobile and 3) to get my work inter-national. TUSK: Best part of living in Denver? 3 bestest: the big sky, the amazing music scene and the welcoming art community TUSK: Favorite local haunt? Strings Restaurant, because I love the owners. Noel and Tam-my Cunningham are notably the most inspiring and most phil-anthropic people I know. I describe their foundation : www.cunninghamfoundation.org as a mini Ethiopian United Way. I have traveled with them to Ethiopia in 2008 and I am going again this year in November to hopefully paint some murals in libraries and orphanages. Noel Cunningham is relentless in his pursuit to make the world a better place. For all people, and for the world’s most vulnerable. And his wife, Tammy, is one of my dearest friends and mentors. She has seriously shown me how to believe in myself and my work, and that has made all the difference for me. TUSK: Who inspires you?

(see above) My husband Troy and our 2 sons, Forest and Mason. They inspire me on a daily basis and I am so grateful to have them in this lifetime.

Learn more about Laurie:Laurie Maves [email protected] Shakta773 Santa Fe, Denver, CO 80204



Laurie Maves paining live at the Bowling Ball on Satur-day October, 23rd to benefit flobots.org. Learn more about this great organization on page 26.



THEATRE

You Missed Out

The LIDA Project just wrapped up their poignant and poetic presentation of “Hot + Wax: On Being too Big to Fail”. An impressive journey of theatre performed in-the- round at the Bindery Space this last month. Taking on the subject of spin economics, America’s obsession with money and the classic Greek myth of Icarus. All the while, rudimentary video game themes, colors, and sounds draw out your own raw feelings on all that is portrayed.

Not to worry, there will be more imaginative and thoughtful work coming out of The LIDA Project in the future.

Including:10x10: Deviations on a Theme

Half open mic, half cabaret, 10×10 is a gathering of local artists of all disciplines presenting their work on a central theme, from which they devise or recycle material. On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, 10 performers get 10 minutes each to strut their stuff, based on a chosen theme. Musicians, poets, dancers, public speakers, staged song readings, theatre groups, writers, visual art-ists, vaudevillians, stand-up/improv comedians, filmmakers and video artists, will come together for commentary, interpretation, exploration and trivia! Five slots designated for open mic, sign up is at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm. Curated by poet and local rabble rouser, Matt Zambrano. $5 suggested donation at the door.

Find out about upcoming events at www.lida.org

“Hot + Wax: On Being too Big to Fail” Written by ensemble. Music by Ryan McRy-hew and Neil Ewing. Directed by Julie Rada. Starring Terry Burnsed, J. Nick Dickert, Todd Webster, Leroy Leonard, Mike Mar-low, Elizabeth A. Nodich, Elizabeth Parks, Lorenzo Sariñana, Kelleen Shadow and Kenny Storms.

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Founded in 1995, The LIDA Project is a multi-media art collective with a strong emphasis on live performance. The mission of the company is to present works that experiment and challenge the structure and pre-sentation of performance while strengthening culture, community, and artistic growth. Working as a collaborative group of artists, The LIDA Project promotes and presents works of the highest integrity and expres-siveness without yielding to conventional presentation and stereotypes.


CRE

Caravan is comin’ All guitars are strummin’ Chief is sitting high With gold across the chest I’m just a little chavo I don’t even own a guitarBut mama they got girl That I love the best Lela lela lela Lela pala tute Jas kana meres Merava pala late Lela lela lela Lela pala tute Aaaaaaaaaaaaa hey

Lela lela lela Lela pala tute Jas kana meres Merava pala late Lela lela lela Lela pala tute Jas kana meres Merava pala late

Carnival is comin’ All guitars are strummin’ And says old hitano Boy, forget about the bling Here is a guitarra For you little chavo If you slave to kissing You gotta play this thing


Caravan is leavin’ And her breast is heaving Lord this kind of love Can not be untrue I’m a little chavo But I learned one thing Girls they like the

punk GYPSY


CRE

Caravan is comin’ All guitars are strummin’ Chief is sitting high With gold across the chest I’m just a little chavo I don’t even own a guitarBut mama they got girl That I love the best Lela lela lela Lela pala tute Jas kana meres Merava pala late Lela lela lela Lela pala tute Aaaaaaaaaaaaa hey


Carnival is comin’ All guitars are strummin’ And says old hitano Boy, forget about the bling Here is a guitarra For you little chavo If you slave to kissing You gotta play this thing


Caravan is leavin’ And her breast is heaving Lord this kind of love Can not be untrue I’m a little chavo But I learned one thing Girls they like the

Inspired by the band Gogol Bordello, especially the song “Pala Tute” from the album “Trans-Continental Hustle”. Bringing together a sexy mix of fashions, a taste of adolescent angst, and lust for talent.

Creative Director, Denise FaddisPhotography, Anna Elizabeth Chávez & Denise Faddis

punk GYPSY


Models:Cynthia HinojosaJason RoweKacie Dault

Hair and Make Up:Elly Mickelsen


15 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 2010 15 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 2010


Caravan is leavin’ And her breast is heaving Lord this kind of love Can not be untrue I’m a little chavo But I learned one thing Girls they like the kissing as much as we do

“Pala Tute”, Gogol Bordello

18 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 201018 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 2010

19 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 2010 19 TUSK faddiscreative.com Fall, 2010


The Latin Culture is one of spice, filled with lots of life that is centered around community and love. Dance is one of the main mediums of expression that capture this feeling of high-energy unity. Salsa Central Denver promotes this cultivation of commu-nity and instruction based Salsa dancing.

salsa picante

Story and Photography by Anna Elizabeth Chávez


Story and Photography by Anna Elizabeth Chávez


Latin America is known for its exuberant and community-driven people. They live a lifestyle fully charged with whole richness. It is not a richness in a form of wealth but in a form of unity and happiness. Everyone is a brother or a sister. The ethnic customs shout out the word “life”, which is mixed in with a splash of ultimate merriness.

The people of Latin America can survive without the need to be somewhere, do something, or go go go. There is a sense of peace. That is not to say that they merely exist. This culture is far from just existence, they live.

High-engery: it is evident with the flow of the Spanish language. It glides through a soothing cadence filled with ani-mation, passion, and romance. A variety of colorful arrange-ments cover the backs of the people of Latin America. No matter what the social economic status is – bright colors are the main source of decoration for the body or in places like the home. Oranges, reds, dark blue, yellows. These people are not afraid to be bold.

There are copious things and ideas that define the Latin culture. Therefore, many people are able to make their own associations. However, a form of art that encapsulates the culture at its finest is dance. There are many forms of popular Latin dance. Pure and original dances include the Mambo, the Rumba, and the Samba. Both the Mambo and the Rumba originate from Cuba and are heavily influenced by Afro-Cuban music. The Samba is more fast paced and originates from Brazil. The Salsa dance, which is more widely known and practiced in the States, is syncretic. It combines different dances into one. The music is highly influenced by the Mambo, Guaguanco (used for the Rumba dance), and Afro-Cuban styles of music.

New York created the term “salsa” to represent different types of Latin music, and it became a nickname to the dance that is not purposefully referred to as Salsa. There is no place that can take full credit for the creation of Salsa. Its roots come from bits and pieces of many different subcultures.

Salsa Central Denver (SCD) is a local organization created to promote the Salsa dance community in Colorado. Weekly educational sessions are programmed throughout Denver to allow anyone in Denver to participate within this community of Salsa dance enthusiasts.

SCD was founded in 1996 by Malina Farias. It began as a small monthly newsletter sent via email to all members. The vision was to promote both the history of Salsa, and the specifics of the dance. Finally in 2005, SCD expanded once again with a Board of Directors as well as an official staff. At the end of 2005, SCD began a formal structure with a busi-

ness plan. Around this point in time, SCD partnered up with the Denver Turnverein (which houses 3 other dance clubs as well). This partnership gave Salsa Central Denver a home.

Today, SCD is still just as strong, cultivating the commu-nity and instruction of Salsa. SCD is currently overseen by president, Joe Genova, a salsa dancer with over 10 years of experience. Salsa socials are held on Wednesdays, beginning at 7PM. From 7 to 8PM, anyone can go and join other begin-ner salsa dancers. Salsa Central Denver appreciates diversity, and the more people the merrier. The salsa dance is nothing new to the Latin American culture, but it still thrives just as the people do. This form of dance unites different subcul-tures into one. It is vibrant with life and color. It is salsa.


For more information:www.salsacentraldenver.comSalsa Social WednesdaysOctober 20th, 2010


LINKS & LAUGHS

Have a Laugh If you have a few extra minutes next time your surfing the web (after you have already read TUSK of course) check out the fun e-card selection from jibjab.com. You can have a great time with a huge assortment of hilarious e-card tem-plates. You can even make animated videos with your entire group of friends or family as staring roles. That’s me to the left - as a dancing werewolf!

http://sendables.jibjab.com

Healthy Fall RecipesNeed a few healthy dinner ideas? Check out eatingwell.com for an easy display of recipe cards with colorful pictures of each.

www.eatingwell.com

Pumpkin Love Pumpkins are loaded with vitamin A and fiber, and low in calories.

http://women.webmd.com/healthy-fall-living-8/pumpkin-nutrition

XOXO


Feel great and stay healthy this WinterTotal Body Wellness Open House

Total Body Wellness Therapeutic Massage is warming up the Fall with an open house! All are invited to enjoy complimentary chair massage as well as samples of hot stone massage, Neuro muscular massage, aromatherapy and hot packs. Warm up with hot apple cider and snacks while you tour the Pilates Aligned/Taxi Fitness facility. Gift Certificates will also be available for purchase. Guest presenter Elizabeth Montana-Kizaki with USANA Health Sciences will be joining in on the fun. She will be offering helpful nutrition and supplement advice for all who are interested in staying healthy over the impending winter months. Join us for a fun, relaxing, and health filled afternoon. Hope to see you there!

When: Monday, November 1st 12pm-6pmWhere: Pilates Aligned/ Taxi Fitness 3457 Ringsby Ct. Denver, Co. 80207

Learn more about Total Body Wellness at www.shannonbriese.com

BODY & SOUL


The Flobots know first-hand how music can touch the life of a young person. On the road, on the stages around the world in the studio, the members of this Denver band have seen music open minds and motivate youth to make powerful changes in themselves, their relationships and their communities.

That’s why they created FLobots.org, a 501 c-3 orga-nization founded in Denver in March of 2008. Using music and the arts as inspiration, Flobots.org equips young people with the tools to make a difference in themselves, their communities and their world.

FIND OUT MORE AT www.flobots.org Text and images pulled from their website.

Flobots.org

Mission:Flobots.org works to create

positive social change by harnessing the power of music and those who love it. We view music as a tool for therapy, community building, leadership development

and action.

Please visit www.flobots.org to learn how you can get involved .

DENVER: DO GOOD


Anna Elizabeth Chávez

Anna Elizabeth Chávez is currently interning with Tusk Magazine, as well as concluding her last quarter at the Art Institute of Colorado. For years, Anna has been refining her style of photography and developing her portfolio. In December 2010, she will graduate with a Bachelors of Art degree in Commercial Photography. Her focus is directed towards fashion and beauty photography, however, she also enjoys consumer and editorial portraiture. Upon graduation, Anna will continue photographing and collaborating with Denver talents, as well as continuing her education in graphic design. She is currently available for hire and commissioned work.

Jenny Luper

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

TUSK Magazine is part of Faddis CreativeAll rights reserved

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Please let companies and people you read about in TUSK know where you heard about them. Contact me if you are interested in being added to our email list or for advertising opportunities.

Peace, [email protected] http://www.faddiscreative.com/TUSKMagazine.html

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TUSK Fall 2010 Issue

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