Funky Snacks- with Dâm-Funk

Snacks: Mayer Hawthorne and the Village Discount

Snacks- Obama and more work to do...

  Ill Doctrine:  Why I’m Happy, Why I’m Not Satisfied
- Watch more Politics Videos at Vodpod.

Jam of the week

Asian Models Are

 ‘Redefining Traditional Concepts of Beauty’

L–R: Du Juan, Tao Okamoto, Lee Hyun, Hyoni Kang, Liu Wen, Bonnie Chen, So Young Kang, and Lily Zhi.

December's American Vogue features eight Asian models who are, according to the magazine, "redefining traditional concepts of beauty." The Steven Meisel–lensed two-page spread features: China's Du Juan, Liu Wen, Bonnie Chen, and Lily Zhi; South Korea's Hyoni Kang, So Young Kang, and Lee Hyun; and Japan's Tao Okamoto. With Asia's significance to luxury brands becoming increasingly visible, it seems only natural for Asian faces to become more prominent in the industry as well.

They've been landing plenty of high-profile work lately: Earlier this year, Liu Wen became Estée Lauder's first Asian spokesmodel. Later, Maybelline announced fellow Chinese modelShu Pei as the face of the brand. One can even look at Marc Jacobs's cheongsam-infusedspring 2011 collection for Louis Vuitton, in which eight out of 53 models were Asian (Lanvin cast three Asian girls, and Valentino cast one). Meanwhile, Miuccia Prada shot her spring 2010 menswear campaign in Shanghai, featuring relatively unknown Chinese models (at the same time, her past two major women's shows have included no Asian faces). Yet while major fashion and beauty brands are hiring more Asian models, Vogue's proclamation comes off as dubious at best.

While it's refreshing to see the magazine acknowledge the importance of Asian models in the industry, especially since Vogue has largely ignored Asian models in the past, it always seems easier for magazines to lump the girls in a feature like this, feel like the acknowledgment has been made, and then revert back to their usual ultra-white mix of models in subsequent issues. It will be interesting to see if and how Vogue will support these statements in forthcoming issues. Can we expect to see more of newcomers So Young Kang and Bonnie Chen? Or perhaps newly minted runway fixtures Ming Xi and Fei Fei Sun will actually have a chance at longevity? Maybe, maybe not. But hey, baby steps?

The Black List - Volume 1

Reconsider Columbus Day

Jam of the week

For Nancy*

Local Yokel - vol.1

Tom Slazinski

Who are you and What do you do?

Tom Slazinski- I create tailored environments. I'm a Senior Display Coordinator for Anthropologie while also working as a freelance event design/installation artist. This largely involves creating the displays for Anthropologie stores by designing the store environment. I like to think of it as an unusual combination of set design, interior design and art installation. On the side I've also executed the design of numerous retail, event, wedding, and residential spaces. 

Where are you from? 
I'm a Midwesterner. Was born outside of Detroit. 

How has that influenced your aesthetic or approach to the work?

Well mostly that I come from a hard working set of parents who embraced my creativity when I was young and provided me with countless opportunities to develop that aspect of myself. I grew up talking full advantage of the artistic wealth around me which included Cranbrook, Interlochen and a number of other institutions. We also traveled extensively and I always have been fortunate to have a broad perspective to draw upon. 

Was the path to what you do now a linear one? Or did you stumble upon your calling?

I've always been involved in the arts. My entire youth I trained in the fine arts. By high school the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts ranked me among the most talented young artists in the nation. I went on to study architecture at the Univ. of Michigan. Traditional architecture practice wasn't the best fit for my more visceral temperament so I steered my design sensibilities towards more hands-on projects with a quicker turn over rate. This led me to interior design, and later to a greater focus in prop sourcing and creation. I worked at the largest prop house in New York, created props for theater, freelanced at a production design group and eventually found my way to my current position with 

Anthropologie.

                                                                        

What do you love about your work? 

I love tactile work. I'm hands on every day painting, drawing, sawing, climbing ladders... I get to have a direct connection with my creation and leave a personal touch. Back when I used to work in the architecture profession this is what I missed the most. I also love having involvement in a project from start to finish in a relatively short timeline. The variety of tasks with in the process always keeps the work fresh and exciting - from planning, (especially) supply research and gathering, production and assessment. In the end what I love the most is using creativity to transform a space into something I find beautiful and special that I can share with others. Really there's not much I don't like about my work. 

What keeps you motivated and excited to continue? 
The challenges each new unique project brings.

More from the artist }

Jam of the week-

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REEEEEEEEEMMMMMMMIIIIIIIIIIXXX!