OUTSIDER PROJECT CELEBRATES WORLD-RENOWNED CHICAGO ARTIST HENRY DARGER’S BIRTHDAY
French musician Philippe Cohen Solal found material ripe for musical expression in Chicago-born author and artist Henry Darger’s drawings, paintings, writings, life story and lyrics. The award-winning Cohen Solal drew from Darger’s oeuvre to compose OUTSIDER, an album and transmedia project honoring the renowned outsider artist. In celebration of Darger’s birthday on Monday, April 12, Intuit partners with Cohen Solal and Musee Art Moderne de Paris (MAM) on the launch of OUTSIDER, in which Cohen Solal will present an excerpt from the project live from MAM on the website at noon central time.
In the baroque pop album OUTSIDER, musicians Philippe Cohen Solal, Mike Lindsay, Adam Glover and Hannah Peel turn Darger’s paintings and writings into melodies. The album is available now on streaming platforms and the website an immersive bilingual website featuring music videos and a short film. Releasing in English on Wednesday, April 14, the accompanying bilingual podcast retraces Darger’s story through the testimonies of the people who knew him and studied and exhibited his work. Hear stories from the artist’s former landlord, Kiyoko Lerner, and learn more about the Henry Darger Room Collection, which Cohen Solal used as inspiration, from Intuit President and CEO Debra Kerr.
“It’s exciting to see Darger’s influence in new mediums. Philippe has long been inspired by both seeing the artworks in person and his visit to the Henry Darger Room at Intuit. As Darger is Intuit’s most closely associated artist and many people’s entry to the genre of outsider art, I’m always interested to see new creativity catalyzed by his story and body of work,” says Kerr. “In this case, Philippe and his colleagues have treated Henry’s legacy with the utmost respect, honor and care. Darger’s story is shrouded in mystery, and I am happy when new interpretations stay true to what we know and can uncover with rigorous scholarship. I send my warm congratulations.”
Although Darger and his mysterious artwork have been of interest to the art world for several decades now, the outsider artist lived life in obscurity as a hospital janitor. Lerner’s husband, Nathan, discovered Darger’s work shortly before the artist’s death in 1972, and the couple shared it with outsider art enthusiasts and scholars who became fascinated by him over time.
As the pandemic keeps people removed from one another, an exploration of the notably isolated Darger is especially relevant. Cohen Solal’s interest in and repurposing of Darger’s work into new artforms speak to the universality and timeless emotional rawness of the late creator’s life and work. Celebrate Darger’s legacy at this commemorative program that is sure to delight and inspire fans around the world.
Founded in 1991, Intuit is a premier museum of outsider and self-taught art, defined as work created by artists who faced marginalization, overcame personal odds to make their artwork, and who did not, or sometimes could not, follow a traditional path of art making, often using materials at hand to realize their artistic vision. By presenting a diversity of artistic voices, Intuit builds a bridge from art to audiences. The museum’s mission to celebrate the power of outsider artis grounded in the ethos that powerful art can be found in unexpected places and made by unexpected creators.
Intuit is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and reserves admission by appointment for guests who are in an increased risk group. More information on the website.
Intuit is generously supported by the following organizations: Alphawood Foundation Chicago; anonymous foundations; Art Dealers Association of America Foundation; Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; Crown Family Philanthropies; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Field Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities; MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince; National Endowment for the Arts; Polk Bros Foundation; Prince Charitable Trust; and Terra Foundation for American Art.
Album cover with original artwork: Henry Darger, Spangled Blengins. Edible. Boy King Islands. One is a young Tuskerhorian the other a human headed Dortherean
KYLEYOUMADETHAT RELEASES NEW SINGLE AND VISUALIZER “ALL ABOUT CAKE” WITH COI LERAY & KAASH PAIGE
Increasing his momentum, rising Toronto artist and producer KyleYouMadeThat joins forces with Coi Leray and Kaash Paige on his high-energy new track “All About Cake” today.
The track is the soundtrack to one of this year’s biggest TikTok dance trends yet. With over one million TikTok dance videos created to the song by some of pop culture’s biggest talent including Lizzo, Charli D’amelio and more, KyleYouMadeThat added budding pop star Coi Leray and the buzzing R&B singer Kaash Paige to the track to trade bag chasing bars on the beat.
In the visualizer, a bikini-clad girl gang armed with super soakers wilds out by a pool, chowing down on cake and, inevitably, getting into a confectionary ingredient everywhere. You need to see it to believe it.
It arrives hot on the heels of “HOOPLA”—the collaboration between KyleYouMadeThat and NLE Choppa, It has already racked up over 1.3 million streams and earned critical acclaim. HotNewHipHop enthusiastically described it as “a bouncy banger.”
“HOOPLA” initially exploded on Tik Tok when KyleYouMadeThat shared nothing more than the beat on his page. Dance influencer Karaleigh Cannella shared a viral dance soundtracked by the production, and Seventeen praised it among “The Hottest TikTok Dances You Can’t Stop Doing.”
KyleYouMadeThat already moved the internet, and now he’s set to move the culture. Soundtracking 16 million-plus videos on Tik Tok and generating views in the billions by 2021, the Toronto-born artist, producer, and creative cooks up genre-defiant anthems and curates’ viral moods. After years producing for the likes of Trey Songz, Ryan Leslie, and Tinashe, he found himself stuck at home at the onset of the Global Pandemic. He leveled up all-around, becoming more proficient at graphic design, photo editing, and video editing. He also studied Tik Tok and pledged to “get a viral hit.” He didn’t just go viral; he practically broke the platform. “Crystal Dolphin” incited videos by dozens of influencers such as Charli D’Amelio [102 million followers], Addison Rae [71 million followers], SpencerX [50 million followers], and Loren Gray [50 million followers] as well as superstar Jason Derulo. Not to mention, the success translated to other platforms with 56 million streams on Spotify. Meanwhile, “All About Cake” inspired videos by everyone Kimberlyloazia [31.8 million followers] and Tony Lopez [23 million] to three posts from Lizzo. It would be his off-kilter sonic sensibility that shined through the loudest though, defining a whole wave in the process under the radar. Now, he asserts himself as both a trend architect and precise hitmaker on a series of 2021 singles for The Heavy Group/Republic Records, tipped off by “HOOPLA” with NLE Choppa.
Latin superstar Manuel Turizo is celebrating the launch of his sophomore studio album Dopamina. STREAM DOPAMINA HERE.
Under the wing of La Industria INC record label, Manuel Turizo released this extraordinary project created for his fans, to make them express and feel all of their emotions and increase their dopamine (Dopamina) levels.
“Your brain releases dopamine when you’re feeling pleasure, when you’re doing things you like, when you’re with the person you love, when you’re eating something you enjoy, or watching something entertaining. So, this album is that, a dopamine release because it’s going to make you feel that good!” Manuel Turizo said.
“This is not an album to enjoy one or two songs, we took the time to work with detail and passion on each song to make them stand out and have the potential of becoming singles. Dopamina is an album to listen to from the beginning to end,” he added.
Dopamina shows Manuel Turizo’s clear artistic maturity and musical evolution. While his first album ADN served as his introduction to the music industry, Dopamina will demonstrate his versatility in singing rhythms such as reggae, ballads, and, of course, everything that falls under the urban genre umbrella. Manuel himself, together with his brother Julián Turizo worked first-hand in the writing and production of the majority of the tracks, making this a very personal project.
The album includes the already-hits “Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda” (51 million YouTube views), “La Nota” featuring Rauw Alejandro and Myke Towers (122 million views), “Mala Costumbre” featuring legendary duo Wisin y Yandel (37 million views), and the newly-released as of yesterday, “Amor En Coma” featuring Maluma. Other notable collaborations include El Alfa and will.i.am, Farruko, Dalex, Justin Quiles, and Jay Wheeler and Miky Woodz, making up 13 unique tracks that are going to take you to another level.
In his 4 years of musical career, Manuel Turizo has managed to win the hearts of millions of fans from his native Colombia to Latin America and the United States. With more than 11 million followers on Instagram, and over 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify, he continues to cement his place in Latin music lovers’s hearts.
Announcing Manuel Turizo USA Tour 2021
Additionally, the singer shares his excitement by announcing a new concert tour. This time, it will take place in the United States with more than 20 confirmed dates. It will be passing through cities such as Chicago, El Paso, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, and Houston.
8 Safe Driving Tips That Will Keep You Accident-Free
As a driver, you must learn safe driving habits to avoid accidents on the roads. As you operate behind the wheels, remember that the safety of many road users depends on you. The safety of your passengers and pedestrians depends on you.
However, as a new driver, you might be struggling to drive safely. Here are some safe driving tips you should always consider.
1. Stay Away from Your Cell Phone
Using your mobile phone is dangerous when driving. It has been one of the major causes of accidents in the United States, and that’s why you need to put it away from you when driving.
There is no doubt that we’re in the mobile world and advanced technology. You might get tempted to use your phone to see what is happening.
However, every time you text or call while driving, you’re highly distracted. Distracted driving is a major contributor to road accidents. It is not worth the risk, which means you need to put your phone away.
2. Change Your Drive Time
Most accidents happen during peak hours. There is no doubt that every driver on the road is very alert. However, the number of cars on the road makes accidents inevitable.
There is a feeling that everyone is in a rush to get somewhere. This buildup of many vehicles on a rash can easily lead to accidents. It has been established that a huge number of accidents happen in the evening rush.
Therefore, it would be important to avoid driving during peak hours. However, you might not have the luxury of choosing when to drive. In such scenarios, you need to be super alert.
3. Avoid Over-Speeding
The first lesson you will learn in any driving school has everything to do with speed. You’re not supposed to drive your car at very high speeds. However, this is a commonly ignored lesson by many drivers.
A large number of accidents are directed related to over-speeding. When you’re moving at high speed, you don’t have sufficient control of the car. A slight error can lead to a fatal accident.
You should always drive your car at a moderate speed. This is the only way you will be able to control the vehicle in case anything happens. It is always essential to adhere to assigned speed limits.
4. Avoid Being Aggressive
There will always be aggressive drivers on the road. There is no doubt that they will annoy you as you drive. However, the prevalence of aggressive drivers is not a justification for you to be aggressive.
You should make sure that you adhere to the necessary safety rules on the road to avoid some possible accidents. An aggressive driver is an emotional person.
To be a safe driver, you should make sure that your emotions don’t control your reactions. You should avoid darting between lanes. Carelessly changing lanes can easily confuse other drivers leading to an accident. Moreover, one can learn defensive driving in Austin which can save lives, time and money despite road conditions and the actions of others.
5. Follow Road Signs
Every driver is expected to follow all the road signs to the letter. However, not every driver is focused on following such road signs.
Some drivers do not even know the meaning of various road signs. As a licensed driver, you should understand every road sign you come across. Reading and understanding all the road signs is considered defensive driving.
Some drivers have a comprehensive understanding of all the road signs. Unfortunately, others want to ignore these instructions. Avoid rushing on the intersection to beat the lights.
6. Don’t Tailgate
Tailgating is another leading cause of accidents. Driving too closely to the guy in front is a potential hazard. You need to keep some distance.
As a rule of thumb, you should keep a distance of at least 4 seconds from the car ahead. This will help you to respond in case something happens. Tailgating causes road accidents due to instant braking.
Some drivers are likely to be too close behind you. You should let them pass and keep some safe distance.
7. Get Enough Sleep
As a driver, you should never underestimate the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Good drivers should sleep for at least eight hours. Unfortunately, less than 40% of drivers sleep less than six hours.
These drivers are likely to start dozing behind the wheel, which is a serious offense on the road. If the police get you dozing, there is no doubt you will be serving time.
However, police may not get you in most cases. This does not mean that you will be getting away with a criminal offense. You might end up in a serious road accident that changes your life or kills other road users.
That is why you need to get enough sleep at night. If you’re driving for long distances, you need to get another driver to take charge as you sleep.
8. Don’t Drink and Drive
Drunk driving is a leading cause of road fatalities. It has remained a major cause for death in the country for more than five decades. Data show that drink driving makes up 40% of the 40,000 fatalities each year.
If you know you will be getting behind the wheel, you need to stay away from alcohol. Some people have a myth that taking coffee or getting fresh air will bring alcohol levels down. These practices will not make any difference to your alcohol levels, and the best thing is to avoid drinking driving.
If you’re involved in an auto accident resulting from these causes, you’ll need legal help. Visit kemprugegreen.com/ for more information.
Maximize on the Safe Driving Tips
To have an accident-free driving career, you need to make use of these safe driving tips. However, if you’re involved in an accident caused by another car, you need to contact a car accident lawyer. An experienced accident attorney will help you handle ensuing lawsuits.
Champion Athleticwear is releasing two new collections, Natural State Reverse Weave and Rally Pro Earth footwear, in support of the Champion Made pledge to create more responsibly-made apparel. Both collections will be available on Earth Day, April 22.
About Champion’s Natural State Reverse Weave:
Champion’s Natural State contains recycled polyester fibers and takes the brand’s iconic Reverse Weave fabrics and celebrates them in their natural, raw state. The collection uses minimally processed and unbleached fabrics, along with all-natural dyes derived from flowers, roots and plants, and is characterized by natural, muted tones, raw edges and logos that include recycled fibers.
Natural State allows the brand’s fans to be environmentally conscious from head to toe in the line’s tees, hoodies, crew-neck sweatshirts, joggers and shorts. The collection pricing ranges from $35 to $75 and will be available to shop in-store and online at Champion and Urban Outfitters on April 22.
About Champion’s Rally Pro Earth Footwear:
As part of our Champion® Made initiative, the iconic Rally Pro gets a refresh using better for the earth materials. Champion is also launching the Rally Pro Earth shoe in conjunction with its licensee, BBC International. This is Champion’s first sneaker assembled with 25-45% upcycled and 50-65% recycled materials, with percentages varying by shoe color.
Available in white, black/C gold and black/scarlet, the Rally Pro Earth is a more eco-friendly version of the popular Rally Pro, a slip-on style high-top sneaker. The sneaker is also packaged in recycled boxes.
The RPE sneaker also contains an upcycled EVA rubber outsole for a smooth ride and rubber logo sole for traction.
The sneaker will retail for $104.22 (a nod to Earth Day) and the collection will be available to shop in select Champion stores and on Champion’s website.
About Champion MADE:
Champion Made represents apparel made to matter – stemming from the brand’s mission to encourage consumers to make their own difference and be their own champion for the planet. The program is already seeing great success including the efforts below:
All Champion products can be washed in cold water, which reduces energy and water usage.
By 2030, Champion, as part of HanesBrands family, is committed to reducing water usage by another 25%.
Champion’s classic jersey tees are made with U.S. cotton, which is fully traceable and some of the most responsibly produced cotton in the world.
Powerblend sweats are made with a portion of recycled polyester fibers, which translates to approximately three recycled plastic water bottles in each garment.
By 2025, Champion’s goals, as part of HanesBrands family, include using 100% recycled polyester and 100% sustainable cotton in all of its apparel, achieving zero waste across operations, and reducing the absolute weight of packaging materials used for products by 25%
Music Icon Don Was to Launch Weekly Show, “The Don Was Motor City Playlist,” on Detroit’s NPR Station, 101.9 WDET-FM and streaming worldwide beginning 10 pm, April 16, 2021.
“The Don Was Motor City Playlist,” hosted by Don Was and WDET Music Host Ann Delisi will feature playlists curated by Was and tales from his more than 30-year career as a musician and producer.
Blue Note Records President, six-time Grammy Award Winner and music industry powerhouse Don Was is launching a weekly broadcast program Friday, April 16 in his hometown of Detroit. On the new two-hour show, The Don Was Motor City Playlist, Was will dig deep into his music archives to curate playlists and share personal stories about the artists whose songs he features. The show will pay homage to the Motor City and artists with whom he works and loves. It will be broadcast on Detroit’s NPR station, WDET 101.9 FM and available to stream on WDET’s website, the WDET mobile app, and on smart speakers.
The show will air every Friday from 10 pm–midnight and will be hosted by Was along with producer and co-host, Detroit radio personality Ann Delisi.
“This show is really different in that it is completely freeform,” says Was. “The format will be an old school stream of consciousness; diverse with songs that I love and want to share with listeners. It’s been really fun to make the playlists. I get to do this show from my birthplace of Detroit with the great Ann Delisi. You will hear stories about The Stones. Stories about Dylan. Stories about Bonnie Raitt and Iggy Pop. Stories about Detroit.”
The name of every playlist will be inspired by Don Was’ history in Detroit. As listeners tune in from around the world, they will hear commentary about the Motor City and its rich musical and cultural histories. Dubbed, “the most exciting city in America” by the New York Times, Detroit is the birthplace of Was, Jack White, Big Sean, Alice Cooper, Eminem, Elvin Jones, Pepper Adams, Marcus Belgrave, James Carter, Carl Craig, Alberta Adams and many others.
“Don Was is a genuine and fascinating storyteller who will give listeners intimate insight into music makers. Don is a Detroit treasure and so is Ann Delisi. We are thrilled that Don and Ann will be teaming up to create The Don Was Motor City Playlist on WDET,” says Mary Zatina, General Manager of WDET. It’s a perfect trio — “Don’s energy and talent in the music industry is in a league of its own. Ann, whose ear is to the ground in music of every genre, both share the ability to deeply engage listeners as they narrate stories and anecdotes about music making. The third leg of the formula is WDET — a one-of-a-kind radio station known for innovation and eclectic offerings that inform and delight audiences in metro Detroit and around the globe.” WDET, which has been on the air for 73 years, is Detroit’s flagship National Public Radio Station.
Delisi has been a Detroit broadcaster and producer for more than 35 years. Her show Essential Music is a treasured go-to for listeners to discover new music as well as look back at landmark albums, musical moments and the musicians who created them. She has interviewed everyone from David Bowie to Adele to White House Photographer Pete Souza. Dedicated to exploring the creative spirit that drives artists, Delisi said the idea to partner with Was came up in one of their many conversations over dinner.
Ann recounts the story of how the Don Was Motor City Playlist came about–“We were having dinner in Detroit when he was in town for the Concert of Colors global music festival. He talked about listening to WDET and the late night show “Jazz Today” hosted by Bud Spangler. He said that his dream was to do a show like that and play songs that were his personal favorites – from any genre and from era. Months later, I suggested to my WDET colleagues that Don should host a show on WDET and everyone loved the idea.”
WDET Program Director Joan Isabella says, “Don and Ann have a deep love of music and reverence for the artists who create it. Ann is a savvy interviewer and as his co-host, she will ask questions about his work that listeners will relish. The Don Was Motor City Playlist provides a platform for Don to share his life experiences as a musician, producer and record label president. Having heard many of Don’s stories throughout the years, I know it’s going to be a blast for the listeners.”
A pivotal moment in developing the show’s potential occurred years ago when Was visited WDET to be interviewed by Delisi, only for the show to be preempted due to a national emergency press conference.
“Back in 2012, our live interview was preempted, so we ended up recording a lengthy interview in a small studio sharing stories and talking about music. In the years that followed, I began working with Don on the Concert of Colors and we would always talk about music. Little did we know that all of those conversations were preparing us for this show,” says Delisi.
“I’ve been going through my record collection, music from Detroit and beyond, on and off Blue Note,” says Was. “Maybe some music that hasn’t been released from Was (Not Was), but I’m modest with this show, I haven’t decided that part yet.”
Fans can hope.
For more than 70 years, from our Midtown Detroit location on the campus of Wayne State University, WDET-FM 101.9, Detroit’s NPR station, has delivered a unique mix of news, conversation, special programs and music programming. Our 48,000-watt broadcast signal reaches a 70-mile radius across all of southeast Michigan, northwest Ohio and southwest Ontario. It expands nationally through our live stream, website, mobile app and podcasts. WDET-FM 101.9 is a community service of Wayne State University. Support for WDET comes from Wayne State, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, local foundations, and through private donors and corporate underwriting.
An intriguing find once emerged from a RAND Corp. survey on Americans and their working conditions. It turned out that 40 percent of employees that are age 65 and older had previously retired, but something lured them back to the working world.
In some cases, financial troubles might have been the cause. But often the reason is that people neglect an important component in their retirement planning. They don’t think about what they will do with their extra time, or how they will give their life the meaning and purpose that work had provided, says Patti Hart, co-author with her husband, Milledge, of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the Anti-Retirement Movement.
“Money is certainly important, but it’s not the only thing that determines whether your retirement is a success,” she says. “It may be that you are financially ready to retire, but are a long way from being emotionally ready.”
The Harts offer tips for figuring out when to retire and for making sure you’re successful when you do:
Know your catalysts. Identify milestones or signs that will let you know you are ready to embark on a new post-work life, Milledge Hart says. Yes, that could be when you’ve accumulated a certain amount of savings. But it might also be related to when your spouse quits their job, or when your children graduate college and head out on their own. Maybe your plan is to work until your health gives out. “Knowing your catalysts can mean the difference between successfully transitioning to a fulfilled life after your career is over, or boomeranging back to the full-time workforce simply because you didn’t know why you quit to begin with,” he says.
Plan ahead to avoid separation anxiety from work. For many people, moving from the excitement and fulfillment of a career to the quietness of retirement is too much, Patti Hart says. They develop a form of “separation anxiety,” longing for their old way of life rather than venturing boldly into the new one. “You need to make a plan for what you want to do in your new post-career life so you aren’t floundering when you get there,” she says.
Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. At work, people are thrown into uncomfortable situations and have no choice but to face them head on. In retirement, it’s easier to avoid discomfort, but doing so diminishes your confidence, and you miss out on opportunities for personal growth and fun, Milledge Hart says. “It would seem counterintuitive to think that being uncomfortable brings happiness, but it does,” he says. “Go at life as if it’s an adventure – because it is. When you accomplish something you didn’t think you could, you get a jolt of endorphins that drives you to your next challenge.”
Learn to be your own best friend. Even when people want to try a new hobby or activity, they sometimes are afraid to do it alone. “In retirement, you might not have the social network you once did,” Patti Hart says. “You may long for a good friend you can rely on.” But if you think about it, she says, you already have that friend–yourself. So as you prepare for retirement, be ready to go solo on occasion. “When you get to this stage, you will often find that some things on your list are on your list alone,” she says. “No one in your universe shares your interest or has the time to join you. That’s all right. If you are going to continue to grow, you need to sometimes feel like you did something completely on your own.”
“Don’t convince yourself that in retirement you are going to be destined to a life of watching evening game shows and baking pies, unless of course that is what you love to do,” Milledge Hart says. “My advice is nothing is off limits, so reach for the stars. Look forward rather than backward, and embrace the new you.”
About Patti and Milledge Hart
Patti and Milledge Hart, co-authors of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the Anti-Retirement Movement have spent more than 30 years as executive leaders in numerous technology and investment banking businesses. Today, in what they refer to as the “Resolutionist,” rather than retirement, phase of their lives, they are applying their resources and skills in new ways to advance philanthropic and corporate activities around the globe.
Emerging pop artist Elise Eriksen has teamed up with legendary DJ Afrojack to reimagine her debut single “Less ft. Shoffy” as a shimmering summer anthem. PRESS HERE to listen to the remix for the pop favorite, which was originally co-written with multi-platinum songwriter Julia Michaels, and features both Shoffy and Blu DeTiger.
“This project is really special to me considering a DJ I have listened to all my life wanted to remix my song,” says Elise on the collaboration. “It feels completely surreal and I am beyond thankful!”
“Less ft. Shoffy (Afrojack Remix)” arrives on the heels of the original version, which recently broke over a million streams on Spotify alone after being featured on key pop playlists worldwide and receiving international radio play–including multiple spins on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, the biggest radio stations in Europe. PRESS HERE to watch the effortlessly cool video for “Less ft. Shoffy,” which reflects on growing apart in a relationship and shows Elise defying expectations to stand out alongside a cast of her best friends. “Less ft. Shoffy” took shape after Elise threw herself into reimagining an early version of the track being toyed with by her father (GRAMMY-winning producer Mikkel Eriksen) and using her encyclopedic knowledge of music history and first-hand experience of watching the world’s biggest stars while growing up in the studio. The Afrojack collaboration also follows Elise’s second single “Smile,” which was co-written by Sasha Sloan, (Charli XCX, Camila Cabello, Anne-Marie, Katy Perry) The track showcases Elise’s distinctive vocals over her own piano instrumental while speaking to putting on a façade and smiling even though you’re not okay. PRESS HERE to watch the breathtakingly stark video, which was shot entirely by iPhone 12 on a frozen lake in Norway at -15°F.
Originally from Norway, Elise moved to New York City soon after discovering her love for music and is now based in Los Angeles. Learning over the years what it takes to make a perfect pop song, Elise is the daughter of one half of uber-producers Stargate (Rihanna, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Coldplay) and grew up in the studio surrounded by the world’s top artists and songwriters. Embracing the uncompromising work ethic she grew up surrounded by, Elise devoted years to playing the piano and honing her craft before experimenting with writing songs of her own. Inspired by artists as eclectic as Stevie Nicks, Alicia Keys, Don Toliver, Pink Floyd, and Etta James, the seventeen-year-old’s dynamic musical imagination and sharp musical instincts reflect her endless creative curiosity and a deep commitment to her artistic growth.
“’Smile’ is a stripped-down, confessional ballad, with a chorus that aims for the rafters and nicely showcases the newcomer’s developing range.” – Billboard
“If you don’t already know the name Elise Eriksen, you’re about to in a big way.” – Sweety High
You could call me a third-generation almond farmer turned “entrepreneurial yogurt innovator;” and those two titles are linked more than you can imagine. I’ve been able to combine my love of the land and our family farm with a drive to innovate and create, adding a whole new branch to our family farming legacy.
As a result of running an almond farm in the San Joaquin Valley, California, the land has always been an integral part of my family’s life, and it runs in my blood. My great grandfather started our farm in 1913. For over 100 years, we have been farming in California, and it’s been a true labor of love. Sustainability is the key, and our family is driven by the desire to pass on healthy, living soil to the next generation.
I earned a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of California, Davis, and have served as an alternate on the Almond Board of California’s Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Production Research Committee. Farming is my passion, and I love being a lifetime learner regarding how to constantly innovate and support the farming community. And of course, we Billings love what we think of as a pretty much perfect food–almonds.
Walking the orchard is always the best part of my day. Our almond trees live up to about 30 years, and to watch their seasonal process is both beautiful and grounding. The bare branches of the winter bloom gloriously in the spring and summer. Then, in the fall, the almonds are harvested when the tree is shaken to loosen the nuts. The cycle of nature, as well as the challenges, stay true. Like any farmer, there is so much appreciation for the earth and a strong desire to take care of it. One of the guiding tenets for our farm–and family– is, “leave the earth a better place than when you started.”
I am also an innovator and have a passion for better health through wholesome foods. About four years ago, the family came together to figure out how we could offer our almonds to consumers in a new way. It’s a pretty amazing thing when generations can build upon each other. We believe in the dietary goodness of almonds, and knew we could do more with our product. It was time to take a big chance. For the Billings family, that meant creating AYO Almond-based Yogurt.
At first, it seemed like a pretty straightforward endeavor–using our organic almonds in almond milk based yogurts. But nothing good comes easy. We created a whole new retail product, and we weren’t going to go to market until we were confident that our yogurt was the best offered.
We like to call AYO Almond Milk Yogurt “farm-to-spoon” because we created this yogurt every step of the way. I truly oversee the entire process, starting with the 20 almonds that go into each cup. The almonds are cleaned and sorted, then blanched in boiling water to remove the outer skin. Then, they are roasted and ground into almond butter–the pure nut butter almond base that is used to make AYO. AYP is all-natural, contains nothing artificial, and is probiotic-rich.
Being a father, the importance of creating wholesome food–we call it “better for you foods”–that I want to feed my own kids is a driving force in creating our product. We worked hard to create a healthy yogurt that isn’t full of sugar, but that kids (and adults) like. We did just that, and like to say it’s “kid tested, parent approved.” We churn our organic almonds, and create a creamy yogurt with a touch of toasted almond flavor. Then we picked the flavors the kids and adults love: vanilla, organic peach, strawberry, blueberry, and more to come. And we’ve been proud to say that we are getting fantastic feedback from our customers–they love the taste and texture. We are thrilled with their reviews.
Every day I am reminded of my forefathers’ challenges with running an almond farm–water supply, the challenges of mother–you name it. But jumping into the retail food market is a whole new learning curve. First, I wouldn’t recommend launching a new product during a pandemic. I can say that with a smile, but it has been a challenge to market something with incredible taste when you can’t have in-store tastings. We’ve had to work harder on other fronts and, just like in farming, you have to surround yourself with trustworthy people that share your vision and work hard for a common goal.
I love farming. I love creating wholesome food that our customers enjoy. We’ve had the joy of creating a product our family is proud of in a tough time. Just like the generations before me, I truly believe with a commitment to quality and core values, you’ll find success.
The Untitled Space is pleased to present “UNRAVELED: Confronting The Fabric of Fiber Art” group show opening on April 17 and on view through May 28, 2021. Curated by Indira Cesarine, the exhibition will feature textile and fiber-based artworks by 40 contemporary women artists. “UNRAVELED: Confronting The Fabric of Fiber Art” explores in depth the themes and techniques of the medium through the works of female-identifying artists working with natural and synthetic fiber, fabric, and yarn. The exhibition presents figurative and abstract works that address our lived experience and history through the lens of women weaving, knotting, twining, plaiting, coiling, pleating, lashing, and interlacing. Narratives of self-identification, race, religion, gender, sexuality, our shared experience, as well as protest and the patriarchy are literally “unraveled” through embroidery, felt, woven and hooked rugs, braided and sewn hair, sewn fabrics, discarded clothing, cross-stitching, repurposed materials and more.
Exhibiting Artists: Amber Doe, Carol Scavotto, Caroline Wayne, Christy O’Connor, Daniela Puliti, Delaney Conner, Dominique Vitali, Elise Drake, Elizabeth Miller, Hera Haesoo Kim, Indira Cesarine, Jamia Weir, Jody MacDonald, Julia Brandão, Kathy Sirico, Katie Cercone, Katie Commodore, Katrina Majkut, Katy Itter, Kelly Boehmer, Linda Friedman Schmidt, Lisa Federici, Marianne Fairbanks, Mary Tooley Parker, Melanie Fischer, Melissa Zexter, Mychaelyn Michalec, Mz Icar, Orly Cogan, Robin Kang, Rosemary Meza-DesPlas, Ruta Naujalyte, Sally Hewett, Sarah Blanchette, Sooo-z Mastopietro, Sophie Boggis-Rolfe, Stacy Isenbarger, Stephanie Eche, Victoria Selbach, and Winnie van der Rijn.
Curatorial Statement:
unravel [ uhn-rav-uhl ] to separate or disentangle the threads of (a woven or knitted fabric, a rope, etc.). to free from complication or difficulty; make plain or clear; solve: to unravel a situation; to unravel a mystery.
“UNRAVELED: Confronting the Fabric of Fiber Art” investigates the narratives of contemporary fiber artists. The exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists who each address through their own personal vision, materials, and methods, works that are deeply rooted in the history of feminism, in the intersection of art and craft, addressing our living experiences and personal languages. We live in a world of extremes – on one hand, the pandemic has brought forth an intensity on digital and online programming peaking with the emergence of NFT art, and on the opposite end of the spectrum we are seeing a return to the comforts of the home and along with it a renaissance of organic and handmade artworks that embody that spirit. The laborious and repetitive methods required to create one work of fiber art can take hundreds of hours, yet equally the creation process is often referred to as a mediative act of healing, allowing for an expressive personal and cultural interrogation.
Fibers have been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years. Textile art is one of the oldest art forms, dating back to prehistoric times. Despite early works of textiles such as embroideries and tapestries having been made by both men and women, the tradition of textiles and needlework evolved into that of “women’s work” and was not only dismissed as not “important” but was literally banned from the high art world by the Royal Academy in the 18th century (circa 1769). With the rise of the women’s movement as well as technological advances, women reclaimed the medium, subverted its history as a lesser art form, and transformed it into a tool of expression, of protest, of personality. From early suffrage movement embroidered banners to the groundbreaking exhibitions and works of female pioneers such as Bauhaus weaver Anni Alber’s momentous solo show at the Museum of Modern Art in 1949, Lenore Tawney’s exhibition at the Staten Island Museum in 1961 to Judy Chicago’s groundbreaking 1979 work “The Dinner Party”, we have seen the medium evolve and inspire new generations of fiber artists.
“UNRAVELED: Confronting the Fabric of Fiber Art” explores this new wave of female-identifying artists who are using materials ranging from thread and yarn to human hair, fabrics, and discarded clothing, among a range of other components to unravel the “language of thread” with works that provoke and interrogate. Whether drawn from a deeply personal narrative, or rooted in political motivation, each artist weaves, spins, sews, and hooks the viewer with their detailed and intricate textures that communicate and empower. The exhibition presents two and three-dimensional pieces that explore with gravity and humor our contemporary culture, its beauty, flaws, and idiosyncrasies through murals, assemblages, fragile and gestural threads, meditative, and metaphorical fibers. “UNRAVELED: Confronting the Fabric of Fiber Art” pushes the boundaries, investigates ancient as well as new materials and techniques, and presents a contemporary universe of the language of women and their interwoven, progressive vocabulary.”– Curator Indira Cesarine
“To know the history of embroidery is to know the history of women.” – Rozsika Parker author of “The Subversive Stitch” (1984)
“I am a multimedia artist who uses sculpture and performance to bear witness to the experiences of black women even as American society aims to render us and our lives as invisible and meaningless. Despite the prevalent “urban black” narrative, my experience is tied to the natural world, and I use materials that reference my desert environment and my lived experience as a black woman with Indigenous roots.” – Artist Amber Doe
“I mix subversion with flirtation, humor with power, and intimacy with frivolity. My subject matter is frank and provocative, dealing with issues of fertility, sexuality, self-image, isolation, vulnerability, indulgence, and beauty in the mundane, which are designed to challenge social stereotypes embedded within childhood fairytales. My work explores the many flavors of feminism.” – Artist Orly Cogan
“I pull from my autobiography to illustrate stories of trauma, sexuality, intimacy, and growth. Detailed beading and cyclical patterning emphasize the consistent labor in the repetitive motion of handsewing, that which mirrors the emotional and psychic labor expended in order to manage the suffering a body can accumulate over time. My sculptures translate the life experience of a survivor of complex trauma through the lens of glittering beadwork in order to recount deeply traumatic stories for the same cultural collective that due to repression, denial, censorship and deliberate silencing…” –Artist Caroline Wayne
“This body of work scrutinizes the amalgamation of victim shaming tropes that men and women are taught throughout their lives, both passively and actively, through social norms, pop culture, our educational and legal systems, religious establishments, and familial influences and upbringing.” – Artist Christy O’Connor
“My work focuses on my personal experience living within the confines of a female body, exploring sexuality, religion, and body image. The shared narratives of childbirth, menstruation, dysmorphia, sexual violation, and societal scrutiny all come into play and find connections with the viewers in their shared commonality.” – Artist Dominique Vitali
“My textile works are hand-sewn, fabric based sculptural pieces made from recycled materials that have multiple uses as ritual talismans, wearables, ecstatic birth blankets, dreamcatchers and traveling altars”. – Artist Katie Cercone
“Discarded clothing is my paint. I give second chances to the worn, the damaged, the mistreated, the abandoned, the unwanted, and to myself. My emotional narrative portraits and figurative artworks examine the human condition through my own lived experience. The violence of cutting and deconstruction make way for the reconstruction and refashioning of a broken past.” – Artist Linda Friedman Schmidt
“We are drawn to the grand gesture, the loud assured voice, the bold move, the aggressive brush stroke. I celebrate the opposite: the small moments in our lives – the unremarkable… as Covid-19 took over, some of the things I was celebrating became even more pertinent; toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer. These objects became signs of hope, of safety, of comfort.” – Artist Melanie Fischer
ABOUT THE UNTITLED SPACE
The Untitled Space is an art gallery located in Tribeca, New York in a landmark building on Lispenard Street. Founded in 2015 by artist Indira Cesarine, the gallery features an ongoing curation of exhibits of emerging and established contemporary artists exploring conceptual framework and boundary-pushing ideology through mediums of painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video and performance art. The gallery is committing to exploring new ideas vis-à-vis traditional and new mediums and highlights a program of women in art. Since launching The Untitled Space gallery, Cesarine has curated over 40 exhibitions and has exhibited artwork by more than 450 artists. Her curatorial for The Untitled Space includes solo shows for artists Sarah Maple, Rebecca Leveille, Alison Jackson, Fahren Feingold, Jessica Lichtenstein, Tom Smith, Loren Erdrich, Kat Toronto aka Miss Meatface, Katie Commodore, and Jeanette Hayes among many others. Notable group shows include “Art4Equality x Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness” public art exhibition and group show presented in collaboration with Save Art Space, “IRL: Investigating Reality,” “BODY BEAUTIFUL,” “SHE INSPIRES,” Special Projects “EDEN” and “(HOTEL) XX” at SPRING/BREAK Art Show, and internationally celebrated group shows “UPRISE/ANGRY WOMEN,” and “ONE YEAR OF RESISTANCE” responding to the political climate in America, as well as numerous other critically-acclaimed exhibitions. Recent press on Indira Cesarine & The Untitled Space includes Vogue (US), Vogue Italia, CNN, Forbes, Newsweek, W Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, New York Magazine, i-D Magazine, Dazed and Confused, and The New York Times among many others.
*Featured image artwork by Victoria Selbach for UNRAVELED: Confronting The Fabric of Fiber Art.
Artwork by Elise Drake, UNRAVELED Confronting The Fabric of Fiber Art.
Artwork by Mary Tooley Parker, UNRAVELED Confronting The Fabric of Fiber Art.
