Insights @ the CSULB University Art Museum

Photos by Barbara Navarro.

ISM: In Long Beach, they're totally an IN-ism

Juicy bits of those ISM magazines do a good job of catching my eye whenever I shop at my favorite local bookstores. How I wish every bookstore anywhere carried these 8-by-6-inch, colorful things. The magazine stands for something interesting, coming from an official non-profit organization and all, and it’s got even more interesting content, always pushing forward local artistes (writers, photographers, painters and the like) into the limelight with interviews and full-colored spreads.

But looking beyond the soft matte finish of the magazine, and looking beyond the simple ISM logo stamped across every one of their covers, I found an even greater community that simply calls itself ISM. Altogether they are, in fact, “ISM: A Community Project.”

What do they do as a community? Party and celebrate their fabulous existence, for one. To embellish the atmosphere, they do a good deed of hanging their even more fabulous collectibles—photography art and such. Everybody who contributes to the magazine, and those people whose names we see on the masthead, gather their things and shower them into various local art galleries, leaving their mark as ISM: Gallery.

And the parade doesn’t stop there, they have their own place online, too—ISM: Online, a place outside the random, every-now-and-then ISM: Gallery gatherings or the even rarer two-times-a-year business of the ISM: Magazine.

During spring break, I had the happy chance of joining the fun at the ISM: Gallery, taking residence inside Long Beach’s Koo’s Art Center on Broadway. Apparently, the two—Koo’s and ISM—have been sharing space for the last two exhibits heard of out of this place (“Hello, My Name Is” and “Shudder,” the one that kicked off my weekend of spring break), so it’d be healthy speculation if eventually Koo’s turned into ISM’s.

ISM’s relentless affection of breaking into Long Beach art scene seems to be working for them, especially with their latest exhibit, the fashionable-looking “Prelude,” which will open on Sunday at Koo’s Art Center, or the ISM: Gallery. So, if you’re into fashion, and the fashion shows of late on campus aren’t cutting it for you, then perhaps this will satisfy your fashionista appetite and should also quench your curiosity of who or what exactly ISM is all about.

Kevin Staniec, founder and executive creative director of ISM, will be in full swing on the 11th, catering to all Long Beach art darlings. He’ll be presenting new artists to the ISM: Wall (something described as an ISM ritual), and the night will be lit up by the fashions created by UCLA students for their fashion show FAST.

ISM says they’re promising that everybody will be sharing oohs and ahhs over the original sketches on display, the runway shows, over-the-top accessories, the one of a kind wearable masterpieces... All of which will be lovingly showcased. But if this event will turn out to be as fun as “Shudder’s” opening, I’ll come prepared with my best face for all the fun photo booth action and my dancing shoes for the hot DJ music.

RSVP for Sunday night's opening of "Prelude" like a VIP at ISM: Online. (www.ISMcommunity.org/)

All photos were taken by Barbara Navarro at the opening of "Shudder" on Saturday, March 29.

Notes on the CSULB Fashionistas

The Los Angeles Mercedes Benz Fashion Week wisped through town last week. After reviewing the videos and pictures posted by the Los Angeles Times, however, I was left uninspired. It’s not like I dream of seeing Nina Ricci goddesses or statuesque Chanel models in high-society, high-dollar gowns coming to town. But I more or less agree with headlines like “tabloid runways,” when referring to the scene and the people who put on the LA shows. The heartbeat of this town’s fashion sense: Getting lines from talentless designer-stars, à la Whitney Port, or all the other stars from “The Hills” and all other reality TV series, for that matter. Gross. Gag. Barf.

With the additional factor of a bitter, crumbling economy (I'm being extreme in my description), some major LA fashion designers, like the real fashion designers, (Louis Verdad, anyone?) pulled out of this year’s annual spectacle.

The Wall Street Journal, moreover, continues to report on declining retail sales (in February, the Commerce Department reported a falling 0.6%, for example, and that's severe in the ever nonprofitable world of fashion) and the overall slowing economy, adding fluff to Verdad’s recent statement that the economy had something to do with him not showing. (But if I had to share headlines with Nikki Hilton and the “tabloid runway” newcomer Benji Madden, I think I’d also turn off.)

As any smart fashionista student, I know that the success of the fashion business lies in the careful balances between finance and creativity. Curious of how my fellow schoolmates were coping in this headline-popular economical slump, I set out to campus to find student-fashionistas who looked great, despite, you know, our already tight student budgets.



Notes on the Fashionistas...

Go International: Ayaka Mori, 22, a studio art student who lives in San Pedro, imports her favorite labels from Japan. Her inspiration for what to wear comes from Japanese magazines, too. She enjoys reading Non-No, Cutie, P.S. and Mina, all publications from her native country.
Be Bright: Yasmineh Kafai, 25, from Los Angeles, likes to work bright colors into her outfits. Instead of wearing complete, solid colors, she'll wear a sweater with colorful stripes, for example. This graphic design student says, "What you wear is a reflection of your personality."
Do-It Yourself: Skateboard in one hand and cell phone in another, Gaberiel Martinez, 29, knows a thing or two about balancing technology with more ol' fashioned ambidextrous ways. For example, with his Danger skateboard, Martinez used grip tape to make the eye-catching pattern we see in the picture. Very cool.
Be Yourself, or Not: Freshman Mahogony Yarde goes to the pretty extreme of wearing bright colors both in her clothes and jewelry. She's definitely a communication and black studies student, but when it comes to what she wears, Yarde says, "I love the fact that I can be a million different people by changing my outfit." (And I'm still wondering if she gave me her real name.)

Come with Your Own Soundtrack: Jingles. Clunks. Heels, dangling necklaces. Don't you love it when music plays inside your mind when you meet someone new? These girls, clad in colorful prints and shiny accessories, not only caught my eye, but called to my ear with their very own wearable sound machines. I couldn't help but admire the details they came adorned with, either. Sarah Olson (left), 21 years old and an international business student, pointed out to me that one of her bracelets was actually a souvenir from her encounter with Mexican rock band Kinky, who made their way to Los Angeles for a show Monday night. Sarah's friend Camila Jimenez (right), also 21 and a fashion and marketing student, wasn't shy to add that the dolled-up pair got noticed right away and were invited to meet the band backstage for the after party. I can already tell you, these Calexico girls have a lifetime to make more memories like that, because they're actually cousins!

All photos by Barbara Navarro.