Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "amithyst"

Art, Music, & Fashion Collide at Harlow's for the Midtown Gala

2011-07-18T18:18:17Z

Harlow’s night club was converged upon Friday night by artists, musicians, designers, community leaders and culture enthusiasts to help support and celebrate the creative hub of Sacramento known as Midtown.

The 2011 Midtown Business Association Annual Gala included exhibits by various local businesses, performances by local musicians and artists, and a lecture by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development and author of, “The Warhol Economy: How Art, Fashion, and Music Drive New York City.”

Harlow’s was elegantly decorated with round tables on the dance floor topped with black linen, centerpieces of wine glasses holding peacock feathers and donated goodies including business cards, coupons and wine keys.

The patio outside featured local DJ and media company, Visao Media. Alex Trujillo and Erin Best ran projections and played an eclectic mix of electronic music which complemented the diverse and unique scene that was growing outside.

Exhibits were further back and included an exclusive mix of local shops and businesses in the downtown area. Flowers Couture by Susanne displayed some particularly beautiful and intricate hair accessories including many 1920’s vintage style headbands and clips. Bunker’s Attic featured mostly “vintage re-mastered” jewelry – handmade and unique. Exhibitors also included Time Tested Books, one of Midtown’s independent new, used and rare book stores; Maiya Gallery, currently displaying new works by JG Morales Villanueva, Dwight Head, Clifford Kluge and Mark Harm Niemeyer; Krazy Mary’s Boutique, carrying designs by many local designers as well as name brand and vintage styles and last but most certainly not least, Motives, a fully customizable high end mineral based makeup line.

“We empower every woman to look and feel beautiful,” explained Rita Lolenko, a Motives representative. “If you want to feel like a star, come get your makeup done by Motives – makeup for the stars.”

The evening continued with a very special and fascinating lecture by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, Assistant Professor at University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development and author of, “The Warhol Economy.” Currid-Halkett spoke eloquently about the art movement, how it is developed, why it happens where it does and what that means for the artists themselves, as well as its effects on the community - socially, culturally and economically.

Currid-Halkett argues that there are three types of “social milieu” that facilitate the cultural economy: Night Life, Industry Events and “in-situ” interactions which are essentially spontaneous interactions that have life changing effects. She cited various regions in New York where areas that were once considered highly undesirable places to live have been transformed over time by a convergence of artists and musicians and are now some of the most exclusive and coveted residential areas in the country. This is an example of how art and music can transform a place, explained Currid Halkett, not just culturally and socially, but economically as well.

Currid-Halkett’s thesis, that place matters, seemed all the more relevant as local Sacramento artists, musicians, and their supporters mingled in the Harlow’s courtyard and enjoyed each other’s performances inside. Huddled around the fire pit were local model Anastasia, subject of a featured painting by Jeff Musser; musician Ashley Maiden of the band Der Spazm, who will be performing Tuesday at the Press Club with French band Human Toys; spoken word artist Jovi Radtke, who will be performing at Chico Pride and Take Back The Night; as well as solo artist and gala performer Reggie Ginn.

All four women are local artists working in different genres who are, nevertheless, out supporting each other. The Sacramento Midtown art scene is a close knit community who appreciate each other for their similarities and their differences. When asked what makes the Midtown art scene unique, Anastasia said it best.

“It’s very much our own. We are influenced by other places, but we take it and put our own twist on it. Sacramento has ingenuity – we’re just a little different out here.”

The Various performers were perhaps the highlight of the entire event. Performers were grouped together in threes on stage, doing what they love. Jeff Musser, a local painter, worked on his picture of Anastasia, a dark, sexy and feminine piece, while local hair stylist Jessica Harrison of Spanish Fly created a classically beautiful look on stage. The two were accompanied by Jake Desrochers, aka Jake D. of the band Lonely Kings. His passionate songs about life and love inspired and set the tone for the continued performances.

Jessica Harrison was replaced on stage by Amithyst, an artist/hair stylist who constructed an elaborate and gravity defying hair style on stage. The model sat stationary while Amithyst fitted her with a handmade wig and sculpted the rest of her hair into an updo reminiscent of Marie Antoinette. Jeweled and painted, the model posed on stage.

Amithyst, a Sacramento native, has been doing hair in Sacramento for 12 years. She describes the fashion, art and music scene as going “nowhere but up. The influential people here are established and poised to make (this city) grow – it’s open for anyone to dominate.”

The next musical performer was Reggie Ginn, local singer-songwriter and musician. Reggie took the stage with nothing but her keyboard, confidently serenading the crowd with her haunting, passionate and soulful voice. Her lyrics and voice transport the listener to another consciousness, one that is simultaneously filled with loss and longing, and peace and honesty. Reggie plays all over town; her next show will be at Naked Lounge on H Street. Keep an eye out for her at the Chalk It Up Festival as well. She is currently working on her third album, “Passion in Perspective,” which will be out in a couple months.

Meanwhile, on stage, Amithyst was replaced by local tattoo artist, Britton McFetridge, owner and operator of the Royal Peacock Tattoo Parlor. McFetridge tattooed a loyal and very pain tolerant customer on stage. The work was beautifully elaborate and intricate, a large dragon which took up the man’s entire back. McFetridge calmly began his work, checking in occasionally with his client, who withstood the process with hardly a grimace.

They were serenaded by the soulful sounds of Andrew Harrison, whose blues, soul and Americana sounds brought a nice variety to the performances. Harrison’s authentic sound is influenced by Albert King, Jackie Wilson and probably most influentially, by Elvis Costello.

Last on stage was Alex Dorame of the Sacramento band, Killdevil, who took the stage with his guitar in hand and approached the microphone for a no holds barred performance. His raspy and powerful voice, accompanied by gritty, heartfelt lyrics, can be described as acoustic street punk, which might make it the most street of all. His music sounds like a confession with songs about drinking, lost love and good friends. Dorame dedicated his last song of the night, “Final Call” to Sacramento.

“This song is about good friends and appreciating them.”

His words seemed to sum up the meaning of the night - a coming together of good friends, appreciators of art and most importantly, a desire to make Sacramento great.

Upset at Capital Fashion Awards

2009-10-06T20:29:32Z

Leigh Grogan, a writer for the Sacramento Bee, is reporting that, "The first Capital Fashion Awards show Friday night at the Park Ultra Lounge in Sacramento gave local designers and hairstylists something to shoot for - a spot in next year's event." Yet interestingly enough, many of this years nominees are vowing to never return.

Voting procedures for the event are still unclear. One nominee for Best Fashion Photographer was confided in by two sources that the link on the online voting ballot that was supposed to go to his website and online portfolio actually went to a Bible study website. Exactly who was given the opportunity to vote is also unclear.

Richard Hallmarq (creator/planner of Capital Fashion Awards), coincidentally won in the "Best Designer" category, even though a close friend of his and fellow designer has accurately tweeted "DESIGNER OFTHE YEAR DIDNT EVEN HAVE 1 FASHION SHOW THIS YEAR!!" In fact, Hallmarq's "collection" at the awards show only boasted 4 original outfits. In addition to this, Hallmarq was the only designer given a full runthrough of his show with his models before the Capital Fashion Awards began.

The models that walked for all the designers were from Sacramento agency Cast Images, including four of the nominees in the Model of the Year category. These nominees were aware of each others' nominations, but were surprised to learn the night of the event that other models not living in the Sacramento area had been nominated as well. One model was heard as saying after a non-local was announced as the winner, "ummm, so why are we here?" These models were uncompensated for the night's event.

Local models also anticipated with excitement the chance to meet America's Next Top Model and Make Me a Supermodel winners Naima Mora, CariDee English, and Jonathan Waud. English was quoted in a Sacramento Bee article before the event as saying, "I'm looking forward to meeting the models in Sacramento to encourage them." Yet these reality TV winners were kept separate until the start of the event, and chatter confirms that "Make Me a Supermodel" winner Jonathan Waud was the only celebrity of the evening friendly enough to chatter with local participants backstage.

All in all, while the event clearly brought an evening of fun for the audience, those in the local fashion scene who participated in the show were left feeling schemed.

Whether Leigh Grogan (who has had a friendship with Hallmarq for years) or any other local newsource will pick up this underlying story is yet to be seen, but undoubtedly it will affect the show's future prospects for finding local talent in the fashion industry.

Local hair artist sets out on her own

2009-08-12T17:40:16Z

Hovering above the 18th and L Street corridor like a radiant crystal amulet is an oasis of beauty, style and art. Amithyst Salon, located at 1124 18th St., serves as a haven of sorts, offering its clientele a respite from split ends, graying locks, and even bare walls.

While the fledgling salon has been in operation for only three and a half months; it already has two Second Saturdays under its belt and legions of loyal clients jockeying for position in the schedule book, its young proprietor, Amithyst Bailey, 28, of El Dorado Hills, looks poised for success.

"On an average day I have four to six clients a day," Bailey says. "The money is good, but I don't do it for the money."

Thanks, in part, to a massive picture widow that looks out onto the street below, the salon is a bright, sunny, slice of lime green with splashes of eggplant. The walls, adorned with canvases displaying art work for sale and photographs of glamorous women bearing Bailey's artistic hair creations, reveal Bailey's interest in all things creative.

With the local economy slowly rebounding and some clients going longer between appointments, Bailey remains optimistic about succeeding in her new venture.

"Today I just got a message from a lady that I haven't seen in like probably a year and she wants to come back and get her hair cut," Bailey says. "They always come back."

This is an investment the self-professed hair architect was seemingly destined to make.

"I always did people's hair,” Bailey says. "Since I was little I would brush my mom's hair and my grandmother's hair and they'd pay me. Then [I did] friends' hair through high school and then I finally just decided to go to cosmetology school."

While a formal education wasn't in the cards, her instruction in hair didn't suffer; in 1999 she left school to accept an apprenticeship at Rowena & Takashi in her home town.

"Rowena was a Vidal Sassoon instructor so I wanted to learn from her," Bailey says. "To get paid and to have that kind of training is like unheard of."

After Rowena & Takashi, Bailey moved on to Tripoli in Carmichael before heading on to midtown's Lush and Spanish Fly Hair Garage salons respectively, where she ultimately became the creative art director for the latter.

"I did all of their events and fashion shows and photo shoots," Bailey says.

Carefully flat ironing a client’s long, curly locks, Bailey’s porcelain skin glistens as sunlight pours in from the large window next to her station. She is in her element as steam billows from between the client’s fiery red mane and the apparatus employed to remove all its curl.

With professional accomplishments ranging from styling hair for professional photo shoots and fashion shows, to catering to a devout clientele, Bailey also looks forward to rebuilding her professional portfolio.

"I just don't want to go on a photo shoot and do hair,” Bailey says. "I want to be in charge of helping choose the models, helping choose the stylists and the actual wardrobe."

While she had much of this creative freedom at her previous place of employment, Bailey decided to go out on her own after five years with the Lush-Spanish Fly salon group.

"It wasn't planned," Bailey says. "It just kind of happened because it was time I guess. I was getting bored [and] I was waiting for the next thing to happen."

With the assistance of her architect-cum-contractor father, and her always-supportive mother, the salon was up and running within two and a half weeks of its inception.

"All of my clients are excited for me," Bailey says. "People are rebooking, people are sending in their friends. Everybody's excited for me."

The flame-haired client ultimately emerges from the steamy confines of the flatiron, departing with a hug and a smile she runs her fingers through her silky, freshly straightened locks.

“Clients love it here,” Bailey says. "It's just personal and more exclusive. That's the good part about having your own place; you have more control over pampering your clients in a better way."

While Bailey revels in the new space, managing the daily business of a salon has taken time, patience and the addition of another pair of hands in the form of her first employee, and fellow hair architect, Karli.

"I took laundry for granted, I took dishes for granted," Bailey says. "Even maintaining the cleanliness [of the salon], taking out the trash, having product there to sell, it isn't easy."

While she is currently in the process of building a team that incorporates hair design, make-up; she's still on the hunt for an artist, and photography by boyfriend Ryan Brett Puckett, Bailey also looks to the future.

"I'm starting my whole [portfolio] book over," Bailey says. "I am going to start brand new, build my book then get an agent and hopefully that will connect me to better jobs in print."

While she aspires to work with those in the editorial and fashion worlds, Bailey's primary focus is the salon and building its reputation.

"I want people to know that they should come in and get their hair done, have some chocolate and sip some champagne," Bailey says. "And spy on people [on the street] from my window."