DENVER
SUMMER 2022
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COS AD
Eco-Friendly Beauty
Mozzafiato sources fine products from Italy, including a large selection for men
It’s no surprise the global beauty industry is worth over $500 billion dollars and growing. In 2022, there are some key trends hitting the beauty world, that might surprise you, but this first one might not be all that shocking. Cosmetic industry stats worldwide anticipate the organic and natural beauty product market will hit $54 billion in 2027. According to We Are Social, 25% of consumers want to buy only eco-friendly products. With so many brands to choose from, and sometimes little transparency, that can make shopping sustainably diffi-
cult. Consumers are starting to demand this from companies and to question where their products are sourced. It’s also very hard to differentiate between all the different standards – from zero waste to cruelty free to vegan skincare. Knowing where your beauty products are coming from is paramount for Denver-based company Mozzafiato, which only caries Italian beauty products from companies that are extremely transparent about where their products are made and all the ingredients. Each brand in the Mozzaf-
business for centuries. They’ve honed their craft and have passed their business down through generations. Take Farmacia SS. Annunziata, which was established in 1561, by the chemist Domenico Brunetti. The original apothecary still exists today in Florence, Italy, today and the company continues to create skincare products, perfumes and home diffusers. It’s pretty incredible to think that a brand could be successful for that long, but there’s a reason customers keep coming back for generations. That’s not the only Mozzafiato brand that has an amazing story. Proraso was founded in 1908 by Ludovico Martelli in Florence. The brand has been at the helm of men’s shaving for four generations and has always used natural and trusted ingredients. Mozzafiato isn’t just about historic brands; they just brought on a brand new certified-organic skincare brand, Prato Botanico. The company, which was founded in 2020, is family-owned and each product is made in the Puglia Region of Italy, where organic farming and sustainability are a way of life. The botanicals are harvested by local farmers in the Puglia region (that’s in the heel of the boot).These are only a few of the 20-plus brands that Mozzafiato has handpicked to bring to the U.S. The company plans to bring on two more in the near future, in addition to getting more color and makeup from another Italian brand, Borghese. This year, consumers are also more willing to try new beauty products than they were before the coronavirus pandemic. That’s according to data from a PowerReviews survey. Consumers are discovering products in new ways as well, through social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok. And it’s not just women who are trying something new; men are entering the beauty industry more now than ever before. According to CNBC, the personal care industry for men is estimated to hit $166 billion this year. Celebrities have hopped on this trend, too. Harry Styles’ brand “Pleasing” came out at the end of 2021 and carries nail polish and skin care for men. Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Yachty and AJ McLean have all launched nail polish brands recently. More men are seeking out products like this, and changing what it means to be “masculine” today, and letting everyone know that can include makeup, nail polish and much more. iato collection has been carefully selected as an embodiment of the incomparable Italian standards and sensibilities. Throughout the collection, you will discover products unlike any available elsewhere in the North American market – everything from fragrances, skincare, makeup, men’s grooming and home products. When you purchase a product from Mozzafiato, expect to be transported to the heart and heritage of the best beauty experience in the world: Italy! Some of the brands carried by Mozzafiato have been in
The pandemic may have played a role in men being more open to experimenting with different products and wanting to prioritize their skin care and grooming. A quick Google search on men’s grooming, gives you top ten lists of products and must haves that go on for pages. Skincare has never been just for women, but men haven’t embraced it like this at any time in recent history. But in ancient times, men’s grooming had a bit of renaissance, especially in Egypt, where men were all about beauty and skincare. According to History.com, both
men and women wore makeup because they believed it protected them from the gods Horus and Ra. Looks like men today are channeling their inner Egyptian! Or maybe their inner Italian? Like I pointed out, there are so many Italian brands that have focused on men’s grooming for much longer than Harry Styles. One more you need to know about is Antica Barbieria Colla. You can purchase their men’s grooming products through Mozzafiato, and you can visit their barber shop in Milan – one of the most famous in the city – known for it’s prestige traditions and international clientele. Dino Colla opened the barbershop in 1904 and it’s still one of Italy’s top destinations for men’s grooming.
Mozzafiato is at the forefront of the beauty trends of 2022 and wants to connect you with brands just like Antica Barbieria Colla. It’s much more than just buying the product, but creating a connection to place and community. Two new monthly subscriptions will bring you into that world, one for men’s products and one for women’s. You will be introduced to new brands and have the opportunity to connect virtually with some of the creators, experts and brand representatives. It’s all about a connection back to place, brand and story. Since you’re buying beauty anyway, why not try something that has a story, a family and tradition behind it? Check out www.mozzafiato.com for more information.
MAKING THE MOST OF THE
AMALFI COAST
The romance of the Italian Riviera has long been a tale worth telling. Positano in particular is the place to be. This sleepy little town with its thousand steps will somehow color your dreams long after you’ve left. The beauty is that the glimmer of the ocean and the coastline’s picturesque views are always brimming at the end of your Borsalino. 36
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by Justine Freeman Khakshour
I suggest a lazy start to the morning with a macchiato and breakfast on the terrace. Everywhere you go will have a terrace. Then find your “dolce vita” by sailing off to a private beach and whiling away the rest of the leisurely afternoon. A gentle swim in one of the many caves on the coast followed by a light and
unhurried Mediterranean picnic. You can never go wrong with a bright Caprese salad made of aromatic tomatoes and creamy mozzarella di Buffalo drizzled with fresh basil and the finest local olive oil. This simple salad is quintessential Italy, even resembling the colors of the flag: red, white and green. Another favorite dish among local Italians is the Prosciutto e melon, thanks to its irresistible pairing of the salty with the sweet. After lunch, the next big event is cocktails at sunset. Enjoy a crisp glass of champagne after clamoring up the winding steps to Franco’s Bar at La Sirenuse as you watch the sun sink into the sea and the flicker of candle light come alive. For dinner, stay on site for a Michelinstared culinary experience at La Sponda, or make your way down the cliffside steps to Chez Black, where diners sit by the beach for some sea urchin pasta. The restaurant has the most charming ambience with the decor meant to mimic the inside of a vintage Italian boat where glossy wooden columns adorned with carved mermaids complete the look. NOV/DEC 2016 37
Let this put some wind in your sails, because the best way to experience the Amalfi coast is by boat. By car, the windy, single lane roads often get backed up and the drive is far from smooth. For a change of scenery it is not a bad idea to take short trips between Positano and the small town of Ravello for lunch, for example. By boat however, you are free to enjoy the sun and the ocean breeze and soak in the beauty around you. If you are able to take a boat to the island of Capri, do not miss the opportunity. There is also the option of a ferry ride which is pleasant and inexpensive. Alcohol is served on board and the ferry has open air seating. Capri is very stylish and boasts some incredible designer shops. “Jackie O” was known to have custom sandals made for her in the small shops of Capri. You can still do this today. Another big attraction is the Blue Grotto. It is a sea cave where sunlight passes through an opening underwater and illuminates the cave creating a glowing blue reflection. Sometimes the Blue Grotto is closed due to high tides making it impossible or too dangerous to enter. Hopefully you are lucky enough to enter during your time in Capri because the experience inside the grotto is magical. If the grotto is not open, I recommend spending time at Il Riccio restaurant and beach club. It is around the corner from the blue grotto. The sun terraces on the cliff provide intimate areas for 38
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sun bathing and for a swim in the blue sea you can just climb the stairs to the water’s edge. For lunch, the restaurant has stunning views and delicious sea food and pasta. The vongole and uni pasta are always a hit but the best part of the meal is upon entering the dessert room, called “la stanza della tentazione” which literally translates to “the temptation room”. If you are looking to spend several nights here, my favorite hotel is the Hotel Caesar Augustus at the top of Anacapri for its breathtaking views and infinity pool. This Relais and Chateaux hotel sits 1,000 feet above the Bay of Naples and offers the most panoramic views on the whole of the island. The hotel doesn’t allow children under the age of 10. There is a hotel shuttle which takes guests to the piazzetta of Capri Town as well as a local bus service. To be self sufficient and also for a little bit of adventure, a scooter rental is the way to go. The center of town has several nightclubs, the boutiques and designer shops stay open late, and if you’re anything like me, people watching over your spritz at aperitivo will easily become a ritual you want to continue long after you return home. When your friends or family invite you to join them for an evening of dining al fresco, simply let them know you will be there in a prosecco!
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THE CURIOUS WORLD OF BALLOONING
AT THE ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA by Rachel Appelbaum
Every year during early October, hundreds of ethereal multi-colored creatures converge on a single field in Albuquerque. For nine days they ascend at dawn in a raucous flock. At dusk they congregate on the ground and glow in perfect unison. No, these are not radioactive butterflies- and fairies still aren’t real. These gentle, rotund, hot air filled nylon sacks, come in all shapes and sizes- from plump to “Angry-Bird”-shaped and they are magnificent. Albuquerque is host to the world’s largest hot air balloon festival. Over 500 balloons from all over the world launch into the sky daily creating what multiple sources claim is the world’s most photographed event. Ranging in design from the standard inverted teardrop to a menagerie of special shapes, the balloons represent 24
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a myriad of nations and shades of nylon. Highlights of the festival include Darth Vader, Yoda and “SpyderPig” balloons. No matter their aesthetics, hot air balloons have three key components: the large fabric gas bag called the envelope, the hanging basket or gondola, and a propane burner to heat the air. Their construction has changed little since the first manned flight in 1783. Since their inception, balloons have gently wafted into literature and family flicks from Ray Bradbury sci-fi novels to Disney’s UP. However, the habits of balloons and balloon watchers remain largely a riddle wrapped in an envelope duffle bag, stuffed inside a trailer, to be driven on backcountry roads-- to quote Churchill if he were a balloonist. To begin, balloon pilots cannot directly steer their aircraft. They navigate by vertically ascending or descending
to catch different wind currents that blow in various directions at certain altitudes. The safest time to fly is at dawn and dusk, when gentle currents abound without the threat of thermal columns. Thermals are hot pockets of rising air heated by the sun and surrounded by corresponding dangerous downdrafts. Accordingly ballooning takes on a strange crepuscular schedule. It is 4am and I am not a morning person. Viewing a 78-acre field of balloons is the only scenario that I can imagine in which I would willingly leave my bed. I eat breakfast, layer up and line up to publicly transport to Balloon Fiesta Park. With just under a million attendees each year, the bussing system is remarkably smooth. I and the rest of the bleary-eyed mole people arrive in darkness in time to watch the Dawn Patrol, a handful of expertly trained pilots, take to the sky. This nighttime flying is highly demanding. It requires aircraft position lighting specially designed for the Fiesta, and the wherewithal to land a balloon in the dark-- in case of an emergency. Watching these master fliers helps the rest of the pilots to gauge wind speed and directionality for their morning flights. The sun rises over a field of steamrolled cartoons 1,000 square yards each: flat “Happy Orca”, flat “Sonic the Hedgehog”, and flat “Pigasus”. Balloon crews methodically roll out their dead, attach them to baskets and burners, and set about resuscitating them with large cold air fans. Children run through the inflating Technicolor rows while photographers kneel and take pictures of the balloons’ gaping maws. Cold air fans are switched out for propane burners as the balloons are guided to standing. Pilots and passengers climb into the baskets and majestically float off. This event is so immense, that the launch occurs in waves over a two-hour period. As soon as one balloon rises, the crew of a nearby trailer unloads it’s art piece and commences the process. Having been up in a balloon myself in Ohio, I’d like to note that landing is a bit of a happening. Typically balloons are flown in rural areas and must land where the wind takes them, often in fields or pastures. A fearless chase crew tails the balloon in flight, keeping in radio contact with the pilot until a landing site is chosen. The crew either gains permission from or apologizes to the unsuspecting property owner turned balloon-landing-strip proprietor. Although an odd imposition, the novelty of the experience charms most landowners and the balloon is quickly packed up and transported home by the crew. Now back in Albuquerque, hundreds of balloons have been unleashed, conceivably to blanket every cow pasture and cow for miles. As the balloons ascend, a type of magic occurs. Topography at the park dictates that low-level surface winds prevail from the North to South while higher winds blow in the opposite direction in a pattern known as the “Albuquerque Box”. Pilots can ride out on one current and back on the other, vertically looping multi-
ple times over the field as if on an invisible Ferris wheel before landing. The air grows thick with balloons in a dizzying display of color and depth. By late morning the balloons have landed. Exhausted and elated, I eat lunch and revisit dreamland. Around 3 p.m., the people migration begins again. Groggy and disoriented we return to the field for the evening “Glow”. The balloons rouse themselves. By dusk they stand in solidarity, inflated on the ground. Pilots listen on walky-talkies for the command to release flames. Every balloon lights up like a giant Chinese lantern in a perfectly timed stationary display. The puffs are only sustainable in short bursts; too much heat and the balloons will accidentally lift off. The flickering choreography continues for half an hour: 54 football fields NOV/DEC 2016 25
worth of seven-story-tall designer orbs glow. Fireworks follow. Then, like the tired tide, we retreat back to the busses and back to our hotels. Four a.m. will come again soon. In addition to balloon watching, speaking with the friendly and knowledgeable pilots is a true highlight of the festival. Owning a balloon is a bold life choice and transporting these cumbersome creatures is often a fraught but interesting experience. Most Americans attending the Fiesta trailer their balloons across country, whereas international balloonists often ship theirs. Every so often 2,000 pounds of balloon go missing as occurred this last year. Two penguin balloons (Puddles and Splash) and a large pirate ship from the UK disappeared. According to the shipping company, the trio was rumored to be touring LA and New York for the first week of the festival. The British team made a mock news conference video that is still viewable on Youtube: “Puddles, Splash, if you can hear us, we’re not angry at you… we just miss 26
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you and we want you to come to Balloon Fiesta park.” Eventually the balloons appeared, in need of some emergency re-stitching, but were still able to participate. Between odd timetables, complicated logistics, and colorful road stories, the secret life of hot air balloons is not only captivating but also surprisingly accessible. Most states have at least one large balloon rally or event a year open to the public with dozens
of balloons. If that doesn’t satisfy your balloon lust, try booking a ride with one of the many privately owned balloon companies dotting the country. Of course, Albuquerque is the world’s balloon mecca and if you are lucky enough to attend the Fiesta, take in as much of the ballooning artistry, engineering, culture, and community as you can. These buxom airships are truly as riveting to watch as they are to learn about. NOV/DEC 2016 27
Living in Fullest Expression The International Identity Coach That’s Here To Share Your Story
All too frequently, according to Samantha Joy, we are carefully groomed to live vicariously through an identity that is not our own. Growing up a bona fide peoplepleaser, Samantha (or “SJ” as she is called) has experienced the heavy burden of living for others and the detriment it brings to our deepest desires. In 2016, she discovered the key component that unlocked the secret to regaining herself and her truth. As an International Identity Coach and author of the #1 Bestselling book, The Less Effect: Design Your Life for Happiness and Purpose, she has learned a thing or two about the phenomenon of why we deny our true selves. After years of leaning on personal development, it became apparent that the majority of these messages and the “leaders” behind them were selling a flawed notion: that you are broken and in need of fixing. SJ uncovered - quite literally and figuratively through her coaching approach, The Less Effect Method - that the solution to our problems is not found in adding more, but in releasing and letting go. More specifically, it was in the letting go of conditioning and limiting belief systems that revealed how truly whole and complete we are at our core. The only brokenness is that which is projected onto us. After publishing her book in 2018, SJ fell in love with the process. “Writing a book pulls out the deepest depths of our truth, and publishing it offers that truth to the world,” she says. After helping numerous others publish bestselling books, she realized that all of her years of Identity work and research was a critical piece of the book writing puzzle. Bringing awareness to where one is at in life and working through those belief systems subsequently opens up the most powerful tool one can access: Vulnerability. SJ emphasizes this as a key element in any successful book, not to mention a key element in uncovering the true identity within ourselves. It is within vulnerability that her clients have found so much success not only in their publishing journeys, but in rediscovering who they actually are versus who society told them they should be. Through her passion for guiding others back to themselves, SJ’s mission continues to encourage aspiring authors to make their mess their message. She deeply believes that showing up authentically and
unapologetically is how we heal ourselves and each other, and that sharing our story is the most impactful way to do just that. SJ boils this down to one core concept and takes it everywhere she goes: To truly live LIFE, we must Live In Fullest Expression. Samantha Joy is an International Identity Coach, Bestselling Author, and Founder of Landon Hail Publishing. Her coaching approach supports high achievers in shifting their identity to their most authentic self by clearing out aspects of their life rooted in an old story. The result is enhanced mental clarity, an improved sense of self, and the ability to design an environment that attracts abundance and fulfillment. Samantha gives her clients the real deal, challenging mainstream topics like mindset, self-sabotage, and imposter syndrome to release shame as the chain that binds us to our pain and excuses in order to make an impact. To Join Samantha Joy’s 8-Week Bestselling Author Summer Cohort, scan the QR Code. Spots limited.
Let go of who you were to become who you are From #1 Bestselling Author & Identity Coach, Samantha Joy
“The Less Effect lifestyle will transform your priorities and cause you to make some much-needed changes to optimize success in your life. In a world that is filled with excess, discontentment and selfishness, this book offers a timely message that is truly needed.”
— Matt & Caleb Maddix, Maddix Publishing
JACQUELINE ROSE
The Multi-talented Businesswoman Talks About Her Charity and Music Project Jacqueline is the founder of the charity, 99 Hearts, an equine rescue sanctuary that helps people through transformative resources. The organization has helped people from all walks of life create sustainable change in their lives. Her dream that began as a small child, was to grow up to be a businesswoman and create a healing sanctuary and horse rescue. The dream stopped her from committing suicide as a six-year-old, inspiring her to hold on until her dreams were a reality. As the Founder and CEO of three companies, social enterprises that also help support 99 Hearts, she’s used her difficult beginning to create a powerful life. Her healing sanctuary supports people in rewriting their story. As a musician, Jacqueline has used music and sound healing to transcend her own pain and performed her music for various causes over the past 15 years. Can you share more about your career journey and the inspiration behind becoming a business owner. I was born into an abusive cult and horrific, hidden home situation that scarred my mind with debilitating PTSD, I decided to do everything within my power to create something different for myself and achieve my dreams. I began my professional career at the age of 18, while still in school. I spent my eighteen years in aerospace, energy, and construction as a leader, specializing in strategic growth and leadership. I fell madly in love with the business world as I worked my way up to a director role and hit my goal of buying a house at age twenty-one. I learned something new every chance I had and kept my heart on my dream to become a muti-business owner before the age of 35. I surrounded myself with powerful mentors and created a strong network. I continued to develop the tools and experience to eventually lead my own company, I learned to adapt, pivot, overcome adversity and advocate for myself.
I now have my own company, a minority women business enterprise that serves my former industries. Tell us more about how you decided to become a facilitator and healer, supporting others on their journeys. I immersed myself into a five-year healing and growth journey, experiencing holistic healing at all levels and modalities that I could afford. I was able to heal from my trauma and PTSD in a profound way. I became inspired to help others do the same, I started by embracing the healing gifts I was born with through my indigenous heritage. Eventually, I invested myself into becoming a Certified Hypnotherapist, Executive/Life & Equine Partnered Coach, Reiki Master/Teacher, Sound Alchemist, and retreat leader. I found that my dream of helping people felt like home in a way that I’d never experienced before. That led to starting New YOUniverse a company with novelty offerings that provide a safe space for powerful people from all walks of life to step into their greatness. You are currently balancing a variety of ventures simultaneously, how do you maintain a healthy balance in your personal and business life? Transcending my story taught me how valuable each mo-
ment is. After losing so much in my early years, I found profound magic in the enjoyment of my passions, which fueled the courage to be different and to learn new things often. I am passionate about classic muscle cars; I have spent my adult life deeply connected and engaged in my car hobby. Cigars are my life-long favorite pastime, I love having deep conversations with powerful businesspeople. I fell madly in love with classic rock at a very young age and love creating unique cinematic renditions. I was fortunate to find industries in my corporate career, filled with people that shared many of my hobbies. I make time for fishing, monster trucks, hunting, artistic photography, painting, and making large art pieces and bars out of old pianos. I make time to ride and spend time with my horses. You shared that you are launching your charity music production, The Rose Show, this year. Tell us more about the show and how you became a musician. As a five-year-old, I was forbidden to play drums, a parent scolding and warning me I would “become a tomboy”.
I had a deep sad longing in my heart to play, so I secretly learned to play drums whenever no-one was around. I began writing music, singing, and playing bass at age 12. I gained the courage to perform on-stage, by playing drums. Music inspired me to hold on when I wanted to give up on myself through my 20’s. I began forming The Rose Show in my head as a little girl, to tell my story one day through music. We chose dancers that have transcended their pain through music. My sister is the lead dancer and leads the motion for the show. The show is dedicated to our two siblings that have suffered from debilitation from the trauma and PTSD, each show is a fundraiser to support suicide prevention for 99 Hearts. The show has three versions, one on stage, one on horseback, and healing experiences, we launch the show this summer. IG: @jacquelinesroses | https://jacquelinerose.org Support 99 Hearts’ Mission: https://99hearts.org/donate Photos: @wildrosemoments HMUA: @passionatehairartist
CALISTHENICS OUTSIDE
It has been well over two years since the “14 days at home to flatten the curve” order rang out across the country like an ominous thunderclap. Only the prepared foresaw the catastrophic level of shutdown that lay on the horizon of that fateful day in March. Those with an uncompromising work ethic towards their fitness goals were the only ones able to fight off the dreaded “quarantine 15” (a quaint rhyme to represent the approximate weight gain from staying home) that accompanied the newly acquired sedentary lifestyle. Slowly but surely, over time, we pressed on and patiently waited for society to reopen, all the while holding our breath for the next order to come down from the Center of Disease Control (CDC) to tell us what is and isn’t deemed safe. The ones who could afford to
Dylan Boxer Makes Use of the Free Equipment in Denver’s Wallace Park
invest in a home gym system did exactly that, but others had to make do with what they had. Now, it seems that the storm is passing and today gyms are allowing more people to enter their facilities. With vaccines and boosters distributed, the number of patrons occupying a common workout space is steadily increasing. When it comes to overcrowding, CDC’s Grant Baldwin, PhD states on WedMD that “There will be challenges with places like weight rooms and group fitness studios and other places where physical proximity is broken,” The CDC also acknowledges that, even with masks, social distancing, persistent handwashing, and regular sanitation, gyms are still a higher risk for spreading Covid 19 than being outside. Luckily, Colorado has 300 sunny days a year and the option for outdoor fitness
becoming more real as the warm seasons progress. For those that think the only outside workout options are cardio, like hiking and bicycling, they haven’t visited George Wallace Park’s MoveStrong T-Rex Outdoor FTS calisthenics course. Wallace Park, as it is known by those who frequent it, is located at 4700 DTC Blvd, just on the outer edge of Denver’s Technology Center (DTC). Resting at the south end of this 32.5-acre park is one of Denver’s most versatile outdoor fitness structures and can be easily recognized by its bright red color that almost seems to bleed onto the nearby street. If you have never seen this kind of fitness equipment before, you’re not alone. MoveStrong, a company that specializes in outdoor fitness equipment, has only just assembled this structure in 2018, making this one of the newer additions added to this 37-year-old park
The first of many obstacles that most people notice is the double monkey bar bridge that features twin sets of incline bars that span opposite ends of a large rung system. These bars are perfect for elevated training. Because it stretches far above the ground, it does an excellent job promoting upper body isolation. Even allowing those who have a vertical height advantage to get a full swing. The calisthenics course also offers a wide variety of grip strength workouts such as the globe grasps and cliffhangers. These obstacles are inspired by designs most notably recognized on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior and are meant to tax the limits of your forearms by supporting the weight of your body with just the hands and fingers tips. One item that is not commonly featured on public outdoor fitness structures but can be found on this course are gymnastics rings. These rings are not only supported by a strong series of chain clasps, but they also allow the user to supinate their wrists while holding on to them. This small feature gives the everyone the opportunity to work both the front and back of the arms and shoulders when preforming variations of pull-ups. With all this attention toward back and shoulders, it’s only fair to include a dipping bar to work chest and triceps.
This “U” shaped bar extends outward to accommodate different grip variants. It rests on an adjustable rung so that it can be dropped or elevated to fit the many different sizes of athletes who wish to use it. Although this course is a juggernaut of body weight exertion, it was assembled on top of a soft green artificial turf padding for optimum comfort if or when a fall may occur. It also offers a gentle surface for hands and wrists when using the handstand wall for inverted push-ups. The uses for the MoveStrong calisthenics course are nearly boundless and only limited by the user’s imagination. It caters to multiple categories of athletes ranging from casual to extreme and is suitable for those who want to avoid large crowds and enclosed spaces. Even though it’s located in the great outdoors, masks and social distancing should be adhered to when working out in larger groups. Wallace Park is open from 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. and does not have public restrooms or water fountains. For more information and a full list of park rules, please call 720913-1311 for park services or visit http:// recplanet.com/co/denver/george-wallacepark.
JARED KENNEDY
Serving the Community through a Lens My name is Jared Kennedy and I am a photographer/ videographer. After serving 21 years in the Military, I decided to remain in Colorado. Colorado is known for its vast outdoor activities, environment, and landscapes. Hobbies include gold mining, snowboarding, exploring, hiking and off road exploring. I wanted to discover a new skill that could be integrated and enhance the activities I already enjoy. Photography was a perfect addition. I bought a camera and started doing landscape and night photography. I enjoyed it and moved on to photographing band performances, fashion shows and almost every type of public event. Later, I purchased drones and two blackmagic cinema cameras and entered the world of videography. This was no easy task. Photographers and videographers often spend hundreds of hours watching educational videos and learning techniques to enhance their skills. Editing programs like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Premiere Pro have strong demands for technical skills. I discovered that Denver offered many opportunities. One of my very first events was Kristian Reynolds, Save a Life Foundation fashion show in support of kidney donation. Kristian even donated a kidney himself. Many events raise money for charities, but I wanted a way to support the community in a more direct manner. I wanted to discover a way to help support such events by donating time with photography and videography. I also wanted to support local artists. Colorado is full of talented people with amazing skills in their various performance trades. Our acting group is currently filming a mini comedy series called “The Mile High Sagas”. It is scheduled to air this summer and is directed and produced by John Davidson, Heather Brooke and Bruce Miles. Its a series you won’t want to miss! As I learned videography, I enjoyed composing short videos containing the
highlights of the entire event. Some of the events I have supported in the past are The Cherry Blossom Festival, local community festivals, The Denver Zombie Crawl, The National Western Stock Show, Anthony Garnica’s Festival of Color, Denver Fashion Week, Denver Unique Fashion Week and large public events like Kevin Larson presents Paranormal Palace and White Rose Gala. Other events include supporting Colorado History. There is so much rich history in our great state. One of my favorite events are the Burro races. Marathon athletes race a course of steep mining trails with a burro packed with gold prospecting equipment to represent the old mining days. One photographer challenge is always getting the material to the public. To combat this obstacle I organized several non-profit websites and social media outlets. You can find them at www. thecolorado303.com and TheColorado303life, as well, as Jared Kennedy Photography on YouTube and common social media.. The adventure is exciting and always evolving. I would like to encourage everyone to find a way to give back to the community in some way.
TODD PIERSON Co-Host
Giving Voice to the Visual Arts
WES BROWN Co-Host PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER
Apple Podcast
@tenet — Subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts. www.tenetpodcast.com
EXPLORING DOMESTIC SPACES Hangama Amiri at David B. Smith Gallery
Hangama Amiri works predominantly in textile to create images that reflect on ideas of home. Using a painterly approach to color and materials, Amiri reflects on how everyday objects are imbued with cultural memory. In this new body of work, Amiri sensitively explores the complex interior landscapes of domestic spaces. Through imagery that honors close bonds and togetherness, she places particular emphasis on women within these spaces, a subtle form of resistance against the reality of limited rights and visibility of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Amiri’s piercingly tender textile works focus on passage from room to room within the home, emblematic of transitions through life, and the family rituals and traditions that take place there. The visual culture of Amiri’s hometown Kabul is preserved through the sort of personal, idiosyncratic touches that make home a familiar place, remote from
the bustle of the streets or the bazaar – a motif that Amiri has previously explored. In contrast, these scenes portray a more intimate sense of routine, celebration, and relationship, in moments of energetic conversation or quiet repose. Referencing personal memories of her mother who regularly sewed and mended, and the women who were vital to the support and survival of the artist’s family when they arrived as refugees to Canada, Amiri’s painterly approach to textile and its links to women throughout history is also a statement of resilience. This exhibition is curated with Kate Mothes, an independent curator and founder of Young Space, currently based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hangama Amiri solo’s exhibition at David B. Smith Gallery through June 18th.
OUTTAKES
Sandy Skoglund is an American photographer and installation artist best known for her fantastical and brightly colored tableaux from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early 2000’s. Skoglund moved to New York City after college in the ‘70s and, over the course of past half-century, has become one of the most recognized and celebrated installation artists and photographers in contemporary art. Her work has been exhibited extensively worldwide and is in the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Art Institute of Chicago, and Denver Art Museum, among many others. Meticulously crafted as elaborate sets, Skoglund’s surrealistic scenes—comprised of various props, sculptural elements, and human models—are
subsequently photographed, one composition among many chosen to represent the work. But what of the other images, the fate of those deemed mistakes or inconsistent with the artist’s initial vision? In a nod to the deep cuts and the varieties of artistic experience, Outtakes presents a selection of unseen works of some of Skoglund’s most iconic and innovative installations. In the wake of a global pandemic and with time stretching out in a vast open sea of uncertainty, Skoglund’s itinerant curiosity turned to what the artist called “countless boxes in the classic yellow of the Kodak company” of archived negatives—the outtakes. Decades removed from their inception, the images slowly revealed their
Sandy Skoglund at RULE Gallery
secrets. For the relentlessly iterative Skoglund, the kinship to and divergence from the originals spoke of the vagaries of the artistic process and, more generally, how most of us move through life between ambiguity and clarity, searching for answers in the minefield of doubt. Some of the narrative translations of the outtakes are drastically altered via choreographic whims, while other discrepancies—a blur here, a frame shift there— read like endearing fractures in space and time that take a scrutinizing eye to discern. The photographs in Outtakes can be viewed as an embodiment of the repetition and abundance that have always coursed through Skoglund’s work. Like the thousands of arranged popped kernels of corn
in Warm Frost (2001), each one exploding with its own particular expression, the images on display revel in the same visual bounty as the archetypes while also suggesting an alternative to the notion of the ideal composition. Latent potentialities come to light when we look again upon things we have long known and remark in them what we have never seen before. A decidedly more personal and unfiltered glimpse of Skoglund’s work, Outtakes is an ode to the revelations inherent in reappraising, in her words, “the things you leave behind when you have to make choices.” Sandy Skoglund: Outtakes shows at RULE Gallery from June 10th through July 23rd.
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