Chispa!
05 Th e Spri ng Fash i on I ssue
magazine
Vacher on Constantin Ir inés Vázquez Edmundo Castillo Claudia Pieschacon Vher nier Alex Hamdan Raul Peñar anda and mor e
CNockels hristy
&
Radi ates Li gh t
The WAt ch special A Road Tri p Li ke No Ot her + Fresh Fare
I N THI S I SSUE Editor's Letter 06 Your St rat egy Professional 08 Mompreneur 10 Windy Artist 14 SENIORita 18
64 68
Rel at ionships Unforgotten 22 She's Got Chispa Justine Santaniello 26 Terry Howell 30 Feat ures The Watch Special 34 Vacheron Constantin: Now Residing in Miami 44 Embracing Irinés Vázquez and her Emigre 46 The Shoe Fits with Edmundo Castillo 54 Claudia Petrascone:When Jewelry, Culture, and Passion Collide 58 Vhernier in Art, Nature, Architecture 62 Fashions by Hadman: Always One Step Ahead 64 Raul Peñaranda: He?s Showing the World Who He Is 68 Cover St ory Christy Nockels: Interview Turned Keynote Address 80
Photo by Jez Timms
80
A Bet t er You Fashion + Style 94 Health + Beauty | The Romina Files 110 Smart + Homey 114 Travel + Culture 116 Through The Lens | Road Trip 120 Bookworm | Petra E. Lewis 126 Must Haves 132 Mi Chispa 137
Chispa! magazine
Edit or-in-Chief Mavian Arocha-Rowe
Lif est yl e Direct or Romina Nabhen
Execut ive Edit or Mia Guerra
Managing Edit ors Paola Ramirez and Milo Senallé
Associat e Edit or Lucia Rodriguez
Edit orial Coordinat ors Marlee Archer and Tanasia Kenney
Creat ive Direct or Christian Ruben
Direct or of Sal es Scott Rowe
Writ ers Cena Block Ginny Grimsley Daniel Henderson Maggie Sabatier-Smith Isa Souza Beth Williams
Phot ographers DTTSP Justin Bellucci Omar Cruz Sam Ciurdar Mateo Garcia Devan Freeman Casey Fyfe Aundre Larrow Alen Lin Daniel Lugo Sébastien Marchand Julio Martinez Will Milne Shizuka Minami Advisory Board Advisory Board Pavel Voinov Anisur Rahman Andrew Revitt Johnny Arocha Paola Ramirez Kevin Ryan Amanda Sandlin Daniela Staerk Pam Black Vivian Reina Marc Wilnauer Damian Zales Zerbor Mario Luis Maggie Sabatier-Smith For information on advertising and/ or subscriptions, call 404.793.7743 or email sales@chispamagazine.com. Editorial questions, submissions, and/ or pitches, email editor@chispamagazine.com. Vol. 1, Issue 5 © Chispa Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Photo credits are not given to improperly identified photos.
Chispa Magazine
Photo by Alex Jones
EDITOR'S LETTER
s d n a H I n t hhee Ar t i s t of T
With the creation of this issue a lot of memories came to mind; some good, bad, or better yet, uncomfortable, yet all lay the foundation of what Chispa Magazine is today. It was 2004, when a specific family meeting occurred weeks after I was hit by a drunk driver on the Florida Turnpike. As I made myself to work, still to this day I remember the voice and words I heard as my car rolled over from the left of the turnpike all the way to the right? Hold on; pretend it?s a roller-coaster ride. Back to the family meeting: Not my family, but my publisher?s family. I was the editor of a prestigious lifestyle publication, owned by a strong entertainment businessman who invited his children and wife to form part of his meetings. When I arrived I remember his son?s wife reading a review of their newest beach club in Puerto Vallarta, done by a local reporter, and it included some comments on the magazine. The meeting had to start so I wasn?t able to read the review; however, little did I know the comments made by that reporter would become the meeting?s agenda. I was questioned by the publisher?s wife for my intentions toward the magazine; asking me why I was so professional for my young age, asking if I was fusing my life?s purpose onto their magazine. I remember her saying, ?why don?t you go butt wild and dance on top of tables.? Despite the many years that have gone by, the heavy emotions that ran through my entire body are still vivid. I wasn?t furious; instead, I was actually in awe at how obvious God was directing my life decisions. You see, I was proud of my professionalism, my decisions to stay true to my beliefs, and most of all I was proud to be the daughter of a King. If there is one thing Chispa does in the majority of their interviews, we ask the question: have you reached your life?s purpose? I asked myself the same question today and similar to most, I have stumbled to respond, and admit: it?s a good question. And, similar to our cover girl Christy Nockels, I too believe my purpose will be achieved when I breathe my last breath. In the meantime, I am here as a vehicle to God, the undeniable Artist, and invite Him, in all of my roles and seasons, to use me as a spark to bring others to His unfailing love which ran red so our sins can be washed white. By the way, when I finally got a hold of the Puerto Vallarta community newspaper, it said, ?Mavian Arocha, the editor, is not of this world and invites you to a place where consciousness meets light.?
Mavi an
Chispa Magazine
Photo by Alex Jones
Editor's Letter 7
Th e Ba l a n c i n g
A ct
Chispa Magazine
Hel p! I ran out of Tuesday! Life and work balance? is that even possible? When was the last time you felt you were in that Balance Zone? Did you recognize it at the time? If you are still striving for it, are you able to describe what it might look like? I confess. A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of Tuesday. But for me, it was the exception. For the most part, my life has order. There are many moving pieces, my schedule is not always the same and that?s just the way I like it. That?s the point? balance will look differently for each of us. Bal ance is About Choices. Given our current reality, we take a 24-hour day and we choose and prioritize what matters most to us. Some of our choices command a block of time: work, sleep, meals, daily travel time. We add to that the commitments we have to other people in our life: family, church, friends, and community. Our personal ?all about me? choices may include: exercise, meditation, reading, ongoing education, shopping, exploring new hobbies or talents. Balance shows up when we choose how to block our time based on the choices that matter most to us at that particular time. React ive vs. St rat egic Choices. Life has a way of ?happening? to us. When that
happens, we are forced to react to address the issue. Car repairs, illness, auto accidents, layoffs, family crisis? it all happens. Without a clear picture of what a day-in-our-life looks like, however the choices, we begin to snowball and suddenly we find ourselves with a week of Tuesdays. Strategic? an intentional life plan that works for you for a particular season in your life Lif e vs. Work. Life includes work. They are not opponents. We get to choose how we block our time and which categories of our life to focus on at any given time. When we have a clear understanding of all the pieces that make up our life today, we can begin to consider how that might be different in the future. Let it go? what or who needs to be left behind, so that something better can be introduced? "It's GOOD to work on good things. But it's BETTER to work on BEST things." -Coach Maggie How would your life be better if you created a strategic plan for what matters most in your life? Who needs you to show up totally in tune with what a successful day-in-your life looks like? C
Text by Maggie Sabatier-Smith Photo by Aundre Larrow
Your Strategy | Professional 9
Continuing
the Inner Journey Every Day Chispa Magazine
For some time, something has been bothering me and I want to share it with those who struggle with their thoughts and feelings to stay ?positive? rather than going down the rabbit hole to what isn?t wanted. Lest you think, I haven?t had the same challenges as you, perhaps we will set the record straight. I am a recovering ?in-my-head, left-brain-focused? woman who is continuing the conscious daily journey to reconnect with my essence. So? what?s up with this topic? I developed a persistent, very loud, inner critic that?s been with me since childhood. Let?s call her Gertrude, for the stern schoolmarm vision I had of her. Gertrude's persistence has showed amazing dedication and perseverance too. I have appreciated these qualities in other contexts, not for what I considered unwelcome, overly loud critical messages that only seemed to batter my confidence, self-esteem, and wellbeing. Yet I also recognized that my own struggles with Gertrude helped me work powerfully and empathetically with clients who experienced this same challenge. I acquired an effective
process to help my clients come to understand, appreciate, and transform their inner critics. Through the years, I made great progress in managing Gertrude's negative impact, while also enjoying the benefits of her critical thinking skills. Even though there were periods of time when it seemed that perhaps I had finally conquered the downside of Gertrude's presence, she would pop up again during periods of stress. My personal dilemma was: Who could help me sort out and appreciate, yes even love, ?Gertrude? so she could transform into a welcomed positive influence in my life? Fast forward to recent times, when I had two amazing experiences: One night before falling asleep, I felt and saw myself fully aligned, and I called a friend/ colleague/ advisor as part of my regular reach-out process and asked for her help. Experiencing alignment was no. 1. The first experience was so heartfelt and powerful, not only did I go to sleep fully knowing what true alignment felt like, but the whole next day I also felt tuned in, turned on, and excited about the way I felt and how wonderfully easy
Your Strategy | Windy Artist 15
Chispa Magazine
the day was. This was what I wanted in both my life and my clients?lives: Experiencing ease, joyfulness, and peace of mind. Thus I began a quest to consistently experience those feelings of alignment. Transforming the inner critic (by asking for help and welcoming the feelings as guidance) was no. 2. The second experience was asking for help from my friend Gloria who had the gifts and talents that could serve both our highest good and help me on this quest to transform my inner critic. It was so easy! Synchronicity is a wonderful thing. We spent time together exploring and appreciating thoughts and feelings without judgment. I'd spent most of my life in my head, avoiding ?bad? feelings, and this had cut me off from learning what was under/ behind those feelings that were trying to guide me. However, through the years I also noticed one context in contrast to this avoidance: when someone close to me transitioned from this physical life. At those times, through the pain of loss, I have consistently felt exquisitely alive and allowed myself to just be. I experienced clarity of mind, body, and spirit
with all the associated emotions. How could I tap into that clarity in other contexts? What I came to understand, know, and appreciate with my friend Gloria's help was to pay attention to whatever feelings were coming up, and use them as guidance. (Those of you familiar with Abraham Hicks have heard about this concept.) By honoring and listening to the feelings and thoughts, my inner critic, Gertrude, could shift to a different role: the fun-loving, encouraging one. I also knew that if I should lapse into old habits, she was fully capable of waking me up using the old, painfully critical approach. However, I was and am fully committed to paying conscious attention to and exploring the feelings and thoughts that come up every day. This allows momentum to build toward what I want more of in my life and what I want for my clients. I?m so very grateful to Gloria and to all the inner parts of me for helping me reconnect and align with my essence. And so the journey continues? C Text by Beth Williams Photos by DTTSP and Daniela Staerk
Your Strategy | Windy Artist 17
unforgotten
Chispa Magazine
Out of sight, out of mind. The statement sounds crass, yet I don?t intend it to be hurtful. Still, the fact remains: we are all ?forgettable.? Over time, many of our relationships are diminished by the reality of the ?out of sight, out of mind? factor. Admittedly, it can be harsh and discouraging. Forget t abl e Us. Somewhere along the way, we?ve all been disappointed to learn that friendships which once seemed so authentic, connected, and enduring became distant, shallow, and eventually non-existent. Perhaps one of you relocated, changed departments at work, or moved to a different church. Before long, the friend doesn?t return your calls. Your attempts to stay in touch via email fall flat. You?ve officially become classified: ?out of sight, out of mind.? Even as a pastor, I?ve known this dynamic of human relationships. You pour your heart out each week to teach the word, you counsel, you marry, you encourage, and pray together. Some change occurs that eventually leaves you wondering if they even remember your investment. You become another statistic in the ?out of sight, out of mind? journey. But I am not a victim because I have unintentionally done the same to others. I wanted to stay in touch. I planned to write back. I made a note to return that call. Life got busy. I became totally engrossed in the task at hand and absorbed with the people right in front of me. Before I realized it, I drifted from that
once-treasured friend because of busyness, neglect, and distraction. It even happens with family. The little girl you raised, loved, and nurtured grew up and moved away. Perhaps she married and started a family. Pretty soon the demands of job, marriage, and motherhood become all-consuming. You know she loves you but you seldom hear from her and half the time your calls are ignored. Out of sight, out of mind. Never Out of Sight . Now that we are all thoroughly depressed about the fragile and fleeting nature of our relationships, here is a powerful dose of positive encouragement. With the Lord, you are never out of sight or out of mind. The Bible tells us, ?For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps? (Job 34:21). Proverbs 15:3 reiterates, ?The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.? The New Testament confirms, ?And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account? (Hebrews 4:13). As His children, we have the reassurance that He never loses sight of us. Even before we were born, His eyes were on us. ?My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret...Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed? (Psalm 139:15-16). Psalm 33:18 assures us, ?Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His
Your Strategy | Relationships 23
watcspeci h al Fendi M y Way b y Fendi Ti mepi eces Chispa Magazine
Unrav el i ng Hi story and Li ttl e Pi eces of Geni us Ful l of Personal i ty The art of watchmaking: an age-old craft said to originate as far back as the 16th century. But what is the status of this historically essential tradition in today?s time? With current technological advances, is watchmaking still held in the same regard as with days gone by when cell phones, digital clocks, and other electric, time-telling gadgets didn?t exist? As far back as one can remember, time has been told through the use of ingenious creations by forethinkers of the time: for the ancient Romans it was water clocks; the Mayans, astronomy; and for the Egyptians, the sundial. Though there is much debate circulating the actual date and place of invention, some sources say the first mechanical clock was created in England in 1275. Many inventions in history have been the result of desperate times and the ingenuity of a culture to improve their lives and survive in spite of. The timely creation of the watch is one of these instances. Religious reformer John Calvin changed the course of history when, in 1541, he banned the wearing of jewelry in Geneva, Switzerland. In order to preserve their livelihood, gold, and silversmiths had to adapt their skillset and developed the art of watchmaking. And thus, the
now historic Swiss watchmaking industry was born. The increased popularity of wrist watches is also attributed to 19th century wartimes, during which their size and mobility in comparison to pocket watches was an indispensable necessity to soldiers in various parts of the world. But since then, times have changed, and with it, so have the devices that keep it. Around the world, the vast amounts of information now available, including time, and digital gadgets that carry that information, are too vast to count. For many watchmakers, their craft is one that has been passed down by generation, holding with it a precious history and pride tied to the family name and specific watchmaker?s brand. So where do they exist now in a society of swift digital advancement and information overload? With technological innovations like the Apple watch, many predict the fall of the luxury watchmaking business will soon come to fruition. With the buzz of a potential "ice age" around the corner for Swiss watchmaker?s businesses, some say the ?smart watch? is the next revolutionary wave in time keeping. Other industry experts believe that while they may offer limitless features at the turn of the wrist? catering to our society?s ever-increasing need to stay online and connected? the smart watch will not replace the traditional time piece as a watch icon, and the industry of old will survive. While the future of the watch business is still yet to be determined, one thing is certain: within the world of watchmakers and connoisseurs, traditional watches are still artful creations worth global admiration and
Features | The Watch Special 35
innovative design. One such beacon of this unyielding appreciation for watches is Baselworld, an annual tradeshow held in Basel, Switzerland that features the finest jewelry and watchmakers around the world. With nearly 2,000 brands represented, Baselworld 2015 took place on March 19 ? 26 and attracted more than 150,000 visitors from 100 countries and 4,000 journalists from every corner of the globe. Every year, ?Baselworld distinguishes itself as the only show that regroups all the global key players from watchmakers to jewelers, from diamonds, pearls, and gem stone dealers through to machinery suppliers,? according to their officials. With face designs that are simple to intricate, traditional to modern, Baselword has it all: it?s a watch lover?s dream. No matter the style, if one could ?lift up the hood,? the amount of detail and talent winding through those gears is astounding. These watches are more than devices to keep you punctual; they are little pieces of genius full of personality, from personalized detachable charms, moon phases, tributes to mythological gods, musical themes, and more. In honor of the history and art of watchmaking, we have selected a few of our favorites from the many beautiful pieces that were featured at this year?s Baselworld. While this is not a definitive list of the best at Baselworld, we felt these top 25 watches all have a little something we like to call CHISPA. We hope their beauty and lively creativity are as striking and inspirational to you as they are to us. Enjoy. C Text by Marlee Archer
Chispa Magazine
V el sh eda by Speak M ari n
V DB Legend T. Crow n ? Tourb i l l on by V an Der Bauw ede
M i dni gh t Feath ers A utomati c 42mm by Harry Wi nston Features | The Watch Special 37
Urb an M etropol i tan b y Wenger
Th e Bri tai n I con Ch eck by Burb erry
Ti ssot V i ntage b y Ti ssot
St-Tropez Styl e by Ch arri ol
Chispa Magazine
Son of Sound Gui tar Race by A rtya
Persei des by Duch en
Son of Earth Farf al l a by A rtya
Nobel M aster by Nobel
Features | The Watch Special 39
the SHOEFITS
with
edmundo cast il l o Chispa Magazine
Edmundo Castillo, a true master craftsman and industry visionary, began his career by working with industry icon Donna Karan for nine years before moving on to work with Ralph Lauren. Having built his career on his lifelong passion and talent for show design, the CFDA award-winning designer continues to produce collections that offer technical perfection and timelessly flattering silhouettes. He launched his namesake collection in 1999, ?I aimed to make beautiful, high-quality shoes that women not only wanted to wear, but collect,? says Castillo. ?The competition was and is irrelevant. It?s all about being who you are. Do what you do best.? Reason enough as to why his sensual and sophisticated designs have attracted the attention of collectors and celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Scarlett Johansson, Cameron Diaz, BeyoncĂŠ, Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey, and Catherine Zeta-Jones among others. The Council of Fashion Designers of America later awarded Castillo with the prestigious Perry Ellis Award for Best Emerging Accessories Designer. In 2004, Castillo was named Creative Director of the renowned Italian brand Sergio Rossi where he worked for the next four years. Wanting to fully focus on this exciting new venture, he
suspended his celebrated namesake collection, though loyal fans continued to follow his work. ?Designing shouldn?t be about looking back. It?s about moving forward,? he says. ?I am passionate about living, discovering, trying new things, and learning,? he says. One has to live the moment never carrying the past into the future. The future is to be created with a positive outlook, not fear. Regardless how bad an experience was, I don't like to carry on dragging that experience with me. Live it, learn it, and move on.? Castillo also collaborated with designers such as Narciso Rodriguez, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vera Wang for their runway presentations, plus CastaĂąer, Tods, Oscar de la Renta, and Via Spiga. Casbia, a superior line of footwear was later created by Castillio with partner Manuele Bianchi. A breakthrough collection composed of key styles, one pair to suit every facet a man?s life; even, Travel and Leisure Magazine awarded Casbia and their Emanuelle sneaker for Best Travel Shoe. In 2011 women rejoiced as the designer re-launched his eponymous collection. Made in Italy and offered in select specialty retailers worldwide, Castillo?s technically-superior collection exude an elegant sensuality. Inspired by the urban-chic, fashion-savvy woman he uses a cosmetic-like palette and incorporates hues of various colors and an array of fine materials in his creatively distinct collections. ?The beauty for a shoe is in how it transforms and takes life when it makes contact with the foot, instead of just covering it. Shoes are like makeup for the feet. I focus on creating feminine, sensual shoes, made only of the finest materials, classic shapes
Features 55
with a modern edge,? says Castillo. He has created shoes that have been in museums or part of a museum permanent collection like the FIT Museum and the New Museum in New York. ?I did not create those shoes with the intention of them ending in a museum. I put my ideas into creating something that was innovative, beautiful, pure, and timeless.? Recently he took some time off to redefine his ideas, ?plus, the future that I want and I?m very excited about what I've cleared and discovered in the meantime. As a result, I am considering things that I never thought I would be interested in. But I rather not mention until it?s in motion. You'll just have to stay tuned. For sure, I will continue to enjoy making women feel fabulous.? In the meantime, he continues to produce highly-coveted collections that reflect the practical and aesthetic needs of a fast-paced lifestyle. Pushing boundaries with new technologies, Castillo insists on continuing to evolve while remaining true to his signature aesthetic. When we asked, if his shoes could talk, he smiled and said, ?They would say they feel great about themselves. They feel feminine, well-dressed in the best materials, happy colors, and balanced. They don't need to say much to the women that wear them because they already understand the joy they feel wearing them.? His perseverance? ?I never feel like I have done enough. Until the last day that I will be alive I will be try to learn and be aware of my surroundings. Life is about discovering, evolving, loving, giving, and gratefulness. Every day is about reaching a purpose.? C Interview by Mavian Arocha-Rowe Chispa Magazine
Features 57
Chispa Magazine
Raul
Pe単aranda
He
is Sh ow i ng th e Worl d Wh o He I s Features 69
Declared by Forbes as ?one of the fastest growing fashion entrepreneurs,? Raul Pen? aranda is making his mark in the premier fashion arena season after season. Peñaranda?s collection is replete with lavish fabrics and simple cuts, which are the hallmark of the Peñaranda brand. His designs range from edgy to elegant, espouse a refined sophistication, and exemplify exceptional craftsmanship. His intention is not to reinvent the wheel in fashion, but to add some innovative spokes, he says, ?I want to use my talent, vision, and experience gathered in New York City; I believe, regardless of the current economic downturn, the market is ready for a new designer who has fresh ideas, distinctive style, and is backed by a well-structured company.? Peñaranda admits he doesn?t know the formula for success, but surely knows the formula for failure: trying to please everyone. ?I intend to stay true to my beliefs and vision as a designer, distinguish our collections from the rest of the wheels in the race and give our customers what they want: Exclusivity and refinement.? Born in Cali, Colombia, he grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to Miami with his family as a young adult. In 2000, he relocated to New York City where he was offered a freelance design position at Liz Claiborne, while enrolled at F.I.T and Parson?s. From that point he quickly made leaps throughout the industry. His portfolio includes work from some of the industry?s top fashion houses such as Oscar de la Renta, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, and Zac Posen, along with industry giants, Liz Claiborne and Kellwood. He held key positions as Creative
Chispa Magazine
Director of Merchandise and Trend Services, Senior Designer and, Textile/ CAD Designer, but in 2010, Peñaranda decided to make one of his long time dreams a reality and opened Raul Peñaranda LLC to house his self-titled collection.
W hat is the differ ence betw een Raul Peñar anda the label ver sus the m an? I don't think there is difference between my label and me. It's the same force with the same values expressing all my emotions trough the unveiling of each collection. My work is a reflection of who I am as an individual. It's a specific moment of my life that I like to capture in every collection. These are living memories, good and bad, that represent empowerment, evolution, and self-discovering. And for this reason our mission statement is: Show the World Who You Are.
W hen you look at your self in the m ir r or, w hat do you tell your self? How blessed, grateful, and lucky I am for being able to do what I love. I tell to myself to stay humble and to never give up on anything I set my mind to it. I tell myself with discipline and hard work any task can be achieved. I also tell myself to have fun and make sure that I enjoy 100 percent of the ups, as well as the downs...because everything has a hidden lesson and I'm ready to learn it. Other days, instead of telling myself anything, I just think of my mother's mantra: DREAM-VISION-REALITY. With this, I'm set to go!
W hen it?s tim e to design, as w ell as choose fabr ics, w hat goes on w ithin your m ind and w hat envir onm ent do
Features 71
you choose as your backdr op? The beginning of each collection starts with one word that best describes how I feel in that specific moment. The chosen word refers to an intangiblemoment frozen in time that is made into a reality; and my clothes are thevehiclefor that. I choosefabrics, and when I do that, I start with a blank canvas allowing for the texture and colors of fabrics to inspire and ignite the design process. Ialignuntangleemotions with fabrics and the result is magic. Our studio is a place of vulnerability, fun and humility where everything flows and makes sense without being rushed or planned. We know who we are as a brand and knowing we want to empower every woman withbeautyand sophistication makes everything come together the day of the fashion show. I also count on my twoassistantsXiomaraand Alex, who play a very important role in the success of each collection. It's having fun, following our instinct,alwaysstayingtrue to our mission and values as a brand.
Based on your m any jour neys and seasons, w hat can you teach other s today? Two simple things: To be humble and be disciplined. Both will take you anywhere you want to go.
Hum ility. How do you define this and how does it play a r ole in your com pany? Humility is the foundation of who I am as a person and it's the most important factor on which I built my company. Don't misinterpret
humility for weakness; it's pride versus humility. Being humble allows me to keep an open mind and not be closed off to learning, developing new ideas, evolving my brand, and constantly providing a high-quality product.
Ar e you consum ed by your w or k and business? W hen do you tur n your br ain off? I would not use the word "consumed," since for me that means my business controls my total existence. Even though it is one of the things I first think of in the morning, I have learned with experience, in order for me to give my best I need to satisfy my personal goals as well, like family, friends, love, and my doggies. It's finding a perfect balance. As a marathon runner, I have realized the importance of this. It's not going fast; it's keeping a steady pace that ultimately will take me to the finish line. Running a business is very difficult, it's the part of the equation that needs the support of the ones who know how to do it. On that end I'm so lucky to count on my business partner, Larry Haack (CEO), who knows me like nobody else and understands a balance between design and running a company. Both are essentials, and success is based on teamwork. I'm lucky to have the best team on my side. Finally, I have learned how to turn off my brain lately with the support system that helped build this company. My brain rests when I'm around my family, doggies, and loved ones. What?s next for your label and personal life? Keep learning, keep making mistakes, but never to give up; this goes for both my label and personal life. C Interview by Mavian Arocha-Rowe Photos by Justin Bellucci
Chispa Magazine
" I tattooed my mom?s mantra on my arm th e f i rst ti me I w as sel ected to sh ow at New York Fash i on Week .
"
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Let
it Be
Tr uth C hristy
Nockels
Photo by Phil Sanders Chispa Magazine
Chispa Magazine
Inter view Tur ned Keynote Addr ess
Cover Story | Christy Nockels 81
In the days of social media where our messages are constricted to a specific number of characters, our cover story goes against all of these modern-day rules of engagement. We invite you to stop your schedule and allow for this read to be the interruption for the next hour. Cancel all alarms, wait for the baby to be asleep, and if for whatever reason you simply can?t find the uninterrupted time to dwell in this conversation, there?s no reason why you cannot go to bed just a little later or perhaps be up prior to sunrise. For those who know of the very-talented Christy Nockels, you will indeed fall at your feet with her words and for those who are meeting her for the first time, grab a hold of your current position in life and allow her sweet tender voice to speak volume to your heart, and mind. With no further ado, I present to you Christy Nockels. Photo by Lee Steffen Chispa Magazine
Si n ger , son gw r i t er , soon -t o-be au t h or , edu cat or , dau gh t er , w i f e, m ot h er , si st er , an d f r i en d? w h i ch t i t l e or r ol e i s t h e t ou gh est an d r equ i r es m or e [ w h i ch goes] ou t si de of you r n at u r al bei n g? Well, the ?soon-to-be author? part remains to be seen. I?ve been writing, just sort of under the table, but it has felt like climbing Mount Everest. It?s something that I?ve had to put down for months at a time and I?ve had to just be okay with that. I?m not sure a book deadline is what I really need right now [she smiles]. This answer might seem like I?m dodging the question but I don't know that any one of these titles or roles requires more of me or is more daunting than the other. I think it?s truly the balance of it all that can daily go outside of my natural being. Just when I think I have one figured out, something drops and drops big time. I recall a moment at my farm table in the early 2000s where I sat 100 percent burned out, staring at my kitchen sink full of sippy cups and dirty dishes. My heart sank as I breathed out the words, I can?t. I felt like the biggest failure, yet those two words are actually what the gospel is really all about. Left to our own devices, for salvation and for daily living, we all fall short. Just as we are powerless to save ourselves and to earn our way to God, we are powerless to live a life of balance and purpose without Jesus. This is why you will see the words in Christ over and over throughout the gospels. ?For in Him we live and move and have our being.? (Acts 17:28) Many Christians don?t even fully understand what it means to live in Christ and end up on
what feels like a never ending merry-go-round of striving and trying to make life work. I know because I was one of those people for lots of years. I?m forever grateful that Jesus so kindly showed me that admitting that I can?t do it all is the beginning of Him being able to come live His beautiful life through me. So what I can?t do in the natural, He comes and does through me super-naturally. Yes, I have to plan, be strategic and organized to keep things rolling but I?m not exhausted anymore because I?ve got this deep soul-rest that He?s got it all. Part two of the farm table epiphany was to indeed re-prioritize my life and put the health of my heart and my family first. You know what was crazy? Once I did that and let go of all I was trying to manage to keep it all spinning, I actually walked straight into some of the most fruitful years of my career. The more I keep the main things the main things the more I have seen God do God-size things with my life
How di d you r ch i l dh ood an d u pbr i n gi n g h el p bl oom you i n t o t h e w om an you ar e t oday? There?s not a week that goes by that I don?t think about something from my childhood or how I was raised that helped shape me into who I am and prepare me for what I do. My dad was a pastor my whole life? big churches, small towns. This is where I first took the stage and learned how to tell a story with a song. It is also where Jesus began to lay a foundation in me for all of life. One of the most obvious ways that He did this was through my parents. My mother is a pianist and is the one who sat for hours with me, playing as I?d sing through entire songbooks by Amy Grant and
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Ac t iv e and Pr et t y
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Ac t iv e a n d Det er min ed
Cynt h ia Ro w l ey, a t r ail bl azer in t h e f unc t io n-meet s-f ash io n aest h et ic f o r year s, br eak s int o t h e spac e by desig ning w et suit s, pr int ed l eg g ing s, and mo r e. Her f ir st f ul l ac t iv ew ear l ine is no w av ail abl e and w e?r e mar r ied at f ir st sig h t .
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Mur der and gun vi ol ence have been goi ng on i n Bl ack and Lat i no communi t i es f or decades. Taki ng her sel f f r om anal ysi s t o act i on, Pet r a E. Lewi s has concl uded t hat t wo t hi ngs ar e dr i vi ng ur ban gun vi ol ence i n Af r i can Amer i can: l ow sel f - est eem and economi cs. The Sons and Daught er s of Ham, Book I : A Requi em, i s t he f i r st book i n her power f ul i nt er - gener at i onal and hi st or i cal l i t er ar y- f i ct i on t r i l ogy.
A son' s deat h. A mot her ' s gr i ef . Accusat i ons. Condemnat i on. Gui l t . Al i enat i on. What i s l ef t of a f ami l y i n t he af t er mat h of vi ol ence? Set i n East Fl at bush, Br ookl yn; Tr i ni dad; Bar bados; Nor t her n Cal i f or ni a; and t hr oughout t he gl obe, The Sons and Daught er s of Ham i s t he st or y of a Car i bbean- Amer i can f ami l y, an Af r i can- Amer i can young man, vi ol ence, choi ce, and dest i ny.
U nraveling
curses Choosing acti on Chispa Magazine
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W hy w ould som eone choose to r ead this novel? In the tradition of Sandra Cisneros, my friend Edie Danticat, and Junot Diaz (who I knew before he published Drown), my book is a portal into a very specific microcosm of American immigrant life: West Indian Brooklyn. I emigrated from Trinidad to the U.S. when I was three going on four, and lived in my parents? house in East Flatbush until I won a scholarship to a boarding school in Delaware at age 12. Most writers of literary fiction hear the mantra that there can? and needs to be? a universality to the specificity of the story you tell about the place where you come from. And that has been the most gratifying thing about this book? how many people from different walks of life love it: Caribbean, African-American, Latina, Asian, Jewish, Christian, gay, straight, male, female, you name it. The topic of violence that the book focuses on is troubling, but there are many facets to the book, and told in a lively way.
W hat m essage or em otion do you w ant the r eader to take aw ay fr om your novel? Empathy. The murder and gun violence have been going on in Black and Latino communities for decades. There have been stats that some of the violence has subsided nationwide in recent years, in some cases to historical lows? but some areas, including Brooklyn, are seeing a spike in gun violence again. It?s been going on long enough that one would expect some sweeping and substantive changes by now. There are some antiviolence organizations in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Oakland, and other parts of the country that are
doing brilliant and effective work, but they remain pockets of success because they need more funding, more support, and more political will, but the murders have been going on so frequently and for so long, people are inured. There needs to be an equal amount of not just outrage, but action when it comes to the violence in our communities? comparable to the groundswell that took place in Ferguson and in the Eric Garner case in Staten Island. I wanted my book to help to create a sustained dialogue around urban gun violence. I also wanted my book to focus on not just the gun violence, but its aftermath? how it can destroy families and communities, and the resilience of the loved ones, particularly mothers, who have to endure, pick up the pieces, and continue.
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The novel cover is ver y str iking and unique. W hat is the stor y behind this im age? The cover pictures a young man dressed as an ?Indian? for carnival in Trinidad. It was taken by my friend, professional photographer Shizuka Minami. There?s a back story to how Shizuka and I met that I won?t get into here, but she was born in Japan, ditched being an aeronautic engineer to study photography at the International Center for Photography in New York. When she wanted to travel down to Trinidad for carnival the first time, I connected her with some friends. She?s been back many times since and done exhibitions in galleries there. When I was finally ready to publish the first book in my trilogy, I knew that I wanted to use some of her images from Trinidad? every book in my trilogy will bear one of her images. To me that?s one of the biggest upsides to self-publishing, that you?re able to control your cover image? many people don?t realize that writers have no? or, if they?re lucky, little? say on their cover selection with traditional publishers. I didn?t pick it for that reason, but I later realized that the cover also connects with the book?s content: An ?Indian-head? pipe is an important symbol in the opening scene, and Columbus Day, and Columbus and his journey undergird parts of the overall trilogy. As for the cover image and design: Readers love it!
Petr a E. Lew is
Lew i s q uesti ons, A re w e as Bl ack f ol k s cursed ? or can ch oi ces i mpact desti ny?
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In the title, is ?Ham ? a biblical r efer ence to the son of Noah? Yes, it does refer to Ham in the Bible. My choosing it is in part historical: Noah?s sons are said by some to
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represent the various races of the world, and Ham (who is said to represent African people) was cursed by his father, Noah. Hence the curse of Ham, and the belief that Black people are cursed? which was used to justify slavery and imperialism. Historically, Black folks have gone through a lot? including this decades-long wave of homicides within our communities. In this trilogy, I sought to find out why it is so easy for Black and Brown young men to kill each other, and where did this mindset come from? And as I began to begin to craft the novel, I thought about the curse of Ham and thought: Are we as Black folks really ?cursed?? or can choices impact destiny?
How do you think the pr oblem of ur ban gun violence in Afr ican Am er ican cultur e can be solved? As an ?armchair? activist on this topic for decades, and now that my book has taken me from analysis to action, I?ve concluded that two things are driving this violence: low self-esteem and economics. In response, I?ve come up with several beyond-the-book-cover solutions. The first one I?ve been able to get off the ground is ?Rewind Your Mind?? interactive workshops that teach conflict resolution skills by having participants act out vignettes from my novel, then having us examine what we could do differently from the book?s characters that would escalate or deescalate the conflict in that scene. I?m doing it with a high school friend who is a clinical psychologist and conflict-resolution expert. We have a third team member who owns a yoga studio in Harlem, and will be doing a mindfulness
meditation component. Another idea is far more ambitious and deals with the economic piece. People who read the executive summary got really excited. I had difficulty getting the idea off the ground because of the funding needed, but it?s not dead? it?s just taking more time that to get the resources needed. However, more important in terms of solutions are the organizations like Man Up!, Street Corner Resources, S.O.S. Crown Heights, and Not Another Child in Brooklyn and Harlem that are using the ?interrupter? model to effectively combat violence. I urge your readers to Google details about this antiviolence model, and to see the brilliant documentary The Interrupters? and, more importantly, donate to some of the organizations I?ve mentioned, or similar organizations in your area.
You m entioned that a ser ies of violent acts that took place in your life inspir ed you to w r ite this book . In w hat w ays is your w or k r eflective of your per sonal exper iences? The three acts of violence took place in my 20s. I had graduated from Columbia undergrad, and literally just mailed in my application to the Columbia MFA program for a degree in fiction writing, when the first act of violence occurred. I had gone to a nightclub on the Lower East Side, and gotten slashed in the outer part of my left calf with a box cutter? through the fascia, down to the muscle, and had to get stiches. It?s a much more elaborate story that I have time to tell here, but the key parts were that a fight had broken out, I was one of the people running to get away from
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it, people were piling on behind me, and I didn?t even realize that I?d been slashed. I was wearing a long, black skirt and stockings. I left the club and walked for blocks before I discovered why my leg was hurting me so much, and that I?d been slashed. Apparently some people got slashed in the face, so? in a way? I feel lucky. The second act: one of my favorite uncles was shot in the head sitting in the passenger seat of a car. The bullet was meant for his friend who was sitting in the car with him. The friend was unharmed. Thankfully my uncle lived, with no visible brain damage.
talk-about-the-weather type stuff, and suddenly I?d know: You too? . It became this scourge, like the Angel of Death going from house to house in Egypt, slaying all the firstborn, but these people who lost loved ones, there was no blood on the door to protect them. I know, as Black and Brown communities? and as a nation? we need to talk about this. It?s not so much about my poaching details from my life for the book as much as it?s about our need to talk about this? then act. I don?t know why, but somehow writing and evangelizing about this urban gun violence became my calling.
The third: we had some friends of my parents, an older couple, who had recently brought their teenage son up from Trinidad. His name was Shawn. The mom would always brag about how tall he was growing, and how handsome he was, and all the girls who were calling him, and that we should come by and meet him. When we finally saw Shawn he was lying in a casket, and he had a bullet hole in his head. Here I?d gone from a working to middle class life in East Flatbush, to boarding school, then Columbia? a privileged educational trajectory that was supposed to open doors and transform my life, and the gun violence that had grieved me every time I saw the latest newspaper headline had leapt off the tabloid pages into my own life. I don?t have any children, and never lost a child to gun violence, but I know too many people who died this way, as well as many, many people who have lost loved ones to gun violence, people I would never have guessed. And it would come out unexpectedly during what I called polite ?parlor? conversations? ordinary interactions,
How do you r em ain objective as a w r iter w hen so m uch of your per sonal exper iences ar e tied to your w or k , or is subjectivity just as valuable in a novel such as this? I think I?m very much the typical
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writer, endowed with that fly-on-the-wall quality, able to sit and observe, to be in it, but not of it. It?s the objectivity that allows me to draw the lens back and ask the tough questions, and show my characters? people? at both their best and their worst. Then it?s that subjectivity that allows me to create pathos, and draw the reader in, and generate enough empathy to make these characters credible? and make my readers vested in their lives, and whether they live or die.
W hat do you see in the futur e for the r est of this tr ilogy, and your w or k in gener al? I?ve been told there is a cinematic quality to my writing. I don?t want this book to be a movie, but would love for it to be a miniseries,
like Roots. I want people to love and treasure these characters and see themselves and their families in Ophelia. Euclin, Clarissa, Kevin and Mouse, and even some of the minor characters. I want there to be watercooler conversations the next day, and for someone to run and get a snack during the commercial break and darn near break his neck running back from the kitchen because the rest of the family is shouting: It?s back! It?s back! Yeah, like that? . That?s my vision.
W ith cr itics dubbing you the next Toni M or r ison, w hat im pact w ould you like to have on your r eader s, the status of r ace r elations in this nation, and black consciousness at lar ge? I?m laughing. That was real reader feedback? not a critic. I also had another reader, who only read an excerpt off my website, compare my writing to Junot?s. I can think of few higher compliments than being compared to either of them. Mind you, I went from having a Columbia MFA and two powerful agents? including one at ICM? to self-published, so this journey has not been easy. I know this book is strong, and extremely well written. And I?m not saying that? that?s what my readers have told me. It was reading Morrison?s The Bluest Eye at age seven or nine that made me want to write. In working with my developmental editor, Sarah, on this book, I told her that I want it to be a ?very satisfying read?? and I feel, again, based on reader feedback, that we accomplished that in Book I. And, beyond the trilogy, over the span of my career, my mandate is for my readers to leave more elevated after shutting my book that they did reading the first page. I don?t sugarcoat
things, and a lot of the topics I tackle are very tough, but I always want my readers to leave with a sense of hope, even if any of my books? endings are somewhat nebulous. I welcome and appreciate readers from all walks of life, but I?m really not interested in impacting race relations in my writing. This is a highly diasporal novel, and for Black Folks in particular, I want us to recognize our glorious 360 complexity? the best in us, and the worst in us? and also to recognize our resilience, ingenuity, and brilliance. My desire also is for us to get still, away from all the media noise, and create our own solution-driven internal dialogues, both asking the hard questions about what we, as a people, need to change, and how to create new benchmarks of excellence for the kind of people we want? and need? to be. C Interview by Marlee Archer Petra E. Lewis Photo by Kevin Ryan Book Cover Photo by Shizuka Minami
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CHOOSE JOY WITH CHISPA. Photo by Illy
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