12
W I N T E R / S P R I N G 2 017
O N ISSUE
WWW.CRE8MAG.COM
1
ABOUT US -------------------------------------------------
CRE8 Magazine: a biannual Art and Lifestyle publication highlighting individuals, artists and businesses that embody the spirit of creativity, ingenuity and passion!
WE HOPE TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE OUR READERS TO CREATE.
2
No 12
OUR MISSION To showcase Maui to the world, and bring the world to Maui.
inspire :: create :: motivate
3
CONTENTS
4
WINTER/SPRING 2017
No 12 FEATURED
8
34
50
62
3
Our Mission
7
On The Cover
8
Kevin Roe : Photography
28
Dealing with Post Election Stress
34
Melissa Chimera : Painting
46
Calming Your Mind
50
Ming Ong : Illustration
62
Maude Denis : Photography
76
A Haunting : Poem
78
Jennifer J Stephens : Collage
5
pu b l i s h er Uniqu e A r t Hawaii Inc. Uniqu eA r tHawaii.com
cre a t i ve d i rec t or Jennifer Stephens info@uniqu ear thawaii.com
ed i t or Russell Carbonell r ustycarbs@g mail.com
w r i t er s Lar issa Treese Lani Morr is
mar ke t i n g c on s u l t a n t Kr ystle A lcain
s taff ph ot ogra ph er A mity Mason
www.CRE8Mag.com facebook.com/cre8mag Instagram @cre8magazine
CRE8 Magazine, its publishers, its staff and its advertisers are not responsible or liable for any misinformation, misprints or typographical errors in any ads or articles which may appear in this publication. Readers are required to do their own due diligence before relying upon any information provided or advice or opinions given by CRE8 Magazine, its publishers, staff and advertisers shall not be responsible or liable for reliance upon the information provided in this publication. The contents of CRE8 Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Publishers. By submitting materials to CRE8 Magazine our advertisers warrant and represent that they are (a) the sole, legal owner or licensee of all rights or licensee of all rights including copyright, to each copyright, trademark, service mark, trade name, logo, statement, portrait, graphic, artwork or photograph of any person or any other intellectual property included in such design, (b) will hold CRE8 Magazine harmless from any claim that any portion of the design infringes upon or constitutes wrongful use of any copyright, trademark or other right of any third party.
O N TH E COVE R
PAGE 50
7
8
Deep Sea garden Photography by Kevin Roe
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
THE ARTIST
KE VIN ROE Kevin is an avid underwater photographer and master diver who has resided on Maui since the beginning of 2000. His love of the ocean has led him to share his observations in hopes of convincing more people to respect and care for it as a precious commodity. Although the majority of his photography has been centered on the rich diversity of life in Hawai’i, his work also includes subjects from around the globe above and below the water.Â
kevinroe.photoshelter.com
27
Dealing With Post Election
STRESS As soon as the election results were announced, emotions began to run high for many people, not only in the United States, but also worldwide. People are experiencing different emotions such as elation, anxiety, disappointment and general stress. Flippant outbursts have become a common occurrence because of anger or distress. There is nothing wrong with feeling these emotions, but how you react afterwards is what matters. There are, however, various ways to effectively deal with post-election stress.
28
Post Election - 12 in x 12 in - Mixed Media on Wood JenniferJStephens.com 29
Seeing Red - 12 in x 14 in - Mixed Media on Wood JenniferJStephens.com 30
Don’t Take Other People’s Comments Personally Obviously there are people around you who are happy with the election results. They are expressing their joy by making comments about the opponent or party that lost the elections. Their comments are obviously upsetting you, but it is wise not to take them as personal attacks on you. They are only voicing their opinions, and it is important to respect their freedom of speech, since they are entitled to it. Just remember that their differing political opinions have absolutely nothing to do with you.
Think About What You Can Do, and Do It If the elections have not turned out as you might have expected, don’t adopt the “helpless mentality.” You can do something to make things better somewhere, instead of dwelling on what is wrong or what will be wrong. You can do volunteer work for a cause about which you feel passionate. You can be raising funds for the needy, serving at the homeless food centers, doing pro-bono work or volunteering at nursing homes, children’s home and so on. Rather than focusing on the negative aspect of the election results, help out in any way you can. You will feel more useful and less helpless, because you are making a difference in the world.
31
Don’t Believe Everything You Read - 12 in x 14 in - Mixed Media on Wood JenniferJStephens.com 32
Combat The Stress Remember that stress can lead to more serious problems, even medical ones. Allow yourself to feel better by taking steps to achieve a stress-free state. Take long walks, read a good book, go out to dinner with friends, take your kids out, give your home a makeover, listen to good music and do any other positive thing that will make you feel happy. Talk about your feelings to the friends who can give you good advice, and heed their advice.
Stay Positive The person you voted for did not win, but it is not the end of the world. The next four years probably will not be as bad as you may fear. Keep in mind that you will be voting in another presidential election in four years. For now, just look at all the other positive things in your life and in the country, be grateful, and then work toward making it all even better.
33
Paintings by Melissa Chimera
34
`Iliahi & Bonamia 24 in x 20 in
35
`Ä€kohekohe - 12 in x 12 in
36
​K iwikiu - 12 in x 12 in
37
Lehua Mamo - 12 in x 12 in
38
“From a distance, one sees a radial pattern, perhaps a tapestry. As you get closer to the painting, the individual species emerge. I wanted to demonstrate how our nation’s rarest species might literally fit onto a three-foot canvas. My complex patterns in the painted backgrounds bring attention to the plant or animal. I’m using all the tools in my tool chest to create a visual statementfrom pattern to gradient color. If I can get a viewer to pause for just a moment or two and ask a question, I feel I’ve done my job.”
39
Koa butterfly - 12 in x 12 in
Pulelehua No. 2 - 12 in x 12 in
Kokio - 12 in x 12 in
Lobelia gloriamontis - 24 in x 20 in 42
Inheritance, HaleakalÄ - 30 in x 48 in
43
Puakala - 24 in x 20 in 44
THE ARTIST
MELISSA CHIMERA Melissa Chimera (b. 1972) is a conservationist and Honolulu native of Lebanese and Filipino ancestry. She received a BA in Natural Resources Management while studying painting at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, a world epicenter for plant and animal extinction. Chimera’s work contemplates the tipping point of human and environmental endangerment. Chimera raises questions about our human role in extinction, social change, and globalization. She juxtaposes the catastrophic implications of environmental and social change with a method grounded in formal elements of painting and treatment of canvas as textile. In 2009, the Sharjah Art Foundation (United Arab Emirates) and RMIT University, Melbourne (Australia) provided Chimera grants to create and exhibit art in the Middle East, Tibet and China. Chimera served as a juror (2016) and was awarded juror’s choice awards (2008, 2015) for the Mālama Wao Akua exhibitions featuring native species. Presently, Chimera serves as Artist-In-Residence at the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Maui. Chimera keeps a studio in Maui. She exhibits in Hawai`i and across Asia, the Middle East and the United States. Her recent exhibitions include Saatchi Art and Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles (2014), Uri-Eichen Gallery, Chicago (2014), The Maui Arts and Cultural Center (2016, 2010, 2011), 1708 Gallery, Richmond (2009), Sharjah Biennial, United Arab Emirates (2009), GC Art Yard, Tibet (2009), and Orange Gallery in Guangzhou, China (2009). Most recently, Chimera’s solo show Agents of Change opened at the Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center in 2016. Public and private collections include: the White House, Washington, D.C., The Nature Conservancy and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.
delisseagallery.com
45
46
Calm your mind
FINDING INNER PEACE
Calm your mind and you will find peace. Beneath the busy chatter of your internal voice rests a balanced, poised being. The core you lives in harmony with the world and its ups and downs. Your persona, though, is influenced by people and events, and may be swept along by a negative undercurrent when matters don’t go as planned.
YOUR INNER VOICE The voice in your head offers negative or positive judgments, depending on your state of mind. While you might sometimes appreciate what it says, at others, you wish it would quieten down. Even when it tells you what you want to hear, its constant babble can be overwhelming.
CALM YOUR MIND You can learn to calm your inner voice with
Detachment is possible when you recognize you
detachment. However, be aware that changing the
aren’t your inner ramblings; they just happen.
way you think may take time. Most people entertain
The core part of you remains whether there’s
their thoughts habitually because they don’t know
a conversation going on in your head or not.
they can choose not to listen. Deciding not to hear
Consequently, the center of you must be who
the banter in your mind makes it stop, but you have
you are, not your thoughts or judgments. What
to break free from the habit of tuning into your
you think in the form of speech within comes
mind’s verbosity.
from your personality. Your character stems from your understanding of what you’ve learned
DON’T LISTEN
so far. As you change, so might your views and
When your mind is demanding, as worries run
outlook, yet, part of you remains the same.
through it, mentally shift your awareness; observe it like a witness. Think of the words in your mind as you
The core part of you is always peaceful, tune into
do passing strangers, chatting as they walk. Unless
it rather than the speech inside you. Detaching
you keep up with people who talk as they walk, their
by not owning the voice helps you allow it
voices fade. Likewise, you don’t need to pour your
to pass. When it disappears, you experience
attention into what you hear within; let it pass.
silence and calm. At such a time, focus on the sense of peace you discover, feeling it in your body. Allow the sensation of tranquillity to seep into your bones, freeing you from worries and overexcitement. You can calm your mind and find peace by silencing internal banter. Move your attention to the serenity you notice in the stillness when your inner voice is quiet. As a result, you’ll be able to repeat the experience another time; you’ll remember the procedure, which will become easier as you practice.
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
THE ARTIST
MING ONG Ming Ong is an artist and designer, based in Los Angeles, California. Her artwork reflects her international upbringing and inclusive worldview. At first, Ming’s paintings seem to be just sweet, innocent illustrations of children and animals, hearkening back to classic children’s books. Upon closer examination, they reveal a darker, more dangerous side. Viewers are tempted to laugh at these humorous juxtapositions. Then they’re challenged to discern their deeper, hidden meaning. Indeed, beyond the bright colors, illustrated style, and nostalgic feel are thoughtful, incisive comments about society and culture. Ming’s artwork is inspired by her rich childhood memories of Malaysia and Singapore and insular experience as a Chinese immigrant growing up in Canada. Recurring themes in Ming’s work include loss of innocence, emotional detachment, moral confusion, and cultural disconnect. Her influences include mid-century American advertising, 80’s American cartoons, Chinese propaganda art, Japanese pop culture, and vintage children’s book illustrations, as well as artists Johannes Vermeer, Francisco Goya, Edouard Manet, Francis Bacon, and Jessie Wilcox Smith. Ming is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design, majoring in illustration. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows across California, and her illustrations have been published in the New York Times, American Illustration, Village Voice, LA Weekly, The Stranger, Bitch Magazine, and many others. ~ Ming Lai
ming-ong.com
61
62
Summer Sun Photography by Maude Denis Model: Nathaniel Martinez Styling: Alonso Martinez
63
67
Great is the sun, and wide he goes Through empty heaven with repose; And in the blue and glowing days More thick than rain he showers his rays. Though closer still the blinds we pull To keep the shady parlour cool, Yet he will find a chink or two To slip his golden fingers through. The dusty attic spider-clad He, through the keyhole, maketh glad; And through the broken edge of tiles Into the laddered hay-loft smiles. Meantime his golden face around He bares to all the garden ground, And sheds a warm and glittering look Among the ivy’s inmost nook. Above the hills, along the blue, Round the bright air with footing true, To please the child, to paint the rose, The gardener of the World, he goes. - Robert Louis Stevenson
69
73
THE ARTIST
MAUDE DENIS Growing up in an artistic family in Quebec, Canada, Maude Denis was surrounded by beauty, creativity and musicality. She first discovered her love for photography from her father, who recognized her naturally artistic eye during her youth. Maude’s father encouraged her to expand her creativity by taking pictures on an old film camera that he gave her. Thus, at a very young age, she was regularly inspired to capture the simplicity and minimalist splendor of nature from every angle. A very happy childhood allowed her to flourish in and develop her creative brain, not only in photography, but also in the mediums of visual arts and theater. Since her artistic expression took on many forms and modes, Maude decided to pursue every passion that she had. She was in awe of the entire process, and began exploring various art projects in her home studio. After completing her theatrical studies in Canada, and intrigued by the beauty of the islands, Maude made her way to Maui. She started her journey on the Hawaiian island with fine art, later transitioning to photography. Finding inspiration in the already full canvas of a photograph, she decided to leave the paint brushes aside, and instead, pursue life behind the camera. What she loves about photography is that she uses her own creativity to bring a photograph to life, instead of starting with the blank canvas of a painter. On the inspiration that she finds in photographing Hawai’i, Maude mentions, “What I like about taking pictures on Maui is the biodiversity that the island has to offer. Every element is there for a perfect composition.” During the past year, Maude has had the opportunity to shoot wedding ceremonies for people from all over the world. This particular medium brings her great pleasure in that it allows her to capture the incredible moments in her clients’ lives. She loves that she gets to tell their stories through pictures. Additionally, she has a calm spirit, which puts her clients at ease in front of the camera. It is her love for her work that is most evident in the moments that she captures. One of Maude’s major goals is to expand her body of work to include all other areas of photography, specifically, fashion. Her repertoire of photography is constantly expanding, as is her love for the profession. Maude plans to continue to bring her vision alive through traveling and photographing the world, producing work that reflects details, emotions, and beauty in perfect harmony.
maudejdenis@outlook.com
74
75
A Haunting Poem by Eden Zang
76
Lingering in the background, permeating my subconscious. Unable to understand how we connect indefinitely. The cord never cut. What is yours, is mine. Blinders on, blocking the truth, running to break free. Incapable of escaping, unaware of the fierceness of your presence. This mystery...my haunting. I always feel you. Stop hiding. Screaming, show me what you are! Struggling to acknowledge the truth in front of me. Bleeding thoughts of “why?” Speaking the secrets of the unspoken. Still scared, but I can see you now. I’m beginning to understand. We can coexist... No longer in the realm of the unknown In this light, we find freedom.
77
Digital
GLUE Collage by Jennifer J Stephens
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
THE ARTIST
JENNIFER J STEPHENS Jennifer J Stephens was raised on the island of Maui, and has been inspired to create art since an early age. She attended H.P. Baldwin High School where she began developing her style under the tutelage of instructor Janet Sato in the AP Art Program. Leaving Hawaii after high school for travels in the U.S. mainland and Europe, she broadened her interests in photography, mixed media and assemblage. She has since created many works in paint, photography, found object and digital media that capture her unique and whimsical perspective. Her work has been displayed in galleries on Maui and the U.S. mainland. I​n 2007, Jennifer opened her graphic design studio Unique Art Hawaii, and more recently in 2012 she founded CRE8 Magazine, a publication devoted to art & creativity. Jennifer currently resides in Kihei, HI with her husband and assorted critters.
jenniferjstephens.com
87
Jennifer J Stephens.com 88