OTK Issue 04

ISSUE 04

Her Words. Her Journey. Her Story.

R A M B O ELLIOTT LISTEN

Our mission is to

support empower and

women of all ages and any race through traditional

journalism, storytelling, illustrations and photography.

supports diversity, inclusion and equality for women This magazine

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Our hope is that the stories in the magazine illustrate this through the telling details of our everyday women’s inspiring lives.

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OneToKnowMagazine.com | ISSUE 04

DID YOU MISS OUR LAST ISSUE?

FROM THE EDITOR Joy. It’s what working on this

magazine brings me when I get to step into the beautiful world of the women we write about. Like when cover woman Rambo Elliott set the stage in her home studio and put on female rap music that made us both feel like bossing up. For the images to go with this story, Rambo chose self-portraits. She set up the camera and worked with the natural light in the room, gave me some pointers and let me click away while she danced for the camera. But first, to check the light and set up, she put me in the frame and asked me to let go and toss my hair.

Women of Fort Worth Who Inspire

2

We played her way, learning a dance on TikTok, sharing stories of overcoming, snapping pictures. To see how much taller I looked after she took mine — it made me feel seen, beautiful and respected. She wasn’t above any of it, and she pulled me up to rise to the occasion. This was the second time we had spent some time together in interviews for the cover story, but I was finally understanding the profound impact she had on those she photographed and spent time with, healing through her lens and own radiant light. I hope her story brings you healing too.

And it's joy when I get to pull my favorite quotes from all the stories that came in for Adrienne so she can design the masthead page. It reminds me of what all of the creatives have been working so hard on and the quality of work that comes in.

My heart smiles so big every time. I learn so much, like affordable art collecting according to Main St. Art Festival juror Chris Dahlquist in the story by Jennifer Casseday-Blair.

Speaking of art collecting, I bought my first Caya Crum piece last November to go in my Fort Worth art room. We love supporting the local arts because there is so much talent here. Caya is only 16 years old, but she’s already creating incredible work and making big moves in Fort Worth, which is why we had writer Elizabeth Sehon feature her in our One To Watch section.

With appreciation,

JOCELYN F. TATUM

Executive Editor

The host of the popular NPR podcast “How I Built This,” Guy Raz, once said a key to good interviews and stories is to have a generous source — someone who is willing to be open and share the truth of their journey. While I had never met Rambo before this story, I followed her on Instagram along with 27,000 other people. Her posts are so vulnerable, so raw, so relatable, beautiful, so generous in the sharing of her self.

Her story made me think of Andy Dufresne in “Shawshank Redemption,” that some of us had to army crawl through 500 yards of shit to find freedom. Some of us are still climbing. And that’s OK. Never give up. As you will see in our suicide prevention article by Sarah Angle, the number of young women ending their lives is soaring in Texas. But there is training available to help pull them out of the darkest of rooms.

I hope these stories help you feel less alone and find all of the joy in this mad and beautiful world.

CONTRIBUTORS In what way has art brought meaning into your life?

Re b e c c a Balc arc el

Jennifer Ca ssed ay-Bla ir

WRITER

WRITER

WRITER

I L LU ST R ATO R

Art challenges me to see what's not obvious and embrace hard feelings.

Art makes me feel less alone in this world, more connected to a source, and more hopeful about humanity.

The ugliness around us can become overwhelming.

Art and nature are where I often find relief.

Art is my means for coping with the difficult parts of life. Art is my happy place. It is my therapy. Art is the way that I remember who I am and where I am going.

El l e Dav is

Jad e E me rs on

Conny Gonza lez

M yr ia m Gonza lez

WRITER

WRITER

I L LU ST R ATO R

WRITER

Art has given me a deeper connection with humanity. It has allowed me to express how I see the world and understand others' perspectives.

To me, art is release.

In ink, paint and verse, catharsis is found.

Life doesn't always let you express yourself. Art has helped me enjoy and stay focused on what makes me, me.

Art exposes me to new things, which I appreciate, because it allows me to continue growing as a person.

Sa ra h La nge r

An g ie M ar t in ez

E liza b eth Sehon

D I G I TA L M E D I A

WRITER

WRITER

Passed down through the almond-shaped eyes of my family, creating and enjoying art has been a heritage and a teacher shaping my life’s journey.

For me, art ignites the creativity within me.

There’s a happiness and stillness that translates directly into my mood and satisfaction for the day.

By teaching me how to float into an unknown world. No judgment or sounds of a ticking clock. Just complete elation, yet enough sorrow to break me.

Amb er Davis

Sonya CisnerosW ierzowiec k i WRITER

Art has always provided me with a portal to a childlike state of wonder or curiosity that keeps life interesting. It is essential.

Shilo Ur ban WRITER

Art creates incredible beauty in my life, sparks wonder and broadens my perspective — and the best art changes the way I see the world.

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Sa ra h An g le

F E A T U R E S

Women of Fort Worth Who Inspire

4

One to Watch

38 Caya Crum Short Story

48 La Gringa Relója

One to Know

24 RAMBO elliott

LISTEN

Photo by Rambo Elliott

• LASHAUNN Bold • CLAUDIA Casas • • JENNIFER Casseday • NICOLE Ellis • DANIKA Franks • • ELLIE Lasater • VICTORIA McLaughlin • • ANGELA Moore • AMANDA Myers Brotherton • LINDA Owens • • SALLY Palmer • KENDA Pennington • SANDY Russell • JULIE Sampson • • KATHLEEN Soye • AMANDA Stallcup •

AURELIA Albers • JULIE Alvarez • CALLIE Anderson • AMANDA Arizola • AMY Arriaga • CYNTHIA Ayala • JULIE Baker • MARIA R Balandran •

•

•

REBECCA Balcarcel • KYOKO Bass • ANDREA Bell • MARISA Bell • ROSA Berdeja • CHRISTINA Berger • JUANITA Bermejo • EVA Bermejo •

MELINDA Bermejo • LATONYA Berry • VALERIE Bigler • JILL Black • EVA Bonilla • LISA Botello • MARIA Burke • OLGA Buster • DONNA Campbell •

•

• • • •

AMANDA Darden • LANESHA Davis • DIONNA Deardorff • FRANCES De Leon • PATRICIA DeLeon • DORA DeLeon • ANGELA DeQuesada •

VIRGINIA DiPierro • MELONDY Doddy-Munoz • CORRIE Donovan • MICHAEL Edwards • MARY Helen Enriquez • DAYNA Epley • CARI Feehan • ROBIN Fielding •

•

LAUREN Findley • STEPHANIE Flores • LINDA Foster • ROSANNA Frias • REBECCA Galindo Castro • EDDYE Gallagher • STACEY Garcia • JUANITA Garcia • •

•

KRIS Canfield • KENYAIL Carr • VERA Casarez • ALMA Castillo • TANISIA Castillo-Queppet • LAUREN castleberry • CONNIE Cervantez •

BRIANNA Cervantez • VICKI Cisneros • SARAH Cohen • TONI Contreras • ALEJANDRA Contreras • EVELYN Covington • LEILA Daniels •

ALLYSSA Garcia • AMY Garland • MARIA Isabel Garza • IANINE Glassman • CONNY Gonzalez • NANCY Gonzales • MYRIAM Gonzalez • ADRIENNE Grant •

EDWARD Guerra • LAUREN Guerrero • DENNISSE Guerrero • GLADYS Guevara • FIGEN Gundogdu • MARIELL Guzman • LINDA Hailey • JENNIFER Hamrick • • •

NICOLE Hawkins • JADE Hebbert • LEE Henderson • VANESSA Hernandez • VICTORIA Herrera • SARA Herrera • LAURA High • ANNETTE Hill •

FLO Hill • LEA Hobbs • KOBRIE Hodge • MARIA Huizar • JACLYN Justice • HEATHER Kauffman • SAMANTHA Keaton • LYNNETTE Kile • LINDSAY Kinzie • ANNE Kline • LOREE LaChance • BLAIZE LaFleur • KENDAL Lake • KELLY Lancarte • BENEDIKT Langer • ELVA Lopez • EMMA Lopez • LINDA Lopez • • • •

CYNTHIA M Lopez • GOOD THING Marketing • DONNA Martinez • ERIN Martinez • VERONICA Martinez • ANGELA Martinez •

NELLIE Martinez • LANETTE Martinez-Vidaurri • CONNOR Mccourt • MARCIA Mederos • MORIAH Mendez • MAGGIE Mercado • PEGGY Miller •

ANAKA Mittal • DANA Moody • LIZ Nelson • ANNA Noyce • VALERIE Ochoa • BOB Of DFW • RACHELLE Ohlhaber • DIANA Oliveros • MARIA Orand • •

LUCINDA Ortega • ROSEMARY Ortez • ELSA Pais • EMMA Patino • JULIE Patrick • JENNA Pinder • CARLA Prieto • BEATRICE Ramirez • •

PAULINE Ramos • SKY Ramos • THERESA Ramos • LAUREN Reynolds • JAN Riggins • ROSIE Rios • CAROL Roark • KARINA Rodriguez • •

BETTY Rodriguez • MARIA Rodriguez • DIANA Rodriquez • KAREN Rogers • DANIEL Rosales • SUSAN Russell • CIRO Sarmiento •

•

LATOYA Savala • MONICA Savino • RACHEAL Scanlan-Ruiz • JUDY Schell • ALICIA Servin • SANDRA Sharp • DEBRA Sherman • •

COLLEEN Shutt • NICOLE Sinclair • CHRISTY Smith • SUSAN Smith • ERICKA Solis • MERARI Solito • •

•

LINDA Soto • CHRISTINE Stivers • TERRIE Talbert • DEVONNE Tatum • RACHEL Taylor •

HERLINDA Tijerina • RUTH Tijerina • BECKY Tobin • JEAN Tocco • CRISTINA Toledo • CANDY Torres • TRISH Torres • •

BAILLIE Troskot • JOSIE Trujillo • ESTHER Turner • SHILO Urban • SHARON Urban • JODIE Utter • •

LAURA Valdez • ELISA Valdez • ERIN Varnon • CRYSTAL Vastine • VANESSA Villasenor • •

LORENA Waits • NAYA Walker • ANDREW Walker • CAROLYN Watson • • SUSAN White • HAILEE Wood •

F O R

Y O U R

S U P P O R T

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u o k y n a Th

CONTENTS ISSUE 04

8

18

74

Women of Fort Worth Who Inspire

6

SPOTLIGHT 8 ART CURATOR

An Art Curator’s Journey

WORTH 12 TRYING

SUPPORT 18 GATHER GOODS

An Exploration of Style Fusion

Rising Numbers

20 FUNKY TOWN FRIDGE

64 PHYSICAL

Driving Change, One Funky Fridge at a Time

It’s Written in the Stars

14 PURCHASING

A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Art

BE WELL 60 MENTAL HEALTH

LIFE 48 HOME

Colorful Moods

52 COMMUNITY Art and Accessibility

56 SOCIAL

Psychology and Fashion

Saving Face

66 PHYSICAL THERAPY What You Should Know (About That Body Part)

FOOD 70 ESSAY

It’s Pati-O’clock Somewhere

PHILANTHROPY 74 NEAR SOUTHSIDE, INC.

Stories with QR codes

2 Owner’s Letter 3 Contributors 22 Craft 80 Ponder GET YOUR SMART PHONES READY. Scan the QR code at the end of the article for more video and audio content.

“Forget everything you have been taught. Tarot readings are not always performed in a spooky darkroom of a mysterious individual.”

- It’s Written in the Stars, by Elle Davis, P 12 “I

like to bring in a political voice and show strong women in my artwork. It’s important because historically women weren’t always seen as the way they really are, which is strong.”

- Caya Crum, by Elizabeth Sehon, P 38 “Give her this. It

contains the dimensions of my body, 7 the address of my American relatives, and numbers for

Editorial Inquiries editorial@onetoknowmagazine.com Advertising sales@onetoknowmagazine.com Design Adrienne Martinez, art director

“Ever since humans first harnessed the power to develop paint, color became a means of storytelling. Emotions were described in hues: green with envy, crying the blues, and red with passion.”

- Colorful Moods, by Jade Emerson, P 48

Editorial Jocelyn Foster Tatum, executive editor Contributors Editorial Sarah Angle, Rebecca Balcarcel, Jennifer Casseday-Blair, Elle Davis, Jade Emerson, Myriam Gonzalez, Angie Martinez, Elizabeth Sehon, Sonya Cisneros-Wierzowiecki, Shilo Urban, Sarah Langer Illustrators Amber Davis, Conny Gonzalez Digital Media Sarah Langer Have an idea or see a mistake? Tell us about it: editorial@onetoknowmagazine.com One To Know Magazine is a bimonthly, subscription-based publication.

All rights reserved.

Views and comments expressed by individuals do not necessarily represent those of the publishers, and no legal responsibility can be accepted for the result of the use by readers of information or advice of whatever kind given in this publication, either in editorial or advertisements.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or duplicated without the prior permission of One To Know Magazine LLC. FOLLOW AND LIKE US

@onetoknowmagazine VISIT US ONLINE onetoknowmagazine.com

“A second pandemic has hit the U.S. hard. It’s not airborne. It’s not spread in classrooms or congested office buildings. We can’t catch it by holding hands, hugging or kissing. It lives, breathes and replicates completely inside our minds, which affects every part of our life.”

- Rising Numbers: Drowning in an Ongoing Pandemic, by Sarah Angle, P 60 “That local Mexican restaurant patio is most likely a snapshot recreation of someone’s childhood at their grandmother’s garden in Mexico. A patio that housed cages of parakeets and a constant trickle of water coming from an old hose that was used to water the tens of herbs that you couldn’t quite tell were alive or purposely being dried.”

- It’s Pati-O’clock Somewhere, by Angie Martinez, P 70 “I learned how to listen with intention and learning, not to interject with self, to be able to listen through the noise or inkblots. It helps me keep my mind focused on what humans truly need sometimes, just someone to really listen.”

- Rambo Elliott, LISTEN, by Jocelyn Foster Tatum, P 24

OneToKnowMagazine.com | ISSUE 04

Publisher & Owner Adrienne Martinez

their telephones.” She laid down a slim envelope. “The bus stop is six houses plus two blocks away. I must go.”

- La Gringa Reloja, short story by Rebecca Balcarcel, P 42

[S P OT LIGH T] A R T C U R A T O R

An Art Curator’s Journey The Power of Art and Representation

By Sarah Langer

Women Painting Women

8

A n d r e a K a r n e s began working at the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth as a receptionist in 1998 and has since touched every pulse of the museum’s heartbeat.

While her job description then may have been to answer phones, the museum did not have the support staff back then that they do now. So, Andrea quickly found herself doing budgets, assisting the business manager, aiding the registrar and helping the curator.

“I always tell young people who I talk to, especially those majoring in art history, that you’ve got to be willing to do anything in the beginning. You know, don’t stick to your job description, be willing to help people, be willing to do whatever it takes so you can figure out what you really love and the path to get there,” Andrea says.

As her career evolved from the receptionist to research assistant and then registrar, Andrea discovered what she really loved: curation. She wanted to be able to give artists a platform because of the way they mirror important issues. “Artists who are working today are making work that usually is direct commentary on what’s happening in the world — historically, politically, and in pop culture today,” she says.

Andrea Karnes’ Photo by Evie Bishop, courtesy Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

As an advocate for artists with a pioneering spirit and someone who is paying attention to the world, it is only fitting that her first exhibit as chief curator is titled “Women Painting Women.”

On May 15, this exhibition, international in scope, will feature the brave female pioneers of figurative painting from the 1960s into the 21st century.

Andrea says nude painting was a white, maledominated field for most of history. That is until the female forerunners of figurative painting carved out a voice for themselves and began creating the art they desired to make, starting around the 1960s.

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Somaya Critchlow Untitled (Pink Hair), 2019 Oil on linen 10 x 8 1/4 inches Isabella Wolfson Townsley, London © Somaya Critchlow Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London

[S P OT LIGH T] A R T C U R A T O R

Women Painting Women

10

Because female pioneers of figurative painting fearlessly protested in front of art museums and advocated for female representation of the female body, we now get to experience pieces of art like Alice Neel’s “Pregnant Nude, 1967,” with a “realness that is too profound to be sexy,” according to a press release by the museum.

“It’s not a political exhibition, but it seems like the personal is political, and representation is always political,” Andrea says. “It seemed like a good moment to recognize issues of race Arpita Singh My Mother, 1993 Oil on canvas 54 x 72 inches From the Collection of Sharad and Mahinder Tak © Arpita Singh Photo courtesy Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and Talwar Gallery

and gender. You know, even the term ‘woman’ right now is being contested and taken out of its binary terms and opening up to be more inclusive to those who are femme-identifying.”

Several women were underrecognized in the canon of art history, which was doubled for women of color. With portraiture being a medium so accessible to view compared to other things that might feel intimidating in a museum, Andrea felt the time was right to celebrate women artists.

“Little girls that want to be artists can

walk into an exhibition and see not only other women who are doing it but also kind of be overwhelmed by it.”

- TIFFANY WOLF, Modern Art Museum assistant currator of education

the 1960s. Mickalene Thomas’ 2007, “A Little Taste Outside of Love,” provides an archetype to Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1814, “Le Grande Odalisque,” as a motif of nuance and lure, by placing a woman of color in an identical pose. “Her stare is more at ease than the demure of ‘Odalisque,’ and she has ownership of her body and her surroundings,” Modern Art Museum assistant curator of education Tiffany Wolf, says.

For Andrea, the real adrenaline kicks in as the 60 pieces of art are unpacked and ready to be hung on the bare walls of the museum. With the goal in mind to make each piece of work sing in whatever space it’s placed, she believes there will be something so powerful for all women to find representation and inspiration while exploring the “Women Painting Women” exhibition.

“Little girls that want to be artists can walk into an exhibition and see not only other women who are doing it but also kind of be overwhelmed by it,” Tiffany says. “The scale of some of these are larger than life. The representation is clearly going to be there not only in who is identifying as the woman, but in the color of their skin, their familial relationships, and their ease within their body.”

Andrea’s career journey is riddled with the power of curiosity and willingness and has given her eyes to see the importance of showing different parts of the community, and in this case, especially young women who may have an interest in becoming artists, a path that other people have taken to get to where they are today.

From the Modern Art Museum’s receptionist to the chief curator, Andrea is an exemplary conduit contouring the evocative art of diverse female artists in a manner that is sure to inspire Fort Worthians as the “Women Painting Women” exhibit comes to life.

Amy Sherald A Midsummer Afternoon Dream, 2020 Oil on canvas, 106 x 101 inches Private collection © Amy Sherald. Courtesy the Artist and Hauser & Wirth Photo by Joseph Hyde

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Featured artists such as Faith Ringgold and Emma Amos began painting women of color, including themselves when no one else was in

[WORTH] T R Y I N G

A Journey of Self-Discovery

12

It’s Written in the Stars

By Elle Davis Illustration by Amber Davis

S

uppose you have never had a tarot reading. In that case, you may picture a woman who resembles the stereotypical witch in a dark room with mystical decorations covering the walls, a black tablecloth, and pseudo smoke rising from the floor. Stereotypes like this are typically seen in television shows and movies, such as “Ghost” when Whoopi Goldberg played a card reader and spirit channeler.

Unfortunately, for many, these popular cinematic depictions of cartomancy have become the imagery for many people when it comes to this taboo artistry.

Forget everything you have been taught. Readings are not always performed in a spooky darkroom of a mysterious individual. People like Dr. April Darley, a former naturopathic physician from Fort Worth,

Local Readings: DR. APRIL DARLEY www.aprildarley.com 214.438.0464 THE AURA CLINIC www.myauraclinic.com 817.200.7662 THE STRONG PSYCHIC www.strongpsychic.com 817.535.1700 PSYCHIC READINGS BY CLAUDIA www.crystalvisionstx.com 785.914.8312 REAL PSYCHIC READINGS www.txpsychic.com 817.921.1423

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perform tarot readings. “Tarot reading is not evil,” April says. With a combination of tarot and intuition as a certified astrologer, she has provided guidance and support to clients using this ancient divination tool for 30 years.

Some readers pull cards in spreads of either one card, three cards or a Celtic cross reading of a 10-card spread. April prefers an organic process. Shuffling a 78-card deck painted with symbols, after being asked specific questions or giving a general reading, she pulls from the deck laying down cards until she feels the story is done. Each card is assigned a meaning based on its symbol. Tapping into her clairvoyant and claircognizant abilities, she can interpret the cards’ symbols to deliver a message for the seeker’s past, present or future. “Tarot is really a journey of self-discovery,” April says.

Tarot readings can be entertaining, but they can also be insightful, providing clarity, direction and even closure to the open-minded recipient. Getting a reading is like going to the doctor’s office, a counseling session, or calling a good friend on the telephone to receive advice on your life experiences. Readings can be done over the phone, video chat, in person or delivered by email. A practice that was once uncharted territory by most people has become common among those seeking a nontraditional approach to connect to their mind, body, spirit, a divine source or simply get an answer to a question like, “Who is my soulmate?” Whatever the reason one decides to try a reading, it can be interesting to uncover the messages the universe has for you.

[WORTH] C O L L E C T I N G

A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Art 14

By Jennifer Casseday-Blair

Finding What You Love

The art you choose to surround yourself with should speak to you but also tell your story.

llustrations by Adrienne Martinez

Photo by Olaf Growald

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You don’t need to be familiar with terms like “postimpressionism” or “pointillism” to appreciate art. Personal collections are most valuable when buyers are less concerned about what constitutes as “art” and more interested in just finding what they love. If you’re a newcomer to the art scene and interested in making a firsttime purchase but have no idea where to start, ask yourself these questions:

How much am I wanting to spend?

Chris Dahlquist, visual artist and juror for the 2022 Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival, says that determining your personal budget is the best place to start. “You can begin an art collection with something as simple as a beautiful handmade coffee mug or a loose pencil sketch that you love.

If the collecting budget is modest, you might explore printmaking or photography as a starting point for two-dimensional work and ceramics or glass, where you can collect a grouping over time,” Chris says.

What if what I really like is more than what I can afford?

If an artist’s work doesn’t fit within your budget, start by asking the artist if they have anything else, including reproductions. “Some artists or galleries will also allow you pay in installments. It is worth asking. And be sure to get on their email list and follow them on social media to follow along with their career and keep current with their latest artwork and offerings,” Chris says.

Photo of past Arts Goggle event

[WORTH] C O L L E C T I N G

Where should I begin my search?

Finding What You Love

16

With the art world being so vast, some of the best places for beginner collectors are juried art festivals like the Main St. Arts Festival, art markets like Arts Goggle, and local popups. Chris says, “These venues will provide opportunities to experience a large variety of artwork and meet both local and national artists. Collecting art should be a fun process, so experiment with a lot of different events and venues and see what you enjoy the most.”

Once I invest in a piece of art, how should I display and maintain it?

After buying a piece of artwork, inquire with the artist or gallerist how to best care for your purchase or if there are any special

considerations. For example, is your new piece of pottery food and dishwasher safe? Also pay special consideration where you display your art. Try not to hang anything where the humidity levels are high, like the bathroom or near the stove. Make sure you think about how you’ll protect the piece from direct light, which can fade over time. “Many people buy unframed artwork with great intentions of getting it framed, yet it sits in a closet or behind the bed where it cannot be enjoyed. It is often more economical to purchase it already framed rather than framing it yourself (the artist likely gets a better price on framing than you can), but if you do buy artwork that needs to be framed, create a plan and a deadline for framing,” Chris says.

FORT WORTH GALLERIES A starting point

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[S U PP ORT] G A T H E R G O O D S

An Exploration of Style Fusion Where Africa Meets the American Southwest

By Myriam Gonzalez Photos by Rye Clifton

Albuquerque Meets Africa

18

A

fter 20 years of living away, Fort Worthnative Megan Clifton has found her way back to her hometown, bringing jewelry line, Gather Goods, with her.

Megan started the brand nearly three years ago while living in Austin when she suddenly felt a need to feed her creative spirit. With the support of family and friends, what began as a hobby turned into a full-fledged online retail business.

“I felt vulnerable to show my work, and I don’t really know why. It kind of takes me back to having my friends tell me, ‘You should really do this.’ Without that push, I don’t think I would have made that jump,” Megan says.

Her “Albuquerque meets Africa” inspired line includes bracelets, necklaces and bolo ties that merge brightly colored textiles with found pieces, showcasing the inspiration she received from her grandmothers, Corinne and Millie.

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Megan adds that while one grandmother brought her “Albuquerque flair of turquoise and heavy squash blossoms, the other was always in over-the-top costume jewelry,” which she says makes her brand feel like “a little bit of a marriage of that.”

Throughout the line, you’ll find unique pieces made of beads sourced from Ghana, along with natural textiles, wood, and vinyl — all custommade, packaged and distributed right from her hometown. Although there is currently no brickand-mortar location, her products are available online and through local retailers stretching from Waco and throughout the metroplex.

She also loves to collaborate with other artists through pop-up events — making her collection easily accessible.

[S U PP ORT] F U N K Y T O W N F R I D G E

Driving Change, One Funky Fridge at a Time How one organization keeps its community fed

By Myriam Gonzalez Photos and Illustrations by Adrienne Martinez

Women of Fort Worth who Inspire

20

OTK magazine’s littles check out the Southside’s Funky Town Fridge and make a donation of crackers, water, fresh apples and oranges.

A

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poly

2308fortvaughn blvd worth, tx, 76105 s riverside dr

stop 6

4500 E berry st

vaughn blvd

local food pantry is giving back to the Fort Worth community through its centrally located, fully stocked refrigerators. Funky Town Fridge has been providing pantry goods and hygiene products since its founder, Kendra Richardson, created the project in the fall 2020.

“I started it because food apartheid has run rampant in Fort Worth, Texas, forever, and it was time to do something beyond what the city was giving its citizens,” Kendra says.

“It was time for the community to show up for itself.”

While scrolling through social media, she noticed other cities were doing something similar, and she decided to bring that initiative to the community she was raised in.

Kendra broke down “Feed the Funk” to a “basic human need” — the need to have access to food. “There were no grocery stores in these neighborhoods that we place fridges in or access to healthy foods. There’s no way for these people to improve their quality of life, even if they did have the power to do it themselves, and they don’t,” Kendra says.

The organization is mostly run through volunteer work, or “fridge friends,” but contributions are welcome from the entire community. Currently, there are three “funky fridges” located throughout Fort Worth that are accessible 24 hours a day, stocked through food e rosedale st donations, and available to anyone who wishes.

With plans in place to open future sites, Kendra says she hopes the impact reaches beyond that. southside “I just hope to give people the power back. I hope they fort worth, tx, 76110 w berry st realize and understand that they hold the power to help our own quality of life,” she says.

fort worth, tx, 76105

3144 bryan ave

S Hughes ave

4005 campus dr fort worth, tx, 76119 e seminary dr

cam

pus d

r

miller ave

More info can be found on its website, funkytownfridge.org, along with donation guidelines and volunteer opportunities.

atatiana/ goodwill

mitchell blvd

bryan ave

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[C RA F T] P H O T O G R A P H E R

Hidden Figures The Making of a Cover

By Jocelyn Foster Tatum

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Rambo Elliott knew almost right away who she wanted to illustrate her story on our cover, and I was dying to know who this big-souled creative genius was going to pick. When she named Fort Worth photographer and international luminary Letitia Huckaby for the project, we all wondered if we could get this artistic giant to illustrate our cover, with all she has going on.

“Letitia is a living legend; it’s an absolute honor to have her photograph me,” Rambo says.

Letitia has work in the Library of Congress collection and shows her work everywhere, from Galveston to California, Philadelphia, New York City, New Orleans and to Ireland and Vienna, Austria.

Letitia’s process requires heirloom fabrics that create nostalgia in those who experience the art. It brings them back to their childhood or simpler times when maybe visiting grandmother for Sunday dinner or a sleepover.

“It is a style I have been using already in my work,” Letitia says about the cover. “It’s kind of a silhouette where you can almost see the figure, and it is a style that was inspired by old feed sacks that sugar and flour would come in.”

The feed sacks would arrive in these beautiful patterns, and women would repurpose the sacks to make clothing and different things for the house.

“With Rambo, she’s definitely a Southern girl, but she’s a glamorous Southern girl, if you will, a little bit mysterious until you get to know her, and then she really opens up,” Letitia says. “And so, I thought it would be nice to photograph her in that kind of style where everything is hidden, but you get little glimpses of her personality in this image.”

At the photo shoot, Rambo saw a sheet patterned with memories that took her right back to 30 years ago in Arkansas, but it was too dark for them to use for this project. So, they worked together to pick the sheet — Letitia using her knowledge of what would work artistically and what would carry meaning and reflect Rambo, and Rambo picking what appealed to her as well that was reminiscent of her, delicate and feminine. It is a white sheet

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with little flowers. “I use that as the surface for the silhouette, so it is kind of like a nod to the past a little bit, and the cool thing is that when she was over here, she saw a bed sheet that reminded her of one from when she was a kid.

So, these patterns have a kind of a nostalgia behind them,” Letitia says.

“In this space, we will return to ourselves,” a statement at the Kinfolk House, a new collaborative art space that Letitia and her husband, Sedrick, opened a few months ago to uplift the art culture in Fort Worth’s Polytechnic neighborhood. It’s also something both Rambo and Letitia live by when practicing their craft.

In this space, we will return to ourselves.”

- L E T I T I A’ S K I N F O L K H O U S E

So, when Rambo walked into the photo shoot with gifts — lipstick, a dress and a card game — it was business as usual. She has this charming Southern habit of showing up to places with thoughtful gifts. Rambo also put on some music. It was a production maybe, a habit Rambo formed as a little girl to make experiences fun and pretty, and with a drive to entertain reminiscent of that trunk full of recital costumes (you need to read Rambo’s story to know). “She was thinking about the experience even though I was the one working,” Letitia says. It became an experience allowing them both to return to themselves.

Leticia put word out on social media that she needed new headshots for an exhibition she was putting on at Crystal Bridges. Her friend suggested Rambo because she said she would get it right, so Letitia reached out. Leticia says she is quite the opposite of Rambo on the glamour spectrum. She could live in sweatpants and sneakers, but Letitia says Rambo is so accepting of all women and that she felt she couldn’t really make a mistake. In this headshot, Rambo made her feel comfortable and natural; she felt seen.

Each issue we ask a local artist to design our cover, and we write about what inspired her design here in the Craft section of OTK Magazine. If you are interested in designing one of our covers, email art@onetoknowmagazine.com.

Rambo Elliott Photo

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A Radiant Light in a Dark Room

By Jocelyn Foster Tatum Photos by Rambo Elliott

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he tassels on her short silver sequin dress sway in unison with her hips as she dances for the camera in front of a white backdrop in her living room. The “boss bitch” music plays in the background at a low volume. Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls are a few of her favorites. Her recovering rescue dog, Casey, a huge black German shepherd mix named after her father, watches her lovingly from the couch. That day it was self-portraits. Rambo Elliott becomes one of her subjects she photographs, healing through the playful and glamorous moment as she kicks up her heels and dances to the bossbitch beat, winking at the lens in her sparkling dress, black leather jacket and cowboy boots.

This is when she gets to be creative. She feels beautiful, smiling for the camera and dancing without a client directing her or commenting on her looks. She prefers to pick the set and to do her own styling and makeup. This parallels the healing she brings to other women when she empowers them in a single shot. “Toss your hair,” she might suggest while they giggle, and she watches their face soften and posture change entirely. Healing. She loves to play and asks the same of her subjects. “Be in your body,” she says, hoping to bring them out of their overthinking heads, a side effect of societal conditioning. Looking through her work on her website and Instagram account, there is always movement, grounding and letting go. There is joy.

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Rambo is a celebrity photographer who grew up in the business with pop star Leon Bridges. She photographs the likes of Jon Batiste and Sarah Jaffe. Her images have been featured in GQ.com, Vogue.com, Rollingstone.com, NYTimes.com, Billboard.com and more. But even cooler is this Fort Worthian’s powerful vision for healing women.

To say her path to success was a long and winding road would be a clichéd understatement. The road for this 36-year-old was, well, more like off-roading, in the mountains, full of giant rocks and massive tree roots. And her resilience through it all looks something like a monster truck with four-wheel drive.

Rambo grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where neighborhoods were divided by income and not race, so growing up she had friends from all backgrounds, and respect was their shared language. She also grew up going to AA meetings with her single mom and helping her father complete service work with heroin addicts in the streets of her hometown. He was making amends for his former life dealing and using drugs. Life at home was inconsistent as if living on a fault line or active volcano, never knowing when disaster would pummel the ground she stood on. It could be anything, big or small. Rambo now has a concatenation of dishes she collects — no two are the same, because heaven forbid if a dish broke in her childhood home. “Houses are meant to be lived in,” she says.

Rambo doesn’t sleep well, and the insomnia has increased since her beloved service dog died just a few years ago. She’s hypervigilant, always observing her environment and the people in it, always paying attention, even if that means she is sleeping with one eye open. Maybe it goes back to the consistently erratic nature of her childhood home that results in a figurative humming sound you can’t figure out where it is coming from, but it assuredly leads to a grenade of sorts.

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I grew up in a really tense situation that made all of us look for an outlet.

And I was our program director.”

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Or maybe it is her recent diagnosis with being on the autism spectrum in mid-January. Suddenly, a lot more makes sense for her, including the insomnia. “Gawd, so much is clicking. Why I have such a weird relationship with sleep, my picky eating, why I was finished with all my schoolwork by noon. My teachers were constantly sending me to the counselor or library. Emotional regulation is embarrassingly hard,” she says in an Instagram post on the day she was diagnosed. When she saw the list of things people with autism struggle with, she sobbed. She learned why she feels different from others and found the language around that to be comforting. With this diagnosis, she is no longer alone in this — and she sees there was nothing ever wrong with her in the first place. “I’M SO RELIEVED. I feel … very free.”

Or maybe she doesn’t sleep well because of PTSD resulting from that horrible day nearly 10 years ago when she was attacked while out on a run. Her whole life as she knew it would change in a matter of moments. Pain and confusion like a black insidious smoke seemed to cloud what once made sense.

She would have to start a new quest to survive, because all that she did to be a good person before that day didn’t save her. Fast-forward a year later, Leon Bridges would walk into her life. Or rather, she walked into his when she asked him if she could take his pictures as a budding Fort Worth musician. She wanted him to shine, and that he did.

Growing up, Rambo lived some of the time with her single mom and some of the time with her grandparents when things turned upside down at home. She and her best friend, Reecie, and her stepsister would often dress up and perform plays under Rambo’s creative direction, which helped her escape to prettier and safer worlds. “I grew up in a really tense situation that made all of us look for an outlet. And I was our program director,” she says. Their stage costumes from recitals went into a collective trunk the three girls shared. “And I just grew up dancing, singing and dressing up to cope.”

Often in conversation, Rambo breaks into another character using a British or a strong Texan accent, or maybe she talks like the bourgeoisie about keeping her brand authentic. It’s funny and entertaining.

Hanging from a curtain rod in her bedroom are satin and sequin dresses calling back to that trunk of costumes she wore at her own performances and dance recitals as a girl. She often pairs those dresses with bold red lipstick. Next to her makeup in her bathroom is a stash of barrettes complete with eye-catching costume diamonds and pearls. And she doesn’t need a black-tie event as an excuse to wear a long backless satin gown — she may wear one to a party at Hotel Dryce when everyone else may be wearing trending sneakers and bandanas.

“Why not?” she asks. It’s glamorous. It’s fun. It’s a form of play she became familiar with at a young age. “I grew up really weird,” she says giggling. She grew up surrounded by women — a single mom, a stepsister, her two grandmothers, a cousin and her best friend, where this type of femininity was celebrated and safe.

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Antique telephones hang in an organized and artistic pattern in the entry hallway of Rambo’s home because they remind her of the calls she made to her grandmas, Memaw and Pete. Both women were shelters in dark periods of her youth. Rambo couldn’t fathom the thought of someone like her grandmothers suffering in a hospital, sick without decent health care professionals who actually listened to their needs, holistically. So, at 19 she started studying to be a doctor and would spend her breaks at the hospital watching “Jeopardy” with patients. “You can literally watch small kindnesses be the difference between someone walking out of the hospital and not, so why not do it?” she says.

Over the years as she watched patients pass away when she worked in acute care, she was deeply impacted at a young age.

Like the first time she saw someone sent home to die because they couldn’t afford cancer treatments. She also has vivid memories of people dying who had just retired, waiting their whole life to live but then just die saying they wished they spent more time with their family. So many experiences collected over the 14 years she was in the medical field changed her, because she was listening, observing.

“I mean I am 36, but I swear to God that I am 6,000 years old,” she says reflecting on her life up until now.

Medicine is seemingly left-brained, and photography appeals to the more creative right brain. But a tattoo on Rambo’s wrist that says “Listen” in cursive and ink blots offers the key to unlocking the tie between her worlds before and after that day she was attacked. It also offers insight to her delicate yet obdurate spirit, the consistent thread weaving her work with humankind together as a whole. “I learned how to listen with intention and learning, not to interject with self, to be able to listen through the noise or inkblots. It helps me keep my mind focused on what humans truly need sometimes, just someone to really listen,” she wrote in an email later.

Rambo would say her journey to becoming a doctor before she picked up the camera is an essential part of who she is and her life as a creative who heals, who listens. “Because of the way I grew up in medicine and spent all of my time trying to get people to love themselves, take care of themselves and help themselves and heal themselves, I am at a point where my priorities are different,” Rambo says.

Is that your real name or stage name? Rambo is her legal last name, and she’s been called that most of her life. “The more I rose in art and photography, the more I wanted my family name to be what was listed in magazines.

When I got on vogue.com, it wasn’t my name that made it, it was my family’s. Folks like us are supposed to toil in low wages forever, not end up in Vogue. It was an honor.” Not long after she was attacked and experiencing PTSD, she never wanted to hear the name she had used during that horrific time. “I had it legally changed in 2017 when I got married to Rambo Elliott. Feels like me.”

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But she realized she couldn’t go into medicine when she woke up to just how much healing she needed from the past, from her erratic childhood, from that day she was attacked when running. Because in a span of 10 minutes, her whole life changed. “Can you imagine?” she asks with a direct stare seemingly remembering everything from that day in a flash. Pain fills her sockets like rising floodwaters. Because of all the beautiful and hard lessons she had learned before she was attacked — her parents’ recovery, dying patients, poverty, survival — she realized she needed to learn how to take care of herself or she wasn’t going to make it to 30. She had already tried to commit suicide three times, starting at 11. She had to make her life so beautiful and lovely that she “had to clear some roses before I hit that eject button.”

So, she left medicine and picked up the camera in 2014. She thought that maybe she could show how beautiful the world is in all its humanity through pictures. “I am trying to heal other people while trying to heal myself; medicine couldn’t do that, but photography does,” she says.

After that day she lost her mind — it was much bigger than anything she could process. She said she was tired of watching trolls, not a word she would use, so easily point fingers at the sick and tired instead of the inflictors and perpetrators. If you want to see Rambo angry, then ask her about the clothes she was wearing the day she was attacked, which weren’t even tight. Because that shouldn’t f*ing matter. “And so, since it required no words, I started visually. Showing women as powerful and vulnerable and sexy and still worthy of safe spaces no matter what they’re wearing [...] this is healthy and sexy and real. And we can be that if we damn well choose,” she said in an Instagram post Feb. 25, 2021.

Her priorities shifted. It became important for her that she and everyone around her be able to experience their full humanity at all times. “I felt like if I could show the world more beauty and more wonder in the zones I am in that are different,” she says regarding her photography. When she started working with Leon Bridges, she only showed him as high art and as editorial. “Because why not make your family look like a museum?” She often refers to her closest friends as brothers and sisters, as family.

Rising musical star Abraham Alexander loves working with Rambo because she gets that shot nobody else can get. To him, she is a creative genius, a savant and a unicorn of sorts. He attributes some of her skill to the pain she experienced and knows what it is like when someone else is in pain. She listens.

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She’s light through such a phenomenal lens.

And she sees light through a different lens.”

- ABRAHAM ALEXANDER

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“What I love the most is how she makes you feel seen and allows you to be your most natural self. She draws things out of you in a natural way. I think she sees the higher self and captures that, and a lot of times when you doubt yourself and you doubt the good things that you have and then look at yourself through her lens, then you actually start to believe, yeah, you see yourself in a different light through the light that she sees and then you begin to believe in yourself,” Abraham says.

Philosopher and poet Mark Nepo once wrote, “The reward for breathing is not applause but air, and the reward for climbing is not a promotion but new sight, and the reward for kindness is not being seen as kind but the electricity of giving that keeps us alive.” Maybe through helping others Rambo is getting closer to what Nepo called “the core of all being.” And through her gifts she is uncovering some truth that there is beauty in everything she points her lens toward. The reward for her being kind, not that she is looking for a reward, is that she gets to be the carrier of kindness, which is healing to everyone involved. Why not? She asks when she sat in that hospital room watching “Jeopardy” with a dying patient at 19. Why not? She asks when making an everyday person into high art through her gifts as a photographer. Why not? She asks when she makes a stranger smile when they watch her TikTok weather report. Everybody is somebody. “You are worth it,” she says to everyone she encounters without saying a word. “She’s light through such a phenomenal lens. And she sees light through a different lens,” Abraham says.

Whether it is medicine or photography, kindness is her craft and her unspoken language. She helps other people take the people she takes seriously, seriously.

She feels like she and Leon did that for each other. She says she is grateful because her brother, Leon, took her with him.

“I am trying to photograph the change I want to see. I want to see women looking powerful and strong,” Rambo says. “A lot of people get overlooked, and that’s where I point my lens.”

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“The more I worked in the industry, I am like, actually I don’t think I am interested in this industry,” Rambo says on photography and working with record labels. Because she was more interested in her chosen family and using photography to get them up and out of where they are.

Some big names have reached out to Rambo to work for them, but she’s not always interested. “Don’t hire me for a job. I am the job. What you have is a full-licensed creative who can style herself, do all her own hair and makeup and is a photographer. I would like to be the job now. That’s where I am at. I have been producing my own work for the last five years to the tune of about 35 shoots a year that I completely self-fund — I hire, I scout, I do all the casting and styling,” she says.

Scan QR code for the It’s hard to say how much of her magnanimous spirit is something she was story behind the story — behind the scenes of born with, but the hurdles and experiences of Rambo’s past and present have what’s on the page. undoubtedly nurtured her to be a healer in her own kind language.

It was the lack of kindness, a series of tiny and seemingly insignificant dehumanizing acts and words that led to that day of violence. And Rambo would trade all the beauty that has Rambo’s favorite since happened in her life for that day moment shooting to have never happened. There was no “One of my favorite moments in the last year meaning in it. There was no silver lining. creatively was taking star photos out in Marfa It was just one big tragedy. For this [the West Texas High Desert]. I like the cost reason, she has gotten very protective of terrain, sand everywhere, skin wind blasted. with language around that horrible Something about it makes me feel small, event. The language she uses for “that organic and capable of enduring. Staring at stars bad day” is purposeful and purposefully vague. But her new language is is an easy way to spend time for my mind.” beautiful beyond words. It’s in the confident smile on the woman’s face in a photo she took. It’s in her recovering dog Casey’s healing heart and sweet kisses he gives her house guests. It’s in her husband’s gentle spirit. It’s in the horse’s eyes in another photo of hers.

It’s an unspoken truth alive in all of us that we can see if we just pay attention with our hearts, even if it means dreaming with both eyes open.

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Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes to Cowtown’s Art Scene

David Bowie Inspires Up-and-Coming Local Artist

By Elizabeth Sehon

It’s rumored that amongst a swarm of overzealous Ziggy Stardust fans, the late David Bowie yelled into the crowd at Madison Square Garden, “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”

Decades later and thousands of miles away in Fort Worth, those words are now the inspiration behind an up-and-coming artist, muralist and Bowie enthusiast, Caya Crum, who is transforming a few camouflaged buildings on the West Side into her own personal canvas with pop-inspired murals.

Although the 16-year-old artist is new to the Cowtown art scene, Caya has already painted vivid murals on the Wellman Project and the Swiss Pastry Shop buildings that may be easily seen driving down Vickery Boulevard. “They [the Wellman Shop] sought after me when they saw my work on the Swiss and looked at my Instagram account,” Caya says. “I love my murals because they brighten people’s day when they’re driving down Vickery.”

The Fort Worth native doesn’t limit her work to just murals — Caya’s art is currently displayed in the Near Southside area after an intense artist search and commission opportunity in January of 2021.

The search was led by Near Southside’s Art South program and property developer Saigebrook Development to pick an artist to repurpose the business sign for the city’s renowned restaurant, Massey’s Restaurant, which closed in 2011.

Caya’s “reimagined” Massey’s landmark sign, which upstaged some artists’ renditions with more than 50 years of experience, is now hanging in the Everly Plaza Art Space, a community arts center in the Near Southside.

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“Caya felt like the perfect artist to usher in a new vision for the site,” Megan Henderson, director of events and communications for Near Southside, Inc., says. “She applied a modern approach that was nostalgic and progressive, which brought in a fresh feel to our neighborhood.”

When feeling uninspired, a dreaded feeling many artists succumb to, Caya listens to Bowie’s classic song, “Ashes to Ashes,” and the funky lyrics help her break out of a creative rut.

Although she is inspired by artists spanning from Kate Bush and Andy Warhol to her parents (who are also artists), Caya is still trying to find her artistic voice.

“I like to bring in a political voice and show strong women in my artwork. It’s important because historically women weren’t always seen as the way they really are, which is strong,” she says.

And she relays this sentiment into her artwork, “An Alphabet of Texas Women,” which highlights several, 26 to be exact, politically charged Texas women from different backgrounds, ethnicities and careers. Recently, Crum tipped her hat to the late member of the Texas House of Representatives and attorney, Sarah Weddington, who died Dec. 26, 2021. Weddington represented “Jane Roe” in the historic case of Roe vs. Wade. before the U.S. Supreme Court in the early 1970s.

Photos courtesy Caya Crum

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“So sorry to hear of the passing of Sarah Weddington, a strong Texas woman.

Although she has passed, there are still many other strong women fighting a good fight,” Caya wrote and posted on her Instagram account, which included a picture of “An Alphabet of Texas Women.”

Caya, who’s been painting as long as she can remember, considers her genre “a mix of surrealism and contemporary art” and attributes her passion for painting to her parents, Betsy and Karl. “Art provides me with a way to express myself that not only brings me joy, but can resonate with other people as well,” she says.

Her art studio, which she admits is her bedroom, is where the majority of her work has been created, and between that small amount of time of painting mythical and real-life characters onto a linen canvas and setting down her paint brush, she often thinks of her future. “I’m still looking at what my voice is,” Caya says. “I want my art to be a vehicle of change, so people can look at my work decades from now and still be impacted as they are today.”

The ever-humble young artist may not know where she’s going, but it certainly won’t be boring. And we can’t wait to watch where she goes. Ground control to Major Caya.

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By Rebecca Balcárcel Illustrations by Conny Gonzalez

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The American watch woman, you might say, and I saw her myself many times because she married my uncle Tito. Tito swore he didn’t mind the watch grown into her wrist, confided that he found her unique (who could disagree?), and knew that no other man in history could be as certain that his bride would arrive on time for the ceremony. Which she did.

In fact, quite early, and the middle-aged in the crowd whispered that this was a good sign. They were looking for good signs because Tito was 38.

Wearing makeup for the first time, I sat with excellent posture on the third row, hoping people would notice, but even more, hoping to see the left wrist of la gringa relója. The ceremony afforded no opportunity, but at the dance, el baile, following, I was lucky enough to present her with a cup of punch.

After she swirled across Abuela’s tile patio with her father, new father-in-law, eldest brother, and finally the groom, I glimpsed through the crowd that she was seated, and I snatched my chance. She reached for the glass with her right hand; I politely kept eye contact as she nodded her thanks. When her left hand raised to steady the rim, I looked.

In a glance, I mentally photographed a frame to study in private, back at the punch bowl. I filled cups by feel while staring into the middle distance.

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y the time I met her, she was already known as la gringa relója.

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It was true.

Over her watchband, two folds of skin met in a curving crease, and a silver-rimmed oval Timex face was sunk into her wrist. Her cream-colored flesh was pressed to pink around the edges of a roughly circular trough that appeared to be a size larger than the face, and all I could think was that this was from her frequent winding of the thing, which I saw her do throughout the night. As she observed her guests, I could see her mind ticking.

They say she had the entire bus schedule in her head. She knew how late the No. 4 could run and still connect with the 12 to the movies. She memorized birth times — everyone she met. And she knew exactly when to take her casseroles out of the oven, those with cheese taking 140 seconds longer to brown than those topped with fried onions. Tito would eat well, I was sure, and would never arrive late for appointments.

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Seated under a swoop of hot pink bunting, la gringa started fidgeting when the single clock in Abuela’s house read 7:50 p.m. (it ran slow). She pulled at a curl behind her ear. Los mariachis were to arrive at 8 p.m., and I thought when 9 p.m. struck, they really would ramble in at any moment.

The guests weren’t concerned. Tito’s brothers all played guitar, and records kept people dancing, but la gringa relója paled. Glances at her watch rivaled those directed at Tito in number. She began twisting the curl tightly around her finger. And I began to worry.

At 9:15 they burst in, full of stories. Tamales at their previous gig, y uno más, the other hostess kept insisting, but Let the music begin!, and soon trumpet blasts pommeled the air. Señora Reloja’s color returned, and her attention ventured from the watch for longer spans until I forgot to observe her and

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We didn’t meddle, though people gossiped that their house was filled with clocks. Clocks covered the walls, and between the clocks, numerals, painted or carved from wood, filled the gaps.

I tried to imagine Relója sorting days into piles of hours, minutes and seconds, giving Tito a portion for his pockets, enough for work and bus time, keeping a share to sprinkle about the house on laundry and dishes. I thought of leftover numbers being pasted on walls each day or packaged into envelopes and filed. She reportedly had calendars, a collection dating back 35 years, and daily planners sent to her from the States by her father with rectangles plotting each hour.

Then, for a month, no one saw her.

And so, I was startled the day she knocked on our door. “Your mother,” she said, striding through the living room, right to the kitchen.

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was coaxed from behind the punch bowl to dance by Alberto, my second cousin on Mama’s side.

I saw her many times from then on, mostly during holidays and family celebrations. But only three years later, Tito came to my quinceañera alone.

“She wanted to come, but her father called from the States.” And throughout the evening, Tito watched the clock.

That entire year, whenever we saw him, he arrived and departed precisely on the hour. He telephoned if he expected to be delayed. I never saw him wear a watch, but he would announce how long he could stay when stopping over with a chicken for my mother. “I’ll need to go in 10 minutes,” he would say; then we sat and counted with him until he left.

He would not eat except at certain times, refusing even los panitos my mother offered, saying, “No, mi Relojita will serve supper at 6:30.”

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“Lo siento, Relója, but she is not here,” I said.

“She is on my list. I must speak with her.”

“Tía, sit down. Your face is flushed. I will bring you some water.”

“No, dear, I must give her this news from 2:15 to 2:45, then catch the 2:55 bus to cousin Carmen’s.

From there to the family Pérez. By the end of the day, everyone will know.”

“What will they know, Tía?”

La gringa clutched a packet of folded papers. She circled the room, shifting the packet from hand to hand. At last, she stopped and looked me in the face.

“I will tell you.” She closed the curtains with two swift jerks and seated herself in my father’s chair.

As her shawl slid from her shoulders, I could see the in-grown watch and next to it, low on her forearm, a second one. This new watch lacked hands, but its angular face displayed black numerals and marked each second’s passing with a blinking colon.

“Esperanza, sit.”

I lowered myself into Mama’s chair.

“I have made calculations, and it’s undeniable: I am losing time. At first, I thought it was only a few hours, but the lost time has accumulated to over three years. Oh, I have been imbecilic not to notice!

Look at this.”

S T O R Y ]

She spread out charts and schedules, pointing to particular boxes on a grid of times and activities.

These she compared to other pages. “You, see?” and I nodded, though she used words I did not understand. “On this day: 50 minutes unaccounted for. Here, the 25th: 40 minutes. Not only that.” She pointed to the new watch. “This time is two minutes ahead of this one. Every moment is passing faster than I realized.”

“But, Relója, surely –” “You do not understand. From the time I was a girl, I knew numbers — the beautiful unchangeables. One. It is you, part of one family. It is Tito and I, one flesh. It is this planet, shared by us all, circling one star. Two is left hand/right hand, night/day, heat/cold.” Without even looking at her watch, she said, “It is 2:35. Do you feel the duality of two, the holiness of three, the solidity of five, and the hidden flavor of seven hiding in 35? I have no time to explain. But listen. From the number of my birth, I have calculated my death. It was some years off, I thought, but now I see my last day approaching. Your mother must help Tito when I go. He is the eldest, but she is next, and he will not be able to arrange things. Promise me you will tell her this.”

“You do not understand. From the time I was a girl, I knew numbers — the beautiful unchangeables. One. It is you, part of one family. It is Tito and I, one flesh. It is this planet, shared by us all, circling one star. Two is left hand/right hand, night/day, heat/cold.”

[ S H O R T

S T O R Y ]

sweater from the North that I never planned to wear.

SCAN THE QR CODE to HEAR the inspiration behind the story from Rebecca Balcárcel.

47 OneToKnowMagazine.com | ISSUE 04

“I promise, Relója, but won’t you …”

“Give her this. It contains the dimensions of my body, the address of my American relatives, and numbers for their telephones.” She laid down a slim envelope. “The bus stop is six houses plus two blocks away. I must go.”

She kissed the top of my head and was gone before I could stand, but she left a white box in my hand. Under its lid lay a slip of paper with neat lettering laid atop a necklace clock. Para Esperanza. I fumbled with the clasp but put it on. I tried to sense the ring of numbers against my chest.

I had worn it for three weeks when news of her death reached us. Papá gathered us around the table and said her heart had stopped beating. It was out of sync with the ticking Timex. As Mamá put a handkerchief to her eyes, I noted the time. It was 10 after 10 by our slow kitchen clock, eight after by my mother’s new watch, which she often forgot to wind, and just about 12 after by my own necklace clock. Its navy blue, round face darkened the center of a gold-colored heart.

While my parents talked further, I excused myself to my room.

I packed the necklace in its paperboard box and tucked it into my bottom drawer. I slid it under an unsent note to a boy and a

[L I F E] H O M E

The Effects of Paint Color

48

Sharon Pittaway Photo

Colorful Moods

By Jade Emerson

White, the color that reflects the most light, conveys clarity and purity. With its ability to brighten a room and present the illusion of taller ceilings, the color white creates the feeling of openness and peace.

Blue is known to be both calming and relaxing, making it the ideal color for rooms used to slow down both mind and body. Its meditative properties also allow the color blue to enhance clear thinking.

C R E A M , D OV E , PA P E R

PAC I F I C B LU E , P OW D E R B LU E , T E A L

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Ever since humans first harnessed the power to develop paint, color became a means of storytelling. Emotions were described in hues: green with envy, crying the blues, and red with passion. Studies have proven that color affects mood, hunger and energy levels. Thus, picking the perfect paint color for a home can do more than just transform a room — it can transform how a person feels. With the accent and painted walls trends, the options for bringing color — and its effects — into the home are limitless.

Left to right: Spacejoy Photo; Ashley Byrd Photo

[L I F E] H O M E

The Effects of Paint Color

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Because of its ability to increase heart rate and brain activity, the color red is both intimate and passionate. For a bold refresh, opt for a red accent wall.

Orange: Radiating both warmth and energy, orange is a stimulant for hunger and activity, making it ideal for a kitchen and other active spaces in a home. With a variety of shades and tones, orange perfectly blends into any style.

B U R G U N DY, C O R A L , C R I M S O N T E R R AC OT TA , M A N DA R I N , A P R I C OT Evoking the natural motif of sunshine, yellow reflects happiness, working as both a mood booster and memory stimulator. Use yellow paint to brighten a darker area of the home or to add a spark of cheerfulness.

Green: Green helps control anxiety by creating a soft transition from the natural world into the home. Whether in the city or the country, bring the earthy hues of green indoors for a sense of renewal and refreshment.

G O L D, S A F F R O N , B U T T E R C R E A M

MOSS, SEA GREEN, EMERALD

Top from left to right: Beazy Photo; Marra Photo Bottom from left to right: Beazy Photo; Spacjoy Photo

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[L I F E] C O M M U N I T Y

Uniting People From All Walks of Life

52

Top: Artwork by MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival participant Kina Crow Bottom: Artwork by MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival participant ceramicist Gregory Story

Art and Accessibility

By Jennifer Casseday-Blair Photos by Chris Dahlquist

After a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival enthusiastically welcomes back thousands of art seekers to the red-brick-laden, nine-block stretch from the courthouse to the convention center on April 7–10. It was in the early 1980s that Fort Worth’s prominent civic leaders launched this multifaceted festival that transforms downtown into a giant outdoor gallery and concert stage for one weekend each year in the spring. It has become a major catalyst for the city’s cultural growth by uniting people from all walks of life.

One of MAIN ST.’s objectives is to showcase art that is reflective of the community and allows artists to tell stories that may have previously been excluded. Brenda Ciardiello is a Mexican-American contemporary, nature-inspired artist who was accepted to display her work at the 2021 MAIN ST. festival before it was canceled. Her work was featured on the cover of our magazine last month. Brenda expresses that she believes all artists’ perspectives have been shaped and defined by their cultures from the moment they were born.

“That said, I don’t paint overtly or literally ‘Mexican’ paintings in that I don’t necessarily represent cliched images of things people associate with Mexico in the mainstream, but my paintings are very much shaped by my experience as a Mexican-American woman, an immigrant, a Texan, and a human being who has also lived all over the world,” she says.

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To avoid a sea of homogenized artist booths, MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival goes beyond encouraging the involvement of diverse artists. It’s enhancing the accessibility between audience and artist and ensuring varied backgrounds and perspectives among its jury members.

Artwork by MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival participant Chris Dahlquist

[L I F E] C O M M U N I T Y

Uniting People From All Walks of Life

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Chris Dahlquist, well-established visual artist and one of five jurors for MAIN ST. 2022 says, “Art festivals nationwide are exploring ways to improve and ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in both the artists and audiences participating in festivals. Because the jury process is subjective, seating a jury of diverse artists and arts professionals who bring a range of backgrounds and perspectives to the process is important.”

Unlike curated collections presented in museums and galleries, festivals are unique in that they allow indigenous, lesser-known artists to gain exposure. “It’s important to acknowledge that there are plural perspectives and experiences in our society. By showcasing and highlighting a diverse set of artists, we

Above: Photo of past MAIN ST. Arts Festival event Above Right: Artwork by Chris Dahlquist

encourage a much more diverse set of audiences to engage with art. By allowing more diverse perspectives into our leadership roles — those of curators or gallerists — we foster an art community that better and more realistically reflects our society,” Brenda says.

MAIN ST. has an emerging artist program for those who have limited or no prior experience participating in festivals. With deeply discounted booth spaces and a separate adjudication process, it’s a great way for artists to see if art festivals are an avenue they would like to pursue. To reach the younger demographic, the Growing Young Artists program, presented by Tarrant County College, is designed to leverage the assets of MAIN ST. toward middle and high school students in the Fort Worth ISD and surrounding local schools.

Jury Duties

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More than 200 young artists typically sell $10,000 worth of art each year.

“MAIN ST. is a celebration of art that removes barriers and centers the direct interaction between audience and artists.

This creates a unique space where you can hear directly from an artist about what motivates them, their technique, and the path they took to get there. And you can enjoy some fresh air while visiting more than 200 small artist-owned and -operated galleries from around the country,” Chris says.

A nonjuried show or festival is one that you can apply to without having to present your work in advance. You basically pay a fee that ensures your spot. For festivals that are juried, like MAIN ST., artists are required to submit their work to a jury panel before being selected. Members of the jury must have a broad and wellrounded knowledge of art, an ability to assess art beyond their own personal tastes, and an open-minded approach to art in general.

Averaging 1,200 applicants for approximately 225 spots, opportunity to present artwork is highly competitive.

Artists remain completely anonymous in the selection process. Images of artists’ work and their applications become their “audition.” Too often artists with talent get rejected because they don’t pay enough attention to the details that sway a jury to say yea rather than nay.

Chris explains what qualities she looks for when deciding which artists will compete. “Personally, I consider each applicant, looking for a cohesive body of artwork that demonstrates mastery of materials, a unique point of view and approach to either the subject matter or materials and the quality and effectiveness of their booth display, relative to the other applicants within their artistic discipline (in addition to their work samples each applicant must also supply an image of their artwork displayed in a booth),” she says.

Other factors jurors consider include the quality of the digital images or slides of the artists’ work, adherence to the requirements of the application process, thoughtful presentation (including neutral or complementary framing) and originality. Due to the subjective nature of the process, the panel of jurors for MAIN ST. is different every year, and each applicant begins with a clean slate.

“With so many talented artists applying, the job of the five jurors, which is to select the individual artists that will create a balanced and varied show, is not easy,” Chris says.

MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival mainstreetartsfest.org

[L I F E] S O C I A L

Psychology and Fashion

By Jade Emerson

Photo by Kila Rennaker

Dopamine Dressing

56 We all have that one piece of clothing that makes us feel unstoppable. For me, it’s a pair of high-waisted yellow pants. It doesn’t matter if I’m tackling a coffee date, job interview or a trip to the post office; if I’m wearing those pants, I’m unstoppable. Maybe it’s because wearing pants makes me feel strong. Maybe it’s because I feel confident about how my body looks in them.

Or maybe it’s simply because they’re yellow.

Whatever that little bit of unexplainable magic is in those pants, they are the embodiment of everything I want to be in life.

Yet there’s more to my pants than magic.

According to the recently developed field of psychology, how we dress can impact our relationship with our body, our sense of self and our moods. From the chemical processes in our brain to societal standards and assumptions, there’s no denying that the way we dress impacts us.

For Peyton Sims, her exploration into fashion began her freshman year of high school with a pair of overalls. When she first got out of the car on the first day of school, she was so nervous because she wouldn’t look like everyone else.

“To my surprise, I received compliments from people I’d never even met before that day,” Peyton says. So, the following weekend she went

Right: Jade Emerson pictured running errands in her favorite pair of yellow pants.

thrifting for the first time with her mom. “I found vintage sweaters, a yellow rain jacket, and T-shirts that I was so excited to wear. Over the years, I finally realized that dressing for myself would give me the confidence that I’d been searching for.”

Now in her first year at college, family heirlooms, platform Doc Martens and power blazers have become Peyton’s statement pieces.

Picking out her outfit each day, whether it be for an exam or coffee with friends, helps her to not only control how she’s presented to the world, but also how she feels. “Once I found my own style, I had a stronger sense of who I wanted to be in life,” she says.

Allison Dillard, a local licensed professional psychologist, views fashion as a tool to communicate who we are to the world. She describes how clothing can not only reflect our view of self, but also either exude or detract confidence depending on how comfortable we are with what we’re wearing. In her counseling office, she observes how mood and dress tend to correlate with patterns of depression and positive mood shifts in her patients. “Clothing does not define us, but we can and do use it to express ourselves whether consciously or unconsciously,” Allison says.

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Recently, the term “dopamine dressing” has been coined to describe the chemical process of selecting mood-boosting clothes. Dopamine, the “happy hormone,” is released into the brain when wearing certain clothes, giving an effect similar to listening to music, exercising or meditation. “If we are feeling low, dopamine dressing is a good way to help shift ourselves and our attention to where we want to be if we are struggling. Dress does not solve our problems or take away pain, but it can support us if we allow it to,” Allison says.

In a society where so much of a woman’s identity is determined by her appearance, developing a personal style that caters to our emotions equips us with a new power: Maybe by controlling how we dress, we can define our own identity and boost how we feel. “We associate the clothes we have on with moods and feelings, state of safety or strength, and confidence to tackle a challenge or enjoy an event. We dress for the mood we are in or want to be in,” Allison says.

Yet however promising the mood-boosting effects of confidence dressing are, clothing also has the power to counter them, causing negative feelings toward oneself. For Allison, who has always felt like fashion is an expression of herself, pregnancy has presented a new

We all have that one piece of clothing that makes us feel unstoppable. For me, it’s a pair of high-waisted yellow pants.”

- JADE EMERSON

[L I F E] S O C I A L

Dopamine Dressing

58

“If we are feeling low, dopamine dressing is a good way to help shift ourselves and our attention to where we want to be if we are struggling.

Dress does not solve our problems or take away pain, but it can support us if we allow it to.”

ALLISON DILLARD, a licensed professional psychologist

challenge where the limits of maternity clothing emphasizes parts of her body she doesn’t want to focus on, shares aspects of her personal life she doesn’t want shared, and doesn’t display the professionalism she wants communicated at work. “I’m having to learn new ways to express myself and lift my mood as my current limited clothing options aren’t able to fulfill the role my clothes previously played,” she says.

Peyton also shares how the way someone dresses can quickly lead to assumptions about an individual’s lifestyle, class or personality, something she has experienced when receiving funny looks for wearing ripped jeans or crop tops. “If I’ve learned anything through my

love for fashion, it’s that there should be no standards placed on anyone’s personal style.

The only thing that should matter is that someone feels comfortable and confident in the clothes they choose to wear,” Peyton says.

Fashion is more than runways and overpriced shoes. Fashion is armor, control, a statement and a feeling all at once. Fashion is control, power and personal expression. “Fashion is our first impression of who we are and how we want to be perceived, so why not use that to our advantage as women?” Allison says. Women still have stereotypes and projections to overcome, but fashion allows them the opportunity to have a voice without saying anything. “To exude strength and dignity. We can never control how someone sees us, but we can dress in a way that tells people who we are if they are willing to listen,” she says.

If fashion is a conversation between us in the world, then only through understanding the psychology of fashion can we take part in that conversation. And on the stage or screen, our first impression of any character we meet comes from what they wear. Are they dressed in moody grays, powerful jewel tones, or youthful pastels? What parts of themselves do they choose to cover or reveal? How has their style changed since we first met them? And what are they trying to tell us through what they’re wearing? In a recent interview with Vogue, Heidi Bivens, the costume designer of the show “Euphoria,” described how she used costumes to reflect the psychology of each character.

Although our lives (and our outfits) might be a little bit different than the lives of characters, the philosophy still applies: The way we dress impacts us.

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[BE W EL L] M E N T A L H E A L T H

Rising Numbers Drowning in a Ongoing Pandemic

By Sarah Angle Illustrations by Amber Davis

Let’s Create Awareness

60

A second pandemic has hit the U.S. hard. It’s not airborne. It’s not spread in classrooms or congested office buildings. We can’t catch it by holding hands, hugging or kissing. It lives, breathes and replicates completely inside our minds, which affects every part of our life.

The mental health fallout from the first pandemic has created its own unique crisis, and there’s no vaccine to treat it.

The attempted suicide rate for girls ages 12 – 17 increased 50% in 2021, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Girls, it seems, have been hit harder mentally by this pandemic than boys. The reasons aren’t totally clear, but the statistics are alarming.

For kids, especially, suicide happens because they can’t get past “a moment in time,” says Christina Judge, executive director of The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation. Isolation, instability, loss of traditional school structure, and stress from the pandemic have made it worse.

Think about it: As adults, we have years of lifetime experience to draw upon. We see a bad season or a bad situation but have the perspective to know it can be different; it can be better. Kids aren’t old enough to have gained that perspective yet, and perspective is everything.

Getting past a moment in time isn’t necessarily an easy thing. Emotions and feelings come in waves that crest and crash. “Children’s frontal lobes aren’t developed, so we have to be really careful with them,” Christina says. “They are impulsive, and they don’t think about the

61 OneToKnowMagazine.com | ISSUE 04

consequences. I talked to a 14-year-old boy years ago who said, ‘I tried to kill myself because my girlfriend broke up with me.’’’

Christina says if a child is actively suicidal, parents need to be aware of “access and opportunity,” meaning substance and weapons that a child could use to attempt suicide. That includes over-the-counter medications and firearms, which Christina and Cook Children’s Medical Center advise storing in a lock box.

“Don’t be afraid to intervene. Don’t be afraid to ask the question.”

Jordan Harris died by suicide in 2012. She had a family who loved her; she had a bright future ahead of her; she had supportive friends; she was 23.

That loss inspired the founding of the Fort Worth-based Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation (JEHF) and its mission to eradicate

suicide by funding depression research, creating awareness, and ending the stigma associated with mental health.

The Foundation is moving mountains here in Tarrant County, where most of its work is focused by funding mental health research at the local level and training kids in 78 different schools across North Texas to identify warning signs in at-risk peers through its Hope Squad program.

Now is definitely the time to address mental health.

“We can’t afford to be a well-kept secret,” Christina says. And she’s right. The U.S. is experiencing a mental health crisis nationwide.

Last fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association jointly declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health.

Jordan Elizabeth Harris not long before her death.

Ellen Harris Photo

[BE W EL L] M E N T A L H E A L T H

Let’s Create Awareness

62

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But adults are hurting, too.

Over 30% reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression disorder since May 2020. That number is up roughly 20% since before the pandemic began, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Jordan Harris had been experiencing severe depression before she died by suicide. Mental health matters, and so does knowing how to detect and prevent suicide in the lives of people around you. That’s why The JEHF provides QPR training (question, persuade, refer) to any and all members of the community.

“Think of QPR like CPR for mental health,” Christina says. She says most people don’t know what to say when faced with somebody experiencing a mental health crisis. This training provides the skills to look, listen, and respond. “I have a lot of people come up to me and say, ‘I took your QPR training and literally had to use it the other day.’ Having that training gives you the power to save a life.”

In 2020, 268 people died by suicide in Tarrant County, according to the Medical Examiner’s office; 25 of those were children. Cook Children’s reported that 2020 was the first year ever that suicide was the leading cause of traumatic death for children recorded at the hospital.

Christina says it’s hard to quantify human nature and why people take certain actions, but “risk factors” play a role in suicide and suicidal ideation.

Risk factors include things like financial loss, divorce, deaths in the family, mental illness struggles and job loss. Most people also have “support factors” like family, faith and social networks to balance out those risks when they do happen.

The past two years have created a heavy risk burden for many families and individuals. That’s why understanding how to talk about suicide and mental health is now more important than ever.

“It’s okay to ask, ‘Are you okay,’” Christina says. “If they say no, then say: ‘Then tell me what you’re not okay about?’ Then ask: ‘Are you thinking about hurting yourself?’’’

She says that we have to listen, and we need to see if they’re interested in doing a safety plan that includes activities and a call list in a crisis. “You have to have judgment; it’s not black or white. It’s very squishy and gray.”

Scan QR code to learn more about suicide prevention training.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.8255

[BE W EL L] P H Y S I C A L

Saving Face

Face yoga combats the sagging effects of gravity, increases the appearance of volume, and acts as a natural alternative for fillers and Botox.

By Jennifer Casseday-Blair

A Natural Alternative

64

Illustration by Adrienne Martinez

There are 43 muscles in our face.

Exercising these muscles can be an exercise in beauty. It’s called face yoga.

Women often complain about crow’s feet, frown lines, loss of fullness and contour in the cheeks, a sagging jawline and fullness between the neck and chin. Instead of opting for the needle or the scalpel, a series of isolated movements for a few minutes each morning could stimulate and build the muscles in the face to help maintain elasticity and lead to looking years younger.

While much of the aging process is out of our control and depends entirely on genetics, there is one contributing factor that can be combatted. Lauren Wessinger, Fort Worth mindfulness coach and yoga instructor, believes that untreated chronic stress is the major source of aging in our body. She has trained in many styles of yoga with her main focuses being strengthening the body and regulating the nervous system. Lauren has hundreds of members from all over the world, and her practice is now virtual due to the pandemic. “Face yoga is a great idea, especially an old-school yoga breathing technique called Lion’s Breath. It promotes relaxation in your facial and neck muscles. You open your mouth as wide as you can, stick your tongue way out, and exhale forcefully. This is useful in relaxing the muscles you’ve used for speaking or while concentrating,” she says.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), facial exercises should be performed five days a week for 20 minutes.

These five beginner face yoga exercises should each be held for six seconds and repeated up to 10 times for the greatest results.

Forehead

This exercise is meant to help with frown lines, those horizontal wrinkles in the forehead. Put your fingertips lightly just above the eyebrows.

Then try to raise your eyebrows as high as possible while pressing downward with your fingertips to resist the movement.

Midface

This exercise may help with the lines that run from each side of the nose to the corners of your mouth, aka laugh lines. Open your mouth, purse your lips, and put your index fingers against the corners of your mouth. Protrude your lips while pulling the corners of your mouth outward with your fingers.

Jawline

This exercise may help with a sagging jawline and double chin. Place your elbow on a table with your fist under your chin. Press upward with your fist while trying to open your jaw.

This exercise helps with wrinkles above the upper lip.

Place your thumbs, tucked up and close together, under your upper lip. Push your lip forward with your thumbs while trying to push against your thumbs with your upper lip.

Lips

If you want the appearance of fuller lips, this exercise is supposed to help. Bring your lower lip forward to touch your upper lip in a pout. Then turn both your upper and lower lips inward and press them together, as if you are trying to hold something with your lips.

OneToKnowMagazine.com | ISSUE 04

Upper Lip

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[BE W EL L] P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y

What you should know (about that body part)

By Elizabeth Sehon Illustrations by Amber Davis

Pelvic-Floor Disorders

66 She was 23 when she first experienced pelvic pain. She had no idea what was happening to her body after numerous attempts to find the source of the pain, and her health care providers were silent on a solution. “Everyone kept telling me that everything was fine, and no one would listen,” Louise Vraney says.

Louise now holds these answers with a doctorate in physical therapy and is a certified lymphedema therapist at SporTherapy in southwest Fort Worth. She is a pelvic-floor health care professional.

Later, an obstetrician-gynecologist removed vaginal tissue for a biopsy and confirmed nothing was life-threatening and diagnosed Louise with a condition unknown to many — a

weakened pelvic floor. Now 33, she says her diagnosis and the physical therapy to correct her weakened pelvic floor was “life changing.”

After a few years of practicing physical therapy, she began a specialty in the treatment of pelvic-floor disorders. Louise now performs thorough pelvic floor exams with a list of patient questions about urinary health, bowel health, vaginal health, and obstetric/gynecologic history that are specific to each patient. She also provides an internal exam for further evaluation, which tests the strength, length and sensitivity of the pelvic floor. This may sound simple, but it relays a great deal of information about a patient’s body and issues she might be experiencing.

67 The pelvic floor is a layer of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that bridges the bottom of the pelvis and holds all the pelvic organs — including the vagina, cervix, uterus, bladder, urethra, rectum and prostate, Louise says.

Although anyone may experience pelvic floor dysfunction, many of her patients seek her therapy after giving birth.

As a baby grows during pregnancy, it causes an increased mass sitting on the pelvic floor and expands the muscles around the pelvic girdle, and then coupled with relaxin, a hormone produced by the ovary and the placenta, the muscles are expanded and weighed down even more.

“During a difficult labor, pelvic muscles have to expand to a certain length for the baby to exit, which could have a huge effect [on the pelvic floor] afterwards,” she says.

With a dysfunctional pelvic floor, pelvic organ prolapse may occur, which causes urinary and bowel incontinence because the pelvic floor muscles and tissues become weak, allowing pelvic organs to drop or press into other organs — like the bladder or bowels.

OneToKnowMagazine.com | ISSUE 04

The Pelvic Floor Explained

[BE W EL L] P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y

“Women-health physical therapists are here to help you be the best version of yourself.”

-LOUISE VRANEY PT, DPT, CLT

Pelvic-Floor Disorders

68 How Pelvic Floor Therapy Has Changed Lives

Exercises that Strengthen the Pelvic Floor

Many women who have never experienced pregnancy or the birthing process may also experience pelvic floor issues.

One of Louise’s patients confided that she came to her with a great deal of sadness, pain and little hope because of her pelvic floor dysfunction. She had scar tissue from a past surgery, and this made intercourse incredibly painful and often, impossible. “I was newly married and full of shame that I couldn’t have the sex life I wanted,” she says.

She was so downhearted by her situation that she was convinced she’d never be able to carry and deliver a baby. After working with Louise every week for a year, she was able to gain hope, encouragement and heal physically. A year after her physical therapy, she gave birth to a baby girl,

Types of exercise may vary considering the patient’s symptoms and pain. Vraney says one important exercise is teaching women how to properly do Kegal exercises as they are vital to maintain vaginal strength and prevent pelvic floor problems, yet nearly 80% of women do them incorrectly.

Her main goal with physical therapy is to train pelvic floor muscles to function for everyday activities like laughing, squatting, picking up a baby and jumping.

much to her delight.

“Just as Louise was there cheering me on throughout my treatment, she showed up for me to celebrate my daughter’s birth,” she says. “I cannot emphasize enough how much women’s health physical therapy treatment affected my life and how impactful it was to have a therapist that consistently challenged and encouraged me.”

physical therapists are here to help you be the best version of yourself,” Louise says. “We help with mostly anything regarding the pelvic floor, which has a huge impact on improving your quality of life.”

Preventive Care Is Key to a Healthy Pelvic Floor Because several issues may arise, Louise encourages people of all ages to be proactive and get a pelvic floor exam. “Women-health

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

SporTherapy is located at 6501 Harris Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76132. For appointments, visit sportherapy.com or call 817.370.9891.

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It’s Pati-O’clock Somewhere

By Angie Martinez Illustrations by Adrienne Martinez

Outdoor Comfort

70

A

windchime dances its tune as it is tickled by the wind. Aromatic seasonings wake in the sizzling hot oil, their smell diffused through the air. The warmth of sun on the skin and crisp carbonation from an icecold beer racing down one’s throat. It’s patio weather. It’s desired, it’s inviting, it’s welcomed.

As warmer weather approaches, the search for an oasis with comfortable lounging and the chatter of life circling around is heavily sought after.

A patio can be reminiscent of life itself. A shared experience between owner and patron of success, hard work and relaxation. A place of sanctuary to celebrate, motivate and alleviate.

The gathering place or watering hole where all walks of life can come together to share thoughts, beliefs and convictions.

But what makes for a perfect patio?

Is it the colorful Talavera planters surrounding a patio garden, full of oddly sharp plants? Is it the birds singing in the loosely

Perhaps, it’s the deafening loudness of this year’s up-and-coming DJ, set up in a small corner booth on synthetic turf, where senior and barelyof-age goers alike are transported into a fountain of youth and potential ear damage. A loud and lively crowd escaping the real world to enter an entrancement of yard games that don’t quite make sense but allow the booze to keep flowing. No concern over the sustenance required to maintain the longevity of the night. It’s an evening outdoors, and the music is bumping.

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light-wrapped trees that block the blazing sun on a hot summer day? That local Mexican restaurant patio is most likely a snapshot recreation of someone’s childhood at their grandmother’s garden in Mexico. A patio that housed cages of parakeets and a constant trickle of water coming from an old hose that was used to water the tins of herbs that you couldn’t quite tell were alive or purposely being dried. The patio where all-night drinking and singing, as well as late goodnight kisses, were shared.

[FO OD] E S S A Y

Outdoor Comfort

72 Imagine an otherwise dark patio greatly lit by the growl of fire in a central pit. The smell of burning mesquite, oak, cherry, maybe pine. A gravel-filled floor that welcomes all souls and soles — boots, sneakers, a loafer, a slide, even maybe a wedge. Those above 3 inches must walk with caution. There’s ironclad furniture with miniature fire-filled cups at the center of the tables to mimic the more warming growl at the center of the space. Then you see it, all around you, the view. The view of a historic Fort Worth skyline lit and decorated. The sound of honky-tonk music luring you across the way. Do you dare cross the creek that divides this business from the next? Or do you stay to enjoy the exotic fare of kangaroo carpaccio nachos and a cucumber jalapeño margarita? It’s enchanting. It’s romantic. It’s a higher-end patio.

Sometimes a patio is whatever you need it to be. A hangout for girlfriends who haven’t seen each other in months, but from the first clink of a mimo (mimosa — apparently, it’s the new thing), it’s like no time has passed. Switzerland, a neutral territory to help break the ice on a first date, or neutral territory to help heal a broken icecap between two people. In times of celebration and mourning, there’s always a warm meal or a cold stiff one inviting you to the patio. Regardless of the necessity, the desire is always met to comfort whichever sentiment needs healing.

And sometimes … food and drink just taste better outside.

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Revitalizing Fort Worth’s Near Southside

74

Cheering for the Home Team

Near Southside, Inc. and Megan Henderson

By Sonya Cisneros Wierzowiecki

The walk to Fire Station Park meanders through Fairmount, where candycolored craftsman homes are as distinct as the people who live in them and the crowd gathered to hear important news for Southsiders. And she was worried no one would come to her party.

Megan Henderson is director of events and communication for Near Southside, Inc. (NSI), though she would tell you she’s the waterboy. “I don’t take credit for any of the touchdowns,” she says.

NSI is a private, member-funded, nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Fort Worth’s Near Southside.

A small staff of five work to keep the community connected and thriving by matching good people with good projects, advocating on behalf of small-business owners, and creating events like ArtsGoggle that bring people together.

Megan considers the construction of the skate plaza at Fire Station Park, along with the establishment of Art South, as two major wins for NSI. Since 2013, Megan has been there for the good, the bad and the ugly, with an inherent readiness for honest dialogue. Her work in making Fort Worth better is personal, though the city wasn’t always home. “All the cool kids from Cleburne now live in Fort Worth,” according to friend Shasta Haubrich, who met Megan at Cleburne High School years ago.

“She is a really hard worker with a big heart, always trying to look out for people who need help,” Shasta says. “She’s the person to rely on.”

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Photos of Near Southside, Inc’s past events Olaf Growald Photos Megan Henderson Photo courtesy of Make Something Beautiful

[PHI L A NTH ROPY] N E A R S O U T H S I D E , I N C .

“My day, my mind, and Revitalizing Fort Worth’s Near Southside

76

heart stays in the Near Southside.”

-MEGAN HENDERSON, director of events and communication for Near Southside, Inc.

Megan’s parents always had an open door for anyone in need. The couple had two biological children, Megan and her brother, and helped many others. Her mom worked two jobs and went to night school, while her dad worked three jobs.

“Pandemic pivot is nothing to me,” she says, given how adaptive she and her brother had to be as self-described latchkey kids.

NSI administers TIF#4, a city-wide tax increment financing that has collected and distributed nearly $100 million in public funding to advance economic investment and infrastructure improvement in the Near Southside. A great example of how funds are stewarded is the skate plaza. “I could cry right

Megan Henderson Photo courtesy of Make Something Beautiful

now,” said one teen, alongside visibly tearful elected officials. He and his friends will soon have their third place.

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term, “third places,” which refers to places where people spend time between home and work. A third place could be the gas station across the street from JPS Hospital, where Megan once managed the gift shop. There, Nehme Elbitar was working toward opening a Lebanese restaurant.

If the gift shop was closed, it was because Megan was helping him deliver pizza. After work, she would stop by and just listen to his dreams. The Elbitar’s Chadra Mezza & Grill now anchors Park Place Village.

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Photos of Near Southside, Inc’s past events Olaf Growald Photos

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Revitalizing Fort Worth’s Near Southside

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The chat room is Megan’s third place. “The people who occupy that place live in permanent protection in my brain,” she says. They are family. It’s a place she can go where she doesn’t have to be “Megan from the Southside.”

“It was the Kool-Aid that got me hooked on this neighborhood.”

In her mid-20s, Megan applied for a job answering phones for the Main Street Arts Festival. As a college dropout with a tenacious work ethic, she’s grateful to have been given a chance. She was recruited by NSI President Mike Brennan to do the same thing she was doing for Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. but for the “home team.”

After a decade of living in the Near Southside, she recently decamped to a giant project house in South Hills that she shares with her partner, Tatara Siegel, and 10-year-old daughter, Esme.

Given her deep roots in the Near Southside community, Megan is nomadic. She would love to buy a one-way ticket anywhere. She enjoys

tiny towns as much as big cities, marveling at how big and complex the world is.

At Fire Station Park, familiar lyrics soar above the crowd that tap into the tender spirit of youth that Megan never lost.

I was a teenage anarchist Looking for a revolution Do you remember When you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?

“I’m still on the hunt for who I want to be,” she says.

After drowning herself in Thai food and scrubbing a day of park dirt out from under her nails, she’s undoubtedly dreaming of the next big thing. With events on the horizon, she may not have time to see a new country or learn to crochet. She wants to read more, but there’s work to be done. “My day, my mind, and heart stays in the Near Southside.” There’s a certain swagger to the Southside that won’t be lost on her watch.

Fire Station Park Photos courtesty of Near Southside

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