I was one of two Senior Content Editors / Content Managers for EssilorLuxottica. For four years, I edited countless articles across All About Vision, as well as EssLux business units such as Eyebuydirect, FramesDirect, VisionExpress, etc. Occasionally, when time allowed, I also wrote articles for All About Vision, this being one example.

Love at first sight … is it real?

By Martha Elaine Belden

Is love at first sight real?

Love at first sight has been proclaimed and celebrated throughout history and in countless poems, songs, stories and (of course) wedding toasts. How many of us have dreamed of falling in love with one blissful glance?

An attractive stranger walks through the door. Your eyes meet. Your heart races. Your cheeks flush. And something deep inside declares… this is it.

True love.

… But will it last?

As popular and hopeful as the notion is, very little has been done to study what it means to fall in love at first sight.

In 2017, researchers in the Netherlands found that love at first sight (LAFS) is not love… not exactly. “Rather, it is a strong initial attraction that some label as LAFS, either in the moment of first sight or retrospectively.”

Sight is unquestionably important to how we process what and who we come into contact with (like that beautiful stranger across the room). For example, when you find yourself attracted to someone, your pupils dilate.

Thus, it makes sense to consider vision when it comes to instant attraction and, dare we say it, love.

Scientifically speaking, what is love at first sight?

The visual cortex is one of the largest and most important structures within the human brain.

Tissues used to process visual information take up nearly half of the cortex’s total area. And these tissues are exceptionally rich with interconnections, which help us to observe and remember what (and who) we see.

Plus, as many as 80% of us are visual learners. Our ability to recall visual images usually far exceeds our ability to memorize words or facts. We’re much more likely to remember (and even dwell upon) that beautiful stranger’s hair color or facial features than anything else about them.

And that can lead to the belief that this powerful attraction upon first laying eyes on a new romantic interest is actually love at first sight.

Does love at first sight last?

Surprisingly, the odds are in your favor. Relationships born out of love at first sight actually do work out more often than you might think.

Rutgers University visiting research associate Helen E. Fisher says that all relationships may begin with attraction. But not all attraction leads to lasting romance.

Fisher breaks down romantic relationships into three distinct phases. Each phase is characterized by a unique neurochemical signature.

LUST: The first phase, “lust,” is marked by the production of testosterone and estrogen. Lust at first sight perhaps more accurately describes that sudden heart-pounding, blood-rushing feeling.

ATTRACTION: Things slow down a bit in the “attraction” phase, during which dopamine and norepinephrine levels peak, and serotonin is reduced.

ATTACHMENT: Over time, long-term relationships settle into what’s known as the “attachment” phase. This is when we come back to our senses. Or, to put it scientifically, when the hormones associated with friendship, closeness and enduring intimacy settle in.

Who falls in love at first sight?

Based on the research in the Netherlands (mentioned above), it was determined that men proclaim “love at first sight” more often than women. The study found no distinct explanation for this. Plus, there was no evidence demonstrating whether these proclamations progressed into long-term commitment.

This study also concluded that we are more likely to fall in love at first sight with objectively “beautiful” people. In fact, the research established that you are nine times more likely to feel that electricity (which some may call love at first sight) with a physically attractive individual.

Lastly, the research showed that love at first sight was rarely mutual. Still, it seems, when love at first sight results in a relationship, the intense feelings of the initial admirer can reshape the admired’s memory of that first glance. In other words, while love at first sight may not have been mutual in reality, the couple may look back together and fondly “remember” that it was.

How do you fall in love at first sight?

If so many long-lasting romantic relationships begin with some form of love at first sight, it might be worth it to try to stand out from the crowd. Put yourself out there with your best foot forward (so to speak) when you’re out on the town.

Since we’re talking about sight, consider some eye-catching eyewear — or even some striking color contact lenses. Maybe they’ll help you become the object of someone else’s affection.

Or maybe you should just be yourself.

Will you fall in love at first sight, though? That rests entirely in the eye of the beholder.

Edited and proofread copy for 20+ clients, including as primary editor for Fannie Mae, First National Bank of Omaha, BASF, T-Mobile, Disney, Peterbilt, TriHealth Healthcare System, Deep Eddy Vodka, Bohemia and Allstate, among others (copy included direct mail, print/online/TV advertisements, digital and social media marketing, billboards, long-form white papers and marketing communications, RFPs, new business pitches, experiential campaigns, etc.)

As a communications consultant for Partnercomm, I worked with client representatives to generate innovative and effective internal communications strategies for such Fortune 500 companies as Starbucks, E. & J. Gallo, Tenet Health, Washington Mutual and Kellogg’s.

I also developed, wrote and edited human resources and other internal communications for these and other clients.

The Montessori method was born out of a recognized need for a means to ensuring all children of all socioeconomic circumstances and learning capabilities are given equal access to education thereby creating a society of broad-minded, well-functioning adults.

Montessori provides an empowering, interactive atmosphere for students of all ages, economic backgrounds and learning styles to confidently take ownership of their education. Students are given independence as recognized individuals with unique needs and personalities while at the same time being encouraged to work alongside and together with their fellow students, learning the value of teamwork and developing the vital characteristics of community and empathy. Teachers are called Guides in Montessori education because they do not spend their days at the front of a stark, rigid classroom handing down instruction and controlling what and how the students learn each day. They, too, work alongside and together with their students… allowing the students to inform how best they receive and absorb information.

ArborCreek Montessori Academy is the final piece of the puzzle in Sima Cheregosha’s personal challenge to make the world a better place through accessible, effective education. Sima was born and raised in Iran where, during the Iranian Revolution of the late 1970s, she passionately got involved with the volatile anti-government movement. She and the movement wanted to see the gap between the privileged and the unprivileged narrowed. She believed fiercely in what they were fighting for, but, after the uprising in 1979, she came to grips with just how dangerous and, ultimately, ineffective her involvement was. Those who were caught were either executed or arrested and thrown in prison, and it was even more dangerous for women.

Sima decided times had changed. People weren’t looking for a hero. They simply wanted to live safe, ordinary lives and to see their children and children’s children succeed and make a difference for future generations. And becoming a martyr for the “cause,” no matter how virtuous, wasn’t going to make that happen. She realized that to make a real difference, the very fabric of society needed to change, and she shifted her focus to creating a culture of peace and understanding through education.

Sima moved to the United States in 1994 where she was introduced to the Montessori method of teaching and began to research its intents and origins. As she learned more about Maria Montessori and her ingenious approach to education, Sima knew she’d found her calling. More than 18 years ago, Sima Cheregosha founded Arbor Creek Montessori School, which serves a diverse population of children from infancy through third grade. In that time, she has seen dozens of young children thrive and excel within her walls before moving into traditional public and private schools as they age out of Arbor Creek. And, for years, she has seen dozens of those same students and their parents come back, discouraged by their new schools and longing for a return to Sima’s Montessori structure, asking that she extend her program all the way through high school.

Because she had maxed out the available space at Arbor Creek, with the help of a tenacious group of parents and community members, Sima introduced the next phase of her dream in 2015 by launching a non-profit and opening the doors to ArborCreek Montessori Academy. Currently a grass-roots operation being funded and administered by a diligent group of parents, volunteers and board members, the Academy is open to students 4th grade (9 years old)  through 6th grade (12 years old) in a temporary location while the board seeks land for the school’s permanent campus. And, because the Academy is run by a non-profit, Sima and her team are more easily able to provide scholarships and financial assistance to lower-income families, helping further the school’s overall mission — to ensure every child, no matter their socioeconomic situation, can have access to a Montessori education.

Bishop Arts District welcomes Harkensback to the neighborhood

Featuring the wares of local makers and designers, Harkensback is Dallas’ latest retail space dedicated to harnessing the collective ingenuity of the community

DALLAS – Harkensback, a new retail space launched at the end of November by Julie McCullough and Mike Arreaga in the middle of the Bishop Arts District, aims to provide Dallas with an unconventional shopping experience devoted to the sustainability of high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship.

“I have spent the past four years building my clothing line and brand, creating production processes, growing my team, and establishing an online presence,” said McCullough. “The natural progression for continued growth was to create a space that allowed people to visit and feel the energy of the brand, to be able to try things on and connect with our products. Harkensback is that — it is a blend of our energy, our style, and our products.”

Inspired by the grandeur of West Texas, the tranquility of Tulum, Mexico, and the iconoclastic style of Stevie Nicks, McCullough and Arreaga (with the help of friends and fellow creative Marisa Dukowitz) have devised a space unlike any other in Dallas. It’s all at once opulent and audacious. The atmosphere is undeniably chic — featuring jewelry and apparel by local designers as well as an agates and crystals bar — while still offering customers an invitation to serenity — propagated by candles from Society (the shop next door) as well as incense found by the owners on their regular trips to Mexico. They even have monthly Vedic astrology readings by local leather designer and astrologist, Jesse Roberts.

“McCullough, Arreaga, and I have always had that natural collaborative element together,” said Dukowitz. “Harkensback has been a chance to begin exploring what that feels like. It's telling the stories of your relationships with the makers you know in your community and meet in your travels, and celebrating the client that appreciates that hand and history.”

Harkensback aspires to poetically illuminate the affinity between goods and textiles, their history, and the new life they take on when married by design. McCullough and Arreaga want to emphasize the power of collective experiences and the beauty of storytelling through travel. Thus, the store has been curated to evoke that narrative… of voyage and sustainability, of collaboration, and of thoughtful design. The merchandise itself reflects those same principles by featuring, for example, clothing lines made with all-natural fibers, linens, and cottons. Harkensback carries a growing menswear line, stylish yet comfortable womenswear, handbags, home decor, pottery, and even a line of handmade shoes designed by an artist in Argentina. And with a few exceptions, everything is made by artisans and makers in the neighborhood.

“Our goal is to make each customer harken back to a time when they knew the makers of their goods, which starts with the stories,” said Arreaga. “This is the part I enjoy the most: encouraging each guest who walks in to allow me to tell them a story about the artists presented at Harkensback. I love when people comment about something I’m wearing such as my belt or bracelet or, hell, even my boots, and I can tell them who made them and where and even sometimes tell them a little story about the artist.”

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Julie McCullough is the designer and creator of Folksie and the recently launched McCullough clothing lines, as well as the founder and executive director of The Pin Show. Mike Arreaga is the creative director for Shag Carpet Props as well as a designer and founder of BBD Revolving. McCullough and Arreaga have lived and created in the Bishop Arts/Oak Cliff neighborhood for more than 13 years, only a few years ago, for instance, closing the doors on previous retail and sewing/craft studio, Make + Made and IndieGenius.

Harkensback is open seven days a week during the holiday, and until 9pm Thursday through Saturday.

VANGUARD MUSICIAN THADDEUS FORD INVITES DALLAS TO AN EVENING OF INNOVATIVE JAZZ, DANCE AND INSTALLATION ART

Hosted by Deep Ellum Art Co. on Sept. 23, the cultural experience is powered by the artist’s grant from The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs

(DALLAS – August 2017; source: CultureHype) – With a little help from The City of Dallas’ Office of Cultural Affairs, Dallas-based, sixth-generation jazz musician Thaddeus Ford is bringing his singular brand of jazz to life for this premiere exhibition illuminated by original choreography by Michelle Gibson and a custom art installation by BBD Revolving. This one-of-a-kind performance will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Deep Ellum Art Co.

The one-night event will introduce an absolute overload of the sensory soul, pulling Ford’s jazz into an entirely new space with a hovering 360-degree art projection shifting position and location over the course of the night, as his six-piece jazz band injects Ford’s composition into attendees’ veins. Interpretive dancers round out the visual intrigue of the performance — creating an altogether stunning, futuristic vibe. Deep Ellum Art Co., a mixed-use creative facility combining an art gallery with 30 beers on tap and event/performance space, is slated to open in late August and is located at 3200 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas 75226.

“I’m a huge fan of Thaddeus’ work and all that he’s done to elevate the local scene,” said John LaRue, local arts advocate and owner of Deep Ellum Art Co. “Our official slogan is ‘Dedicated to the Creative and Native,’ so we’re beyond proud to help him execute his vision.”

Rooted deeply in jazz, with an ancestry lining back six generations to the beginnings of the musical genre itself in New Orleans, Dallas transplant Thaddeus Ford felt compelled to bring a different kind of performance to his new hometown. His grandfather toured and recorded with R&B legend Antoine “Fats” Domino, Jr., who helped lay the foundation for what would become rock and roll music, for more than 20 years. Little Richard, Guitar Slim and many others enlisted Ford’s grandfather to play on some of the earliest rock and roll records released, paving the way for his uncle to become a touring musician with Grammy Award-winning musician Harry Connick, Jr. Ford’s love of jazz and all sounds rooted in the tradition of Black American music and the Pan-African diaspora, along with his rich family history, has compelled him to share this style of music locally, but with a twist.

“The music I write, perform and enjoy is based on rhythm. It incorporates the entire Black American Music aesthetic,” Ford said. “The style of dance that I enjoy speaks to that as well. Dance has the ability to express life and all of its emotions in a way that other forms of art can’t.”

The project, which Ford envisions will bring the spirit of the New Orleans Second Line Parade to Dallas, celebrates the idea of overcoming adversity and persevering through a desolate time. The parallel, while more metaphorical than literal, is ideal as the Second Line is meant to simultaneously mourn physical death and celebrate eternal life. By bringing together multiple artists and their personal journeys — from near-death experiences to the loss of everything familiar after Hurricane Katrina — Ford’s production will celebrate “Tragedy to Triumph.”

Ford experienced his own tragedy — and triumph — with Gibson, his choreographer. The pair met in 1994 at The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), a prestigious performing arts school where the young artist was smitten by the dancer. Ford and Gibson were eventually pulled in different directions away from New Orleans — a beloved home that had nurtured them from birth into adulthood — to pursue opportunities and stretch themselves both personally and professionally. Then, seventeen years after they first met, Ford got a call to play at a wedding, where he accompanied her as she danced. After the gig, he told her he would find a way for the pair to work together again, and here they are today.

“My tragedies lie within the sanctified impulse and history of my New Orleans roots, while my triumphs ride the syncopated ancestral rhythms of Congo Square and the testimonies of how WE made it over rolling down the streets in the Second Lines,” Gibson said. “We were raised on sacred ground where music and dance is a communal experience. A ritual. A lifestyle. Ashe.”

The project will include Ford’s exploratory jazz, modern dance and an art installation that will respond to the music and choreography. To pull off such a feat, Ford has compiled a team of Dallas’ top creative talent to get the job done. The artwork is, to Ford and one of his event co-collaborator’s (The Pin Show’s creative mastermind and producer Julie McCullough), as integral to the experience as the music and dance elements. To create the installation, the duo enlisted Mike Arreaga, Jonathan Rudak and Rick Fontenot of BBD Revolving, who together design experiences revolving around light and sound for The Pin Show, The Dividends and Zhora. Live events producer Cal Quinn will assist with sound engineering and photography onsite with help from stylist Emily McCartney. The project will debut in Dallas, but Ford hopes to present it nationally and internationally, particularly in New Orleans.

For more information on Thaddeus Ford, visit the artist’s Facebook page.

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House of DIRT by Sonya Worden-Eudaley presents Primavera

Imagine a chic bungalow perched on the edge of the rainforest where the jungle’s thriving flora has laced its way inside dreamily marrying the outdoors within. Sonya Worden-Eudaley — floral designer, small business owner, experience artist, event raconteur — invites you… her fellow creative souls… to step into her own reimagining of this irresistible scene right here in Dallas at House of DIRT in the heart of Oak Cliff’s Bishop Arts District. On March 14, Sonya (with the help of cohort, Julie McCullough of Harkensback) welcomes photographers, models, artists, brides, new parents, patrons of style, and anyone else seeking a spectacular setting for their latest portraiture to take advantage of this limited-time opportunity to “hire” her beautiful venue — minus the usual $300+ price tag and plus some intricately styled, uniquely verdant (not to mention fleeting) sets and backdrops. With tickets starting at only $20, Sonya hopes to provide an all-at-once exclusive and accessible environment wherein creatives and passersby alike can step inside her mini paradise and walk away with a series of beautiful photographs, whether to enhance a burgeoning portfolio or simply share an expression of their best self on social media.

Sonya has honed her unique brand of storytelling… creating inimitable experiences through her very particular style and flawless eye for design. And House of DIRT’s Primavera will be only the first in a series of singular opportunities for the creative community to step inside her world and be inspired.

“This vignette series promises eerie romanticism, a profound, grown-up response to the pop-art immersions we’ve enjoyed in recent seasons, and just as photogenic. Sonya’s theatrical visions (think secret garden luxe) have surprise modernity — and I want to nestle right in,” said Megan Erin Wind Davis, Executive Director, Bishop Arts District.

Sonya’s other Oak Cliff endeavor, DIRT, is not just a pretty plant shop that specializes in unusual potted succulents and moody floral arrangements offering delivery to Dallas businesses and residents (although, it is that, too)... but DIRT also hosts lovely floral crown, wreath and arrangement workshops, enabling Sonya to share her gift. House of DIRT, a venue for a specific, discerning clientele, opened in 2017 in all its boho glory.  

This experience will only be open for four days, so don’t miss the opportunity to visit this lush sensory experience. Tickets go on sale March 5, 2019 at HouseofDirt.com.

#houseofdirt #dirtflowers #bishopartsdistrict #dirt #jungalow #dirtdeliversdaily #dallasweddings

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Image and words by Martha Elaine Belden

Here comes the sun! Longer, sunnier days are here to play, and we’re ready to brighten your day with a beautiful arrangement! Come see us or call in your order today! • #dirtflowers #dallasflowershop #oakcliffflowershop #bishoparts #bishopartsdistrict #dallasfloraldesign #womeninbusiness #womanrunbusiness #shopsmalldallas #bishopartsflowers #dallasweddingflorist #floraldesigners #flowers #dallasbeauty #dallaseventdesign #dallasdesigners #dallaswedding #dallasgiftmarket #shoplocal #shoppingindallas #dallasflowers #gooakcliff #dallasflorist #girlboss #oakcliffplantstore #oakcliffplantshop #dallasnursery #oakcliffnursery #oakcliff #dallas

Graphic design and words by Martha Elaine Belden

REMINDER: Tomorrow night, Monday, Feb 3, at House of DIRT venue, we celebrate months of hard work, collaboration and inclusion! Come out and show your support for the ladies of Pegasus Tattoo Studios. For a $20 donation, we’ll be providing local bites from your favorite Oak Cliff restaurants, awesome cocktails by the award-winning drink masters of Boulevardier, one-night-only performances, a silent auction with items including tattoo gift cards and packages of liquor, wine, etc., and MORE! We promise it’ll be a night to remember, AND your presence and support will be a tremendous gift to our little collective! We hope to see all of you tomorrow! Visit the event link in our bio for more. • #pegasustattoostudios #womenwhotattoo #dallastattoo #dallastattoostudio #dallastattooshop #womenwhoart #dallasesthetician #dallasfeministcollective #feministcollective #feministart #femaleartists #femaletattooartists #womenworkingtogether #tattoos #oakclifftattoos #oakcliffesthetician #oakclifftattooshop #womeninoakcliff #womensupportwomen #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #girlpower #girlpowertattoo #girlswithtattoos #girlboss #ladieswholead #besttattooartists #besttattooartistsindallas #tattooartistsindallas #houseofdirt

Images and words by Martha Elaine Belden

It’s 5:00 (somew)here, and our patio’s ready for you and yours. Come have a #Caipirinha or two, and start your weekend off right.  #drinkresponsibly #smallbrewpub#dallaspatio #cocktails

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxlH7RYHmFt/
In 2017, I took over Small Brewpub’s Instagram marketing. At the end of 2019 (three months before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Small Brewpub closed its doors.

Just as revolution is the spark it takes to launch an evolution, evolution is inevitably what leads to revolution. It is impossible to experience one without the other. Human evolution often (if not always) takes a revolution, whether it be of the self or the collective, to take flight. At the same time, as evolution is experienced — again, by the self or of the collective — the evolved are roused toward revolution by way of enlightenment and progress.

“Evolution and Revolution closely resemble one another, and yet they are constantly used in their social and political sense as though their meaning were absolutely antagonistic… is it possible that a transformation can take place in ideas without bringing about some abrupt displacements in the equilibrium of life? Must not revolution necessarily follow evolution, as action follows the desire to act?”
Elisée Reclus, Evolution and Revolution, 1891

Merriam-Webster defines evolution as “a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler or worse… to a higher, more complex or better state; a process of gradual and relatively peaceful social, political and economic advance,” while revolution is defined as “a sudden, radical or complete change; a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something; a change of paradigm.”

With the exception of the “sudden” vs the “process,” one could surmise that revolution and evolution not only guide one another, they are two sides of the same coin. Both involve development and progression in a forward, or “better,” direction (in the case of revolution, this is true at least in the eyes of those who champion it).

While individuals as much as societies are led to revolution often by negative or upsetting circumstances, it is just as possible to be motivated by something as wonderful as illumination or the desire to avoid stagnation. And the evolution that follows is vital to the continuation of worthwhile existence.

As artists, we are not only in constant pursuit of personal evolution, we tend also to be, whether intentionally or not, at the forefront of revolution simply by existing in the eyes and ears of the public. The things we sing, paint, write and share with the world influence others into thought and, effectively, into action.

For Art Con R/EVOLUTION, the artists’ objective is simply this: to ruminate on the notion of Revolution >> Evolution (and vice versa). How have they seen the two play out in their own lives… in the lives of those they love (or don’t)… in the world they live in… or the world they hope for? And from there, we hope they are inspired to create.

“The role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible.” Toni Cade Bambara

Mark your calendars, get your tickets now, and we’ll see you at Life in Deep Ellum on June 2, 2018. If your organization would like to be considered as our beneficiary, please apply here by May 15.

artcon.org/art-con-revolution

HMUA by The Hybrid Canvas / Words by Martha Elaine Belden

The Hybrid Canvas is Dallas’ most progressive and utterly irresistible hair, makeup and portrait duo. Stylists Larry TraeVon and Ellie Mae are cousins who grew up with a mutual adoration of all things beauty — from dolls to the music industry to fashion. And this fascination carried them into their teens during which time they began to experiment with their own aesthetics and consider beauty in more personal terms. It was these youthful, formative years that sparked their desire to make their own way in the beauty industry. Ten years later, Larry and Ellie have officially combined passions and forces with The Hybrid Canvas as they aim to “bring substance back to beauty.” With more than 25 years combined experience in retail cosmetics, portrait studios and salon environments, as well as with behind-the-scenes artistry in fashion, event production, bridal and film/television, these two not only have their fingers on the pulse of what’s trending and what’s transforming modern standards of beauty, but they approach their business and clientele with compassion and a unique take on the way humans should be treated, especially within such a vulnerable service as beauty. “To us, ‘bringing substance back to beauty’ means we always remember to utilize the fifth element, which everyone should know is love. We love on our clients, we love on our art, and we encourage you to love on yourself.”

The Hybrid Canvas provides Larry and Ellie with an expression of an eclectic yet purposeful and controlled cyclone of time periods, cultural references, nature and all styles of beauty. As makeup artists and hairstylists, Larry and Ellie have made it a point to focus on the “canvas” on which they design their portraits. They understand there is an opportunity lying in the details of the complexion and that color is merely an accessory. By focusing on the complexion, Larry and Ellie encourage their clients to embrace themselves as they are, while the artists utilize color and provide the tools and techniques to merely enhance and “accessorize” their canvas. As both stylists are biracial and members of the LGBTQ community, they pride themselves on their adaptability and embrace their responsibility to genuinely include everyone — celebrating all skin tones, all hair textures, all styles, and all walks of life. “Beauty truly can and should be all inclusive and multifaceted.”

Larry TraeVon and Ellie Mae have worked behind the scenes for McCULLOUGH Official, Pat McGrath, Modern Luxury, Symbology, NYFW, HGTV, VH1, WFAA, MSNBC, The Bachelorette’s Rachel Lindsay, Stetson, DOBBs, D Magazine, High Times, Sure Shots Magazine, Alternative Apparel, Apple Music, AT&T, Famous Footwear, Tommy Bahama, Perry Ellis, Pin Show, DIFFA, AIN and American Leather.

As of 2023, www.thehybridcanvas.com/ no longer exists. Each artist has gone on to work in their chosen field independently.

Images by Paxton Maroney / Words by Martha Elaine Belden

Paxton Maroney is a conceptual artist. Her surreal photography invites the outside world to step inside snapshots of her dreams. For several years, she has awoken from vivid dreams — often in the middle of the night — and drawn the images composed on the backs of her eyelids. At times, she even engages in lucid dreaming throughout the day as she’s “trained her brain” to create new chimera for her portraiture. Then, when she has scouted out the perfect location, she begins painstakingly reconstructing the scenes of her subliminal imagination.

For Paxton, her dreams aren’t stories so much as they are symbolic images that tend to reveal a deeper meaning. Instead, the stories are composed through bringing these images to life through her photography and then compiling them into cohesive series.

For WEST OF 3:00AM, Paxton traveled through West Texas and along the West Coast, which inspired her to photograph the contrasting environments intertwined by the concept of marking the landscape with lucid squares slicing through, resting in and defining the scale of the planes. When she visited Joshua Tree, however, her experience transitioned the work from envisioning almost solid structures to imagining a physical expression of her soul, her light, moving through the space. This same perception translated to Chino Hills and other parts of California. The abstractions began very linearly — with the square forms. Rigid yet bright. Moving into more of a sporadic pattern — neon lights characterized by the emotions she felt in the space.

This is the final, Author page of Paxton’s photography book, West of 3:00 AM, which I also wrote in correspondence with her photography.

Art by Matthew Brinston / Words by Martha Elaine Belden

When death leads to life, art is inevitable. And art, as creation, is a reflection of its creator. Brinston and his work consistently grapple with the revolution of death and life and death again. The cacophonous symphony of color and shape, rhythm and structure that compose his work is all at once chaotic and calm. Just as the artist himself is an amalgam of mania and peace… the composition of art and artist is indistinguishable. Just as his art is an extension of himself… the artist has become an extension of his art.

For the artist, art is valuable in its making life worth living. Art has given him purpose and meaning, the people he loves, the places he’s been, literal survival, a future. Art is everything. And now, with everything, the artist seeks to share this existential gift through collaboration and demonstration. Impact the world through connection. Inform himself and those around him through interaction. Art is the universal teacher. And the artist’s goal is to help people find little bits of themselves through personal synergy with the art.

The artist’s path from life to death and back to life again has not been without pain. But the vision of Christ plus the inevitable clarity of death have afforded him balance amidst chaos and a wealth of generosity through selfless invention. The artist creates not for glory, fame or control… but because he is an artist. And an artist creates.

brinston.co/about

Images & title by Matthew Brinston / Words by Martha Elaine Belden

This is this and that is that.
You are you and I am me.

Until we come together. Then, they are them and we are us.

DIsregard, if you will, the banality of pronouns. Instead, turn your minds toward fusion… to intimacy… acceptance.

Alongside one another, among our vast differences, we are more than originally met the eye.

In nearness, the lines around and between us blur, and those juxtapositions bring our us and their them into focus.

In Black Caviar, there exists more than an equine legend or a sumptuous garnish. Just as in these works’ strange pairings, the artist brings seemingly incompatible forces together to draw attention to the individuals by way of their anomalous relationships. As the artist is wont to require, we are asked to look beyond the obvious, to step over the absurdity, and dwell on the heart of the intent.

That they is more than that… we are more than I.

Show description for Brinston’s art show at Preacher Gallery in Austin, TX.

Images from McCULLOUGH Official / Written by Martha Elaine Belden

McCULLOUGH is the eponymous brand of Julie McCullough – a brand established, designed, and constructed in Dallas, Texas, USA. Introduced in 2017 and fully launched a year later, our clothing is decidedly unisex with oversized silhouettes and a minimalist style, blurring the norms of fashion identifiers by borrowing traditional silhouettes from both menswear and womenswear. 80% of the McCULLOUGH line is created to be machine washable and travel well, made with wo/men on the go in mind. These are clothes designed for the creative individual, with accentuated hemlines and striking details. In producing a genderless wardrobe complemented by distinctly masculine and feminine pieces, a modern and timeless collection has been created that will elevate any dress code ranging from streetwear to eveningwear.

We believe in conscientious production standards, sustainable sourcing, and socially responsible employment. Rather than pushing through mass-production runs, our skilled team members create each piece with care and quality – McCULLOUGH garments are designed to last. Our small-batch production model also ensures that you will be one of a select few individuals wearing one of these pieces.

The current McCULLOUGH collection is predominantly made up of blacks, grays, and neutrals with subtle debuts of colors like spruce, terra cotta, and toasted peach in mix-and-match garments including silk pants, slim-fit crop trousers, split-back jackets, hooded capes and oversized, tailored henley tunics, as well as unexpected eveningwear in everyday fabrics.

https://harkensback.com/

Rick Fontenot wears his love for Art Conspiracy on his sleeve (often quite literally — as a several-years, veteran executive team member, he’s got a slew of Art Con T-shirts in his closet). An attendee since the very first Art Con at Texas Theatre in 2005, his involvement has run the gamut from patron/fan to site designer/builder to artist.

“Initially I was interested in going because of the musicians, and I had never been to any art auction. And the combination of the two together was really thrilling… I was outbid on the two pieces I wanted, but it was still really exciting being in the hunt. And I’ve been in love with it ever since.”

Now, Art Con’s appeal for Rick spans beyond the rush of the auctions and energetic band performances. “I remember stepping outside with friends for a break during that first show, and when we stepped into the light, we realized our backs and legs were completely covered in a thick, brown dust from sitting on the seats in Texas Theatre that hadn’t been touched by anyone in years,” he explains. “That grit just personified the entire experience and, for people like us, made it feel more like the punk shows we were used to than a gallery show, which at that point in time intimidated us.”

After jumping in to help with some last-minute build work the day before Art Con MOUNTED, Rick attended the volunteer thank-you party and was asked to join the executive team as build team lead. “Without blinking, I immediately said yes, and that led to a whole new path of friendships and a type of work I’d never done before.”

Prior to his work with Art Con, Rick hadn’t delved into being an artist beyond “piddling around” with it for himself and never showing anyone else. After he had a couple of events under his belt as volunteer and exec team builder, he came up with the concept for Art Con WRECKED. WRECKED had each artist draw a unique word to guide and inspire their direction and create a cohesive show of diverse interpretations.

“I still wasn’t planning to be an artist for the show, but when it came time to draw the words, other team members held my feet to the fire to draw a word,” he remembers. “That was just the motivation I needed to get over the jitters. The auction was nerve-wracking to watch, but my piece did well, sparked a lot of conversations and gave me confidence to create more and start sharing artwork with people rather than just hiding it away from view. So for me, that first experience really changed my trajectory.”

In so many ways, Art Con has opened Rick up to a whole new world in all the ways this organization conspires to advocate for.

“For me, what’s just as important [as the money donated to organizations each year] is that Art Con has actually created its own community. Tons of people look forward to being involved every year — even people who may not consider themselves artists still volunteer just to be around all of the energy. You leave with new friends, and it spins off a lot of relationships wherein people collaborate and do other community events not directly associated with Art Con itself.”

As for his art, Rick typically experiments in concrete sculpting and visionary design, and the work itself tends to come from a very personal place. “While not immediately obvious, all of my art is driven by a concept. I often keep the concept close to the vest and hope that people can interpret in their own way,” he says. “Most pieces start as dealing with an emotional struggle or a scene from real life that captured my mind for years and is associated with a significant memory in life. Aesthetically, I strive for minimalism and clean lines, and I use light/shadow as one of the key components. I spend a lot of time stripping layers of the concept away to get down to the bare bones of the idea in a way that is aesthetically simple and hopefully evokes a calm feeling as a way to bury the actual chaos inherent in the original thoughts.”

Professionally, Rick owns a business called Constructive, which provides the build for modern architecture in Dallas. “They’re mostly new one-of-a-kind homes, but we also take on small preservation and commercial projects when there’s something about the project that draws me in. I draw a lot of inspiration for my art from being influenced by architects I work with.”

Come to Art Con R/EVOLUTION tonight at Life In Deep Ellum to see Rick’s work in person and experience a taste of the magic that’s touched his life (and the lives of so many others) in such profound and direction-altering ways. We’ll see you there!

artcon.org/rick-fontenot