Sunday, March 25, 2012

Julia Kostiuk: Model Personality Student of Beauty and Balance

Photographer Vladimir Shurubura
Photographer: Ksju Kami
Photographer: Vladimir Shurubura
Photographer is: Ksju Kami Photography

Julia Kostuik is a stunning Eastern European import to Detroit Metro and keeps a busy and productive schedule.  Currently earning her bachelors degree in business at WSU, she is also a Yoga Instructor with a day job in the financial field.   

If you happen to meet her in person you will immediately notice her down to earth personality and that she can hold an engaging conversation on any topic.  Julia is very proud of her cultural roots, born in Lviv, located on the Western side of Ukraine and sometimes referred to as the Paris of Eastern Europe.  She knows her history and enjoys sharing important historical aspects of the changes her country has undergone in the last 50 years.  Ever the student of beauty and balance she speaks several languages, enjoys Modeling, Fashion Styling, Interior Design and continually hones her Visual Arts experience.  She can be contacted for professional modeling and yoga instruction inquiries via e-mail. 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Variations On A Fashion Concept Via Polyvore

"Heads Up" alvitafreestyleindetroit via polyvore (1)
"Heads Up" alvitafreestyleindetroit via polyvore (2)
The above sets are idea formats I'm exploring on my polyvore profile.  It usually takes me a several sets to get something that I'm happy with.  Which do you think works best?

Monday, March 12, 2012

Post FILWF: A Visual Story

Photo: Jenna Belevender, Fashion Shoot Photography on display by Eric Peoples
Photo: EPic Images, Eric People, "The Queeen" experimental garment by Artist Tiffany Best
Photo: Jenna Belevender, Joey Merhcant, "Illusions Collection" Art Dress
Photo: Jenna Belevender, Artist Joey Merchant, wearing her "Illusions Collection" Custom Art Dress
Photo: Jenna Belevender, Paper Fortune Tellers
Luke Song Millinery: "Birdcage" Photo: EPic Images, Eric Peoples
Photo: EPic Images, Eric Peoples of Artist: Rose Suau and Alivta Lozano
Photo: Jenna Belevender, "Cake Box" by Elizabeth Kincaid
Photo: Jenna Belevender, Luke Song Millinery
Photo: Eileen Isotalo, Mark Sarmel Artwork
Photo: Nichole Christian, of Red Balloon prints, by Eric Peoples and Alvita Lozano
Photo: A. Lozano, Art by Toni Nunn
Dorinda Balanicki: Vita's Favorite Desert, Photo: Jenna Belevender
Photo: Britta Brookes of Artist Joey Merchant and Stylist Cara Lundgren
Photo: Birtta Brookes of Rose and Mario Suau: Invisible Twin Audio Narration Production "Young Hearts"

The Pulitzer prize winning poet Chevlof Milov once said "poetry is very much at least in structure akin to a collage".  I think that is a wonderful analogy.  So much of what we consume visually today is best appreciated in a collage format.  I'm reminded of Pinterest as an example of this kind of digital platform. 
I hope this post is a pleasant visual re-cap of the FILWF exhibit.  Thank you to everyone who came out to see it, to those who worked so hard to make it happen (Special Thanks to Heather Rehe: Salon Rehe, Eric Peoples: Epic Images, Rose Suau: bunnyteeth) and also to those of you who stopped to view this post.  I hope you fall in love with something everyday!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Live Sod, Red Balloons, Fashion and Art

Polyvore set: via alvitafreestyleindetroit, this is how the story begins...

Morning of February 14th: live sod rolls prepped, sprayed with green food coloring for the installation (we had snowfall this morning)
Photo by Britta Brookes: "Sod Walk" installed in the gallery @ Salon Rehe Space, also included a 3D Assemblage piece by Artist Toni Nunn "Bird Cage Muse" in the forefront. 
Patent leather baby doll shoes filled with valentine heart candy and glitter, red balloon is anchored by shoe and the glass red heart on top of "Sod Walk" live sod installation by A. Lozano, photo by Crystal Proxim: The Ferndale 115 News
Photo: Jenna Belevender
 
The red balloon hovered happily over the candy filled shoes as part of the "Sod Walk" installation greeting exhibit visitors upon entering the Pop Up 01/14/2012, Photo by Britta Brookes

You would be hard pressed to find live sod in Detroit, MI during the month of February.  I was naively determined however to have it be an integral part of an installation piece of mine at "Fall In Love With Fashion" Pop Up Art Exhibit on Valentines day this year.  It was the right thing to do as there is no substitute for a green organic element in art.
My journey took me to a sod farm a bit north of here where I met a very pleasant if not bewildered sod farmer who was glad to find a customer.
The morning of the pop up I woke to snow fall and a typical February temperature.  The two sod rolls were lying on a tarp outdoors looking a typical brownish but alive.  I drug the tarp onto the porch and sprayed them with green food coloring in hopes they would appear lush and green.  I was thrilled with the results as you can see it was a successful installation.
One of the writers who attended the exhibit (Crystal Proxime of The Ferndale 115 News ) said the installation "Set a whimsical tone" for the gallery, which made me smile.
The photo shoot which produced images to promote the event included a red balloon theme.  Why a red balloon theme one might ask?  For me, red balloons represent Passion, Hope, and Adventure.  Elements I wanted to showcase in this exhibit. Integrating nature (live sod), shoes, candy, glitter, a silver butterfly, a red heart ornament, along with the red balloon seemed the perfect way to summarize Fall In Love With Fashion Pop Up Art Exhibit.  The exhibit concept was born of a singular vision...a red balloon, and my determination to respect and interpret the idea.