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Laurel Wells is a New York based designer and musician from the good ole ATL.
favorite local artist? Travis Pack
what album are you currently listening to? Neil Young, and The Selmanaires
favorite local hang out?
Trader Vics and the Clermont Lounge
one thing you love about your life? "I love my new Greenpoint apartment!"
Laurel is currently involved in a number of creative projects:
www.laurelwells.com
Mia Riddle and Her Band
Leyode
Fashion designer and born-and-bred Atlantan Laurel Wells turns 29 next week and tells The Atlanta Creatives Project how Seventeen magazine, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and--of course--Atlanta shaped her world.
What's your connection to Atlanta?
I lived there my whole life until I left to go to college. I went to school at the University of Georgia where I majored in painting, and then I moved back to Atlanta for a few years, and then I moved to New York.
How did growing up in Atlanta affect your work as an artist?
In two ways. One really superficial way being that coming from Atlanta, I really wasn’t exposed to a lot of stuff, cause now it’s kind of more of a cosmopolitan city, but when I was growing up, it wasn’t at all. I didn’t know about Saks. I had a subscription to Seventeen magazine and that was kind of my relationship to that whole world. ... I was a really creative person. I idolized Cyndi Lauper and Madonna in the 80s, but I didn’t know where you would buy things that were really fashionable, so I started making my own clothes when I was 14, just because I wanted to buy things I couldn’t find anywhere. So in a way living in Georgia helped my creativity.
And the second?
I think being a Southern women you really have these ideas about womanhood and about what a woman should be—that sort of Scarlett O'Hara influence that you constantly have kind of needing to feel ladylike, and since moving to New York, I’ve noticed now how not everybody has that. And that’s a specifically Southern thing.
Are you supporting yourself full-time as an artist?
I did support myself full-time with my business for the past two years, but now I am taking a break from my collection because I am designing for a company called Hayden-Harnett. I am their new apparel designer. So it’s my stuff, it just doesn’t have my name on it. So this collection for them will be out in fall 2008.
What can we expect from Hayden-Harnett's fall 2008 collection?
It’s really wonderful working for them because they really respect my ideas, so I pretty much have the freedom to do my own collection, but on a much better, bigger scale because I have more resources and better manufacturing. But stylistically, it’s cool, a tailored military style meets South American aesthetic. And I think it’s gonna be really, really good.
Has being in New York helped you artistically?
New York is such a great place of opportunity because you’re just physically close to so many people. In the fashion world, of course, things are going to happen a little more here than in Atlanta, but I think being any type of artist, New York is a great place to be. You might go to a bar and have a beer and meet someone who can change your life, and that didn’t really happen when I lived in Atlanta.
What are your thoughts on The Atlanta Creatives Project?
I’m always bragging about the amazing talent that comes out of Atlanta. Hopefully some day I can have a book on my coffee table and say, 'Look at all these people who came from this community.' I don’t know what the magical element is about Atlanta that causes so many creative people to come out of there. Maybe it’s because it’s not a big city.
You can get updates about Laurel Wells on her website and watch Hayden-Harnett (located in Laurel's current neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn,) for her fall 2008 collection.
we love our black lips
they were amazing on conan!!!
check it:
From:Black Lips
Date: Oct 11, 2007 12:22 PM
Now, we were pretty excited when we saw the opening graphic card with "Black Lips" on the Conan background, and when O'Brien introed the band saying "I love the music guest tonight...they're great," we got a little giddy, but when he held up that pretty vinyl and the boys launched into their rousing live rendition of "O Katrina!" we just about burst with pride. You can stream the entire episode for a month here (show aired October 9 for those not keeping score) and if you want to skip right to the good stuff, it's the second to last tick on the player around the 35 minute mark. And an enterprising youngster put a clip up on you tube, check it out:
so we received a message a little while ago about bands and press/"lack there of" in atlanta... here is how we feel about it:
"i hear ya babe... i actually like their music, i like thier energy...
i do, however, agree that there is much talent coming from atlanta that has yet to be heard or seen by the rest of the world...and that is what sucks!
atlanta has long been overlooked and "underheard" which is exactly why the documentary was started... although the ***** may not please the tastes of some atlantans, i think its great that they are recieving press. it brings more attention to our overlooked city... the more opportunities there are for atlanta's creatives to make press, the more opportunities there are for other bands and artists to be discovered. we wanna create a space (www.atlantacreatives.org) where people outside of atlanta can look into all the genres of creativity atlanta has to offer... so rich in sound and visuals.
if we cant support our own talent... we can't expect others to
i personally don't have to "love" every band or every artist i support, but i do have to respect their love, passion, and commitment to their craft."
in conclusion...
you guys(we) should shamelessly promote/support each other.
if you are a band or an artist being interviewed, for god's sake, drop ATL names!!! figure out who your favorite locals are and tell the world.
ATLANTA ATLANTA ATLANTA... the more people hear it, the more piqued their interest will become... perfect example of where this shameless self promotion has worked: our hip-hop community! bad asses are on the map. now its time for the rest of atlanta to take over... you are way too talented not to! what are you waiting for?
smashing darling has made mention of our project... we love their site check out WWW.SMASHINGDARLING.COM then take a minute to read what they have to say about the atlanta creatives project
:)
-neda
We are in the midst of scheduling a number of great conceptual shoots and interviews. Our next shoot will be next week in NYC. Laurel Wells is an amazing clothing designer and musician.
Due to your amazing response and support, Neda will be returning to Atlanta for a number of months in late October to shoot more regularly for the project. Stay tuned :)
Thanks you guys!
We are off to a great start!
Today I caught up with bass player Tommy Chung from Selmanaires a week and a half into their tour opening for Black Lips. Tommy, a consistently cool and confident fellow, always quick to deliver a handshake and smile, responded to my first question with the speed and precision of a world class chess master bad ass.
Aaron: "First things first: major credit card number and blood type."
Tommy: "1 900 HOT BUTT and F minus."
How Tommy knew to answer with A: my favorite phone sex line, and B: my average grade in high school, I don't know. I think he has ESPN. Oh wait thats not right. I mean he's got "the touch" like that weird kid Danny in "The Shining". By the by, if 1 900 HOT BUTT is real and you work there, I want a sponsorship.
I asked Tommy how his band The Selmanaires got started because really, I think they are the shit and I want everyone to know. Its like Kinks and Zombies showing Fela Kuti how to rock out 50's/60's style, and Fela getting back and saying, "Yeah but where I'm from, this is how you lay down the stanky shit people NEVER stop dancing to". Put that in the blender for a minute...promise it makes sense somehow.... I'll pause...
In short, Selmanaires got started when twin brothers Jason and Herb (Harris) moved to Atlanta from Austin Texas in 2000 and became instant buds with Tommy (born and raised ATL) out of a mutual appreciation for old records. Mathis Hunter, another ATLien, is a recent addition (percussion and samples). He's like that bad ass dude that chills out and then out of nowhere melts your brain with a few well placed drum hits and sampler noises. BLADDOWWWW!!! is a good word to describe what he does. Thats onomatopoeia-speak for "fuck YEAH MATHIS!"
A house on Selman St. in ATL played host to their first jam sessions...hence the name. To me, their name has always been instantly recognizable, because they're like the "debonaires of Selman St." but I wondered if they'd had any problems with it.
"Sometimes I'll tell people in a loud bar 'Selmanaires' and they say, 'Salmonella?'". People, if there is anything I'd like to accomplish by this interview, it's to establish that Tommy's band is Selmanaires and not a fuckin disease you get by handling raw chicken. Seriously who would name their band that unless they were hardcore death metal nihilists and threw uncooked poultry at the crowd during the gig? Yikes.
Clearly Tommy is the kind of dude that understands and appreciates artists working or trying to work in/out of ATL. When asked about sources of visual inspiration in his hometown he was able to rattle off the work of more than a few artists he digs who have displayed work in ATL and elsewhere. Among those mentioned: the work of photographer Stevie Brown, Melissa Cox AKA "Squanto", Katie Ridley, and Aubrey Pope. I did a little interweb homework on these cats and saw some amazing stuff, but I'm not going to try to describe the artists in more detail because I'd sound amateurish so click on their links to see for yourself.
Of the art scene in ATL Tommy relays, "Atlanta is a great place for artists and has great art because it doesn't quite have the same spotlight shining on it that NY or LA has. People don't necessarily come to Atlanta to 'make it'...they're not compelled to sell art in the biggest, nicest galleries or to meet deadlines and strike it big....it's more a place to refine your craft and experiment." I asked him what the deal was with half those artists he mentioned and Tommy made a pretty cool comment. "Makers", he said, "I refer to them as makers because some of my favorite locals deal in many mediums and make great things". I said, "Like Makers on the rocks?" "Exactly," says Chung. Which led me to my next question...
"What are the Selmanaires drinking these days?"
Tommy: Whiskey soda
Herb: Dark Beer
Jason: Whiskey soda
Mathis: Whiskey soda
Tommy and I then celebrated our mutual affection for whiskey for a moment. He sounded like a seasoned vet so I asked him if Herb and his whole Dark Beer thing was him holding out with a less stiff beverage until the end of the tour when the collective livers of Selmanaires and many other bands are probably begging for mercy.
"Yeah maybe," Tommy says.
Aaron: "So you're like the Sith Lord who's brought Jason and Mathis to the whiskey dark side while Herb is a lonely beer drinking Jedi."
Tommy:"Yeah that's about right."
Aaron:"I'll see you guys in rehab."
Tommy:"Awesome."
...which led me to my next thought. Its sad that in rehab we probably won't be able to use that 900 number we share in affinity for...
Now that you're done reading this 2nd rate interview ;) make sure to visit the selmanaires on myspace. Look for a new album early 2008 and don't miss their next performance! Every time I go see them I end up dancing with women finer than frog hair who probably think I'm crazy. You really have to see a Selmanaires show to get why this happens. I'll be the guy in the front row enjoying the hell out of making a complete jack ass out of himself. Buy me a drink... I expect to see you there unless you're sick and its coming out both ends...
signing off for now,
Aaron
Last night the bands put on a great performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Article courtesy of C.J. Smith:
When the circus comes to town, everyone takes notice. But Wednesday night at Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn was not your typical Ringling Bros./ Barnum & Bailey event: In the center ring were garage-rockers Black Lips, who decided that a record store is a good a place as any to try and throw a circus.
The band is part of a thriving Atlanta indie-rock scene that also includes Deerhunter, Manchester Orchestra and others. Originally slated to be a simple in-store acoustic performance, the band decided to take it one step — OK, several steps — further, dubbing the event the "Black Lips Circus and Bad Kids' Parade." The band's shows are notorious for bad behavior both onstage and off — most famously involving several different kinds of bodily fluids, which the band has largely stopped doing — so the concept isn't much of a stretch. "It's always kind of a circus mentality of people being degenerates at our shows, so we decided to take it to the next level by inviting kids — not even at a show — to parade down the streets," Lips singer/guitarist Cole Alexander said of the event.
"We wanted to spice things up a little. It was kind of thrown together last minute, though," said bassist Jared Swilley — and that much was apparent. The circus part of the night was a tad bumpy due to a bunch of last-minute cancellations (including jugglers, ponies and a couple of other circus acts), but the band's acoustic set went ahead with burlesque dancers and a marching band that led the crowd into the streets for the second portion of the night, the "Bad Kids' Parade."
"We embody bad kids, and that's why we created the Bad Kids Circus, to parade down the streets, promoting juvenile delinquent behavior," Cole said of the parade. And while there was no overtly bad behavior along the parade route, it was nonetheless a rousing success. Fans poured from the record store, led by the Black Lips and the marching band, who played rousing anthems all the way to the Music Hall of Williamsburg, where the band hit the stage for a proper — well, kind of proper — show later in the night.
By the time the parade reached the venue, it had swelled to 200 or so people, complete with confetti launchers, fire-breathers, skateboarding bandmembers and fans in costume and face paint.
And the revelry only gained intensity when the band hit the stage for a typically rambunctious set. As the band tore through a set of fan favorites and songs from their brand-new fifth LP, Good Bad Not Evil, fans formed a giant pit, slam-dancing while crowd-surfers bounded from the stage.
Between the sweaty mess of bodies and beers being hurled into the air, barely a soul left the Music Hall dry.
The SELMANAIRES are: (from left to right) Herb Harris, Mathis Hunter, Tommy Chung, Jason Harris
Tommy Chung from Selmanaires answers:
favorite local artist? Bradford Cox from Deerhunter. Says Tommy, "All around creative personality...music, art, photography, graphic design (Cox has designed album covers for Black Lips and more recently The Coathangers). Its sometimes hard to make out lyrics at a Deerhunter show, but on top of all that, he's also an incredible singer."
what album are you currently listening to? "Tender Buttons" by UK band Broadcast. Constantly on standby: Can and 70's funk. CCR makes great driving music!
favorite local hang out? Manuel's Tavern.
one thing you love about your life? People in ATL. Despite how much its grown, there's still a small southern town feel. &nb sp;
*************************************************************************************
Upon moving from Austin to Atlanta in 2000, twin brothers Herb and Jason Harris met Tommy Chung, and the trio had their first band practice at 73 Selman Street, the location from which they took their official title of the Selmanaires. The group played their first gigs after learning a slew of Rolling Stones and Stooges cover tunes on which they would let their drunken basement party audiences sign up to take turns at the mic stand. The Selmanaires’ original sound tread on quieter acoustic territory that featured stand-up bass, bongos, and a Wurlitzer, but the trio noticed their audience was more responsive to the rockers that closed their sets. Several years and equipment adjustments later, the Selmanaires added multi-instrumentalist Mathis Hunter to the line-up and released their debut record Here Come the Selmanaires in 2005. The band generated significant buzz and a solid following in their home state as a result of their impressive first effort that was built on the gorgeous vocal harmonies of the three originating members, as well as their affinity for the eccentric ass-shaking of late-seventies new wave artists like Devo and the Talking Heads. The band has just finished recording their sophomore release, and is gearing up for the Zig-Zag Live Fall Tour with the Black Lips.
Story by Andrew Lutwin
courtesy of Zig Zag Live
Thanks, Taylor
Stay tuned for Aaron's interview of the band!
Thirty-one year-old Dosa has lived in Atlanta for 17 years and says he can’t imagine abandoning the city that gave rise to his creativity. He started his career in graphic design at the Art Institute of Atlanta, and then went to the University of Georgia for computer animation. His work can be starkly simple, as with his famous black and white bunnies humping, or haunting, as with his graphic novel-like prints. --Erin Behan
Dosa, is that your full name?
It’s Andrew Dosa Kim. Dosa is a Korean name, and it's funny because it's my dad's nickname in Korean, and most Korean people have a hard time calling me that because it means guru or master. … When I was in Korea—I was born in the states—I lived in Korea in the summers. They would really pick on me. They'd really kick my ass.
How did you end up in Atlanta?
I used to live in Knoxville, Tennessee—born in Knoxville, Tennessee--and my parents ended up getting into manufacturing. And they bought out a manufacturing plant in Atlanta. And, we ended up in Atlanta from there on.
What school did you go to?
I went to a Christian school all the way through my freshman year, and then I went to public school—Roswell High School.
How has Atlanta influenced your art?
[During the interview Dosa is wearing a T-shirt of his own design that mocks the KKK.]
Atlanta's locked in the tradition. The South is locked in tradition. The unwillingness to accept new—the struggle—is where the artwork comes from. It's not for the sake of being different. It's more on the content. The impetus [in the art world] is on content in the South, instead of technique or style. I think the struggle is on a very social level. I can look at you in the South—I can look at you, the skin, color, and because of that I don't want to do business with you, I don't want to talk to you. Those are the struggles of the South. … Because of that, that's why I feel I need to stay in Atlanta. It's more important. New York and L.A. have the tendency to drag all the creatives out of the South because [the cities] are not open to new ideas, but there are a few of us who are sticking around and we really want to push our message across.
Have you gotten any reactions?
I did this one thing at Apache Cafe. They invited me for Black History Month, and the first print I did was this black kid getting lynched. And the whole audience is all black, and I'm the only Asian there. And I think they were about to lynch me, and they were really angry about that piece. And I got up on stage, and they're all booing, and I had to explain what all these art pieces meant. And they're all different war images … So I get up on stage and say, “You guys think it's all great that you're on MTV, making money, lawyers and doctors, but this is less than 100 years ago, your grandparents saw this, and your parents probably saw this. The one thing the Jewish community hasn't done, they haven't forgotten the Holocaust, but the black community, you guys, don't remember the pain. It was less than 100 years ago, and it can easily happen again.’ I think a lot of my stuff has to deal with pain and remembering the past. I had this one piece, this one art show, I did this whole Nazi series. Nazi monkeys. Actually a Jewish lady bought that piece. That caused a lot of commotion too. The one I'm known for is this black rabbit humping this white rabbit. I don't think it could ever be done more poetically. It's very interracial, but it's very cute. It's the same design, the exact same rabbit. It's so simple. A few lines and a few pieces of color--trying to break down these barriers.
Do you support yourself as an artist?
I do T-shirts for Soul Monkey. Help people brainstorm ideas. I'm realizing ideas—they're not a dime a dozen--ideas are golden. If you have a strong beginning, you have a strong finish.
What do you like best about Atlanta?
I like it's because it's a city you can get away from. You can be in the city, but not be in the city.
Favorite place?
My backyard.
Tell me what you think about the whole project, the Atlanta Creatives Project.
I think it's a good idea. It's really funny, every time I travel outside of Atlanta, people are always wondering what Atlanta's doing. Atlanta is really hot right now, but nobody knows what's going on. There's a feeling of trendiness to it. Like MTV for example, it's not about the music, it's about the medium. They control that whole sphere of influence. Same way with all these art magazines, Juxtapoz, Beautiful/Decay, and these weird trends. They are controlling the trends. Before you know it you have the same stuff. … And with Atlanta, it's not like that. We're kind of just doing our own thing. In fact, we made it a point to not even look at those magazines.
Why is Atlanta different?
It's the way Atlanta's spread out, and it is the lack of organization. It's really funny, seeing how you and Neda are from Atlanta, you live up here, you guys are really focused. I think a lot of kids who are native to Atlanta are kind of complacent. It takes someone from outside to motivate them.
Will it bring things together?
It has to be done. It's just a matter of time--who is going to do it. We're trying to do a show, Sons of the South. We're going to the same art shows, we're doing the same thing, but we never sit down and talk. I'm just a piece of the puzzle, but if you can see the big picture--I'm pretty sure it's an amazing picture. I feel like those three blind men and the elephant. … It's something big, just nobody's put it together yet.
Why isn't Atlanta better documented?
I've come to the conclusion there's no channels of media in Atlanta that covers what we do. There's nobody that's setting the standards or documenting what we're doing. Anywhere in California, someone's publishing it, putting it on the web, it's being documented. They know who the players are. Even New York. Nobody's documenting Atlanta. That's probably the biggest travesty of Atlanta. I'm one of the few who is making the cut, because I put it in my own hands. … The nightlife scene heavily influences the art scene—that kind of passion, that kind of pure passion. If nobody's covering that stuff, it really doesn't matter. … It's all word of mouth. It's a small city mentality in a town of 5 million people. It's some funny shit going on. I don't really understand it.
To see Dosa's work, check out:
Sneakerpimps Atlanta
live art installation by DOSA on Sept. 22
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
When Robots Ruled The Earth
opening Sept 28th 7-11 p.m.
Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo
Underdogs Art Auction
Sept 29 7-11 p.m.
Soap Box Studios
Tonight Dosa placed second in the
Cut and Paste
design battle that took place in NYC.
He put on a great show!!! WE LOVE YOU DOSA!!!
we need a publisher... or anyone who knows anything about it!
atlantacreativesproject@gmail.com
as many of you know... i live in NYC and ATL... so the shoots will take place in both cities. its great, considering how often some of you travel here.
so...
let me know if any of you will be in NYC before october 15th... i'll be heading to the ATL for a couple of weeks on october 18th to shoot a bunch of you...
i will also be back in atl for a week in november.
shoots in tha' works
september in NYC:
dosa kim
laurel wells
the selmanaires
october in ATL:
bethany marchman
stephen dixey
roel daves III
charlie owens
josh latta
ana balka
michi
the coathangers
evereman
november in ATL:
film makers of atlanta: sargent peppers project
we are looking for contributing writers interested in interviewing the talent we will showcase on the blog along with stylists and make up artists interested in making sure the talent looks their best on shoots. we would also love to meet a social extrovert who could help plan events: future shows/parties etc.
:)
please send inquiries to the atlantacreativesproject@gmail.com.
so...
now it's just a matter of logistics and scheduling.
a number of shoots have already been scheduled and there will be many more to figure.
when will our/your shoot take place?
send me an email to atlantacreativesproject@gmail.com and we will work it out.
in the mean time... let me know if there is someone you think should be a part of the project or please send them a link to this page.
xoxo
n
what’s the point?
you are the point.
atlanta is an amazing city. i lived there all of my life, until just recently moving to nyc.
what i loved most about atl was the creativity i found in so many different places, in so many different people.
you...your contemporaries...
do you know them?...
would you recognize them?...
can you support those whom you have never met or seen?...
can they provide the same for you?
i always wondered what it would be like for all of you to somehow meet.
this project is a step in bringing all of you together through images.
one photograph at a time you will meet each other...
and i can't wait!
:)
n
