Archive for June, 2012
Rise Above Part 3: Element Advocate Amy Purdy
“We all have disabilities. Just some are more visible than others. We all have challenges, we all have obstacles”
-Amy Purdy
In part three of the Rise Above series, Amy Purdy, talks about non profit Adaptive Action Sports, and it’s mission to support youth and young adults with permanent physical disabilities through action sports programs. She hopes to change people’s perspectives on what it means to be able.
Rewrite beautiful…
“Street artists believe just because their art doesn’t sit in a gallery, doesn’t mean it isn’t art. Equally, just because society claims beautiful is found in your appearance, doesn’t mean it is.” -Irvina Kanarek, street artist from Newport Beach, CA and founder of, Rewrite Beautiful
Merging street art with eating disorder prevention seems an unlikely feat, but when Irvina when she found herself with 3 very different jobs: a nanny, art teacher, and counselor in an eating disorder rehab clinic, it all came beautifully together. All the girls she came into contact with had one thing in common; they were all jeopardizing their lives to make themselves “beautiful”. The art students were experimenting with eating disorders while the rehab patients were dying from them. Irvina worried that the little girl she nanny’d, would one day grow up and be welcomed into this cycle…. and thus was born Rewrite Beautiful!
Today, Rewrite Beautiful holds street art workshops for the public inspiring action, creativity, kindness and strength. They educate on eating disorders and invite people to make street art stating that beauty is an action, where it is displayed to the public for all to enjoy.
Our little Q&A with the lovely Irvina:
Us: What projects do you have going on for summer? Is there one you’re most excited about and why?
IK: This summer I’m going to be working on the third draft of my first book, How To: Rewrite Beautiful. It’s gonna be an epic book! Part memoir of my days being a hot mess and what I have learned about being creative, kind and a strong girl in the world. It’s so easy to say we want to be a certain kind of person, but it’s so hard to actually do it! I’m talking about different ways of expressing creativity, why it’s so important to be kind to yourself and tools for being strong and going after your dreams.
Us: Did you always know you were going to start a non-profit?
IK: Heck to the N-O! Starting a non-profit was the last thing I thought I would ever do! I grew up with my mom running a non-profit and decided early on it wasn’t for me. However, when I got the idea to start Rewrite Beautiful I could see that a non-profit was the right business model for us. It was a humbling and inspiring moment when I realized that something I had written off years ago was actually going to serve myself and others in a great way. I was also excited to bring my own creativity and life experience to this non-profit and make it apart of my story and help many others through it.
Us: What’s it like talking to people about a taboo subject like eating disorders?
IK: It can be pretty gnarly, sometimes I get so nervous and think, “What am I doing? I’m so not cut out for this.” I relate it a lot to being an artist. You create this body of work and when you show it you’re thinking, “I hope people like it. Do they understand it? Is it inspiring them?” Being an artist is such a risk, but it’s so exciting when someone comes up to you and says, “Oh my gosh! This is amazing! I want this in my house!” It’s the same thing for me. I speak at schools and talk about something that’s never discussed (eating disorders.) While I’m speaking I’m wondering, “Do they get it? Are they inspired?” But, it’s totally worth it when someone comes up to me after and says, “Wow. What you’re doing is amazing. I need help. What should I do? Where should I go?”
Us: When you start planning a street art workshop where do you get your inspiration from?
IK: I get so much inspiration when I go running! I can’t stand the gym so I end up running at the beach, back bay or even the good ole’ concrete streets of suburbia! I’m definitely a thinker, my mind is constantly pacing, running allows my mind to just chill out. Then all the sudden I’ll see the way someone hugs someone, then I’ll see the texture of a piece of trash, then the sunset and boom! I’ll put them all together and have a great idea. So many times I’ll have to run really fast to get home so I can write it down before I lose the idea!
Us: We notice you use a lot of recycled materials in the street art is there a reason for that?
IK: Yes, I’m cheap! Ha! No, I really just love the idea of giving a new life to something that may be seen as trash. For instance the CD’s we used for the last street art workshop to spell out “Beautiful” we’re a lot of old cd’s I used to burn photos when I was into photography. I don’t shoot photos anymore, but the creative time I spent studying photography got me to where I am today. I thought of the purpose they once served. All the sudden I saw all the CD’s in my head spelling out “Beautiful” and the next thing you know I was laying them all out on my bedroom floor trying to see how many I needed to spell it.
Us: Have you always been interested in street art?
IK: I visited Los Angeles a lot as a kid and saw a lot of graffiti. When I mentioned it, my parents would point out the amount of skill and talent it took to make that kind of art and though the people who were tagging walls weren’t doing it legally, they had something they wanted to express. I think this got me to thinking that everyone really is an artist, it’s just a matter of when and where they’re gonna express it. Then in college I was invited to Banksy’s 2005 show in Los Angeles, Barely Legal and I was hooked.
Us: What is an upcoming project you have?
IK: I’m working on getting the Rewrite Beautiful School Programs into more local schools so more kids can hear the message and make art with us. Publishing the book, How To: Rewrite Beautiful and of course our annual art show in the beginning of December! Life is super busy and Rewrite Beautiful takes a lot of work, but I’m really blessed to be working on projects I not only believe in, but that I know are helping others grow into their strong girls they were created to be.
Much love to our girl Irvina for spreading the mission to Live, Learn and Grow!! Read more about Rewrite Beautiful HERE!
California Cruisin’… in the Element van! A note from our intern!!
As an intern, I’m always ready for new experiences and an exciting challenge. Today I was able to achieve both. I had to run a few errands today and it was my first time driving the Element utility van, on the freeway to be exact! There’s a first for everything I guess! No worries, the errands were completed both safely and efficiently. Add this one to my list of learned skills at Element as a summer intern!
-Sam
Element Clementine bag in July issue of Nylon Mag!
Element Fall 12′ Collection Clementine bag in July issue of Nylon Mag!
July 2012
Rise Above Part 2: Element Advocate Amy Purdy
Amy Purdy intimately shares the struggle in overcoming the loss of her legs and what it took to set out in pursuit of her passion in snowboarding during part two in her Rise Above film series!
Missed the first part? WATCH HERE
Opening reception of “STALKER” by Lisa Solberg, this Friday!!
Our good friend Lisa Solberg’s dream-like, large-scaled oil paintings can keep any viewer entranced for hours. Growing up in Chicago, and graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Lisa now lives in Los Angeles, where she creates her beautiful, expressionist art. Her media of choice is oil paint, creating flowing silver-grey metallic strokes in her newest installation, STALKER, which will debut at THIS Los Angeles this Friday, June 15th, from 7-10 pm.
Within this installation, Lisa combines her already well-known and appreciated painting skills with attention to drawing. Reflective insulation panels with cutting techniques create poetic, bold and thoughtful imagery focused on the sublime.
Check out Lisa’s installation at THIS Los Angeles, located at 5906 North Figueroa Street Los Angeles, California 90042. You will not be disappointed!!!
STALKER continues through July 14, 2012.
Gallery hours: Thursday – Saturday 12-6 PM, and by appointment.
Contact: this@thislosangeles.com for more information.
See more of Lisa Solberg’s breathtaking paintings HERE.
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp’s Photo Journal: Part 3
Our guest blogger Jess Cramp finishes off her photo journal with her adventures in Palmerston.
” I was lucky enough to spend the entire month of April on a remote outer atoll called Palmerston, studying sea turtles. We spent every afternoon snorkeling the lagoon looking for turtles (and sharks!).”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“We brought everything we could possibly need….except women that could cook! Haha. This is Matua, teaching Kelly and I how to make proper coconut bread.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“Wondering what “turtle research” looks like? Find the egg chamber, dig until your fingernails bleed and count the number of egg shells. Every once in a while- you find a baby turtle, and that’s worth every scratch.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
” While I love research and policy work, I revel in the time with kids. Sometimes, your attention makes the difference.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“Part of living so remotely, is total self-reliance and of course, team work. We spent the day replacing thatch at the school.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
“While on Palmerston, my friend Tina and I ran a shark survey alongside the team’s turtle research. This baby grey reef shark is paying me a visit. They aren’t the killing machines that Jaws portrayed. I promise.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Green
” It’s business time! What I love about my job is the ability to transform fears through open discussion and fact sharing. This is Mayor Bob Marsters of Palmerston writing a letter to the Prime Minister, in support of shark protection. If I had my way, the entire campaign would be run by locals.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Tina Weier
Thanks for reading! Here’s a sunset to keep you dreaming. What’s life without adventure?
With love and sunshine,
Jess
Learn more about Jess through her Matador Ambassador profile
Check out more of Jess’s experiences on Destination Global Good
Dream Love Cure Concert Series
Join us and our friends at Skate4Cancer for the launch of the DREAM.LOVE.CURE. concert series! Great Bloomers start it off this Friday, June 15, and you can expect plenty of special guests to get in on the mix.
Oh, and did we mention this sweet poster was drawn up by the amazing illustrator and Element Advocate Neufeld?? Such a talented woman! See more on Juliana HERE
Hope to see you there!
More about the DREAM.LOVE.CURE. Concert Series here.
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp’s Photo Journal: Part 2
Guest Blogger Jess Cramp shares more of her adventures in the Cook Islands and her volunteer work throughout the world through her photo journal.
“Last year, I was part of the 5 Gyres crew, which sailed from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to Tahiti, trawling for trash and taking water samples every 50nm. We’re already well aware of our impacts onshore…”
PHOTO CREDIT: Kitt Doucette
“We were aboard Sea Dragon for 3 incredible weeks, reveling at the many faces of the open ocean.”
” This is a nurdle. These petroleum-based pellets are used to manufacture plastics. We found this nurdle on Henderson Atoll. It is uninhabited, in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, but still a victim of the industrialized World.”
“Next stop: Cook Islands. Almost a year ago, I committed to volunteering in marine conservation for PICI…and I don’t regret it. Lucky for me, looking for hawksbill sea turtles, like this little guy, is part of my job!”
PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen Lyon
“But life in paradise isn’t always sunny skies! With an important meeting on the horizon and nothing but a scooter, what’s a girl to do?”
“One of my very favorite things about my new “career” is getting into local communities. Here are some local Cook Islands kids showing me their shark fins in support of our shark sanctuary efforts.”
“Surfing in the Cooks is not for the faint of heart. Here’s me, wondering if I made the right choice in paddling out.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Bastien: www.justinbastien.com
With love and sunshine,
Jess
Learn more about Jess through her Matador Ambassador profile
Check out more of Jess’s experiences on Destination Global Good