Paper Goods: Tam+Sam

Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed but with the popularity of the internet/email,  like everyone else I’ve opted to put down the pen & paper and type my thoughts away. But sometimes you just want to go back to the basics and indulge conventionally! One of my favorite blogger duo’s Tam + Sam have a really cute line of paper goods ByNous, that feature simple but original designs like their mascot Little Miss X(who by the way I am in ❤ with). Why not send a thank-you letter or drop a note to that friend you’ve lost touch with via snail mail on some snazzy stationary! I’m motivated to try and re-incorporate this past-time back into my routine & hope that you are too. Please visit Tam + Sam blog to be visually stimulated daily & don’t forget to check out their ByNous Etsy shop to purchase their line of paper goods!

Candids: Brazilian Model Thiago Santos <3

{All photos & video via The Fashion Spot}

Photo Diary: 2 Days w/Geneticboi NYC

Check for Monsieur Mai right here POW!….

Galeria Mercado Brazil

Afro-latino culture has always fascinated me, I think it partially began when I met my best friend Ana when I was a junior in high school. She was an exchange student from Niteroi, Rio De Janeiro & we became the best of friends and still are to this day(she’s the godmother of my children). Her father is considered black & her mother white, so she has experienced the racial complexities of both sides equally living in Brazil. Although Afro-Brazilians make up the majority of the population in Brazil, because of the negative stigma that is associated with being pardo(black or brown) there is a devastating lack of inequality socially & visibly within the media throughout the country.

Galeria Mercado is a fairly new line based in Brazil, focusing on the urban & contemporary experiences of the culture. For the 2010 Juu collection, founders Daniela Goulart & Josana Matedi enlisted local artist Adriano Paulino to create a series of stencil art depicting contemporary music & photography of the African culture. The t-shirt is the centerpiece in these collections because of its simplicity, versatility, and numerous possibilities when it comes to patterns and shapes. Please visit their site to view the entire collection & to find out how you can purchase these beautiful pieces!

Photos of the Week

(All Photos taken by me throughout NYC)

On Set: Free Peoples Rebellion Lookbook Shoot

For some time now, I’ve been nagging my good friend & photographer Kwesi Abbensettes to let me tag along on one of his many photo shoots. Finally last weekend I got the chance to see him in action! We met in Brooklyn at a really beautiful brownstone that served as our headquarters for the day. The shoot was for emerging line, Free People Rebellion’s look book.  Designer Sarah Williams creates handmade accessories using various metals &  authentic African textiles from her native Liberia. This recent collection was inspired by British phenomenon Ebony Bones tune W.A.R.R.I.O.R.  Most of my collections are inspired by some music or song that I really love, W.A.R.R.I.O.R influenced my incorporation of metals & more strong pieces throughout this collection which convey a strong statuesque type of woman!

Watching the shoot unfold from beginning to end was pure excitement for me. It was great watching the chemistry between all of the talents involved from the MUA Jennifer Knowlden to the gorgeous model Folasade Adeoso (Naija girls rock!) everyone was in sync (especially since it was the first time the model,designer & mua were meeting). Sarah already knew the creative direction she wanted to go in & Kwesi just vibed off of her energy & direction while shooting. There were about 4-5 looks that were shot, each look getting a subtle upgrade by MUA Jennifer Knowlden another amazing talent to watch. Model Folosade Adeoso blew us all away working the simple green vine backdrop including our never-ending slew of onlookers or should I call them the Fola Fan Club lol. Overall the shoot was a success & a great experience that I’m grateful to have been apart of & look forward to more to share with you here at Nuvany Nice!

A Peace Treaty: Sunari

From inception I have genuinely been a fan of the creative work A Peace Treaty duo Farah Malik & Dana Arbib have consistently delivered. I’ve always admired their decision to create a line that would not only give back but at the same time enlighten people on global issues. Each season the two enlist local artisans from small villages around the world to create handmade accessories that are relative to their respective cultures/homes. As a result of their amazing skill & craftmanship the artisans are paid fair trade wages eight times the local rate. For the past few seasons they have created beautiful scarves made from lush textiles such as cashmere & silk. Sunari which translates to female goldsmith is the debut jewelry collection the duo have launched for S/S 10. The collection consists of twelve 24 karat gold-plated pieces handmade entirely by Kurdish artisans. The intricate carvings on the amulets & talismans are inspired by nomadic tribes from Afghanistan & Turkoman . I would love to own a few of these pieces & keep them as heirlooms, they definitely have a timeless vibe! Be sure to visit the site to view the full collection as well as the beautifully crafted scarves they offer.

Artist Alert: Q & A With Chris Hobe

Q: Do you have any formal training? At what age did you decide to pursue a career in art & did your upbringing nurture or play a role in your decision?

A: No formal training, I majored in Art my first year in college but my teachers were not into the style of my work urban/street influenced by Graf. I started my career in art when I was 28 I wanted more from my life and did not want to depend on a company for a pay check when I could be out selling my work on my own and creating non-stop. My parents are both artist by nature and they showed me that anything is possible when you utilize your talent and passion for your work.

Q: What do you find most challenging as an emerging artist?

A:The most challenging aspect of being an artist is the fact that you get knocked down a lot and it is how you get back up and continue to do what you love that makes you an artist. Anyone can create a piece of art but an artist is someone who creates and makes people believe in his or her work.

Q: Describe a typical painting session with Chris Hobe?

A: A typical session starting @ 9pm-2am is music playing @ all times LOUD (classic rock, reggae/dub, hip hop, funk) incense burning, paint all over the place (clothes and everything), no boarders or boundaries, my garage/studio is covered from wall to wall with paint cans and art. Never standing still at any point in time always moving feeling the music as my inspiration that fuels the passion and soul in each piece. Sometimes I will get up the morning after a serious session and not even realize the piece that I did the night before!

Q: Are there any newer or past artists that you admire or are inspired by?

A: Artist that influence me are my Mother and Father, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollack, Van Gogh, Goya, Futura, Shepard Fairy, Bansky, and Kaws.

Q: What do you want people to perceive when they look at your work?

A: I want people to feel the passion and soul that is put into my work. Each piece adds to ones soul. You can look at any of my pieces and it will enlighten you and put a smile on your face.

Visit the  Artistic Revolutionary blog to view more of Chris’s work or drop him an email at souloriginals78 [at] yahoo.com for any inquiries!

Wejetset City Notes: Philly Is Where I Am From

Philly is what 2 hrs. from NYC, yet surprisingly I’ve never taken the time to explore the wonderful city. But thanks to Taj over at Wejetset, when I do I’ll be well equipped with their current issue of City Notes. City Notes is basically a travel guide curated by a professional creative from the respective city.  Joey Sweeney writer/creator of Philebrity, is our tour guide this time around. He recommends all the best eatery’s, sights, places to stay and a few other must have stops while your in Philly. I’ve created a box that stashes all of  my city notes issues for all the excursions I plan on taking when it warms up a bit :).  And I think its beyond sweet that city notes are FREE, all you have to do is drop an email with your mailing addy to citynotes (at) wejetset.com and they’ll send you a copy. Be sure to browse the extensive Wejetset travel site while you’re visiting, I’m sure you’ll discover a bit of newness!

{Culture.} Sheena Inspires Me!

Since I began my blog, I’ve always made a conscious effort to post original non-redundant content. I know theres that saying there’s nothing new under the sun, but I think I do a good job at it. But of course theres always an exception to the rule, like what I’m posting today. Fader Magazine Style Editor Chioma Nnadi is what I call a mentor in my head (someone that I do not know personally but am inspired by and admire from afar). I love her style and her work equally. I logged onto her Fader Mag Style blog today and had a sort of deja vu of what I was seeing. I’ve briefly read about and even visited The Uniform Project Blog.  But after viewing the trailer that Sheena Mathieken put together, I knew I had to continue spreading the word about her selfless efforts. I want to make sure that you watch the video and get involved, so I’m not going to elaborate any further. Just watch and hopefully you’ll be touched like I’ve been!