Jessica Alba is all about the Pendleton

Thanks to @lanova33 for pointing me to these pics of Jessica Alba sporting the pendleton jacket and braids in Texas last week. A couple more below:

 

All pics are from her twitter feed, and can be found here: http://tweetphoto.com/8721265

(Thanks Lanova!)

John Cena WWE Superstar

WWE Superstar John Cena

John Cena WWE Superstar Bio: Let’s be honest: hailing from the rolling hills and broad valleys that constitute West Newbury, Mass., will likely never earn you “street cred”--unless, of course, you’re John Cena. Then again, it didn’t happen overnight for him, either. Long before he became the Dr. of Thuganomics, young Cena had to endure the neighborhood rocker kids’ taunts about his baggy pants and rayon Kwamé shirts. His love for freestyling lyrics about rebellion and individualism just didn’t fit within the small rural community. By the time he turned 15, however, those same kids would stop teasing him, for it became apparent that Cena had been developing another passion: hitting the gym.

After applying to more than 60 colleges (and being accepted by 58), Cena attended Massachusetts’ Springfield College, where he excelled as a Division III All-American offensive lineman and team captain for the Pride. But as much as he fondly remembers his college football accomplishments, he’s equally as proud of earning his degree in Exercise Physiology, which he attributes to making him a smarter, more durable performer in the ring today.

Though a huge WWE fan since childhood, rooting for heroes like Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, and Shawn Michaels, Cena had honestly never even considered a career in WWE. Instead, he flew out to California in 2000, to pursue a profession in bodybuilding (a move he now admits to making simply because his father had told him he wouldn’t make it out there). But while working behind the counter of Gold’s Gym in Venice, a discussion with a wrestler-in-training encouraged Cena to enroll in classes at Ultimate Pro Wrestling. He was instantly hooked, and became motivated to learn everything he could about his newfound craft. He obviously proved a quick study; within a year, World Wrestling Entertainment signed Cena to a developmental contract to train at Ohio Valley Wrestling. By June 2002, he had joined the SmackDown roster, and less than a year later headlined the first of what has since become countless main-event matches.

That said, Cena has never forgotten his roots. In fact, remembering where he came from has helped him evolve into the man he is today: a well-versed hip-hop artist, a successful movie star and a blue-collared Chain Gang Soldier who’s always ready to fight. In his jean shorts and Under Armour Proto Power sneakers, he leads his WWE fan-based army into battle with the mission statement he’s been down with since Day One: hustle, loyalty and respect.

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FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

Art is the struggle to understand.
~ Audrey Foris

Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?
~ Michael Torke

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.
~ John Lubbock

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Day Is Done

Beautiful Party Wear Dress

Fashion Model posing in a very beautiful Party Wear dress.

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

Art disturbs, science reassures.
~ Georges Braque, Le Jour et la nuit

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.
~ Ansel Adams

The world just does not fit conveniently into the format of a 35mm camera.
~ W. Eugene Smith

If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.
~ Gustav Mahler

Looks like Rachel Zoe was right...

(image via The Sartorialist)

Remember back in January when I posted the Rachel Zoe report about Lindsay Thornburg's Pendleton cloaks? Looks like they've invaded the NY fashion scene. I found this picture this morning on The Sartorialist, one of my favorite fashion blogs of on-the-street fashion, by photographer Scott Schuman. He tends to have his fingers on the pulse of fashion (look at me use a metaphor at 9:30 am), so we'll see if this is a trend with staying power.

I'll keep my eyes open for anything similar coming out of NY fashion week right now.

my earlier post on Lindsay Thornburg: http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/2010/01/tribal-fashion-newest-trend.html

The Zoe Report: http://www.rachelzoe.com/lindsey-thornburg-cloak

Lindsay Thornburg Designs: http://www.lindseythornburg.com/store.html

The Sartorialist: http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

Animated Tattoos?

Animated Tattoo? Can it be done? Yes, it's been done.

Random Appropriation of the Day!

My friend Yve found this Hermes scarf online.  Called "Pani La Shar Pawnee", it retails for $420, and features a border of feathers and a vintage-looking Native photo. The image can be clicked for a bigger version, or the website has a zoom function as well. The scarf can be found here.

Apparently there were earlier, limited editions as well. This one had a limited run of only 200 scarves, and was based off a 1984 version:

(image via http://blackburnandsweetzer.com/)

I found a blog that gives a little background on the original design and the artist, Kermit Oliver, if you're interested. Apparently this is one of the most complex designs Hermes has ever done, because of all the color tones in his face.

Pani La Shar background info: http://codexcostinianus.blogspot.com/2010/01/pani-la-shar-pawnee.html

(Thanks Yve!)

The Vancouver opening ceremonies: honoring Canadian First Nations?

 

I didn't get to watch the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver games live (I didn't have a TV-until today!), but I was getting constant text message updates along the lines of: "girl, tell me you are watching the opening ceremonies! hella First Nations!" So I finally got around to watching them online and capturing some screen shots of the best parts.

I have very mixed feelings about the opening ceremonies--on one hand, it was fantastic to see the extensive Native presence (when has the US ever done anything like  this?) and a lot of it was culturally sensitive and true portrayals.

But, on the other hand, there were a few cringe worthy moments playing into stereotypes, and the involvement of the First Nations in the games masks a lot of the ongoing issues in Canadian Government/Native relations. 

After the jump, a bazillion more screen shots (once I figured out how to do it, I got a bit over eager) and analysis. 

The First Nations "welcome" was very early on in the ceremony, and it started with the four "host Nations"--the four tribes that are indigenous to the Vancouver area welcoming the crowd and the athletes. The image above shows the Lil'wat nation seal--the floor changed as each community said a welcome in their language. The four host nations are the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.

As each community did their welcome and raised their arms, these big 'ol "totems" raised their arms too. I thought that was a little silly. 

This is a shot of one of the "totems" raising its arms. 

Dennis Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. This one is nice. haha.

 

After the four Host Nations welcomed everyone, they introduced the other Indigenous groups in Canada: The Metis, First Nations of the Prairie, the East, the West, and the Inuit...am I forgetting anyone? Each group came in wearing their traditional regalia (with a little powwow regalia thrown in there) and dancing more or less in the styles of their communities. 

Fancy Shawl dancer (First Nations of the Prairie)

 

The various groups dancing together after they were introduced

Everyone dancing together, kinda cool. 

Loved this woman, she reminds me of my Grandma and Aunties. 

As the athlete procession began, the First Nations participants continued to dance throughout--talk about some endurance! 

  

Notice the beanie of the Canadian flag bearer--it was given to her by the leaders of the four host nations, and has the symbol of the four tribes. 

After the parade of Nations, Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams came out and sang a song called "bang the drum", and the Native participants danced along. The audience was also given cardboard "drums" with First Nations designs to bang along. Sorry I didn't get a shot of them. 

during the song they did "spotlight" dance breaks with fancy dancers and hoop dancers. 

So, this is where it gets a little questionable. After the Nelly/Bryan performance, the arena floor was transformed into the "North" and this actor dressed up in roughly "arctic" regalia began trekking across the floor. 

Then he started to bang his staff on the ground and waves of "electricity" started radiating out. 

causing all the people to scatter. It just felt a little stereotyped--mystical Native guy tied to nature brings magic to the "normal" community

oh look, his magic created the constellations in the night sky! 

 After the Arctic, they transformed the stage into the ocean (pretty cool effect, actually) and had Indigenous images of Orca whales.

After the ocean, they moved to the forest, with these large "totem poles" rising up, which then transformed into trees. 

Finally, a shot that I loved--the First Nations leaders sitting with the Canadian government officials. I am fully aware that it was completely symbolic, but I liked it nonetheless. 

Whew, so that's a quick version of the opening ceremonies. The whole thing is on NBC.com, in three parts, and can be watched here.

So, what does this all mean? Like I said at the opening, I am very happy that they decided to include the First Nations in the games overall--it's rare, even in 2010, to see such a strong Native presence in a national event. I liked that they acknowledged the communities indigenous to the Vancouver area, even calling them the "host nations", which is something we as Native people always make sure to do at events and gatherings--honoring the peoples whose land we stand on. I liked that I could sit and watch real Natives on TV, in traditional regalia, getting down to Nelly Furtado. It made me happy to think that for one night, Natives were in the minds of millions of people, and in a positive light. I felt proud to be Indigenous.

HOWEVER. The extensive involvement of Natives in the games in the ceremonies gives off the impression that Canada has a equal, open, and strong relationship with its First Nations communities. Most outsiders would think that Canada is an indigenous Nation, with its peoples having equal recognition in government (see last screen shot), practicing their sovereignty, etc--when this is not the case. At all. Canada, like the US, has not signed on the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Rights UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (oops) , Natives peoples in Canada continue to be the most impoverished communities with highest levels of unemployment (also like the US). 

I admit that I am not as knowledgeable about Canadian Indigenous issues as I would like, but the bottom line is that the olympics are giving off the impression of an equal, happy relationship between the Canadian and First Nations; when in reality, First Nations communities still live in a colonial state, with constant affronts to their sovereignty and autonomy as Nations. 

In the next couple of days I'm going to pull together some great articles, op-eds, and blog posts about these issues. Stay tuned. 

If anyone more versed in Canadian issues wants to write a post on all of this, please let me know!

NBC Opening Ceremony videos: http://www.nbcolympics.com/search/video/results.htmx?q=opening%20ceremonies

(Thanks to Michael, Jenny, and all my texting friends!)