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The Boston Herald: HOTLINE [Meredith Goldstein]
POETIC ESCAPE DRAWING AN ECLECTIC MIX:
A local poetry and art social mixer is about to get shaken up. The monthly Poetic Escape night, held the last Wednesday of each month at Blue Wave on Congress Street, has added man-about-town DJ Paul Foley to the music mix for Wednesday night, joining more than 20 poets alongside resident DJ SolBak and musical jazz guests the Jason Hunter Quartet. Poetic Escape is normally a night where folks mingle with poets and get a read on the latest in Boston’s urban art scene. Foley will no doubt get people moving. “I know that I’ll be dropping the flava on wax” exclaimed Foley. “ I’ll be playing mostly golden-age hip-hop and r&b, with a little soulthrown in the mix for good measure. Promoters Elie St. Brice of local production company HBNN said the night now in its fourth month at Blue Wave, often brings in an eclectic, social crowd.
”The music is usually old school, not necessarily hip-hop but old school soul and r&b,“ St. Brice said. “ The crowd has been getting bigger, so there’s been a good response.” Though he said the night is geared towards socializing and hearing poetry than a full-on dance party; the combination of live music, DJs, art and poetry reading allows all types of artist to come together. Most nights the poets will side up with the live band and improvise on the spot. “ It’s been a good mixture, “ St. Brice added. “It’s good to have people come out and try something new.
Poetic Escape, tomorrow at Blue Wave, 343 Congress St., 8 p.m $5.
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The Boston Globe: SIDEKICK [Meredith Goldstein]
Tonight’s IN+ERACT 3 event at the Estate aims to have experiencing art with all of your five senses. You’ll see visual art. You’ll hear music by up-and-coming musicians, including Hannah Thiem, who has played violin for Kanye West, and Gretchen Bostrom, a jazz singer who gets all riled up on her rendition of “LOVE ME LIKE A MAN.” We’re a little confuse of what you’ll taste, touch, and smell, but it’s a nightclub, so we’re sure those senses will get a workout.
9PM - $20. The Estate 1 Boylston Place, Boston, 617-351-700
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The Boston Globe: SIDEKICK [Meredith Goldstein]
Handsome boy clothing, a local label that makes cool t-shirts is sponsoring a night at the Good Life called “Poetic Escape.” It’s a reading featuring seven or eight local poets, live music by the Jazz band Sol Melodiq and music spun by Dj SolBak, who plays Blues, Jazz, Soul, Funk, House and classics. Organizers say they’re aiming for a cultural mix and to highlight some of the best minds of the generation. No Cover.
Good Life, 28 Kingston St., 617-451-2622. goodlifebar.com
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The Daily Free Press: [Danielle Poiesz] "Impact 2003" Better Late Than Never
UMOJA's Impact 2003 Renaissance fashion show Saturday night gave a new meaning to the phrase "fashionably late" when models strolled down the runways at 8:15 p.m., over an hour later than anticipated.
In an effort to desegregate the fashion industry, UMOJA, Boston University's black student association, waited "until the place was pretty much packed so that the designer's fashions were not being showcased to such a small audience," said Tanya St. Julien, president of UMOJA and director of the show.
By 8:00 p.m., however, the GSU Ballroom almost overflowed with guests. The Boston University Police Department's Captain Robert E. Molloy estimated that about 600 people attended, in addition to the about 100
that participated behind the scenes.
"Impact 2003" displayed the Spring 2003 lines of eight independent black designers, the talent of over 25 models, the entertaining styles of two performance groups and UMOJA's effort to "celebrate the end of
black history month," St. Julien said.
Eight different scenes framed the show, which was focused on Renaissance, or rebirth, and each was inspired by a different designer and a different theme. Designers included Conrad Lamour, Silverback D'zyne's Herby Firmin, 8&9, Yves Amazan, Black Latina & Everisse, Andy Jacques and the House of Nadhra.
The show's themes included "The Rebirth of Cool," "The Rebirth of Chic," "Back in the Day," "The Rebirth of Innocence," "The Rebirth of Sensuality," "The Rebirth of Style" and "The Rebirth of Black Diaspora."
The BU student dance group Soulstice provided a short entertainment break between the second and third scenes. Special guest designer 10DEEP from Brooklyn also offered a break in scenes when he paraded his new line, followed by a final scene inspired by the "Rebirth of Funk," with a musical accompaniment by the duo Headwrap.
Many members of the audience enjoyed the brief interludes between scenes, as well as the real essence of Impact 2003. Some said the show could have been enhanced if it included more entertainment between
scenes.
"The spaces between scenes could have used some more entertainment," said Jenn Bobb, a freshman in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. "The gaps where nothing was going on kind of
made me lose interest in the show. But other than that, I thought the show was fun and a little different and I would definitely go again."
Wild Boy from Hot 97.7 FM attended as the emcee for the event, adding flair to the show line-up.
Audience members also participated in a singing and rapping contest and an audience model face-off between scenes, with the winners each receiving $100. A woman known to the viewers as "Lady Denise" or "Leffy" won the singing contest at intermission for her rap performance about society, self-esteem and racism, while BU freshman Thaline Sirjep prevailed in the model face-off.
"The show is really a culmination of all the things UMOJA has done this month to celebrate black history," St. Julien said. "We wanted to give black designers the opportunity to show their talents and show that they might not be Versace yet, but they sure could be."
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The Boston Globe: SUNDAY PAPER [Kellyanne Mahoney]
At the Haitian Brothers Network Nationwide fashion show, it's OK to feel destined for the catwalk even if you're not tall enough to see over it.
"Basically, what we're looking for is everyday people," says Elie St. Brice of Dorchester, a network partner who has scouted models and designers for the annual fall show since it began five years ago. "Different clothes. Heights. Weights. Sizes. A lot of people aren't skinny," St. Brice says while watching a rehearsal they're held twice a week for three months in the John D. O'Bryant African- American Institute at Northeastern University. The 30-year-old helped found the
network, known as HBNN, in 1997 with 17 of his friends mostly Northeastern classmates.
Calling themselves an entertainment collaborative, the entrepreneurs drafted a mission statement with a goal "to provide through our events and program initiatives a vehicle that enables our growing and diverse community at large the opportunity to succeed, as we continue to serve, contribute, and empower." The statement also notes that a
percentage of proceeds from each HBNN event will be donated to a charitable organization or cause.
Last year, their fashion show at the 1,200-seat auditorium in the John Hancock Hall was sold out. This year's event will take place there on Saturday.
The show's choreographer-model coach, Marie-Andree Joseph, 30, has worked with HBNN since its inception. With eyes fixed upon her charges, she shakes her pen like a baton. "Fake the funk," the Dorchester resident orders, telling them they've "been forewarned" not to count the beats aloud anymore.
Joseph says she's done her job when her students "have an aura of confidence about [them], not just for fashion. It could trickle down into your work environment, how you relate to your family members. It could trickle down into you being more confident to participate in other organizations. Community organizations. School organizations." Twenty-two-year-old Lashawnda Gabbidon gets a look of approval as she glides forth, striking a pose in front of the two icy-faced models who had preceded her her chin having sailed past their elbows. At 4 feet 11 inches, she's been part of the runway event for three years. Joseph says the shows not only have boosted poise, but also career ambitions.
"It gives models who were thinking about being designers a chance to actually discover their potential," says Joseph. "That `Wow, I can do this, too. I've always been thinking about this, but I never thought that I could do it. But I see it here, and I see that I can.' "One such model-turned-designer is Framingham State fashion student Tyjuana Flores. Last year, the statuesque 21-year-old debuted her label, BlakLatina, at the HBNN event. This year, the Jamaica Plain- born designer says her theme for the show is "punk rock with arm- warmers and trucker hats" and Spanish reggae music.
Irene Fortes, 22, a former HBNN model and Flores's classmate, is also in her second year designing for the show. Born in Paris and raised in Brockton, Flores says she was drawn to sewing through her seamstress
grandmother. Fortes's theme this year: "Gypsy Sexy." "I really like the dark colors that are out now," says Flores, a.k.a.
Everisse. "I'm thinking that maybe I can go with an Indian theme, and instead of making it all scarves and long things, I can make it sexy bring the sexiness of that culture out."
Designer Andy Jacques, 24, set his ambitious 36-garment scene to Japanese festival music. Jacques says he was brought up in his father's Hyde Park tailor shop. "I got teased being the only man making my own Halloween costume," says Jacques, who in high school also made his friends' semiformal suits. His Haitian-born father, Clark, designed beachwear for the first HBNN show.
Fledgling designer Herby Firmin, 23, who was taught by Andy Jacques, says he's careful about incorporating motifs from his native Haiti into his designs. "Haitian people are very conscious as to what is put out with their name on it," he says. "There's a lot of Haitian pride involved. If it's too provocative, some older Haitian folks might not like it." And while HBNN's ethnic peg is specific, its partners say their aims are inclusive.
"Our first goal was to give back to the community," says marketing manager Phil Noel. A portion of the proceeds for this year's event will go to the Paul Robeson Institute, a Boston-based organization that works with young black males. They also hope to give guidance to new local organizations and sponsor their events.
In a back room of the O'Bryant center, HBNN is holding a board meeting during one of the rehearsals. Marketing director Jimmy Lebon is telling a story about a "skinny, lanky kid" whom he gave a chance to model.
HBNN president John Watson interrupts. "You better stop," Watson says with a grin. "I'll be thinking I'm beautiful."
The fifth annual HBNN Fashion Show will be held Saturday at John Hancock Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25
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