When I was younger and just starting out in my dating career, I used to bring flowers on first dates not realizing the potential awkwardness that lay ahead. Typical responses: "Oh... thanks..." ... The eye pop and the awkward, "Uh, thanks. Where should I put them?" ... and my personal favorite, immediate sneezing. " 'Are there Bells of Ireland in that arrangement?' 'Yeah, I know you're Irish and thought that you might... you know... think that was cute?' 'I'm wildly allergic.'" At the soon to be ripe old age of 37 I've learned a few thing things, I now bring a camera.
Being trapped in a goddess body using my sexuality as a means to gain power, but still too afraid to let it rip because I care so much about what other people think, would just kill my already fragile ego. So I'm trying to walk on the fine edge between the erotica & art to gain approval of both camps. At the same time, getting my weekly fix of love wrapped up in the admiration from yet another photographer as a substitute for love I craved as a child. Keep rebuilding my ego, over and over, scared shitless of a negative review or a comment on social media. Not finding the courage to be the biggest attention whore, because I'm still trying to stay the whitest of art brides.
If you've been following our Summer images and life post-Covid you've noticed SoHo still reigns Supreme. However, as a final tribute to the legendary area KARJAKA features The Love Coach Jimmy Allen, styled luxuriously by Tavia Sharp, donned in floral & fun to bring out the best you in mind, spirit & body before we head back in to the studio for the winter.
Forget forcing the issue, let's go absurd for a moment. Dare to try with us as we use other senses to explore life outside of preordained ways of being. Rather than getting wrapped up on what has to happen, or being consumed by how something should look in an image or experience, let's let go of control, just for a moment if you will and explore the unknown.
Artists are always pushing the boundaries. Crossing lines, testing the edge, diving in head first with complete and utter disregard. It takes a bold mind to step out into the unknown. For us at KARJAKA we're always looking into new market places, and our July edition features an art haven that's quintessential New York, The Hamptons.
As you might have noticed, or perhaps not, it's been a minute since our last edition. With the states finally opening up, Summer street and studio session have been in full force. Pepper in a few commercial fashion and food campaigns to boot, prepping KNY's Hamptons edition coming out next month (one you won't want to miss), we thought we'd slow it down just a bit for this edition in the studio with Kat, Russ, Karjaka and choice.
“Go to school, graduate, get a job, work your way up, and maybe one day you’ll start your own business”… these seemed like the most logical and viable steps to take through life. Up until 2020, everything was going to plan; I had good job offers lined up for once I graduated from Parsons School of Design. I felt confident I was on the right path, to one day, having gained enough experience and some courage, to potentially start my own brand.
I was a lonely kid. I remember in the early 80s turning the key to my mom's front door and wishing I’d open it to find a house full of people. But it was just me in the afternoons. I had no siblings, my parents were divorced, and my mom worked a corporate job to support us. I spent after school watching cartoons or playing video games alone.
With the amount of Vitamin D I’ve consumed in the past year, I should have gotten stock for it. Prevention, pain relief, these are the basics tenets of any product out on the market. Not getting enough Sun? Go for a walk. Can’t go out due to pandemic? 1000mg of Vitamin D, stat. Art is my vitamin/drug of choice. I’m a pusher of picturesque portrait pleasure.
I've always been fascinated by people and their unique narratives. I am dangerously curious and want to try everything. We only have so many years on this planet, so it's impossible to try everything unless you are lucky enough to experience a slice of life through candid conversations daily. I've hosted for The Travel Channel, NowThis, and Thrillist and fell in love with energetic interactions and the wealth of knowledge you can gain in just a few minutes from interviewing someone.
