Skopje Design Week

The logo for Skopje Design Week.
Image courtesy of SDW

Jasna Soptrajanova Vrteva.
Photo courtesy of SDW

If I were asked to sum up what I have learned so far about the city Skopje(capital of Macedonia), I would use the words of my friend Tanja St-"...a place of many intertwined small worlds, different, yet compact".  Skopje is a city undergoing numerous changes, social, political, and of course the arts. No where is the reverberations of these changes more visible then "Skopje Design Week (organized by Jasna Soptrajanova Vrteva).  

Emile Chaix(France)
Photo courtesy of SDW

"The idea behind SDW is to create a memorable creative experience for all participants and visitors. SDW is a design oriented multi-disciplinary platform that aims to affirm the cultural industry in the region, and stimulate an active role in creating a better business, as well as social and political context for developing creative potential". After the opening of SDW a zero edition took place from Sept 28 to Oct 2nd in Kurshumli and in Skopje. The creators of the event and the artists involved are looking to build-up Macedonian design base and its exchange with the region and beyond. For this, further activities will be organized during the entire year. This will be achieved by linking the activities with the regional and other international festivals and permanently upgrading the international brand and platform ministry of pleasure. 

Marko Runjc.
Photo courtesy of SDW

Of  the designs I've seen so far these 8 are an amazing example of great things to come. Sleek, modern, and visually appealing, they have the feel of "Mid-century"(1933-65) design, the styles of Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, and Harry Bertoia. The feel and look of their work is characterized by clean simplicity and integration with nature, where form follows function. This of course combined with individual flair, and an ultra-modern retro-futuristic feel. Pleasing to the eye and damn hard to resist, where function is every bit as important as form. Within SDW one can see highly creative individuals seeking to bring fourth new ideas in design, that reaches beyond boarders. Concepts and designs that are grounded in regional beliefs in art, and infused with ideals from foreign parts of the world. Some of the design work can be compared to Scandinavian design, which is rooted in social democracy, and the trend of simple elegance to enhance the everyday, at affordable prices. Along with local and regional artists, SDW includes the work of artists from outside the boarders of Macedonia. Emile Chaix of France, and Xin-Hung Lin of Taiwan, to name a few. Clearly SDW is reaching out toward cultural exchange which will reinvigorate their region and the creative fire within, and in-turn spread this on an international level. SDW is one of most engaging events I have seen in Macedonia since I've been introduced to it, by new friends made here in NYC. I highly recommend that you take the time look(if only through the Net)at something amazing, thought provoking and beautiful. "The overall program of SDW 2011 is an ambitious mix of innovative disciplines, ranging from product design, fashion, jewelry, photography, film, music, theater contemporary visual arts and business issues closely related to arts and culture. Eye-catching and affordable design, high aesthetics in various forms produced by young artists from all around the world is in focus on zero edition of SDW. SDW as open and continuous process stimulates every creative person to express his potential in front of the international audience". If you would like to know more, go to: www.ministryofpleasure.net Some of the material in this article was taken from SDW facebook page and website. Article by K.K.W photos courtesy of SDW(Mence Fetreska, Sasho N Alushevski & Tatjana Rantasha) "Art is the reason, art is the way"

Aleksander Spasoski,(Macedonia)
photo courtesy SDW. 

Xin-Hung Lin(Taiwan)
photo courtesy of SDW

Vukasin Vukobratovic(Serbia)
photo courtesy of SDW

Tanya Nikolic Cicanovic(France)
photo courtesy of SDW.

Lianne Van Genugten(Netherlands)
photo courtesy of SDW.

Milica Paranosic: Q&A

This months cover featuring
a photo(K.K.W)from the opening
of "loft in the red-zone"

Milica Paranosic(Juilliard)@ "MC Mondays"
 at GalleryMC

Musician, Teacher, Traveler, Composer, Performance artist, "Bird of Paradise". Milica Paranosic,  All these things and so much more. 

SP: Hello Milica, thanks again for taking the time for Q&A.

MP: Your welcome Kerwin, I'm very glad you liked my performance. 

SP: It was wonderful,  congrats on "MC Mondays".

MP: Thank you!

SP: When did you first decide to go forward with music?

MP: I started my music training (or rather, performance arts) by accident. When my older brother got enrolled into elementary school, I was so jealous and sad that my father enrolled me into a 'little school' in the neighborhood, just to get me to shut up. The 'little school' turned out to be a singing, acting and dancing school for little girls. Within a year, I was on stage, singing.

SP: Who or what are some of your early influences in music?

MP: My older brother not only (indirectly) paved my way towards music, but also had a huge influence on my music taste. When he bought The Beatles Red Album, I ran out and bought The Blue Album, the very next day. (it was the first record I've ever bought). My father bought us our first record player in the 70s and three 'singles' (the small old type records that spun on 45 speed). They were Strauss’ Waltzes and we played them at every lunch. You can imagine. 5 min tracks. Two per record. Two records. Countless one-hour lunches. That's a lot of repeats. Once I started composing, having been influenced presented a danger of copying that person’s style. Being a beginner is tough. You kind of know what you like and what you want to say with your music, but you have no vocabulary. So I tried really hard NOT to be influenced in my early composition stages. While secretly drowning in Satie and Ravel and Stravinsky and Bartok when no one was watching. Then I was covering it up in my own piece by timpani+trombones cluster openings that made everyone jump up in their seats. It cracked me up!

SP: You seem to be versatile when it comes to music, but what is the main area for you?

MP: I don’t believe in “main areas”.

SP: I'll be sure always to remember that:)

MP: I'll remember you said that:)

SP: When did you have your first performance, and how did it go?

MP: I was about 5; it was a closing concert of the year in the little school I was mentioning in the first answer. It went well, everyone though, but I personally wasn’t happy. In fact I was really mad at myself. I messed up the lyrics and sang the second verse twice! DISASTER. Everyone was telling me it made no difference and no one even noticed. But I didn’t believe them. I was sure they were just trying to make me feel better. 

SP: Early signs of a perfectionist growing in an artist, 

you gotta be hard on yourself. 

MP: Not sure about the perfectionist part, but I like the rest:)

SP: I'll remember you you said that:)

SP: The string instrument you were using @ open mic launch, what is it?

MP: It’s called Gusle. It’s an old Serbian instrument used mainly to accompany storytelling. It is traditionally only used by men.

SP: It has a great sound and really adds vibrance to the set.

MP: Thank you!

SP: At what point did you start using the setup you did at open mic launch(the laptop, video imagery, etc)?

MP: The set-up evolved gradually over the last few years. My very first solo performance was called Confessions and was premiered in 2007 within the “soloNOVA” festival.

SP: How did the "Goddess Chronicle" start?

MP: It was a commission for the FERUS festival that took place two years ago at the Galapagos Art space. I changed it a lot since then, and it’s still a work in progress. The final version will have 7 pieces (currently 5) and will include costumes, masks, set-design and dance

SP: Milica, Thanks again fro your time.

MP: Your welcome Kerwin:)

SP: Milica Paranosic is a Graduate of Juilliard(Class of 1996-Masters in music composition & music technology). She teaches at the school and pursues various creative projects. 

If you would like to know more, go to: www.facebook.com/milica.paranosic, www.milicaparanosic.com Article & Photos by K.K.W. 
"Art is the reason, art is the way"

Milica uses some traditional folk instruments
(Serbian and others)as well as modern
computers streaming digital sounds,
and video footage.

Brooklyn: A matter of perception Part 2

This months cover featuring
a photo from the opening
of "loft in the red-zone" 

Williamsburg Bklyn, Streb-lab, 2011. Canon EOS
58mm lens Kodak pro 400 film. This was a performance by
Chriselle Tidrick(See "Interviews" for post)Aerial Dancer.

Galapogos Art space, Bklyn, Dec 2010.
This was one of the first events
Photographed. It was a showcase
of various talents.(music, dance, comedy)
Canon EOS 58mm lens, Kodak pro 400

Galapogos Art space Bklyn, Dec 2010.
Canon EOS 58mm lens, Kodak
pro 400

Williamsburg Bklyn, 2009.
Canon 28 40mm lens, Kodak pro 400

Prospect park Bklyn, 2011.
Canon EOS 58mm lens,
Kodak pro 400

Atlantic ave Bklyn, Jan 2010.
Canon 28 40mm lens, Fuji film 400

Flatbush &  Parkside ave Bklyn.
2010. Self portrait. Topcon auto 100
 50mm lens, Kodak pro 400

Brighton beach Bklyn, Jan 2010.
Canon 28 40mm lens, Kodak pro 400

Williamsburg, Bklyn 2011. 
Canon EOS 58mm lens
Wallgreens 400 film. 
This was an Aerial class
taught by Madeline Hoak
(see "Interviews" for post).
Thats Mio Fuji(Shes a wonderful singer.
 Check her
out on facebook.)

Williamsburg Bklyn, 2011. Canon EOS, 
58mm lens
Wallgreens 400 film. 
This was the same Aerial class.

Williamsburg Bklyn, 2011. CanonIXY. This
was also one of Madeline Hoak's  Aerial classes.
(see "Articles" for post) 

Williamsburg Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY.
This is the same class. Madeline is on the left.
She herself is a brilliant Aerial dancer.

Atlantic ave Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY.

Flatbush ave Bklyn. 2011. Canon IXY

7th ave, Park Slope Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY 

Prospect park west, Bklyn. Canon IXY

Prospect park west, Bklyn. Canon IXY

Prospect park Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Prospect park Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Park slope Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Park slope, Bklyn 2011, Canon IXY

Park slope, Bklyn 2011. Canon IXY

Park slope, Bklyn. 2011 Canon IXY

Park slope Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Park slope Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Park slope Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Beverly rd Bklyn, 2011(self portrait).
Canon IXY

Park slope Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

Church & Flatbush ave, Bklyn 2011. Canon IXY

Beford ave Bklyn, 2011. Canon IXY

South Park slope, Bklyn 2011. Canon IXY

If you would like to know about this project, go to: www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-A-matter-of-perception/179118215498349 Photos by K.K.W "Art is the reason, art is the way".

Brooklyn: A matter of perception

This months cover featuring a photo
(K.K.W)from "Loft in the red-zone"

In some ways, 1624 was a very good year. A Dutch fleet captures Bahia, Brazil from the spanish. Martin luther's German translation of the bible is publicly burned, by order of the pope. Cardinal Richelieu is appointed by Louis XIII of France to be his first minister. The treaty of Compiegne is signed between France and the Netherlands. And the first Dutch  settlers arrive in "New Netherland", disembarking at governors island. The Dutch were the first Europeans to settle in the area on the western end of Long island, also inhabited by a Native American people; the Lenape. This the beginning of what would soon become the United states of America, and within it, Brooklyn.

The first Dutch settlements were called "Midwout"(present day Midwood)and "Vlackebos"(present day Flatbush). About 1630 land was purchased from the Mohawks in present day Gowanas, Red-hook, Brooklyn navy yards, and Bushwick. The Village of Breuckelen, named for Breukelen in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands, was authorized by the Dutch West India Company in 1646; it became the first municipality in what is now New York State. At the time, Breuckelen was part of New Netherland. Other villages which were later incorporated into Brooklyn were Boswijk (Bushwick), Nieuw Utrecht (New Utrecht), and Nieuw Amersfoort (Flatlands). A few houses and cemeteries still bear witness to the Dutch origins of the borough of Brooklyn. The Dutch lost Breuckelen in the British conquest of New Netherland in 1664. In 1683 the British reorganized the province of New York into twelve counties, each of which was sub-divided into towns. During the American revolutionary war, the first and largest battle, "the battle of Long Island"(also known as 'the battle of Brooklyn'-August 27th, 1776)was fought in the borough. For many years after Brooklyn was an independent city until its consolidation with New York city in 1898. The borough quickly became a magnet for immigrants of various kinds, further adding to the cultural mix, which would always be a strong feature, even far into its future. The official motto of Bklyn is "Een Draght Mackt Maght"(Unity makes strength). The colors, Blue & Gold. The seal of Bklyn is a women in robes, carrying a "Fasces",(a bundle of birch rods tied together with an axe: a Roman symbol)a symbol of Republicanism, from its early political days. All over the borough, as well as the city, you can find symbols of Roman culture, the "occult", "pagan religion", astrology, and the "old gods". All of this is why I wanted to create the project B.M.P. Brooklyn is one of the most interesting boroughs in NYC. Art, culture, various ethnic enclaves giving you fantastic aspects of there culture, It has so much to offer. When it comes to music it has some of the best emerging bands around, noon:30, Clinical trials, two of my favorites(see Articles for posts). Its quickly becoming a haven for many kinds of artists and fantastic individuals, enjoying what's here and bringing something of their own. B.M.P is intended to be a multi-media exhibition involving film & digital photography and short video interviews with residents and local politicians. The aim of the project is to showcase the best of Bklyn through images, which have the power to alter perceptions. "Art is the reason, art is the way". If you would like to know more, go to: www.facebook.com/pages/Brooklyn-A-matter-of-perception/179118215498349 Article and photos by K.K.W

Brighton Beach, December 2009.
Canon 28 40mm lens, Kodak pro 400