May First Friday with l.darling & The Bent Branch

We are only one week away from our May first Friday event with local jewelry designers l.darling and The Bent Branch. Join us Friday May 4th from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing to meet with the designers and view some of their new collections. 

Necklace by l.darling

Earrings by l.darling

Leah Darling is a self-taught artist working in her Denver studio to create jewelry with a modern, handmade aesthetic that is inspired by personal experiences both at home and abroad. Her work as l.darling varies from glam-rock to simple natural designs. 

Earrings by The Bent Branch

Necklace by The Bent Branch

Leelyn Nearing’s work is directly influenced by her connection to nature, which is evident in her one-of-a-kind pieces that balance the delicate and unrefined. Her degree in Jewelry Design & Metalsmithing was heavily influenced by her voyage from the Midwest to Colorado, often incorporating materials found in her environment.

Beverages will be on hand from Pabst Blue Ribbon and DJ Matthew Brown will be providing the soundtrack for the evening. 

See you Friday!

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing

November Denver Made Interview: Mario Zoots

For the month of November we are excited to be featuring an exhibition of work by local artist Mario Zoots. Zoots is well known in the local art scene for his collage works, which explore the manipulation of contemporary cultural images as well as classic images. He was recently named one of the top 12 artists under 35 in Colorado by the Denver Post and is also known for his work with the music group Modern Witch. His exhibit at Fancy Tiger Clothing will consist of recent collage works and will be on display through the month of November. Zoots recently took the time to answer a few questions for us in preparation for his exhibition. 

 

FT: How did you get your start as an artist?

MZ: Five or six years ago I started making collages using mostly images of fashion and architecture. People really liked them, so I kept doing it. One of my first large commissions was for Urban Outfitters in 2008, they commissioned me to create a holiday gift card that was sold online and in stores throughout the US. Shortly after I was published by ROJO, which is an independent creative agency that promotes contemporary art to a worldwide audience. Last year ROJO flew me and Kristy Fenton out to Sao Paulo to create a installation and perform as Modern Witch (http://modernwitchmusic.com/) in The Museum of Image + Sound Sao Paulo (http://rojo-nova.com/2010/sao/category/news/). This was the most amazing trip of my life; creating art in a Brazilian museum with some really talented artists changed my life. There was a hard cover catalog of the show published featuring Spike Jones, Maya Hayuk, Yoshi Sodeka, myself and many more. (http://rojo-projects.com/2010/08/nova/)

FT: Where do you find the best inspiration for your work?

MZ: I find inspiration for my work from reading books, looking at magazines and being on the Internet. I make work out of the media surrounding me, whether it audio or visual. I am inspired by psychology and fashion, science books and Aliester Crowley. When making things I take a surrealist approach and truly believe in chance operation, I attempt to tap into my unconscious while working. And in doing so I disconnect from the actual imagery and try to let the pieces arrange themselves. 

FT: What music do you listen to when you work?

MZ: Currently on my ipod: Absolute Body Control, Babe Rainbow, Blank Dogs, Glenn Branca, Lil Wayne, Neil Young, Nico, Obelisk, Oppenheimer Analysis, Psychodrama, Salem, Silent Signals, Sound Dimension, Studio, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Throbbing Gristle + Xeno and Oaklander.

FT: What would you like people to know about your work/process that isn’t evident when looking at it?

MZ: I default to a quote by Baudrillard: “We live in a world where there is more and more information, and less and less meaning.” 

My projects are:

www.mariozoots.com/

drippybonebooks.com/

modernwitchmusic.com/

Join us Friday November 4th from 7pm-10pm to celebrate the work of Mario Zoots. Zoots will be on hand deejaying the event and beverages will be provided by Great Divide Brewery. 

See you Friday!

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing

October Denver Made Interview Part II: Zach Burk

For the month of October we are thrilled to be exhibiting the work of local artist Zach Burk. Zach has been experimenting with glitter as a new medium, this exhibit will focus on this new series of works. Recently Zach took the time to answer a few questions for us leading up to his first Friday opening reception Friday October 7th from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing. 

FT: How did you get your start with working in this medium?

ZB: I was trying to make something related to pollution and what that meant, but without representation it is kind of tricky and I sort of exhausted the usual craft-mediums that I work in but the nature of this material is polluting; I am constantly covered in glitter. I have always loved glitter in make up and worked with a lot of drag queens when I was younger; aiding them in painting there face so it seemed like a natural choice to go about "painting" with it as it has been so popular again these past few years in a lot of scenes, and always will be for the theatrical quality of it. I saw a demo on Martha Stewart and that got me hooked on shopping for glitter of all types. Now I have like 300 some colors of glitter mixed and my studio is COVERED with little sparkles.

FT: Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

ZB: When I work on a painting I tend to look into history, biology and other artists. With this work I was really influenced by the impact light has on biology and the relationships between color and the elements. I watched a lot of Brian Cox on BBC when working on these and recent, related paintings.

FT: What music do you listen to when you work?

ZB: I listen to a huge range of music, but here is a playlist that I love right now and paint to often (sometimes with solitary-dance/sway-intervals.)

1. Austra, Her Darkened Horse

2. Wild Beasts, Lion's Share

3. Destroyer, Blue Eyes

4. Young Dreams, Expectations

5. Lykke Li, Love Out of Lust

6. Big Eagle, Anywhere the Wind Blows

7. Amen Dunes, Swim Up Behind Me

8. Malvina Reynolds, The Desert

9. Roosbeef, Volle Magen

10. Boudewijn De Groot, Vrijgezel

11. Razika, Why Have We to Wait 

12. Givers, Up Up Up

13. Bjork, Tesla (Omar Souleyman Version)

14. Little Dragon, Ritual Union

FT: What would you like people to know about your work/process that isn’t evident when looking at it?

ZB: Although it is a silly craft most relate to the 60's, drag and the holidays, it does take a lot of time to let things dry, tape, and mix the colors much like other mediums but it is meditative and therefore good for the mind and soul. 

Stop by Friday October 7th from 7pm-10pm for the opening of Zach's month long exhibit at Fancy Tiger Clothing. Come toast to the artist with beverages provided by Great Divide Brewery and enjoy a stunning soundtrack. 

See you there!

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing

October Denver Made Interview Part I: Larka Designs

Although it doesn't quite feel like it, October is here and we are gearing up for our October Denver Made event this Friday October 7th from 7pm-10pm. This month we will be featuring the handmade creations of Larka Designs along with the artwork of local artist Zach Burk. Larka Designs is a locally made line of accessories and the designer behind this line, Holly Anderson, recently took the time to answer a few questions for us in preparation for her first Friday event.

FT: How did you come up with the name for your line? 


LD: I love the word lark.  I don't know why…it just sounds clean and simple, but unfortunately it is very common.  My husband is almost fully Swedish…and the Swedish word for lark is larka… not quite so common, hence Larka Designs!

FT: How did you get your start? 


LD: I am an art teacher by trade, but have always loved creating and making.  After three years of teaching…I found myself feeling a little blah.  I wanted to express myself and have time to work on my own creativity.  But the last thing you feel like doing after a day of teaching and lesson planning is being creative.  I decided to quit my teaching job, get a part time job, and explore the crafting scene.  I am still in the fledgling stages of things, but am enjoying using my hands, selling my work, and evolving as an artist.

FT: Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?


LD: I love to snoop around on the internet, in blogs, and on pinterest.  I am also inspired by a variety of textures , color combinations, and shapes, and enjoy figuring out how to bring them together to make a cohesive body of work. 

FT: What music do you listen to when you work on your product? 


LD: This is a great question.  I usually like to listen to ambient music while creating, but also love everything from passion pit, to sigur ros, to sufjan stevens.

FT: What would you like people to know about your work/process that isn’t evident when looking at it?  

LD: I use a lot of screen printing in my work.  On my wood pendants, and on my fabric brooches.  I create an image on my computer, then have some great people burn these images onto a screen for me, and voila!  I love how this process allows my work to maintain an illustration like quality. 

Join us Friday October 7^th from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing, 18 South Broadway to celebrate the work of Larka Designs and meet the creator in person. Beverages from Great Divide Brewery will be on hand and as always a stunning soundtrack to complement the evening. Tune in tomorrow for our interview with Zach Burk and learn more about his new series of glitter paintings. 

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing

August Denver Made Interview: Denver, Of Course Launch Party

August is here and we are thrilled to be hosting the launch party for a new website, Denver, Of Course, the brainchild of local creative Patrick Collins. The concept is simple, reviews of local establishments focusing on food, drink, retail, art and retreat. Though straightforward, it’s nothing Denver has seen before. It’s a curated look at the city through the eyes of a local writer and all around man about town. Patrick inserts his humor and previous life experiences into his reviews making them witty, easy to read, and relatable. Recently Partick took the time to sit down and answer a few questions for us in preparation for the Denver, Of Course launch party Friday August 5^th from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing, 18 South Broadway.

FT: What was the inspiration for the name of the website?

PC: It took me a good three weeks to decide on a name and my Rhodia notebook is evidence of that. After throwing around so many names with stupid adjectives next to Denver, I just decided I wanted something simple and focused on just Denver. Thus Denver, of course was a perfect fit. It was easy to say, had a bit of humor and could even be grown into other city guides if I make a million dollars or decide to leave Denver again. But neither of those things are a priority or real goals.

FT: How did you get your start with writing?

PC: I moved to Melbourne after school and landed a gig making mixtapes for a sub-cultural city guide (http://thethousands.com.au/melbourne/). Each week I had to make the mix and then write about 80 words of copy to go along with it. I also ended up writing some reviews and features for the city guide itself. After 3 months our associate editor left and my editor hired me with incredibly limited knowledge of editing, writing and Melbourne on to fill the void. I ended up working for her until my visa expired and my extension fell through as well as freelancing and writing pieces for Beck's, Barefoot Beer, City of Melbourne, Tourism Victoria, Junior/lifeatthebottom.com and Shmitten Kitten.

FT: What has been your favorite review you've written so far?

PC: I think the Art of Shaving writeup is my favorite solely because I reference Michael McDonald's ass.

FT: Do you have a place you're dying to review?

PC: My list keeps growing but right now I really have to write something up for this taco truck that's hidden in a parking lot behind a liquor store off Colorado Blvd. but I can never seem to make it over there when they're open. I'm also on the lookout for a swimming hole to write up for a fun last-days-of-summer type retreat. We'll see!

FT: Do you listen to music when you write? If so, who have you been listening to recently?

PC: I almost always listen to music while I write. Usually if I need inspiration it's something really witty like Graham Smith or Belle and Sebastian. Lately though I've been really diggin' Inc.'s new EP, Steve Spacek's Space Shift album and the mixes up on AOR Disco.

Join us Friday August 5^th from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing, 18 South Broadway to celebrate the launch of this new website and get a chance to meet the man behind the reviews while enjoying locally provided libations from Great Divide Brewery, and a stunning soundtrack from local DJs Shannon Von Kelly of Neon Knights and Double//Shadow.

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing




July Denver Made Interview: Sara Guindon of The Pin Pals

Summer is here and July's Denver Made event is just around the corner. This month we'll be focusing on the illustrations of Sara Guindon of The Pin Pals. Sara recently relocated from Montreal to Denver and we're extremely excited to have her illustrations on view for the month of July. Recently Sara was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for us in preparation for her first Friday exhibit, opening Friday July 1st from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing, 18 South Broadway.

FT: How did you come up with the name for your line?

SG: The Pin Pals started when Sam and I met about six years ago in Montreal. Sam made quilted bags and worked mostly with fabric and I was making felted pins called pin pals. We like each others work and decided to collaborate as the Pin Pals. Our business has evolved significantly over the years. These days, Sam works mostly with needle craft and I draw and make paper puppets. Now, the pin pal pun has taken on a whole new meaning since we collaborate long distance (Sam lives in Montreal and I'm here in Denver).

FT: How did you get your start?

SG: When Sam and I started working together we received a project grant through Emploi-Quebec that enabled us to quit our jobs for a year and focus on our business full time. Through pin pals, I gained more confidence as an illustrator. Selling my work in stores and craft fairs was a big step towards focusing more on art and illustration.

FT: Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

SG: Ah, it's everywhere. I'm definitely inspired by the everyday and movies are definitely a source of inspiration for me. Lately, a lot of my characters find themselves in kitchens, bars and cafeterias, parking lots and grocery stores, but I like to think that there is a story going on in each drawing, intense drama in an unexpected place.

FT: What music do you listen to when you work on your product?

SG: I like all kinds of music. Lately, while working, I've been listening to Stereolab, ELO, Chad VanGaalen, De La Soul, The Hidden Cameras and the New Pornographers. I also listen to a lot of NPR and there is a radio station from France called International Rare Groove that I like to listen to. I've been watching the series Twin Peaks which is all kinds of inspiration and I'm really loving the music in that!

FT: What would you like people to know about your work/process that isn’t evident when looking at it?

SG: I spend a ridiculous amount of time layering colours, marker on top of watercolour pencil, on top of gouache, on top of tea and coffee...that sort of thing. My lower back is sore!

I recently did a thorough interview with the great illustration site Pikaland, if you'd like to read more about what I've done you can view it here:

http://pikaland.com/2011/03/31/artist-interview-sara-guindon

Mark your calendars folks and make sure to join us Friday July 1st from 7pm-10pm for the opening of Sara's month long exhibition at Fancy Tiger Clothing. Enjoy beverages from Great Divide Brewery and as always a stunning soundtrack to the evening. 

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing

June Denver Made Interview: Hot Butter

For June's installment of Denver Made we are excited to introduce you to Hot Butter, a line of handmade bags and accessories based in Lafayette, CO. This line fuses together a passion for sewing and a love of vintage, often rescuing materials that have been cast aside and breathing new life into them. The designer behind this line, Ashley McNeese, recently took the time to answer a few questions for us about her line in preparation for her Denver Made trunk show Friday June 3rd from 7pm-10pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing.  

FT: How did you come up with the name for your line?

HB: It's a long story that started in Amsterdam over a plate of savory pancakes dotted with weird butter.  Someone already claimed the etsy username, so I went with the next logical and more delicious choice, Hot Butter.  Who doesn't love hot butter?

(Ashley McNeese of Hot Butter)

FT: How did you get your start?

HB: My grandma taught me to sew pajama pants when I was in high school.  I sewed pillows as gifts one year for Christmas, but the sewing machines I had access to needed a lot of work.  I'm a little ashamed to admit that fixing a sewing machine wasn't a priority on my limited teenager budget, and I didn't sew anything for years.  I became a stay at home mom when my son was born, and I found myself hand stitching stuffed animals on the couch.  My husband bought me a sewing machine  as an early Christmas present that year, and I taught myself to make tote bags for gifts for my whole family.  There was no stopping me after that!  I opened my etsy shop to support my fabric and thrifting habits after my friends and family were well stocked in Hot Butter.

FT: Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

HB: I'm most inspired by the items I find at thrift stores and estate sales.  I was inspired to make my vintage sheet messenger bags after mass collecting pretty vintage linens that I was afraid to cut.  My stepmom Kris always has an awesome idea or two when I need one.

FT: What music do you listen to when you work on your product?

HB: I invested in a paid Pandora account, and I love it.  My favorite stations are Gogol Bordello, The Doors, Hot Chip, Journey, Johnny Cash, and old school Snoop Dogg.

FT: What would you like people to know about your work/process that isn’t evident when looking at it?

HB: All Hot Butter items are created with love on my kitchen table, which I have taken over to the point that eating on it is a special treat.  Almost everything is created with a mixture of new and vintage/reclaimed materials.  I take my time to ensure all my work is sturdy and well put together.  Everything is made with a smile!

Make sure to stop by Fancy Tiger Clothing Friday June 3rd from 7pm-10pm to check out the work of Ashley McNeese in person. Enjoy a beverage from Great Divide brewery and toast to her new line of messenger bags. 

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing

May Denver Made Interview: Benjamin Ballerina

For May's installment of Denver Made we are excited to introduce you to a line of locally handmade children's clothing, Benjamin Ballerina: Pretty Tough Clothing for Kids. This line focuses on quality handmade clothing for children helping consumers to move away from mass produced products that all look the same. Benjamin Ballerina is a collaborative effort between local creatives Maggie Evans and Dylan Scholinski, who met through their work at The Other Side Arts. All of the clothing is produced by hand from reclaimed fabrics and is then screen-printed with original photographic imagery. Recently Maggie and Dylan took the time to answer a few questions for us in preparation for their Denver Made event Friday May 6th.

(The designers behind Benjamin Ballerina, Dylan & Maggie)

FT: How did you come up with the name for your line?

BB: We made lots of lists of names we liked... and didn't like. We wanted to come up with a name that meant something to both of us as well as a name that could reflect the fluidity of gender by balancing strong stereotypically gendered names/words. Benjamin is Maggie's brother's name and Dylan has a couple of Benjamins in his life too. Benjamin is a strong stereotypically masculine name and while searching for the strong stereotypically feminine side - ballerina seemed to bring the right balance... but we like to believe that Benjamin could be a girl and that the ballerina could be a boy. The balance is then reinforced by the use of "pretty tough" as well. 

FT: How did you get your start?

BB: Maggie has always wanted to run her own clothing company since she was young and has been designing and sewing clothing of all kinds since then. When she met Dylan, a working mixed media artist, in addition to falling in love, ideas for a co-run kid's clothing company fell into place and they launched their business one year after meeting. 

FT: Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

BB: All over, Maggie checks out fashion all the time. She pays attention to little details that she'd like to try out in her designs. With the kid's clothing she tries to keep the designs timeless and simple and let the fabrics and the prints shine. 

Dylan has always enjoyed collecting images from everyday life, images from things that are often overlooked or discarded. Dylan is heavily inspired by the study and practice of Wabi Sabi, a Japanese aesthetic that recognizes the beauty in the imperfect and weathered, a reclaiming of beauty on its own terms. Such as a flattened rusty can or a string of birds on a wire trying to stay warm. 

FT: What music do you listen to when you work on your product?

Dylan:  I am kind of all over the place. I love lots of different music. I'm a big fan of shuffle on my ipod and just listening to what comes up. Recently I've liked listening to Low, The National, and Gnarles  Barkley and also lots of classic rock.

Maggie: I'm kind of embarrassed to say it, but I watch TV instead of listening to music. Lot's of crime/detective/mystery stuff, I love it. Lately I've been listening to a little bit of french pop music too.

FT: What would you like people to know about your work/process that isn’t evident when looking at it?

BB: We hardly ever discuss our creative ideas ahead of time. Dylan takes yards of plain fabric to his workshop, prints on it, and then gives it back to Maggie. Maggie then turn it into clothes. While at the same time, Maggie is making clothes from the plain fabric that she then gives to Dylan, and he prints on the ready-made garments. We work both ways. It's super fun and I think it keeps us both inspired to not know what the other person is going to come up with and to both have total creative license about what we do. 

All of our fabrics are reclaimed/repurposed. Using reclaimed materials is our way of lessening our carbon footprint. Plus it makes the creating so much more fun because everything really is one of a kind. We love the stories that come with the materials too, like the dress we made out of a blanket or the vests that are made out of old sweaters. Some of the lace and trims have come off of wedding dresses Maggie has altered. This spring and summer line is almost wholly produced from off-cast decorating and upholstery fabrics so you can be sure they will last! 

We think the other thing that is unique about what we offer is that it's not perfect. We don't strive to make everything match or line up, we look for the beauty in the imperfect which, as a parent, is an important message for little people to hear. 

Join us Friday May 6th from 5pm-8pm at Fancy Tiger Clothing and get a closer look at the work of Benjamin Ballerina. This is a family friendly event and there will be beverages and snacks available for all ages.  

See you Friday!

xoxo

Fancy Tiger Clothing