SocalMagazine

SoCal magazine 1

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SoCal magazine
socalmag.com

table des matières
spring
southern california’s culture portal
Ars Gratia Artis
Front
Hair in the Hood Local barbers
Find Dining New restaurants
Art Talk Interview with David Fahey
Veneer Beverly Hills plastic surgeon reveals all!
Odd Jobs Props and YouTube make interesting companions
Life In Hollywood Costumer Trish Summerville pins it down
Middle
Franz Szony Inside the world of LA's best art photographer
Ria Lewerke Album cover design makes a comeback
B. Hunter Designer turned motivation speaker
Michale Ngo Emerging fashion designer
Water LA's most (once) needed resource for youthful skin
Guy Guide Manscaping explained... finally.
Gifted Love with your heart, give with these hot items
KTOWN Produce section of Asian markets
Chris Francis designer of the shoe as art
Ed Freeman Photo essay—homeless in Los Angeles
62
Back
Wanderlust Italy's five islands are calling
Gone And we may never come back
Cover
"Dita Martini Pin-Up" by
Franz Szony
Dita Von Teese, posed in
her famous martini glass.
www.franzszony.com
SoCal magazine 5

FRONT
THE TALENT
contributors
RACHEL JEFFARI
A graduate of the Arts and
design Institute in Israel, Rachel
moved to Los-Angeles in 1990 to
open a maternity portraits studio
in Encino. Her work was featured
on NBC, TLC, LA Times and The
British Sun, to name a few, and
her clientele included many top
Hollywood celebrities. 1n 2009
she turned her lens to fashion
photography contributing to
the editorial pages of L’officiel,
Genlux, Beauty Launchpad, Jute
and more. Her clients include
JBeverlyHills, Galia Lahav, loyal
Mission, McKay Stewart, Dream
Seekers production, and LA
Fashion week, to name a few.
Rachel resides in LA with her
husband, three children and a
Russian Blue cat.
IRVIN RIVERA
Irvin Rivera moved from the
Philippines to the United States
and photography quickly became
his guiding star.
His photographs are fragments,
frames, intros, chapters, and
possible endings to the stories
that he wishes to share.
Most of Rivera’s photography
works are products of his ideas,
his dreams and his collaborations
with various industry creatives
(make-up artists, hairstylists,
wardrobe stylists, set designers,
photographers, etc).
Rivera has worked with notable
stars like Kobe Bryant, Jojo,
Shaun Ross, Chantelle Winnie,
Mark Kanemura and has been
continuously swimming and
exploring the clusters of starmakers
and clients such as FORD,
NEXT, WILHELMINA, PHOTOGENICS,
Italian Vogue, Zink Magazine,
etc.
graphicsmetropolis.com
JENNIFER BLUE
Jennifer Blue is an artist,
her preferred medium is
photography.
The bulk of her interpretive
work currently concentrates on
portraiture and documentary
narratives. She resides in Los
Angeles.
WILL MERCER
Will Mercer hails from
Indiana and is now a
lifestyle photographer
based out of Los Angeles.
KATIE NARTONIS
Founder of The Nartonis Project, is a curator, filmmaker, and 20th
century design specialist with over 15 years experience in the auction
field. Currently curating the Jack Rogers Hopkins show, and most
recently Consignment Director, 20th Century Design at Heritage Auctions
Beverly Hills, Nartonis has worked at Bonhams' 20th Century Decorative
Art Department and Los Angeles Modern Auctions. She is passionate
about the work of post-war California studio artists and craftsmen
and founded the Bonhams Design Lecture series in 2008, of which the
inaugural Sam Maloof and Otto Heino event prompted praise from Los
Angeles Magazine, "Bonhams and Butterfields brings together two
West Coast giants...the design equivalent of a Rolling Stones Concert."
Previous to her auction career, she worked in film and television,
including the Academy Award winning short film, "The Accountant."
JARED RUBIN
Jared was born and raised in NJ.
Thanks to his father teaching
him about wildlife and nature at
a young age, Jared was always
fascinated with the world around
him. That love and appreciation
compelled him to volunteer
as an EMT at the age of 16.
Dealing with life and death on
a daily basis taught him how to
appreciate life and really engage
with people from all walks of
life. These life experiences have
molded him into the photographer
he is today.
www.jaredrubinphotography.
com.
GREG GORMAN
Greg Gorman is an acclaimed
American portrait photographer,
born in Kansas City, Missouri
in 1949. The artist is notorious
for photographing almost every
Hollywood celebrity under the sun.
Michael Jackson, Sophia Loren,
Johnny Depp and Michael Jordan
are just some of the names he
worked with. His photographs
have been published in Vogue,
GQ, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Vanity
Fair, Time and the London Sunday
Times. For me a photograph is
most successful when it doesn’t
answer all the questions and it
leaves something to be desired,
says Gorman about his work.
gormanphotography.com
JOHN SKALICKY
Born and raised in Los Angeles,
John has done a variety of
commercial work over the
years including fashion, nonprofit,
product and automotive.
However his favorite has always
been portraiture. He is now also
working with moving images
and enjoying creating video
portraits.
www.skalickyphoto.com.
JOSEPH ADIVARI
Adivari seeks nothing more
than inspiration in hopes only to
inspire those who appreciate his
art. The alluring and unreality of
life are moments that capture his
eye and are what he believes to
be ‘perfect’. A not so millennial
25 year old from Long Beach
California thriving to live by his
art, beauty, and love.
MATT MITCHELL
Matthew Mitchell is a Los Angeles based photographer/director (art and video). Mitchell's
stylish yet effortless image of such beauties as Eva Longoria, Leighton Meister and
AnnaLynne McCord have graced the covers and pages of magazines internationally.
He background as former dancer and make-up artist serve him well when capturing more
than the exterior of his subjects. “FUN, that what my shoots are about, FUN”. Its this kind of
lightheartedness that lands Mitchell in front of the lens as an on-caner photographer for TV
showslike Oprah, The Bachelor and How To Look Good Naked.
When asked what is he working on next? Mitchell answers “I’m working on (his) pecs, biceps
and (his) abs of steel.”
JOHNNY BUZZERIO
Johnny Buzzerio is a Los Angeles
based photographer, shooting creative
portraits for the music and
entertainment industries, working
with celebrities like Katy Perry,
David Bowie, Leonard Cohen,
Justin Bieber and many more.
www.johnnybuzzerio.com
6
SoCal magazine
socalmag.com

southern california’s culture portal
Publisher
Agency27
Editor-in-Chief | Creative Director
Randy Dunbar
Managing Editor
Niki Smart
Associate Editors
Joshua Pinkay
Katie Nartonis
Heather Russell
Grooming + Beauty Editor
Gary Domasin
Fish + Wildlife Editor
Phil Miller
Contributing Writers
Darcy Cannon, Melanie Pecham, Doug
Ruskoff, Nathaniel West, Raymond Chandler,
Charles Bukowski, Joan Didion
Contributing Photographers
Greg Gorman, Randy Dunbar, Niki Smart,
Jared Rubin, Franz Szony, Faria Raji, Johnny
Buzzerio, John Skalicky, Irvin Rivera, Matt
Mitchell, Will Mercer, Irvin Penn, Lysette
Model, Eddie Pulido
SOCal magazine
Bendix Building
1206 South Maple Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Marketing |
marketing@socalmag.com
Contact |
info@socalmag.com
Printed in the USA by
MGX
Spring Issue ©2017
by The Agency27.com
a multimedia company
All rights reserved. No part of this
periodical may be reproduced in any form
or by any means without prior written
permission from SoCal magazine.
socalmag.com
agency27.com
SoCal magazine 7

FRONT
BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING
The Story of Us
STAFF INFECTION
from left to right:
Jared Rubin, Randy Dunbar,
Joshua Pinkay, Niki Smart,
Natashia Miyazaki, Aiden Crow,
Katie Nartonis and Phi Miller
Ultimately making a magazine is a process. A difficult
process of many parts, editorial, art and advertising
come together to form a picture, a congealed thought,
a mission. That was on our minds as months ago we
embarked upon this journey to create something
hopefully unique in a world that has long lost its love with
magazines. The fact is, we still feel that love —which is why we
continued to build this magazine, one page at time.
Each story arrives in a different way but the process remains the
same: frame it, write it, photograph it. It is always about finding
something of interest to both the reader and the magazine.
We found art in Los Angeles of great interest in this issue. It was
the intent of our last so-called "fashion magazine" experience to
produce an art issue—for reasons we cannot reveal here, that never
happened. But it is happening now, and the magazine you hold or
are looking at, is the final result of a long process to fruition.
Thee has been a certain pleasure in putting this issue together:
the delightful Trish Summerville who entertained us with her
stories about costume design in the movies. Working with longtime
friend John Skalicky on images as we have done for what is
now decades. Meeting new John's like Johnny Buzzerio who was a
joy to work with as was subject Ria Lewerke in what proved to be
a very fun photoshoot. It was long held that Franz Szony, master
image maker would produce a cover, and that has finally happened.
Always a pleasure to deal with, Franz revealed some facts we
never knew (you must read the interview!). A long-time fan of
photographer Irvin Rivera, who has this unique ability to dazzle
with fresh images that jump off the page, it did not disappoint with
his inspired images of two Los Angeles-based people of interest.
As with any new magazine, the process reveals things heretofor
unknown: we love interviews with interesting people. For example,
for years we have attended the Thursday night openings at Fahey/
Klein on La Brea Avenue—little did we know until we interviewed
Mr Fahey that he also took pictures and proved to be one of the
most interesting people as subject.
Lastly, we must thank some people, in fact, all the people who
worked tirelessly on this magazine, either in spirit or in deed.
Mostly though, this magazine is accomplished by the eternal effort
of Ms. Niki Smart who saw it through from start to finish. Without
her, I doubt this magazine would exist.
It's a new year full of anticipation and worries. We hope to
continue to find new and challenging ways to present stories about
the people who make LA our most cherished home. Even as we
finish this issue, so many story ideas arise calling out to be framed
by this magical thing called a magazine.
randy dunbar
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TOO LATE FOR PRINT TOO NEW TO FORGET
PrankBar: DTLA
There’s a new trick in town – and it’s one
your taste buds and overall wellbeing is bound
to enjoy – Prank. A new venue in DTLA owned
by Dave Whitton (who formerly led the bar at
Villain’s Tavern and the Sunset Marquis), and
his siblings Jaime and Jonny Whitton; plus
Tony Frere and Greg Schumann.
This is one of the first restaurants in LA
to have hemp infused dishes on their menu.
This isn’t meant to get you high, it’s meant to
get you healthy. What are these secret key
ingredients in the enhanced food menu items?
Well, Prank currently use Terpene, a powerful
anti-inflammatory, in their cocktails and
ambrosias, and they plan to start infusing the
food dishes too, in the very near future.
For the interior, designer, Ricki Klein,
admitted it was quite the challenge
to accommodate all the requests that
management had: two bars, spacious
bathrooms, an elevator, large kitchen,
room for dancing - a lot to fit into a
relatively small size. “It was like a game of
Tetris” chuckles Klein. Some of the clever
solutions Klein came up with to create the
feel of more space was by having windows
from floor to ceiling and then these glass
windows fold into themselves accordion
style - producing an instant indoor/
outdoor flow. There’s a walk-up bar where
you can order drinks and food, and stand
or sit or take-away, and with maximum
seating including all outdoors and the
mezzanine lounge being at around 236,
you should find the perfect spot to enjoy.
Either outside, feeling part of the hub
of DTLA, or upstairs looking over the
restaurant happenings. And since Prank is
situated on Hope street just blocks from
the Staple center, they are certain to get
plenty merrymakers late into the night
Menu items include: Kobe burger,
kale salads, glazed carrots (so good),
vegan nachos, blue corn cauliflower and
organic spicy wings. On the cocktail menu
there’s non-alcoholic kombucha: 30-day
fermented mango, ginger, peach and
coconut, plus other anti-inflammatory,
immune building, energy boosting drinks.
On the alcohol side, there’s a full bar with
wine, beer and mixed drinks of which the
Penicillin sounds interesting – Johnny
Walker black, ginger root, Myrcene
cannabis Terpene, honey, citrus and a float
of Caol ila.
Prank plans on having live music every
day during a happy hour, but this is their
initial Live Music schedule: Thurs - 5-8,
Fri-Sat. 8-11, and Sun 12-3
Last but not least, there is also a phone
booth in the restaurant that you can step
inside and sing your heart out with the aid of a
karaoke machine. Prank!
PRANK
prankbar.com
1100 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
11am to 1am thurs, fri
10am to 1am sat
10am to 11pm sun

A Glamorous Ribbon Cutting
Gabrielle Union, Larry Sims, and
celebrity friends support the
Ribbon Cutting event for GLAM
Boutique Spa in Woodland Hills.
GLAM is owned and operated
by esthetician and entrepreneur,
Lindsay Faulk through the
support of ex-husband and
former NFL player, Marshall
Faulk. Additional celebrities
in attendance were Darnell
Kirkwood, Asia and Rodger
Saffold, and Danielle Premone.
GLAM Boutique Spa is a luxury
day spa that provides sugaring,
lash extensions, spray tans, brow
services, and premium skincare
products. Book an appointment
at www.glamboutiquespa.com,
located at 22749 Ventura Blvd.,
Woodland Hills, CA 91364.
She Rocks Awards Show 2017
The 20th of January 2017, a few hours prior to the nationwide Women’s March was
a perfect date for the fifth year of the She Rocks Awards Show to pay homage to
women in the music industry. Started by Laura Whitmore, founder of the Women’s
International Music Network, this years award show, held during the NAMM show
weekend at the Anaheim Convention center in the
Hilton Pacific Ballroom, was a sold out event.
Co-hosted by Christine Devine (Fox 11 news
anchor) and Tish Ciravolo (founder of Daisy Rock
Guitars), the show honored female role models in
the music industry such as Ronnie Spector, Lita
Ford, Shirley Manson, Karrie Keyes – founder of
Soundgirls and sound engineer for Pearl Jam, Lisa
Foxx – radio personality, and Esperanza Spalding, to
name a few.
Shirley Manson (front woman for Garbage)
identified that usually she avoids female-only events
because she wants everyone to play together and
doesn’t like segregation of any kind. “But these
are funny times and we’ve been sent some really
unpleasant messages, so this year I want to stand up
and say that these messages will not be tolerated.”
And Karrie Keyes, being the only female on crew
with Pearl Jam, related how the rest of the (male)
crew immediately assumed that she’d cause drama.
“I was probably one of the few that didn’t cause
drama” she quipped.
Amongst the presenters were Steve Vai and Lisa Loeb, while performances included a
line-up of guest guitarists including Nili Brosh, Nita Strauss (guitarist for Alice Cooper),
Gretchen Menn and of course the legendary, Lita Ford, who won the She Rocks Icon Award.
Ford dedicated her award to her first band, The Runaways, and ended the evening with a
rocking performance. Rock on ladies, rock on! —NIKI SMART
Photos by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAMM

FRONT
MAKING PEOPLE BEAUTIFUL
Hair in the ‘hood
SMALL SHOPS ARE TRENDING
Crop Salon
515 N. Ave 64
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323-344-7038
www.cropsalon.com
Barber №. 508
Atwater Village
Barber #508 is Frank Lara’s
private barbershop set up in a
converted garage in his backyard
in Atwater Village. Here he
offers haircuts, hot shaves, beard trims
and man scaping (back of the neck and
backs). Frank has a passion for beards
and shaving. “I like beards” he laughs,
tugging on his own fabulous beard.
What can you expect at Barber
#508? Well, Frank tells me, “What I do
with my clients is an experience.”
For a hot shave, Frank lays his
client back and conditions their face and
beard with oils and massages the back
of their neck and shoulders. Next comes
a hot lather and a relaxing hot towel
draped over the face, allowing time
to absorb the oils and great smelling
products – eucalyptus being a favorite.
An additional hot towel to clean off, then
a wet shave with a straight razor. By
now the skin is moist and easy to shave
and Frank holds the blade at a steady
32-degree angle – so you don’t have to
worry about cuts or scraped skin. He
uses cleansers and astringent to close
the pores, and a light finishing massage
on temples and forehead. A spritz of
replenishing mist and by now you feel
like a million bucks.
It’s a pampering session for men that
sees most clients coming back every
week. They tell Frank: “now I know why
my wife loves spas/salons/hairdressers.”
Frank’s been barbering for 5 years
and operating Barber #508 since
2013. His clientele is generated solely
by “word of mouth”, and obviously
he’s doing something right because
Frank is booked every day. One of his
client’s (Paul Lester of The Agency) was
recently named Mr. Modern Man of LA
by Angeleno Magazine, with a shout out
for: grooming by Barber #508.
After many years working in Social
Services, Frank enrolled in barber school
and got his license, (while still working
full time). 508 was Frank’s student and
locker number, and Frank got used to
identifying himself with this number.
Now he has it tattooed on his arm.
Barber #508 is open from 6- 10pm
every weekday and all day on the
weekends (And Frank still works fulltime
in social services)
Please email: 508barber@gmail.com for
an appointment.
For those of you who haven’t
discovered it yet, Highland
Park has a thriving, vibey, hip
thang going on. Coffee shops,
restaurants, flower shops, art galleries,
trendy York Ave, and a super cool hair
salon called Crop.
After losing both parents to cancer
and battling an illness of her own,
Crop owner, Deborah Kantner, became
more aware of the environment and
changed her lifestyle to a holistic,
natural, and sustainable way of
living. With Crop, she wanted to create
an environment that was safe from
chemicals for both her clients and her
staff. Ergo, Crop is Vegan-friendly and
uses organic products that are not
tested on animals. Deborah calls Crop,
“a place to come and heal your hair in
an eco-conscious setting.”
This cute little hairdressing salon
started out as a single chair but now
boasts 3 other (super-talented!)
stylists. Crop Salon offers cuts &
styling, coloring, and waxing. The
prices are affordable, the service is
excellent, the products are healthful
and what makes it extra fun is that
you can order in healthy organic food
and drinks from AMARA Kitchen right
next door – and you may get to hang
out with Newman – an adorable boxer.
Newman belongs to Danielle Harris,
one of the talented stylists who has
been working at Crop Salon for a year
now. “I love making people feel good
and aim to make people fall in love
with their own hair.”
Danielle’s specialties include
balayage, blow-outs, dry styling and
(very importantly) communicating with
her customers to get them the exact
cut and style they want. Blessed with
a head of bouncy curls, Danielle, of
course, also considers herself an expert
12
SoCal magazine
socalmag.com

WORKING together
SETS US APART
with curly-hair.
Other crew members include Erin
Will, whose specialties include balayage,
precision cuts, creative color, men’s
cuts& styling, and Anthony Crane, who is
passionate about hair and makeup, and
offers brow consultations.
Oh, and once your hair is done, you
can have a photo taken against the
colorful mural outside, and you may be
added to Crop’s Instagram page.
SETS US APART
Our Favorite Cuts
SHORTY'S BARBER SHOP
755 N. Fairfax Avenue
West Hollywood – (323) 297-0554
833 S Spring St, Floor 4, Los Angeles, CA 90014
www.ctrlcollective.com i (213) 239-0086
SWEENEY TODD’S BARBER SHOP
4639 Hollywood Blvd.
(323) 667-9690
MANILA PHILIPPINE BARBER SHOP
4802 Santa Monica Blvd
(323) 661-7302
BOLDT BARBERS
Downtown Los Angeles
460 S. Spring St, Los Angeles CA 90013
213 232 4715
THE WORLD FAMOUS
VENICE BARBER SHOP
1527 Pacific Ave
Venice Beach, CA 90291
(310) 686-2427
RIVIERA BARBER SHOP
/SHAVE PARLOR
310 Vista Del Mar, Redondo Beach,
CA 90277
(310) 375-0980

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FRONT
FIND DINING
BY JOSHUA PINKAY • PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAMONT "TORY" STAPLETON
The Requisite Restaurant Reviews
CatchLA
8715 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 347-6060
The esteemed CATCH restaurant has finally made its
permanent mark on the West Coast as it introduced its latest
addition to the EMM Group’s hospitality enterprise. Welcome
to CATCH LA, a true gem settled atop a magnificent rooftop
view right in the middle of West Hollywood. Upon exiting the elevator
to reach the restaurant level, you immediately walk into a gorgeous floral
walkway that gives the essence of a secret garden. This was intentional,
as CATCH LA has the advantage of being able to use year-round flowers
in its scheme as opposed to its New York predecessor.
Assistant General Manager, Anderson Clark, says, “As a restaurant,
CATCH LA isn’t traditional in any sense. Our goal is to offer something
for everyone. We try to fuse flavor and presentation together which
represents what CATCH is all about.”
Celebrities have made note of this gem and have made appearances
weekly. Some celebrity sightings include: Brie Larson, David Beckham,
Tobey Maguire, Kylie Jenner, Bono, Christina Milian, Calvin Klein,
Maria Shriver, Cindy Crawford, Michael Strahan, Larry David, Sylvester
Stallone, Demi Lovato, Cuba Gooding Jr., John Mayer, Michael B. Jordan,
and many more.
But apart from the design, the truest stars of CATCH LA are its
stellar menu items. Every dish is a star in itself and there’s no denying
the exquisite preparation of each. Take for example the herb-roasted
Branzino paired with creamy vegetable basmati; or the Scallop &
Cauliflower made with pistachio and tamarind brown-butter; or even the
Vegetable King Roll, made with king oyster mushroom, cashew, and spicy
miso.
Restaurant connoisseurs seeking to dine at CATCH LA are highly
encouraged to make a reservation as the restaurant capacity is reached
nightly. Bring your wallet!
Visit catchrestaurants.com/catchla
Top: The very popular
Vegetable King Roll,
made with king oyster
mushroom, cashew,
and spicy miso
Bottlefish
11677 San Vicente Blvd. #200
Los Angeles, CA
310 954 9495
Bottlefish is a new upmarket, Seafood-centic restaurant in
Brentwood Gardens started by restaurant pioneers Rick
Rosenfield and Larry Flax (founders of California Pizza Kitchen).
The well-lit room enveloped in wine bottles has 88 seats inside
and a further 36 seats in the climate-controlled outdoor patio, plus a lively
bar area. It’s spacious, comfortable, and has a glass-enclosed kitchen to
view some “chef” action. The innovative menu is chockfull of responsibly
sourced seafood with everything from lobster rolls to smoked trout dip
starters, sesame-crusted tuna, scallops, seabass ceviche and a whitefish
Milanese. Bottlefish also boasts a raw bar with superb oysters, an extensive
wine list, a craft beer collection and full bar service.
SoCal magazine 15

FRONT
ART TALK
BY KATIE NARTONIS • PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG GORMAN
The Art of Photography
AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID FAHEY OF FAHEY/KLEIN ART GALLERY
Fine art photography has been
showcased at the Fahey/Klein Gallery
since 1986. We sat down with curator
and owner David Fahey to talk about
photography and the state of the art in
a digital age.
KN: What gets you up and out of bed in
the morning?
The very minute I get up, I start reading
the newspapers. When I get to the
gallery, it’s already jamming. So you
come in here, blink twice and it’s already
6:00pm. It’s that quick. It’s an intense,
exciting, engaging operation.
KN: It was lovely to watch you meeting
with your team, and seeing how everyone
works together at Fahey/Klein Gallery –
that’s what’s keeps things fresh?
Yes, it’s a small business, a family
business. We like to involve everybody
in every aspect of the gallery that way
any one person is capable of stepping
in and taking over. It’s a very democratic
process - and it’s also a great laboratory
if someone wants to learn about the art
business.
When I was in school there just wasn’t
a lot of classes about how to run a
gallery, or to work in a museum – or
even instruction in the business of art. So
I just learned it all from the beginning.
And then on top of that, photography
took a “back seat” to contemporary art,
so you had to work a little extra harder.
KN: What’s the first photograph that
you remember discovering on your
own?
The first photograph that I purchased
was an image of Martinique by André
Kertész. It’s just a classic, rather abstract,
mysterious picture.
KN: Do you remember the
circumstances of how you acquired it?
It was something that I’d always loved
and I initially couldn’t afford it - so I paid
it off over a few months. It’s an image of
a figure behind a frosted glass, and it’s
a very geometric composition. I found
it unusual, and with so many meanings
that you could read into it. I was
fascinated by it.
KN: How did you get your first break in
16
SoCal magazine
the Art Business?
I had an interest in music, so I
photographed at the Troubadour,
Shelly’s Manne-Hole, The Lighthouse,
Concerts by the Sea – all the early
clubs. In order to hear the music for
free, I'd photograph the performers at
night. I was in college, dropped out for a
semester, got drafted, and went to Viet
Nam. When I came
back, I started
college again. My
undergraduate
degree was in photo
communications
with an emphasis on
photography.
Pretty soon
I was teaching
“The History of
Photography.” There
is an organization
called the Society
for Photographic
Educators, SPE. In
those days, the people who came as
guest speakers were folks like Gene
Smith, Ansel Adams, Harry Callahan and
other great photographers. They spoke
and lectured, and I got to meet and
know them.
Back in 1975 there were hardly any
galleries. And because I knew these
artists, and had a relationship with them,
I had a connection to that world. So
when I started working at a gallery, I was
able to connect with these same people
and put together shows.
KN: Do art photographers make good
fashion photographers?
I would say, generally speaking, yes.
Because the bring something else to
the table. I think their output can be
quirky, strange and fresh enough to
grab attention. The most important
thing is getting attention, and artists
know how to do that. The best fashion
photography can be as powerful as the
best portraiture and landscape.
The job of the fashion photographer is
to make an interesting photograph that
makes you look at the clothes, it’s pretty
simple that way. And all those fashion
photographers, all the best of them,
try to do something a little different to
make people look at, number one, at
socalmag.com
"The best fashion
photographers
create the need to
look and linger on
a photograph."
the photograph, and number two, to
contribute to the attention the clothes
are receiving.
So, Martin Munkácsi went out into
the street and photographed fashion,
movement and activity at the beach, or
in the city, wherever it might be. Richard
Avedon also photographed in the streets
of Paris and New York. Or someone like
Irving Penn – his whole
methodology was
about the perfection
you could achieve in
the studio. That was
his approach. Helmut
Newton eroticized
fashion photographs,
and he eroticized just
the general photograph.
He created what I like
to call these mininarratives.
It might
be one picture, one
model in a scene that
begins to start telling
a story and then your imagination
takes you someplace. The best fashion
photographers create the need to look
and linger on a photograph.
Melvin Sokolsky photographed
couture inside a bubble floating on the
Seine. How do you not look at that and
not get drawn into the photograph? How
do you not then look at the clothes -
how can it not get your attention?
KN: Who would you like to see come
into the gallery?
As an artist - or as a collector? Eli Broad
is a major art collector in Los Angeles,
and I’d love to have him be aware of who
we are, and what we’re doing. I’d loved
to have worked with Man Ray, of course. I
did know his wife Juliet Man Ray very well,
and his nephew Kevin White. I’ve shown
Man Ray’s work and sold his pictures but I
never got to meet him.
KN: Your openings are packed, any
secrets?
We have very crowded openings
(laughs)- It’s because the generation
that’s living today really connects with
photography – it’s a primal connection. It
sort of speaks to the current popularity
of contemporary photography, and even
historical photography, for that matter.

SoCal magazine 17

David Fahey
photographer
Besides curating and hosting of some
of the most significant gallery openings
in Los Angeles, David Fahey has long
maintained friendships with many of
the photographers—in fact, he generally
photographs each and every one at the time
of the exhibit. Here are but a sample of
those images of great photographers.
William Klein |
Los Angeles, 1982
Sheila Metzner | NYC, 1986
Horst P. Horst | New York, 1989
Herb Ritts | Tokyo, 1990
Helmut Newton | Paris, 1981
Bert Stern | New York City, 1996
Rankin | Los Angeles, 2007
Arthur Elgort | Los Angeles, 2015
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David Bailey | London, 1990
Albert Watson | Paris, 1994
Bruce Weber | Los Angeles, 2005
Helmut Newton |
Chateau Marmont,
Hollywood 1985
Peter Lindbergh | Vienna, Austria, 1996
Ellen von Unwerth | Los Angeles, 2011
Melvin Sokolsky | Los Angeles
2010
Helmut Newton and David Fahey | Cahors,
France, c. 1996
SoCal magazine 19

FRONT
NEIGHBORHOOD
BY JOSHUA PINKAY • PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANISHA GIBBS
Lather it Up
PASADENA SHOP PROVIDES A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN SKIN CARE
If you’ve ever appreciated all-natural products made with essential oils, you must
absolutely visit a true gem in Southern California known as Lather. Right in
the heart of Pasadena, CA is Lather’s flagship store and the largest store of the
brand’s 5 locations nationwide. Lather was founded by Emilie Davidson Hoyt in
1999, and has grown her brand extensively ever since. She started off with simple
olive oil soaps scented with essential oils and fragrances, but over time the brand now
carries over 180 different products that span through wellness, hair, face, anti-aging, and
body categories.
When visiting the SoCal location in Pasadena, Lather likes to create an actual
experience for its shoppers, particularly through their Lather Blending Bar. Customers
get the opportunity to be educated on essential oils while creating their own customized
products including a moisturizer, body wash, scented roll-on, or massage oil. You start
with an unscented base product of your choosing, and pay per drop of any essential oil.
There are about 40-50 different oils to choose from, and pricing varies on the rarity of the
oil itself, as Lather is known for pioneering unique scents into their products like bamboo,
yuzu, and mangosteen. As an added experience, Lather offers sampling sinks in store so
that customers are able to try any product they want before they purchase.
These products are certainly worthy of family use as the packaging was designed to be
inclusive to anyone’s needs. Lather is not a beauty brand, but rather an overall skincare
brand that utilizes the best tools to have great skin.
COCONUT FOAMING BODY SCRUB
This unique scrub has a light foaming effect that both cleanses and exfoliates
at the same time giving your body a radiant and refreshed feeling.
Lather is located at 17 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105. For store hours and product
information, visit www.Lather.com
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DTLA's first walk-up bar
1100 South Hope Street • Los Angeles, CA 90015
prankbar.com

FRONT
NEIGHBORHOOD
BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHED BY KELLY BROWN
We Believe
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS SHOW 2017
Founded in 1901, “NAMM” stands for the National Association of Music Merchants.
With ever increasing popularity, this year, despite heavy rain and relentless traffic,
there were close to 100k people in attendance.
Each year, every type of musical instrument/gear/gadget/accoutrements are presented
at the NAMM show, making it a smorgasbord of musical imagination.
Not only are deals being made and new ideas being exposed, but there is also a plethora
of performances, some by the top guys and gals in the music biz. With so much to see,
hear, do and experience - here is my list of top moments for this year’s NAMM Show.
Most Strange to Watch - The Virtual Instrument – this one wins the, as people don their virtual head
gear and then let loose on an invisible drum kit, it’s great fun to watch.
Click below to see the virtual drum kit for yourself – less space and less noise than a regular drum kit.
https://www.facebook.com/musicroomvr/videos/1142099092494208
Most Handy - The Umbrella Amp holder – this is to place a mic in front of your guitar amp. For years,
musicians have had to have an extra mic stand – but not anymore. Made by the Wishbone Workshop, the
umbrella amp holder is adjustable, durable, versatile, compact and lightweight.
http://www.thewishboneworkshop.com
Most Touching Moment - The Korg Soundroom hosted Jordan Rudess and Marc Bonilla on stage as
they played Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Tarkus as a tribute to their friend KEITH EMERSON. Seated in
the front row was Emerson’s long standing girlfriend, Mari Kawaguchi. She teared up during the stunning
performance and said “Keith would have loved the originality, creativity, virtuosity and the technical
wizardry of this performance. He loved it when musicians took his music and made it their own.”
Most Endurance – Picks by the Pound have been part of the NAMM show for 80 years – their business
has been handed down from father to son, keeping it all the family. Their picks are made from all types of
wood and even buffalo bone. http://www.picksbythepound.com
Most Unexpected – I met people from all over the world that had flown in to be at NAMM. I met people
from Germany, Australia, England and even from my home land, South Africa. I promised my fellow
countrymen a shout out, so “yay” for Toms Music Shop in SA. http://www.toms.co.za
Winner Most Delicate - Flute maker, James Hall crafts hand blown crystal flutes, piccolos, panpipes and
even digeridoos – and finishes them with daintily painted flowers. They look and sound beautiful.
http://www.hallflutes.com
Most Fun - The She Rocks Awards Show was held at the Hilton Hotel in the Pacific Ballroom. Honoring
women trail blazers in the music industry, this was a fun night of kick ass performances and empowering
speeches.
http://www.thewimn.com
Most Awesome – Grayson Erhard was performing cover songs in the Hilton hotel lobby and had
just finished a version of “Very Superstitious” when he spotted Stevie Wonder in the crowd. Grayson
immediately apologized for messing up the lyrics and confessed he didn’t know the 2nd or 3rd verse very
well. Well, Stevie Wonder told him, “play it again” and then Stevie climbed up on stage and sung it with
Grayson, even whispering the words in his ear to get him through the verses. This is what every musician
dreams of happening to them – so way to go, Stevie Wonder for being awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5re01x0pI8
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Most Innovative
A wearable metronome – The Soundbrenner Pulse
is the metronome for the 21st century – the future
of rhythm. Wearable, intelligent, and powered
by vibrations and can be combined with the
Soundbrenner app, allowing you to create and save
complex rhythms, organize them into set lists, and
even choose custom vibrations and LED colors.
www.soundbrennerpulse.com
SoCal magazine 23

FRONT
VENEER
BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHED BY JARED RUBIN
Face Changer
DR. PAYMAN SIMONI GIVES LA THE NIP/TUCK TREATMENT
Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Payman Simoni, MD, brings a
comprehensive expertise in cosmetic plastic surgery to his work,
along with an impeccable record of professional achievement, patient
satisfaction, and accomplishments as a researcher. Dr. Simoni speaks
multiple languages, was a peace volunteer in Tel Aviv, Israel, and a
consultant on the TV show Nip/Tuck.
Dr. Simoni is also the surgeon you should visit if you are interested in
“The facelift of the Future”. This hour-long procedure improves the laxity
of jowls, cheeks and neck without the need for anesthesia. Dr. Simoni
believes the risks of anesthesia can sometimes outweigh the benefits,
and therefore modified this facial procedure to eliminate the need for
anesthesia.
What’s the best part about your job?
I think of my job as art – it’s a marriage between art and science.
I love my job.
If someone would pay my bills, I would do it for free.
What’s the scariest part about your job?
The fact that you have people’s lives in your hands.
What’s the worst part about your job?
That one day I will have to retire.
Do you ever have to cancel a surgery because you’re having an
“off” day?
I did five years in Medical school, and being in residency is like
being in the army.
You don’t have the luxury to have an off day – you just shake it
off.
When I first started at Med school, I couldn’t understand why they
made it so difficult. You often have to stay up all night and you
get no sleep, and then you keep going and still have to perform at
your best standard. It’s grueling. But in those five years, you really
learn your priorities.
How long have you been practicing?
I’ve had my own practice for 14 years, and I’ve been doing
surgeries for 19 years.
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Made by Franz
SoCal magazine 25

What advice would you give people who
are considering plastic surgery?
The main and most important advice
that I give to my patients is to tell them
to make sure they are having surgery for
themselves and not for someone else.
How do you keep up-to-date on
procedures?
I attend plastic surgery meetings once
a year, and a medical journal club that
selects current studies on a monthly basis.
Since my practice is in Beverly Hills, I have
to be on the cutting edge. Plastic surgery
is a very competitive market, plus a very
demanding market. I make sure to stay on
top of the newest techniques and latest
products.
Anything else you’d like the readers to
know?
The truth is, there is no best plastic
surgeon, but I feel there is a “most
suitable” surgeon for everyone. It’s
more about whom the patient feels
comfortable with and whom the patient
trusts. My expertise is the face. If my
patients are looking for a procedure that
I don’t perform, I’ll refer them to doctors
I know. I have specialists for everything:
hair implants, tummy-tuck, breast
enhancement etc.
Dr. Simoni’s LA:
What is your favorite part of the city?
My favorite part of the city is West Hollywood/
Beverly Hills area.
Favorite Restaurant?
My favorite restaurant "Shilo's Steakhouse".
Where do plastic surgeons hang out?
Plastic Surgeons usually hang out at trendy
restaurants and bars.
What book is on your nightstand?
" Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge"
Favorite portrayal of plastic surgery in movies,
and your least favorite?
Favorite portrayal of plastic surgery in movies "Nip
Tuck", and my least favorite "Just go with it".
Answers to Reader's Questions:
What can I do about crepey looking skin on my
arms and legs? Is there any procedure for that?
There are a lot of treatments out there, but none that
are really effective.
My skin is "thin". Is this a problem if I'm
contemplating your Simoni mid-face lift?
No, as we can combine the lift with skin treatments
such as fractional co2 laser to make the skin
healthier and fuller.
Have a question about plastic surgery? Ask Dr. Payman Simoni
Email your questions to simoni@socalmag.com
26
SoCal magazine
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Join us in celebrating leading
women in the music industry
women in the music industry
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Los Angeles
CA 90013
323-825-5449
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017 • 7:00 P.M.
Anaheim Hilton Hotel • at the namm show
2017 Honorees: Lita Ford • Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Esperanza Spalding • Monique Boyer (M•A•C Cosmetics)
Rebecca Eaddy (Roland Corp U.S.) • Beverly Fowler (PRS Guitars)
Lisa Foxx (iHeartRadio) • Charyn Harris (A Place Called Home)
Karrie Keyes (Soundgirls) • Tracy Leenman (Musical Innovations)
Dani Markman (Disney Music Group) • Leanne Summers (LAWIM)
Plus: performances • GUEST PRESENTERS • food & drink
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ParentiMusic-1quarterPageAd.indd 2
12/18/16 9:39 PM

FRONT
ODD JOBS
BY NIKI SMART • PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN SKALICKY
Ted Smith: Making Hollywood Look Real
"EVIL TED" TALKS FOAM PROPS, CONVENTIONAL THINKING AND YOUTUBE
The first thing I noticed about Ted Smith (AKA Evil
Ted), were the thin scars that run from his elbow to
wrist on both sides of his right forearm. Ted was hit
by a car - an accident that broke his leg, cracked his spine,
lost him a tooth, shattered his right forearm, and put him in a
coma for seven days.
While he was unconscious, the doctors wanted to
amputate his crushed forearm, but his mother fought to save
that arm. Thank goodness for Ted’s mother, because due to
her insistence, the doctors rebuilt and reset Ted’s arm. Ted
now has full use of both hands, which allows
him to make the fabulous props that he
does today. It’s almost poetic that someone
who has built body parts for movies, has a
body part that was built.
Ted’s been making props professionally
for 30 years, working on movies like:
Titanic, Fifth Element, Hunger Games, Star
Trek – and TV shows like The Walking Dead,
Xena and Boardwalk Empire. His fun pieces
include ‘Chili hot dogs’ that he made for the
Muppet Movie, or the foam wedding cake
that a narcoleptic stripper fell out of in an
episode of Arrested Development.
And Ted didn’t go to school; he simply
started building, honed his skills and built
up speed. He says: “If you want to make this
your job, you have to love it – because it’s
hard work and a lot of hours…and luckily, I
love it!”
With his own YouTube channel of
instructional videos on how to make foam
props, Ted explains: “Foam is my specialty.
The main thing I teach people is how to make a pattern.”
Really, Ted is a kid at heart and what he loves doing is
sharing information with others who are as passionate as he
is about costumes, props, dressing up and wearing masks.
How did the “evil” get into your name?
I had a roommate called Ted, and his family called us
Ted A and Ted B – but I suggested good Ted and evil Ted –
and I wanted to be Evil Ted. Then I went on tour with Rob
Zombie and since there were 3 other Teds, my name of “Evil
Ted” stuck.
What is your job title?
Fabricator – I make stuff – out of wood, plastic, metal –
but I enjoy foam the most. I excel at foam. It’s my passion; my
escape. I’m a tailor/seamstress for foam.
The first video I ever posted was on how to make a foam
helmet. And the video simply took off. Ergo, I started making
videos and now I have over a hunderd thousand followers
(and counting) on my youtube channel. I’ve also started
using Twitch, where I become a virtual teacher.
www.Twitch.TV/eviltedsmith.com – On Twitch, I can
stream live and answer questions in real time. It’s great for
building a community - I always tell my viewers “if you’re
building something, please share it”.
My mission is to get people to build their own stuff.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made?
Funny you say that, but it’s always the thing I’ve just
finished working on – and then I’m onto the next one. So
right now the coolest thing I’ve made
is the armor for Vampire Hunter D, for
the movie “Blood Lust”. I’m making his
armor and streaming it live on Twitch –
so people can watch as I build, and ask
me questions.
Where do you get your materials?
You can get everything you need
at a hardware store, like Home Depot.
But I’m trying to have it so you can
get your supplies anywhere. I endorse
T&T Cosplace supplies and have them
on my website – they have really good
foam. Floor mats are great to build out
of as they are textured on one side and
smooth on the other.
Tell me more about the conventions
you attend
I go to about 10 conventions a
year including: Blizz Con, Epic Con,
Comikaze, Anime Expo and Emerald
City Con. There are conventions for animated games, heroes,
movies, and costumes. And I dress up, as do most of the
attendees. They make some really elaborate outfits and
props. People can let lose behind a mask – it’s like Halloween
every day; a form of relief or escape - a fun form of recreation.
Anything else you want our readers to know?
Now that I’ve started making foam props on my terms,
this is the first time I can say I really enjoy what I’m doing.
Hollywood beat the crap out of me. When I worked on films
I’d be operating 15- 16 hours a day for months at a time, and
the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was build
something.
I think Hollywood is like a hot girlfriend – yes, she’s
gorgeous and thrilling, but she’s unreliable and you can’t
trust her. As soon as the next best thing comes along, she’ll
be gone.
For more information: eviltedsmith.com
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SoCal magazine 29

LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD
Costume designer
Trish Summerville is
most famous for her
costumes in The Hunger
Games, The Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo and the
recent HBO hit, West
World. Here she talks
about her life in the
movies, and her favorite
tool.
Interview by NIKI SMART
Photographed by JOHN SKALICKY
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SoCal magazine 31

ho is Trish Summerville? Well, Summerville’s the
person who transformed a timid looking Rooney Mara into the intense, ballsagainst-the-wall
combatant, Lisbeth Salander, for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
in 2011. Next, Summerville went on to convert the somewhat clumsy Jennifer
Lawrence into a sleek, beautifully composed, Katniss Everdeen. Who can forget
the stunning scene of Katniss twirling in her flaming wedding dress in Catching
Fire the second part of the Hunger Games Trilogy? Yes, Trish Summerville is a
costume designer, but she is much more than that. With her finger on the pulse of
what’s hot in materials, style, textures, and trend, Summerville seems to expand on
their boundaries to delight her audience.
And it pays off. Summerville won a Costume Designers Guild Award for
Excellence in Costume Design for a Contemporary Film for The Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo in 2011. She was named Costume Designer of the Year at the 2013
Style Awards, and won the Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in
Costume Design for a Fantasy Film for Hunger Games: Catching Fire in 2013
Summerville has dressed a plethora of celebrities: Justin Timberlake, Pink,
Janet Jackson, Juliette Lewis and Christina Aguilera to name a few, and has
worked on editorials for Rolling Stone, Esquire, People, GQ, SPIN and more.
Adding to Summerville’s body of film work, is Gone Girl and more recently she
spent 6 months in South Africa for the upcoming film, The Dark Tower with
Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba (set to release in Feb 2017). On the TV side,
Summerville has worked on Ray Donovan, and on HBO’s hit series,Westworld that
premiered in October 2016.
SoCal magazine was lucky enough to catch a sneak preview of Westworld and
to have a chat with the gifted costume designer, Trish Summerville.
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SoCal magazine 33

interview
TRISH SUMMERVILLE
When did you know costume design was something you
wanted to do?
I started making clothes as a teenager- then went to FIDM with
the idea of starting my own line of clothing. I didn’t know that
costume design even existed. I got “in” assisting on music videos
and that translated into commercials, and then on to film and TV.
are they in? I work closely with the production designer so that
the characters I dress fit into the world designed for the set. Of
course, things shift slightly once an actor is cast for the role. Quick
side note – when Mara Rooney came on set for “The Girl with
the Dragon Tattoo”, her favorite color was blush - now it’s black.
(Trish laughs).
What is the hardest part of your job?
Being on location. Yes, it’s wonderful to travel the world and to
discover new cultures, and meet new people – but it’s hard to be
away from home for months at a time. And finding material in a
different country is a challenge. At home I know exactly where to
go for what, but I struggle to find even thread and needles in some
parts of the world. On the
plus side, I find new things,
well, and people that I want
to bring home with me. I was
just in South Africa for six
months working on The Dark
Tower. The seamstresses that
I worked with were wonderful
and I’m looking for work for
them here is the US now.
3. Do you make a lot of the
clothing yourself ?
I design it, yes, and I’m very hands-on. I hand draped 12 people on
the last show – and hand stitched everything. On Westworld we
rented from Western Costumes for the background characters, but
we made everything for the principal players – it’s called made to
order (or MO).
In Westworld, how did you design for the past and the future
and keep it cohesive?
Well, in Westworld, because there are scenes set in the 1800s and
scenes set in the future. I base my ideas on the environment the
characters exist in. I worked very closely with production designer,
Nathan Crawley. I went into his office every day to see what colors
he was using on the sets, and then I went along with those colors.
The colors were warmer in western world - yellows, reds, browns
and then I’d make the prostitutes pop out - or the visitors. The
future is colder – so I used more blue tone and kept it “icy”.
Which outfit of the characters you’ve dressed would you
choose for yourself (and why)?
From Westworld, I’d take Armistice - she’s super kick ass, and the
tattoo on side of her head is a serpent. I love that. Other than that,
I’m really a mash up between Salander and Blumkvist.
Having studied and researched clothing so extensively, what
strikes you the most about the psychology behind what we
choose to wear?
Well, clothing is either for function or for fashion. I approach
characters with that in mind. When I get a script we do a character
break down. Who is this character? What’s their motivation?
Who are they dressing for? We dig into their life - what income
level are they, how worn in are their clothes, what temperature
What tool could you not LIVE without? Is it a journal, a
pencil? What is essential for a costumer/stylist?
The simplest one - the safety pin. Because I’m very hands-on,
I use thousands of them. And the pantone color book is the
universal tool for designers. Plus, of course, I need my computer
and iPad.
“From Westworld, I’d take
Armistice - she’s super kick ass,
and the tattoo on the side of her
head is a serpent. I love that.”
Is there a film that you’ve
seen and said, “Damn, I
wish I’d done that film”?
“City of Lost children” – I love
the coloration of the film and
how it looks. Another movie
would be “The HUNGER”
with Susan Sarandon. I wish
I’d been part of that.
Your claim to fame is the
wedding dress from Hunger
Games (you got the dress from Indonesian designer Tek
Savario). Are you solicited by designers to put their clothes
in the wardrobe?
Yes, sometimes – and we definitely get product placement for
films. We send a wish list to designers we want – or sometimes
they send us a list of what they have available. For “Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo”, H&M came to the director through SONY. After
a few meetings, they brought images - just flat photos of clothing.
So I designed the clothes and they made them. Thing is, they were
in Sweden, so I’d Skype with the production team and FedEx them
swatches. Then they’d FedEx back samples. I redesigned 5 pieces
in 2 days – until we had a concise collection that everyone was
happy with.
I think it’s fascinating how you dig into the “mind” of the
characters you dress. For example, Effie Trinket in the
Hunger Games. You said, ”she’s teetering on shoes that
are a bit too high, or her waist is cinched in a bit too tight.
She’s not letting herself ever be fully comfortable. It’s kind
of her own penance.” What did you find out about the main
characters on Westworld when designing for them?
Westworld is mind-bending stuff – the writers are extremely
intelligent. The characters were a little tricky because the
principal actors wear the same costume for the entire series. I had
to design wardrobe with that in mind.
Who is a trendsetter in your world?
I love watching Iris Van Herpen – the technology and design in
her clothing is truly phenomenal. She is otherworldly in what she
does. I admire her from her textiles to her fabrication to the 3
dimensional work she comes up with. She is amazing.
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Clockwise: 1. Westworld's
- Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as
Armistice
2. Westworld's -Evan Rachel
Wood as Dolores Abernathy
3. The Huner Games -
Elizabeth Banks as Effie
Trinket 4. The Huner Games
- Jennifer Lawrence as
Katniss Everdeen
trish
summerville
The Dark Tower (2017)
Westworld (TV Series) (1 episode) (2016)
The Original (2016)
Gone Girl (2014)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Ray Donovan (TV Series) (1 episode) 2013
The Bag or the Bat (2013)
Man and Woman (2012 )
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2011
Going Back (Short -2010)
The Dark Path Chronicles (TV Series -2008)
Christina Aguilera: Stripped Live in the UK
(Video documentary)
2000 Christina Aguilera: My Reflection
(TV Special documentary)
1999 Hijack
1999 Clubland
SoCal magazine 35

artist in residence
Franz Szony
Creator of the photographic painting talks about the process of making images and music
Despite a name that would seem to conjure up Austrian composers, Franz Szony was born and
raised in Reno, Nevada. Though he attended San Francisco’s Academy of Art, he makes LA home.
His work itself is often misunderstood: is it photocollage, Photoshop, a painting?
What is known is that they are extravagant, mysterious and sublimely beautiful.
We asked Franz to reveal some of the secrets behind the images.
Growing up in Reno, what informed your
photographic style?
When I moved there with my family in the early
90's, Reno had several world-class stage productions
throughout the hotels. My father is in the casino
business, so I had the privilege of seeing many of them...
some twenty or thirty times.
This was at a time when
productions were "high budget,
low-fi," nothing was digital,
everything was organic. Show
themes were completely conceptual, costumes were at
the level of couture, sets were painted by hand and music
came from the orchestra pit. Reno will never see shows
exist on this level again... and although the "showgirl"
is becoming a concept of yesteryear, its philosophy will
continuously show itself in my work.
How did you ultimately choose Los Angeles as the
place for you to live and work?
Think of all the incredible art, stories, glamour and
beauty that has been created in Los Angeles over the last
hundred years. If the theory is true...that a house built
over an old cemetery will innately become haunted by
the energy...then I must believe that the grounds of Los
Angeles are completely filled with the most beautiful of
ghosts...and hopefully I'll become a bit haunted by them.
How long do the photographic paintings usually
take? Is it one sitting many? Are things sketched
first? What is the process?
The camera is honestly just
a paintbrush for me.
Artists have been idealizing their work for thousands of
years. To ask any type of artist, whether it be a sculptor,
painter or photographer what is "real" and what isn't...well
thats just silly and against the nature of art altogether.
Everything in my work is captured in-camera...and
everything has been retouched by my magic wand. Just
jump down the rabbit hole,
don't question its legitimacy. I
sketch all of my work prior to
creating them as photographs,
however, when I'm creating
photographs, I still think in terms of illustration. The
camera is honestly just a paintbrush for me.
Who would you most like to to collaborate with?
Is there a Szony film in the future?
I have a great number of people that I hope to
photograph throughout my life...and several that I have
already gotten the opportunity to do so. The process
is not a race, the enjoyment is in the journey. Many of
the people I admire most have already left this planet...
Lucille Ball, Marc Davis, Georges Méliès, Geiger, Dali,
Da Vinci, Poe....If I want to photograph you, it's probably
because you have a spark of one of the greats.
Although I've done work on smaller conceptual films,
I would like to create something full-length in the notso-distant
future. Before film, there will be music. I'm
currently working on a small conceptual album...there are
certain things that just can't be expressed as well visually
as they can vocally, and I'm working on bringing those
sounds out of the woodworks.
Portraits by JOSEPH ADIVARI
SoCal magazine 37

Familiars
"Familiars" modeled by Shaun Ross. A fully photographic
image with antique exotic taxidermy. A "familiar" was
known in Medieval folklore as a super-natural being in the
form of an animal that would assist witches and cunning
folk on the practice of magic. Original measures 8' long.
C-print, surface mounted.
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Merlin
"Merlin" modeled by Mathu Andersen.
Known as the "wild man in the woods,"
Merlin was first mention in a Welsh
manuscript of poems dating back to the
year 1250. He was said to be the son
of the devil, despite his mother being a
nun. To this day, scholars are puzzled
by this historical figure....I myself have
always been fascinated by him. A fully
photographic image, limited edition of
three original 60" tall prints.
DuBarry
"Du Barry" modeled by Dita Von
Teese. Inspired by the flamboyant
historical figure Madame Du Barry,
this image is completely photographic
and was meticulously made with paint,
paper, roses and Swarovski crystal. A
limited edition of three original prints,
measuring 60" tall.
SoCal magazine 41

THE ART OF THE ALBUM COVER
coverlady
Meet Ria Lewerke, art director and designer of some of music's greatest hits
Think about a banana against a white
background—sound familiar? Four
guys crossing a street in London, one
mysteriously barefoot - sound familiar? Of
course it does, because we’re talking album
cover art and those who created them. Los
Angeles is home to many of the designers
who created the iconic images that have
moved from commercial art to that rarest
of commodities, fine art.
Initially albums or 78’s (rpm) or 33’s were
sheathed with a thin paper wrapper that
was called a sleeve. That all changed in
1938 when New York graphic artist Alex
Steinweiss began creating what we today
call album cover art. At some point every
graphic designer wanted in the 12x12”
game of album cover art. If Steinweiss
provoked the culture to look deeper into the
marketing of music, it was the 1967 Beatles
Sgt. Peppers album cover designed by both
the Beatles and Pop artist Peter Blake, that
created what would be called concept cover
art - and that pushed it even further. From
there, an industry blossomed.
Today with the resurgence of vinyl, we
wanted to check in with one of those
famous designers—Ria Lewerke, who has
cast her talent on the likes of Prince, ELO,
Matchbox 20, Tori Amos, Dave Matthews
Band, Ozzy Ozbourne, and a host of others.
Ria arrives with a portfolio, yes, a portfolio which is a
portable vinyl case for showing your work. Inside is a body
of work that looks as relevant as the day it was created. We
sat down to talk about music, the album and the state of
design today.
You got your start where?
I was really interested in set design initially. I actually lived in
New York City for 10 years during the late 80s and worked for
RCA Records.
Who was the easiest and most difficult artist to work
with?
Oh, I can't really answer that!
What musical style do you personally like the most?
I enjoy anything reggae!
Any album covers you wish you had designed?
Sure. The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers, all the Chicago
covers—such great evolution of their logo being done again
and again, but differently. The Beatles, David Bowie, all those
fantastic album covers, there's so many to think about.
How is the state of the album cover today?
Artists today were raised with a Macintosh and can create
the design themselves - and do! Only top artists like Beyonce
have big photo sessions and a team marketing their work.
And today, the number of albums is limited as everything gets
recorded on devices that keep getting smaller. The CD is on
the verge of extinction, and if you think about it, we went from
8-track tape to cassettes to jump drives that can now contain
your entire audio library.
Is design still alive and well?
Yes, of course, there is design everywhere, though now it's
mostly presented digitally.
As an instructor of graphic design (at FIDM) do you have
any advice for young designers?
Look at design as it is eveywhere: on websites, newspapers,
billboards and magazines.
INTERVIEW BY Randy Dunbar PHOTOGRAPHED BY Johnny Buzzerio
AT AMOEBA RECORDS, LOS ANGELES
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Ria Lewerke Greastest Hits
Vinyl Heaven
LA’s last remaining giant record store:
Amoeba Records
There was talk of Amoeba Records leaving Sunset Boulevard to
be replaced by yet another glittering tower in late September. In a
Twittered response, the indie retail giant informed the world: “We’re
going to remain in our building for the duration of our lease — which
is several years — Amoeba and the building owner are open to us
potentially staying longer.”
Amoeba Records first opened in 1991 in Berkley, followed by another
store in 1997 in the Haight District in San Francisco. Then in November
2001, Angelinos began to enjoy the iconic Amoeba Record Store on
Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. The Sunset
Amoeba Records is amongst the largest
in the world, the biggest in the USA, and
it boasts the highest volume of sales
worldwide. With their famous signage
in front, this record store truly is the
last-man-standing in a world where
buying music has narrowed to hitting
the download button. Amoeba stays in
business partly due to the fact that they
do consignment deals with musicians,
and allow customers to bring in their
old CDs or vinyl, and Amoeba buys
them out right. With a few thousand
people coming through the doors on
a daily basis, there’s a lot going on
in Amoeba. Plus, there are instore
performances happening almost every
day for local and traveling acts, and
Amoeba Records has the capacity to fit
about 800 people for a show. The bands
usually perform around 6pm - a free
event where you can meet the artists
if you buy their latest album and have
them sign it for you.
The biggest acts Amoeba has had
instore are Paul McCartney and PJ
Harvey. Recently they tried something new, and hosted a huge fashion
show with Stella McCartney. For this fashion show event, Amoeba rented
out their entire store and reinvented the interior, erecting a large neon
rainbow that stretched from counter to counter, and brought in pinball
machines to use as platforms for the models to walk on. To top off the
show, Pink, Brian Wilson, and the Hollywood Vampires performed (the
Hollywood Vampires are Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry).
Go to amoeba.com to find out who is playing instore.
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Shop the BEST selection of
MUSIC, MOVIES & MORE!
New / Used / Collectible:
VINYL, CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAYs, POSTERS,
BOOKS, T-SHIRTS • FREE LIVE SHOWS!
BUY / SELL / TRADE
A huge selection of TURNTABLES,
SPEAKERS and AUDIO GEAR!
AMOEBA MUSIC HOLLYWOOD
6400 SUNSET BLVD • (323) 245-6400
AMOEBA.COM • MON-SAT 10:30AM-11PM • SUN 11AM-10PM
SoCal magazine 45

STYLEANDSUBSTANCE
PHOTOGRAPHED BY IRVIN RIVERA
B. HUNTER
A graduate of FIDM, B. Hunter
was bullied as a child and today
fights back with a project entitled
"Power Speaks Louder".
PSL's mission statement: To
empower and transform lives
with the power of words. She
has created coloring books and
puzzles to promote PSL and
visits local schools to facilitate
motivational discussions that
help students turn their failures
into self-discovery.
Photographer Irvin
Rivera's portraits
always reveal
character—in this
case a motivational
speaker and fashion
designer who prove
that style can have
substance
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SoCal magazine 47

MICHAEL NGO
Interview by JOSHUA PINKAY
Michael Ngo is an emerging Los Angeles based
fashion designer that was born and raised
in San Jose, California. At a very early age,
Michael was sketching on little paper dolls
and would tell his family & friends that he was
going to grow up to be a fashion designer. In
his senior year of high school, he was voted as
“Most Likely To Be Seen On A Runway” by his
classmates and everyone knew him as stylish,
artistic, and entertaining.
FASHION DESIGNER IN LOS ANGELES
Photography by IRVIN RIVERA
Stylist: Tamira Wells
Asst. Stylist: Giovanni Floresta
What is Michael Ngo looking forward to in 2017?
I’m anxious to continue to create new things and expanding myself as a designer. I
want to launch a capsule collection and venture out beyond the runway by getting the
brand into stores. I’ve had so many celebrities wear my clothing in the past two years,
but now I want to divert some attention to selling to the masses.
What are your plans for fashion week? Will you present twice this year, or stick to
one annual show?
I would say for now that I am still up in the air about that. I’m certainly going to
present a new collection for Fashion Week, but haven’t made a concrete decision on
whether or not I’m presenting in two seasons.
Is there anyone new that you’ve recently worked with or are about to work with?
Well, the highlight of my 2016 was having Lady Gaga wear one of my runway pieces
for an editorial in Vanity Fair Italia. I was so amazed and thankful, that I printed
the image on a canvas and mounted it beside my bed as a reminder to constantly stay
inspired. I also got to work with Jason Derulo, Bebe Rexha, Ellie Goulding, and so
many others. 2017 has some unique opportunities for me, so for now, I’m just going to
say, stay tuned.
What’s your dream collaboration for 2017?
I would love to do a fashion film and collaborate with some notable filmmakers and
visionaries on a project. I want to explore digital media collaborations with my art,
because I think there’s room there for me to grow as a designer and artist through
those mediums.
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SKINCARE FOR THE ANGELINO
On average there are 284
days of sunshine in So Cal
— that’s a lot of sun
and a lot of wear and tear
on the skin.
Simple, home solutions
can balance the equation.
Seeing as approximately 70% of our body mass
is made up of water (skin, tissues, cells and the
organs) we need water for effective functioning of
our bodies.
So here’s the low down on H2O - Drinking an
adequate amount of water every day is important
for overall good health as water increases the
metabolic rate and aids in digestion, circulation,
absorption and even excretion. Water flushes
toxins and waste products from the body thereby
cleansing it, and without adequate water, the body
is more prone to constipation, asthma, allergies,
hypertension, migraines and various other health
problems.
Drinking enough water also combats skin
disorders like psoriasis, wrinkles and eczema. Water
increases blood flow to the skin, plumps it up, and
makes the skin more elastic causing wrinkles and
pores to be less visible.
Our bodies further require water to help process
all the nutrients from the foods we eat and to help
convey the assimilated nutrients to the cells by
circulating through the lymphatic system. So aim
to give your skin a steady flow of water by drinking
5-7 cups every day. And drink throughout the day
as opposed to chugging a huge amount all at once
- your body can only absorb a certain amount per
hour. Bear in mind that throughout the day we lose
water through perspiration, urine, breath and bowel
movements, so replenish, replenish, replenish.
For soft and supple skin, drinking an adequate
amount of water is as important as applying topical
creams, but make sure you hydrate your skin from
the inside out and the outside in. Moisturizing
your skin both internally and externally is a critical
combination for healthy, beautiful skin.
By Gary Domasin
Photographed by Rachel Jeraffi
Makeup: Meghan Sanchez
Model: Lily/Two Model Management
Location in Toluca lake courtesy of the Bandini family.
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SoCal magazine 53

GUYGUIDE
THE
EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT TO KNOW AND MORE ABOUT
THE GROOMING OF THE MALE ANIMAL
Young men are more
fashion-forward than
previous generations;
they keep tabs on A-listers
known for their longer
locks and styles sculpted
with plenty of product.
BY GARY DOMASIN
PHOTOGRAHED BY MATTHEW MITCHELL
MODEL: DOMINIC DEROSA
Men sometimes
don't quite
know how
to "groom"
themselves, but also
don't feel comfortable
asking for help. How to
avoid razor rash, how
to brush a beard, how
to eliminate grey hair or
tweeze eyebrows, how to
manscape—we asked our
expert and he revealed
there is more to the story
than anyone imagined.
Men’s shampoos focus
on cleansing thoroughly
getting rid of oils and
grit, as well as, cleansing
the hair from product
build-up. A lot of men will
wash their hair almost
everyday because of the
hair products that they use.
This calls for a shampoo
that will cleanse the hair
thoroughly without overly
drying the hair.
Blondes may or may not have more fun, but
they definitely have more hair. Hair color helps
determine how dense the hair on your head is,
and blondes (only natural ones, of course), top the
list. The average human head has 100,000 hair
follicles, each of which is capable of producing 20
individual hairs during a person's lifetime. Blondes
average 146,000 follicles. People with black hair
tend to have about 110,000 follicles, while those
with brown hair are right on target with 100,000
follicles. Redheads have the least dense hair,
averaging about 86,000 follicles.
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MASKED MAN
Of course you don’t
use a facial mask.
You’re not one of
those guys, that
“friend” or that “guy at
work” who has a major
ego and youthful, nonoily,
energized skin.
Who needs that over
the top well groomed
look? Not you. Yes,
you! Doing a facial
mask once a month
can add major benefits
to your appearance
and to your income.
It’s well-known that
men who look great
are often looked
upon as successful
and more likely to
be remembered in
a positive light. So
if you’re looking to
move up the corporate
ladder, be sure to
add a facial mask
once a month to your
personal care regime.
SoCal magazine 55

THE HAIR of A MAN
How furry are you? Have you asked anyone if you should trim and he or she just looks up at you with
a mouth full of hair? That could be a sign you have more hair than your average bear. In any case, we
can all agree that shaving your entire body isn’t exactly practical. Manscaping is
a personal preference and we can help you figure out which way to go. Facial hair
is still popular and chances are if they like your beard or scruff they won’t be
into an ultra-bare chest or anything else being bare for that matter. That’s not to
say if you’re a clean-shaven dude you should match your face with a head-to-toe
waxing. There are degrees to pruning and in some situations your body hair requires more attention.
So if you need guidance on whether to go natural or to do some trimming, we’ve laid it out for you.
Eyebrows
The shape of the brow ridge and the brows themselves channel sweat, rain, and moisture away from
your eyes so that your vision stays clear. Gentlemen, remember that your eyebrows are essential nonverbal
communication tools. Scientists who study facial expressions say eyebrows are key to expressing happiness,
surprise, and anger. Depending on how you groom your eyebrows you may be sending the wrong message.
Do you want people to think you’re a new contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, or a caveman who’s been
brought back to life in a science experiment gone wrong? There is a fine line when grooming your eyebrows.
Men, make sure if you are one of those guys who has one thick brow across your face that you trim inbetween
so as to have two brows like a civilized man. Beware of those girls at the office telling you that you
should go to their Brow Bar Girl to get your brows waxed! Many times you may walk out of the waxing salon
with way too much brow missing, taking all that sexy masculinity off your face.
Beard
Hate to shave? Here's a fact you'll enjoy: A man who shaves spends roughly 3,350 hours of his life in
the bathroom. If you don't shave, your beard could grow to an astonishing 27 feet (that's a lifetime figure).
Meanwhile the 30,00 whiskers currently growing on your face, mostly in the daytime, will require nearly 100
strokes to remove. And you may be in the minority as 55% of men in the world have some kind of facial hair.
Beards are as unique in shape as the men who are wearing them. But is that a good thing?
Men, remember to consult your barber or haircutter if you’re not sure of how to wear your beard. These
people are professionals when it comes to what looks best on your head or face. So ask questions the next
time you’re cutting your hair. Change things up! Because the right shape cut on your face can make or break
your look.
Chest
Certainly it was the cold nights in the caves where the warmth of the furry male first was appreciated.
The "manly man" or the hirsute man has reached puberty and it shows. More men have chest hair than
not, but that has not stopped a mass of men to find ways to have a sleek chest. Some are born that way
(hormones!), some pluck, wax and shave it off.
If you haven’t got much hair on your pecs, you can skip this section. If you look like you’re wearing a
sweater while taking a shower… listen up!
Trim, trim, trim that hair. Nobody can resist the urge to pull that tuft of hair billowing out of your shirt
collar while they’re talking to you. Some people will just imagine you covered in hair during your big
presentation. It could be a bit of a distraction for some of your office colleagues.
Buy yourself a trimmer with attachments. If you have a fair amount of hair shaving could be too difficult
and the razor burn or in-grown hair would be a nightmare.
Waxing is an option but it’s best for guys who have a moderate amount of hair. Remember more hair,
more pain.
Armpits
That little patch of hair under your arms is there to reduce friction (just like that mound of hair
below), hold some smell and sometimes create a smell or yes, you guessed it, the scent of a man.
So why do we cover it up with industrial poisons? The nose knows. But if you must or musk, find
some without parabens, aluminums, silica, triclosan, talcs, or propylenes—they all have been known
to do bad things to your body as they are easily absorbed in the skin. There are vcgan and organic
deodorants available, but you might want to consider just losing it. It’s best to trim here as well. But
remember when you cut the hair it leaves a blunt end. That blunt end can cause you to itch. The
itching may only last a day or two but you will enjoy how cool you’ll feel with less hair there. If you
are a smelly guy, less hair retains less smell.
Pubes
A bush man? We really don't know why men or women for that matter have pubic hair. Some people think
it helps keep our genitals and reproductive organs comfortably warm. Other people think that pubic hairs trap
pheromones, unconscious signals that help people to become attracted to one another or send sexual "signals"
to one another. Still, others think that pubic hair is a good marker of reproductive age, even if it's not a great
sign of fertility. After all, pubic hair develops during puberty - when young women and men become sexually
"mature" - and it starts to thin out as people age in their 50s and 60s and so on. (Betcha didn't know that
part.) But really, we just don't know.
Our advice on this subject: leave a patch! We know that if you trim the garden the house looks larger, but
you can also bulldoze the house. You may want to use Nair for this project— It is a depilatory that works by
breaking the disulfide bonds of the keratin molecules in hair. So when the hair grows back it’s softer and won’t
cause itching, but it might irritate your skin in this area. You never want to remove all the hair in this area. Just
remove all the hair on your man sack and trim the pubes around your joy stick.
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SoCal magazine 57

Gifted
A PRE VALENTINE WISH LIST
There’s no denying that residents of Southern California are a class act when it comes to lifestyle
and products. We just use things differently here thanks to a number of various factors, one
primarily being our year-round excellent weather. SoCal men in particular, make an effort to be
as green and eco-conscience as possible while having a penchant for using products made with
natural ingredients. Guys in L.A. are constantly surrounded by the influences of Hollywood, which
adds to their desire to retain youthful appearances and modern lifestyles. Given these factors,
SoCal Magazine thought about what the male SoCal reader would be interested in when it comes to
selecting products that complement his lifestyle. Our associate editor, Joshua Pinkay, has gathered
a unique list of items that would be ideal for the hip, upwardly-mobile SoCal guy who appreciates
looking good and maintaining overall health and wellness.
By Joshua J. Pinkay
The 5TH: Watches –
These affordable
luxury watches are sold
with a unique twist. The
5TH opens its online shop
on the 5th of every month
and sells its products for
only 5 days. This strategy
generates exclusivity and
limited availability—not to
mention tremendous sales.
(www.the5th.co)
Perry Ellis Aqua Extreme –
This richer, deeper, more modern
extension of Perry Ellis Aqua, was
created for the modern, thrillseeking
man who wants to be
noticed for his unique fragrance
selection. (www.perryellis.com)
Pure Rayz for Him by Quasar – This
light therapy device puts the power in each
man’s hand to develop clear, younger skin.
The Pure Rayz technology was developed
by NASA and helps eliminate fine lines and
wrinkles. (www.babyquasar.com)
Men's Shop,
Cashmere Scarf
Soft as the wind, this plaid scarf
provides both warmth and style
(Nordstrom.com)
Super Smooth Lip Balm
by Recipe for Men –
Enriched with a blend of highly
moisturizing ingredients, this
advanced formula deeply
penetrates the lips without a
greasy, shiny finish.
(www.recipeformenusa.com)
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Sandoval Aromatic Incense - This
100% natural incense is hand made
with pure Sandalwood, Palo Santo and
Rosewood powders. Burn these natural
woods to create an aromatic fragrance that
calms and captivates.
(www.studiosandoval.com)
socalmag.com
simplehuman - Known for their
innovative home and decor products for
the home or office, simplehuman boasts
a line of sleek and on trend items that are
leading the way with today’s design and
decor direction. Products like the Sensor
Soap Pump or the Spin Cabinet Shower
Caddy are perfect for the modern SoCal
guy. (www.simplehuman.com)
Apple Watch Nike+ - Apple Watch
Nike+ combines all of the unique
features of Apple Watch Series 2 with the
new Nike+ Run Club app for unrivaled
motivation to go for a run, guidance from
the world’s best coaches and athletes
and coaching plans that adapt to your
unique schedule and progress.
(www.apple.com)

Stainless Steel Bottle Opener Fine Tooth Go-Comb - The Go-Comb is a
lightweight comb the size of a credit card that can easily fit into any wallet or back pocket
and is the stylish alternative to the black plastic comb. (www.Go-Comb.com)
Bétèrre Skin+Care, Rescue Me Foot Cream - A delicious
blend of deep, soothing botanicals like menthol and peppermint
offer cooling comfort to ease tired, aching feet perfect for the
fitness obsessed man. (www.beterre.com)
Sea Bottle – The
Sea Bottle hand wash
promotes cleaner oceans,
healthier skin, and the
celebration of natural
beauty. A portion of every
sale directly benefits nonprofit
groups committed
to improving ocean
health through public
education and primary
research. (www.
seabottlestore.com)
Tomato Beauty Bar by SkinOwl - This soap is made specifically
to treat oily and/or acne prone skin. The acidity in fresh gardengrown
tomato juice is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K,
while carotenoid anti-oxidant, lycopene, shields the skin from the
harmful UV rays. All ingredients are premium quality and sourced in
USA. Cruelty free. Paraben free. Mineral free. (www.skinowl.com)
Kevin.Murphy
haircare – The
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Alford Hoff N o 2 from BeautyKind – An innovative
fragrance that is the reflection of an
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purchase, 5% of the total is donated to the
cause of the consumer’s choice. (beautykind.us)
Journeymen Natural Deodorant
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(www.wearejourneymen.com)
SoCal magazine 59

A
BEGINNER’S
GUIDE TO
SHOPPING
KTOWN
One of the great things about LA is the
diversity of people, cultures and foods
Asian markets abound in Los Angeles. To the
east in San Gabriel; Valley Boulevard is rich
with Chinese markets featuring some offthe-chart
products such as lamb testicle and
fresh turtles.
KoreaTown or KTown, centered near Eighth
Street and Western Avenue is also home to
many supermarkets where the garlic is cheap,
the tumeric abundant and in the produce section,
many leafy greens that go on sale without
alot of explanation.
In this beginners guide we breakdown some
of the products to be found, and reveal some
of their uses.
Perilla |
Sesame Leaves
Perilla is a mint plant that boasts medicinal properties. It's inexpensive, full
of nutrients, can apparently help with hangovers and has a unique fragrance.
Perilla leaves grow in a heart shape, have serrated edges and a slightly fuzzy
texture. They are easy to grow and thrive in various conditions, in sfact,
they're even considered a weed in some areas due to their prolific growing
nature. Perilla leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked, and are often used
in Korean cuisine to wrap rice, barbecued meats and vegetables. Or try
making a kimchee of sorts, by marinating the leaves for an extended period
with soy sauce, herbs and spices. Add Perilla leaves to salads or incorporate
into savory pancakes, breads and stir fries. Perilla can also be used as a
substitute for basil in caprese salad or pesto sauce. The flavor of perilla
leaves pairs well with chili, garlic, soy sauce, grilled meats and soft cheeses.
Chrysanthemum
Greens
Make sure not to overcook them or Chrysanthmum
Greens will turn mushy and clump together in a matter
of seconds. Pair chrysanthemum greens with a sesame
dressing; the nuttiness of the dressing is a great contrast
to the grassiness of the plant.
Taro
Root
Taro root comes from
the taro plant, which
is native to Southeast
Asia and India and is a
staple in diets there as
well as Africa, China, the
Caribbean, and Hawaii.
Both the big green leaves
of the plant and the root
itself can be consumed
when cooked. In their
raw form, both are toxic.
As a general rule, treat
taro root like you would a
potato or sweet potato —
it can be roasted, boiled,
simmer, mashed, or fried.
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Nira |
Garlic Chives
Nira are common in Chinese, Japanese,
and Korean cooking. They are added to
dumplings, stir fries, soups, stews, kimchi,
and green onion pancakes.
To use, trim off the root end and the white
tips and simply chop up like you would with
chives or scallions. Nira make an excellent
substitute for scallions in many recipes.
SoCal magazine 61

62 SoCal magazine
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MADE IN LA
INTERVIEW Niki Smart
PHOTOGRAPHED Jennifer Blue
Vogue called him “The
Glam Rock Shoemaker”
and indeed, Francis has
made shoes for band
members of the Sex Pistols, Mötley
Crüe, and for Lita Ford. Even Lady
Gaga wants a pair because no one
else is doing what Francis does.
Tons of people make shoes but
there’s not much incentive to make far out, avant-garde shoes.
Francis has had to invent his own market, seeeing as he can’t
compete with mass production. His “labor of love” shoes take
100 hours + to make, and can cost $600 in materials. This
exceeds Louis Vuitton in price level, so Francis needs to meet
that quality.
“The shoes are very me. They are my expression. I used to
be a builder, but I couldn’t keep my buildings. Shoes are smallscale
architecture and I don’t need permission from the city to
alter them…and I can keep them. That makes me happy.”
It’s also dangerous work. Francis has a deep cut on his
palm and is fortunate to still be able to use his hand. He recently
had 50 pounds of steel fall on top of him and slice into
his head (as he tells me this, he leans forward to show me the
15 staples in his head – and I’m impressed). Then there was
the bout of metal poisoning that Francis got from welding while
making the Brutalism Collection. “It takes a lot to put me down,
but metal poisoning sure did.”
T Francis it is all worth it. The Brutalism Collection is
his favorite - a powerful collection that he refuses to sell, even
under heavy offers.
For more information – www.chrisfancishoes.com
Who do you go to for
inspiration?
For every collection I make,
I read a lot and draw inspiration
outside of the shoe and fashion
world. I draw more from architecture
and different art movements.
All the people I look up
to are architects and so my shoes look like miniature buildings.
Where do you get your materials?
That’s an interesting question. I’m functioning on founds objects and use
minimal store bought material. I explore creative possibilities with alternative
materials and found materials. I use unconventional materials and have
to invent the process to use the material. I like to think my way through a
situation rather than go to a store and buy what I need. If I use leather, it’s
hand painted. Plus, I have sponsorships from various local businesses, like
Angela’s Paints. All the colors you see in the shoes come from Angela’s Paints.
I try to make the shoes like a painting – and I like to control every aspect of
the detail.
Do you keep track of your shoes?
I keep track of every pair, in fact, if I lose a pair, I have another to keep for my
personal collection. Of course, I can’t always do that, but I personally know
everyone who owns my shoes. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of my shoes; but
it’s either collectors or performers who own them, so I can actually get to see
them, they are not totally gone. I see them on stage or on TV/film as most of
my clients are musicians.
SoCal magazine 63

"Men ask for crazier shoes
than women. Seems that men
are quite adventurous in
their footwear."
Which pair has garnered the most attention?
Donna Grantis – She played guitar for Prince. I made several pairs for her, including Crystal
Lightning Bolt shoes
Do you make shoes for men?
I do. Oddly enough, I’ve put more men in high heels than women. And men ask for crazier
shoes than women. Seems that men are quite adventurous in their footwear.
What shoes do you wear? Our editor-in-chief takes you for a boot guy?
(Laughs) Yes, I wear boots –maybe that’s why I started making shoes because I wanted shoes.
The first pair I made was for myself; I’m self-taught. The usual approach to shoemaking is to
apprentice under someone. I guess the reason I succeeded was I had no apprehension. Nobody
told me I was wrong. I believe if you’re over trained, you may lose the imagination. I like
being highly imaginative. My want my shoes to tell a story; a kind of comical narrative, so I
can look at a piece and laugh.
Do you have other creative outlets other than shoes? Jewelry? Artworks?
I want to expand as I feel I’ve pushed shoemaking to my limits, and now I’d like to make
clothes, jewelry and handbags. I don’t see why I should only focus on shoes. And I paint.
I’ve always been a painter.
Do you have an art history background – studying your shoes we see Japanese
and Chinese influences, modern art, Russian 1916 Constructivist.
The shoe is wide open with so many possibilities that haven’t been explored. I
think of them as wearable architecture of industrial design. I make sure to not lock
myself into one idea of self. I’m applying architecture to a form that doesn’t lend
itself to architecture – the shoes have to support vertical human weight, hold a
human to the ground, and be beautiful. Plus, I have to factor in wear-ability
on stage. A lot of engineering goes into that. Even if the shoes are just for
a photo shoot, like the Brutalism Collection – you couldn’t have walked
very far in those, but a human can wear them and it will support their
weight.
What is next for you? Any shows?
I’m exhibiting at the Lois Lambert Gallery of Functional
Art. A new collection that explores wearable architecture
and is inspired by the Bauhaus.
And I will be at the Lancaster Museum Feb 2017
64
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SoCal magazine 65

STREET
LIFE
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ED FREEMAN
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Photographer Ed
Freeman’s portraits
of the people living
along the congested
LA Freeway called
SOUTH BEAUDRY is
home for some of the
29,000 people with
no fixed address in
Los Angeles.
A community of a few
dozen tents on a side
street in downtown,
with spectacular views
of how the other
99 % live.
Left: South Beaudry next to the
busy LA free way exchange.
Top: John is a registered nurse
and an Iraq war veteran. He has
PTSD and hasn't worked for three
years. He's on the street now, two
blocks from the high-rise he used
to live in.
Right: Shawntay and her two
cousins, Kenneth and Keekee live
in adjoining tents .
"It don't look like much to you,
maybe, but this is our home."
SoCal magazine 67

INTERVIEW
WITH THE
PHOTOGRAPHER
ED FREEMAN
Ed is a man with a past—a folk guitarist and classical
lutenist, road manager on the last Beatles tour, played guitar
on many pop recordings, has done orchestral arrangements
for Carly Simon and Cher, and produced and arranged
DonMcLean’s classic American Pie.
How did this project evolve?
The homeless problem has grown to almost unimaginable proportions in Los Angeles, and
nationwide. There are something like 30,000 people living on the streets in LA County alone. A
friend suggested I try photographing homeless people with the same approach I use to shoot fine
art images. The idea was to put a human face on a problem that most people find uncomfortable to
confront directly.
I don’t pretend to know the solution, or even comprehend the scope of the problem. All I do is
take pictures. But creating images that people can relate to, is hopefully a contribution towards
ultimately solving the problem of homelessness. We don’t do anything about things we don’t care
about, and we don’t care about things we can’t relate to. I’m hoping to make pictures people can
relate to.
Is there ever a thought: these people look too good?
What was particularly challenging in this series is that I’m an artist, not a journalist. I’m used to
playing fast and loose with reality and I don’t normally feel bound to any journalistic code of ethics.
But in this series, I had to reign in my Photoshop tendencies a bit, just for the sake of believability.
These ARE real people, after all. This isn’t some fantasy I dreamed up, like in so many of my “fine
art” pictures.
Who would you like to be photographed by?
Who would I like to be photographed by? Richard Avedon, for sure, if he were still alive. It’s
ironic, because he was a brutally realistic photographer, and especially attuned to peoples’
weaknesses. Many of his portraits are frighteningly ugly. That’s the complete opposite of what I do,
and especially what I’m doing in this series. But Avedon was a genius, one of the most insightful
portraitists ever, and I’m a huge fan of his work.
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STREET
LIFE
Right: King George sleeps on a bus bench. He's
missing one leg and gets around using an old walker.
His English is mostly unintelligble and he can't
say exactly where he came from or what his native
language is.
Bottom:
Butter went to college and served in the army. Maria
worked as a computer programmer. Maria and her
husband Rafael have lived in a tent for a long time.
They're best friends with Butter who lives a couple of
tents up the road.
SoCal magazine 69

THE LAST PAGE
BE ITALIAN!
CINQUE TERRE PROVES THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE (OR FIVE)
The Cinque Terre consists of five small villages; Monterosso,
the oldest, was founded in AD 643, Riomaggiore came next
in the 8th century, followed by Vernazza, Corniglia and
Manarola. These picturesque villages cling to the Ligurian
cliffs along Italy’s western coast and are connected by a
series of walking paths and hiking trails. You can get there by car, by boat
or train – and then you can walk from the first village to the fifth in a
matter of hours. If you haven't done the walk, put it on your bucket list,
because it is simply spectacular. There are restaurants sprinkled along
the walk, some up high with panoramic views of the Mediterranean, and
others down low looking up at the steeply terraced cliffs that are bisected
by gardens and vineyards. These peaceful fishing villages now rely almost
entirely on tourism for their existence. The tiny towns are incredibly
popular tourist destinations with a whooping 2.5 million people visiting
per year.
And be warned - their ever increasing popularity may see a ticketing
system being implemented in the near future. —Niki Smart
Additional Photos by Mary Mauer
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䐀 䤀 匀 䌀 伀 嘀 䔀 刀 吀 䠀 䔀 倀 䔀 刀 䘀 䔀 䌀 吀 刀 䄀 吀 䤀 伀 伀 䘀 倀 唀 刀 䔀 䄀 一 䐀 一 䄀 吀 唀 刀 䄀 䰀
䤀 一 䜀 刀 䔀 䐀 䤀 䔀 一 吀 匀 䘀 伀 刀 䠀 䔀 䄀 䰀 吀 䠀 夀 䜀 䰀 伀 圀 䤀 一 䜀 匀 䬀 䤀 一 ⸀
匀 漀 䌀 愀 氀 䴀 愀 最 愀 稀 椀 渀 攀 爀 攀 愀 搀 攀 爀 猀 挀 愀 渀 爀 攀 挀 攀 椀 瘀 攀 ㈀ ─ 漀 昀 昀 琀 栀 爀 漀 甀 最 栀 琀 栀 攀 洀 漀 渀 琀 栀 漀 昀 䘀 攀 戀 爀 甀 愀 爀 礀
甀 猀 椀 渀 最 瀀 爀 漀 洀 漀 挀 漀 搀 攀 ᰠ 匀 伀 䌀 䄀 䰀 䰀 伀 嘀 䔀 ᴠ 椀 渀 挀 攀 氀 攀 戀 爀 愀 琀 椀 漀 渀 漀 昀 嘀 愀 氀 攀 渀 琀 椀 渀 攀 ᤠ 猀 䐀 愀 礀 ℀
䜀 攀 琀 猀 漀 挀 椀 愀 氀 眀 椀 琀 栀 甀 猀 Ⰰ ⌀ 刀 攀 猀 琀 漀 爀 愀 琀 椀 漀 渀 匀 欀 椀 渀 挀 愀 爀 攀
眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 刀 攀 猀 琀 漀 爀 椀 渀 最 夀 漀 甀 爀 匀 欀 椀 渀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀
SoCal magazine 71

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