Ans

Allo Martinez Lookbook

2012-01-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

Gustavo Cadile new beauties featured in Argentinian Magazines

2012-01-19T02:09:00.000-08:00

At the young age of 17, Gustavo Cadile found himself indulgence of the desire to

follow fashion. He began his career working in Buenos Aires under the study of Manuel

Lamarca.

At the age of 23, Gustavo traveled to Miami on vacation, and fell in love with Neiman

Marcus-a luxury specialty retail department store. He began organizing shows and sales for

Neiman Marcus. After finally earning his degree from the International Fine Arts College in Miami

he designed his first dress that was published in the Newspaper and caught the interest of

Egon von Furstenburg a fashion designer.

After three and half years in Italy working with Milan's famous fashion houses. He eventually

moved on to work with Perry Ellis in New York.

He has dressed celebrities such as Catherine Zeta Jones, Geena Davis, Kate Walsh,

Roselyn Sanchez, Jewel, Demi Lovato, Kim Kardashian, Emily Deschanel, Dania Ramirez,

and Eva Longoria.

His collections can be found at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and many boutiques and

specialty stores in North America.

Is Buenos Aires Sending its Pups Barking Mad?

2012-01-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

When a dog feels stressed, what is there to do? Take it to a psychiatrist. Obviously.

Dogs in therapy play-fight on the couch. (Photo: Lili Kocsis)

It is hard to miss the hoard of dogs that evade the streets of Buenos Aires – the four-legged, tail-wagging, tongue-dangling creatures are absolutely everywhere. A survey released this year by Mars, world leader in pet food manufacturing, reveals unsurprising statistics that prove Argentina to be the Latin American champ of the nations for indulging in pets.

Eight out of ten households in Argentina house a pet, 63% of which are dogs. From individual walkers to ‘paseadores,’ it seems the city is but a playground for canines.

But however fun Buenos Aires is, cities can be difficult places to live in. The endless hustle-bustle, being cooped-up in small apartments, and the ever-looming cloud of pollution is stressful even for us humans. Dog psychiatrist, Ricardo Bruno, argues that for most of these miniature urban dwellers, the city is detrimental.

Dog Whisperer Ricardo Bruno with two patients (Photo: Lili Kocsis)

It probably shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that in a country where visiting a therapist is as part of a daily routine as the gym, and where nine million dogs are domesticated, that psychiatry has been elevated from its originally human realms to those of dogs.

Bruno is one of ten pet psychiatrists in Buenos Aires, resolving issues with aggression, fear, and compulsive symptoms, ultimately socialising troublesome cats and dogs. And not just by dog whispering. “I am a doctor, I medicate animals with anti-depressants such as Paroxetine and Lorazepam,” he explains.

Isolation vs. humanisation of dogs

Over thousands of years, dogs have been domesticated to instinctively relate to their human families as being part of their pack, but there is a fine balance between needing to be socially involved in family life and being considered too much to be like a human. Various factors create festering problems in pets, which eventually need treating.

For one, dogs bought for security tend to be left alone in backyards, away from crucial human contact. All the dog’s instincts tell it to be part of the pack, causing it anxiety and stress.

“We have a large problem with security, so many people buy dogs for security rather than love, but in the end the dogs attack them. It is the same as people buying a gun for security, but end up shooting themselves in the foot, literally,” Bruno laughs.

The problem also persists with dogs that are bought just for show, many owners do not have time for their dogs, leaving them alone in the house for extended periods of time.

Dogs left alone tend to break everything, explains Bruno, which escalates into a larger problem as ‘destructive’ dogs then become further isolated, left on a terrace where they are unable to destroy things in the family home.

“People in Europe are more conscious when they are thinking about buying a dog; they think first. Here, they first buy the dog, and then they think.”

Although dogs thrive on companionship, owners can also run the risk of involving them too much in the family. Dogs are often accepted into a family like a human being, along with human expectations and without training.

Bruno theorises that people often feel alone in a city like Buenos Aires, so they take on dogs, and they love them like humans, and with such high expectations, owners get frustrated when their dog ‘misbehaves’, creating a confusing relationship for the dog. “Often, the problem is that the owner does not understand that they must be the leader. People see humans in their dogs. But they are not humans: they are dogs.”

Most dogs in Buenos Aires are not born with mental disorders – the conditions of living in an urban environment cause them, argues Bruno. “If you put any one of them in the countryside, they would be fine.”

So has Buenos Aires’ dog-crazy population created monsters out of canines?

Dog behaviour specialist, Mariana Bontosela, believes that Buenos Aires’ dogs are not doomed; though admitting to an Argentine pet ownership problem, she is much more optimistic. “Dogs have been domesticated for the last 16,000 years, they have long since adapted to living with humans and within cities.”

Bontosela does, however, agree there lacks a culture of education here – dogs are not typically taught tricks or even simple things such as ‘sit’. But she adds that as long as dogs are trained for their function, it is unlikely there will be problems. As an example, she uses security dogs, which function just fine left outside of the house; if trained properly, they should not present problems.

“For pet dogs, contact is vital,” she adds, reiterating Bruno’s concerns, emphasising that an increase in pet-owner interaction is essential.

But generally, she believes that respect for dogs in Argentina is on the up: “People have been a lot more careful in the last few years, with zoological awareness on the rise. It is true that humanisation of dogs is still a problem, but Argentines really love their dogs, and attempt to treat them well.”

Both Bruno and Bontosela believe that the way to change the behaviour of Argentina’s pet dogs is through adapting interaction between pets and owners. Owners need to further understand their dogs, working with them. Though the allocation of drugs is essential for some, medication should only be assigned with an increase in human attention.

“It is really important to make people understand their pets, it interests me more to speak to the owner, because I want the people to understand the meaning of their dogs,” Bruno explains.

“If a dog keeps jumping onto people, give it special attention when its feet are on the ground. Although there are different variations of behavioural correction, this forms the crux.”

Dominique Gutierrez and Ryan Long, dog psychology first-timers, took their misbehaving pup, Joey, to Bruno for help earlier this year. “Sometimes a switch would go, and he’d get really angry,” they explained. They were convinced Joey’s constant snapping and aggressive tendencies could not be changed, but they could not put up with his disruptive behaviour any longer.

Bruno prescribed him female hormones for a month, assigned the dog a special lead, and told the couple “you can deal with this,” telling them to show Joey who was boss. Through Bruno’s various methods, the couple have seen huge improvements in Joey’s behaviour.

The message is clear, in a city of undeniable dog lovers, it is best not to smother or ignore pets, but to create a healthy balance. Though most of the city’s dog owners have their hearts set in the right place, more attention needs to be given to the way they interact with their dogs. Love is simply not enough

by Blanka Hay for Argentina Independent

Anne Bonny, valley of the dolls

2011-12-29T02:34:00.000-08:00

I Just Need Some Air: Blow O2 Bar

2011-12-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

You may think that you lead a healthy lifestyle, but regardless of how many kilometres you pound on the treadmill or the number of lentils you eat, one thing that’s sure to remain out of your control is the amount of oxygen in the air you breathe.

As in other big cities, the air in Buenos Aires contains only 17% oxygen compared to the 22% found naturally at sea level elsewhere. And since living in such a polluted city may occasionally leave you craving a breath of fresh air, a new craze has hit the health conscious capital – a bar where you can actually boost your supply of oxygen by inhaling air of up to 30% oxygen (the maximum non-prescription content).

The battle against polluted air and its potential compromises to our health began in Japan at the end of the 90s and has since spread around the world. Now Blow 02 Bar, the pioneering oxygen bar in Buenos Aires, brings the concept to Palermo Soho.

O2 (Photo courtesy of Blow O2 Bar)

Located above a trendy hairdressing salon, it offers a relaxing and stylish space for up to four people to simultaneously inhale from an enhanced oxygen supply in 15-minute sessions.

With minimalistic décor, chill-out beats and the sound of water trickling down over a glass cascade, the bar and its outdoor terrace offer some welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. You can even combine your session with some time in the massage chair afterwards for maximum spa-like effects.

The process involves reclining on blue leather sofas besides PC-like machines that purify the oxygen as it flows. A Walkman style headset enables you to breathe the air supply through an open mouth or in the recommended way of inhaling through the nose.

Although, inhaling enhanced oxygen in this way doesn’t claim to cure anything, it does boast a whole host of benefits including detoxification, strengthening the immune system and improving your circulation.

An array of aromas, generated by placing freshly picked herbs from the terrace into test tube like canisters on the headsets, also help to target specific ailments. Lavender is a good choice for improving relaxation and sleep, whilst fresher flavours like mint and lemon are known for their antioxidant qualities.

Whilst it might feel a little strange at first, maintaining a conversation with air flowing up your nose, the open plan space means you can’t be shy about your developing oxygen habit.

Employee Anastacia Sezaber says the bar is popular among health conscious locals and tourists alike. Those serious about the benefits tend to become dedicated followers, visiting several times a week for month long courses.

“Many of my clients take care of their health in other ways,” she says, “such as exercising and following strict raw food diets. Others use it to clear their heads after a big night out.”

But is this a fruitless fad with only placebo effects or a generally healthier addition to an urban lifestyle? Well that depends on you.

If you’re counting your pesos, then spending money on what is essentially paying to breathe air – might be one to miss. But if you’re hung-over from the night before and about to spend money on a fry-up, then exchanging the unhealthy breakfast for a dose of less-polluted oxygen surely can’t hurt.

A refreshing alternative to most of Buenos Aires bars, Blow swaps the wine for wheatgrass shots, organic juices made from freshly pressed ingredients of carrot, orange and ginger, and fashionable yet expensive bottled waters that are each arguably more beneficial than the oxygen boost itself.

Regardless of the real or imagined effects, accompanied by a healthy lifestyle, adding a little air to your day can only be a step in the right direction.

by Laura Mowat, The Argentina Independent

Complot Summer 2012

2011-12-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

Graciela Naum lookbook

2011-12-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

Prune look book

2011-11-25T02:13:00.000-08:00

Riearriba new shop in Palermo BA

2011-11-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

My interview with Social Change Room

2011-11-16T03:53:00.000-08:00

Can you give us a brief insight into who you are and what you do?

Being passionate about art & design, I started Ans with the idea of supporting and portraying the work of Argentinian designers and artisans to the world. Born in Argentina but living in London with our three children, our dream is to support people in need. We examine the various ways in which fashion designers and artists approach Fair-trade design, from materials and processes to concepts and techniques (products made from organic or alternative fibres, recycled or re-used materials). We are committed to provide our customers with brilliant products and to exceed their expectations in every way possible. We offer door to door delivery internationally.   

Where did the name ‘Ans’ come from?

We named our project “Ans” to honour a friend of us who was a great artist and who very unfortunately died of an epileptic attack.   

What made you decide to take your line in an ethical direction?

I am a believer that we can all contribute to make a better world to live in, I think of the future of the human race, animals and plants and it really worries me that we still don’t seem to care about our habitat as we should, my husband thinks like me so we decided to do something about, we hope our project will grow so we can fulfil our plans to support artisans who care about our environment. This way we aim to discourage people buying mass produced fashion and home accessories cheaply but painfully made in sweatshops.

What do you think are the most important issue when considering ethical fashion? 

Ethical Fashion aims to address the problems it sees with the way the fashion industry currently operates, such as exploitative labour, environmental damage, the use of hazardous chemicals, waste, and animal cruelty.

• Serious concerns are often raised about exploitative working conditions in the factories that make cheap clothes for the high street.

• Child workers, alongside exploited adults, can be subjected to violence and abuse such as forced overtime, as well as cramped and unhygienic surroundings, bad food, and very poor pay. The low cost of clothes on the high street means that less and less money goes to the people who actually make them.

• Cotton provides much of the world’s fabric, but growing it uses 22.5% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides, chemicals which can be dangerous for the environment and harmful to the farmers who grow it.

• Current textile growing practices are considered unsustainable because of the damage they do to the immediate environment. For example, the Aral Sea in Central Asia has shrunk to just 15% of its former volume, largely due to the vast quantity of water required for cotton production and dying.

• Most textiles are treated with chemicals to soften and dye them, however these chemicals can be toxic to the environment and can be transferred to the skin of the people wearing them. Hazardous chemicals used commonly in the textile industry are: lead, nickel, chromium IV, aryl amines, phthalates and formaldehyde.

• The low costs and disposable nature of high street fashion means that much of it is destined for incinerators or landfill sites.

• Many animals are farmed to supply fur for the fashion industry, and many people feel that their welfare is an important part of the Ethical Fashion debate.

Do you think it is ever okay to buy jewellery from high street stores?

It depends if you know from where it comes from and how it’s produced. We must be aware of the social impact of mining and production within the jewellery industry and with the lack of transparency within the supply chain.

What do you see for ‘Ans’ in the future?

Hopefully, Ans would have grown enough to be able to make a profit, support artisans and designers from South America and create awareness about ethical fashion.

Who do you admire in the world of ethical fashion?

Stella McCartney, Izzy Lane, Chichia, Carrie Parr

What would like to see changed in the fashion industry?

I would love big fashion retailers to stock only ethical designers. People love fashion, which by its nature is constantly moving, fickle and hugely wasteful. To counter this I believe in wearing items for their functional lifespan and being more discerning when making purchases, hopefully people will try to only ever buy an item they truly love and will wear to death. Then recycle what’s left of it

It's Friday, party time in BA!!!!!

2011-11-11T05:28:00.000-08:00

Zombies invaded Buenos Aires

2011-11-09T04:30:00.000-08:00

The day before Halloween, Zombies invaded Buenos Aires. The mob assembling in Plaza San Martín, gathering momentum and numbers until they spilled out of the plaza and took over Calle Florida on their way to the Obelisco. The ‘flash mob’ was a huge success with thousands of zombies ambling around, screaming their lungs out and marching to the call of the bullhorn’s siren. The costumes ranged from a bit of white foundation with a red smear, to full on latex gaping wounds, to one man even carrying a cow’s brain in his hand all afternoon. Not only was the afternoon full of wicked amusement (including a choreographed Thriller dance), but there was a canned-food drive and a blood-drive.

Photographer, Beatrice Murch

Doma leather, SS 2012

2011-10-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

Uma, summer 2012

2011-10-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Luisana Lopilato Is New Face & Body Of Ultimo

2011-10-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

Ultimo has snapped up the blond Buenos Aires born bombshell Luisana Lopilato to front the their Autumn Winter 2011 collection which is available from Debenhams stores and online at Ultimo.

Luisana is modelling the Ultimo Miracle collection which is designed to boost cleavage and create practical solutions to any underwear-related dilemmas.

The talented 24-year-old is an award-winning actress and recording artist in her homeland, having shot to teenage stardom on a Latin American Glee-style TV series, Chiquititas and appearing on Spanish FHM’s 100 Sexiest list for the past three years in a row.

Catching the eye of Ultimo founder Michelle Mone OBE after seeing her wedding pictures earlier this year, Luisana has set temperatures soaring in the new photos striking a series of sensational poses to showcase Ultimo’s Miracle lingerie collection – designed to the create the perfect silhouette.

Michelle Mone OBE, founder of Ultimo told Lingerieblog.co.uk, “Luisana is one of our most exciting international signings yet and I’m confident she’ll bring a new sense of fun and glamour to the brand as our incredible face and body.”

“It took me a long time to get her but I refused to give up until I got her. Luisana’s jaw-dropping beauty and charisma are a perfect fit for Ultimo and we can’t wait to unveil our new designs.”

Following in the footsteps of Mel B, Sarah Harding, Helena Christensen and Brazilian supermodel Raica Oliveira as Ultimo’s new face, Luisana told us “I’m thrilled to be the new face and body of Ultimo and it was an amazing experience shooting the campaign.”

Check out the picture below and you can buy the new Ultimo AW11 collection in Debenhams stores and online at Ultimo.

Source: www.lingerieblog.co.uk

Backstage, Maria Cher summer 2012

2011-10-19T04:34:00.000-07:00

Agostina Bianchi SS/2012

2011-10-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

Chocolate lookbook

2011-10-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

Garza Lobos by Pablo Franco

2011-10-07T00:34:00.000-07:00

Palaces in Buenos Aires, Paz Palace

2011-10-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Nehgro Summer 2012

2011-09-30T01:55:00.000-07:00

Ayres Summer 2012

2011-09-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Awada, lookbook summer 2012

2011-09-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

Argentine Designers - Runway - Spring 2012 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

2011-09-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

Photos by Zimbio
Six Argentine designers were chosen by a jury of New York-based fashion editors and stylists, to present their Spring 2012 collections during New York Fashion Week. The standouts of the group included: Daniela Sartori’s loungey layers of linen and cotton, Carolina Rosales’ delicate sportswear pieces, and Mariana Dappiano’s eye-catching prints. I love the construction of the fabrics and the abstract details. It is what makes these collections very unique and wearable.

Organic City, Pt. V: Green Guerrillas in Buenos Aires

2011-09-13T01:11:00.000-07:00

by Dylana Dillon for what's up BA

The southern sun shines down casting shadowed skyscapes on the roughly terraced rooftop. Bounded by lazily painted rooftops that stretch as far as the eye can see, the winter afternoon passes us by. High above the Caballito clamor sits a tranquil crew of half a dozen creatives united by their lack of fear of getting their hands dirty. An international cadre that collectively yearns for the sweet smell of dew-stained leaves sit crossed-legged, discussing how to combat the surrounding concrete and forgotten spaces. While Buenos Aires may not be known as the greenest city around, blossoming out of this lack-thereof is a growing guerilla gardening movement. Amongst a growing number of eco-groups is Articultores, a group of artists, environmentalists and activists that aim to increase the verdancy of the city through grass roots collaborations and guerilla tactics.
Articultores functions somewhat like a fungus, in the best way possible. While their faces are inconspicuous - and their headquarters mobile - their work is ever present and plays an essential role in environmental activism here in BA. Since 2009, the group has been planning and planting away. When asked about the creation of Articultores, Judith Villamayor, the sassy coordinator with pink on bleach blond locks, responds, “I like to develop social projects, and I think it’s best to do so to promote the exchange of free knowledge, ideas, and to bring people together who want to care for and protect the environment.” Recognizing a serious need for eco intervention at the community level, this group now includes members from all walks of life. From students to grandfathers, expatriates, and the disabled, urban agriculture is the common vehicle. Their goals are ambitious, as they are currently working on a number of projects, including the design and implementation of mini mobile gardens, educational workshops, and an online magazine.
Their newest initiative, Módulo Verde Urbano, is in partnership with the Teatro San Martin. The theater, a performance and cultural center, will serve as a space for Articultores’ workshops. In the surrounding downtown neighborhood, the group plans to launch their self-designed mini planters. “The concept of free movement is something we work really hard to promote,” says long time member Micheal Kay. These little boxes will serve as portable garden beds ideal for people who live in apartments and don’t have access to outdoor space. Articultores will share the design plan, and host how-to seminars in and around the teatro starting in October.
Next up is Biotester, a national project in partnership with Centro Cultural de Espana. This glowing space in San Telmo defines cutting edge culture and alternative movements in the city, and environmentalism is no exception. Here, Articultores is pooling resources to develop and execute an educational gardening program with 50 schools in and around Capital.
And then there are the Bombas. These little balls of clay-enriched soil are stuffed with a dozen or so mixed seeds and are bursting with potential. Packing a punch, these bombs are flung throughout the city in empty lots, doleful parks, and grassy nooks. Edible and free to all, veggies are sprouting up where you’d least expect them.

I assisted in the “attack” of a raised garden bed in San Telmo, between Humberto Primo and Carlos Calvo. I met Judith Villamayor on a drizzly Tuesday afternoon and we splashed down the cobblestone streets with a backpack full of artillery. The next half hour or so was spent showering the sad little space with a blitz of seed bombs. Stopping occasionally to pick up trash or talk to inquisitive passersby, we covered this 4x4x4 triangle garden with over 40 bombas de semillas. With any luck, things have begun to sprout, so go check it out if you’re in the barrio.
When asked how the general public can get involved with the various efforts, Villamayor answers, “You just have to mobilize and do it. We really emphasize the concept of Libre, where plants, software, workshops and meetings are available and open to anyone who wants to be involved. Remember that one can change the world.”

For more information about Articultores check out their website

Argentinian Designer Ramírez at the Mercedes-Benz FW Stockholm

2011-09-08T02:28:00.000-07:00

Photos: Style/Clicker

Desiderata spring/summer 2011/12

2011-09-06T03:11:00.000-07:00

Natacha Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign

2011-09-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Jackie Smiths opened a new store at Patio Bulrich BA

2011-09-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

Tramando Summer 2012

2011-08-30T01:10:00.000-07:00

Marcelo Senra at BA Fashion Week

2011-08-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

Jazmin Chebar Summer 2012

2011-08-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

Carmela Achaval look book summer 2012

2011-08-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

Luz Ballestero S/S 2011/12

2011-08-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

Lu Gagliardi bags

2011-08-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

The many moods (homage to Farrah Fawcett at Popa)

2011-08-09T05:12:00.000-07:00

Adidas Argentina by Emilio Lacroze

2011-08-04T01:22:00.000-07:00

Today's beauty

2011-07-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

Knots

This beauty was handmade using 29 metres of

hand dyed silk laces and nickel. It's 18.89"

(46cm) long, you can change the position

of the knots

Buy it before it's too late!!

Drole by Josefina Alazraki

2011-07-26T03:52:00.000-07:00

El Burgues for men

2011-07-22T03:46:00.000-07:00

Las Pepas look book

2011-07-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

Riding a Monochrome recycled bike in BA

2011-07-11T03:54:00.000-07:00

Comfy sleepwear by Sweet Victorian

2011-07-05T05:53:00.000-07:00

A Street Art Renaissance in BA

2011-06-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

by Tony McClafferty, Photos by Tony McClafferty

A few weeks back I was walking home from the office in Recoleta when I stumbled upon what seemed to be a spontaneous graffiti session on the corner of Sanchez de Bustamante and Charcas. I stood there and watched two men on scaffolding paint the south-east wall on Bustamante. There was a group of some 6 or 7 people watching and photographing from across the street. I stopped for a split second before I took off running the two and half blocks to my apartment to grab my camera. I wasn't sure how long it would take for the police to break it up, so I quickly made it back, camera in hand, determined to capture the scene. Once I returned, I realized that the men weren't painting anything. They were plastering panels of a huge photograph on the wall, and they didn't seem to be in a hurry at all. I took some pictures and then walked across the street to figure out what was going on. I quickly found out that no one was going to stop the graffiti artists.

Buenos Aires has relaxed attitude when it comes to graffiti. In fact most of the people that walked by as we watched seemed to enjoy the fact that art was going up in their neighbourhood. There was however one compliant. An elderly woman whose balcony faces the wall came down to ask why they were painting monsters. But, note the complaint was not about the graffiti, it was an art critique.

In the group, I met Polish street artist Yola Kudela whose work we were watching go up. Yola recreates famous Renaissance paintings as street art with twists that makes the pieces modern and poignant. The majority of her work is located in the Polish capital of Warsaw where she has reinterpreted Michelangelo, Titian, and Antonello da Messina using a style of photographic collages. Yola’s use of real people in her interpretations breathes a new vitality into these classic Renaissance images. Yola had arrived a week prior from her current home in England to recreate “The Vicious Circle” by 19th century Polish artist Jacek Malczewski

here in Buenos Aires. Yola’s version features photographs of people that she met during her time in Buenos Aires. There are people from different parts of the world including Argentina, France, Colombia, Bolivia, and United States.

“I wanted to represent the diversity of those living in Buenos Aires,” Yola explains. “For me coming to a foreign country, it was important to talk a bit about immigration, about the movement of people.” When asked about her movement, her decision to come to Buenos Aires, Yola replied. “I came to visit a friend, but I was also interested in doing something here as well. I’ve been told about the graffiti and street art here, and I wanted to participate. I was able to get in contact with people here so that we could collaborate.”

For Yola, this relationship was important especially concerning the collaborative nature of her topic: the collection of people from diverse backgrounds, moving in circles together. “I didn’t want to come here and just put my art up. What’s the point to put it up and then leave?” she explains.

So Yola arranged to install her collage in conjunction with other street artists living and working in Buenos Aires. Her piece is situated between the work of three other artists: Jaz from Buenos Aires, Corona from France, and Other from Canada.

“These artists helped me integrate my work into the city’s art scene,” Yola recounts. “It was amazing to work with them. There was no artist ego at all. They left me a large space in the middle, and told me that I could work freely.”

While talking with Yola, one of these artists returned in a beat-up grey auto with dinosaurs painted on the doors. Jaz, the solo Argentine artist in the group, has been spreading his graffiti around Buenos Aires since 1999, and his distinctive style can be seen all over Palermo, the barrio where he grew up.

“I love working with other artists when they visit Buenos Aires,” he says. “Graffiti is a mobile art form, and it’s part of our culture to bring our art with us wherever we go.”

But after recounting a story of a visit to Paris where he spent a night in jail for attempting to paint in a shady neighbourhood and also explaining the dangers of painting in São Paulo, Jaz admits that Buenos Aires is a unique spot for street artists.

“We are lucky to have the freedom to paint here, and I think this freedom allows creativity to develop. But still, I’d like to see the younger artists take advantage of it more”, he laughs. “But I think that that is just the drive to improve. The art here is always changing, always progressing. It’s hard to stay still for too long.” When I ask if he thinks that his collaboration with Yola will stick around for a while, he nods. “The artists will respect this. It’s large and detailed, and Yola’s piece especially is very beautiful. Still it’s hard to say for sure.”

Jaz explains that he expects that the piece would be incorporated into any future graffiti that goes on the wall. I think that would make Yola happy to know that her photograph capturing Buenos Aires’ mixture of human stories will remain in the mix for some time to come.

Viamo shoes for chilly days!!!!

2011-06-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

Flea market in BA

2011-06-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

Located on the edge of Collegiales and Palermo at Av Dorrego 1600 (@ Niceto Vega), the Mercado de Pulgas is big and full of cool weird people and cool weird stuff. The flea market opened in 1986 and there you can find all types of curiosities to fill up your house or apartment. Antique furniture, objects of art, chandeliers, and glass soda bottles from various eras and styles are displayed in some sort of organized chaos. There are around 70 different stalls, one among them is the famous Tony Valiente, hat seller. Andy Donohoe shows our readers some of the beautiful chaos.

Maria Cher (Winter beauties)

2011-06-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

Lucuma's winter beauties

2011-06-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

In Argentina, pop-up recreational spaces transform closed streets

2011-06-15T04:39:00.000-07:00

Most city-dwellers are aware of the benefits of having a communal urban space to relax, unwind and socialize in. However, for many, such spaces simply don’t exist in their local vicinity. For those in Buenos Aires, innovations such as Designo Patagonia’s Plaza Movil will soon be providing a pop-up alternative.

The Plaza Movil — designed by Manuel Rapoport — will make use of Buenos Aires’ streets during weekends and public holidays by converting them into communal recreational spaces. By closing off these streets to motorists and installing portable playground equipment and seating, the spaces will be fit for members of the community of all ages to come to relax or play. What’s more, all the installed equipment and seating can be transported by van to other areas lacking parks, playgrounds or public squares. The initiative recently won second place at the Philips Livable Cities Awards, earning EUR 25,000 to put towards the production of a prototype. The Philips website notes, “Just by simply encouraging interaction between varying members of the community, the scheme will build stronger relationships across all levels of society.”

In Buenos Aires, where there is often poor transport and flooding problems, the Plaza Movil will provide much needed social community spaces. Of course, Buenos Aires is not the only place to face such problems, so this could be an idea ripe for exporting to your own locality. It’s inspiring to see the pop-up model being put to work for a social cause.

Arteba 2011

2011-06-13T01:59:00.000-07:00

Buenos Aires’ grand annual art exhibition took place at La Rural in Palermo. Argentine and international artists showed off their oevures d’art for the general public. Photographer Joe Rondone shows us a glimpse of what was on. More info can be found online.

Bandoleiro

2011-06-09T02:12:00.000-07:00

La Martina Music Experience - After Office Party

2011-06-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Argentinian models, José Galleta

2011-06-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Ayres W/11

2011-05-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

Buenos Aires Polo Circo Festival

2011-05-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

You know how going to the circus is about being amazed and feeling good? Last week, Whats Up Buenos Aires attended an extension of Buenos Aires Polo Circo Festival without really knowing what they were getting themselves into. To their surprise a Montreal based multi-everything show PSY was in town and absolutely blew them away.

Acrobats, jugglers, actors, performers, multi-talented charismatic Quebeci kids with a dope soundtrack to boot. Experimental beats and trapeze? Dubstep and juggling? You get the idea.

At times the performance was surreal, at others it was heart-wrenching, and others it was just pure delight. It left us feeling uplifted, because even though we as humans are distinct and complicated, we are also capable of coming together and creating something beautiful.

Michael Buble: Second Wedding with Luisana Lopilato!

2011-05-23T03:28:00.000-07:00

The couple, who first tied the knot in April in Argentina, celebrated a second wedding ceremony in Michael’s home country with 500 of their closest family and friends.

“We’re both nervous, but we’re excited. It’s just another excuse to celebrate our love, have a few drinks, and to dance all night,” the 35-year-old singer told ET Canada (via People).

“Everyone says, ‘Marriage - nothing changes. Oh, it’s just a piece of paper.’ But I love her more,” Michael gushed about his Argentine actress wife.

Paula Cahen D'Anvers W11

2011-05-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

Josefina Alazraki for Catalogue Mag

2011-05-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

Angel Bombing in Buenos Aires

2011-05-11T06:13:00.000-07:00

Concrete=Canvas took to the streets of Buenos Aires ten days ago for their first international street art project. With the aim of creating art in public spaces while involving the community, guardian angels were painted in various locations around the city where homeless people stay, bringing with them a sense of colour and security.

Born in the art scene of Chicago, the organisation is run by Callie Humphrey, 23. Originally from Los Angeles, having spent five years studying arts management and working as an exhibition organiser after graduating in Chicago, the cold winters drove her further afield. Arriving in Buenos Aires a few months ago, without much knowledge of the local art scene, she has been amazed by the opportunities that exist in the city. Describing her current situation, Callie says, “I got here and I was just blown away by how open the street art scene is and by the really talented murals. I mean its not street art in your typical sense, like graffiti, they are really talented artists out here, and they can take time because its more or less legal, and it is generally accepted. I knew that it was a big city for street art, but I didn’t understand how accessible it really was and how the vibe is here – something that I’ve now discovered!”

“In cities like London, New York, Paris or Los Angeles, the art scene is already formed. To try and penetrate it in an alternative way, like everyone is doing down here, is just not feasible. It can happen, but it certainly is not the norm and it is not as accessible. I don’t want to say that those cities are too civilised, because this city is pretty civilised as well, but back home it is a different vibe, it is too structured,” explains Callie. “In Chicago, where it really is just buildings and concrete, and thinking of all these other metropolitan cities that are the same, I wanted to get away from that and utilise the space to showcase local artists and to bring art to people who don’t really have access. With all the private galleries, I mean, the whole white cube scene, you can only do so much.”
This is the basis of ‘Concrete = Canvas’ – bringing art out into the open. “The whole idea of the organisation is to open up the artistic process and to make it available to people who don’t necessarily have insight to it. I think that art is super powerful at creating dialogue and inspiring people”, enthuses Callie. This weekend, local and foreign artists joined up with people who had no experience of street painting, making stencils of angels out of large plastic sheets. Then they divided into four groups and spread out across the city, in the neighbourhoods of Palermo, San Telmo, Villa Crespo and Constitucion. “We basically went around the city and bombed stencils of guardian angels around places where a lot of the homeless population sleep . A part of that was offering food while leaving a symbol of protection,” explains Callie, who was based in Plaza de Mayo during a large part of the operation, handing out stencils, paint, food and maps to people who just came up and wanted to join in.

Callie reckons that up to a hundred angels were painted, although she is waiting for people to hand the maps back in, which have all the locations marked on them. The important part of the event was that everyone enjoyed themselves while sharing the art process with the community, which is exactly what happened, according to the painters who took part. Considering whether the images will remain or not, Callie says, “I think that some of the angels will stay, but some of them will be painted over, because that is just the nature of the city and part of the beauty of painting in the streets. It is ever evolving and changing. You have no idea what is going to be there tomorrow. A lot of the guys and girls here paint up in Villa Crespo, around a big bus station, where there are these really big walls and it is a generally accepted area to paint. Part of the deal is that you recycle the walls – your piece is only going to be up there for so long, which is part of the game.”

Street art in Buenos Aires is widespread, with murals appearing all over the place. There are a number of collectives and groups who organise sessions and bring art to the community. “It was in response to society and the economy being in total upheaval during the economic crash. People started saying that they did not want to keep seeing all this political graffiti, that they wanted to make people smile instead, because it was just miserable. From there, all these incredible artists emerged, who just kept painting. Nobody was complaining that there was now artwork on the street, because everybody was sharing each others misery,” says Callie, who has immersed herself in the network of artists since arriving.

Fundraising has ensured that there is enough money available to carry out another few projects in the next couple of months, before Callie returns to the US to register the organisation and take advantage of the grants which will be available. She is keen to return to Buenos Aires but also dreams of taking ‘Concrete = Canvas’ to Sao Paulo, where there is also a thriving art scene, and then on to Eastern Europe, where there is a burgeoning underground scene. While planning on how to develop from here, Callie does not consider the previous project as finished, stating, “the weather is still good, I’ve still got the stencils, I have the paints – there is no reason the angels need to be stopped.”

Prune lookbook

2011-05-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

Josefina Alazraki for DMag

2011-05-05T02:48:00.000-07:00

Ph: Josefina Alazraki
Ph Assistant: Gastón Torres
Production: Lucila Meller
Asis. Production: Eloisa Castaño
Makeup: Sofi Klei con productos M.A.C.
Hair: Juan Beltrán para Jazmin Calcarami Estudio
Models: Mecha Mendez of Pink Models Management, Patricia of Visage Models

"No one wears fur anymore. It’s out of style"

2011-05-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

by Kathryn Matlack

Rip Tamara didn’t set out to create the furry, gleeful, six-limbed zombie monster installed at the CC Recoleta; as she explains it, the creature just sort of happened. Last Sunday Rip and I sat down on the lawn across from Feria Hippy in a patch of afternoon sun to talk about her installation, R.I.P. Rip, Hurra! which has quickly become a crowd favorite.

By day, Rip (Tamara is her first name, Rip Tamara her artistic name) is a professional set designer. She knows carpentry and metalworking, and knows how to work with everything from tube socks to automotive paints. She studied at the Buenos Aires School of Fine Arts. But more noteworthy was her debut into the world of building cool stuff: one of her first jobs was to recreate scenes from the Bible at Tierra Santa, the infamous Jesus themed park on the Costanera Sur where resurrection happens every hour, on the hour. Rip, who has shaggy blonde hair, rows of delicate silver rings in each ear, and a dimple when she smiles, tells me with a grin if I go to Tierra Santa to look for her in the crowd: two of the kids in the scenes she designed there have her face. “We used polyster resin to make the figures,” she recalls. “Great to work with, but it’s super toxic.”

Also a talented illustrator, prior to this installation—her first—Rip often drew animals: hip animals, like martini-drinking pigs, pool playing armadillos, and wine-guzzling satyrs in colorful and fantastic scenes. “Sometimes an animal, or even a particular animal, is able to better express a feeling or capture a particular emotion,” she explains. Later, when I ask Rip to comment about typical habits of consumption in the city, she agrees that many in Buenos Aires are careless. “Maybe that’s why I care about the animals…” she muses. “Man is doing this to himself, but there’s no one to protect the animals.”

In her work as a set designer for movies and commercials Rip found she always faced the same conundrum: what to do with the leftovers? “As a set designer, you work very hard to create a perfect scene,” she explains. “But when you’re creating the scene you use great materials, and you always have some extra. The scene is shot, maybe using your set for just a few seconds, and then you’re left with beautiful materials that you hate to just throw away.”

Go back a few months prior: Rip’s grandparents are getting ready to toss a beautiful but very old blanket made of llama fur. Rip steps in, thinking there has to be a better future for the soft pelts. A few conversations with friends later, and Rip is the recipient of dozens of fur coats emerging after years in closets or refrigerated fur-storage lockers. Rip tells me fur was big in the 80’s in Argentina: it was a time when a man who loved his wife and could afford to would show it by buying her a fur coat.

“Times have changed,” says Rip. “No one wears fur anymore. It’s out of style. But women still have these great memories of their coats, even if public perception of fur has changed.”

Rip’s project, playfully and symbolically giving new life to animals whose furs were taken from them, was enticing enough to coax many women to give up their furry heirlooms. At the center of her microespacio stands what Rip titled “the redemptive zombie of stolen furs”: a light-brown bearish creature with antlers, and skinny, striped arms. The zombie is frozen, dancing open-mouthed on a grave; he is joined by a flock of two-dimensional furry spirit figures that fly upwards, growing bigger the higher they get. “An animal made from the skin of another animal?” reads the placard on the wall. “It’d be better if you’d get rid of them [the furs]. It’s coming to get them.”

R.I.P. Rip, Hurra! conveys a spirit of mischief and of jubilation; the project combines Rip’s talent for imagining and creating endearing creatures with her craftswoman’s ability to bring them to lifelike life. The result? A magical scene that amuses us, while using an imaginary tale to playfully comment on our habits of everyday life.

If you go to the Centro Cultural, it’s worth checking out several other exhibitions running through April 30 that also explore reusing and reimagining materials.

For example, the work of Cho Yong Hwa, an artist of Korean descent who came to Argentina at the age of 14, fills one entire room. Using an ancient Korean kitemaking technique, Cho used pencil and splashes of white, blue and orange paint to transform the front pages of four major Argentine newspapers into scores kites painted with the anthropomorphized sun from the Argentine flag. Anyone who can read in Spanish knows that each newspaper here aggressively champions a certain ideology; Cho leverages this knowledge, and her experience in her homeland, officially divided in spite of a shared language and cultural heritage, to question whether ideologies must separate a nation or whether they can be brought together to create a diverse but unified whole. Reviewer comments posted around the room at the center compare the flag kites to Argentina’s soaring hopes and dreams; another guest comment asks, “El Arte de Cho. La Unidad de los Argentinos?”

Maria MacDonald: Entrepreneur from USA

2011-05-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Back in October 2008, US ex-pat Maria MacDonald, now 26, launched an email newsletter service for Buenos Aires called Yo Que Vos (If I Were You). The newsletters, sent out twice weekly, each contain one fashion, beauty, gastronomy or entertainment tip, sometimes including a readers’ discount for the particular product or service. The emphasis is on concision: the recommendation is explained in 200 words or fewer and accompanied by a photo. The first of these emails was received by 500 people; today, Yo Que Vos has over 30,000 subscribers. Here Maria tells The Argentina Independent her story.

What first brought you to Buenos Aires?

I’m originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended college in Los Angeles. I came to Buenos Aires to study abroad during my junior year – Spanish was one of my majors and I came wanting to make the leap from almost fluent to fluent. That’s when I fell in love with the city. I was only supposed to be here for a semester but I took some time off from college and extended my stay to 13 months. I then returned to California but, two months after graduating in 2007, I was back here. I couldn’t stay away!

Maria MacDonald (Photo: Andy Donohoe)

Where did the idea for Yo Que Vos come from?

I was working for a New Yorker who’d started a luxury leather bag company. The bags were beautiful but it was the wrong kind of business for this economy – too expensive for locals and for tourists who’d chosen Argentina because it was a cheap destination. I learnt what it was like to have a company in Argentina. My boss had been developing a concept modelled on a successful email newsletter in the US – www.dailycandy.com – and she asked me if I wanted to invest and be the one to bring the idea to Argentina. I now have three business partners but I’m the acting decision maker.

Why have the newsletters become so popular?

Yo Que Vos is a new way of spreading information and we’re very selective about our content. We don’t accept money for what we write about – we write about things because they’re cool. The newsletter is aimed at Argentine women aged 25-40, mostly college-educated professionals who live in or close to Buenos Aires. Our readers like to have fun, appreciate art and music, have a little bit of extra money to spend and want to do different things rather than go to the same café every night. The website, where we put our archives, is all in Spanish. I didn’t want to do another thing for ex-pats. I’ve always wanted to be Latina! One of the most popular sections on the website is Look of the Day. We have a photographer who goes round the city searching for women who are wearing interesting clothes and taking a picture of them. They get given a little card that says “we love your look” and the website. That’s made the number of subscribers snowball.

How is the website funded?

It’s funded from banner advertising and three times a month we send out a promotional email written in the same format and tone as our regular tips. We don’t say yes to any advertiser, only to those which make for interesting content, such as the Nike 5km women’s race which we recently featured. I would never publicise a cigarette company. Once in a while we sell products and work with the brand to make a cut on them. For instance, we’ll say customers can buy a certain brand of purse half price over three days. That’s been very successful and we’ve sold hundreds of items in a few days.

Is there a difference between the products and services on offer here and back in the US?

One of the articles on Yo Que Vos

Argentines are very creative and very entrepreneurial. I don’t know if that comes from a need to create jobs when they’re hard to find here. Argentine women are more image-conscious than American women. There’s always something new to help your cellulite and I get ten emails a day from image consultant services. I think there’s a little too much of it. We like to promote things that make you feel good about yourself as you are. Another thing is that things seem to be more expensive here.

How do you discover new tips for the newsletters?

We have four women called ‘cool hunters’ – fashionable, in the know people. They keep their eyes and ears open for cool creative content. Also, we have a button on the website that says ‘Envia tu tip’, so I get probably 30 tip ideas from readers each day. The hardest part is choosing eight or ten per month but we have a rule – if it’s already been in any major newspaper or magazine, we don’t write about it.

Which aspects of the job do you most enjoy?

Definitely finding the content – my favourite is the entertainment section which includes gallery openings and puertas cerradas. I also love interacting with our subscribers. We held an event to celebrate our first year – it was a high-end outdoor fair with white tents and 50 of our favourite brands from Yo Que Vos newsletters. We had massage tables, a juice bar and natural food. Three thousand people came along! It’s one thing to see numbers go up on your computer screen but it’s great to actually interact with the people.

What would you like for the future of Yo Que Vos?

I’d love to expand to other cities. It’s always been a dream. I don’t believe that there’s anything else really like it yet so going to Chile or Brazil would be amazing. I think it would work – where there’s cool stuff happening, there are women wanting to find out about it. I’d love to expand to men too (currently 2% of subscribers are male). It would really work with Argentina as men are just as big consumers as women. But our goal for this year is never to jeopardise our content and to continue putting ourselves in the shoes of our readers. We’ve finally got to a place where we’re making money and growing in subscribers so we can enjoy it without working crazy, 17-hour days. We’ve found our rhythm.