Predicting the future
ASSISTANT EDITOR’ S NOTE
There is a tradition in several cities in the United States to hold an annual Artists and Models Ball. These balls celebrate the collaborative relationship between artists and models.
Such annual celebrations were first held in New York City perhaps in the 1920s. An Artists and Models Ball is a feature of a 1937 Jack Benny film set in New York. During the Depression, Artists and Models Balls were held as fund raisers for the Chicago South Side Community Art Center. The center was a project of the Works Progress Administration that funded art programs during the Roosevelt administration.
In the 1950s and 60s, an annual Artists and Models Ball was held by the New York Artists’ Equity organization and it was featured in a 1955 Martin & Lewis film. Such balls are still held today from Chicago to Los Angeles.
An intriguing feature of the 1950s New York balls was a series of studies for ball costumes done in gouache by Jacob Lawrence. In his highly regarded work lies the key relationship between artists, models and fashion where this issue of MANIERA SL lives.
This month MANIERA SL celebrates the relationship between artist and model. Often artists are pictured as single individuals working alone to create their expressive visions. However artists always have subjects and that connection forges a mystic and symbiotic relationship.
DEEPTHINKER OH | RABIA BRAXTON
In this issue we feature gowns created by Mohna Lisa, known as Mo to his friends, who is the founder of the design house Mohna Lisa Couture. These exquisite gowns are worn by Adriel Huntress, who is the winner of a contest that selected the“ The Face of Mohna Lisa Couture 2013.”
We have two feature articles. One explores the career and aspirations of the artist, Mohna Lisa. The other delves into the life and expectations of the model, Adriel Huntress.
A pictorial showing Huntress wearing six Mohna Lisa gowns is the centerpiece of this issue. One of the gowns, named appropriately Adriel, was designed specifically for Huntress. All of the gowns are designed to blend bright colors with high fashion.
In this issue we also shine the Staff Spotlight on Carilynn Ohare, a model who works for MANIERA Model Management.
12 | MANIERA | mymaniera. com SPECIAL EDITION 2013