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