Man Beautiful, a chat with Carlos Andrés Gómez

Watch this first.

Carlos and Savion Glover’s performance  inspires me to the core of my soul. Now, it is my privilege to present more on the artistic genius that is…CARLOS ANDRÉS GÓMEZ…

A Russell Simmons HBO Def Poet and International Poetry Slam Champion, Carlos Andrés Gómez is an actor, playwright and poet from New York City who co-starred in Spike Lee’s Inside Man alongside Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen.

Formerly a social worker and a public school teacher, he has performed at over 100 colleges and universities and toured across North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa. He has shared the stage with Wyclef Jean, Amiri Baraka, MC Lyte, Yosef Komunyakaa, Rosie Pérez, Ishmael Reed, Ntozake Shange, Quincy Troupe, David Banner, Pete Rock, Suzanne Vega, Saul Williams, Mos Def and the impressive list goes on…

The first time I met Carlos and experienced his artistry was in 2005 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (of which he is a member of the Slam Team). I am still moved by the piece he performed that night, “Colombian/Amerikan”, and what he did with a four letter word poem. Oh man, you had to be there… LOL

Anyhow, I am so honored that today he is kind enough to grace The Love Spot with his presence.

Recently, I attended a New York City performance of Man Up, Carlos’ critically acclaimed one-man show that previously ran at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (the largest arts festival in the world) in Scotland, receiving five out of five stars from Hairline Magazine which called Man Up “the hidden jewel of the Fringe.”

More on Man Up in a bit. For now, I want you to get to know Carlos a little more…

Carlos Andrés Gómez

Born in Manhattan (NY Presbyterian),Carlos Andrés Gómez was raised by a father who worked for United Nations (often involved in human rights agendas) and a mother who is a linguist dedicated to agricultural work and indigenous rights. His family moved around a lot when he was growing up (Brazil, Israel, Switzerland, Connecticut, Providence Rhode Island to name a few places) and he eventually attended The University of Pennsylvania majoring in Sociology and Africana Studies. Carlos calls both Brooklyn and Los Angeles home now and travels the world gifting us with his art.

PMB: Tell us about your childhood. Who was Carlos, the kid?

CAG: (Laughs) I got kicked out of class a lot. I got kicked out of every high school I ever went to. For some reason I came into this world confident with my voice and my perspective and nobody could tell me shit.

Now, I’m a nice guy and compassionate and all that, but growing up? Man, I was trouble. I had no problem questioning anyone about anything.When I was in the 5^th grade my teacher was picking on a girl in my class and I said, Mrs. Hawkins, you’re bullying her. I’d like you to apologize. Mrs. Hawkins said for me to go to the principals’ office. I shook my head. No. She insisted. I said, All I have to do is uncontrolled body movements, breathe and die, so, no Mrs. Hawkins, I’m not going to the principals office.  The assistant principal was yelling at me from the door in no time. And so because of my strong will, my mother was nervous. She said she thought I could grow up to be a Ghandi… or a Hitler.

PMB: Well that explains your passion as an activist. Your convictions are so strong, one can’t help but be moved when you perform.

CAG: You know, I don’t consider myself an activist. I’m just a guy who has an opinion, like everyone else does, and I use art to convey what I feel. My girlfriend, Wendy, put it best. She said, It’s not that one person can make a difference, every person makes a difference. So I just live trying to figure out what kind of difference I’m gonna make, you know?

PMB: With your family being so “conscious” it was no wonder that you would be too, no?

CAG: No doubt. My sister advocates for women’s reproductive rights, working in Mexico and all over the world. I don’t know how any of us can stand not to be so-called socially conscious though. I feel like what makes the great artists is that the art is so much more than them. It’s not about them, it’s about what their art is saying. Like Savion Glover tap dancing. Like Miles Davis. Like so many of the greats. Sure, I’m traveling the world and people in Ireland are following my work and recognize me when I get there, but I still feel like a young puppy, like it will be forty more years before I’m where I’ll need to be.

Carlos Andrés Gómez and Savion Glover after performing together oat The Town Hall on Broadway. Their performance, featured as part of the Nuyorican Poets Café’s “Aloud and Alive at 35” anniversary show, received a standing ovation from the sold-out audience.

PMB: You could have chosen a lot of other ways to convey your profound convictions in this life, Carlos. Why art?

CAG: That’s a really good question. Actually, I always thought I would go to school and be a civil rights attorney. But I went to college and—as a pre-law student—I realized that, to me, the whole culture of law was really pathetic. It was just so obvious that justice was not happening in the American judicial system. I’ve been a victim of police misconduct—I was unlawfully arrested in Philadelphia—and I won a lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia. But the whole thing was arbitrary. The only reason I won, and I know it, was because I had a kick-ass lawyer and I happened to have a pretty white face and green eyes. If I would have been a Black male, I would not have won that case.

So anyhow, my first job out of college was an HIV educator, a job I found on Craig’s List. I got $26000 a year–which felt like a shit load of money to me then–but more than anything it was a chance to do something that I cared about. I ended up being a substance abuse counselor. It was tough. The hardest thing about it though was the lack of support for the people trying to do the work. I don’t know how people can emotionally sustain themselves in that field. I honestly don’t…

So somehow along the way, I realized that in a world so complicated by obstruction and systemic barriers, the only anectdote that counteracts it all is art. That pure creative spirit is what truly moves people and can make a difference. It’s not about me trying to get famous, driving a drop top down Hollywood boulevard someday, it’s about me having moments with fellow people that can never be replicated. That is the magic that we look for as artists, what I want the rest of my life to be about.

I was a great social worker, had no problem going into crack houses—even knew and was cool with drug dealers and pimps and prostitutes—and I knew it. It was because I never looked down on them. I had love for them because they were human. At the end of the day we all are and art is what can connect us.

So, I try to be as generous as possible to the audience, totally stripping myself raw and being as honest as possible. It’s when Carlos disappears and there is nothing left but the art that the magic happens. There are a lot of artists who use the stage for ego. It’s not about me with my art, not at all.

Carlos performing "Man Up"

PMB: That’s beautiful. And now I understand even more why it is that you move people the way you do, why–during Man Up and even when you do your think poetically–people are affected by your work. When did you discover art/poetry?

CAG: Honestly, I didn’t learn how to read until I was like eight or nine years old. They thought I had some sort of brain disability. Maybe I did. I just had a very difficult time at first. My teachers would probably laugh if they found out I am a writer now. But when I was sixteen years old, I was attending a Quaker school in Rhode Island. I hated English, hated poetry… I just didn’t like any of it. I thought it was so corny.

Then a Nuyorican poet came to my high school named Martín Espada. He read from his book, Imagine the Angels of Bread and I was sitting there, a sixteen year old kid previously unmoved by anything dealing with poetry, and I am completely unable to imagine how beautiful that experience of listening to him was. I was so choked up, just so moved by this guy. He signed my book, “To Carlos, un poeta en el futuro,” [a poet in the future] and I never forgot it.

Martin Espada

PMB: So besides Espada, who have been your influences?

CAG: Besides Espada? Besides John Coltrane? Oh man, so many of the great artists… And so many of the great artists are so simple it’s ridiculous, their art is so pure and so not complex yet the overall that arrives at the end is so powerful. That’s what influences my art. When people feel like their purity is not enough, they feel insecure, like they have to pull out all the tricks and extra stuff. The great ones though? They never felt the need to do that.

Like Audre Lourde, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, Sharon Olds, “Che” Guevara, César Chávez, Mary Frances Berry,  Ana Julia Cooper, Janis Joplin, Paulo Freire, Phyllis Wheatley, Terrance Hayes, Lucille Clifton, Mark Doty, June Jordan, Immortal Technique, Adrienne Rich, DMX…

Okay, so recently I had the pleasure, as I mentioned, of attending Carlos’ one-man play. Man Up is a truly inspired and moving one-act play. It is amazing, lines and moments that sometimes inspire your to shiver in inspired silence, lines such as “A real man realizes that every woman is a mother,” and “Men, what happened to us?” and “How can I not believe in God.”

There is no fourth wall in Man Up and with Carlos that is okay. Every one in the audience laughs with ease at appropriate moments and holds their breath simultaneously when it seems the words too beautifully heavy to endure.

And then Carlos makes eye contact–those impossibly amazing green eyes–and you feel at ease again in his care, actor to audience, receiving his gift.

PMB: I really, really enjoyed Man Up. What inspired you to write it?

CAG: I was so tired of the vilification of men of color. The way that men of color are presented is so destructive—that we are all deadbeat fathers, bad role models, misogynists, addicts or the down low—is so tiresome. These are all things that need to be talked about and addressed, I know, but at the same time no one is telling us that we’re beautiful. That kills me.

I’m the toughest [m-f-] on earth and I also have no problem telling a brother, you’re beautiful. That’s what Man Up is all about. We’re told we’re animals monsters, but I say to them you’re a God. I want to remind us that it’s okay to be more than what we are told we’re allowed to be. We are great.

PMB: This reminds me to ask you about the spiritual aspect of Man Up. You mention God–even question His existence in the show–can you expound on that?

CAG: Sure, sure… When you truly experience some things as an artist, no matter what your religion, you know that God exists.

But when you are a social worker, there are so many contradictions—you’re often angry at God or even question His existence—and you struggle with it.

Listen, I once had to handle two adolescent girls who were involved in commercial sex work, little small girls, not even teenagers yet, and they’d been beaten by their pimps so badly that they literally could not open either of their eyes. I saw things like this, things that are beyond horrifying.

We’re talking physical abuse, molestation,  trafficking and the most horrific things you can imagine happening to children. It just kills you, you know. But then you see the beauty of these human beings despite everything they’ve gone through and you just know, you just know it. God exists. I don’t go to a traditional church but when I get on that stage it is church to me. And I want to find God there. And if He isn’t there, I don’t want to be there.

CARLOS_The Love Spot

PMB: Okay, Carlos, as is tradition at “The Love Spot,” What is love?

CAG: I say love is that moment when everything is stripped away and all the facade is removed and the core of our being becomes a blazing flood light that is beautiful. When you watch a great performer open up and it’s all raw, that is love.

PMB: Who or what do you love? Give us three things and tell us why…

CAG: I love people. There are all of these gorgeous details in every person in the world and it literally gets me choked up when I take time to observe people. A father with his child… A mother with her daughter… People are so beautiful, no matter how cynical we can be. We are gorgeous.

I love great art. It doesn’t matter if its music or poetry or a painting, I am so moved by great art. To me art is not about showing what the world is but about showing what it can be, all the possibilities. Art has been my greatest teacher about the possibilities within myself.

And lastly, I love exploration. The journey of life… People finding new things… I’m just excited to be alive each day. I have no regrets about my life. I’ve lived true to myself and fully and I’m appreciative of the trip of exploring. And I’m so grateful.

__________________

I am so grateful, too. I am grateful that Carlos Andrés Gómez exists and that I have had the privilege of experiencing his work and of getting to know him better as a person. As for why The Love Spot loves Carlos, the first thing that comes to mind is his mastering of humility. He is not modest–the man knows his power–but he is humble in the sense that he doesn’t think his greatness makes him any better than even a pimp or a drug dealer.

During our talk, Carlos discussed the various reasons that he’s heard actors list for doing what they do, for striving in their chosen fields. Some are chasing awards, wealth and fame. Carlos, on the other hand, is a true artist. He performs because he has to, because it is his gift to humanity, his responsibility to activism.

And, as Carlos reminded me, to be a great artist, one must be active and present with what’s going on in the world.

Carlos, no tricks and extra stuff necessary, is simply great.

To follow Carlos and his upcoming performances, please be sure and bookmark his official Myspace page . He has a lot of exciting things coming up. Be sure and check him out.

P.S. Carlos, mi línea predilecta fue gracias hermano. Y digo que a usted. Usted es hermoso.

xoxo…

PMB.

Rhymes with Ice (but she’s getting hot)…

Her jewelry has been worn by many of our beloved pop culture icons, wonderful divas and style icons such as: Rashida Jones, Beyonce (seen below in her jewelry), Cameron Diaz, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Ripa, Drew Barrymore, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Academy Award Winning actress Kate Winslet.

Katharine Sise (her last name rhymes with ice) and/or her fabulous jewelry have been prominently featured in such magazines as Glamour, Marie Claire, W. Bazaar, Lucky (who launched her career by anointing her a “designer to watch) and Elle.

Many of us aspire to own a career using our God given talents and Katharine, too, strived for nothing less in her own life.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she came to New York City equipped with big dreams and a degree in film, television and theater. She originally hoped to thrive as an actress.

And what do most of us hopeless thespians end up doing to make a living starting off, even with a college degree? You guessed it. But when Katie nearly spilled an expensive bottle of champagne on Robert Deniro while waitressing one evening, she knew it wasn’t the job for her. There had to be a better way. Turned out there was.

She put her instinctive talent to work and started designing and selling jewelry and her innovative creations were soon in demand.

Katharine Sise and/or her jewelry have appeared on “Good Morning America,” The Oxygen Network”, “The View”, “Live With Regis and Kelly”, “Good Day New York” and one of my personal favorites… “Gossip Girl”. We are so honored and delighted to have her here with us in “The Love Spot” today.

Read on for a Q&A with Katharine Sise where you’ll learn more about why “The Love Spot” has so much love for her and her jewelry. You’ll also discover some exciting news about what’s coming up in her life…

PMB: Katie, You have designed jewelry for so many celebrities, is there someone that you have yet to design for that you would like to? And what do you envision designing for that person?

KS: Michelle Obama! And I’d design one of my multi-layers with a strand of pearls. A twist on a conservative necklace.

PMB: I have no doubt that that day is to come. Mrs. Obama came to my mind as well. She is certainly someone that I’d love to see rocking your jewelry. Give us a day in the life of a fabulous jewelry designer. Take us through your creative process…

KS: Every day is different depending on what I’m working on. Some days, I may have a specific trend story to make pieces for. If a magazine requests a specific trend, I’ll make about 12 to 20 pieces that week for that particular story. Other weeks are spent making orders for boutiques and individual clients.

PMB: You mentioned trends, but tell us how a woman/young lady should go about deciding what style of jewelry works specifically for them?

KS: I say, whatever jewelry pieces make you feel good the moment you put it on is what you should go with. Vintage jewelry is a great way to achieve a timeless look and works with almost any style. If you have a conservative style, find pieces that you can go to againand again, like a classic stud earring. If you’re more experimental by nature, try a bold cuff and a cocktail ring to spice up your look.

PMB: I love it! And I think it is that mentality that makes certain celebrities more iconic and stand the test of time for popularity. Who comes to mind when you think of style icons? And why?

KS: To me, a style icon is a woman that knows what works for her. She isn’t guided by the trends, though she may incorporate elements of them into her signature style.

PMB: Agreed! Now, as you know the three women dearest to me—my mother, my sister and my niece “Jada” all received jewelry that you specially designed for us this past Christmas (unforgettable by the way) but I am curious about your Mr. Sise line, particularly because Father’s Day is coming up and Dad was a little left out

“Mr. Sise” is your developing men’s line and I love it. Some men aren’t so keen on jewelry, though, and might need to be convinced. What do you say to men who don’t think jewelry is for them? And what type of man should consider jewelry as a part of his personal style?

KS: This is tricky. Many of my male friends (my husband included) only wear their wedding rings. But, if a man is comfortable wearing jewelry, it can be such a great look. I love tough jewelry pieces for men for a laid back or rocker look!

PMB: Me too. And just to add to what you’ve said, I love it when a man has a statement piece—a bold ring or a stern necklace—because it can really accentuate their masculinity. Besides the men’s line, are there any other things in development that you’d like to share?

KS: This month my jewelry is featured on a few pages of Lucky magazine and in July Target will launch one of my jewelry pieces on their website. Very exciting!

PMB: Oh congratulations, Katie! You already know how excited I am about your developing career. Finally, as is tradition in our newly re-launched “The Love Spot”, please tell us… how you define love?

KS: Love is really all there is. If you’re filled with love, there isn’t room for anything else.

PMB: And what are three things that you, Katharine Sise, love? Tell us why if you would….

KS: Family. (That is my mom, dad, sister, brother and my husband.) Dogs. No one does unconditional love like a dog! And books! I feel an instant comfort as soon as I open one.

PMB: Awww! And ditto! Thank you Katie!

And here is why The Love Spot loves Katharine “rhymes with ice” Sise …

She has eyes as exited as a child seeing the sun rise for the first time and an enthusiasm about her work that is just as thrilled. Her jewelry is fabulous and, though it has been validated as so by a who’s who of Hollywood’s most impressive, Katie was just as excited to know that Philana’s niece, Jada, an eleven year old girl in Ohio was thrilled by the necklace she designed for her–even refusing to take it off before she went to bed on Christmas night. We love Katharine Sise and her fantastic jewelry because, in a time when hope is so coveted in this world, hers are dreams that have not only come true but are growing in abundance. God bless you Katharine Sise. We wish you all the best and nothing less…

Visit www.katharinesise.com to order her fabulous jewelry and also follow her career.

*Also be sure to check her out on HSN (The Home Shopping Network) where Katharine Sise co-hosts her own show!

LOVE!

pmb

All love for hats (and a man who makes them). An interview with Albertus Q. Swanepoel…

Recently, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue announced the recipients of their fifth annual awards from the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund. Congratulations are in order for the winner—Alexander Wang— and also for the runners up Lisa Mayock, Sophie Buhai, and Albertus Q. Swanepoel.

The CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund (CVFF) was established in 2003 to help emerging talent find continued success in the business of fashion. The winner and runners-up are given the opportunity to meet regularly with a team of business mentors and also receive $200,000 ( the runners-up each get $50,000).

In the CFDA’s official press release, VOGUE Editor in Chief Anna Wintour was quoted as saying, “In only the fifth year of the Fashion Fund competition, we know that to win a first or runner-up prize is to receive a very substantial professional boost. The proof lies in the remarkable success of the Fund’s previous winners.” It was Anna Wintour who also gave the foreword to Vera Wang’s gorgeous pictorial Vera Wang On Weddings (Collins Living), in which Swanepoel crafted all of the hats.

Albertus Q. Swanepoel (elegantly pronounced Swan+pool) is a milliner, the only hat-maker ever to be nominated for this most prestigious award, and is primed to evolve from crafter of hats to celebrated fashion icon, not unlike CoCo Chanel—whose first American job was also as a milliner.

Originally from Pretoria, South Africa, where he was an award-winning fashion designer, Swanepoel is currently one of NYC’s most noted. Featured in a two-page spread in November’s issue of Vogue, he was—earlier this year—asked to design a hat for President Elect Barack Obama’s “Runway to Change” fundraising drive (along with A-listers like Juicy Couture, Isaac Mizrahi and Beyonce).

Recently, Albertus welcomed me into his studio for an interview. Here is an excerpt of some of some of our most memorable discussion:

pmb: In the ongoing discussion—fashion as art—do you consider yourself an artist? Do you consider fashion art?

AQS: I don’t consider fashion art in the traditional sense of the word, no. If anything, fashion is sartorial art—art related to clothing. It’s more of a craft for me. A dress is not going to be in fashion 20 years from now whereas art is timeless. We won’t look at a hat five years from now and still be inspired by it, as we would a Picasso. What we do in fashion is influential, but it’s not art. People are not going to take a Picasso and repaint it. We are constantly re-creating fashion.

After discussing his work, much of it adorned with South African motifs and flowers, including this design below that Jennifer Anistan wore on an episode of 30 Rock…

pmb: Yet so much of your work appears so innovative, so artistic…

AQS: Well, that may be because I love the idea of taking something incredibly expensive and putting it with something that is not; like a hat I crafted with a pom-pom made of a plastic garbage bag. I just think it’s such a whimsical idea. I just personally love to use something when it’s not so fancy and expensive looking; and for something to look almost damaged in a way.

pmb: A lot of women that I know, including myself, love to wear hats, however I realize that there are equal, if not more women who simply won’t. Many women think they just don’t look good in hats…

AQS: There is a weird misconception, so many women who think that hats don’t fit them, that they don’t have a hat face or that it will mess up their hair. The trick with hats is to make them a matter of contrast. Hats should contrast with your outfit yet compliment it. The same with your face. If you have an upturned nose, for example, try a downward brim. Round face? Try a square hat. I feel anybody in the world can get the right hat to wear. I don’t buy the excuses.

pmb: What about women and/or the fashion enthused who think hats are not in style?

AQS: Hats get a bad rap. It’s the first thing that is picked on with celebrities. It’s just not that highly regarded anymore. That’s why I personally try to make hats that are very wearable. A hat should be put on and become very personal. Hats are for people who love and appreciate the craft of fashion. There are always more hats in European shows than New York shows because of their tendency to be more adventurous. We’re definitely seeing a resurgence.

A milliner known to take a traditionally male fedora and feminize it, Albertus adds this advice for the hat reluctant:

AQS: Just have one fantastic hat at least. Try an old vintage fedora with a fairly modern outfit or try a winter fedora in the summer.

On his nod from the CFDA, Albertus, ever assuming, simply says,

“It’s just truly… really amazing.”

The same could be said for Albertus Swanepoel and his incredible talent.

In the tradition of “The It’s All Love” blog, re-born now as “The Love Spot”, I asked Albertus our magic question…

pmb: What is love?

AQS: Love is a very powerful, intense feeling closest to one’s heart: strong yet very fragile.

pmb: Having said that, who or what do you love?

AQS: Eddie Marquez. My “Cuculoo Pooker”. Opera music, which—much to the chagrin of my assistant—I play 90% of the time in the studio.

pmb: Really?

AQS: Oh, sure. My parents took me to the opera when I was a kid. It’s the ultimate art form. When all of those aspects come together—the stage, the costumes, the singing, the orchestra—it’s such an extraordinary experience. It’s an amazing art. And now there are more and more really young singers. It’s not so much just the fat lady singing anymore.

Albertus Swanepoel also digs 80s disco and Frank Sinastra and he loves books, evidence abounds on all the shelves in his studio. He also collects magazines from the 1950s.

And so, here’s why The Love Spot loves Albertus:

Albertus Q. Swanpoel, milliner extraordinaire is an unassuming man, not at all pretentious despite his success; yet he is quietly self-assured. He’s got an unusual name and, well we love unique names, no? In a world, a city in particular, where people are coming and going and on to the next thing to do, Albertus is present in the moment. He takes time to ponder before he answers. He listens when you speak to him. And his eyes are sincere. His is a handshake firm and confident yet warm and so genuine. To know Albertus is to adore him and to know his work is to respect it… and to want to wear a hat, right? Here’s hoping.

xoxo and love!

pmb

P.S. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund event was made possible In partrnership with the GAP, and underwritten by American Express, Appleman Foundation, Barneys New York, Coach, Evgeny Lebedev, Hudson Bay Trading Company, Juicy Couture, Kellwood Company, Liz Claiborne Inc., L’Oréal Paris, Nordstrom, Theory, and–of course–VOGUE