Young Blood April 2009

Young BloodEditor In Chief -- Jordan Rickman

Social Director -- Gabriel PerezArtistic Director -- Julia Connally

Contributing WritersJulia Connally / Josh Bartolomei / Kyle

Howell

Contributing Photographers Jesse Alford / Fran Tamse / Gabriel Perez /

Jordan Rickman

Logo DesignGabriel Perez

Magazine DesignJordan Rickman

pg. 4Letter from the editor

pg. 6Graffiti Interpretation by Kyle Howell

pg. 7Who you should know by Julia Connally

pg. 8Hoan & Vietby: Julia ConnallyPhotos by: JesseAlford

pg. 13Designs by Hoan & VietPhotos by : Jesse Alford

pg. 18Story excerpt byJosh Bartolomei

Montaigne once said, “What harm cause not those huge draughts or pictures which wanton youth with chalks or coals draw in each passage, wall or stairs of our great houses?” Originating in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, graffiti has been used as a means of expressing one’s self or group. This means communicating, not with words, but with spray cans and a clean, blank surface.

This section of graffiti was found under a bridge on the outskirts of Tracy, California. There is an abundant amount of graffiti found on all parts of the bridge but this particu-lar one caught my eye. First looking at it at it, my eye moves towards the most detailed portions of the section. The background is dark, with cool and unsaturated colors. The foreground consists of hot, saturated colors including red and orange. The background and foreground are set up well so that you can see the picture as whole and not just random lines and colors on a wall. Large geometric forms fill the background and uses up a majority of the space. These forms are rough and sharp while the writing in the foreground is more round and smooth. A balance is created between the background and foreground, a job very well done by the artist.This piece of work depicts East Oakland which is found in writing in the piece. And like Montaigne said, who’s it really hurting?

Location : Tracy, CA Article by : Kyle Howell

YB: What is your full name?FM: Francois Jean Maquet

YB: Where are you from?FM: Belgium, it's the peanut between France and Germany

YB: What is the most American thing you can think of?Starbucks! I'll miss it. Like most Americans I got addicted to it.

YB: What do you miss most about your home?FM: Everything is old over there…the streets, the houses. I miss Belgian parties as well. And the beers and chocolates!

YB: What American place do you like the most?FM: I love San Francisco because it is the gayest city in the world. It really is a beautiful place where people are liberal and open, as well as a great place to party.

YB: How many languages do you speak?FM: French and English fluently a little bit of Dutch and Spanish.

YB: Do you have any special talents?FM: I act and I make amazing cocktails.

YB: What is your drink of choice?FM: Margaritas!

YB: Who is your favorite musician?FM: I like Coldplay. I like the song Trouble.

YB: Who is your favorite artist?FM: A french comedian Muriel Robin. I love her movies and sketches She is from Paris and lives a life I want to have.

Who you need to know right now

Viet & Hoan

Viet Truong and Hoan Vo are two talented twenty-somethings hailing from San Jose. Viet, originally from the city of Angels and Hoan origi-nally from Laos, are a strange coupling that uses each others criticisms to further their personal works. Their fresh views on garment patterns and glamorous modifications have a street edge while maintaining a high fashion statement. Viet primarily “embellishes” garments while Hoan sews interesting contemporary pieces based on his own designs. Their youth and ambition is illustrated in their personal fashion sense and scholastic ideals. For instance Hoan aspires to be a pilot, but in the meantime he acts and models. Hoan was available for the photo shoot but had to travel to Southern California on business and was unavailable for the official interview. Fortunately, I had the talkative and bright-eyed Viet to fill me in on his upbringing, his inspirations and his longtime friendship with Hoan, which may or may not have, began in a summer math class in the eighth grade.

Article by : Julia ConnallyPictures by : Jesse Alford

YB: Do you think living in San Jose has given you a certain perspective or insight?

VT: Definitely! Moving from city to city meant that I didn’t have childhood friends… except for family. I do have a glimpse of how big the world really is and I've seen the life in the Midwest and dessert areas as well. When the sunsets in Arizona it looks like a dusty rainbow over the mountains.

YB: That sounds lovely. Does scenery inspire your work?

VT: Actually technology inspires me.

YB: Besides your latest creations and modifications, what have you previously created?

VT: I’ve created the whole cast of Alice In Wonderland costumes for my school…Queen of Hearts, Alice, the rabbit’s vest. Lately I like to take clothes from thrift stores and cut here and there, add studs, and embel-lishing things.

YB: And Hoan?

VT: He has created a skirt and a basic camp shirt and embellished a dress with white roses and beads and some painting on a tank top.

YB: I see and how do you work together?

VT: We have different visions. I think he is too much and he thinks my ideas are too simple.

YB: Complete opposites in a way?

VT: Yes, but we take each other critiques seriously so that we both edit our ideas to make a more balanced garment.

YB: So it’s more of an intellectual collaboration than a physical one? Meaning that although you do not make pieces together, you give criticisms that influ-ence your own pieces?

VT: Absolutely. But he is more style over substance.

YB: How long have you known Hoan?

VT: That’s a funny story…

YB: Do tell!

VT: Actually in summer of 8th grade we took a math class and I remember being paired with him for a problem but, I didn’t talk to him after that and it wasn’t until junior year that we met again. He says he doesn’t remember me. I was fat and he looked like a nerd, but we call each other sisters. We have that chemis-try where we can look at each other and know what we are thinking. Except for clothes.

YB: Is that always advantageous?

VT: [Laughs] When it comes to checking out guys yes.

YB: Were both of you inspired to create garments at the same time, or did one discover fashion first?

VT: The first season of Project Runway inspired me to be a fashion designer and Hoan started as a model and somehow we both met there.

YB: Would you ever model?

VT: I like to say no but if I was discovered and I were to become famous then I wouldn’t turn down the offer. Other then that I don’t pursue it

YB: I see and who would you prefer wear your garments?

VT: I do have a certain girl in mind when I am designing but if any woman/girl can pull it off and feel confident then more power to her.

YB: Can you describe this girl?

VT: She is edgy, loves heavy black eyeliner, well cultured, knows music and art and keeps up with fashion, isn’t afraid to try new styles, goes to the chicest parties to be seen and has a good night with friends. She demands attention but she can easily hide from it.She also knows her body and how to move it.

YB: That sounds like quite a woman

VT: Isn’t she? I want to meet her as well.

YB: So, would you make high-end designer pieces or custom boutique pieces...? Where might your clothes sell?

VT: It seems like the smartest way is to start in boutiques locally, Internet etc…if my pieces sell well and are in high demand then I’d definitely move up. I want to be known underground but, if anything gets too popular, who knows where that will take you.

YB: Which designers inspire you?

VT: Such a long list but I am fan of anyone who creates something that is creative, thought provoking, or just damn beautiful. I like something to lust over. The list of designers is just too long!

YB: Can you think of a particular favorite piece from this past fall?

VT: Alexander McQueen fall 09 worn by Karlie Kloss. The way he made houndstooth form into raven! The volume! The colors! The makeup!

YB: Anyone else?

VT: There is such a long list of favorites that are beautiful. I can only imagine that [McQueen] houndstooth dress being worn at the grocery store, or taking out the trash, or walking a dog. I love the idea of being really dressed up while doing normal activities. Something about that idea is funny to me. It’s a quiet glamour that makes it seem like fashion can belong to anyone… Anyways when McQueen had his show it was the most ‘oh my god’ fashion moment for all of my friends.

YB: What else did he have that inspired you?

VT: He had an orange knit dress and it almost made me want to wear orange and that’s saying a lot [laughs]

YB: What are your favorite everyday pieces?

VT: [shows the writer a picture of a knit orange and black dress with matching pinstripe stockings] Why can’t that dress be everyday? [laughs]

YB: It’s too close to summer.

VT: True.

YB: Where do you like to shop most frequently?

VT: H&M because I work there, but mostly thrift stores.

YB: How long have you worked there?

VT: For over a year and 4 months? It’s a really good company.

YB: …and you go to school?

VT: Yes. Work, school and trying to have a social life and only getting 5 hours of sleep in between. I don’t know how my body is still functioning, there is not a day that I don’t go out with my friends and I cannot remember the last time I spent the entire day at home. If I do I feel like it was a waste of an adventure if I stay in all day. Is that weird?

YB: No, I don’t think so.

YB: Last question, where do you see yourself in five years?

VT: Far away from San Jose. Somewhere in the fashion industry but, who knows we can never predict the future…

Black shirt with embellished studs by Viet Truong. Accessories by Jssn Couture.

Dress shirt with button detail by Viet Truong. Accessories by Jssn Couture.

Collared shirt by Hoan Vo. Accessories by Jssn Couture.

Cream cardigan and striped button detail shirt by Viet Truong. Accessories by Jssn Couture

Draped top detail and shredded shorts by Viet Truong. Accessories by Jssn Couture.

The sunlight filling church should have been a welcome change to the town, but not today. The pews were lined with white lilies as a somber song played on the piano, the sounds of grief intertwining with the music. The church slowly filled with family and friends and small groups made their way down the aisle towards the open casket filled only with the shell of their former friend. The skin cold and sallow; Lily wasn't here anymore. Her parent's sat in the front, crying in each other’s arms. Jameison stood in the back archway staring down the aisle. He forced himself to take a few steps forward. He smiled when he saw the flowers lining the walls and aisle; Lilies for Lily. As he turned his attention toward the casket, he felt a crack on the side of his face and fell backwards. "What the hell are you doing here? Get the hell out of here! You’re not welcome here! You’ve got some nerve coming here after what you’ve done!” Lily's father exclaimed. Several ushers rushed between Jameison and Lily's father, doing their best to restrain the grieving father. By this time the rest of the church had gathered around. Some quiet, some yelling, but all of them wait-ing. "I just wanted to see her one last time. Please, I know I don't deserve it, but please let me say goodbye, let me apologize to her,” tears streamed down hithe church floor. “You better get out of here before they have to prepare for an-other funeral today! I swear to God if I ever see you again I’ll kill you! You took my baby away from me! God damn you! You took my only child! How could you? How could you, you heartless son-of-a-bitch!”

Excerpt from “Lillies for Lily”By : Josh Barolomei

A boy kneeled beside the curled ball that was Jameison and offered him his hand."Come on Jamei, Lets get you where you out of here." No one looked as Jameison limped out, one arm around the boy."My Uncle's right, you know, about you not deserving forgiveness. But you don't deserve a beating, it wasn't entirely your fault." Jameison sighed heavily, “Yeah, but your uncle doesn't get it. No matter how much hate he has for me, I still want to make him under-stand what happened. I want him to know that I truly am sorry"

The two teenagers walked silently down the street, Jameison still leaning on the boy for the majority of the walk. They continued this way for what seemed like forever, but it was only 15 minutes before they were in front of the boy’s house. They looked at each other both feeling that they should say something--anything. But they stayed quiet. Jameison sat on the front porch as the other went inside in search of an ice pack. His body ached and blood was still sneaking drops out of his nose. But even after all the man had done to him he couldn't bring himself to hate him or even be angry. "All I could find was this bag of frozen peas, and some Advil for the pain,” he said, dropping both into Jameison’s lap. "Looks like the old man’s still got some fight left in him. I mean I know he’s my uncle but he still scares the shit outta me. My mom always used to tell me stories about him, but I never gave ‘em any thought. Apparently he used to be quite the scrapper when he was young." Jameison groaned a little as he put the Advil in his mouth and struggled to get them down without the help of water. Then he let his face fall into the image of the Jolly Green Giant and closed his eyes. A bright flash of light and the screeching of tires filled his ears, and then there was only the blood-curdling scream of the aftermath that jolted him back to reality.

“Lillies for Lily” by Josh Bartolomei

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