F Y F

Remember that time I wrote a bit about upcoming plans & seeing My Bloody Valentine, & hanging with friends & enjoying life? Click here if you'd like to revisit. 

I've been back from my trip to the Pacific North West & decided that enough time has gone by since FYF & that I really need to get these photos out there. I had a great time, even though MBV was so loud, they eventually blew out the PA system. So after a mind blowing wall of sound that threw us all into a trance (for real), all of a sudden it would burn out & then...nothing. No sound at all, except the rustling of the crowd. But when everything worked, they were exceptional. Just beautiful. Complete love. I mean, how can you not feel when you hear this beauty? And this?! Uhhhhhh

During No Age (hopelessly devoted since 2006 / we grew up in the same suburb)

Samantha's Bush / Samantha's Tent (during Eleanor Friedberger) I like her. I remember when she was in The Fiery Furnaces with her brother... 

 The Holy Nail & Your Friend, Ava before The Breeders! I had so much fun with this woman. Sasha & I got our nails done together once. x

Ran into Sam during the No Age set! Samantha & I go way back when I was one of her teachers for the community arts partnership while I attended CalArts. She was 15, and I was in my early 20s. So proud of her that she is still photographing and getting her work out there. See her photographs here.

Sarah Rose, Brian, & the sun 

©Ava Alamshah

H I G H L I G H T S 

crystal antlers

beach house (so dreamy)

flag

mbv 

your friend,

ava

Nail Party

!  O O G A    B O O G A  !

 

  Hi friends!  

  Here are the photos I promised to you from this post.  Pretty sweet times at Nail Party 2012!

  Tea at Intelligentsia.  The tea was delicious (and expensive).  Still not sure what all the fuss is about.  I was just happy to be with my friend.

B E F O R E

A F T E R

© 2012 Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

Ooga Booga/Madeline Poole

  Last night, I got to hang out with my pal Sasha of The Holy Nail.  It was so lovely to see her and get to hang out for realsies.  It is so nice when the stars align, and I really cherish those moments because they only happen every so often.  Being an adult is hard.

  

  So back to the evening...

  When I saw that Ooga Booga opened up another pop up, and that Madeline Poole was doing nails, I knew Sasha and I would have to be there!  I've always loved having my nails painted and I have such respect and admiration for women who can keep up the classic look 24/7.  I also love that it has become such an art form and yet another way to express yourself.  

  So I guess Madeline Poole is a big deal in the nail scene and I've been kind of out of the loop, but she is very friendly/down to earth person and makes nails look like jewelry.  It's unbelievable what she can do. I cannot wait to show you photos of her handiwork, and of the event.  If I didn't already end up spending a ton of money on mix tapes, a zine, and a gift, I would have picked up the book in that image above.  There was a short reading of it during the festivities, and it sounded really smart and funny.  Stuff about cults, stealing small items, and friendship....SOLD. 

your friend,

ava

Halloween 2012, Part Two

I N S I D E   T H E   R E A L M S

you are innocent when you dream

   

  Here are some more photos from this year's Halloween!  In my last entry, I wrote a bit about our costume inspiration, but didn't elaborate.  After Jeaux told me about Henry Darger, I became a little obsessed with his work.  I posted about his paintings a couple of times...here and here...

  His work was so vivid with imagination, and his use of color is unbelievable.  L O O K

  

  Thanks to my mom for her sewing skills and for keeping all of her jewelry from the 80s.  It really helped out with Jeaux's embellishments.  Darger generals are nasty characters, but they have swag.  Take a look at these dastardly fellows!  The one on the far right was inspiration for Jeaux.

  

  Sasha invited us to Albert Reyes home for his annual Halloween party.  We do not know him personally, but I'm pretty certain I have seen his work at my favorite little gallery, Synchronicity Space.  The photographs above were taken while gazing upon his artwork.  His studio is in the backyard and sits right next door to the totally rad haunted house, which Albert built himself!  It was spooky, and I was way too scared to photograph in there, so you will just have to imagine the greatness and hopefully get a chance to see the work next year!  Pretty impressive.  Our friend, Brian Kinsman, shot this little documentary about Albert and you can see the trailer here.

  Chocolate Rain, dudes!  I didn't know who he was, but Jeaux insisted I take their photo together.  Here is something Jeaux helped work on while living and working in New York City.  I have to admit, this song has sort of grown on me, and how is that voice coming out of this guy's mouth?!

   

  © Ava Alamshah

  For more images, take a look at Jeaux's new site!  I hope everyone had an exciting Halloween.  I'm kind of sad it's already over.

your friend,

ava

Halloween 2012, Part One

H A P P Y   H A L L O W E E N

   The other night, Jeaux and I were invited to a Halloween party by my friend, Sasha, pictured above as Enid!  She also provided these sweet polaroids.  You should check out her blog, The Holy Nail.  This lovely woman knows her nail art and she is such a bad ass.  Looking forward to spending more time with her. 

   I really LOVE Halloween and try to go all out every year.  Last year, I was Sally Bowles.  This year, Jeaux and I were channeling In The Realms of the Unreal.  More on that later!  

  Jeaux and I have something fun coming up on actual Halloween that I cannot wait to tell you all about!  Until then....

your friend,

ava