You may pass by it, never once noticing on your way to Flames; or it’s become such a habit that you don’t think twice about it on your morning stop for a fresh muffin and hot chocolate.  Maybe you only stop in on student night for a quick game of 9-ball and a round of beers.

These venues, while part of our everyday routines, might not be getting the recognition they deserve.   They’re the downtown shops and galleries that display our local artists’ work and they’re the sponsors of this Friday’s South First Art Walk.

Kaleid, Caffé Triste and S. First Billiards, among others, will all be representing for San Jose’s monthly event during Helium Magazine’s Art Couture Week.

Come join this diverse group of artists, art lovers and creators this Friday 8PM till late on First St. starting on San Carlos and working its way south.  The Helium Radar blog will be there snapping pictures of Silicon Valley’s fashion-forward so stop by, say “hi” and get ready for your close-up.

And don’t forget to visit Helium’s Art Couture Exhibit.

Photo: http://www.southfirstfridays.com/

Art: In the eye of the beholder

Beauty has been said to be in the eye of the beholder, and the same can be said about art. To one person, splatters of multiple colors on a canvas may be considered art, yet to another, that same painting can be just that; splatters of colors on a canvas. What it comes down to is a matter of preference and taste, and since art like beauty is subjective, each person has the freedom to enjoy any form of art that comes his or her way.

Ancient routine

One form of art that has been popular amongst women in particular is nail art. Many women have adopted the routine of getting their nails done as part of a bi-monthly or monthly grooming ritual. On any day, nail salons can be found filled with women taking a break from their everyday hectic schedules, and enjoying a luxury that spans back to 3000 BC.

Royal vanity – from Japan to Egypt

Although the definite origins of nail art is not factually known, it has been reported that the practice of nail decorating began with the Japanese and the Italians who were the first to begin adding color to their nails around 3000 BC. The Chinese would also color their nails by adding a type of lacquer made out of beeswax, gelatin, and a variety of flower petals. For the Chinese, however, nail staining was also a ritual that signified royal status. Chinese nobility would either paint their nails silver, gold, and in later centuries black, as these colors symbolized their imperial rank.

The Egyptians were also known to paint their nails, but their color of choice was a reddish brown. Similar to the Chinese, the Egyptians also used nail color as a means to signify social order. Egyptian Queens would use various shades of reds at the tip of their nails, while women of lower rank would only be allowed to use pale hues. Egyptian kings were also known to have painted nails.

Nail color, social status

In ancient times, the condition and color of a person’s nails was also an indicator of his or her social status. For laborers, their hands were their tools, so their nails were not manicured. And since they only received minimal pay for their work, the laborers would spend the money they earned on basic necessities rather than luxuries. Only the wealthy upper-class was able to afford and have manicured, primed and decorated nails.

21st century portable art

Although nail art in the 21^st century has remained a symbol of status to some degree, our bare nails also offer a canvas that can be used to create some intricate and amazing works of personal portable art. And with a variety of nail art, spanning from freehand nail art, airbrushed, color blends, fancy French, seasonal, and 3D, there are endless possibilities when it comes to this form of nail art.

3D nail art

3D nail art, in particular, is a form of nail art that brings the typical flat-based colors and designs produced on the nails to life; a technique where art meets fashion and vice versa. These elaborate designed “nail chips” as they are called, can be custom-made to fit any clients’ request, preference, and can also be made to correspond with any special occasion.

3D nail art also has no boundaries, and like jewelry and other fashion accessories, nail chips can range from delicate and sophisticated in nature to overly ornate and over-the-top. And for those who enjoy being extraordinary and want to make a bigger fashion statement, they can request to have jewels or charms attached to their already extravagant 3D nails.

3D nail art – how it’s made

Stereoscopic (3D) nail art is made by the nail artist first applying a paint-like material or mixture over the nails and then sculpting any shape or design the client wants before it dries. If the 3D nail shape or design in simple, then the nail artist can sculpt it immediately on each nail. However, if a client wants more intricate designs such as flowers, each nail chip is made in advance and then assembled and glued on each nail.

The process of making the 3D nail art can span from three to four minutes for simple designs, to twenty minutes for more intricate pieces. If a client wants a full 10-piece set of nail chips accompanied by complex decorations, rhinestones and details, this set of nails can take two to four hours to make.

Artistic technique for the ages

For those of you who would like to become a walking canvas of artistic inspiration and make a fashion statement through artistic expression, nail art may just be the thing for you. All you will need is a little time, clean nails, and a whole lot of imagination. And no matter what your artistic taste may be, the art of nail painting and sculpting is an ancient technique that will continue to flourish and gain popularity amongst both novices and connoisseurs of art alike.

Intrigued by product packaging and recycling, Charlotte Kruk plays with the ironic humor of sweets and self image. These sculptures are so irresistible; it even has Kruk feeding on the scraps of tasty treats. As an art sculpture graduate from SJSU, Kruk has channeled her resourcefulness and quirkiness into the art. Just when you thought you had hit the last layer, before sinking your teeth into a piece of sweet sensation, Kruk Tart shows you there is much more use to be found.

Sculptures include clothing and accessories made from wrappers and packaging from products. Attire includes a Baskin Robbins dress of head-to-toe pink spoons and a Tootsie Roll corset of an assortment of lollipops.

Other pieces include a Starbucks-patterned laptop case and necklaces made out of candies and the metal from old sandals. Old-school lunch pails are made over with clippings from candy wrapper slogans, combining into a collage of decorative and delectable patchwork.

A lover of the Latin culture, Kruk used inspiration of a matador to create an M&M’s outfit and cape, worthy of any hungry bull-fighter.

Kruk has been intrigued by the packaging changes throughout the years. She now has an outfit full of the ever-changing toothpastes and dental products. This Crest crusader comes to the rescue for some much-needed tooth-recovery.

These ironic sculptures put a tasty twist on art and its the unconventional materials. You can see Kruk Tart wearable sculptures at Helim’s Art Couture Exhibit December 4th.

As the editor-in-chief of Helium Magazine, I like to think that I’m responsible for most of what makes Helium unique. After all, I came up with the the name and the idea to round up all of the hidden designers in Silicon Valley, feature them in our magazine, and launch it at a top notch fashion show. But, despite hours of web coding and business meetings, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t know Jack.

Lucky for Helium, we have someone who does. Jack Husting, Helium’s Art Director, is the man behind the balloons (and Helium’s most popular Fashion Features; Shekar Rahate and Hector Manuel). What started as model Tammy Tran floating her way from our business cards to the top of Helium’s website has quickly turned into an iconic series of images that has branded Helium’s name. He rolled out flames and fire for the Atomic Fashion Show poster, and spent weeks creating the multi-gigabye composite for Helium’s Elemental Fashion Show poster (3.15.10).

Jack Husting’s 2010 Portfolio: Anything But Down

While Helium is ramping up for a slew of new Fashion Features, Jack has been busy working on his 2010 portfolio. In his series “Anything But Down,” Jack decides what gravity does. “The concept for the photographs derive from being different and having fun. The idea is the model does not follow normal gravity laws, instead her gravity falls anywhere but down.” Jack says he loves color because it allows him to send strong emotions and create dynamic contrasts that add to the illusion.

While we normally have to force his concentration onto fashion, here is Jack Husting; unleashed.

-Matthew Mountford
Helium Magazine | editor in chief