Honne

Sight

Bunky Echo Hawk

Bunky Echo-Hawk is a multi-talented artist whose work spans

both media and lifestyle. A graduate of the Institute of American Indian

Arts, he is a fine artist, graphic designer, photographer, writer and

a non-profit professional. He is also a traditional singer and

dancer.

Throughout his career, Bunky has combined traditional values with

his lifestyle and art. He has exhibited his work in major

exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally in NYC, Chicago, Denver, Santa Fe, and

Germany, to name a few. His poetry has been published in

magazines and books throughout the country, and his plays have been performed and produced

across the nation.

Bunky is also an educator. He travels constantly creating live

works of art for auction. Through his art, Bunky has

raised thousands of dollars for several national non-profit

organizations. Additionally, he speaks at conferences, conducts workshops, and teaches both art

and writing.

We caught up with the impresario to find out what his work is really

all about.....

M: How long have you been working as an artist/ photographer/dancer/ everything?!

B: I have always been into art and performance since I can remember. I feel that

everything I do links together, my art feeds my photography and my singing and

dancing so I am constantly being creative. Even when I am talking at a

conference I will create live paintings and I feel like the excitement of my

performance, of being up there on stage fuels my paintings and the energy I

bring to my paintings shows my passion for what I do.

M:Where do you originate from?

B: I currently don’t have a home because I travel around constantly, but my roots

are as a Pawnee/Yakama Indian. Growing up in a non-Indian world, I was

constantly faced with the responsibility of defining my identity as a

Pawnee/Yakama Indian. We were not always away from home. We often travelled

home for ceremonies and family reunions. I was always fascinated by the duality

of the two worlds, and the juxtaposition of culture and identity. This is where my

art has originated from: The pursuit of a true identity, and the need to share this

identity with the world.

M:What are your starting points when you begin working?

B: My art depicts the current state of Native America and the native people,

which isn’t good! I will look at the issues in question and create art based around

them to get my message out there to the world. In a way, my canvas is like having

another voice. Visual impact can be just as important as talking or shouting.

M: What inspires your work the most?

B: The basis of my work always comes back to one thing-being a Native

American, as I mentioned before, but I try to bring across the, almost alienation

from society that we feel and how we lose our identity.

M: How do you define your work?

B: Pro-Active! I want this to be constantly on peoples minds, I want them thinking

and talking all the time. This is why I travel so much. If I stop travelling and

creating, people stop caring. I use current ‘characters’ if you like from films and

political scenes that are recognised pretty much world wide, not only does this

grab the attention of the person looking on, but it, for me, sums up the contrast

of the Native American society with the rest of society.

Anna Hoover Out to prove she is not just the daughter of renowned artist John Hoover,

she tells us in her own words why she is so passionate about her art and her

childhood memories....

M:Where are you from?

A:I am from Bristol Bay in Alaska

M:What inspires your work?

A:Actually I am really interested in my Native American background. I

admire my dad (John Hoover) and his career. When I was a child I spent

every summer of my life near the Egegik river of Bristol Bay. Thanks to

this I received a fall quarter fellowship in 2009 for my master’s degree

project and I exhibited with other Alaskan artists in FASHION STATEMENT:

Native Artists Against Pebble Mine. I conceived and curated the project,

bringing together 13 talented artists to design their vision of the proposed

Pebble Mine, located at the headwaters of Bristol Bay. All of their designs

were turned into wearable art as T-shirts, with the proceeds going toward

the long-term goal of establishing a Native Art Centre in Bristol Bay.

M:How long have you been working?

A:I grew up encouraged to experiment and create in my father’s workshop

but I didn’t take it seriously until I started University in Washington. I

studied both documentary filmmaking and Native American art history

M:How has your work been received in the different places you exhibit?

A:My work has been exhibited throughout the United States, in both solo

and group shows, and around the world to share experiences with

indigenous peoples in Northern Japan, Far Eastern Russia, Hawai'i and

New Zealand. I am happy with the acceptatnce shown in those places.

Horniman

Museum The Horniman Museum and Gardens, located in Forest Hill, Lewisham is a beautifully curious place. It has six galleries with exhibitions ranging from the anthropological to the musical, an aquarium and gardens which you could spend hours wandering round and enjoying the nature of the world-but best of all – it’s free!

There was one particular exhibition which I was particularly excited to see as it encompasses what this magazine is all about, fashion and culture.

‘The body adorned- dressing London’ is showing at the minute. It explores how body adornment has become part of London Life across times and cultures.

Although it’s main focus was around London, many of the exhibits were from all around the world, including headpieces, armour, tattooing tools and entire outfits from places such as Papua New Guinea , America, India and more.

As I walked around I was

noticing a lot of textures,

embellishments, fringing and

layering within the clothes on

display and I spent some time

making some sketches, trying

to capture these.

I found the outfits from Papua

New Guinea great because I

feel that they encompass

Ackermann’s style. Maybe not

through the choice of prints,

but definitely through the way

they use layering, tying and

draping to fasten the outfit.

What I loved most about the

exhibition was that it took me

on a journey through time and

helped me to understand

where certain things like

tattooing originated from and

why we dress the way we do

now. I also liked the fact that it

had screens interviewing

ordinary, everyday people

asking them about their own

styles and though they may

not realise it they give off a

certain impression through

what they wear. It showed me

how much I make

assumptions about people

through what they choose to

dress like and how wrong

these assumptions can be.

This is definitely one not to

miss!

N.1 Gathering

This is a small gallery; hide into

a lovely end alley, full of

interesting travel art pieces.

They are mainly focus in East

Africa Culture and Art but they

have got a collection of crystals

and fossils from all over the

world.

The gallery is a society of three

people; I spoke with one of

them, Behrouz, who has an

Australia, Persian and Iranian

background. He has been

working in this business for

more than 20 years. they started

as a travel agency but they fell in

love of the countries and their

art the places they visited so

they decided follow their

passion and focus in the

exportation of those.

They travel few times during the

year to different places around

Africa and Asia to bring to

London a great gathering of

adornment, furniture,

semiprecious stone tribal and

fossils art.

It is an extraordinary place to go

if you have to make a special gift

or just if you want to see this

exhibition out of the ordinary. It

is a place where you always are

welcome and for sure you will

come back.

The Nº1 Gathering is in

Westbourne Grove close to the

popular Portobello Market in

Nothing Hill, one of the most

chic and “bohemian” areas in

London.

DALE ROGERS AMMONITE 2000

The Dale Rogers Gallery is located in the

wealthy area of Slone Square on Pimlico Road,

a fantastic street full of small and interesting

Galleries. They settle there six years ago as a

flagship store but they started in Portobello

Road. They focus in fossils and crystals from all

over the world. They contact straight away with

the archaeologists in the excavations and they

travel wherever they find something appealing.

Since 1986 Dale has been sourcing the most

unique fossils and minerals from around the

world and through his company Dale Rogers

Ammonite has been supplying leading interior

designers and collectors with some of earths

most breathtaking examples of natural history

that have formed over that past 450 million

years. This is a genuine and unique place in

London, even in Europe because it’s the only

gallery has a vast selection of highly decorative

fossils, minerals and crystals ranging from small

shelf fillers to giant statement pieces and wall

hangings. At Dale Rogers Ammonite has

amassed the most impressive collection of rare

and interesting pieces currently available on the world stage

S

o

u

n

d

NAMA

Native American Music Awards

This is a non-profit-making organism created to supply Native Music and it’s artists the respect in

the industry they deserve. It was also created to motivate Native Youth on reservations and have

the opportunity to impulse their careers.

NAMA began in 1998 as an initiative among industry professionals and record labels such as;

Canyon, SOAR, Silverwave and others to prove that there was a viable music industry .

Members from those companies, their artists, various communities and tribal radio stations and

media personnel served as our first Advisory Board membership. They launched our Awards show

with their endorsements and 56 annual recordings. Today they receive over 200 national

recordings each year.

As the first of its kind, the awards ceremony was modeled from other local and national music

awards shows. In fact they created the first written proposal for the Native category in the

Grammys and were invited to do so by its Vice President.

Meet...

Ricky Medlocke

Born in 1950 in America, he is the front man and

guitarist for the southern rock band Blackfoot and

more recently as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

He was inducted into the Native American Music

Hall of Fame in 2008.

You can check out tour dates, music and more at

www.lynrdskynryd.com or alternatively you can

listen to them on Youtube.

Taste

&

Smell

This Is Africa! Living in London for centuries,

dating back to the 16th century

as a result of the Transatlantic

Slave Trade, they kept arriving

as sailors, students and today

they are part of the streetlife of

neighborhoods like Peckham,

Hackney, the Elephant & Castle,

Tottenham and Leytonstone.

London’s African population is

one of the fastest growing ethnic

minority groups in the capital.

Africa can be found throughout

the city of London; in its

restaurants, nightclubs, music

venues and markets.

At the market…

London’s Ethnic Landmarks

are of course its crowded

markets! There you can find a

bit of everything and run into

anyone! What I like about

markets? The variety…

Where all products are mixed

together you can’t help it but

face the emergence of

different cultures and thus

recognize their differences.

Europe’s largest selection of

African and Caribbean foods

is located at Brixton market. I

felt the African culture, from

its tropical fruits, vegetables,

herbs and spices to cloth,

books and jewelry. Dalston

and Hackney are considered

two of the most multicultural

areas of London,

areas of London and they both have

sizeable African communities. Ridley

Road Market in Dalston bursts with

African food, knick-knacks and textiles!

The stands are selling African music,

textiles, and food including yams,

plantain, peppers and spices. Even

around the area of the market I found

endless amounts of exotic foods, fresh

fruits and vegetables, and of course fabric shops.

Hackney’s Mare Street boasts

the famous Hackney Empire, a

venue committed to a wide

range of comedy and theatre

that reflects the area’s

diversity. The most historical

market complex is Petticoat

market.

Lane that’s over 400 years old. How can I skip mentioning one of my favourite

markets in London? I know you’ve been there, and while you read this article

you wish it was a Saturday morning and instead of reading a magazine you were

at Portobello Road in Notting Hill. I’m sure you smelled the intense aromatic

spices of “The Spice Shop”. Even though I’m not fun of strong herbs in my lunch

or dinner the smell made me hungry! There I saw the largest range of spices

from all around the world. Last but not least, the Shepherd’s bush market. We all

know the multicultural area of Shepherd’s bush! The earthy aromatic sense of

land and nature is all in The African food store located in London’s famous Shepherd’s bush market.

It’s not me… it’s the store!

The shops along the Middlesex Street end also

sell African fabrics, which are popular not only

with East London’s West African community, but

there you meet shoppers from other ethnic

groups. At markets and shops where you find

yams, dried and fresh fish, paw paws, plantain,

maize, dried and hot pepper sauces, exotic juicy

fruits I feel like this is Africa, the land of

production, and it’s here in London.

Magnificent masks, sculptures, furniture,

jewelry and paintings from Angola, Kenya,

Zambia, Ethiopia, Somalia and other African

countries, are found at the Tribal Gathering

London in Notting Hill.

In Finsbury Park I found Yemanja, a small

and friendly boutique selling books, jewelry,

African crafts, sculptures and accessories.

From time to time, weekend classes on

African or black history are taught there,

promoting the cultural impact of Africa in the

already multicultural city of London.

Contemporary African clothing, jewelry,

books, art and home furnishings are all

found at Pempamsie boutique store in

Brixton Hill. A collective of four companies

coming together under one shop space! The

emergence of difference results in

appreciating that difference.

Remember what you taste!!!

One of the most thriving restaurants in

East London is Obalende Suya. Nigerian

food here includes jollof rice and suya

grills with chicken, lamb and fish.

The whole business has come a long

way since it started life as a small mobile

service in Elephant and Castle

market back in 1987. The sense I feel in my mouth every time I visit an African

restaurant, it reminds me the land of Africa and of course its strength; a power that

she gave to her people and their culture.

Mother Earth!

At Nubian Natural you’ve got to

treat yourself. There you find a

range of health, body and

beauty products are based on

traditional African ingredients.

There are natural shea butter

hair care products, lotions,

creams, body scrubs and soaps

as well as gifts, books, candles,

jewelry and cards. Again at

Brixton market! London’s

African population is one of the

fastest growing ethnic minority

groups in the capital. And these

minority groups actually have

so much power to control in

many senses London’s

marketplace as well as its

multicultural environment. This

is what I love most in London.

T o u c h

On another average cloudy day, my

appreciation for unique fabrics and

remarkable craftsmanship had me

wondering the back streets and finding

Amrytha’s Silks- the kind of place which

you are certain to walk past because of

its awkward exterior, even if you had

any interest in saris or Indian fabrics.

Even now I can’t precisely recall what

made me walk through the door but I

give thanks that I did, because lucky for

me, I got to meet Amrytha - an elderly

“born and bred!” (she confirms) Indian

woman who possesses the skill to form

an incredible relationship with any given

fabric that passes her hands. Amrytha’s

shop specialises in making made-to-

measure saris for various occasions but

what makes her have 2 month waiting

lists is her ability to, on a plain fabric,

embellish unique and individual patterns

specially made for each customer. Its

very much a Cinderella story. Amrytha

holds extensive skills with heavy

embellishment using beads and

sequins and intricate embroidery. Her

vast knowledge of cultural customs

allows her to design and execute

embellished patterns suitable for any

occasion and this has earned her great

respect and repeat custom from many. I

find her relationship with her customers

rather unique- customers, being the key

word.

A Silk Adventure

Amrytha says that her customers are more like

extended family. She appreciates their respect

for her work and because many of them come

back, some she has known for many years.

She speaks fondly of a lady who she has

known for more than a decade and says that in

spirit, she has been with her during the

marriages of her children, the birth of

grandchildren and other equally important

events. When asked if this her family has

history in this trade and she’s following in their

footsteps, I received an exasperated look and

an explanation that if she were to have done

that, she would have been a housewife from

day one of her marriage till her death. Again I

sent thanks for her stubborn personality as it

led to her being able to share her talents with

those who can appreciate them. Her method of

work is almost inhumanely difficult and requires

hours of intense concentration although she

assures me the end result is always worth the

pain. Her course of action when she makes a

mistake? To this I received a hearty laugh and

was told that “after nearly 47 years doing this,

mistakes hardly ever happen”. Lucky for some.

She explains that the patterns she creates are

influenced by the people who will wear them,

the occasion and her feelings. She also warns

me to always allow my feelings to influence my

work otherwise it becomes bland and does a

disservice to people. I am thoroughly charmed

and in awe of her respect and love for her

heritage and culture, and grateful she shares it

with passers by.

East side...

The amazing diversity in big urban cities will

result in a striking

collection of specialist shops. In East London,

this is mainly a large

and varied selection of African fabric shops that

spoils lovers of print. The best thing about these

independent shops is that they offer authenticity

rather than mass-production. Its no wonder

then, that they attract not only natives of Africa

but large groups of Bohemians. Many of these

shops sell unique products like wax fabrics and

fabrics woven with rope.

Charles

Garnier’s

Debut...

The Parisian opera house is

traditional luxury at its best.

Showcasing a variety of

entertainment throughout the

year, it attracts literary and

history lovers who appreciate

anything from classical ballet

to historical opera. On any

given show night, the

combination of visitors

resembles a high end ball

rather than a visit to an

entertainment venue. Show

nights are known for mingling

and expanding social circles

and often, strong friendships

are built from mutual love of

the classical entertainment.

For the female audience, it is

a chance to show and

dazzle. An average evening

resembles a mixed catwalk

show of the most famous

designers. Simple elegance

and style are key here and

wealth is flaunted in an

understated manner that

portrays intelligence and wit

rather than an over the top

exhibition.

The mixture of dressing styles oddly complement each other and allow outsiders to

appreciate the creativity and care taken in completing an outfit. The atmosphere of the

venue emphasises this, and a simple night out becomes a memorable event.

The opera house was built from 1861-75 and showcases architecture typical of that

century. It is also the setting of the novel The Phantom of the Opera which staff says

has added a certain charm and mystery to the building. It was commissioned by

Napoleon III but in 1870 work was stopped due to the Franco-Prussian war when it

was used as a hospital. In 1873-4, it faced intense scrutiny from the government as it

was seen as a direct link to the Second Empire and many saw the Opera as a

holdover from the regime.

without a doubt, worth it.