Live with the Youth at A.I.R.

Quaishawn Whitlock, Anthony Quesen, James Jaap and Nate Weaver - photograph by Alex Young

Being youthful is having unrelenting energy coupled with a burning desire to absorb new information and new skills.

The youth spirit can be inspiring, especially for those who feel like they've lost that twinkle in their eye, their vigor for a vibrant life.

Specific organizations in Pittsburgh strive to foster the essence of youth for kids by supporting their creativity.

Together, The Andy Warhol Museum and Artists Image Resource, an artist-run printmaking facility on the North Side, have partnered for Youth Open Studio. Their collaboration has gone on for some years now, at least since 2013, and their work teaches teenagers the photographic silkscreen printing process, new art techniques, and provides the kids with a creative space to complete their independent projects.

At A.I.R. for the open studio, 13 to 18-year-olds fill the workspace. The Warhol's artist educators offer assistance and company to the kids. The studio time is an opportunity for the kids to push their artistic talents outside of the classroom. Many of the participants go to CAPA, Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts school.

A.I.R.'s facility is spacious with several levels and various print machines. The top floors are saved for feature exhibitions by artists in the community. Anthony Quesen, James Jaap, and Nate Weaver, a senior, freshman, and eighth grader at CAPA, chill in one of the printing spaces on the first floor. Lil Yachty bumps from the speaker system, and not that bubbly Lil Yachty, the Lil Boat with rawness and bars in his songs like "Mase in '97" or "Hasselhoff." Quaishawn Whitlock, one of The Warhol's resident artist educators, supervises the young crew.

"We come here every Wednesday," Anthony says.

Anthony, the senior primed to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art next fall, helps James refine his screen printing process. I go live on the InTheRough Style Instagram as the kids draw white paint over black hoodies to adorn them with a graphic of a hand with a rocket ship as one of the fingers. They bob their heads to the background music, stopping the prints to dance in front of my camera as they realize they have an audience.

The kids' energy is infectious. I fixate on their positive attitudes which precede them because of Anthony's pink unicorn shirt and porcupine crown he wears. They are patient with each other, Anthony tells James to apply more pressure when he draws the squeegee across the screen so that his print shows crisp on the hoodie. They marvel at the finished project. "I'm definitely wearing this to school," James says.

As curious as I am of their aura, their inquisition of Quaishawn and I is just as strong. "Alex, are you an artist too?" Anthony says. I tell him I write the news for the youth in Pittsburgh. All of their eyes get big, but I direct the conversation back to them. "Q showed me your prints. You're crazy, man," I tell Anthony. He moves to show me more of his art that he holds in a folder. Anthony's work is like a dream world from the mind of an adolescent on acid or something trippy like that, reflective and colorful.

Around the three kids again, James says he is into music but takes interest in just about everything. Nate is reserved, the youngest of the bunch and a skilled printer. I tell the freshman and eighth grader to keep hanging out with older kids. "It means you're ahead of your time," I say.

The background music cuts off at this point, so I go to the speaker and plug in my iPhone. I need to play a song that matches the youthful energy in the room. I had to play XXXTENTACION's "Look At Me!" Blaring bass hits and hype vocals resonate with a rage and fun that compares to teenage spirit. The five of us break out into a spontaneous turn-up. We're jumping high up and down, shimmying our shoulders and shouting the lyrics. "Look at me, YUH!" Anthony daps me up. "This song is too hard," he says.

After, we wind down. Quaishawn puts everything back in order and locks A.I.R.'s doors. As we leave, I tell the kids to keep their energy no matter what. We follow each other on IG and depart.

"They're so inspiring to be around," Quaishawn says. "They make me want to go home and lose myself in my artwork."

Astonished by the interaction, Q reflects on the kids. "Everyone has that spirit in them. But when we come home from work we're tired. You just have to do it, be willing to get lost in your youth."

The Andy Warhol Museum and Artists Image Resource will continue to be present for Pittsburgh's young community. Youth Open Studio continues to run on Wednesdays from the North Side studio, and on April 28 The Warhol will host its annual Youth Invasion party at the museum with food, silkscreen printing, and musical performances by groups like hip-hop oriented 1Hood.

A.I.R.

518 Foreland Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

The Warhol: Youth Invasion

April 28, 2017 | 5-10 p.m.

117 Sandusky Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Jenesis Magazine Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Party and Hennessy

Jenesis Magazine covers

Jenesis Magazine, Pittsburgh's "word up" publication, will celebrate their 10th anniversary on April 1.

"How many people do you know have done something good for 10 years?" Thomas Agnew, Jenesis' publisher and managing editor, said to his Instagram story.

Encouraging a community is the fruit of Jenesis' thorough work. The magazine's commentary has supported many different artists across the country. Jenesis was present to document the ascension of Pittsburgh legends like Mac Miller, Girl Talk, and Wiz Khalifa. Agnew's curiosities, as well as those of the interviewers and photographers who have contributed to Jenesis, have generated conversations and imagery about heroes like rappers Smoke DZA, ScHoolboy Q, and photographer Cam Kirk.

Dive into years of feature articles, interview clips, and day-in-the-life videos on JenesisMagazine.com. Covet the print editions with iconic covers-- Wiz December 2009, "Deal Or No Deal."

Thomas Agnew signed copy of Issue 56 with Smoke DZA & vibe pin

10 years of documenting creative human life deserves a thank you. Jenesis has placed the spotlight on a lot of people by giving them words, stages to perform, and wall space to display. Boom Concepts, an event space under Jenesis and D.S. Kinsel's umbrella, hosts progress-makers and problem-solvers. Events like the Women's Focus Group Forum and the magazine's content detail progress-makers and problem-solvers.

Agnew and his team are Pittsburgh historians who have seen the city grow and nurture ambitious individuals, such as local business owners like Daniel Childs of Chromos Eyewear or rising musicians Choo Jackson and Tairey.

So when Jenesis Magazine celebrates their 10th anniversary on Saturday, a lot of people should attend their party at Boom Concepts. Not showing up is like not attending your grandma's 100th birthday party. People should want to express their gratitude for Jenesis taking responsibility to appreciate other artists' work and showcasing it to larger audiences.

The anniversary party kicks off at 10 p.m., and DJs iB Rease of Ohio and Wave Matthews of New York will offer hip-hop selections. Free Hennessy, a staple at Boom, spills from 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Show up for Jenesis, support their culture.

Boom Concepts

5139 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Sense the Culture at Senseless

Rome and Javed of Senseless - photograph by Alex Young

"It's a barbershop vibe," Javed said of his Pittsburgh-based clothing store, Senseless. He owns and operates Senseless with his equal, younger brother Rome. An attention to community adds to the store's curated shopping experience.

The last time I was at Senseless, Linwood, a local hip-hop artist, stopped in with his crew to chop it up with Javed, who is also a figure in the 'Burgh's rap community. Moments later, Rome's Tidal music account displayed on the TV in the back of the shop next to Kermit the Frog's Supreme portrait, ill beats from Kendrick Lamar's new "The Heart Part 4" played to fresh ears. We talked about Kendrick sending shots at Drake, stopping the Canadian's momentum.

Senseless' atmosphere works for streetwear consumers and as a spot to hang out with people who can relate to each other. "People like us, people that respect things," Javed said.

Shelf at Senseless

Additionally, vintage apparel and premium brands, like Guess, Jordan, and Supreme, attract informed shoppers. Casual run-ins with creative modern mavericks, shop talk about sub-culture heroes like vintage wear miners Round Two, and overall appreciation for popular media and entertainment makes Senseless a destination for youth in the Steel City.

“Taste with clothes and taste with music go hand in hand. Pop culture, bro.”

— Javed

Natives of the Hill District, 22-year-old Javed and 20-year-old Rome began pushing their stylish tastes with sneakers. Throughout their teenage years, they sold retro Jordans on eBay and Instagram. Their online inventory made Javed and Rome relevant clothing vendors, and their interests in hip-hop from the '90s and early 2000s made their clothing selection much more refined.

The brothers had the idea for a brick and mortar store in the late spring of 2016. Authenticity features as Senseless' best asset to complement their clothing collection.

"We aren't in it to make money. We are just trying to change the culture and bring something different to Pittsburgh," Rome said. "That money shit is going to come and go. We want the connections, knowing people around the city," Javed continued.

People who frequent or follow Senseless become familiar with a local network of like-minded people. Javed introduced me to some members of his Serene rap collective when songs from Retrorosser and Jet hit in the background during our initial interview. The store's Instagram account features various photos of proud buyers of hip clothing. The photos clearly identify Senseless' youthful target market.

"You gotta understand the market and create a melting pot for other artists," Javed said.

Another way how Senseless capitalizes off the young market is with their prices. "If you don't shop with us you don't have any sense," Javed said. "No store in the city can beat our prices for what we offer." Don't be senseless and buy thousand dollar Yeezys from other consignment stores in the 'Burgh when you could get them from Senseless for a few hundred. "We don't want to play with anybody's money," Rome said.

While Javed and Rome conduct smart business sense, they are role models for young black minds in the city because they prove to individuals that "we can own shit," Javed said. By owning their own business, they advance the mindsets of "normal niggas our age who come through the store and just think we work here."                  

Although the boys find a sustainable business at their North Side location, they are looking to move the Senseless storefront to areas like Downtown, East Liberty, or the South Side. They want to attract larger foot traffic and have a larger space to host events that would complement the future Senseless Records.

For now, Javed and Rome can hang their hats on creating an atmosphere that connects people with real appreciations for popular culture. "Everybody looking for Senseless," Javed said.

Senseless

901 Western Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Vibes x Spring Break

Ashley Graham - photograph by Miss Chelsee

“First off… VIBES!”

Previous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Ashley Graham made it very clear what was most essential at S.I.'s Swimsuit Vibes event that took place in Houston, TX on February 17 and 18 at Post HTX, which was also the venue for art and music festival Day For Night.

And indeed, Vibes were at an all time high.

With nearly 1 in 4 Houstonians born abroad, Clutch City is known for not only Bé and DJ Screw, but also for great international heritage.

Houston's international qualities made it an obvious choice to host this year’s S.I. Swimsuit Vibes, an event that showcased chefs and a S.I. Swimsuit Rookie Class that showed us how beauty can truly be found all over the world.

The S.I. Swimsuit 2017 Rookie Class, which consists of 7 models, represents 6 countries:

Bianca Balti (Italy)

Kelly Gale (Sweden/Australia)

Lais Ribeiro (Brasil)

Mia Kang (Hong Kong)

Vita Sidorkina (Russia)

For many of the models it was their first trip to Space City, so they certainly enjoyed the sensational hospitality.

Time Inc. teamed up with DIRECTV™ NOW, Edge, Lexus and Smirnoff and VisitHouston, to bring attendees an array of free and ticketed events. Free autograph sessions featuring the S.I. Swimsuit models, and live culinary art demonstrations hosted by Cruising Kitchens and some of Clutch City’s finest restaurants were accompanied with two Red Carpet events with shows from performers, like Miguel and Diplo. Also, Houston has over 8,000 restaurants and 24,000 chefs. #UltraHighResolution chef, Johnny Bling was in attendance chewing on the other carats you floss.

Miguel at S.I. Swimsuit Vibes - photograph by Miss Chelsee

Since Spring Break is here, we urge you to eat swell while indulging in #openbarhenny on those white and blue ocean sands. Buttery avocados and lime squeeze on your ceviche is only what’s best for your ‘Sol’…I prefer caipirinha’s myself. If you prefer Mallorca or Mykonos as your destination of choice, try this Vegan recipe for your aguacate. Remember to show how you truly #LoveYourSwimsuit that you spent countless hours shopping for online. It looks amazing by the way.

Special thanks to the staff at Rogers and Cowan for their help and engagement as a liaison to the ITR staff!

Aris Tatalovich's Moment as a Fresh Phenom and Designer

Donovan Green wearing Aris Tatalovich - photograph by Julian Ranallo

Fashion, in the name of progress, offbeat-cool, and community, works and inspires many in Pittsburgh's creative sub-cultures. People like Makayla Wray and John Geiger have stretched their talents beyond the 'burgh's city limits to find footholds in the fashion industry as skilled designers of ready to wear garments.

Aris Tatalovich, an 18-year-old native of Beaver County, Pa., is next to prime himself and his eponymous fashion label for authentic creative audiences worldwide.

Attending the YEEZY Season 5 casting call for New York Fashion Week, styling young rappers like Famous Dex and Kodie Shane, and sitting on the radar of youth icon Ian Connor, Aris is having a moment as a fresh phenom and designer.

Focused on his outputs, Aris has created a spring/summer range, and he has begun pre-orders for his "Missing Pieces" backpack collaboration with Malachai Spivey of New York. The designs and the people who influence the presentation of Aris' designs are impressions of the now youth culture that fuels contemporary media.

Model: Bloody Osiris

For instance, Pittsburgh artists Donovan Green, Julian Ranallo, and Kobe Swank model or photograph the pieces in a way that localizes the current styles that Aris plays on.

The lookbook for Aris' spring/summer collection highlights two-tone green and yellow slacks, knives and compact duffle bags with utility straps, the straps being a concept that carries over to the "Missing Pieces" backpacks with Malachai.

Upon the release of Aris' projects, it would be special to see him become a more relevant figure in popular fashion and lifestyle.