Archive for the ‘Constant Falter Project’ Category

Oh it sure is…site crashed and lost edited version. Left with but first draft. Editing as you read. hang tight, it’s coming.

Dark Horse Avid Eyes is by far the longest, most exciting tale of Constant Falter to date and will be starring Jester Dave, the mad carnie Billy Deasel and none other than the drunk donkey Sea Biscuit. We recommend you read The Game in preparation.

Holler.

Dark Horse Avid Eyes.

Tis the name of the next tale to be posted in Jan.

Feck and blast. It’s about time he pulled his socks up. Tune in on the first of January for a never before published tale.

This one’s a cracker.

Blood and vanity, conformity in a BOX.

MQ

Nina Roana is a fashion designer who studied 3 years at the Norwegian fashion design school Esmod, which is a part of the Esmod International Fashion University Group. Nina also studied Psychology, Culture and Communication at the University of Oslo. She has worked the last five years as a designer and buyer for Bik Bok. On the side she has made costumes for artists, a ballet show, and even had her own label called Ro. While still in school she participated in Norway Fashion Week where she worked as an assistant stylist, helping pick out costumes and styling them.

When I ask her what her biggest achievement as a designer has been to date, Nina Roana mentions Never Denim. A label she built up from scratch with a team on the Bik Bok staff.

Also, there is the college brand she created for Bik Bok last year with Claire Dennington called Westhill Redbird, which at the moment is doing very well.

We talk a bit about fabrics and it is plain to see the designer has a love of denim. Why?

‘It’s alive,’ she says. ‘The material is alive.’

Alive?

‘It changes constantly, it never stays the same once you’ve washed your denim, fading and changing color, it tears and rips. Denim continually shapes itself to your body and is never the same as someone else’s denim. It’s got an identity.’

Aha. Of course. A material that is alive.

‘Leather is much the same. Suede or smooth leather: you can turn it, you can twist it. Stretch it. It’s kinda alive too.’

Initially for the Constant Falter project she had planned to do something with denim. But after reading the tale My Lovely Bones where two grave robbers are looking down at one of the many corpses of Constant Falter, who is clothed in a ‘Oiled leather jacket of green, brown and purple,’ Nina decided to try something new and go for leather.

Why did this project draw her interest?

‘I was really fascinated by the stories. Especially the main character and his way of going through life. His way of learning through failing. I guess all of us can relate to it in a way? It’s not too moralistic and it’s got humor but at the same time it makes you think about stuff. That’s why I became interested and started visualizing what the characters looked like. The stories are like adventure and fairytale combined but at the same time it’s very Street, and I think my piece reflects that.’

Tell us about your piece. One notices stones and leather loops on the shoulder pieces.

‘The stones symbolize the weight Constant carries with him at all times; he has a lot of baggage. The stones are a burden but at the same time they are knowledge, wisdom. The stones I’ve used on the piece are all different, symbolic, and they all have a meaning. The turquoise stone for instance is generally used for protection.’

Tell us about the loops.

‘During the process of weaving the leather for the front panels and back piece, I came upon the idea for loops. Because in a way life goes in loops. Especially Constant’s, its never ending. He never stays dead. On the weaved back piece there are fringes, representing the end of life and the sometimes abrasive nature of life, but the loops are like Constant’s life, beginning again and again. It made sense. The weaved back piece is the universe. How everything is entwined together, blended together. One thing doesn’t happen without the other.’

Cause and affect?

‘Yes. For me it’s representative of the whole world being entwined, all humans and life being entwined in some way.’

‘The metal piece across his heart is how I interpret the second story The Arrow of Love where the rookie cupid just isn’t able to pierce Constant’s heart with his weakly drawn arrows. How he can’t get through. The metal heart is Constant’s heart, but when you look closely there are gaps in the metal, like open panels. There are passages in, you’ve just gotta find them.’

How was the transition from working commercially to working artistically?

‘Liberating. The expectations you have for yourself are different. In commercial fashion design you are constantly measured in numbers. So this was liberating yet a challenge: to free yourself from that aspect of it. It was an eye opener. As an artist you are privileged, with the freedom of creation not for others but for ones self, what’s in your mind, heart, soul. But at the same time it would be interesting to hear what other people think or make of the piece without hearing my take on it.’

What is it like to suddenly see your work in a gallery rather than on the street or in magazines?

‘It’s humbling. I have always admired artists and my respect for them has grown with this project. Their courage to show their feelings and opinions of the world in their work. For me to have this opportunity to work alongside artists and have my work exhibited alongside theirs is amazing. I am honored to be a part of this.’

A bit more on your piece. You wanted to use old leather that was either being cast away or sold in flea markets.

‘Yes, I wanted to recycle. In the fashion industry you become very aware of constant consumerism and the depletion of resources. The continuous sales pitch of: buy more, get the latest trend, get it new. This is a phenomenon where I believe the responsibility rests not only with the producer but the consumer as well.’

One hand washes the other so to speak.

‘Yes. Governments were never overthrown or changed from the inside. Change has to come from the people. More integrity from the producer. More awareness from the consumer.’

Will you be part of the next exhibition?

‘If I am invited, most definitely!’

Coldest stone

Glinting eyes of Snow

Weight of the world

Bulimic bone

Oceans depth don’t touch her floor

Something real Give her more

Rumor: Paradise Valley is now tainted. Concern: The Queen of Dreams and her word. A shadow growing. EverDark on the rise.

MQ

The Big Wide Galaxy shifts and flickers, it’s very existence a forgotten whisper, a threatened reality. Constant Falter has not returned to Paradise valley in three long months and the rumor skittering on the winds is that he is finally dead. A mad carnie bearing arcane tattoo’s what come to life is one of few that refuses the concept that he is dead. This carnie holds a grudge and will not rest till he is the one that extinguishes the final flame in Death Spurners furnace. Let the hunt begin.

MQ

Aloha. Apologies and what not, but not too many. Frankly, I think i’m all blogged out. My interest in this format of constant communication has run it’s course and now i eagerly await the development of the proper .com site. But it’s been a whole lotta fun. As stated before, the project is far from over, with works and idea’s still being produced, but the updates will not be as frequent. Yet before that we still have some amazing artists who contributed in the first exhibit that we shall give ye’s a taste off.

Suck on this: it’s Allen Eddies piece. A beautiful sketch print of the author as a boy. I tend to think of his piece as Boy Constant. Thanks a million Eddie, hopefully not the last time we co-operate. This was one of the most-liked pieces in the exhibit.

Still to come:

Stina Lunde

Daniel Røsset

Sinead Kavanagh

Derek O’rourke

Michael Engebretsen

Rigmor Fjellstad

Andre Nygård

So yeah, a few more still to come. We’ll stop promising ye’s updates everyday but twice a week we’ll throw up the last interviews and as the next chapter of the second book starts and it’s expo begins we’ll keep you regularly informed.

Peace, MQ