Art and Design

Where The Fun and Fashionable Hang Out

Fashion doesn’t have to be serious and intimidating – the fun and creative part comes from a basic ongoing human desire to notice what others are wearing. Whether or not you’re an expert at putting together picture perfect ensembles, it’s natural to want to learn and/or simply enjoy the sheer spectacle of it all. There’s [...]

July 24, 2011 CONTINUE READING →

On Feminist Summer Camp and FIGMENT’s Creative Community

It’s official: summer has arrived. And with it, a sense of newness, creativity and community. Two of my recent articles on The Huffington Post talked about upcoming summer events here in NYC that are completely unrelated, yet touch on the cultural topics of feminism and creativity — topics we cover regularly here on TJCC. The [...]

June 1, 2011 CONTINUE READING →

(w)Here In The World: Barcelona’s Brilliance On Thanksgiving

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends. – Maya Angelou I spent this past Thanksgiving in Barcelona – my fifth year in a row abroad on the [...]

December 8, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

Check Out Our Brand New Look!

In order to keep anything cultural, logical, or ideological, you have to reinvent the reality of it. – Ani DiFranco Do, or do not. There is no ‘try’. – Yoda in “The Empire Strikes Back” Today, I’m psyched to share next iteration of The Journal of Cultural Conversation. Thanks to so many of you who [...]

November 29, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To A Good Story…

This is a guest post about the boom of storytelling, brought to us by the fabulous Erica W. Jamieson. When I bought tickets to a recent GrandSLAM event by The Moth at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, my husband figured we would be two – maybe ten – in the audience. How many people could [...]

October 15, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

Live From Ecuador: How Do You Memorize Your Travel Adventures?

Editor’s note: Contrary to the popular belief of my male friends who are obsessed with Angelina Jolie, I did not intentionally come here on the heels of her recent trip to Ecuador. I planned mine way before, though I doubt my trip will get as much press coverage. It’s Day 2 in Quito, Ecuador and [...]

July 2, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

A Picture Speaks 1,459 Words

“The soul never thinks without a picture” – Aristostle I am no Ansel Adams. I never learned how to color between the lines. I’m a wizard at drawing stick figures with perms. But I’m great at seeking out people to learn from – the masterful artists, photographers and visually creative folks who inspire me. Katie [...]

March 6, 2010 CONTINUE READING →

Interview With Hani Shihada, New York’s Renowned Sidewalk Artist

Post written by Christa Avampato. You can follow Christa on Twitter. A few weeks ago, I was on my way up to Harlem to do some research for an after-school program I’m hoping to launch in January. As I was walking up Broadway, I stopped to admire a painting that has been done of the [...]

August 30, 2009 CONTINUE READING →