Art/Design Featured Dioramas of Destruction

February 22, 2011 - 11:24 am

While most people consider natural disasters to be dangerous and devastating, Lori Nix regards them as her personal muses. Growing up in rural Kansas, Lori’s childhood was filled with its share of tornados, snowstorms, floods, droughts, and insect infestations. She is also fascinated, or maybe a bit obsessed, as she’ll admit, by the idea of the apocalypse. These forms of nontraditional sources of inspiration have transpired into photographic masterpieces in Lori’s collections like “Accidental Kansas” and “The City.”

The most interesting aspect of Lori’s work is how she goes about creating it. Before she whips out her camera, she spends months constructing incredibly detailed dioramas. Once everything is in place, she’ll photograph her scenes, blow them up, and alas her picture perfect vision of a decaying landscape is born.

Lori took a break from dreaming of destruction and creating ruin in order to give ChinaShop a glimpse into her creative process, tell us about her newest series “The City,” and discuss her kinship with Mother Nature.

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Fashion Chanel Iman: Supermodel 2.0

November 24, 2009 - 11:00 am

Chanel Iman

Who is Chanel Iman?  At 19 years old & with neverending gams, she is one of the most well-known & successful models of the moment.  She signed with Ford in 2006, landed her first Vogue cover at 16, & regularly books the most prestigious shows at fashion week.  With an African American father & a half-Korean mother, she has her own very distinctive look.

Chanel Iman recently fulfilled one of her all-time modeling goals: to be a Victoria’s Secret Angel.  The highly-coveted positions are only offered to top models.  Chanel is one of five new Angels, joining Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Marisa Miller & Doutzen Kroes.  She’ll be joining them in the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show, which happens in New York City on November 19th & is broadcast globally.

What makes her so charming?  It’s a combination of her personality — of which she has plenty — & the fact that she has remained grounded.  She is a delightful contradiction in terms.  She caught Anna Wintour’s attention when she winked at her during a runway show, but her mother still cuts her hair & keeps her on a budget of $5,000 a month.  Her favorite food is chicken & waffles, & despite being constantly surrounded by the best clothing the world has to offer, her favorite places to shop are flea markets & Forever 21.

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