Eco Fashion Blog | a.ell design & atelier, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii

Spencer Reynolds’ artwork has been in a. ell atelier since its doors opened. Spencer is not only a long time comrade of Angelique’s but also a talented artist. He was one of the first participants at First Saturday Kapa’a, which at the time was a quiet, grassroots effort started by Angelique, and now, three years later, has blossomed into a thriving, creative enterprise for the community. Spencer’s creations can always be found at the shop in Kapa’a. I caught up with Spencer a few days ago for an interview.
How do you know Angelique?

I’ve known Angie since 1989 when her family moved to the Oregon Coast. I was friends with her brothers from hanging out at the beach. Since she had her license and we didn’t, from time to time she would give us rides to the beach. There were speed bumps down at the beach, and she would floor it to absorb the bumps doing 30 in a 15. I thought that was cool. I have a lot of stories, because I’ve hung out with her a lot over the years. Angie and I have been friends for a very long time. She feels like a sister to me now.

What is the relationship between the ocean and your art?

SR: The Ocean has been a part of my life since my beginnings. Its influence can be felt in everything I create, be it representational or abstract. When other kids were playing school sports, I was at the beach. The wetsuits were horrible, and the Oregon Coast was frigid, but I still wanted to be there. That’s true to this day. I love and respect the ocean and our beaches immensely.
What projects are you working on right now?

SR: I have a summer full of art events. I’m working on all the odds and ends that will give me a fun presence at these places. As for art, I’ve been busy creating a lot of new pieces. My ocean- inspired pieces have gone through a lot of change, and I’m excited to unveil some of my new directions. I’ve also been making some succulent paintings. I’m really fascinated with them at the moment. I also just finished a small mural project for a local pub.

What are the rewarding and challenging aspects of being an artist; of continually creating?

SR: It’s really rewarding to explore my creativity and be able to make some sort of a living at it. I seem to have loyal fans that will follow me in my weird directions, which is great. Inspiration is never a challenge with me; I find too many things inspiring. I usually have to put blinders on so that I can focus. The people who like my art also seem to tolerate my lack of desire to promote myself, and they like my art because they like my art. I’m not very known, but still I survive as an artist. The biggest challenge for me is marketing. I’m always amazed at artists that do this with ease. I’m slightly socially awkward; I’m kind of robotic in public.
How was it being part of one of the first art nights in Kapa’a 3 years ago?

SR:I feel really honored that I was able to participate in it at the very beginning. It’s great to see how much it’s grown. I hope it’s not too long before I can return again. I love Kauai and hope to make it back there once every couple years.

May

The Big Swig

The best things happen by accident. On a First Saturday in Kapa’a, when what was supposed to be a big collaborative jam in front of a.ell atelier turned out to be a few, those few played together, musical magic happened, and a band was formed: The Big Swig.

I caught up with the four musicians to find out the backstory on the band that makes everything old new again.

Steven Meredith (washboard percussion and blues harp) has been in seven bands from here to Australia, and is the host of two radio shows on KKCR, Kaua’i Live and Deja Blues. He helped clarify what type of music they play:

“It’s Old Timey music. Music that was pre-genre; before blues or bluegrass. Traditional tunes.” They also play music from the early 1900’s, including Delta-influenced music, Blues, Rag Time, Barrelhouse music, and Western Swing. “It makes you want to move,” he said.

When asked what he enjoys about The Big Swig, he said: “we all share a mutual sense of direction. We love the same music and we have the same agenda…we have fun but we are really well-organized.”

Anni Caporuscio (vocals and kazoo) started playing trumpet when she was ten, has been in Jazz bands, sang in choirs, and even was in a rock band where she sang in Japanese. She claims to “play many instruments poorly.” She said that the thing she loves best about the Big Swig is that they all laugh at the end of each song.

Amy Nelson’s (banjo) best friend told her for years that she should play the banjo. “I played guitar for years but it really wasn’t my thing,” she said. She finally got one, started taking lessons and got hooked. “I blame Matt Morelock for all this music madness!” she said, speaking of her music teacher. The old time music fits her perfectly. “I’ve always been drawn to old-fashioned things: music, clothes, furniture, diners on the side of the road.”

Angelique Ell (fiddle and guitar) started with clarinet and piano at a young age, then played guitar for years, and recently took up the fiddle, also with Matt. Angelique loves being part of the band because the creative camaraderie. “It’s the relationship-building between all of us, the music communication of listening to each other, and when we hit it, it’s such a high.”

For more information, shows, booking, and to contact The Big Swig visit our page at Facebook.com/TheBigSwig

Apr

Kaua’i artist John Howard

If you don’t know John Howard, you probably at least know his artwork; the iconic and imaginative animals found on canvas and t-shirts exclusively at a.ell atelier. Check out his Organic Cotton Rooster Tee , a bestseller. When I asked him the story behind his animals, he said a rooster that was in his view while painting one day ended up on his canvas. Weeks later, his neighbor at the time, Laura Wiley, wanted to buy the painting. John explained that she was looking for a present for her husband, Mr. radio personality Ron Wiley. “She had seen the painting and said she wanted to buy it because Ron said the chicken was his aumakua.” After that first sale he decided that every picture that sells he would make a shirt out of it. And so he did. Since the rooster, a goat, a toad and a pig have been birthed as well, and can be found on prints and shirts in a.ell atelier and in his wife Patricia’s yoga studio.

Apr

An Evening to Celebrate Literature

I love watching my niece read a book. There she is, tucked away, silent and cozy on a couch, her big blue eyes lost in a sea of words. It immediately transports me back to her age, where I could be found doing the same thing much of the time. Reading is this perfect mix of opposites: learning and leisure, indulgent and important, dreamy and grounding all at the same time.

Next week, on April 12th at KCC, there is a free event celebrating reading and literature. From 5:30 to 7:00, a selection of five authors will engage in a panel discussion about writing, the themes and issues they tackle in their books, the state of literature today and more, with the adult community. The authors range from poets to short story writers to novelists to historical non-fiction writers to slam poets and more. They are really good at their craft, and have been chosen out of many to share their process with us.

Mar

Ipanema Slippers

If you live in Hawai’i, you can pretty much guarantee that you wear slippers on your feet almost every day. So why not wear ones that are soft and comfy, stylish and eco-friendly? Did you even know those existed? They do, and they are now available at a. ell atelier, in the shop and online.

Ipanema is a company based in Brazil, named after the iconic beach made famous by a song. Their slipper line is made of a patented PVC material called Medflex, which is soft and flexible, easy on the toes and feet. There is a plethora of vibrant colors and patterns, as well as solid black and browns.

Model Gisele Bundchen, a Brazil native as well as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s Environmental Program, joined the Ipanema team in 2002. Bundchen stands behind the company, whose practices include:

Using 100% recyclable PVC instead of rubber
Recycling 99% of all waste from manufacturing, including landscaping with grey water
Making a vegan product, no animal or animal byproducts used

Angelique has always been a staunch supporter of environmentally friendly products, so Ipanema is a perfect fit. We now have a variety of colors and styles in women’s and men’s styles. Check a few of them out here:

Ladies printed slippers

Ladies basic slippers

Mens printed slippers