I have been in the publishing industry for over 10 years. It started with ISM. We had just graduated college and were searching for something to inspire us. What began as a concept with simple business cards developed into an internationally recognized movement and arts non-profit, welcoming all to share their creative ideas, giving a voice to many who shared a passion for art with no avenue to explore their talent.Our mission is to support collaborative creativity by producing international art experiments and providing free public programs.

Over the last two years, we have witnessed what amounts to an explosion of African fashion around the globe: Ghana Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion in South Africa, and Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria, all in October. Across the ocean in New York, we had Adiree Fashion Week in July, Arise Fashion Week during September New York Fashion Week, and Africa Fashion Week LA in October.

Suzanne DeLaurentiis is an accomplished, award-winning filmmaker who’s worked on over one hundred feature films throughout her 30-plus years as a filmmaker and received numerous awards. A powerhouse of activity and inspiration, she is also a tireless humanitarian and philanthropist, actively contributing to over 30 charities. As she talks about her work as a producer and her work with veterans, one cannot help but be inspired to push forward.

The pleated shell structures at the Zaha Hadid installation at Sci Arc seemed like something straight out of one of Masamune Shirow’s anime visions of utopian cities: organic, futuristic shapes, half-plant, half-egg-shaped, that seem to have sprouted up from the ground. This prototype explores the creation of new physical shapes and draping of materials (i.e. cloth, chains, and fiberglass) over mathematically-generated structural wood skeletons.

Evander Holyfield, one of the last heavyweight boxing legends, recently celebrated his 50th anniversary and announced his retirement. Looking at his collection of boxing memorabilia on display at Julien’s in Beverly Hills felt like being hit with three decades of boxing history all at once—exciting, yet slightly overwhelming, and a slight tinge of wistfulness.

With two galleries, one in Little Tokyo, the other at the Brewery Annex, LA ArtCore has been a quiet but powerful force for the last 32 years in developing and supporting the LA art community. Here’s a recent conversation with Alex Slato, Development Director at LA ArtCore, about how the organization is unique in its mission and programs, and its current challenges.

Everyone who’s been in touch with mass culture during the 80s and 90s has undoubtedly seen a Herb Ritts photograph. Between the hundreds of magazine covers, music videos, TV commercials, fashion photographs, and celebrity portraits, his ubiquitous iconic images and commercials have been interwoven into our culture.

When you think of fashion, you think of Dior, Gucci, DKNY. You think of brands; you think of lights flashing . . . camera, action . . . What’s interesting to note, however, is that many of the people contributing the most to what you see out there on red carpets and runways are working behind the scenes and rarely seen or heard.

Julienne Johnson’s latest body of work, “Touch Me, Touch You,” that opened at TAG Gallery on July 17, 2011, revolves around the idea of Connection, as the central theme: her direct connection to the canvas as she paints with her hands; the connection of the works to her life story (past, present, and future); and our connection to each other as part of a multi-cultural, global community, in a world where casual interactions made possible by technology impart a false sense of connection.

I started Ghettogloss because I needed to have a studio for myself to work out of, but also because I wanted to put quality cutting edge art in movies, TV, and commercials. By cutting edge, I mean street art, graffiti, art that was pushing boundaries.