Kate Durbin Dresses Sublimely

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Kate's friend Aaron helps her tie on her Mandate of Heaven couture in preparation for the Les Figues Garden Party / Procession of Figues Hat Fashion Show.

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Not Cool, Oprah/Why Rip Offs Suck/The Problems With Preemptive Creative Co-Opting

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Rip offs have long been a rampant danger within the creative sector, but lately the collective perception of what's o.k. seems to be heading off the deep end. As inequity rises in all aspects of our world, individuals backed by companies with money and/or media power seem less and less cognisant of the independent creator's right to- and, more importantly, need for- recognition for the work they have created.

Typically for an independent company, we've felt the wrath of this crap ourselves; in fact, while we usually try to ignore such situations in relation to Mandate, we might have to talk about a few here soon. Today, though, we'd like to call your attention to the frustrating recent experience of a good friend of ours, poet and performance artist Kate Durbin. Below please find her description, reposted verbatim from her blog, of what went down. While coincidence must always be considered in cases like this, we think what really happened is pretty clear, and clearly uncool.

(BTW, thanks in advance for reading! The only way us little guys can combat shit like this is by standing up for one another, and refusing to let creative theft become accepted as status quo.)

XO Mandate

O Magazine Rip-Off Scandal

I am a Los Angeles-based poet and performance artist. Since October of 2009 I have been incorporating felt letters into my performances, on top of couture designed by Carissa Ackerman of the NYC design house Mandate of Heaven. These felt letters displayed the words POEM and POETRY, and have been well-documented on my blog and website.

On Dec 21, 2010, I received an email from someone at O, the Oprah Magazine. Here is that letter, along with the entire series of responses.

***

Hi Kate,

We're dedicating our Spring issue to poetry and doing a fashion shoot in the new year about up and coming poets. I was wondering if you'd be interested in being considered-if so could you stop by the Hearst Building and meet with me? I’m here 12/22-12/23 or 12/29-12/30 9:30-6pm. Thank You!

Morgan

***

Dear Morgan,

Wow--this sounds absolutely thrilling! I am, however, in Los Angeles and not New York. Is there any way to do a shoot here? I could meet with you via phone or Skype as well for the interview portion.

If not, perhaps I could find a way to make it to New York since this is such an exciting opportunity, but it would of course be a bit tricky at this time of year. Let me know what you think. I'm at [phone number] if you want to call.

Cheers,

Kate Durbin

***

Hi Kate,

Thank you for getting back to me-right now we are focusing on the tri-state and are not budgeted for travel but if we expand our search I’ll get back to you.

Thank you,

Morgan

***

Dear Morgan,

That's too bad. I would however be willing to fly to NY for the photoshoot on my own dime, we'd just have to do the initial interview via other means (Skype, phone call, etc).

I assume you've seen my costumes on my website or even better my blog, but they could give you an idea of my performance persona. If you scroll down the right hand side of the blog (www.katedurbin.blogspot.com) you'll see the listing under "Fashion."

Either way, it's very exciting that the Oprah magazine is dedicating a feature to poets!

Best,

Kate Durbin

***

Hi Kate,

Please send me recent digital pictures of yourself-full length, profile, waist up and up close. Also please send me your: age, sizes (shoe, pant, shirt, dress, bra) and height and I’ll put you up for submission.

Thank you,

Morgan

***

Dear Morgan,

I've attached several digital photos here--please let me know if you need any more.

I am 29 years old. My measurements are:

[Measurements]

Thank you and happy holidays!

Best,

Kate Durbin

***

Morgan’s last email to me simply read:

Thank you!

***

Perhaps by thank you Morgan meant—thank you for giving us such a great idea to steal for the magazine shoot, L.A. poet. These are two of the images from my blog’s Fashion section, which I directed Morgan to:

Below you will see one of the images that appeared in the magazine, suspiciously bearing black felt-looking letters. Unfortunately it won't let me paste the rest of them, but you can click the link below to see them. Camille Rankine's hair piece in particular reminded me of Amaranth's and my Excess Exhibit poufs below, combined with the felt letters above.

Click here to see Camille Rankine's hairpiece and the rest of the O Poets images...

Is this all a coincidence? It’s possible. The editor may have seen felt letters in Joanne's Fabric store and felt inspired, and perhaps he never even browsed my blog's Fashion section. Either way, the entire thing left me with a bad taste in my mouth, and I usually love Mama O.

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We had a time.

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Happy New Year, Kids!

Please enjoy the following snapshots of variously carousing Mandate Cats.

Our resolution this year is to create more awesome times like these, with as many of y'all as possible.

XO

Noelle Lynch and Zachary Kinsella went to The Pool Party. (Photo by Zac Sebastian)

Handsome Furs toured the Balkans. http://handsomefurs.com/photo/?album=2&gallery=51

Leah Wichler and Sophia Casanova conspired together to light up the night.

Claudia Lopez got it.

We met cool new kids like hella cutie Helen Tong.

The Village Voice captured the couple's next pool party date. (Photo by Sam Horine)

(Naturally Welly joined the long john club.)

We helped Eric Schmalenberger celebrate the opening of his new place Arch Space. (Photo by Brian Raby)

We went to a party at Patricia Field's.

We stormed Castle Braid.

Elizabeth Jagger rocked a classic in Elle Magazine.

Noelle Nocciolo was adorable in tulle.

Julia Biscuits Arnold charmed every evening.

(And she helped enchant some pool parties as well.)

At a ball one evening she met Muffinhead. (photo by Bryan Kwon)

We dedicated New Fort Mandate.

Alia Shawkat and Alison Lewis stopped in for some playsuits and pictures.

Davon Rainey and PJ Linden came over and danced for us one day.

Kerry Beach and Julia Biscuits made our eyes happy....

....as did cutie Carolyn Dunn.

Stella Jenna Collins stunned everyone into tranquility.

(from photo by Bryan Kwon)

Kerry Beach made awesome music dressed like Peter Pan. (photo via brightyoungthings.com)

Katy Perry continued to work it.

(Photo by Zac Sebastian)

(Photo by Zac Sebastian)

Noelle was lovely on our Spring Ten runway. (Photo by Heather Courtney)

(Photos via Julia Biscuits)

Ms. Biscuit joined the Long John Club.

We went to a Food Party Party, where once again the Village Voice found Noelle ;)

Jessica Gallucci wore her tulle gorgeously.

Eric Schmalenberger looked as cute as a bunny.

We totally did BANZAI!!!!!

Nikki Barnhardt was summer incarnate.

Lauren Peebles was a perfect doll.

Kate Durbin made a brilliant Cinderella.

Alexei Perry was a vision at every performance. (Photo by Marcus Alexander Voigt)

Everyone fell in love with Firehorse.

(photo by Bjørnar Håland)

Gabriella made beautiful pictures.

http://handsomefurs.com/photo/?album=2&gallery=51

Dan and Alexei were super sexy backstage at their show in Shanghai. (Photo by Kyle Fong)

Krista Garramone brightened our spring.

We dressed our best for another Patricia Field event.

We travelled all the way the Cain one time to put on a show.

Noelle looked luminescent in Led Zeppelin at another fabulous Pat Field fête. (photo by Angel Lust)

Alina Butnaru struck a stunning pose.

Sarah Moran wiped out at the Roller Rink....

(....but she wasn't the only one.)

For Paige, we did Warped Tour.

(Photo by Bryan Kwon).

Brissi Breeze just glowed.

Sara Copeland beautified the club scene.

We spent some time down south.

(with lovelies Kay Tappan and Jennifer Bosso)

Darling Whitney Kessler continued to inspire.

Yifaa Shalev and Ashleigh Juarez were amazingly helpful and looked amazing.

Leah made a lovely model for Angel Lust accessories.

Beauty Maria Christina came out to The Box.

Paige Wood made fashion shows magic. (Photo by Sarah Moran)

Yet again we were treated to a wonderful Patricia Field party.

We hung out with our best kids and danced the night away.

And during the holidays we thought about.....

.....how thankful we are for it all....

.....and how thankful we are for ALL Y'ALL.

(Photo via http://analogholiday.blogspot.com/2009/09/pretty-x-handsome.html)

Thanks again to those we know and love for helping us to make it all happen, and cheers to the start of another awesome year.

.....as for the rest of y'all- can't wait to meet ya ;)

MANDATE LOVES YOU.

http://mandateofheavenclothing.com/

http://twitter.com/mandatebrooklyn

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