Friday, December 17, 2010

My Speech: MULYP Change Artist of 2010

Thank you to the Memphis Urban League of Young Professionals for the inspiring work that many of my friends and peers do to make our city greater and for recognizing individuals who also believe in this community through our actions!  I would also like to thank my fellow nominees longtime friend Ron Herd and Adrian Williams.

If you did not have the pleasure of attending this year's inaugural Change Agents Awards, below is my speech. I hope that you know, I wrote it for the artist in you....

8th grade girls from the Neighborhood School experience the world-renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform to Stax own Otis Redding at the Orpheum Theater.

Children in Smokey City, pass by a mural on the Dave Wells Community Center that depicts children just like them donning hats of possibility, firefighter, graduate, football player, chef.

Caritas Village and NIA Artist Collective host art exhibitions to bring about awareness of our community’s epidemics including HIV/AIDS, Breast Cancer and Infant Mortality.

20 Memphis area artists create and donate original artwork to raise more than $3,000 in just four hours at I heART Haiti art benefit. That money is then donated to rebuild a Haitian school for children with disabilities.

Children receive cost-effective and sometimes free ballet classes in Midtown because Collage dance Collective has dedicated its mission, energy and money to increasing the diversity in ballet worldwide.

A Strange Fruit Vintage fashion show gives 25 models, one deejay, one rapper, one violinist, three singers, two photographers, and one make-up artist an opportunity to showcase their talents to a sold out crowd of 200 people at a collaborative art space in downtown Memphis.

Through my enthusiastic experiences with the arts, I know that the next Frank Lloyd Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Jean Michel Basquiat, Coco Chanel, Julia Childs lives here, in Memphis.

As artists, we create because it is through this passionate work of art that we speak. In turn, it is through your patronage and continued support that you show us you are listening.

For that and for this distinct honor, I thank you.

Shalishah "Petey" Franklin

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Petey's Vintage Excursion in Canada

I overdosed on vintage shopping in Toronto, Canada recently.  I've been a huge fan of the Canadian vintage scene for a number of years.  If you've supported me, and Strange Fruit Vintage, that long, than you may recall a great documentary I posted on the blog called Vintage Confidential.  It highlighted rag yards, buy by the pound, various boutiques and collectors country-wide and why the vintage phenomena isn't going anywhere!

So with extremely high expectations and unbridled excitement, Toronto had a lot to live up to and I'm happy to report it did not disappoint! So many unique boutiques, so many great finds, so many passionate owners and most importantly an overflowing abundance of community-wide support.

One of my favorite quotes is "I rejoice in the success of others, knowing that there is plenty for us all" by Louise L. Hay. For years I have used this as a personal motto, to maintain my happiness and hopefulness for my own success as well as for all the great people I come across. The reality is, when we realize that we are on our own individual journeys and paths with no "competition," the road solely traveled becomes a lot more enjoyable and a lot less competitive.


I think Toronto, or at least the vintage scene, lives by this motto as well.  At one boutique, I was given a hand drawn vintage boutique map, highlighting all of the great stores in the area. And with this our frigidly cold and fun thrifting excursion began. 
Some of the great boutiques are highlighted below. 

69 Vintage Collective
www.69vintage.com (website being redeveloped)
It doesn't get much more collaborative than three floors serving as home to seven vintage shops;
Tomorrow Never Knows, Stacked, Rozaneh, The Make Den, Buy the Pound, Ransack the Universe and 69 Vintage. There was a whole room dedicated to buying by the pound, and so I did!


Some buy the bar. I buy the pound.
Emma Doll, besides her lovely name, style, 
and personality, she's a pretty fly and helpful Store Manager too.


Tomorrow Never Knows
www.tnkvintage.com
The tie that binds.
Because yesterday is a secret keeper.


Rozaneh Vintage Clothing & Textiles
Fantastic furs that would make Peta puke.


69 Vintage (The original location)
www.69vintage.com

I was on a hunt for boots and since none were my size, I photographed them instead.
 Kealan Sullivan, the creator, full of life and love. 
She wants to visit Texas, I hope she wears some of the boots in the boutique. 


Magwood Vintage Pop Up Sale
at Chasse Garde'e
 Gotta love the logo candle seal.

The cute creator of Magwood.





Monday, December 13, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Boombox: Knowledge Nick's new video is so Live

Knowledge Nick, an emerging, backpack toting, thirsty young hip hop artist from the Memphis area is at it again with a new video! If you remember, Knowledge Nick, rocked the SFV Fashion Show. Follow him on Twitter @knowledgenick

When I say hip...

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Shalishah "Petey" Franklin is being recognized as an Agent of Change!!

I was just notified that I am a finalist in the Change Artist category at the 2010 Agents of Change Awards. As lightly as I typically like to tread it feels so wonderful when people recognize that I'm working creatively everyday to create the Memphis I want to see.

I'm humbled and honored. I highly respect the Memphis Urban League of Young Professionals and the great work my generation is doing in Memphis. Whether I go home with the award or not, I have definitely already won.

Never ever give up.

This event is sold out. Be there in spirit.

Black Student Association x SFV Fashion Show Recap

Photos courtesy of Darius Williams
Congrats to the Black Student Association for a fly show!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Canada Eh!

I must apologize for the lack of blogging, inventory posting, tweeting and all that jazz, I've been traveling instead.  Canada treated me warm even though it was cold as polar bear toe nails in Toronto.

Here are a few pictures from the northern exposure. Stay tuned for a post dedicated to the lovely vintage shopping excursion in "T Dot."

I kind of hope someone didn't stand at Niagara Falls crocheting this to the 
guard rail but it would make for good conversation and for great photos.

If you've seen my "pop up shop" flyer, it's from a 1980s The Bay ad.
Our hotel view of Lake Ontario. Silver linings are worldwide.

Customer Love: Jessica J. in an SFV vintage hat