Red Union Hair Salon – San Francisco

Luz Elena Castro- Photojournalist:
After receiving a Bachelors Degree in Journalism from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia, Luz Elena Castro began her career as a staff photographer for El Mundo Newspaper in 1979. This led to a position as a photojournalism instructor for Bolivariana University in 1985, and freelance assignments for many different magazines and newspapers. In 1986 she won a scholarship from Navarra University in Spain, and worked as a photojournalist for the EFE News Agency in Madrid. She provided a weekly commentary for the BBC while in London, and in 1988, she was department director for El Tiempo Newspaper in Bogotá.

She was the personal photographer for César Gaviria during his 1989-90 presidential campaign, and through 1994 was director of the photography department for the Gaviria Presidency. Following a year as graphic editor of Cromos Magazine, she resumed her work as a freelance photojournalist.
Throughout her career she has shown her photos in the most prestigious Galleries and Museums in Colombia. In 1994 she represented Colombia in the Fifth Biennial of Art in Havana, Cuba, was chosen to participate in an exhibition at the Ludwing Forum Museum, Aachen, Germany, and served as a judge in several Salons of Photography in Colombia.

Living and working in California since 1996, she began to document homeless Sonoma County seniors in January of 2002. Her exhibit poignantly captured the new face of homelessness in an economically rich area, and opened at the Cultural Arts Council’s Gallery in Santa Rosa, CA.

In her “Lejos del Hogar” project, she gave cameras to members of West Marin’s Latino community, and taught them how to take photos, which were then used in weekly English lessons. An exhibition of Luz Elena’s documentary work opened in 2004 at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes, CA. Serving as a bridge between the Latino and American Communities; she developed a series of projects that empower the students to be part of the town through photography and literacy. Every year until now Gallery Route One exhibit those projects.

In March 2008 as part of the Fotofest Biennial of Photography, the Station Museum of Contemporary Art shows her Installation “Faces of Colombia”, a group of 8 Photos-Curtains making a circle that symbolized the circle of violence that Colombia has lived during the last 50 years. The project also had a bilingual voice over running during the exhibition. “Apertura Colombia” was a powerful show from Colombian Artists depicting the situation of their country.

A Retrospective of her 25 years as a photojournalist was opened in 2006 at the Museo del Oro Quimbaya, in Armenia, Colombia, and is part of the private collection of the Banco de la República, organization that sponsored it.
“As a photojournalist, I strive to capture ordinary moments that speak in extraordinary ways…”

Luz Elena Castro
luzelenacastro.net
(415) 747-0043

Tags: Bogotá, César Gaviria, Colombia, Luz Elena Castro, Madrid, Photojournalist, Point Reyes, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Spain

Elizabeth Kennedy is an Intuitive who specializes in helping clients live happier, more easeful, healthy and peaceful lives. She does this by helping them shift blocked energies which prevent the natural ease and Grace from flowing in their lives.

Here’s what clients say about working with Elizabeth:

“Elizabeth is one of the brightest and warmest lights I have ever encountered. She’s a true human sun. The love, compassion, and wisdom she exudes will warm you to the core and help awaken your whole Being.”

– Ted Strauss

“I had the privilege of receiving a Chakra Reading from Elizabeth today. It is clear to me that clairvoyant reading is a big part of Elizabeth’s gift to the world, because she demonstrates great skill in this arena, and exudes joy while she’s working. I have been doing similar work for many years, now, and I found her insights to be spot on, her coaching skills highly developed, and her presence strong and activating. I highly recommend Elizabeth!”

–Lena Cain

You can contact Elizabeth Kennedy here:
KnowTheDivine.com
310-928-6569
Liz@KnowTheDivine.com

Tags: Elizabeth Kennedy, intuitive, Know the Divine, San Francisco

Zohreh Noorian: Photography is how I express myself. I am not naturally a talkative person, I share what’s important to me through my art. Nature is the preferred subject of my photography because it is humbling, provides me with clarity, and relaxes me. I love the vastness of nature because in it I see life revealing itself.

Photography is my way of expressing this view to others. When I take a photograph, I excitedly think, “I’ve captured this moment of life.” I hope others will experience that same fleeting moment and beauty when they see my photos. My photography style is vibrant and playful.

Through the lens, the spontaneity of nature is revealed. When I hold my camera, I see life’s beauty unfolding moment by moment. In my every photograph, life bringing itself, in all it’s entirely to my attention. Rather than using preconceived formulas and techniques to create art, I allow the art of that moment to decide the photograph that I take. In so doing, I capture instants of life as they happen. When one is present and in the moment, life in all of its fullness will reveal itself to you.

I am a passionate photographer. While the process of learning the skills of ones craft is crucial, Art is an inspiration that comes from within. I believe we are all artists—photography brings out the inspired artist in me. “When you don’t expect anything and open to the possibility, everything is at your disposal.” ~Rumi, 7th century

Tags: artist, Photographer, Photography, San Francisco, Zohreh Noorian

Elena Achilli – Artist Statement:
“Painting for me is a love affair: I am profoundly passionate about it, it grips my heart tightly and I yearn for it when I am away. I am both a dreamer and a believer. I work very intuitively and instinctively, creating a space in which I allow the image to evolve and unravel. My practice demands that I am courageous and openhearted and it always involves risk. It is also an eternal search for truth. I feel things with a burning intensity and my canvas provides a haven for these huge emotions.

I am fascinated by chaos and order fragility and strength, existing simultaneously and the easy harmony that occurs in the natural world between these two forces. My canvas becomes a visual response to these elemental energies and polarities discovered within the environment and myself.

My work is a celebration of the colours and ultimate contrast, no gradients and embraces all that is mistery: the ambiguity is as relevant as the seen in the finished piece.”

Visit Elena Achilli’s website at:
achillielena.com

Tags: art gallery, Elena Achilli, hair salon, San Francisco, San Francisco Artist

Artist Statement:
My work comes out of an intuitive creative process and is inspired by the natural world. While enjoying one of my favorite pastimes, hiking, I photograph scenes and details along the way. I look for bold imagery, textures, colors, shadows and light patterns. I also bring motion into my images by purposefully playing with slower shutter speeds. As I review my digital images, I get a “hit” on the ones that I should use for my next creation. I proceed to play with the various images and transform them into bright, bold, iconic pieces that convey the luminescence and earthy textures found in nature.

Bio:
Michelle Sixta was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1961. Throughout her art education she explored a full range of mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and interior design. During this time she was awarded a scholarship to the Kansas City Art Institute. It was photography that kept her interest, inspired in great part by her father who was an avid photographer when he was a young man.

Michelle received her degree in commercial printing at the University of Central Missouri in 1983. Her affinity for “hands-on” work drew her interest toward screen printing. While learning about the various printing processes, she continued to develop her photography skills and worked as a campus photographer for 4 years.

After college, Michelle worked in the commercial printing field for 6 years in various positions from production planning to sales representative. She started out at a major screen printing company that had Hallmark Cards as one of its main clients. It was here that she began to truly understand what is involved in taking an artistic creation from the drawing board to the finished product. In 1985, Michelle moved to Sacramento, California and became a sales representative for a high-end offset printer Fong & Fong, known for producing fine art prints.

In 1992 Michelle moved to downtown Oakland and lived near Lake Merritt. She was taken with the abundance and uniqueness of birds at this wildlife refuge, and got into “birding.” A multitude of birdwatching hikes helped her to learn more about the local terrain. She also took a wilderness skills class that opened her eyes to many of the details in the natural world.

In the late 90’s, while working in the Marketing Communications Group for a major corporation, she developed skills in email and website design. In the course of project work, she was exposed to an artist who did “composite photography” which inspired her to explore this media. It was a perfect conduit, allowing Michelle to combine many of her interests and skills to create artwork that reflects her vision of the natural world. She launched her first collection to the public in January of 2010.

Visit Michelle Sixta website at:
michellesixta.com

Tags: artist, birds, birdwatching, Kansas City Art Institute, Marin, Michelle Sixta, San Francisco, San Rafael, University of Central Missouri

Born and raised in New York, Maura Vazakas has been drawing since childhood, inspired by her artist mother. She studied music, with degrees from Juilliard, Oberlin Conservatory, and Univ. of Michigan, but had a passion for art and design. Her paintings are influenced by everything around her, but always end up being about humor, nature, nostalgia and pop culture.

The latest paintings are more minimal, and architectural in nature as lines merge as structures against a loose, painterly constructed background.

In keeping with her love of cities and architecture, Maura’s latest drawing series depict great buildings of the world, rendering some in daylight as well as buildings in a night scene. The latter plays with not only the buildings but with lighted windows, street lights, and their play with the night sky. Another series includes small graphite “knot” drawings and an ongoing series of photographs of the interior of refrigerators.

Maura Vazakas was a featured artist in the publication New American Paintings, Vol. 31., and her works have been shown in galleries in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New York and Dallas. Maura Vazakas is currently represented by G2 gallery in Scottsdale.

Tags: artist, Bay Area, gallery, Maura Vazakas, Red Union Hair Salon, San Francisco

Mirror Mirror on the wall who’s the coolest blond of all? Matrix ultra.blonde Socolor.

With the launch of 7 new blond shades. Imagine all you can be. Imagine cooler, lighter brighter blondes. Maximum lift and tone up to 5 levels. Pushes the lift without punishing the hair with Cera-Oil for continuous conditioning.

Matrix Socolor, permanent color, has been my number one go to color for years. It never disappoints and now 7 “new blonde” shades. Simply amazing!

Matrix has been around since 1980 founded by Arnie Miller. One of the most successful haircare companies to date. If you asked Arnie his profession his answer would always be “I’m a hairdresser”. He of course was so much more than that. His vision, not shared by many at the time, was to supply the stylist with product to use but also provide education, knowledge and inspirations needed to succeed. That vision has not changed, which is why I make it my number one permanent color daily, translating to outstanding hair for my clients.

Command the spot light and see for yourself!

–Erika

Tags: Erika Redding, hair color, hair salon, Matrix ultra.blonde Socolor, San Francisco, Summer Hair Coloring

Ever since I was a little boy growing up in Europe in the 1970′s I always enjoyed and played with visual imagination on my hair. I was known for taking up too much time in the bathroom at front of a mirror which of course drove the family crazy. I can still remember messing about with my wet hair creating James Dean/Elvis Presley pompadour (US )/ quiff (UK) styles after taking a bath during my preteen years. In Poland at that time as a child I couldn’t find gel or brillantine. I was just discovering the use of lacquer for my hair. After a small trip to Turkey my mother brought back some gel for me knowing I could finally set my first Elvis Do without it falling down right away….It was magical. In the mid 80′s I came to live with my father in Santa Cruz California where I came across interesting new styles for clothing and hair. That was the end of my innocence. Sometime in the 90′s I decided to become a hairdresser/hairstylist…..This has been an adventure ever since… While I was on a mini tourneau with a band I used play with , I was pondering on my future career. My band mate’s girlfriend who has worked for Vidal Sassoon at the time has suggested that I should consider hairdressing due to my acute awareness of hair, fashion, music. I decided to take a courageous leap into a new career by entering the new world of hair and beauty at Wayne’s Beauty College in Santa Cruz Ca. then following Miss Marty’s School of Beauty in San Francisco, Ca. In 1998 I received my hard earned Cosmetology License. I decided to take yet another leap and decided to rent a small station at a cute hair salon called Wack Shack Hair Salon in the lower haight that was ran by a very talented, experienced and innovative crew of stylists. I have worked there for about 4 years learning the ins and outs of hairdressing outside of school. These years were very rewarding and I have gained a lot of confidence, knowledge and experience on how to be a hairstylist at a professional salon. I have also gained a lot of experience in coloring and cutting from hairstylists who took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. In 2002 I entered two hair shows in which I created my own hair designs using color and cutting technics. After a couple of years I wanted to excel and I moved to Posh Hair Salon where I’ve been hired to cut and style hair only. This salon has specialized in coloring and cutting, so the stylists could only choose one of the two. In effect this experience was absolutely precious. I was trained by the owner of Posh Hair Salon on how to cut and blow dry hair for 3 years. I was on the floor creating wonderful magic with my scissors cutting away some great creations of hairstyles. At this point I began to crave creating hair coloring, haircutting and hairstyling all put together into one Hair Creation. In 2009 I have left Posh Hair Salon to work at a charming Pacific Heights to work at Acabello Hair Salon where I could transform my haircuts and hair coloring from my and my clients’ imagination into reality which has been a breathtaking experience to this very day. Now I am working at a wonderful Hair Salon called Red Union Salon in Cow Hollow/Marina neighborhood in San Francisco.

See Arthur Sebastian’s Facebook page, website, and Yelp page.

Tags: Arthur Sebastian, Hair Cut, hair salon, Hair Stylist, San Francisco

Georgia Dominici is a San Francisco artist whose work interprets the female role throughout history. She explores how the expectations and standards for modern women are shaped by myths and fictional stories of the past. Her acrylic paintings place iconic females from mythical and religious narratives within contemporary settings. Her characters range from Venus to the Virgin Mary, each representing a specific female moral. Her work questions whether these morals remain if the figure is placed in a new time and space. They are stripped of their settings and relationships in order to see what sort of transformation takes place. By isolating these characters of the past within the cold realities of the present, she is able to examine to what extent their respective morals persist. Her work exposes that in the present, these female archetypes take on new and upsetting connotations. She attempts to prove that we continue to look to these archaic female models as the basis for today’s woman and explores this manifestation through her paintings.

Georgia works to imbue each piece with an instant mood by the over-saturation of a single color tone. While an austere shade of green may imply a rather sorrowful sentiment, a reddish hue can suggest a state of passion or fury. The style in which the paint is applied creates an almost puzzle like effect. Large areas of layered color is used to give an incomplete and fragmented state to her subjects. Her pop art asthetic reflects the contemporary interpretation of these classic figures. Through this visual exploration, she proves that their issues continue to be universal and timeless.

Georgia attended Hunter College in New York and earned her B.A. in Studio Art with a specialty in painting. She has shown her work in both New York and San Francisco.

Tags: artist, Bay Area, gallery, Georgia Dominici, Red Union Hair Salon, San Francisco

Grace Mangels began her hair career in Torrance, CA as an apprentice to a Creative Director, with over 25 years of service to her Palos Verdes clientele. She quickly became the salon’s go to colorist performing corrective color and natural looking grey coverage in this busy salon. Her technique, “Hair color first, makes eyes and skin sparkle, then the right haircut and shape will portray to the world how you want to be seen!” Leaving behind her loyal clients in LA, Grace looks forward to the new relationships and services she can provide at Red Union Salon.
Grace uses professional color lines from Schwartzkopf Igora Royal and Redken Shades.

Grace has over 10 years experience accommodating clients in their quest for excellent hair care and makeup solutions. She graduated with a skincare license in 2003 and began her skin care business that included bridal makeup, facials, and professional brow shaping. Then moving on to hair styling, she studied at the Paul Mitchell The School, in Costa Mesa, CA and Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, CA.

Before becoming a licensed Cosmetologist, she studied Fine Arts in areas of oil figure painting and portraits, in Santa Barbara. This gave Grace a sense of confidence in looking at a person’s beauty and personal features, than making choices in color and shapes to compliment the natural beauty in each one of her clients.

Comments or questions are welcome.

Tags: Bay Area, Coloring, Grace Mangels, Hair Cut, Hair Stylist, Marina, Paul Mitchell, Redken, San Francisco, Schwartzkopf Igora Royal