Fonda Mexican.

Not long ago, I set out to find a quality Mexican restaurant in Melbourne to book for a special occasion. I did a test run with La Tortilleria in Kengsington and was thoroughly disappointed- by the food as well as the service. Urban Spoon wasn't helping matters and food blogs I scoured questioned Melbourne's ability to put on good quality Mexican food. I thought there had to be a light at the end of the tunnel... and then I stumbled upon Fonda. 

To be honest, I didn't exactly 'stumble' upon the place as the CBD restaurant is all the way up Flinders Lane, but it was well worth the walk. After walking up narrow stairs, you are greeted by friendly staff and cutting edge interiors, both projecting some pretty vibrant vibes. Alessandra and I had to wait about 20 minutes as bookings aren't available for under 8 people but in the bustle of the nearby restaurants and galleries that wasn't too bad. They even send you a text when a table is ready in case you want to go for a wander. 

Beth and Alessandra's quick fire Fonda list:

The atmosphere in a sentence:

B: Loud enough to be trendy and full of energy but not so loud you're yelling.

A:Vibrant and colourful- Busy in the good kind of way.

Best food item tasted:

A:THE CORN - I am going to go back and order 5 for myself!

B: I am biased due to my love affair with pulled pork but the Mexican City pork taco was my highlight. I loved the addition pomegranate seeds. It must also be noted that the charred corn was a fantastic start to the meal.

Favourite beverage:

B: I went out of my comfort zone and tried the Cloudy Russian and, provided you like ginger beer, I definitely recommend.

A: Anything with alcohol.

Will you return?

A:YES (but only with people who are prepared to sit across from someone enthusiastically eating a burrito)

B: Yes, give it time and I will have tried out all four locations !

People Profile: James Whiting

In his second year studying photography, this creative is moving from strength to beautiful strength. Capturing crisp and striking scenes, James Whiting's work makes scrolling through my Instagram feed a pure delight. 

In this People Profile, James answers questions about his craft, interests, and motivations, allowing us to better learn about the man behind the camera.

-Beth

What is one thing you are excited about right now? 

Right now I’m really excited to be surrounded by such an amazing community of brilliant
creative people who are pushing themselves and their own ideas and mediums. And I’m even more excited to have some time to try to collaborate and involve myself with these amazing people and just help wherever I can, or at the very least give out some well deserved high fives. 

When did you recognise that photography was something you wanted to pursue? 

It first caught my attention when my little brother was getting more attention for some pictures he was taking than I was for mine, so naturally I just wanted to shoot more and come out on top.. But it was really a few years later of being just interested, and after I had started carrying a camera everywhere I went, that I started to find myself up at three in the morning dating and annotating all of my negatives that I thought I might have stumbled onto something a little important. 

In what do you find inspiration? 

Inspiration is weird in a lot of ways because it’s pretty difficult to pinpoint or even recognise. And it never seems to exist in just one way. I tend to find as much inspiration in great artists work and a great patch of light as I do in what I see or hear when I'm out running or wandering around. But each just result in a different type of inspiration. Also I’ve developed a habit of just listening to people talk whilst I’m shooting studio work. Stephen Fry and David Chang’s Google Talk’s have been on repeat recently. 

Your work often depicts the common, simple and otherwise ordinary, why do you choose to capture these scenes? 

I think it’s more of a way to just be honest and purely communicate how I view the world, and where I assign importance or value. It’s a good way to challenge myself too. I read something a while ago and what I gathered or produced from it was that it’s easy to take pretty photographs of pretty things. But if you can make an interesting image from something not inherently attractive either, then that’s something pretty special. 

What do you find rewarding about your work? 

The most rewarding parts of my work are the parts I can look back on when I’m old and just tell a good story. Talk about who someone was a certain time. Or where they were, or how they felt, myself included. To just communicate the feeling of a moment or idea that I was subject to, that will never happen ever, ever again is what I really value above all else. 

What are you most proud of, in regards to photography or otherwise? 

Ah I’m not too sure. Personal progress would probably be at the top of the list I guess. Both in terms of art, and not. But I suppose more specifically I’m extremely proud of any work I’ve had published or sold and to just know the people all over the globe that have helped with that. 

What do you like most about living in Melbourne? 

Some days I really like it because of the resources and energy it has and how everevolving it is. And it’s recent essence of a DIY mentality is really great. But it does get pretty overwhelming sometimes. There’s so much going on all the time and it feels really difficult to break into any industry cliques or even be on their radar at all. Half of the time I wish I was just in the middle of nowhere working on a house or a farm. 

What is something you want to do more of?

I really want to make more decisions that the person I want to be would make. That’s been a crucial goal recently. And everyday I’ve been trying to read a book, play an instrument and break a sweat, so I’d like to keep that up. The short answer though is travel. All I really want to is travel. And eat. 

What is your most prized possession? 

I’ve never actually thought about a prized possession. I know what the most expensive things I own are, but that’s not right. (I’m going to actually find it right now, just to grow a little thanks to this interview.) I feel like it would have to be my pin-board which has little pieces of my last few years stuck to it. Things like tickets, badges, a lot of prints with personal notes I’ve been sent from strangers around the world and a lot of personal notes too. My notebooks and a specific negative of my friend Josh that concreted my love of photography are also extraordinarily important to me. 

When do you feel most creative? 

Mentally I’m definitely most creative when I’m on the road or running. Just out in the world I suppose. But not entirely focused on what’s in front of me. But physically, I’m definitely a morning person in terms of actually creating. I’ll take 6am over 6pm any day.

How can we find out more about you? 

You can check out things like my site which is cargocollective.com/jameswhiting , my instagram instagram.com/jameswhiting , jameswhiting.tumblr.com or just drop an email at jamesrwhiting@outlook.com. Wow, I think that’s the most I’ve ever written my name at once. Absolute overload. 

'What's In My Bag?' Series: Miriam

The Bag: A simple navy back pack from Vanishing Elephant.
It's sturdy, comfortable to wear and fits everything I need in it.

Planner: Ah, my beautiful planner - I hold it entirely responsible for my sanity. I use both the monthly and weekly views to keep track of work shifts, assignments and social activities, and have tabs for my part time tutoring job, travel, and Mosaik ideas. And of course, a section purely for 'To Do Lists', a task just doesn't feel finished until it has been checked off. My planner really just helps me keep everything I'm thinking in the one place.
Pencil case: In my pencil case you will find every highlighter under the sun and about 12 blue pens crammed in. I'm still traumatised from an incident during my Year 9 English exam and refuse to carry anything less.
Wallet: Myki, Student ID, a little cash, 'Top Juice' loyalty card ... 
I-Pod: Essential for the commute. Listening to music keeps me calm when I'm crammed between thirty strangers; I just zone out and wait until my station is called. I'll usually have a little mix ready, something upbeat for the ride in, and relaxing for the trip back home.
I-Phone: Unlimited WiFi is my one saving grace at university. In my naive first semester days when I thought I would need / enjoy a two hour break, I watched a lot of YouTube, A LOT.

Charger:  ^
Reading material: Textbooks, provided notes, the novel I'm reading at the time or even a trashy magazine. Along with YouTube, using my extremely long breaks to get ahead with the required reading or unwind with a good read always helped to pass the time.
5 Subject display book: My degree involves some 5 subjects semesters (sigh) and a very confusing timetable, so having everything in one place saves space, weight and helps to keep me on track and organised during the busiest times of the semester. 

An apple, a smoothie receipt, and something crammed with sugar: When you're going on 5 hours of straight lectures and all you can think about is the perfection of a 'Schnitz' wrap and chips, it helps to bring a snack along. An apple usually does the trick for me and tides me over until I'm back home. On longer days though, I usually pick up a smoothie or juice too. On days when I know I'll need a pick-me-up or an immediate energy boost I'll also bring along a sugary treat.

Lipstick / Travel Perfume: I don't wear much make-up on an everyday basis so the only thing I bring with me to uni is my lipstick for the day. A bright lip and fresh perfume always brightens my mood, even on days that involve 6 hours of lectures. I love Sephora cream lip stains because they last pretty much all day, and Crabtree and Evelyn's Evelyn Rose perfume has such a sturdy bottle it works perfectly as my daily travel perfume.
Hair ties / Bobby Pins: I can guarantee you will find a layer of loose hair ties and bobby pins at the bottom of my bag. I fiddle and play with my hair all the time, so they accumulate very quickly. 

House Keys: I keep my keys on a pink, cat keyring. Pink + Cats = I must have it.

-Miriam

People Profile: Erik Yvon

When Erik Yvon moved to Melbourne about 9 years ago, fashion wasn’t always on the cards when  he first arrived. After starting with culinary arts and having a crack at being a chef, Erik decided to do a complete 360 and try something that has been in the back of his mind, but never had the guts to go for. He applied for a course in Fashion at RMIT and has never looked back.

Now, Erik has started his own label and will be debuting his first collection, XX-XY this Thursday night. So head down to Belleville in Globe Alley tomorrow night, because it will definitely be night not to miss.

- Sarah

What has inspired your first debut collection?

Throughout all of my collections, there is a glimpse of my Mauritian background, depicted through the use of colours. But I also include a combination of elements; prints, shapes and textures which define the core of each collection. Colourful and bold themes are inspired from artists, diverse cultures and everyday surroundings. Through XX-XY, I endeavoured to create a unisex line which can be worn by both genders, and encompass an androgynous look. The prints in XX-XY are fluid, colourful and bold which has become the signature of the label.

Was starting your own business what you thought it would be?

When I started my own business I didn’t know what to expect to be honest. I did a short business course prior to launching it, to have a better grasp of what was required. Have I learned from the short course? Only the future can tell. I knew for sure it was going to be a challenge, and very demanding.  Another reason why I started the label is due to the fashion industry being saturated at the moment. There are not enough jobs for all the graduates; Melbourne has about 4 fashion schools producing highly skilled candidates. So I thought to myself why try to get a job when I could work for myself. Working for yourself, you have the chance to set your own times and make up your own rules, however there is more pressure when it is your own label because you want to make it work. When working for someone else you would do a 9 to 5 day and once you are done you just go home and chill. Having my own business, I find it hard to walk away after 8 hours and very often end up working more than a regular job.

Who would be your ultimate dinner date?

My ultimate dinner date would be my boyfriend Peter Midsummer. Which reminds me we haven’t gone on a dinner date for a while. I need to make up for that.

What makes you most happiest?

Chocolate and 90’s hip-hop makes me most happiest. I am addicted to sugar, hoop earrings and Janet Jackson

What would you like to change about the fashion industry?

I would like to change the mentality behind cheap deals and bargains in the fashion industry. Customers now expect everything at a cheap price and do not know what is involved in making garments. There are so many elements from pattern making, toiling, fitting, grading outsourcing fabric, production, printing, graphics which I had no idea were involved into a single garment before I started the course. The fast pace of the fashion industry is out of control; there are too many clothes on the market, which just end as landfill. It all comes down to education and people understanding that their time is just as important as a dress maker’s or a tailor‘s. The reason why some clothes are so cheap is because they has been mass produced under dubious circumstances.

Do you have any advice for up  and coming designers?

My advice would be to stick to your guns. It is a very competitive industry and there are so many talented designers. We represent the future of the fashion industry and we have the opportunity to make a change in the industry.  We have the skills and knowledge, so we should share it with others. I am not saying we should all be purist and be 100% eco friendly or sustainable but to be more aware of our choices and to take responsibilities for them. I try to promote sustainability by keeping my production on a very low scale. I am also ethically responsible by knowing who has been involved in the printing and manufacturing process by keeping it local. This is how I’ve approached the ethics of my label. Being an independent label there will be other areas where I will be lacking and you can’t please everyone e.g. I love using leather, does this make me a horrible designer?

Favourite cliché and why?

“Who are you wearing?” who cares…

What is one piece of advice that you will never forget being given?

Slow and steady wins the race. I was given this advice by my mum, turns out I have inherited my dad’s impatience.  

*Mosaik does not take credit for these photos

Lady Petrova A/W 'Poetic Science'

Lady Petrova is a wonderland hidden in Melbourne’s Flinders Lane, but certainly not hidden from the public eye. The boutique stocks Petrova Hammond's own label and supports international creators as well as several other Melbourne based like-minded designers that all fit with the theme of fantastical dress ups and eye catching, fabulous pieces.

Her most recent collection for Autumn/Winter 2015, ‘Poetic Science,’ draws inspiration from Ada Lovelace, a similarly inspiring 19th century countess, the daughter of a poet and herself being a mathematician who is often hailed as the world’s first computer programmer. Attending the collection’s launch party, Mosaik was treated to cupcakes, tea and a wondrous night of dress ups with Lady Petrova’s VIP ladies.

‘Poetic Science’ celebrates femininity in several confidence boosting designs, each with its own signature Lady Petrova characteristics. From the flowing velvet and tulle set against sharper, structured pastel leathers to the specially made (in France of course!) French brocade, the collection is instantly recognisable as being that of Lady Petrova just off the material choices.

The full collection is now available for pre-order through the boutique's website and will be available from the end of the month.

Lady Petrova herself in the 'Fairy Forever' dress

People Profile: Magic Steven.

I love really interesting people- people who are creative and unexpected. Magic Steven is both of these things. I first got to know Steven when Mosaik reviewed a Magic Steven show a couple of months ago. After the review was published Steven kindly sent me a little book of his cryptic ink drawings as a thank you. My brother and I flipped through the book together and my brother seemed to get alot more of the content then I did. After seeing both Magic Steven's unique style of stand up, as well as his visual art I knew we needed to know more about this guy, so I asked him a few questions.

- Alessandra

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I put on live shows/performances (autobiographical storytelling) and I make ink drawings on paper. Also trying to start a weekly cooking show to be released on Vimeo, with the working title: ‘Just Cooking with Magic Steven’. The three one-hour shows that I wrote & performed for the last 2 Melbourne International Comedy Festivals and last year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival were titled ‘In Search of True Self’, ‘Try to Love Everyone’ and ‘World of Feelings’. I will next be performing at Dark Mofo Festival in Tasmania in June.

What makes you the happiest?
Probably writing and drawing I think. The feeling of doing some work that I like.

What is one thing you are glad you did?
I watched movies obsessively for a few years and I think I may have benefited from that.
5 Film Recommendations:
The Long Goodbye (Altman)
Love Streams (Cassavetes)
Melody (Hussein)
Ring of Bright Water (Couffer)
Hedgehog In The Fog (Norshteyn)

What is something you regret?
To be honest, nothing comes to mind. Perhaps… not telling certain girls I liked, that I liked them, when I should have.

You make people laugh, but who or what makes you laugh the most?
A new, abundant source of laughter has been a group of friends I have (6 of us in total), sending photos to each other regularly & commenting on them amongst ourselves. There’s something special about this combination of people… and I find myself laughing out loud constantly.

What do you wish people did more often?
 Faced their fears. They say the fear of a thing is usually worse than the thing itself.

What do you admire in the people around you?
I admire the hearts I visualise around their faces. This is called the 'Heart Visualisation Technique'. It’s very useful when you encounter anyone that you’re having difficulty empathising with.

What is your favourite thing about living in Melbourne?

I don’t really like Melbourne. I guess I need to work on that & learn to appreciate it. The cheesy answer is that I like certain people who live here, that’s the main reason I like being here.

Where would you prefer to live?

I spent some time in Italy a couple of years ago (Bologna & Milan), I'd like to live somewhere over there for a while. Loved it there.

Check out Magic Steven for yourself and support him here: 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/magicsteven/

Website: http://www.magicsteven.net

And if you find yourself in Hobart, Magic Steven will be preforming 4 shows at the Dark Mofo Festival: 

18-6-15

19-6-15

20-6-15

21-6-15

Movie Review-vie: Lars and the Real Girl.

Craig Gillespie's Lars and the Real Girl (2007) is a film that I yearn to tell people about, but know they will stare at me blank-faced when I explain the plot. A beautifully uplifting fantasy with dark but incredibly relevant undercurrents, Lars and the Real Girl follows the story of Lars, an introverted twenty-seven-year-old man whose emotional struggles keep him from embracing life and connecting with people in his community. After years of solitude, Lars receives a life-size vinyl love doll, Bianca, at his doorstep, and develops a (non-sexual) relationship with her, involving her in the community, taking her to dinners, parties, and to weekly doctor's appointments. To Lars, Bianca is as real as anyone in his life. The story follows Lars' journey of self-discovery through Bianca and the guidance of his community.

I was never a big Ryan Gosling fan, but he does an amazing job in this film, acting as a timid, socially awkward, but incredibly loving man who avoids contact with people. I immediately thought of Leonardo Di Caprio and the role he played in What's Eating Gilbert Grape when I saw this film. I'm always sceptical of films that touch on mental illness, but Gosling's portrayal of Lars Lindstrom grows out of judgement-free revelation. Moreover, Gosling lets us in on the warm, safe place that Lars feels from his supposedly inanimate lover, Bianca, and this makes the story so much richer.

What intrigued me most when watching the film was that you do not feel the urge to laugh at Lars' relationship with Bianca - she becomes as much a character as any of the actors in the film, and you as a viewer feel affected by the development of Lars and Bianca's relationship with one another and with their community. As we watch their relationship progress, we glimpse Lars' inner world, one of hurt but also hidden hope, and see his development towards overcoming a life affected by an emotionally abusive and depressed father. A tale that very much echoes the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child', Lars and the Real Girl is a beautiful depiction of human connection, and what it means to love and be kind.

- Nicole

View the trailer here: 

*Mosaik does not take credit for these photos or videos