cultureisland event // on paper // jason turner art pop-up + mind breath magazine launch party


super excited to announce my next event happening on thursday 11/12/15! please see details below and i'll go into a lil more background on how it came about here: i first met visual artist jason andrew turner last april at my new york's finest pop-up through our mutual friend felipe (tipi thieves) and later had the opportunity to interview jason for my small talk series this past summer. jason recently moved here from philly and i freakin love his work. i immediately knew i wanted to work with him on his first show here in new york. we spent months emailing and visiting all kinds of stores around new york and brooklyn. then a few weeks ago, lower east side shop la petite mort hit us up and said they had a last minute opening for a two month pop-up! we were beyond excited. for the opening, lpm owners oj and kara also wanted to bring in their friend elizabeth who's launching a new art + fashion magazine, mind breath magazine. and thus was the birth of on paper, an event celebrating jason's two month long art pop-up and a launch party for mind breath magazine.

more about our collaborative partners:

+ cultureisland: cultureisland is a passion project by sara r. radin in which sara collaborates with emerging creatives, non-profits and brands to create unique experiences. she loves nothing more than bringing people together, introducing her friends and celebrating all kinds of creativity. this will be sara's 9th event since february and she has many more in the works.

+ jason andrew turner: jason is a visual artist who recently move to brooklyn, new york from philadelphia, pennsylvania. he grew up in alabama and cambridge, england before receiving his bfa from savannah college of art & design in 2005. jason makes drawings on paper and works in a variety of mediums including graphite, ink, and gouache. his current body of work explores abstract landscapes with a focus on mark making and color relationships.

+ mind breath magazine: mind breath magazine is a new magazine run by emerging artist and native new yorker elizabeth scholnick. mbm is a collaborative platform for more maintstream artists to be featured alongside emerging artists through interviews, critiques and reviews. elizabeth also examines things we do on a normal bases in new ways on the mind breath magazine tumblr. she is currently producing her first documentary and is coming out with a photography book with text later this year in 2015.

+ la petite mort: lpm specializes in rare + designer 90’s vintage clothing, as well as a curated selection of modern clothing and accessories from independent designers. more than just a store/website, la petite mort is a creative approach to life in nyc and beyond. they aim to showcase a variety of looks that reflect new york’s diverse culture and style. la petite mort is french for “the little death” which is an idiom and a metaphor for an orgasm. lpm believes fashion should evoke a strong emotion and each piece should be loved and celebrated. the lpm store also functions as a rotating artist gallery, showcasing new, local artists on a bi-monthly basis.

fb invite // eventbrite

special thanks to rizzo's for sponsoring! (our third event together <3)

hope to see you there + please pass onto friends!


cultureisland event // heritage auctions x projectart happy hour + tour


last march while visiting pulse art fair, i came across the projectart booth. i met the founder, adarsh alphons, and we immediately got to chatting about the importance of art in our daily lives. when i told him about my side hustle, he said i was the strangest person he met at the fair. of course, i took this as a major compliment and we soon after began working together on an event idea called the artprom. although this event didn't work out at that time, i'm confident it will someday soon. this summer i was honored when adarsh asked me to be a part of the organization's junior board. being involved with projectart has been an incredible experience in which i've met and become friends with some of the most diverse, most interesting and most insanely passionate people. i'm thrilled to be a part of an organization and a community that believes art is a right. and i'm excited to partner with projectart and heritage auctions on an event next week -- swing by to learn more about our mission, meet members of the board and have some free drinks and an art tour:

more about our collaborative partners:

+ cultureisland: a passion project by sara r. radin, sara collaborates with emerging creatives, non-profits and brands to create unique experiences that celebrate all kinds of creativity.

+ projectart: an award winning nyc based arts education nonprofit, providing free after school visual arts classes in public libraries across the city. founder adarsh alphons not only believes art is a right but that it also saves lives.

heritage auction galleries: an auction house established in 1976 in dallas, texas. heritage is the largest collectibles auctioneer in the world.


cultureisland event // pizza pop-up party // october 21st, 2015


super excited to announce that my next event is coming up wednesday, october 21st at rizzo's on the les. i first got connected to the new york pizza project through my close friend, jaimee. (side note: her parents set mine up!) her cousin corey has been doing this awesome project for several years now and i was honored when he asked me to work with him and his buddies on an event! more about it below:

more about our collaborative partners:

cultureisland: a passion project by sara r. radin, sara collaborates with emerging creatives, non-profits and brands to create unique experiences that celebrate all kinds of creativity.

the new york pizza project: a coffee table book documenting the heart and soul of new york city’s last authentic pizzerias through photography and interviews. the book, created and published by five 30-year-old native new yorkers, is the first of its kind – focusing not on the pizza, but the people and places behind new york city’s favorite food.

all-you-can-eat-press: a brooklyn-based independent publishing company that celebrates everyday food for everyday people. they recently collaborated with the new york pizza project on their "vol.7 ny by-the-slice pizza map."

movement pinback buttons: movement pinback buttons makes custom pinback buttons, by hand, in new york. in 2011 they bought their first button machine for use with personal art projects and events. today they strive to be the number one maker of custom buttons in the nyc area. 

+ wamoo papez: wamoo papez is dj and music producer juan alvarez's moniker. he's a native new yorker who recently released a new ep, zebra. juan describes his style as a dark, heavily textured blend of hip hop with an omnivorous set of influences. for this event's playlist, juan mixed classic new york hits spanning decades and genres as a true celebration of new york culture.

event brite invite // facebook invite

hope to see you there + please pass onto friends!


cultureisland event recap // zebra // a wamoo papez listening party


a few months back, i was sitting at a diner on the upper east side with my old co-worker and friend juan (wamoo papez), talking about feeling lost. we talked about the beauty of deep, dark periods of our lives; that if you can push yourself and come to terms with the numbness, you can use it for the good and turn it into something else. something extraordinary. well, two weeks ago juan succeeded in just that. together, we did a listening party for his new album zebra and he killed it. juan creates his music like audio collages by collecting clips from all over the place and then pieces them together to make something totally new. he also orchestrated an insanely cool video, mirroring the sounds and deep emotions of his album (see above). while, his sounds were inspired by a dark period, there was a lot of life to them. the video flowed seamlessly; i enjoyed the mixture of colors, text and clips. there was a lot of texture and depth to both his sounds and his video. and you could actually feel his emotions reverberating through his work. i've honestly never heard anything like juan's music before. he seriously killed it! i've watched juan come along way this year, from his first dj gig at my new york's finest party to now. i love watching my friends grow and expand on their craft, and gain creative confidence by just doing their thing and getting it out there. after the event, we talked about how we both felt this wonderful mixture of emotions -- proud of ourselves for pulling the event together but also in full acknowledgement that there's still work to be done and we couldn't be more excited by that fact.

see juan's interview with cypher league here. photos by alix h luntz.


cultureisland event // zebra // a wamoo papez listening party


i'm sad to see summer go, but there's lots of exciting things happening this fall. my first event is thurs, 9/24 from 7-10pm -- i'll be partnering with a friend, juan alvarez (wamoo papez) to celebrate the release of his new lp, zebra, and part of the proceeds from bar sales will benefit art start.

invite and more info below:

more about our collaborative partners:

+ cultureisland: cultureisland is a passion project by sara r. radin. this fall marks her second year pursuing her diverse creative interests; sara collaborates with emerging creatives, non-profits and brands to create unique experiences that celebrate all kinds of creativity.

+ wamoo papez: wamoo papez is juan alvarez's moniker. juan is a music producer and sound artist from new york. his music and audio collages have a basis in plunderphonics, meaning he primarily works with pre-existing sounds to make his beats. for his newest project, zebra, he used darker source material and heavier textures to create a body of work that reflects a deep depression he felt in his early 20s.

+ art start: art start is a 20 year-old award winning non-profit that uses creative arts to transform young, at-risk lives. the new york based organization runs daily workshops for kids living in city shelters, on the streets, those involved in court cases or surviving with parents in crisis. these workshops include music, art and dance programs that help instill confidence, hope and creative thinking in youth who are going through times of challenging transitions. *  as former volunteers in music and art, respectively, juan and sara are excited to partner with such a stellar organization. * 

+ ryan k. hall: ryan is an artist, designer and programmer from new york who's currently attending parsons for an mfa in design and technology. he employs various technologies like coding, laser cutting, 3-d printing and cad programs to turn emotions and imagery into innovative works of art. he designed wamoo papez's zebra album cover, capturing the depth of depression, madness and ingenuity.

facebook invite // hope to see you there + please pass onto friends.

thank you for your constant support!


cultureisland event recap // wanderer collage workshop // brooklyn collage collective x toms new york


last month i organized a collage workshop with the brooklyn collage collective at the toms store in soho. we had a great turn out and a really fun time! the toms staff were amazing hosts and they have an awesome new space with an outdoor patio. i especially loved seeing the artists from the collective creating collages alongside the other workshop goers; this included people from many different walks of life, ranging from a fashion intern to an assistant district attorney.

many thanks to everyone who came out! i'm always delighted when friends and friends of friends as well as total strangers (who then become new friends) attend these gatherings.

and a special thanks to our resident cultureisland photographer alix h. luntz for these pics!


cultureisland event // in good company // a pop-up featuring wares by btw ceramics + sin at horizons vintage


i have another event coming up this weekend, saturday july 25th at horizons vintage in williamsburg, brooklyn!

earlier this year, i chatted with brooke of btw ceramics when i interviewed her for cultureisland. she shares a greenpoint studio space with her fellow ceramicist and good friend, virginia sin, who also creates ceramics but under the name sin. i was inspired by the ladies' close-knit relationship; i love how they work in the same medium but have very different styles and all the while support each other while creating under the same roof. then a few months ago i popped into horizons vintage in williamsburg and started chatting with the owner, breanne, about her shop. she has a unique selection of vintage goods featuring simple silhouettes that reminded me of brooke and virginia's ceramics. immediately, i reached out to all of them and thus was the birth of in good company, a day long pop-up bringing all fabulous parties together under one roof. i like the idea of mixing wares with wearable pieces in one space. hope to see you there!

more about our collaborative partners:

btw ceramics: btw ceramics is a ceramics line handcrafted by designer brooke winfrey in brooklyn, ny. brooke's aim with btw ceramics is to create minimal yet functional ceramics that are modern and approachable. all of the items are sophisticated but maintain a sense of playful elegance with a focus on small and unique details.

sin: sin is a brooklyn-based design company run by viriginia sin. with a focus on creating functional, handcrafted products that blur the lines between arts and crafts and design, virginia's pieces cozy houses into homes, leaving spaces feeling lived in.

horizons vintage: horizons is a williamsburg vintage shop owned by breanne didomenico. breanne stocks her store with an ecclectic selection of women’s apparel and accessories found on her many travels across the united states.

facebook invite.


cultureisland event // wanderer collage workshop // brooklyn collage collective x toms new york


planned a wanderer themed collage workshop in collaboration with the brooklyn collage collective at the toms store in nyc next tuesday, july 21st. spots are limited so rsvp asap by emailing rsvpnyc@toms.com.

brooklyn collage collective: a collective of collage artists from brooklyn and the surrounding area. founded in 2013 by morgan jesse lappin and lizzie gill, the group is broadening the definition of collage through collaborative exhibitions, live collaging events, education and dialogues.

toms: blake mycoskie was inspired by children he befriended while traveling the world and thus founded toms in 2006. the company matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. the new york store also operates as a cafe selling shoes, eyewear and fair-trade coffee. they host a variety of community based events.

hope to see you there!

facebook invite


cultureisland event recap // supreme sound // playlist


a few weeks ago some folks hung out at von bar to take in some motown tunes and drink some yummy drinks to support bandseed. alix h. luntz + i pulled together a video collage that was projected on the wall (stay tuned for that) and dj von trap (michelle von mandel) did the motown tunes, see playlist below. thanks to all who came out + stay tuned for the next event!


cultureisland event // supreme sound


next event is next thursday, may 14th at von bar in collaboration with:

band seed: a harlem-based music resource center that organizes, trains and supports collaborative music projects among inner city youth. programs include musical lessons, artist management, and access to equipment and rehearsal space for middle + high school students of all experience levels.

dj von trap: michelle von mandel is an artist and dj living in new york. from deep house to disco to hip hop and trap, her passion for different styles of music is evident in her seamlessly eclectic choice in music. she likes animals and has high hopes of being a giraffe when she grows up.

coppa sandwiches: coppa is an italian sandwich shop based in noho, started by daniel becker and steven weiss. the duo met at the the michelin-starred restaurant, the spotted pig, before launching their shop out of a used minivan.

alix h. luntz: alix h. luntz is a new york based portrait photographer and filmmaker. her work explores questions of contemporary fandom, fashion and masculinity in film. she is currently an agent at muse management and is the founder of a's tv list.

hope to see you there! RSVP


cultureisland event recap // new york's finest // photos + playlist


last thursday was the opening of new york's finest pop-up at community 54 featuring work by tipi thieves and sounds by wamoo papez (see playlist below) // it was the perfect evening and we had a great turnout, i'd guesstimate about 100 people came through (big thanks to everyone who supported us). the art will be up 'til this coming saturday, may 9th so there's still time to check it out! we also have tees left so contact me or visit/call the store at (212) 673-7060 to buy one. many thanks to alix h. luntz for these stellar shots and rizzo's + pbr for the pizza + beer.


cultureisland event // new york's finest


hosted by community 54 and curated by cultureisland // this event will feature artwork by tipi thieves (felipe merida) and music by wamoo papez (juan alvarez).

// this is a free event sponsored by pabst blue ribbon and rizzo's fine pizza co.

more details:

cultureisland is a passion project run by concept designer sara r. radin. it is both an online and offline platform in which sara creates pop ups and hybrid events through collaborating with a range of emerging talents.

tipi thieves is felipe merida’s tag name; he is a brooklyn based visual artist and graphic designer who creates illustrations that depict our cultural surroundings. new york’s finest features his watercolor and ink portraits of new york city cops. the artist has utilized adobe photoshop and also taken inspiration from it to create the essence of a caricature but without the humor. the portraits look grotesque yet beautiful. while a cop is an iconic representation of new york, the delicate distortion of tipi thieves’ portraits brings our distorted perception of policemen to the forefront. whereas a police uniform has commanded respect in the past, in recent times it has become abstracted. by taking a subject we already associate with, tipi thieves uses his pen and his brush to pose the question: what will it take to get meaning and respect back to these uniforms?

wamoo papez will dj the opening; wamoo papez is music producer juan alvarez, who describes his style as a dark, heavily textured blend of hip hop with an omnivorous set of influences. for this event wamoo papez will mix 90s hip hop classics. to him, this music encapsulates the vibes and mentality of new york city, past and present.

community 54 is a neighborhood lifestyle boutique inspired by creative nostalgia and owned by partners daymon green and jason jacobs. known for their curated vintage streetwear as well as new indie brands, the store serves as a connecting point for thinkers to collaborate and put out new ideas.

on view thru may 8th, five artworks and a limited edition t-shirt will be sold in two colorways // please pass on to friends + we hope to see you there!

RSVP // tumblr // #newyorksfinestpopup


cultureisland event recap // the denim disco // mix + video


very excited to report that the denim disco was a smashing success! we collected over 100 pairs of denim which will benefit blue jeans go green. since hurricane katrina (nearly ten years ago), the organization has been recycling denim to create insulation for habitat for humanity homes. what happens to the collected denim? the jeans will be shipped to a facility in arizona where the hardware will be removed and the denim will be stripped back to its original cotton fiber state. it will then be put into an oven and cut/sized. in about three weeks, the denim will be delivered to a place of need. you can find out more about the process here.

thank you to everyone who came out and supported us. we're hoping to plan another denim disco in the future, utilizing new collaborative partners. and we're working with von bar on another event in the coming months.

check out our playlist (made by dj keith sweaty). stay tuned for future cultureisland events! *note we're working to get the video up as well but having some technical difficulties*


cultureisland event // the denim disco


planned a fun shindig in a few weeks! it's a collaborative event featuring ~

cultureisland:

cultureisland is a passion project by sara r. radin. sara is a concept designer, curator and amateur writer based in new york. In 2015, she's dedicated to making ideas realities in the form of hybrid events and pop ups which promote up and coming talent as well as support a good cause or two.

website // facebook // instagram //  tumblr // twitter

Blue Jeans Go Green™:

all denim collected will benefit Blue Jeans Go Green™, a denim recycling program run by Cotton Incorporated. since 2006, the program has diverted over 600 tons of denim from landfills across the nation and recycled it into UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation. a portion of this insulation has been distributed to help communities in need.

learn more at BlueJeansGoGreen.org // facebook

washhouse denim/bpd washhouse:

bpd washhouse is the only full service denim development studio on the east coast. the consulting company also launched their own brand for men's under the washhouse denim label. they're available at bloomingdales.

website // facebook // instagram // tumblr // twitter

keith sweaty:

keith sweaty is the dj alter ego of sound engineer keith milgaten. he produces dance hits and remixes on labels like sup pop and temporary residence, and has opened for acts such as the album leaf and wallpaper. keith has been gaining traction in nyc and on the west coast for his quirky remixes and club-smash original compositions.

website // facebook // instagram // twitter // soundcloud

alix luntz:

alix h. luntz is a new york based portrait photographer and filmmaker. her work explores questions of contemporary fandom, fashion and masculinity in film. she is currently an agent at muse management and is the founder of a's tv list.

website // instagram // tumblr // twitter

please pass on to friends + we hope to see you there! RSVP