"A UNIQUE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE ART
FESTIVAL FOUNDED AND CURATED BY THE BAND TO TAKE PLACE UNDER A BIG TOP
CIRCUS TENT OCTOBER 17TH – 20TH AT LOS ANGELES HISTORIC STATE PARK"
'The festivities will take place under a
traditional Big Top and include an intimate headlining performance in
the round by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, a unique farmer’s
market, beer gardens, late night happenings, and performances by an
eclectic mix of musicians, vaudeville comedy, contortionists, acrobats,
puppetry, and interactive performance art"
--Edward Sharpe Big Top facebook
~~~~~~
Touch the SOIYL beneath your feet. That is the slogan for SOIYL shoes. As the Edward Sharpe Big Top show was approaching the facebook page began posting images from some of the vendors who would be selling. When I saw this image I was immediately curious.
I found the tent and met SOIYL creator Doloros Melgoza. Sweet gal. She makes the shoes which I find to be quite impressive.
I enjoyed meeting the vendors of various products as I was able to learn the stories behind them. I asked about the herstory of her wondrous shoes and she tells me that she makes them herself. Only recently has she found some help. It takes her 5-8 hours to make a shoe. She explained that she's quite the extroverted woman but she would rather spend time making shoes.
These are the shoes I hope to purchase. The shoes on her site typically cost $172. At the show she sold them for $120. I didn't buy any shoes that day as she didn't put out the ones I wanted. She told me that if I emailed her later, she'd still give me the $120. How incredibly kind and generous is that? So lovely of her.
If she doesn't have the Flamingo shoe, these Sunset Fushia are next in line.
Here are some others samples of her line.
(source)
The soles of the shoes are made with real hard black rubber. The shoes have no arch so I will be placing arch supports inside. According to Doloros the shoes will be broken into even if you find them a bit stiff.
Guess who? Here's the pretty and talented lady with what's his name behind her. Alex Ebert.
The next day...
I imagine all this happened before and after crowds had left the park. As shy as I am, it would have been nice to shake his hand, extend a hello, and then turn on a heel and leave him be.
Now let's really talk shoes. The genesis of Doloros story comes from Venice Beach, CA. Venice is about an hour from my neck of the strategically placed palm treed stretch.
Here is the story direct from the website.
Touch
the SOIYL beneath your feet, feel the wind in your hair, and reconnect
with the Earth and with each other. The SOIYL collection is passionately
hand crafted from the finest materials, with Love, from Venice,
California. SOIYL was founded in the pursuit of dreams and the vision to
create a better, more compassionate world. Sure we make shoes, but we
are driven by a sense of deeper purpose: Love, Passion, Art, Beauty,
Community, Stewardship of the Earth, and reminding people to live and
breath and help each other when we can. We think we make some pretty
cool shoes too! Every shoe is lovingly hand-woven and handcrafted by
artisans in Los Angeles, California. We hope the products we create
reflect the embodiment of the Love, Truth, Freedom and Creative
Expression that we want to share with the world and the honesty and
integrity of our people. A portion of the proceeds from every shoe we
sell is donated to RainCatcher, a non-profit organization committed to
providing clean water to impoverished regions around the world. - See
more at: http://www.soiyl.com/about/#sthash.6z7i4w2K.dpuf
Touch
the SOIYL beneath your feet, feel the wind in your hair, and reconnect
with the Earth and with each other. The SOIYL collection is passionately
hand crafted from the finest materials, with Love, from Venice,
California. SOIYL was founded in the pursuit of dreams and the vision to
create a better, more compassionate world. Sure we make shoes, but we
are driven by a sense of deeper purpose: Love, Passion, Art, Beauty,
Community, Stewardship of the Earth, and reminding people to live and
breath and help each other when we can. We think we make some pretty
cool shoes too! Every shoe is lovingly hand-woven and handcrafted by
artisans in Los Angeles, California. We hope the products we create
reflect the embodiment of the Love, Truth, Freedom and Creative
Expression that we want to share with the world and the honesty and
integrity of our people. A portion of the proceeds from every shoe we
sell is donated to RainCatcher, a non-profit organization committed to
providing clean water to impoverished regions around the world. - See
more at: http://www.soiyl.com/about/#sthash.6z7i4w2K.dpuf
SOIYL… it’s the earth beneath our feet. It’s where we grow the food that nourishes us. It encompasses our journey.
That’s what Venice based artist and designer Dolores Melgoza had in
mind when she dreamed of what we wear on our feet as we make our journey
across the Earth’s Soiyl. She went on to create a vibrant brand that
reflects her spirit and beliefs and the colors, sounds, and lifestyle of
her Venice, California neighborhood. A shoe that symbolizes history,
art, compassion, and serving others.
Inspired by all of nature’s elements and the beauty of the ancient lands
of her ancestry in Mexico, as well as her travels throughout Latin
America and Asia, she was moved by the simplicity and authenticity with
which people live.
Now through SOIYL, Dolores can share her vision and the connection one
feels to something that is lovingly handmade with positive vibes and
energy.
- See more at: http://www.soiyl.com/about/#sthash.6z7i4w2K.dpuf
SOIYL… it’s the earth beneath our
feet. It’s where we grow the food that nourishes us. It encompasses our
journey.
That’s what Venice based artist and
designer Dolores Melgoza had in mind when she dreamed of what we wear on our
feet as we make our journey across the Earth’s Soiyl. She went on to create a
vibrant brand that reflects her spirit and beliefs and the colors, sounds, and
lifestyle of her Venice, California neighborhood. A shoe that symbolizes
history, art, compassion, and serving others.
Inspired by all of nature’s elements and the beauty of the ancient lands of her
ancestry in Mexico, as well as her travels throughout Latin America and Asia,
she was moved by the simplicity and authenticity with which people live.
Now through SOIYL, Dolores can share her vision and the connection one feels to
something that is lovingly handmade with positive vibes and energy.
PHILOSOPHY
Touch the SOIYL beneath your feet,
feel the wind in your hair, and reconnect with the Earth and with each
other. The SOIYL collection is passionately hand crafted from the finest
materials, with Love, from Venice, California. SOIYL was founded in the
pursuit of dreams and the vision to create a better, more compassionate world.
Sure we make shoes, but we are driven by a sense of deeper purpose: Love,
Passion, Art, Beauty, Community, Stewardship of the Earth, and reminding people
to live and breath and help each other when we can. We think we make some
pretty cool shoes too! Every shoe is lovingly hand-woven and handcrafted by
artisans in Los Angeles, California. We hope the products we create
reflect the embodiment of the Love, Truth, Freedom and Creative Expression that
we want to share with the world and the honesty and integrity of our
people. A portion of the proceeds from every shoe we sell is donated to
RainCatcher, a non-profit organization committed to providing clean water
to impoverished regions around the world.
Now onto Raincatcher. I am so glad that I learned about this organization. It assists in harvesting rainwater into drinking water for children in Africa. Water in some parts of the world are contaminated and will cause sickness.
Clean water is something that many of us, especially in the states, take for granted. I can tell you with honesty that I feel grateful whenever I drink water. We are 75% water and I make the conscious decision to drink it daily. I am aware that water is needed to replenish, to lubricate joints, to flush our systems, to live. Each day I pick a liter bottle of Aquafina. That's a lot agua. H2O.
Visit the website to see how they do it!
Learn more and find out how you can help.
RainCatcher Clean Water Video 2012 from
RainCatcher on
Vimeo.
Official Rain Catcher facebook.
Official Rain Catcher website
I was also delighted to learn that Rain Catcher has also partnered with Shakeology by Beach Body. Beach Body sells the superfoods drink as well as P90X.
A friend of mine is a very invested Beach Body coach and I drink Shakeology so I was pleased to learn that purchasing Shakeology from the Rain Catcher site will provide a portion of my payment to the cause. Buy
here!
Tonight is Sunday the 20th. The Edward Sharpe Big Top show began Thursday the 17th. I attended the Friday show. Saturday was sold out and if I didn't have the responsibility of work--which often gets in the way--then I would have purchased tickets for tonight's show.
It was a magical experience with some amazing people. A glorious feeling to know that so many people were under one tent for the same uniting reason. THAT is community.
Night time shot of vendor tents. Posted by
Edward Sharpe Big Top facebook
Folks on stilts. I watched these guys trot around with fear, fascination, and nervousness. Here they stop by the SOIYL tent. Inside is Doloros' dog Romeo. This photo also posted by Doloros on her
SOIYL facebook page.
All photos are from their rightful owners/websites.
Thank you to the Edward Sharpe troup, thank you to the various acts, thank you to the food vendors and material vendors who filled the night air with DIY. If only I could run away with the circus. If only I could tag along with the music makers.
Here are some links to great inspiration. Take a look at these sites and become involved!
Janglin' Souls (a
new official fan club blog. 'Janglin' taken from the song of the same
name. It is featured on their first record, Up From Below)