By Hailey Stangebye

Photos by Marshall Shorts

On Valentines Day, the Gateway Film Center will host a special screening of “My Great Day in Harlem” for children from Columbus City Schools.

The documentary, which follows five local artists on a landmark journey to Harlem, was originally released at the Gateway Film Center on Nov. 30, 2018. On Thursday, it returns to the big screen to inspire the young minds of Columbus. After the film, these lucky kids will have an opportunity to ask each of the featured artists questions about their experiences and the realities of being a creative in this city.

“My Great Day in Harlem” is more than a documentary. It’s an opportunity for kids in our community to connect with and relate to passionate creatives. The people featured in this film are our contemporary trailblazers. They’re our role models for the next generation.

Meet the stars of “My Great Day in Harlem”

TRIPP FONTANE

“Art is not a right. It is a necessity by virtue of the people… I believe that art is the translation of the cosmos.”

Originally from the small town of Xenia, Ohio, Tripp Fontane moved to Columbus to find new opportunities in the realm of poetry. Before breaking into the spoken-word scene, Tripp focused primarily on rap. That all changed when he went to an open mic and decided to perform a song without the beat. People started calling him a poet, and Tripp says he still hasn’t corrected them. Today, he boasts international acclaim.

SAMARA TILLMAN

“We have so many talented people here. I think that the vision for the future of fashion in Columbus is bright.”

Samara was born and raised in Columbus. She left for college, but after graduating from Kentucky State with her degree in fashion merchandising and business management, Samara returned to Columbus where she ultimately opened a fashion boutique in 2005. For the next five years, she ran boutiques all around the Columbus area. Today, she runs a dance studio and continues to design. She plans to release her next clothing line in fall of 2019.

JAY SWIFA

“Whether I affect one person, or five people, or a million people, I just feel like I have insight to add on the world today.”

Jay is a musician who hails from the north side Columbus, but he feels close to every corner of the city. He grew up surrounded by creative energy — his father was a musician and his mother was a dancer. With all of those influences, Jay developed a witty, creative sound from a young age. After lots of success with his former group, Fly Union, Jay set out to work on his solo sound.

PERCY KING

“The older I get, the more I understand what it means to celebrate your heroes. My work celebrates heroes.”

Percy is a Columbus native who was raised on the south side of the city. He says that he’s always been an artist and a creative, but he didn’t think of pursuing art as a career until recently. Instead, Percy devoted most of his time to his football career. His creative outlet over the years became woodwork and home improvement. Today, he’s transitioned that passion for woodwork into fine art portraits carved out of layers of wood.

LORI LINDSEY

“Whenever I am honored to dance in front of other people, my goal — my intent — is to move them. Whether it’s to think a different thought, to take action on something, maybe it’s just to brighten their day or to  give them hope. It’s more than steps to a song.”

Lori has lived across the globe, from Dublin to L.A., but she’s originally from Columbus. Her passion is dance, which she started at only 3 or 4 years old. In high school, Lori briefly stopped dancing after hearing hurtful gossip from the dance community. Today, she’s proud to say that she doesn’t let someone else’s opinion define her or determine her future. Now, Lori inspires young dancers at Elite Performance Academy.

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Alvoyce Douglas

Alvoyce “Voszi” Douglas began drawing fashion designs from a very young age. Four years old, to be specific. She says that while she and her brother, Sylvester, waited for school to start they would draw characters. They drew an ongoing saga that they called “The Lovers.” He drew the male figure and she drew the female. And — as is to be expected — Voszi’s character was always impeccably dressed.

Today, Voszi is a Columbus-based fashion designer with two clothing lines: Voszi Designs and the Alvoyce Collection. She’s also an artist who designs jewelry and accessories.

“I always wanted to be a designer. I didn’t know that I’d have to make clothes. I really thought somebody was going to sew for me because I was so fabulous,” Voszi laughs. “I drew my whole life. But I started sewing when I was 25.”

Learning to sew had a profound impact on Voszi’s style. She quickly developed a dislike for patterns. Instead, she prefers to sew more freely. The pieces in her collection are versatile, bold and, above all, undeniably Voszi.

“I do one of a kind designs. No buttons, no zippers and no patterns. And I make everything this way: coats, jackets, dresses, accessories, everything,” Voszi says. “I use a lot of colors and I like to mix patterns together. My clothes aren’t conservative at all. When myself or a client is wearing one of my designs and walks into the room, some people might love it. Some people might say, ‘Oh, that’s too much.’ Some people might not like it at all. But everyone will notice it.”

“I use a lot of colors and I like to mix patterns together. My clothes aren’t conservative at all. When myself or a client is wearing one of my designs and walks into the room, some people might love it. Some people might say, ‘Oh, that’s too much.’ Some people might not like it at all. But everyone will notice it.”

Voszi and her designs stand out in a crowd. She’s never been one to shy away from honest self expression. That’s, in part, why she developed her own annual fashion show.

“When I started in 1982, people wouldn’t let me do shows. A lot of them weren’t feeling what I was doing,” Voszi says. “So that’s how I kind of birthed having my own show.”

In 2018, Voszi hosted her 36th annual fashion show. And she has no intention of slowing down. In fact, this year Voszi might host two fashion shows in Columbus — one in the spring and one in the fall.

Despite the resistance Voszi faced in Columbus during the start of her fashion career, she managed to pave a way to success. The places that once rejected her designs now proudly include them in shows. Now, Voszi hopes to create a space that supports emerging designers.

“I’d like to see more boutiques for small business people to show their clothing. I also plan to have my own fashion house and studio space with an area for emerging artists because I remember what it was like,” Voszi says. “Fashion is just important to me. So is art. That’s because fashion is art. To me, fashion is the art that you’re wearing.”

“Fashion is just important to me. So is art. That’s because fashion is art. To me, fashion is the art that you’re wearing.”

Contact Voszi

Voszi Designs: 614.483.4099

alvoyce.douglas@gmail.com

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos by Marshall Shorts

Samara Tillman says that fashion is in her blood.

Her mother was a seamstress who could work magic with fabric. So, by the time Samara reached middle school, she was creating designs that her mother brought to life.

“In middle school, I was making up outfits to wear to school,” Samara says. “The first thing I designed was actually a cheerleading uniform. I went to Champion Middle School and, at the time, we didn’t have cheerleaders. So I said we were a spirit team, and I designed a little t-shirt and a skirt and my mom made them.”

Samara decided to attend Kentucky State University, where she earned her degree in fashion merchandising and business management.

“I don’t think there was a ‘deciding’ moment to pursue fashion as my career,” Samara say. “It was just always a part of what I wanted to do. I’ve always said I wanted to be something in fashion… In college I would style my friends when we attended events. We were the only ones at the basketball games wearing  fur shawls and embellished jeans before they were trends.”

“It was just always a part of what I wanted to do. I’ve always said I wanted to be something in fashion… In college I would style my friends when we attended events. We were the only ones at the basketball games wearing  fur shawls and embellished jeans before they were trends.”

After graduating from undergrad, Samara returned to Columbus to work for the Ohio Department of Mental Health. In 2005, she left that job to open her first boutique. She owned and operated E.L.I.T.E. Studios, a fashion boutique with multiple locations, from 2005 to 2010.

Samara’s boutique reflected her unique sense of style.

“I always would describe my style as sophisticated funk. I love being sophisticated. My mom taught me that. Back in the day, a woman didn’t go out unless she had her makeup fully done,  her gloves on, her purse, everything matching. So, I like the sophistication of being a lady and being classy, but I’m also funky,” Samara says. “My hair is normally shaved on both sides, and I like individuality. I want to be ladylike, but I don’t want to look like every other lady.”

“I always would describe my style as sophisticated funk. I love being sophisticated. My mom taught me that. Back in the day, a woman didn’t go out unless she had her makeup fully done,  her gloves on, her purse, everything matching. So, I like the sophistication of being a lady and being classy, but I’m also funky.”

While fashion is still an integral part of Samara’s life, she’s currently on a career path that she never expected. She went from working in fashion, to the nonprofit sector, to education and, ultimately, to dance.

“Today, I’m the owner of a dance studio, which I never expected,” Samara says. “But, I do get to create really fancy, outlandish dance costumes for my dancers. So, I took a turn from ready-to-wear fashion to performance wear.”

Despite her shift in focus, Samara says that people are already asking her when she’ll release her next ready-to-wear line. For those that are curious, she’s currently in “creation” mode, and hopes to release her revamped ready-to-wear line by Fall 2019.

“Columbus is constantly making its place on the fashion map,” Samara says. “We have so many talented people here. I think that the vision for the future is bright. As long as we keep collaborating, keep providing outlets for those in the fashion industry to showcase who they are in the city and abroad, then the the sky’s the limit.”

“We have so many talented people here. I think that the vision for the future is bright. As long as we keep collaborating, keep providing outlets for those in the fashion industry to showcase who they are in the city and abroad, then the the sky’s the limit.”

Samara is among five, local artists who traveled on a trip from Columbus to Harlem to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. To commemorate that trip, we’ve created a docuseries that traces the journey of each artist. To see Samara’s trip to Harlem, reserve your seat at our big screen premiere at the Gateway Film Center on November 30.