What an intensive week I had. Spent a day in Jyväskylä and another one in Helsinki. Had a lot of thoughts about cultural policy, arts funding and arts management. In Helsinki I saw a performance by a graduating MA student – a very highly educated dancer entering into this insecure, unstable, problematic and debated field and business. Maybe it’s because I’m evaluating her final work that I’m somehow very conscious of all these rather negative issues in our field. And I’m not sure what I think about it. Part of me of course wants to encourage her and everyone and a part of me is really sad because it will be hard. On the other hand, it might not be hard for her at all and what is hard for each person varies so much anyway…
I gave a talk about ANTI in a seminar on Wednesday and it was kind of inspiring to hear and learn about other festivals and events in the city of Kuopio. The city is finally making or renewing its marketing strategy and festivals and events are of course a big part of the brand and image of the city. And if Kuopio wants to be a lively city, I think ANTI is doing the best job in the cultural sector.
So I was in Helsinki on Friday and realized that I wasn’t at all interested in going to the Habitare fair. This is a bit strange as I’m usually very interested in design. I’m not even sure when it was that I last visited Habitare (maybe last year?) but it was a bit of a disappointment so this year I didn’t really even consider it. But my desires were fulfilled last night in the 20th anniversary birthday party of Visio which was an inspiring event combining style, fashion, design and gourmet. I was so happy to participate and very, very proud of Kari and Sari. The venue was great, the old VR-makasiini factory building, which could be this amazing venue for all kinds of events, parties and performances in Kuopio but is hardly ever used. I know they had a lot of problems to get all the necessary permissions to organize this event there but I’m so proud they did and I really hope more people would start doing the same. Kuopio needs something like that! And Kuopio wouldn’t be the same without Visio = Kari & Sari. Think about this: these two very inspirational people who didn’t have to do anything wanted to organize this event which included a fantastic hair/fashion show, very well designed and organized venue with music, lights, BMX performer, lots of sparkling wine and gourmet deserts. And they invited about 500 people to enjoy all this for free! All I can say is thank you. And I love you!
With Kari & Sari
And I got to wear my golden Finsk shoes! Lovely.
We took a lot of pictures from the show…hopefully I’ll get to post a few later.
Johanna
Published at September 10, 2011
in Beauty and Life.
After coming back from Joensuu on Thursday, I did go to Sokos’s ’beauty week’ event and met the same Lancome representative who already has introduced me to the new Doll Eyes eyeshadows. Unfortunately, the Baby Pop was sold out but after taking a closer look at the Baby Romance palette, I realized that I will definitely use it. It has a lovely bright silver and metallic darker brownish grey which are just great colours. It also has two shades of pink, one is very light and bright and the other one a bit darker. In my everyday make up, I use most often a pink eye shadow. I’ve had a lovely Guerlain palette and I’ve used up the pink so this new lovely Doll Eyes palette will be in every day use. Very good. Yesterday I made my eye make up using all the colours in the palette and my partner said in the evening t that it looks really good. He doesn’t usually pay much attention to my make up, let alone analyze my eye make up so that was rather surprising. But it just shows that the colours are great and they really work for me.
Sokos had an offer that if you also buy a Lancome skin care product, you’ll get a gift containing a cleanser and toner. Since many of my friends are absolutely crazy about the Lancome Genifique Serum, I decided to try it as well. Besides the cleanser and toner, I also got a tester of a new serum and Genifique eye concentrate…and an umbrella! Horray! All very well needed during the autumn.
We got a surprise visit last night when Tatu and Anniina came over. We spent a mellow evening eating low carb pizza, lovely cheeses, drinking wine, listening to and playing music and discussing intensively, as always.
Johanna
Today I gave a talk about A Space for Live Art and UP TO NATURE EU funded projects in Joensuu. My talk was part of the Taiteen, kulttuurin ja luovien alojen rahoituspäivä, translating roughly ‘funding of arts, culture and creative industries’. Sounds terrible but it was quite inspiring actually. Riikka Leskinen from Cimo talked about the EU Culture Programme 2007-2013 and then I gave practical information about our projects, how we got involved in them and what is the everyday like managing the projects. It was also great to see Mari Karikoski from the Arts council of Finland and Hanna Susitaival from the regional arts council of Pohjois-Karjala.
Now I’m on my way back to Kuopio, proofreading (for the hundredth time) the upcoming ANTIVERSARY book. But it should go to print today! Hurray. Ahhh, the ANTI Festival is coming up veeerrryyyyyy soon and I’m beginning to feel the excitement…
This week I’ve been already in Jyväskylä so it’s been a rather challenging week in terms of exercising. I’ve had rehearsals of Acts of Clothing as I’m performing it soon in Jyväskylä, had a Pilates class and yesterday Zumba. Tomorrow I’m back to studio with Acts of… and will have functional training sessions both on Friday and Saturday. And on most days I’ve cycled to work. So should be a pretty good week, enough aerobic and strength training.
Last week I got a -20% reduction coupon for Sokos’s beauty week and I’m now wondering if this would be the time to get the new Lancome eyeshadow… I really like the Doll Eyes Baby Pop….hmmm.
What do you think?
Johanna
I’ve been warming up Twirling World show with Sonja, working on the ANTI 2011 programme details and the upcoming book. I’ve been cycling, doing Kinesis and Zumba. Went for a day to Helsinki. And wondered about the flowers in the garden. You cannot imagine how much joy the rhododendrons bring me! And they are all going to bloom this year – very soon.
Johanna
So next week we kick off with two shows of Twirling World. Monday will be stressful with technical rehearsals, building up the space, getting all the little bits and pieces together. But it’s great to perform the piece again! I just hope we’ll have audience. I’ve bought new silver blankets and tights for the show, also Tecni Pli to do my hair with Ghd…
This week I’ve taken it pretty easy and spent time at home. I’ve done some wallpapering, a lot of Kinesis and functional training as well as Zumba. Outi at the Functional Studios leads fantastic Zumba classes! They are a great way of getting aerobic exercise and she sure makes you sweat and jump so that your heart rate hits the max. I cycled to the city a couple of times this week but the roads were rather icy and dangerous (especially without winter tyres…). And the snowstorm yesterday didn’t make me happy either. But today is sunny and above zero degrees so I’m hoping the snow melts quickly so that I can start cycling on a regular basis.
All the ladies clothes and jackets were on sale (-40%) in Anttila and after my training today I went to have a look if they have any nice Nanso dresses, skirts or tops. Anttila’s clothing section is not really for me but some of Nanso’s clothes I like and came home with two tops.
Now it’s time to go and listen to Jukka Poika and Raappana at Kulttuuriareena 44! And since the gig is open to all ages I’m going with my son.
See you there?
Johanna
Lumene is back with a loose powder, this time translucent mineral powder! I haven’t tried it yet but refuse to think that it wouldn’t be at least as good as the old loose powder. To my total surprise, I learned some time ago that Lumene had stopped making the loose powder, which I had used for years both in my private life as well as on stage. Occasionally, I tired other loose powders as well (Chanel, Dior, Blasco…), but always came back to Lumene. So I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. I tried Chanel, Max Factor and the latest try was Loreal but I wasn’t satisfied! So when I was in Helsinki, complaining to my friend Maija how badly the Loreal powder was doing the job, she later texted me that Lumene is back with a new mineral loose powder. So today when I quickly popped into town and Anttila’s second floor, I looked if the powder was there and yes it was. I didn’t hesitate for a minute. There was also a Lumene representative in the shop (wearing Nanso’s dress) and I quickly told her how devastated I had been when they stopped making the loose powder. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one as they had received so many complaints that now they finally came back with a new one. I’m not a total fan of Lumene but there are a few products I do like, for example the Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum. Today, inspired by the powder and the representative, for the first time I bought their Wild Rose Lipstick in a new wonderful vintage red color called Joy of Brightness. I’ve only tested it tonight but feels good.
In Helsinki I met with my web master and discussed about updating the site. One thing I’ve been thinking a lot is whether I should remove the blog from the site and have it somewhere separately. He and few other people I’ve talked about it with, think that I should keep the blog on this site (we will remove it from the front page, though). They say that my life is my work and my work is often about the everyday, the observations about the everyday, the small and sometimes insignificant things that occur, happen and I come across. But it is exactly posts like this that I’m hesitating to post on this site! I’m very conscious of writing about my interest and inspiration of design –weather it’s about design of furniture, cutlery, clothes or shoes-, fashion, traveling etc. People have such strong views of high & low art although it is often exactly that boarder that my work also touches…
Anyway, in Helsinki I also had a heated discussion with one choreographer whether my work is dance. Maybe more about that in another post!
Johanna
