Makers: Jonathan Reinhart

I've known Jonathan Reinhart for a while now. He went to my high school and I met him through the theater company my friend performed in. It was almost shocking how good he was on stage, and at some point I worked up the courage to ask him to model for me. He actually became a fantastic collaborator on our first project, a story called Circus Freaks, and I've had the pleasure of working with him a few times since then. Since then, he has become an amazing drag performer under the fantastic name Anita Procedure. One day I was poking around his Instagram when I saw his amazing version of a drag Rococo outfit for a Rocky Horror show he attended. Jonny has always amazed me with his creativity and fearlessness, but this costume took him to a new level of #flawless. I commented on it (PROBABLY IN ALL CAPS) asking him to do an interview and photoshoot for my blog and he kindly obliged. And so, you lucky readers, here is the shining star that is Jonathan Reinhart in Marie Antoinette drag.

I first saw you on stage back in high school and I was struck by what a powerful and emotive actor you are. Can you tell me about your background in theater and how that transitioned into drag? What first drew you to drag?

Wow, thank you my dear! I grew up doing church plays as a kid, and was always very much a performer. When I was really little, my mom and older sister used to put dresses and lipstick on me. I think that laid the foundation for my future cross dressing. Haha. I continued doing local theatre, and at about 14 or 15 I found out about drag, and started dipping my toes into it. A theatre friend and I got cheap wigs from Party City, put on some makeup and my mom's clothes, and strutted around the house. 

I think what kept me interested in drag was the art of the transformation. As I got better at makeup, wigs, padding, and everything, I saw how much you can fully transform into something else. Not even necessarily just another gender, but you can become an otherworldy creature. I think drag is magic. The way people receive you, and just the way you interact with people when you're in drag. Suddenly everyone has a smile when you talk to them. You're a bearer of fun, light, and irreverence.

That's a wonderful way of putting it! So even though you are dressing as a woman, you are kind of creating your own gender and persona. I think that's why we both responded so strongly to the rococo--it's this fantasy of femininity and we kind of used it as a way to mock traditional femininity. How much of drag is about gender and sexuality for you?

That's a very loaded question... I think gender and sexuality are weaved into the fabric of what drag is. It's a blurring of genders. Biological women do drag. Straight men do drag. Transgender women do drag. For me, drag is about breaking down gender roles and just looking fabulous and wearing whatever you want. Drag isn't sexually exciting to me in the way that it is to some people, but there's definitely a sexiness in the taboo of wearing things like heels and fishnets... and I tend to (or try to) be a sexy, seductive performer.

We both grew up in a very conservative place. Can you tell me about the drag community and how it differs from the setting you grew up in? Is the community a big part of your love for drag or is it more the transformation and performance?

It's hard to speak about the drag community as a whole, because there are so many facets of it... but I think it has a lot more in common with conservative communities than you would think. In both the drag community and other communities, everyone has their own idea about what's right and what's wrong, and when you delineate from that, it can cause drama or ruffle feathers. But you have to find your own tribe. The queens that I do feel very close with are extremely supportive and nurture creativity. For some queens, the community is their whole life. I'm definitely more focused on my own performance, and my close circle of friends.

So, like anything, you just have to find your place in the community and do your own thing. Which brings me to the fun questions: what have some of your favorite performances been? What is it like for you on stage?

My favorite place to perform is in a theatrical setting. I've been heavily involved with Green Valley Theatre Company's "VerteFeé Cabaret", which is a fabulous, raunchy variety show inspired by Weimar-era German cabarets located in Sacramento. Some of my favorite numbers I've performed are "Young & Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey, and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" by April Smith and the Great Picture Show. Another favorite experience was when I played Morticia Addams in the Addams Family musical at Roseville's Tower Theater, directed by Jennifer Bortz. It was a rare opportunity that really challenged me, and I hope that in the future I can do more gender bending roles.

Getting into drag and being in drag for several hours is extremely uncomfortable. But when I get on stage, I'm focused on performing. It's always thrilling stepping out and feeling the energy of the crowd, and giving them a unique, exciting experience. 

Photography: Jenna Opsahl

Model, Makeup Artist, Drag Aficionado: Jonathan Reinhart

A huge THANK YOU to:

Margie Rudolph for the stunning hair accessories

Luna Nova for the best Marie wig we could have asked for

Christopher Cook for an amazing collection of lingerie

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Makers: Amy Hodkin

Amy Hodkin is the blogger behind The Creative Outlook. She is studying Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design and is producing some awesome work. I wanted to include her in my “Friends Who Make Things” series because she was one of the first people I talked to when I started blogging and she has continued to be an inspiration. Her work is so...her own. I was able to chat with her about her work, the daunting task of following your dreams, and Alexander McQueen.

Jenna: Hi Amy! You are one of my favorite artists in the blog world and you are at such an exciting time in your artistic career! I love to see young artists pursuing their passion and kind of tackling this time of great potential ahead of them. Your work is so expressive already; I can’t wait to see what comes next. How are you liking your experience as an artist and your time in school?

Amy: Thank you that's so kind. It's quite scary actually considering this is the route I've chosen and even though university might help me make contacts nothing is set in stone. The thought of my future makes me worried because I definitely don't want to have to work in retail or a cafe ever again and going down the art route is always a difficult one. It's everything I ever wanted it to be although it's more of a design course so I wouldn't call myself an artist. Right now our focus is on experimentation which I love, but I think the importance of applying the designs to fashion/interior/etc. comes within the second year and the problem with design is that sometimes going down the commercial route is the easiest... I'm not sure I want to do that ever- I'm not sure I could do it!

J: Totally, working in art and design is a weird scary path to take, but it comes with the biggest rewards. Things may not always go the way you think (Lord knows I have no idea what I am doing), but unexpected cool things can happen along the way if you keep working at what you do. All your experimenting seems really cool and like its giving you a wide variety of experience. What have been your favorite projects? Do you think you are moving more towards a specific style?

A: That's so true, I've actually stopped myself from trying to imagine the perfect outcome because it never turns out the way I think it will. It means I don't have to get my hopes up haha! That's probably why I love all of the experimenting, it gives me a chance to look at what works and what doesn't in terms of my own personal style. I'm actually really loving my current project, the module is based around 'slow crafting' and I've chosen to do paper screen printing with the theme of animals. My Photoshop project was great fun too because I love how fast you can work with computers!  I think I can see a style emerging but I don't really know how to describe it... I know drawing and collaging are definitely my favourite ways of working when it comes to putting ideas onto paper.

J: Your blog is an explosion of creativity. I love the title, "The Creative Outlook", because to be an artist you really need to see every part of life as a chance to find inspiration and be open to experimentation. That's why I particularly love your collaging and journals. Do those sort of come into fruition as you gather things and make them, or do you plan out themes and visual paths beforehand?

A: It makes me happy that you said you like the name because some days I think it's really bad haha! But that's a cool summary of it and actually very true. I never plan my journals or collages, I think if I did then I wouldn't enjoy it. I just grab a load of stuff (papers, photo's, magazines) and then play around with it! I don't have to worry about anyone seeing it so it gives me a chance to just 'let it all out' and create things I probably wouldn't do on my course. 

J: Where have you found the most inspiration in your life? Any artists, designers, films, places, or memories stand out? How do you think it translates to your work?

A: Hard question which I always struggle answering but visiting art galleries is ALWAYS a good start for inspiration because you could find anything there. I love Alexander McQueen, and I know that's one designer I'll never not be inspired by. My favourite part about his work is the theatrical side- the way he puts on a show and tells a story. The clothes are beautiful too, but when everything is brought together with stage, music, lighting and a concept that's what I really love. His collection 'Joan' is inspired by Joan Of Arc, so lot's of the clothing was made from chain mail but also inspired by menswear as well. Their hair was styled to show big foreheads, they wore red contacts in their eyes and when the final garment came out the model was surrounded by a ring of fire. It was quite sinister- I admire the thoughts he put into things to create an atmosphere. For Givenchy he designed a collection called 'Eclect Dissect' and said that his idea was based around a mad scientist who cut up women and mixed them all back together. I really love the story telling aspects and you can tell he had so much passion. I think that's inspiring- I could list off a reel of artists and designers I like but the thing what makes them great is that they're passionate about what they're doing. When I see them creating new work it makes me want to make something!

Thank you Amy for taking the time to talk with me! These are a few of my favorite of her pieces. Take a look at her blog here and her portfolio here!

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Makers: Cocomont Vintage Shop

So I want to make this "Friends Who Make Things" a feature on my blog. Because there ain't nothin better than celebrating people doing what they love and being creative and wonderful. 

And let me tell you, Matti and Ben of Cocomont Vintage Shop are wonderful. I met Matti at the best summer camp in the world about four years ago. She was the Improv instructor and I took the class because why not ( I was terrible at it.) I met Ben soon after and since then they have been some of the most inspiring creative forces in my life. One of the reasons I love coming home so much is to run around and take pictures with them. 

These two have awesome style and a great eye. They collect the coolest vintage stuff and sell it on their Etsy store. They house their collection at Matti's mom's flower shop. Cocomont is also an awesome styling team for events and weddings. 

We did a fun shoot and I took some photos of them doing their vintage thing. 

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