The Platinum Mask

Desmond Blair is a Dallas-based artist and problem solver and has been ever since childhood. Blair was born without fingers. Through navigating learning how to write without hands in school, Desmond discovered a love for art and animation. It was this love for animation and animated storytelling that inspired Blair to expand his artistic talents. Blair’s tenacity, determination, and drive empowered him to graduate from high school at the age of 16. Blair later earned his undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Dallas where he honed his traditional abilities and transferred them to digital media focusing on animation and computer graphics. Blair later returned to UTD where he received his MFA in Art and Technology with a concentration on the development of computer graphics and the study/analysis of emerging media trends. He now uses his art to encourage others, promote limb difference awareness and raise money for charities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Desmond hopes to one day use his art to launch a scholarship fund that will assist graduating seniors born with limb differences in the pursuit of their academic goals. Desmond’s artwork can be found at the Pencil on Paper Gallery in Dallas.

My name is Carla Majeno. When I was almost 18, I had a plan. I knew how everything would turn out and as long as I stayed on this path everything would be great because it would be according to plan. Everything changed when I found out I was pregnant. I spent countless hours on YouTube looking up videos of pregnancy and what it means to be a “mom” and felt like I needed to know everything in order to be prepared. However, as much as I planned, I realized that nothing really ever goes to plan anymore… and that is okay.

Motherhood is a journey and it’s not one that can be planned and pinpointed every step of the way. Truly, just being along for the ride is one of the best gifts. We stress out and spend so much time thinking about the end result, we always forget to enjoy the journey.

I started blogging shortly after Zoe was one. At first it was to help me cope through my mental health and to also talk about things I had learned and what I wish I had known beforehand, but it turned into so much more. I realized that motherhood and life as a mom is not always easy or fun, but always beautiful, and I want to share that on my page. I want to spread positivity to mothers and show them how beautiful they are and how powerful motherhood truly is.

Malik Johnson is an actor, singer-songwriter, producer, and content creator from Fort Worth. Surpassing over 250,000 streams in 20+ countries with music largely self produced in his closet, his music is largely influenced by real life situations. His most popular songs include Expectations, Carmen Sandiego, & No Hard Feelings. Malik got his start in musical theater and considers acting his first love, roles range from Divorce Court & Dr Pepper commercials to Queen of The South, The Pullout Game, & Cruel Summer.

Mohammad Altawaha, also known as “Abu Omar,” is a serial entrepreneur based out of Houston, Texas.

Originally from a small village in Jordan, Altawaha moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s Degree in 2008. During his time in school, Altawaha worked in various restaurants across Houston & rediscovered his passion for cooking.

Ashley Durden started her business (El Bosque Plus) working with teen girls in 2017 in Juarez, Mexico. Since then her work has grown from just working with teen girls in Mexico, to working with all teens in both Mexico and the United States.

El Bosque plus is about enriching teens through this time in their lives and helping them live life (now) by putting their best foot forward. Ashley is able to do this by providing them with safe spaces to have open discussions/workshops about all topics, providing them healthy tools to handle the situations or emotions they might be dealing with, and an option for parents to work alongside Ashley in using practical tools to support their teens and build healthier relationships with them.

Currently, she is working with families virtually as well as in-person within the DFW area by teaming with the Rowlett Library and working with middle and high schoolers after school, and planning family events for the upcoming year.

DEV WULF

The story of the native Houstonian begins with his hometown as the opening backdrop for a long journey in musical identity. From playing in bars on Saturdays and churches on Sundays, the Texicana frontman would gain a versatile understanding of multiple genres spanning from rock, hip-hop, blues, and country.

Since his move to Dallas in 2008, the Americana singer would go on to open for national acts including Shane McDonald, Leagues, Grace Potter, Devon Gilfillian, Black Joe Lewis, Sir Earl Toon (Kool & the Gang), and Grady Spencer & the Work while performing with the band and as himself. While continuing his active work with Texicana, he is currently sitting in as a lead guitarist and vocalist for rapper, Moses Uvere.

TEXICANA!

“What would happen if we started a band together?”

As Chris J Norwood and Dev Wulf recall, that’s the resonating question at a round table in an old East Dallas bar; just audibly above an old cash-operated jukebox. Lakewood Landing would be the birthplace of a new idea between a trio of musicians and a few beers. The buzzing room of ideas would later evolve into an Americana outfit with joining members, Chris Pitts and Kelly Huffman, offering a unique rhythm section drawing from folk, rock, country, and jazz.

Starting with little known icons, Big Star and Mudcrutch as influencing introductions, Texicana’s early releases gave insight to their creative beginning with cover tunes, followed by their debut EP, No Good Reason. The Dallas Observer describes Texicana’s nostalgic Americana and bluesy rock “as good for the soul,” during a time when COVID-19 closed down the country. Their latest offering, “Little Bit of Trouble,” continues to offer that good-for-the-soul feeling with songs that, as Central Track put it, “…feel like a trip down Elm Street with the windows down.”

Texicana has gone on to win Best Folk & Americana Act and Best New Act of 2020 by the Dallas e-magazine Central Track, nominated Best Americana Act by the Dallas Observer, and winner of 91.7 KXT’s Tiny Cake Contest. They’ve shared the stage with national acts Grace Potter, Devon Gilfillian, Black Joe Lewis, Southern Avenue, and Grady Spencer & The Work.

Their EP, “Little Bit of Trouble,” is the latest to be released by Texicana and is available digitally wherever music is available.

You can follow Dev Wulf on Instagram as @wulfsounds and Texicana as @texicanaband.

Visual Promotions

(Dropbox links)

Dev Wulf:

(Photo by Rico Deleon, @ricostudios)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jh72nvnqjlcm9a3/407E1D50-C6D2-4E2F-8EC8-2660073E6951.jpeg?dl=0

Texicana:

(in order of appearance: Chris J Norwood, Dev Wulf, Chris "CP" Pitts, and Kelly Huffman. Photo by Rico DeLeon, @ricostudios)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vcj8yh9vxdmz1ad/Texicana-101521DWide_ricostudios-6822.jpg?dl=0

Other Links:

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/362xoEjEFgj1Z3MychMYBt?si=_0inybgqSc-j76F2U6GL6A

Texicana Website

www.texicanaband.com

Latesha Burnley is a DFW based artist, currently tattooing out of TNT Tattoo Company. She has been tattooing professionally for 3 years. Her style consists of bold and colorful neotraditional, noveau, and pop culture inspired designs. Find her portfolio, current projects and booking info on instagram @Elle_tattooer

Growing up in a household as a first generation Pakistani American wasn’t easy. Although it came with a set of high expectations, I was driven to challenge myself to do the best I could and reach my own personal goals. I found myself struggling to find hobbies that were appropriate for both of my cultures, when I was inspired by my mom's talent of sewing Pakistani dresses.  I loved shadowing her and learning how to sew. After several years, I was planning my wedding, and it was extremely difficult to find the dresses and jewelry I wanted. Shortly after my COVID wedding, I decided to take a new step and open my online shop, Beauty by Mishaal. I offer the best quality in South Asian dresses, clothing and accessories and am known for my affordability. I am grateful to have so many loyal customers. Their feedback is what keeps me going!

Shoutout to @lightsandgin for the featured headshot for this episode!

Meghan Forest Farmer has woven her way through the fashion pipeline over the past 10 years, but currently works as a fashion stylist, both on photo shoot sets, and in the wardrobes of her personal styling closet. After learning of the unfortunate, darker side of the fashion industry, specifically within garment manufacturing, she made sustainability and ethical fashion a mission for her personal life, and to educate her styling clients on. While volunteering with a local organization, visiting incarcerated women, she learned of the great difficulty of finding dignified work after incarceration. She made the connection between the fashion industry stealing dignity from the garment workers it exploits, and women in her city who deserved to have their dignity restored. The idea for her newest business venture was formed; The Bright Factory. A cut and sew factory in Fort Worth, TX, creating sustainable t-shirts, by the hands of women being given another chance. When she is not on a photoshoot set, or running a business, she enjoys being a goofball with her amazing husband, karaoke and dance parties, and serving her community and church.

Wendy is a mental health and acne awareness advocate with a mission to end acne stigma and harmful stereotypes associated with this skin disease. After personally suffering from cystic acne and acne scars for over 20 years, she started The Acne Effect in December of 2019 in order to raise awareness and educate the public about the impact acne has on mental health.