Good day to you everyone, it’s another edition of Ra’s Roundup.
I’ve carved out a little more time to record messages like the one below for my audience during June and, I personally found it very rewarding and some people have actually reached out to express their appreciation for positive content. For me life is increasingly about simple pleasures and cheap thrills. I feel like I’m naturally inclined to share messages that encourage seeking out positivity or that share this inner spirit with others.
Let’s get into this months roundup!— beginning with a throwback to a mood board I created called “Off Planet”
I wrote this of “Off Planet” a mood board I created based on my ideas around utopia during dystopia.
“In sci-fi films and tv shows like Bladerunner, Altered Carbon, Zenon of The Future, there’s an off-planet where people travel too. Usually to get off of the earth, because [earth is] overpopulated, or has long since met a critical climate doom. In these off-planet worlds there’s this ultra-hygienic aesthetic, a meticulous touch. That brand new car smell and the feel of something untouched and not yet weathered from overuse. I am exploring off-planet [visually] and I am suggesting that we may be seeing its essence in the fashion world.” - Andra Lee (2021)
of course in 2021, we were still going through a pandemic and it was altering (temporarily) our lifestyle. I was seeing sanitation stations (tables with hand sanitizer) everywhere. It got me to thinking about tech, sterile environments and how fashion could change based on reactions to being in this atmosphere.
the resulting fashion being like, if Ye’s Sunday Service and Clean Girl Aesthetic had a baby. Below is a collage of the vibe.
I’ve talked about this mood board before but I was inspired to bring it back because I’d really like to wear more clothes like this. Light white knits with silver jewelry and coastal vibes.
The mood but in green…
A real world offshoot of “atmosphere effecting fashion” is the response to warmer and longer Fall and Spring climates. It came by the way of shorts being in Fall/Winter collections. Jorts and Bermuda Shorts returned to the market with fervor in the recent two years. Micro Shorts and the No Pants look also came in during the Spring leaving legs bare. I noticed this and asked myself, “are designers designing for climate change?”
Image Bank
Celia Cruz
Julie Mehretu is an Ethiopian American contemporary visual artist who BMW picked to design their Art Car of 2024. I haven’t really seen much of Mehretu’s work but really loved what she did with this whip. I also really enjoy the concept of a mechanical, moving art piece.
I’m gonna try to make this
If you know of Kokopelli the mythical being then you might get this image straight away. If you don’t, I posted an image below for reference.
Yohji Yamamoto Fall 2001
Happy Juneteenth! I love this burgeoning holiday. I’m experimenting with the ways I honor this day and the trials my people have been through. In a way it still feels like there is more freedom to attain yet I feel a sense of pride in the monumental progress has been made for and/or by Black people.
This year I took the day to relax and contemplate at home. When I wasn’t contemplating I was scrolling on the internet looking at how other people were celebrating Juneteenth. Which, also felt like part of the celebration.
Sandbox Beach Club, Accra Ghana
Been looking at DJ workstations since I am saving up for DJ equipment so I can expand programming on all of my channels. If you’re curious about the project check it out here!
You can also donate there if you feel the vibes.
https://andradaniellelee.com/A-Scape-2025
by 3D Illustrator Erica Ohmi –– I came across their work on are.na and found out their based in Brooklyn. Love the glossiness of the illustrations and animations.
Some Graphic Design I Enjoy
Home in Heven “Powerpuff" glass bag
Also if you’d like to see some of the original sketches for powderpuff girls check out this very outdated blog post from Lou Romano who says he “worked on The Powerpuff Girls from 1999-2000” creating thumbnails for the art director.
Here’s one below.
Sound Bank
That’s all I’ve got for you all this month! I wish you all a blessed and positive month. If you saw something in this newsletter you haven’t seen before… congrats you beat the algorithm! Join me next month for another roundup!
Big Love,
Ra