Vendors, Performance Artists and Attendees Shine At Cirque Voltaire

The Mad Tatters:  Brandan Styles and Ellie Rusinova
Local artists and creators of Cirque Voltaire
Photo courtesy of Brandan's FB profile

Last Friday night, two well regarded, local artists known as the Mad Tatters hosted Cirque Voltaire - Denver's first surreal circus art event.  Denver Subculture attended and not only were we impressed by the success of the show, we also had a damn good time!

Salon style display of some of the 30 artists featured
at the event. Photo courtesy of Klint Krenzke.
See more of Klint's event photos on Facebook.

The Mad Tatters, Ellie Rusinova and Brandan Styles, greeted their guests in character as Dr. B. Zurk and Madame Madness.  They delighted everyone with art and entertainment that was whimsical, mysterious, bizarre, even shocking. They also provided something which heretofore did not exist in Denver - an opportunity for unusual artists such as themselves to experience community with each other. Harkening back to the Dada movement in Europe nearly a hundred years ago, The Mad Tatters sought to create a haven where the modern world’s lack of meaning and depth is conquered by artistic collaboration. Cirque Voltaire was so-named as a tribute to Café Voltaire, where many of the Dada artists met to express themselves without risk of oppression.

Local act Tovio and Kalliope.
Photo courtesy of Klint Krenzke.

There were greater than 30 artists showing impressive work, as well as numerous live performances that were highly entertaining.  But we have to admit that we were rather taken with with the vendors and the costumed crowd (some of whom were perfomers as well - but they were working the crowd and we were digging it!). Vendors displayed remarkable talent in crafted items that were both anachronisitic and macabre. We delighted in getting to know their creators.  Without a doubt, they were jovial, charming people who were genuinely pleased about the positive response to their work.

We LOVE this.
Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

To our pleasent surprise, after the event, we also discovered a few striking black and white photos of Cirque Voltaire. While stalking everyone on Facebook (sketchy? maybe. creepers? for sure!), we encountered local photographer Dave Wood who gave us his permission to feature his work here as well.

Below, you will find some of our favorite encounters from the night.  Hopefully you get an opportunity to seek out these people around Denver, and find out for yourself that they are as strange as they look.  Which is why we here at Denver Subculture love all of them!

Keile Ament Altair and Stephinity Salazar
Owners/Artists:  Boutique Alchemystique

Our favorite item of the night.
Stunning top hat embellished with numerous vintage items.
By Boutique Alchemystique.   

Gorgeous vintage style hat.
All headpieces by Boutique Alchmystique are
adorned with authentic antique items such as watches.

Xavia Schmidt
Owner/Designer: Discerpo Necto Decrepitus

Among items such as miniature hats and bloomers, Xavia
also designs the lovely chokers shown above.

Rin Stewart-Thomas and friends support the event
by donning original designs by Xavia and gorgeous
makeup fit for surreal circus.

We don't have the artist's name but this piece
really caught our eye!

Local burlesque performer Tata Tatiana.

<><><><><><>

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

Handmade dolls by Hope Morgan of Haunted Sparrow.

Maximilian Shiffman - Drummer for Narwal Birdskull.

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com.

Professor Phelyx - A fine Mentalist Magician!
Flanked on either side by unknown,
yet equally silly cohorts.

Ammy Whiteunicorn Gione.
Snakecharmer. 

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

Dylan Johnson of Cerrious Design,
with Katelin Stagliano.
Offering iPhone covers and usb drives
a la Steampunk inspiration.

Event attendee Aimee L. Matheny wowed us with
her gorgeous getup.

Last but not least, the obligatory Kiss costume.
Worn by George Peele
Baritone Tunesmith and Custom Singing Telegream artiste!

We hope you liked our freak show!  To see more of Denver's rebellious-best, subscribe to our feed.  Like our Denver Subculture Facebook page too. Or we'll find you and kill you.

The long link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denver-Subculture/204833952880524?ref=ts

F#$! the mainstream!

Denver Nail Lounge - Mongolian Dynamo Ditches Master's Degree For Manicures

Photo courtesy of: denver.metromix.com

The Denver Nail Lounge changed ownership recently and the woman who is now in charge has serious cojones. We are impressed by her here at Denver Subculture because she is doing things HER way!  Her name is Puna Javzandolgor and she's a wicked smart, goal oriented, driven woman who is bound for success.  What makes her courage evident?  She took the entrepreneurial plunge in a big way when she decided to buy the Denver Nail Lounge.  It is located in the Denver Pavilions shopping center, on the 16th Street Mall, in downtown’s Central Business District.  Low rent it is not!  A lot of pretty fingers and toes will have to march out her doors to cover costs, but she doesn’t seem fazed.

So, you're asking yourself, with a location as mainstream as the Denver Pavilions, how is Puna fit to be part of Denver's Subculture?  It's all in the approach.  She is originally from Mongolia.  After the borders were finally opened in the 90’s, she traveled to America.  She entered the country with nothing less than a Master’s Degree in Computer Science. Unfortunately, she quickly found that the job market was too competitive; particularly because she was competing with U.S. citizens who were also seeking steady employment.  Rather than piss and moan about what some people would view as misfortune, she made no hesitation in ditching her degree in favor of something more lucrative.  Humble and hardworking, she decided that a steady income could best be had doing nails.  So, she went to work in Korean owned salons, learning bit by bit what everyone was doing right, and more importantly, what they were doing wrong.  Seeing that the shop owners were finding success in spite of their poor business management skills, she determined that she could certainly find even greater success utilizing her sharp intellect, natural business savvy and superior English speaking skills. 



Photo courtesy of: kmgh.cityvoter.com

We have to admit that her English speaking skills go a long way.  It’s a breeze to make appointments, express likes and gripes and, shoot the shit with her.  (If our willingness to note the annoyance of communication problems in nail salons offends you, you're reading the wrong blog.  We embrace every walk of life, but we tell it like it is.) We also love the way she’s smartly taking advantage of the immediate benefits that are inherent in her adoption of the Denver Nail Lounge.  Such as the existing interior design concept.  With her few added tweaks the Denver Nail Lounge reminds us of Twister meets ...