issue one

EDITORS
l e t t er
I am fascinated by what moves usboth literally and figuratively. I am enthralled with movement, motion and looking forward. I ponder the words that make up the sentences that carry us into paragraphs that tell the story. I think of the conductors wandits motion, balancing the notes silences and reverberations in an orchestral movement. I think of the image or the frame, both still and moving, that make up the photographers book or filmmakers cinematic offering.
I visualize the blank canvas, the artists hand grasping the brush, dipping it into fresh paint that will give way to the image. I think about the needle, the thread and the cut pattern that makes up the garments that clothe our bodies. The aspects are interdependent, each relying upon the other. With all this thought of movement, perhaps one would be surprised at how much I also look back upon the past. I have grand nostalgic (almost rain-swept) moments in my mind, when I need the memory of what has passed to fortify me, to give me wisdom, or perhaps to remind me of one particularly embarrassing moment (one that I dare not to repeat) that keeps me from standing still. But I realize that really, all those fragmented moments make up the whole of my life, and that I should not be ashamed or regretful on any of itbecause it is part of my story, it makes up the whole, it is part of my movement. A few, perhaps apprehensive, people have asked me why I would start a magazine during a recession. Its a terrible time to start a new venture, some would say. But then again, some of them are the few beleaguered folks who expressed to me eight years ago, Why would you move to New York? Its so dirty, so loud. I say, My life was leading me this way. New York has proven to be a great love of mine, and this magazine is a continuation, in part, of my movement. Besides, I dont have time for naysayers (or ignoranceand all those isms that fall under that banner), but I will always make time for those who create, who innovate, who push things forward, who learn from their mistakes, relishing the lessons of the past, and who glimpse the future where they wish to contribute something wonderful, something that will inspire and ignite someone else to do the same. I look to highlight those attributes in this book. Furthermore, a recessionjust like the Depression of the 1930sis a call to arms of sorts. We need our artists now more than ever, not just for entertainment or distraction, but for communication, interpretationand of course, for inspiration. When I look at this first issue of The Dirty Durty Diary, I am thrilled. Who knew that a thought on a rainy September day in 2009 would move into an idea further fleshed out by me and Andy (my brilliant Photo Editor) and later presented to Justin (who became my positively prodigious Fashion Director)that would end up with me, less than 12 months later, having dinner at Nobu with Calvin Klein and Larry Clark discussing, of all things, creativity, the past, present, and future? It was a wonderful experience to eat with two iconic talents, both with a very parallel history. I adore that Larry cusses like a truck driver (something he and I have in common) and that his creative process is quite contemplative and disciplined. It was a privilege to listen to Larry speak so openly about his past as it pertains to his upcoming retrospective in October at Muse dArt Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and yes, I was humbled by Calvin relinquishing coveted tales regarding Warhol, Studio 54, and the creation of his eponymous brand that would only need to be known by two letters: CK. A special thank you to Tiffany Limos, my Editor-at-Large, who brought so many of these wonderful people into the fold (literally) of this magazineand I am of course thankful for my wonderful team: Clare Smythe, Lynn Furge, Teresa Lopes, Andy Boyle, Justin Min, Nat Ma, Maurice Brown, Rawle Skeete, Rohita Shivnarain, Tom Hawking, Ellen Moynihan and Jessica Fu. I truly could not have done this without any one of you. I also want to thank Rick Blinderman at Thames Printing for doing such a wonderful job for us. As Calvin said, discovery can be a great thing. I believe that the artists that we will be bringing forth to you in this and future issuesartists who reveal their souls, creative process, hopes for the future, entertain us with their humor and wisdomwill not only inspire you, but also will move you to discover a great many things. Thank you,

Maya Contreras Editor-In-Chief

(L-R) Larry Clark, Maya Contreras, Calvin Klein

the ddd : fall 2010

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issue one

this diary belongs to

52

fall 2010 : the ddd