Kilissa Cissoko

Don't miss Kilissa when she returns to the Buffalo Indie Market tomorrow at 12PM.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: name, where you grew up and where you live today, and any interesting facts!
My name, Kilissa, is from an ancient Greek play. I grew up on the South Side of Chicago—Barack Obama voted at my old elementary school!! Now I live in Black Rock—the next "up and coming" neighbor of Buffalo (check it out!). My cat's name is Sarah. I named her after Sarah Vaughan, my favorite jazz singer.


What brought you to the art of music?
I always had a deep fascination for sound. I started early on piano but switched to flute in school. I also sang in the Chicago Children's Choir. I liked to create my own music when I was young, too. Singing and dancing!


What type of music do you play and who have influenced you?
I have classical training—and I was immersed in the New Music scene when I studied at SUNY Buffalo. But I am more drawn to jazz and rock & roll—and I also love African and Caribbean music. Rhythm really draws me in. My songwriting is influenced by the Beatles and Carole King, but I also like more out-there writers such as Kate Bush and Frank Zappa.



What are some of your favorite local shops and restaurants or cafes?
The Falafel Bar has great food. Betty's is great, too. I get all my gardening supplies at Urban Roots. The Comfort Zone Cafe on Elmwood is really nice. I play there, too.


What is your favorite Buffalo made product, food/merchandise?
Favorite Buffalo made product? Umm..Mentholatum...? But seriously, I think Buffalo makes a lot of great music!! Like Harold Arlen—who grew up on the East Side. He wrote the music for The Wizard of Oz. That's amazing. Aretha Franklin lived here when she was little girl. And of course—
Rick James
Grover Washington
10,000 Maniacs
Goo Goo Dolls
Ani DiFranco
Gurf Morlix—and so many more talented musicians of all genres. Music could be a major export around here! I'd like to see more of us have success on that level.


What is your favorite thing to do that you can only do in Buffalo?
Drive to work in 10 minutes. I rarely get stuck in traffic. But otherwise, I think our parks are an amazing asset. I'm also psyched to see the waterfront renovation.


Are you signed on a label or would you like to be in the future?
I'm independent now, but I'd consider working with a label. It would be nice to have a team behind me. But, realistically, you end up having to do a lot of the music biz stuff yourself anyway. Musicians have to be kind of savvy and entrepreneurial. At the moment I make my living by teaching music because I have a young child. I used to tour and I really miss the traveling. Hopefully that will be in the cards again one day. The internet changes everything, anyway!


What do you like most about the Buffalo Indie Market and what it stands for?
I love the way Buffalo Indie Market supports local artists and gives them a place to do business. The collective model is the way to go—artists and musicians collaborating and helping each other out. As well, for people who appreciate hand-made, locally-made arts and crafts, it's a really pleasant shopping experience. It has a social buzz to it. It reminds me of the marketplaces of the olden days. And you can get something to eat while your there. I'm glad BIM includes live music, too. It's a nice way to bring my music to people who otherwise would not know that I exist!


What does Buffalo mean to you?
Buffalo is kind of my adopted home, so I appreciate that it has so much to offer while at the same time it's not overwhelming or too crowded. I have a lot of good friends here; many good times. I like to travel, but Buffalo is great to come home to.


Where can we find you playing next after the Buffalo Indie Market?
Comfort Zone Cafe, Friday, December 19th, 8-11 pm. 1002 Elmwood Ave at Potomac.
My website is: www.kilissa.com

Brian Wheat

Brian will be making his musical debut at the Buffalo Indie Market, tomorrow at 1PM. Don't miss it!

What type of music do you play and what makes you unique to what is already out there?
I play what they're calling indie folk. I think what makes my music different is the space that is in the music. I tend to use silence and space to help define my songs. It can often times say or evoke as much, if not more, emotion that a barrage of sound.

Where do you get your inspiration from for songs like Relentless and Setting Soon
Old places, nature and grey afternoons. Also, Relentlessness is very much about human connection to nature and each other. Society reflecting natural phenomena in so many ways is very interesting to me

Besides being a solo artist, do you have a day job?
Yes, I'm a middle/high school science teacher.

What is your favorite Buffalo made product?
My vegetables
Weber's mustard
Sponge Candy.
(hey, I like to eat)


What are some of your favorite local shops and hangouts?
The Lexington Coop
Tru Teas
Guercios
Essex St. Pub
Allen Street Hardware
Adam Mickiewicz Library
Delaware Park.

Who are some of you most inspired by?
Dylan
Neil Young
Elvis
Willie Nelson
NoFX

What is your favorite thing to do that you can only do in Buffalo?
Walk on the Bird Island Pier




Are you signed on a label or would you like to be in the future?
I put my last record out on my own label. I'd love some support in putting the next one out. So, yeah...having a label would be great.


What do you like most about the Buffalo Indie Market and what it stands for?
People have passion and are creative with that passion. People like the things they make and do. It's not often easy to bring those two worlds together in a public forum. I think Buffalonians are good at doing that. I'm glad that we have the indie market to help with that.



If you had one word to describe Buffalo what would it be?
Hearty

Where can we find you playing next after the Buffalo Indie Market?
Watch for some new songs to be released...I've got a great new group of songs that I'm anxious to get out...so...As of now we don't have any gigs scheduled and are focusing on that.

Don't miss Brian Wheat this Sunday at 1PM at the Buffalo Indie Market, hosted by Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, 76 Pearl Street, Downtown Buffalo

City Love Clothing

Interview:

Tell us a little about yourself: name, where you grew up and where you live
today, when you started your business and anything else interesting!
Tony Maggiotto. I grew up in North Buffalo on Voorhees & Tacoma.
I went to St. Joe's, then Canisius College. I have three beautiful
sisters who all attended Holy Angels Academy. I now live in Elmwood
Village, one block down from my new store.

Besides being a small business owner, do you have any hobbies?
When I'm not working, I like catching up with friends all around
Buffalo. One day I want to take piano lessons, but right now I stay
sane by exercising about 5 times a week. I have found that it is
great for the health of my body, and I need to stay healthy and keep
my energy up. I am my only employee!

How do you support the local arts community and why?
I support the local arts community by teaming with young artists
to create many of the images on CityLove's clothing. I have already
worked with about (8) artists in order to create the 20+ designs in
the CityLove collection.

What is your favorite Buffalo made product you sell?
My favorite shirt is the only shirt I designed - "wake the
lion." The shirt was inspired by the lion mural at the corner of
Delaware & Virginia. The mural was painted by Frank Cravotta. He
once sent me an e-mail saying he saw the shirt...liked it....and
wished us well. He painted it by himself years ago, and his current
job is Director of Design for the Buffalo Sabres. Cool!!


What is your favorite hand-made item you have found at the Buffalo
Indie Market?
I like the hand-made jewelry of Alluring Treasures (P. Neeson).
The pieces are so diverse and very colorful. I liked them so much
they are selling in our CityLove store.



What are some of your favorite local shops and restaurants or cafes?
I grew up in the dining room at Bob & John's on Hertel. I also
love several things at E-T-S and La Pizza Club. Gabriel's Gate has
great ambience and food. For special occasions, I like The Left Bank
or Cecelia's.


What is your favorite thing to do that you can only do in Buffalo?
Drive the Delaware S-curves at least 3 times a day.



What advice would you like to give to someone looking to start a small
business in the Queen City?
Diversify your sources of income. A 21st Century business is
built on creativity, flexibility, and speed. Offer more products.
Offer your services. Get paid for referrals. Sell online. Join
trade networks.

How do you advertise your business?
I do a mix of things, but nothing works better than a happy
customer referral or a special event sale. We have a great product
and we are afforable!


What do you like most about the Buffalo Indie Market and what it stands for?
I like that the people involved are high-quality, genuine artists
and the products are not cheap and/or useless. These are great for
gifts or everyday life.....just like CityLove.


What do you like most about being a Buffalonian?
That one day I know the rest of the world will recognize Buffalo
as a great place to be, and a great place to be from!


If you had one word to describe Buffalo what would it be?
POTENTIAL.

Wash My Cloth

Tell us a little about yourself: name, where you grew up and where you live today, when you started your business and anything else interesting! My name is Carrie and I am addicted to fiber. I grew up in Western New York. Our family moved around a lot and by middle school, I had been to five different schools. I met my husband at Buffalo State College and we moved to Chicago to find jobs in 1998. As cost of living increased and we welcomed our first of two sons, we decided to move back to Buffalo to have the help of our families to raise our children. I was fortunate to be able to continue working for my employer from my home office, but saw myself feeling less than satisfied. I started a blog Weavergirlguz a year ago in hopes that I could narrow down all my art interests into a business. On June 1st of this year, my blogging helped me create Wash My Cloth.

Besides being an artist/designer or all of the above do you have a day job?I am very fortunate to have a full time day job and even more fortunate to be able to work from home. I’m an account manager for a Lease Administration company based out of Chicago. We work for Commercial clients worldwide. Although grateful for a job, I do miss the water cooler aspect of working in an office. Now, when I get on the phone, I tend to blabber to anyone who will listen.

Do you consider yourself an artist or designer and what drove you to the arts?
I had to google this. Definitely both. Designing the concept, shape, usage and application of the product and as an artist to develop that design into something unique, interesting and pleasant.
I was immersed in the arts as a kid. When I was young, my cousin and I would go to our great grandmothers house for lunch before half-day kindergarten. I remember her always doing needlework and being fascinated by the movement of her needle through the canvas.
My father is a wildlife watercolor artist, and our family vacations were always centered on his biggest show in Clayton, NY. My mom used to do craft shows with various creations, including Theorem painting. As I saw all these varied artists and their abilities, I knew that I too could compete with them at some point. At Buffalo State, I took a weaving class to fill one semester, and that really did it for me. It gave me fiber as my muse and my loom as my vehicle.

What's your creative process? How do you create your works of art, with what materials and where?
Procrastination is my creative process. I spend a lot of time thinking about the next project and when I have gone through multiple variations in my head, I get to it. A purse design can take a couple weeks, where a weaving project can take upwards of a month. Talking out loud about an idea helps, but results in accusations of procrastination.
All my weavings are done on my four harness Leclerc loom and are usually made with cotton and wool. My purses are all made with 100% wool. I crochet them first and then machine-felt and hand form them. Some purses get glass beads, some buttons, some are left just as they come. My Blanquilts are a mix of quilted cloth and a comfy blanket. The first blanquilt was inspired by the need for a large blanket that two people can share on a couch without someone being left with cold feet. My Wash Towels and Pocket Mitts are 100% cotton.

What is your favorite product you have made to date?
I am really excited about my Polka Purse Series, however my favorite product is my Weaver Bird Blanquilt. I had this blanquilt that was nice, but needed something extra, and I spent a major amount of time trying to decide what that was. I decided that it would be interesting to intertwine different aspects of my life into one piece. The bird represents my dad and my childhood, the nests for my home and my children, and the species of bird for my love of weaving. The embroidery itself reminds me of my great grandmother. What are your favorite artists, designers, writers, musicians and why?
I am really enjoying the writing of David Sedaris, especially when I listen to him speak his words. His humor is honest and believable. Music is tough for me, as I am a radio gal and tend to put on a station and leave it there. But I know I don’t like the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus.
Where are your favorite local places to shop?
I love to spend time at Clayton’s Toys, Ten Thousand Villages and Ed Youngs Hardware in Williamsville. Since joining Etsy, I have been doing most of my shopping there and have found many interesting artists locally.

What advice would you like to give other artists just starting out?
I’m not going to tell you to “go for it’, because I’m sure you’ve heard that before. My advice is to set a goal, however small, and write it down in a public place-whether on the refrigerator, or your blog. Or tell someone. Then make good on that goal. When you complete one goal, set another, but don’t swamp yourself with every part of owning a business: go forward one small step at a time, even if that step is ‘shower and get dressed by 9 am on Friday’.

How do you advertise your work?
I have set some goals for advertising. Right now, I market through Etsy forums, Twitter, Facebook and my blog. With two young boys and a full time job, I am not quite ready to advertise if I can’t back it up with a wide selection of product, or time to create custom orders.

Describe your weaving workshop scheduled for Sunday Dec. 14th from 1 to 3Pm ($5) during the Indie Market?
The weaving workshop will give you a chance to sit at a four-harness floor loom and weave four inches. Four inches may not seem like a lot, but once you sit there and see how long one inch takes, I hope you will appreciate a handwoven item even more. Once complete, you will have made four handwoven drink coasters. I will finish these off at my studio by stitching the sides secure. They will be ready for pickup before Christmas.

What is your favorite part of being a part of Buffalo Indie Market and how would you like it to further your creative career? Buffalo Indie Market helps me believe that Buffalo can become a viable city again. It is these small steps that can revitalize our city by getting people downtown and out of their mass retailers and mega malls every month. Supporting independent artists by purchasing a handmade work of art that was loved and nurtured, and not wrapped in plastic and strapped in with twenty-seven metal twist ties, can make that revitalization possible, one art lover at a time.

You can find a selection of Carrie’s work at her Online Shop and at the Buffalo Indie Market Holiday Celebration December 14th from 12 to 5.