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About hamneska

Katie Marie Hamness was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, on December 19, 1987. Hamness is attending Minnesota State University Moorhead to pursue a BFA degree in graphic design and a BS degree in journalism. After graduation, she plans to work as a graphic designer and ultimately, through hard work and promotion, become an art director for a graphic design firm or magazine corporation. Hamness is currently serving as the president of MSUM’s clubDesign student organization and in the spring of 2010 her artwork was showcased and judged by Clarence Morgan in the student art exhibition at MSUM. In September 2010 Hamness’s artwork from Scotland was shown at the “Lang May Yer Lum Reek” exhibition at the MSUM gallery. Some of her writings have been published in the Fargo-Moorhead “ArtsPulse” publication and in “Underground Paranormal” magazine, which is circulated nationwide. She currently lives in Fargo, North Dakota, where she works as a freelance designer, as well as a graphic artist and assistant photographer for MSUM.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something…Green!

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Story by Katie Hamness

MSUM Journalism and Graphic Design

The bride bought a dress that can be worn again, guests carpool in hybrid vehicles and are seated in an outdoor garden instead of a big, energy-sucking reception hall.

A “green wedding” or “eco-friendly wedding” is exactly what it sounds like: a wedding where the couple tries to decrease the impact of their event on the planet. Couples plan their weddings by integrating eco-friendly alternatives, such as eco-friendly invitations, flowers, dress, photography and more.

For more information on green weddings check out this site.

Decorating with simple and recyclable materials will help your wedding be more environmentally friendly. Photo by Sheri Hartwig Photography.

Check out Sheri’s blog site here.

Going green is a growing trend in the multimillion-dollar wedding industry and businesses are cashing in.

Car companies are offering hybrid limousines, wine companies are helping couples find all-natural vintages and hotels are finding accommodations at places committed to saving water and energy and reducing solid wastes. Caterers are offering pesticide-free menus and fine china and linen napkins instead of throwaway.

Although this trend may be sweeping the United States it doesn’t seem to have fully hit the Fargo-Moorhead area yet. LaNei Groshong, owner and operator of A Grand Affair, a wedding planning business in Fargo, has seen a couple “green weddings” but hasn’t had much demand for them yet.

“We live in a conservative community, so maybe this is why the trend hasn’t reached us yet,” said Groshong.

Visit A Grand Affairs website.

Visit The Knot for more green wedding tips and advice.

Save energy by holding your wedding and reception outdoors during the day. Photo by Sheri Hartwig Photography.

Fargo/Moorhead provides some eco-friendly options for couples in need.

Even if the trend isn’t huge around the Fargo-Moorhead area, wedding planners can still provide some economically friendly options like recycled invitations, programs, thank-you cards or organic flowers. Couples can even replace the wedding favors with fun eco-friendly ideas like giving tiny trees to guests that they can take home and plant.

Melanie Hansen, owner and operator of Dream Weddings By Melanie in Fargo, helps a bride plan and organize her perfect wedding day.

“As for organic and locally grown foods or biodegradable plates and utensils, the couple would need to contact other companies and resources to specifically ask for those items,” said Hansen. “Myself and other wedding planners around the area could help direct a couple to those certain companies.”

Visit the Dream Weddings By Melanie website.

Check out this green wedding site.

Using recyclable canning jars as vases is a great way to be environmentally friendly on your big day. Photo by Sheri Hartwig Photography.

Eco-friendly photography helps brides save money, time and the environment.

Couples are even looking at ways to make the photography more eco-friendly and healthier for the environment. Many brides are choosing digital photography over film, and some even go as far as only printing in black and white to save on color ink expenses and pollution.

“With digital photography, the harsh developing chemicals no longer exist and the process is much safer and faster,” said Traci Adamson, photographer and employee at Legacy Photography located in downtown Fargo.

Some couples are deciding to create a photo book of their special day instead of printing numerous individual prints.

“Photo books are great way to help the environment, and they showcase the couple’s wedding day in a very cool and special way,” said Adamson.

“Digital photography is the cheapest, fastest, and most eco-friendly photography around,” said Adamson.

Check out Legacy Photography’s website here.

For more information on creating your own photo book check out Shutterfly.com.

Many couples choose to create one-of-a-kind photo books to remember their wedding day instead of spending money on multiple prints. Photo courtesy of Shutterfly.com.

Some other ways to go green as you’re wearing white that are trendy and relatively cheap are to:

  • Limit travel by having the wedding in the town where most guests live
  • Help arrange car pools
  • Have a daytime wedding outdoors whenever possible
  • Choose recycled paper for invitations and place cards
  • Serve organic, locally grown foods
  • Decorate with organic, locally grown flowers, fruits and vegetables
  • Choose potted plants rather than cut flowers
  • Seek out caterers who recycle materials
  • Use linen and china instead of disposables
  • Use candles
  • Go acoustic for the music
  • Hire a hybrid limo or a horse and buggy
  • Pick digital pictures over film
  • Check out businesses that provide green services.

Many couples use digital black and white photography to save money and cut down on paper waste. Photo by Shawn Coulter Photography. Check out his website at: http://www.shawncoulterphotography.com/.

“As far as trends for weddings go, they seem to hit the big cities before here,” said Hansen. “It takes awhile for trends to get to the Midwest, but we will have to see what happens. If a bride is looking to be environmentally friendly for her wedding there are some options and ways to plan it in this area.”

“Going green” is becoming a popular trend in all aspects of life. So it’s not surprising to see it sweeping the wedding industry. As for this trend engulfing the Fargo-Moorhead area anytime soon; only time can tell.

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Trash that Dress!

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Story by Katie Hamness. Photos by Katie Hamness and Shawn Coulter Photography

MSUM Journalism and Graphic Design

Photo by Shawn Coulter Photography.

When you think of great combinations, bridal gowns mixed with mud, water, dirt and grass is not the first thing that jumps to mind.

With the vows taken and the honeymoon over, most brides get their dress professionally cleaned, wrap it in plastic and pack it away, never to be seen again. But there is another option. Since 2006, an increasing number of brides have chosen to throw caution to the wind and wear their beautiful gowns out into the elements of Mother Nature for one more time.

What exactly is ‘Trashing the Dress?’

The concept behind Trash the Dress (TTD) is simple — instead of letting your gown sit in the back of a closet looking pretty, put it back on for a fashion photoshoot where you end up with some very beautiful photographs that are extremely different from traditional wedding portraits.

The trend started in Australia and America and is now sweeping across all states, taking hold right here in Fargo, N.D. John Michael Cooper, a Las Vegas photographer, is the man credited with starting the trend. He has been taking what he calls “antibridal” pictures since 2000.

For more information on John Michael Cooper visit his website or blog.

Or check out this other article.

Shawn Coulter, owner and operator of Coulter Photography, is the only photographer in the Fargo-Moorhead area to offer the unique type of photography so far. A combination of wedding journalism and fashion is what Coulter tries to display through his photographs.

“Within the last four years I introduced ‘Trash the Dress’ to this area and it’s slowly staring to pick up,” said Coulter. “I thought it was a great idea. I mean what else are you going to do with the dress? I strive to be the first to bring new ideas in wedding photography to the Fargo-Moorhead area.”

Visit Shawn Coulter’s website and blog.

For more pictures on TTD click here.

The TTD trend continues in the Fargo-Moorhead area

Since introducing this concept to the area, Coulter says the demand for it has gone up a little bit every year.

“There are still a lot of people who are very hesitant and I think part of it is the name,” he said. “‘Trash the Dress’ isn’t the best name for it because it doesn’t mean that we are ruining the dress. It just means that we are doing things where it may get dirty, but nine out of 10 times a dry cleaner can get it out.”

Many brides are hesitant about getting their dress dirty since it’s something they have a special connection with. But after all the fuss, fittings and huge expense, you are left with an item you only wear once. So why not, take it back out and wear it one more time?

Tara Kempfer, one of Coulter’s clients, Trashed her Dress and came out with some great memories and amazing photos.

“I think what really got the bug going was that I got to pull the dress out of my closet again,” Kempfer said. “I didn’t have to do my hair or makeup and there wasn’t the stress of the wedding day. I also wanted to show my husband that the wedding is not all about the material things, like the dress.”

For more on TTD click here.

Or visit this website.

HOW TO GET TRASHED

  • Slide down a big, twirly slide in a children’s playground.
  • Do a skydive.
  • Splash in and out of muddy puddles
  • Climb a photogenic tree and swing from the branches.
  • Wade into or take a dive in your favorite running brook, lake or pond.
  • Get your new husband to spray-paint your dress.
  • Run through a field of wheat, mud, corn…
  • Take a roll in a hay barn or go horseback riding.
  • Go on all the rides at a country fair, especially the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round.
  • Hire a rowing boat and take a trip round a lake – the more submerged you get, the better the effect.
  • Do anything creative, crazy and fun!

A day in the life of TTD

A couple of years ago, I wrote a story about Trashing the Dress. Since then, I’ve been infatuated with these type of fashion photos and vow to one day trash my own dress, no matter what my mother has to say.

Since many people in this region are somewhat conservative and hesitant when it comes to trashing a wedding dress, I thought it might be fun to tag along with Coulter during one of his Trash the Dress sessions, to really see if it’s as scary as some think.

A few weeks ago I met Coulter and bride Darcie Wahl-Kline outside of the Fargo Theatre on a chilly October morning for her Trash the Dress session. Three years ago Wahl-Kline got married and had Coulter as her photographer. The dress still fit like a glove and she looked stunning, even though it was 10 a.m. and 42 degrees outdoors.

The morning starts out in an alley off of Broadway. Coulter and Glenda Kline, mother-in-law of the bride, fix Wahl-Kline’s dress for the first photo of the day. Then Coulter takes multiple shots with multiple vantage points and poses.

From left: Coulter explains the next location to Wahl-Kline. While lying on the sidewalk Coulter snaps pictures of Wahl-Kline inside the underpass of the 10th street bridge.

Coulter gets down to show how he wants Wahl-Kline to pose for the next round of photos. Wahl-Kline leans over the railings of the underpass while Coulter snaps photos from the street.

Coulter snaps a couple quick photos before going out onto the middle of 10th street for the last shots at this location. Before leaving, Coulter shows Wahl-Kline, her daughter Sarah Wahl, and her mother-in-law the photos from each location.

The next two locations Coulter takes us are by an abandoned building along 10th Street and outside of Usher’s House in Moorhead.

Coulter takes some time to change lenses to capture a closer shot of Wahl-Kline. He stands on top of the steps to get a great angle by the stonework on the building, and checks the lighting to make sure it’s just right.

The last location Coulter takes us is down by the river along one of the walking paths. He clears out the cockleburs before Wahl-Kline sits in the tall grass and poses for the next shots.

The most dynamic pose is the last pose of the day. Coulter instructs Wahl-Kline to stand on top of the piled up branches along the river and balance as he captures the moment and elements within it.

“In the end, it wasn’t a bit scary and was a lot of fun,” said Wahl-Kline. “It was fun and exciting. It’s just a very unique experience that you get and I’ve always wanted to try it.”

Trash the Dress is a unique opportunity that Coulter offers our community. It’s a different approach to traditional wedding photography and gives the bride a chance to wear her dress one more time. I can honestly say that a trash-the-dress session would be the perfect closing chapter to any couple’s wedding album.

Photography isn’t always about staging the perfect shot. A lot of times it’s about the story behind the photograph. It’s about making the image show something other than the snapshot. It’s about capturing the feeling, mood and moments of the day.

Three of the finished photos of Wahl-Kline. Photos by Shawn Coulter Photography.

Trashing a wedding dress may not seem like a work of art, but it becomes art because of the way photographers are capturing romantic moments, using dramatic lighting and creating unique ways and places to take pictures at is art. Sometimes finding new, innovative ways of changing an old tradition can be beautiful. You just have to look a little closer.

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Bras on Broadway: In honor, humor and hope

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Story and photos by Katie Hamness

MSUM Journalism and Graphic Design

For one night out of the year, wearing just a bra, is OK.

The fifth annual Bras on Broadway event was held Oct. 21, at the HoDo hotel and restaurant at 101 Broadway. This event is put on every October to create awareness and raise money for breast cancer awareness and prevention in our region.

Bras on Broadway is an art-focused fund-raiser for women in our area who are fighting breast cancer. The event also emphasizes creating awareness.

“We want to draw attention and be a spectacle and hopefully inspire people to not only clean out their bra drawer, but to also take control,” said Karen Stoker, owner and creative director of the HoDo.

Visit http://www.hoteldonaldson.com/ for more information on the HoDo.

The HoDo is strung with donated bras from top to bottom the weekend before the event.

Where the bras got their start

Five years ago Stoker found the inspiration for Bras on Broadway through a friend’s sister who had been in a breast cancer awareness event in which artists had made wearable art for the month of October. Since the mission of the HoDo is to create memorable experiences by celebrating our community’s visual, culinary and performing arts, Stoker thought an event like this would be the perfect fit for the Fargo-Moorhead community.

Five years later, Bras on Broadway continues to raise thousands of dollars each year to provide local help, in the form of accommodations, gas cards and wigs, for those fighting breast cancer. During the first four years of Bras on Broadway more than $100,000 was given to the American Cancer Society (ACS), and last year more than $42,000 was raised.

“The generosity of our community and local artists overwhelms me every year,” said Stoker.

Visit the Bras on Broadway website for more information.

A close-up detail shows the variety and color of the bras on the night of the event.

The event organizers work with the American Cancer Society to distribute the money they raise every year. Most of the funds from breast cancer events nationwide go to American Cancer Society corporate and are distributed for research. Bras on Broadway works a little bit differently; all the money raised from Bras on Broadway is distributed locally.

“We work through ACS, but because of our local connection, our local chapter has done a good job of helping keep the money in our area,” said Stoker.

For more information on ACS click here.

A night filled with art and music

The night starts at 7 p.m. with a social time when guests may enjoy food, beverages and music provided by The Front Fenders and Pat Lenertz. The welcome by Stoker takes place shortly after starting at 7:15 p.m. in the restaurant, followed by a welcome in the lounge and in Stokers. After the social time and welcome take place the highlight of the night begins: The Parade of Bras.

For more on The Front Fenders click here.

The non-wearable artwork is hung in the lounge and bids are placed on the clipboards that hang underneath.

Once the parade of bras is over guests can mingle, enjoy more food and beverages and make their bids on the wearable bras. Final bids are placed at 9 p.m. for the non-wearable pieces and at 9:15 p.m. for the wearable pieces, and finally at 9:45 p.m. the winners can pick up and pay for their artwork. The rest of the night is filled with laughter, hope, music and dancing.

“Each year I meet more people that this event actually affects, and that’s what makes this night so special for me,” said Alison Ottesen, general manager of the HoDo and organizer of Bras on Broadway.

The bar tenders keep busy since the restaurant is packed throughout the entire night.

The string of bras outside the HoDo

Even the exterior of the HoDo is an artful masterpiece during October. As part of Bras on Broadway the HoDo is covered with bras that have been given, along with a $5 donation, by women from throughout the area. The continuous garland of bras is hard to miss when walking or driving downtown and has become a staple for the month of October in our area.

“The bras just take on a life of their own,” said Stoker. She and her team take all the donated bras and make one continuous strand of them. The bras are then attached to cords across the roofline and bottom of the HoDo. The cords create a top-and-bottom anchor for an eye-catching, artistic emblem of hope.

The donated art ranges from photographs, sketches, sculptures, pottery, etc.

The parade of bras inside the HoDo

The most anticipated part of the night is seeing and hearing the stories behind the parade of bras. The parade is literally an exhibition in motion of wearable bras created by local and regional artists. Models demonstrate the beauty and strength of women through these handcrafted unique pieces of art. Emcees explain the concepts, goals and humor behind each bra while the models walk throughout the restaurant, lounge and Stoker’s.

The models begin the night in the HoDo restaurant while emcees Jack and Sandy, from KFGO 790, introduce the art and talk about the wearable piece. Next the models “strut their stuff” for the crowd in the lounge with emcees Jane and Chris, from BOB 95, and finally the models make their way to Stoker’s where Popster’s Laura and BOB 95’s Collin, are stationed to present them to the final guests.

For more information on BOB 95 FM click here.

For more on KFGO click here.

For more information on Popster 104.7 FM click here.

Jack and Sandy from KFGO 790 introduce the models in the HoDo restaurant.

The wearable pieces all have some innovative meaning or playful pun behind their creation. This year, Darcy Simonson created the “Mardibra,” which is based on the annual New Orleans celebration of Mardi Gras. The motto behind this bra is: “Life is a celebration and every day is a gift…so party like it’s Mardi Gras in a Mardibra!”

For more information on Darcy click here.

The “Mardibra” represents the celebration of life.

Another playful bra was the “You Gotta Know When to Hold ‘Em” bra created by Kerstin Kealy, co-anchor of WDAY-TV news. The motto of this bra is: “Life can sometimes ‘deal’ you a difficult hand, but it’s all about how you play your cards and ’the support you have around you.”

On the right is the “You Gotta Know When to Hold ‘Em” bra followed by the “Broadway on Bra” bra (center), which is a fun play on words, and finally the “Rock Your Peacock” bra (left), which represents the openness, knowledge, good-fortune, and beauty of the peacock.

Any material can be used to create the artistic wearable bras. Some artists even use old car parts, like the bra “Double Deuce Coupe” created by Punchgut Studio. The bra was inspired by a Victoria’s Secret catalog found in the glove compartment of a ’68 Dodge Charger.

For more information on Punchgut Studio visit their website at http://www.punchgutstudio.com/

The “Double Deuce Coupe” bra is a combination of inspirations from a ’68 Dodge Charger and a Victoria Secret’s magazine.

Some artists even make more then one bra. This year Rosie Sauvageau created four bras based on the main characters of the “Sex and the City.” Her four creations are named after the four women the show revolves around, “Carrie,” “Miranda,” “Sam” and “Charlotte.” She says she was inspired by a love for the ‘fab four’ who rule the streets of New York City and a tribute to their unique style and fashion.

Visit the Sex and the City website for more information.

These four bras represent the four women in the “Sex and the City” TV series, from the left: “Miranda,” “Carrie,” “Sam” and “Charlotte.”

This year there was 45 wearable pieces for guests to bid on, each one featuring its own unique style and concept. A special inspiration for guests this year was that three of the models were breast cancer survivors. These strong and beautiful women got the chance to share their stories with everyone in the room and give back to an organization they believe in.

The “Screen Doors” bra represents that early detection is key; so get in the door and get screened.

The “Boobies with Bling” bra is a fun play for ladies who love their bling. It’s made of Swarkovski crystals surrounded by hammered aluminum swirls.

The “Gotta Love Bear Boobs” bra is another creative play on words created out of wood. Jay Ray created this bra and came up with the tagline of, “I love carving and I love…ahem…boobs?” For more on Jay Ray visit http://jayraycarves.com/.

A night filled with inspiration and hope

“In honor, humor and hope,” is the motto for the event and each year it gets bigger and better. Each year more money is raised to benefit breast cancer and each year more people are affected and uplifted by Bras on Broadway.

Early detection makes a difference in survival rates, and that’s what Bras on Broadway is really about.

“The reason why I’m passionate about both breast cancer and prostate cancer is that we really have some control of these particular kinds of cancer,” said Stoker. “Having a mammogram or getting your prostate level checked makes a difference and saves lives.”

Stoker stands proudly by the donated non-wearable art shortly before the silent auction bidding ends.

“Everybody knows someone who has breast cancer or some type of cancer, which is unfortunate, but we do,” said Ottesen. “Bras on Broadway is a community-driven event that gives hope to people.”

Through local donations, local artists and a community of supportive individuals Bras on Broadway is able to create awareness and raise money for cancer prevention.

“I think this place just glows in the dark that night,” said Stoker.

Gorgeous artwork, talented musicians and a great community all come together to create a beautiful energy and a wonderful sisterhood.

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The Nail Bar: a different kind of bar

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Story and photos by Katie Hamness

MSUM Journalism and Graphic Design

The Nail Bar of Chelsa Alene Salons may look like an upscale boutique lounge at first glance…and that’s exactly what it’s supposed to look like.

This new nail salon is located in the historic Ford building downtown and offers manicures, pedicures, and artificial nails, along with a selection of beers or wines to compliment the experience. The chic and laid-back atmosphere creates an intimate environment that anyone can enjoy.

Visit The Nail Bar’s website at www.thenailbarfargo.com.

Guests can enjoy the modern and chic atmosphere and artwork from every seat inside The Nail Bar.

A concept brought over from the coast

What exactly is a nail bar? A nail bar offers a unique social-spa experience, by marrying alcoholic beverages with the ultimate nail experience. “It’s a concept you see on the west coast a lot and it hadn’t been brought to the Midwest yet,” said Chelsa Swaser, the salon manager. “The concept is very new to people so we wanted to keep it crystal clear by using the name as a more literal term.”

Many nail color options are available for customers to choose from.

Since the grand opening in May, The Nail Bar has continued to thrive in the downtown area. They serve a variety of customers every week from regular appointments, to walk-ins, and even groups of bachelorette parties. “The response from the community has been ridiculous,” said Swaser. “I didn’t expect that so soon!”

Paula Klein, a client of Swaser’s, visited The Nail Bar on the very first day it opened and hasn’t looked back. “It was fabulous,” Klein said. “I’ve spent up to five hours there at one shot because you have a cocktail, enjoy a pedicure and you can just relax.”

Click here to visit for a look into other nail bars.

The bar doubles a a dry station for wet nails.

The Nail Bar brings cozy luxury to downtown

The services that the salon provides may resemble the types of services that would be provided at any other nail salon – the typical manicure or pedicure – but at The Nail Salon everything is done with unique details and has a creative twist. For example, the salon services are cleverly named after sophisticated alcoholic choices, like the Mai Tai manicure or the MAN-hattan pedicure, which is specialized towards men to include them into the fun.

Classy brown leather booths substitute for the manicure chairs and comfy club chairs provide the seating for the pedicures. The bar doubles as the dry station; vents are located above and below to dry freshly painted nails.

Customers receive manicures while sitting in cozy booths, which further emphasizes the lounge feel of The Nail Bar.

Visitors can relax in the intimate environment, which includes only three pedicure chairs and four manicure booths to limit the amount of chatter and noise. Guests can feel free to daydream while they enjoy a “Don’t Wine” manicure, which is an anti-stress service infused with a relaxing essential oil blend of orange, lavender, and chamomile, or a customer may have a “Mudslide” pedicure, which is a warm sugar scrub followed by a volcanic clay foot masque fortified with hydrating vitamin A and E.

Guests can look out the window while sitting in these comfortable chairs, which provide the seating for pedicures.

Reasonable prices also allow many visitors to afford the top quality services The Nail Bar offers. Manicures start at $20 and go up to $28 and pedicures start at $40 and go up to $90 for a Mo-HE & HER-toes, which is a him and her pedicure to prepare for the honeymoon or a fun option for “date night.”

The services are highly individualized to fit the customer’s needs. Based upon what service a customer requests, it’s served to them in cocktail glasses. “The scrubs and lotions are served in a martini glass, so the whole experience of your service is different,” said Swaser.

Swaser works on client Carolyn Opgrande's nails during the first appointment of the day.

Aesthetics and design compliment the atmosphere inside the Nail Bar

The design team of Northern Home Furniture created the aesthetics within the salon, and continues to update the décor. “We wanted the atmosphere to look and feel like you’re in a lounge,” said Nancy Arneson, assistant manager of the salon.

“The atmosphere is so comfortable,” said Klein. “When you’re there you feel like you’re not in Fargo.”

For more information on Northern Home Furniture click here.

The location fits the character of the salon perfectly and adds to the downtown vibe and feel of rejuvenation and upscale style. “We really needed a nice nail place downtown, and it’s really great to be able to go down there during your lunch break too,” said Klein.

Customers can also enjoy a selection of wine or beer during their visit to The Nail Bar.

“The Nail bar is very unique to Fargo and Moorhead,” said Arneson. “There isn’t anyone else in the area that is doing what we’re doing. We combine comfort, quality, and aesthetic appeal to create a one of a kind environment.”

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Get Pampered. Get Pretty. Get Polished.

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Story and Photos by Katie Hamness

MSUM Journalism and Graphic Design

Downtown Fargo is a bit more polished now. Polished Nail Spa opened in June and is located at 102 Broadway. The salon offers manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements, like gel polish, colored acrylic nails and rockstar glitter toes. The simple and modern atmosphere creates a relaxing and inviting environment that anyone can enjoy.

Visit the Polished website here.

A view from inside the salon showcases the modern and comfy décor.

Tom Huynh, the owner of Polished, has been doing nails for 11 years. He opened his first salon more than five years ago and now owns three salons in Fargo, with a fourth that’s run by his family. He’s currently in charge of 24 employees with 92 years of combined experience.

Polished provides worry free services that last and look good

Since the grand opening Polished has continued to stay busy and pamper their clients with top quality services that are creative and durable. During opening week Polished offered free services to its clients. Huynh said his goal was to introduce the downtown clientele to the salon’s exceptional products and services. “We wanted to show people what we can do,” said Huynh. “We wanted to show people that our services are different from everyone else’s.”

Owner, Tom Huynh, schedules appointments for clients even before the salon opens.

Making life easier, especially for women, through worry-free products and services is another reason why Polished is doing well in the downtown area. Their products won’t rub off, get yellow, or lose their shine in between visits to the salon. “Women work just has hard or harder then men do now days,” said Huynh. “So we want to make sure within that 2-3 week period between getting their nails done that they don’t have to worry about anything.”

Staying within the national average for nail prices allows clients to afford the excellent services that Polished provides. Manicures start at $15 and go up to $25 and pedicures start at $30 and go up to $50. Nail enhancement services start at $35 and can go up to $65 depending on the amount of detail and number of colors.

The pedicure tubs at Polished are more hygienic for clients and employees due to stylized jets that are removable for cleaning purposes.

Polished brings three new services to downtown

Through new and creative techniques Polished offers some new services that clients can indulge in. “There are three services we offer that really set us apart and that nobody else around can do because we brought them to Fargo,” said Huynh. “They’ve never seen the things that we’re doing.”

These three services are:

  • Colored acrylic
  • Rockstar toes
  • Gel polish

The colored acrylic services are done inside the nail without using paint or polish and can incorporate multiple colors and designs on one set of nails just by using acrylic. There’s no shortage of colors, since 154 choices are currently available, with more options to come.

More information and examples of colored acrylic can be found here.

A close-up detail shows three different colored acrylic designs that customers can have done.

Rockstar toes are becoming the new craze in pedicure fashion and many more salons around the country are starting to offer this option for clients. For this service, the glitters that are used in the colored acrylics are placed onto toenails without using acrylic or polish. This makes it much thinner then acrylic, but it lasts for up to six weeks.

For more on Rockstar toes click here.

Gel polish is also a new service that Polished offers. They take any color nail polish on the market and use it in a gel polish. This service will last on natural nails up to three weeks. “We’re not limited with colors and that’s a big thing,” said Huynh.

For a video example of one type of gel polish click here.

These color sheets provide customers with 154 choices for colors and glitters.

Education is the key to success

The high standard of quality and creative talent that Polished employees display comes from training done by Huynh. He works with each of the nail technicians personally after they’ve gone to school to do nails professionally. For the first three to four months Huynh trains his technicians one-on-one before they even see a client. “I want to make sure that my nail techs are better then our competition before I start letting them work,” he said.

“Tom is a really good person to learn from,” said Megan Halstenson, an employee at Polished. “He’s great at teaching and you can tell he really loves his job, so that makes it easy to work for him.”

Salon employee, Megan Halstenson, works diligently on Stumbo’s nails.

Employee education isn’t the only type of education that happens at Polished. One thing that makes this salon stand out from all the rest is that they educate their clients on top of doing their nails. “We make sure we tell our clients what they’re getting, what we’re putting on their nails and that everything is perfectly safe,” said Halstenson.

“Their quality and education is really outstanding,” said Joy Stumbo, a longtime client of Huynh.

Clean air and simple décor make Polished stand out

The simple and clean décor welcome guests as soon as they walk through the door. Modern and comfy black and white leather chairs provide the seating for the manicures and pedicures.  The salon provides a relaxing and noise-free environment for customers by only having four manicure stations and four pedicure chairs. Soothing music also plays to further relax clients and surrounds them in the ambiance of the salon.

The fresh and crisp air may be something customers aren’t used to when sitting in a salon, but the exhaust air system that’s installed in Polished is the newest and latest technology. It keeps the air extremely clean and clear from harmful chemicals. “It’s like being outside,” said Halstenson. “When it’s turned on you can almost feel a breeze.”

Shown above is the high-tech exhaust system inside the salon. Each manicure and pedicure station is set up with its own personal vent to prevent fumes and clean the air.

“There’s always been lots of opportunity downtown and I think Broadway is getting better and better,” said Stumbo. “Having a nail salon downtown is very convenient and really exciting!”

Outstanding education, a comfortable atmosphere, clean, fresh air and creative and durable services all come together to create an exceptional salon in downtown Fargo.

The outside of Polished mimics the inside’s modern atmosphere and catches customer’s attention from across the street.

Get pampered. Get pretty. Get polished.

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Brad Bachmeier: artist, professor and inspiration to our region

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Story and photos by Katie Hamness
MSUM Journalism & Graphic Design

Combine talent, knowledge, and passion together and the outcome will be Brad Bachmeier. Bachmeier is a well-known and respected artist and ceramics and art education professor at MSUM. He is an advocate for children and arts in this region.pottery line, Bachmeier Pottery, has become nationally recognized for its primitive and low-fired pottery and sculpture.

Bachmeier proudly stands by his massive hand built ceramic pot constructed last summer with the help of a friend.

Each year the Rourke Art Gallery Museum in downtown Moorhead, features Bachmeier’s work in a one-person exhibition. “As an artist and educator, I feel a responsibility to serve my local, regional and global community, said Bachmeier in his artist statement. “I create ceramic vessels, and sculpture that tell the story of man’s ancient and universal partnership with clay through the use of religion studies, global patterns, symbols, iconography, and various firing techniques.”

Visit www.wix.com/therourke/rourke for more information on upcoming events at the Rourke Art Gallery.

Bachmeier meets with long-time clients at the Rourke Gallery to discuss purchasing options and freelance work.

Bachmeier’s techniques and methods are loosely derived from a 16th century Japanese firing technique in which pots are removed from the kiln when they are red hot and placed in a chamber of combustible materials such as grass, leaves, sawdust or paper. As the materials combust, the flames create surface effects such as luster, metallic, crackles and smoky swirls. Through his study of Raku firing and eastern pottery, Bachmeier has developed an appreciation for the Zen aesthetic. “Some of these principles – asymmetry, naturalness, a sense of age, subtle depth and simplicity – create for me a connection with the rural prairie in North Dakota,” he said.

For more on Raku pottery and techniques visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raku_ware.

Bachmeier and client Craig Larson work together to unhook the ceramic plate Larson purchased at the Rourke Gallery.

Bachmeier’s ceramic work is collected nationally and has been featured on HGTVs’ “That’s Clever” TV program. Bachmeier is the only North Dakota artist to ever earn the prestigious national NICHE award in the wheel thrown ceramics category.

Visit HGTV’s website to see pictures and clips of Bachmeier’s work.

Bachmeier’s ceramics class pays close attention as he lectures and demonstrates how to throw a large plate on the wheel.

Along with running a successful business, creating beautiful pottery, and having a family Bachmeier still finds time to be a full-time art professor at MSUM. Bachmeier is the professor of art education at MSUM, but also teaches one or two ceramics classes a year. Part of the ceramics process is teaching students how to throw pottery on the wheel.

With the wheel spinning, Bachmeier gently pinches and pulls the clay upward to form the edges of the plate.

Bachmeier discusses the options of colors and glazes when firing ceramic pieces.

Every morning Bachmeier comes to work early to unload student’s artwork from the school kilns.

Bachmeier wraps up a normal day by putting the finishing touches on his plate.

For more information on Bachmeier Pottery visit his personal website.

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