Editor – Justin Howard @jthnomad
Artist – Ka Amorastreya @kaamorastreya
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl
Shamans practice an art that allows them to transcend this reality to reach altered states of being. As part of this spiritual path, they internally refine themselves to perceive the reality they call the ’spirit world.’ In their interactions with this reality, they seek ways to create harmony between it and the world we inhabit. A friend of mine, Ka Amorastreya, happens to one such wandering shaman. In her practice, she seeks to manifest harmony via her art, the creation of wondrous feather head pieces.
I first meet Ka a couple years ago at a spiritual gathering where she was performing a sacred dance in a ceremonial outfit of her own invention, all from recycled, re-used crow feathers if I recall correctly. It had such a profound effect on me that I decided then and there I really must find out who this wondrous being was. It turns out that Ka was a bit of a DIY fashionsita herself. Always creating the most marvelous pieces, straight out of her own imagination, to fulfill both her desires and celebrate her choice of spiritual path – shamanism. Ka follows a unique practice she calls ‘the path of the feathered serpent’ that allows her to blend her dual loves of design and spirituality in perfect harmony. This path has taken her on some truly amazing adventures… Which I had the pleasure to be part of once or twice. Yet I still wanted to know how Ka came to be the luminous creature she is today.
Ka Amorastreya – The Path of Feathered Serpent
Justin Howard for Black Chalk – Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What are your interests?
Ka Amorastreya – I am an artist of many paths, a headdress and regalia crafter, a painter, a dancer, a wonderer, and lover of life and beauty. I was born and raised in Lubbock, TX, lived in Austin for a while, then San Francisco, and now reside in Asheville, NC.
My interests are vast. Oh my, how could I condense them into a nutshell? The most frequent interests I entertain include nature, art, dance, music, film, poetry, photography, fashion, healing arts, nutrition, teaching, and self-discovery. I also nerd out on philosophy, physics and meta-physics, sacred geometry, spirituality, cultural anthropology (especially regarding religion and mythos), past lives, dragons, trees, and unicorns… to name a few.
Black Chalk – Did you want to become a designer when you were young?
Ka Amorastreya – I wish I had known being a designer was a possibility when I was young. First, I wanted to be an astronaut, then my vision went blurry, so I scratched that. Then, I wanted to be an actress; I was mediocre. Then, I wanted to become a healer, which I did. Had I known I could even become a designer, i probably would have nurtured my tendencies towards that goal a lot sooner, since I loved playing dress up when I was little. My dad called me a “clothes horse” when I was six years old. I didn’t start sewing and designing for fun until I was in my 20’s.
Black Chalk – What inspires you to create?
Ka Amorastreya – It’s difficult to think of anything that doesn’t inspire me to create. Obviously, beautiful things, like nature, art, music, dreams, visions, and experiences bring about the desire to offer homage to beauty. At the same time, I find painful and ugly experiences, those that fill me with anger or sadness, ignite a powerful desire to bring more beauty into the world. Perhaps it is a way in which I feel in control, where I wield an active part of destiny by playing a small part bringing artful joy into being. There is a constant stream of desire to create within me. It’s an incessant drive, a yearning. The muse tends to be continually close, whispering ideas and filling my mind with visions. It is a wonderful blessing, and can also feel overwhelming, because there is no way I could possibly bring them all forth into tangibility.
Black Chalk – Describe your philosophy about the ART of fashion?
Ka Amorastreya – To embody is to become. When we adorn our bodies with something, we adopt an archetype, a persona, or even a simple vibe. What one wears can be a powerful statement of who a person is, although a person is much more vast than the image they put off. The art of fashion allows one to shape shift, accent a particular aspect of their being, and play whatever role they wish. One can try on many hats, become another creature, walk a mile in another’s shoes, or reveal the splendor within the soul by donning different material. What a person wears affects how they feel. Therefore, by wearing items that are imbued with a certain vibration, texture, or color, one experiences the inner world of the shell they wear. By making pieces that invoke the mythical, otherworldly, and beautiful, I aspire to offer that feeling to those who wear my art.
Black Chalk – What was the first piece you ever created?
Ka Amorastreya – LOL…When I was around five years old, I took a brown paper shopping bag, cut holes in the sides for my arms, then in the front for my eyes and nose, then drew a cat face, and embellished it with paper triangle ears and whiskers. Then I’d put the whole bag over my head… just like a cat would. (I was obsessed with cats as a little girl.)
Black Chalk – How long does it usually take you to construct a piece?
Ka Amorastreya – The time it takes to complete a piece depends on the detail and work involved. I normally finish a big head piece within a few days. Wings take weeks. Full embodiments take months. Paintings can take years. My little unicorn pieces take a few hours. I try to keep it varied. Intricacy and opulence take increased time, and I love to see what is possible when a work is given a lot of love and devotion. I also enjoy the occasional instant gratification, as well.
Black Chalk – Describe the general process you go through to design and realize a piece?
Ka Amorastreya – For headpieces, I begin by making a base then pull out some items in a color scheme or theme that feels attractive in the moment. I hold each item up to find its placement, and once I like it, I attach it. I proceed in this way until all of the rough edges are covered, and my perfectionism is satisfied. Sometimes I have a clear vision beforehand, and sometimes, I let it flow. Often, I have an idea, but the piece completely goes into a different direction than initially conceived. When this happens, and it does most of the time, I simply allow trust to drive the process, and just play… unless or until I get stuck, then I put it away, and come back to it later when it figures out what it wants me to do with it.
Black Chalk – What do you believe makes a perfect creation?
Ka Amorastreya – A perfect creation to me is one that is aesthetically pleasing, durable, comfortable, and inspires wonder and awe.
Black Chalk – Do you consider yourself an artist?
Ka Amorastreya – I consider myself an artist in many aspects of the definition. Along with designing and making accoutrements, I am also a painter, and a performing artist. My home and life are a work of art. Everything I do feels like some sort of art, including working on myself, a perpetual work in progress.
Black Chalk – What do you enjoy most about designing pieces?
Ka Amorastreya – I enjoy the playful curiosity intrinsic within the process. I find great joy in putting materials together in new ways, then to have archetypal creatures emerge. I also enjoy figuring out new ways of doing things, even though it can be painfully frustrating at times. I admit, I do enjoy a good challenge.
Black Chalk – What matters to you most as a designer?
Ka Amorastreya – Enjoyment. If I enjoy making a piece, and if it goes to someone who enjoys wearing it, that rocks my world. I find that making someone happy with a wearable work of art is the most fulfilling part of the craft.
Black Chalk – As a designer what is the most challenging part of your job?
Ka Amorastreya – Marketing and sales are my biggest challenges. I am learning, but slowly, and the tide is always shifting. I look forward to hiring someone who can help me reach more people who would love my work. Additionally, packing up certain pieces can also be a huge feat in engineering. It can feel stressful to hand off a small masterpiece to a shipping agency in hopes they will take good care of it. Oh, and international shipping costs make me cringe, but I love sending my work far out in the world.
Black Chalk – Does your work reflect your personal fashion taste? Can you describe your style?
Ka Amorastreya – My work reflects a few aspects of my personal taste in artistic styles, and yet many of the styles I love don’t get expressed in my own creative process. I would say it most reflects my mythical fashion taste, as I am definitely an otherworldly creature at heart. As far as my own fashion sense, my style varies. At parties and events, I go from romantic and frilly, to vampy rock star, to sleek and chic. I love costume parties. My day to day is a toned down version. My daily wardrobe is predominantly, black or gray, with splashes of color or print thrown in. My accessories tend to make a bit of a statement. And, I still love artful leggings.
Black Chalk – What’s your favorite piece? Why?
Ka Amorastreya – My favorite piece is the white bird / dragon embodiment. These were the first pair of wings I ever made, and I have been dancing in them for at least twelve years now. It was the first wearable art form that taught me about embodiment of spirit. I become something else when I dance in it. Nothing has ever schooled me so hard, and so beautifully, than that accoutrement. I feel like my soul merged with it in some way, as if it’s a part of my inner self and an archetype of my own spirit. I’ve heard some wild stories from people who have had profound experiences upon witnessing it, and to me, that’s magic.
Black Chalk – Are you influenced by any music or art movements?
Ka Amorastreya – All. the. time. I LOVE music, and listen to it almost all of the time for inspiration, movement of emotion, and pleasure. Right now, I’m deep into future bass. Sigur Ros is probably the most influential music I’ve encountered to date. As far as art movements, the visionary art movement has been most influential in my life. Most of my own work would be considered ‘visionary’, or even surreal. My first art obsession was surrealism, as it brought me far beyond the dullness of the everyday world I was then living in.
Black Chalk – How do you intend people to feel when wearing your pieces?
Ka Amorastreya – Like a f*cking God or Goddess. Yes, really. I want them to feel empowered, like they just reclaimed a piece of their soul and are proud to share the fullness of who they are. Or at least, I hope they feel a bit more magic in their lives when wearing one of my pieces.
Black Chalk – Anything we should keep our eyes open for in the future?
Ka Amorastreya – I am teaching a number of workshops this year. Miami in March, NY in April, and a few others are currently in the works. There are a few exciting collaborations coming up this year as well, that are still formulating. You can stay tuned by signing up for my newsletter, and following me on social media. For the most detailed and frequent updates on my work, and behind the scenes content, follow my Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/
Check Out Ka Amorastreya’s Fashion Workshop – https://m.facebook.com/events/200922207325689#_=_
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