“The journey of the black male is multifaceted, one where both trial and triumph intersect on an extreme level. It’s an important story to tell,” said New York-based photographer Joshua Renfroe of his first book, Black Boy Fly. Within its 240 pages, Renfroe seeks to propel the inner workings of black male culture into the spotlight, showcasing the many unique facets of life experienced by the dozens of subjects he has captured since 2018.
Images that reflect family and brotherhood, music, sneaker culture and police brutality are portrayed throughout the book, all telling a visual story of various stylists, producers, make-up artists, graphic designers and more. As a whole, the work embodies the author’s own personal mission of celebrating his blackness through art.
“It is my hope that Black Boy Fly inspires other black creatives to continue to share their cultural stories even if it has to start independently,” Renfroe said. “There is beauty and power in independent art. The value one gains from executing ideas that are authentic to their purpose as an artist is priceless.”
Black Boy Fly was designed by Fred Sands IV and is available to pre-order now at Thecuratorynyc.com for $50 USD. On October 19, Renfroe will host an exhibition for the book in New York, with copies slated to ship out beginning October 30.
Last year, photographer Ryustyler and sneaker customizer Chase Shiel teamed up for a pair of bespoke Air Jordan 1s inspired by the matcha used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Following the sold-out, limited-release “Matcha” Air Jordan 1s, the duo is back with another pair of beautifully crafted sneakers: the “Wagashi” Air Max 1s.
Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets usually served with tea. Their creation is seen as an art form, and falls into line with the aesthetic and philosophy of a tea ceremony. Taking a wide range of shapes and designs, Wagashi’s forms most commonly refer to nature or reflect on the ephemeral beauty of the seasons. The sweets, made from a glutinous rice flour and traditional Japanese ingredients, are made by hand with the highest degree of detail and craftsmanship.
Paying homage to this creative art form, Ryustyler and Shiel crafted the “Wagashi” Air Max 1s from luxurious nubuck and pigskin sourced directly from Japan. The swoosh is covered with a flower print, referencing the chrysanthemum shape often seen in wagashi design. The upper consists of boar leather in five different pastel colors, while leather insoles provide maximum comfort. Custom-made translucent laces were inspired by wagashi ingredients: six additional sets of laces in colorful hues are included in a wooden gift box, mimicking a box of traditional confectionary.
Each purchase will come in a shoebox packaged in handwoven Japanese fabric. The “Wagashi” Air Max 1s are set to release on October 20 on Chase Shiel’s website in a limited run.
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