National Radio Project

MAKING CONTACT - a weekly international radio program

My T-Shirt Says it All

June 4, 2008

The T-shirt is a staple of the American wardrobe, worn by pretty much everyone at one time or another. It's a sort of common denominator in a culture marked by differences. On this edition, we'll hear how three T-shirt designers use the garments as a way to fight racism, communicate cultural identity, and mourn friends who've passed away.

This show has been a special collaboration between National Radio Project and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Thanks to student producer, Jacob Fenston who wrote and edited this show under the guidance of independent media producer and UC Berkeley journalism lecturer, Claire Schoen.

Featuring:

Inez Brooks-Myers, Oakland Museum of California Curator of Costume and Textiles; Eric K. Arnold, Bay Area arts and culture writer; Ryan Suda, Black Lava Clothing owner and founder; David Sanchez, Native Graphix/HOMEY master printer; Mauricio Quijada, Native Graphix/HOMEY printmaker; Jordan Perez, HOMEY intern; René Quiñones, HOMEY executive director; Nautiks, Filthy Dripped co-owner; 510 Airbrush, Filthy Dripped airbrush artist; Friends and Family of Creon Burns Jr.; dozens of t-shirt wearers in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Fresno, Santa Monica, Gardena and Los Angeles.

Executive Producer/Host: Tena Rubio
Contributing Producer: Jacob Fenston
Producer and Associate Producer: Andrew Stelzer and Puck Lo
Interns: Elena Botkin-Levy, Aubrey Green
Executive Director: Lisa Rudman

T-Shirt Slideshow
Photos: Jacob Fenston

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Inez Brooks-Myers, Costume and Textiles Curator at the Oakland Museum of California.

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Ryan Suda, owner and founder of Black Lava Clothing, in his warehouse in Torrance, California.

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Some of Suda's shirts for sale.

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David Sanchez, printing t-shirts at HOMEY's San Francisco print shop.

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Mauricio Quijada, of HOMEY.

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René Quiñones, Executive Director of HOMEY.

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Airbrushing a custom t-shirt at Filthy Dripped in Berkeley.

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Nautiks hand-painting a memorial shirt at Filthy Dripped.

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A friend of Creon Burns, wearing a 'rest in peace' t-shirt at Burns' funeral in Oakland.

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