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VSGAL: How did this amazing job come about? The glorious Fashion Instructor, E. Vincent Martinez, of Grady High School: I started as an art teacher who taught a fashion class as an alternative art elective in high school. VSGAL: Did you go to school to learn about Fashion? or were you self-taught? EVM: A little of both. I have Master's of Fine Arts in photography and my graduate work, some 15 years ago, was heavily influenced by fashion design, especially haute couture. VSGAL: How did you come to be working at Grady? EVM: I had just completed the state of Georgia requirements for a teaching certificate, I was informed that Grady was hiring an additional art teacher so I interviewed for the position and got it. VSGAL: Are you from Atlanta originally? or did you move here later in life (as most of us have)? EVM: I was born in La Habana, Cuba and was raised in Miami. After college, I lived at the Penland School of Crafts in NC for two years, followed by Graduate school at the Rochester Institute of Technology. After grad school, moved back to Penland and later to Atlanta. I have lived here 12 yrs. VSGAL: How did the "Urban Couture" name develop?  EVM: UrbanCouture, spelled as one word with the U and C capitalized was the name I created to call my developing fashion program. The Urban comes from the fact that Grady is inner city public school and the Couture is our fashion link. VSGAL: How did the annual Fashion Show develop? EVM: The fashion show originally served as an assessment of my students year long labor. VSGAL: This is your second year having one, correct? EVM: This is the second year with Luxe-Atlanta, but the annual year end show is in its sixth year. VSGAL: I understand that usually the fashion designers are Senior Students, and they attend a 90 minute class every other weekday? EVM: That is correct. We meet officially as a group every other day for a 90 minute block. It is only fair to point out that many of my seniors additionally enroll in an internship with me for extra work time. VSGAL: Is home-ec or sewing a pre-requisite for your class? EVM: No. The pre-requisite is an introductory class in contemporary fashion where students learn about selected designers as well as some historical data. |