Footnote to a Photo Shoot

Photos by Lydia See

At some point that day, the mercury might have read 59 degrees, but Sunday, April 19 certainly felt like one of the coldest days of the year. Two of the most creative minds in Asheville, fashion photographer Stewart O’Shields and designer Brooke Priddy of West Asheville’s Ship to Shore, cooked up a truly groundbreaking idea for a photo shoot, one that involved all four HATCHfest Asheville fashion groundbreakers and their clothing. The shoot also involved three terrific models, Lucretia Young, Amanda Swafford and Morgan Purdy, who spent several hours shivering under the Interstate 240 bridge where it crosses Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. It rained off and on during the day-long shoot, which involved around 20 people, several generators, a mop bucket, an umbrella, a rented van, a bottle of whiskey and a dog named Louis Vuitton. Rebeccah Mark, owner of Minx boutique, along with Katie Fuller and Dara Schwalje, were lifesavers to provide warm space and delicious food. Special thanks to Angela Martinez of the Asheville Area Arts Council, Ryan Conrad, Joel Fuller, Bill Thompson of The Satellite Gallery, Joseph Adams, Sarah Brown, Vanessa Darling and Lydia See. VERVE truly appreciates your efforts.