Bio

Here's my Personal Bio and a few highlights of writing projects with which I've created and/or contributed.

Born on the East Coast town of Havre de Grace, Maryland, where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay, “Dominic” Raymond D. Del Rio then grew up in La Verne, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles located in the San Gabriel Valley, the next town over from San Dimas, the home of Bill and Ted. Relocating to Silicon Valley in 1996, Dominic eventually fell in love with the natural terrain surrounding Morgan Hill and Gilroy, (the “Garlic Capital of the World”), a peaceful and scenic region in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. He has occasionally spent time in Appalachia and South Central Florida.

Writer/Founder ** The Justice Network.org Universal City, CA

Note that the site is under redevelopment. Raymond (aka "Dominic") has owned the site since 1998 in which it has undergone various changes in focus and intent, yet always in some regards related to the subject of service and altruism.

Writer/Editorial Consultant
** Zo Magazine/Zo Creative Los Angeles, CA
Zo is A Different Kind of Universe, “an experiment in progress – heralding a creative revolution of good will.” On the web @ Zo Magazine & Zo Creative

Writer/Creative Consultant ** Deep Calling (TV/web) Universal City, CA
Deep Calling is a series pilot, now in production, an eclectic mosaic of art and philosophy intersecting with the global culture of science, politics and human experience.

Public Relations Assistant ** Robert Half International Menlo Park, CA (corporate office)
Founded in 1948, Robert Half International (RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. RHI is a recognized leader in professional staffing and consulting services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting and internal audit firm composed of experts in risk and advisory services.

Writer ** The Sandman Glendale, CA
The Sandman (aka “The Christmas Sandman”) is a musical fantasy, written for stage and produced in subsequent years during the holidays, starting in a community gym, and then at the Glendale Theatre in on the main thoroughfare in Glendale, CA.


Non-professionally, Raymond (aka Dominic) has contributed to a variety of online commentary and blogs, social commentary, the arts, religion and varied humanitarian interests.

River Script, his consultant and writing business is now on Facebook. >>

FASHION AS ART

Fashion: from Alpha Centauri to Zaire-and a few places in between

Since the advent of the fig leaf — to Harlem's underground vogue clubs of the 1920s & 30s, fashion has done more than just cover bare flesh. The well-trafficked Fashion Houses of Rome , Paris, Tokyo and New York inspire art and culture and set the tone for the times.

Fashion is much more than what can be stepped into, out of or perched atop one's head. Fashion originates from the mind of its designer and frames the living pages of humanity’s flesh and bone. In this aspect alone, the creative process is indeed “divine.” Fashion challenges and even redefines our personal realities and ideas. From the plateau of the human psyche, the way we view the world and ourselves is subliminally influenced by how we choose to adorn our bodies. Sometimes the way we dress a reflection of our innate desire to nourish our cultural soul during our days upon the earth—and beyond, for instance, as reflected in Egyptian burial rites.

From the inception of civilization “fashion as art” was a hindsight notion and we can only draw from that sight in retrospect. Survival mode cultures designed primarily on a level of comfort and functionality, decoration often birthed from a desire to strike fear, awe or control.

It was not until cultures evolved beyond the “survival mode” that cultural creations of primitive societies developed to commercial viability and Fashion took on a separate distinction.

The Beautiful “Cretans”

The island of Crete, just off the coast of Greece, was likely inhabited from the sixth millennium B.C., but it wasn't until probably around the late fourth-early third millennium that immigrants from Asia Minor joined the Minoans, creating what could be thought of as a bona fide civilization. The new immigrants' technology and organizational flair transformed a people, who at the time were living in caves and dressed in animal skins. The Minoans then became one of the most sophisticated civilizations of the ancient world — and for ancient times — one of the first fashionable ones. Although no actual examples of clothing are preserved (due to climate), artifacts including frescoes and terracotta statuettes show the shape of their dress, decorative forms and colors. The most striking feature of these costumes is that they were “fitted,” much like today.

The term Form Follows Function is an architectural term, yet Fashion’s adherence and/or rebellion to this principle has cleverly entranced us through time. Medieval coats of mail, the shaman-healer’s headdresses, décolletage (French term for “low neckline”), mini-skirts, bustles, neckties and wigs have subconsciously affected the psyche of us all. A great suit can nail the job, a beautiful woman in the right outfit has sent men to war. Fashion is legislated by choice in many organizations and by force in some societies. All this from that fateful day when we adorned ourselves with fig leaves as the question was posed, “Who told you that you were naked?” (That’s another story). *It’s all so amazing!

Where was I? Oh yeah, costumes. Where are they going? What will we wear when we finally get off this planet and go to say – Alpha Centauri. I thought by now, we’d be wearing the George Jetson look that came out in the 60s, at least. If you’re too young to remember and haven’t seen the reruns – “Google It”.

Incidentally, Alpha Centauri is the star system most nearest our own, and the likeliest to possibly have extra-terrestrial life according to astronomers. If I ever go and I don’t have to wear some kind of space suit, I’m wearing jeans. I can’t change now. If they had had jeans on Crete in 1600 B.C., I would have worn them. They are the greatest invention fashion ever fashioned, don’t you think?


Babylon, a Mother of Fashion

Much more “modern” than the Minoans, the Babylonian Empire was at it’s height around 550 B.C., a Wonder of the Ancient World — most famous for its “hanging gardens.” Babylon was a “melting pot,” much like the U.S. is today. The Babylonian Empire extended from Turkey to Iran, down through the now-contested Israel-Palestine territories into Egypt and the borders of Saudi Arabia. Babylon often took prisoners of conquered nations, carrying away the wealthy, the educated and highborn to their capital city, as “show-trophies” and to enhance their cultural diversity and prominence.

Though now a hot spot in the “war on terrorism,” it is considered the “cradle of civilization.” Much of today’s ideology and ideas about commerce, math, religion and family structures has it’s origin in Babylonian territory. Of course there’s the “fashion and art”, striking then, and striking now.

For most of the Western world, the ancient Babylonian-styled fashions probably most commonly resemble the “Christmas card guys”- that’s what it looks like to me. Everybody dressed like the “wise men.” Powerful images that they are--three wise men from the East going to visit the baby Jesus, usually with a camel or two in tow, or riding them, and a few boxes of gold and frankincense and myrrh-- images that originated in present-day Iraq. What a powerful fashion statement! Its lasted and been popular for not centuries – millennia. That’s great design! Actually, there are traditionalists who still dress like that. So, fashion even in our modern holiday art looks like ancient Iraqis and the cultures they influenced. Makes me say--, along with the mechanical singing children- (wherever Disney’s “Magic Kingdom” is found)-- “It’s a small world after all.”

Vikings and Vampires

The often stereotyped, yet usually aptly described “testosterone-based” Vikings don’t usually bring to mind “high fashion.” But these men were quite the fashion hogs and the creative side of their ire is rather admirable. Sure they had the generic trousers, stockings, tunics, coat and cloak, with individual accessories, matching individual cultural distinctions.

Vampires? Yes, “vampires” come into the equation when talking about “fashion influence.” Bella Lugosi’s “Dracula” — Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt’s portrayal of “Lestat” and “Louis” — Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire — modern Goth — all have this certain dark romanticism and like them or not, you definitely “look twice” — there is definitely a certain fashionista power. The vampires we see portrayed have this curiously juxtaposed sense of integration and myopic balance that somehow translates into an evocative taste for refinement, culture and grace, however garish or potentially grotesque the ends may have been.

You Can’t Leave Out the French

They gave us our regal “Lady Liberty” in New York harbor, just for a start. Talk about “accessories”- have you seen that torch?

Then, there’s the “Three Musketeers.” Where would fashion be without those over-the-top frilly and sometimes “silly”-looking cuffs? Fashion for men would have been forever boring. (Look at some of the English costuming of the same time period. Egad! Boring. Just like tea and crumpets. Drab. (I have an English grandmother; I’m not being too pithy, I hope.) Back to the French-- What would “Prince” have worn during the “Purple Rain” era? Again, there’s those “frilly costumes.” Also, Marie Antoinette being French, with all those gaudy gown makes the whole “let them eat cake” and guillotine bit a smidgen less distasteful. O.K., I’m overstating it a bit; but we would not be making movies about it, if she had worn a “simple black dress.” If fashion is any reflection, humanity seems to be a complicated and sometimes a surface-oriented lot that can be wooed by material appearances all too easily. I think we need to be rescued from this surface existence somehow—would to God there were a savior from all this sometimes…h-mmm.

Again, back to the French…there’s New Orleans. Can you imagine the famed city with it’s once-thriving, now re-emerging Jazz culture or the infamous Mardis Gras without the French influence?

It’s amazing how the predominately French-speaking and culturally influenced island-country of Haiti has some of most materially impoverished people on the planet, yet most of them seem to dress with a regal sense of fashion. No doubt, it’s partially due to the French influence. Then also, there’s the fact that Haiti’s predominate population are descendants of African immigrants—definitely adding a quality to the “fashion sense.”
This brings us to another interesting part of the fashion equation.

AFRICA

Africa’s fashion and its co-equal passion, art has been a fascination and rich resource for the world’s cultural fascination, from the day’s of colonization forward. Prior to the blight of imperialism, and even today, Africa enjoys a multitude of cultural expressions and inter-tribal exchanges that up to this day that confounds and amazes outsiders. Perhaps like no other continent and people, alongside Mesopotamia, Africa has contributed to the rich heritage of music, art and fashion of the modern era like no other. Runway modeling and many of the “severe” beyond-modern-reality fashion “looks” are imbedded with the heart of the African continent expression of unique abundance. Where else do you find diamonds, sahara, rhinos, giraffes, lions, tigers and zebras all on one stage? Africa is continental haute couture!

The E-Gown

We have arrived. It’s a small world after all and thanks to the advances of computer science, i.e. the prominence and fame of the “Internet,” consumers can purchase everything form handbags to wedding gowns from Algeria to Zaire. The E-Gown is a quick way to find a prom dress or wedding gown at websites with such likely domain names as egown.net. You’ve heard of Ross Dress-for-Less — now, you can “cross-dress” for less. (O.K., that you can edit out, just some humor for you! “ ‘Reader, This is a real note from the writer but I will not edit it out, I think its funny. Editor)

To “Wrap-It-All-Up”

In this “time machine” view of talking about fashion, there is one idea that I think defines FASHION ITSELF. “Wrapping!” Fashion is the wrapping of the body. Then, let’s not forget the “wrapping” when we give. It’s one of the most important elements to gift giving. Think of all the ribbons, bows and boxes that our favorite fashions are delivered in. There are the padded pink-flowered silk covered hangers that fine attire is draped on in “fine closets everywhere.” That’s art! I know someone who spends minutes at a time tediously curling individual split strands of “ribbon” wrapping high-end gift packages.

Forrest Gump had it right when he said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” But I also like to think-- “Life is like a box at Macys.” (In my case, it’s American Eagle, or American Outfitters.)—“You don’t know what you’re gonna get”—so said Forrest, but usually with gifts, there’s an exchange policy.

But if you can’t return a gift, then like “life,” which doesn’t always come with guarantees, you can accept it with gratitude and learn to enjoy the intricacies of “pattern, textile, color and form.” Like life, fashion is an ever-evolving, though sometimes challenging quest for perfection and growth.

It is a challenge to create an artful place of existence and form—to have an “en-joy-able” experience of reality or art or fashion sometimes, for both it’s recipient and those gifted to share it’s vibrancy. Both fashion and life exist to challenge boundaries, expand and embrace cultures and times and peoples in a burst of creative energy and a zeal that made the whole project worthwhile.

© ZO Magazine 2006 | Relaunching 5/30/10
www.myspace.com/zamarzo

Horizon

Now are we the sons and daughters of God
It does not yet appear
What we shall be

Shall we then take
That which is precious
And give it to the chaos

When I would desire to see
the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living

**

When Christ who is our life shall appear,
then shall we also appear with Him in glory.
-Colossians 3:4

Triumphant Rhinos

Reveling in the joy of a liberated planet
Solace is found in this momentary glimpse

Triumphant rhinos no longer rolling in the dust
Winged creatures join the song of all creatures
Moving in the dance of a creation made whole

Triumphant rhinos — with the lion
With the lamb
Once again in harmony
With the universe expanse

Triumphant rhinos — will we give then a chance
Triumphant rhinos — come and join the dance

Triumphant rhinos (cry for visitation-Joel, chapter 2)

Triumphant rhinos — swelling in the Nile
Triumphant rhinos — their hearts on fire

Looking for the coming of the Lion,
Strong and true
Who will shatter ancient bondages
Take our spirits higher

Little girl with the butterfly on her hand...

Cool photo that Tamia has on her OneSideOfTamia MySpace. NO, this is not the one. You will want to go there and see her other art and photography while you are there too.


Yay.

From this blog, you can go to my Favorites (left column) to get there from here.

Well, I guess I could just link it for you.

Yay!

I know two really fun and talented photographers in Tampa Bay who are good friends.


Yay!

Pavement (Breaking Up Is Hard)

As the winter has passed and
the shadows
begin to fade

A heart of tiffany glass
once filled with passion shatters

Nightmares escape as aloneness
Creeps onto the horizon

Holding onto your smiles and laughter
Not forgotten

Yet, they attempt to melt
Into the mist of Christmas past

Candles drip as the moon
Ceases to shine

While the fairies and the leprechauns grieve
As their rocking horses bleed
On the angry pavement

happy birthday, MizCafe