This month’s photos were shot at Erika’s bus, which she is turning into an herbal apothecary botanical classroom and tearoom geared toward femme and queer empowerment.
Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct and unique member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUGStyle is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.
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“Last year, after I graduated from the U—I studied urban ecology—I decided that I wanted to initiate something in the community that was beneficial for public health, and for the benefit of as many people, as many populations as possible,” says Longino, “something appropriate for the general public health that was more grassroots. And I decided to go on a cross-country bike tour and do research about food co-ops and just general cooperative community structures that were beneficial for everybody in that same vein.” Photo: @clancycoop
“My interest in food co-ops stayed strong, but I kind of found myself gravitating more toward little herb shops, and also mycology, which is the study of mushrooms, and these more alternative, healing-type cooperatives,” says Longino. “So when I returned to Salt Lake City after this grand tour, I had it in my mind to do a medicine mobile.” Photo: @clancycoop
“My mother is doing really amazing work with natural science outreach to communities that don’t have access to a lot of science,” says Longino. “So she’s done work with prisons, and then also has reached out to the fashion industry, and she’s starting a line called Nature Wear. And I was wearing one of her scarves in the garden with the apricot tree.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I think that narrative really drives everything,” says Longino. “Even if you’re just doing nothing during the day, or you feel like it’s a boring day, you’re still fitting into an archetype, or a character, whether you know it or not. And that’s part of all of our narratives. I think something that’s really fun about a photoshoot setting, or getting dressed up, is being able to explore your narrative. And yeah, bringing to light all the possible characters that you can be.” Photo: @clancycoop
“The zine is just kind of a way to keep people up to date on what’s been going on with the project and the bus,” says Longino. “So last year, we released our first one, and it was just kind of like friends getting together and making art, or putting in a recipe for tinctures, or just documenting a couple of the workshops that we’d put together. And then over the course of the last year, we have become more organized, and have a bit more of a structure to start with a newsletter, and then delve into an instructional.” Photo: @clancycoop
“One of my friends happened to be selling this 40-foot 1980 Thomas Built school bus,” says Longino, “at a very opportune moment in time. And the bus has some history: It was a school bus initially from the start, and then about 12 years ago, JR bought it and put a veggie oil kit in it, so it can run on waste vegetable oil. And it’s been to Burning Man a couple times, and it was kind of the party bus for Desert Rocks Festival and Paulo Palooza, which are two regional events.” Photo: @clancycoop
“This upcoming zine will have a tutorial on how to sharpen knives with a ceramic mug—so some cool tutorials, do-it-yourself projects,” says Longino. “And then also kind of shouts and murmurs from the community, from largely the femme and queer community, as that’s one of the themes of the bus, is to engage the more feminine aspects of the world. But it’s a non-exclusive space.” Photo: @clancycoop
“The intricacies of nature are just kind of endlessly fascinating to me,” says Longino. “And I think that’s something that my mother and I both share. So having her as an influence, she has been a great impact on me, on my time.” Photo: @clancycoop
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