
On Sunday, February 24, and during the annual entertainment industry event, Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars came out to celebrate last year’s blockbuster movies. And while there were plenty of memorable moments throughout the night that were buzz-worthy for one reason or another, here are the highlights from the 2019 Oscars that everyone will be talking about. (Photos via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Adam Lambert kicked off the ceremony with members of Queen. Who needs a host with an opener like this? Lambert teamed up with Queen musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor for an electrifying performance of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions," which can be heard in the Freddie Mercury biopic (and Best Picture nominee) Bohemian Rhapsody. And true to their word, they did, indeed, rock us. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph showed us what might have been. Okay, we know we said we didn't need a host after that Adam Lambert performance, but that was before we saw three of our favorite SNL ladies together again. Fey, Poehler, and Rudolph reunited to present the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and although they made it clear to the audience that they were not the hosts, they gave everyone a taste of what the night might have been like if they were.
Among the highlights? Rudolph's Black Panther-themed pickup line: "Hey, Chadwick Boseman, Wakanda plans you got later?" Poehler's relatable Spider-Man joke: "These Spanx are so tight they've entered my Spider-Verse." And Fey's Liz Lemon-esque Netflix quip: "Roma's on Netflix? What's next, my microwave makes a movie?" Rudolph and Poehler even broke out in a rendition of the Oscar-nominated "Shallow" from A Star Is Born, which earned a laugh from the ballad's singer-songwriter, Lady Gaga. Petition to have these three host everything, forever. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry outdid every red carpet outfit ever. McCarthy and Henry went all out to present the Oscar for Best Costume Design, which went to Ruth E. Carter for her work on Marvel's Black Panther. McCarthy wore some Buster Scruggs-inspired boots and spurs under a Renaissance-style robe — complete with a neck ruff — that was covered in stuffed rabbits, likely in tribute to Mary Queen of Scots and The Favourite. And Henry wore a Mary Poppins-esque ensemble with Wakanda face paint, to honor the nominees for Mary Poppins Returns and Black Panther. Is there an Oscar for best costume at the Oscars? (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Jennifer Hudson sang her heart out. Hudson delivered the night's first Best Original Song performance, singing "I'll Fight" from the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary RBG. Her voice sounded incredible, per usual, and she dressed the part in a satin tuxedo coat that looked a little like the judicial robes that Ginsburg wears as a member of the Supreme Court. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Bette Midler brought Mary Poppins' magic touch to the stage. Keegan-Michael Key descended from the ceiling of the Dolby Theatre using an umbrella — and some secure wires — to introduce Midler, AKA the Divine Miss M, who delivered a pitch-perfect performance of Best Original Song nominee "Where the Lost Things Go." It was simple but lovely, proving that sometimes all you need is a beautiful song and a beautiful voice to sing it. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper took us deep Into the "Shallow." Perhaps the most anticipated musical performance of the night was by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, who delivered a stunning rendition of the Best Original Song Oscar winner "Shallow," from A Star Is Born. With no introduction, the pair simply walked onto the stage from where they were seated in the audience, sat down (Cooper on a stool, Gaga at the piano), and started singing. Toward the end of their duet, Cooper joined his costar on her piano stool, and they finished the song side by side. If you need us, we'll be rewatching this on a loop for the next 24 hours. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Awkwafina and John Mulaney basically auditioned to host a future awards show. Do the Golden Globes need a host next year? These two were among the best presenters of the night when they took the stage to present the Oscar for Best Animated Short. They nailed a bit about their mutual freak-outs over all the A-listers in the room, and they were damn charming while doing it, too. (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Olivia Colman gave the silliest, most delightful speech of the night. The race for Best Actress was a tough one this year, with formidable performances from the likes of Colman, Lady Gaga, Glenn Close, Melissa McCarthy, and Yalitza Aparicio. Close had won every major award leading up to the Oscars, and many people assumed she would win Sunday, too, so it was a surprise to hear Colman's name called instead. And no one was more shocked than Colman herself.
"It's genuinely quite stressful!" she exclaimed as she took the stage. "This is hilarious. I've got an Oscar! I have to thank lots of people. If, by the way, I forget anybody, I’m gonna find you later and give you all a massive snog, and I'm massively sorry if I forget you now."
She went on to thank her director, Yorgos Lanthimos, and her costars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, before turning her attention to her fellow nominees. "You could imagine, such hardship to be in a category with these extraordinary women," she quipped. "Glenn Close, you've been my idol for so long, and this isn't how I wanted it to be. I think you're amazing and I love you very much. I love you all!"
After a few other scattered (and very enthusiastic) acknowledgments, she ended with this gem of a stream of consciousness: "Any little girl who's practicing their speech on the telly, you never know. I used to work as a cleaner, and I loved that job. I did quite a lot of my time imagining this. Oh, please wrap up? [Fart sound.] My husband, Ed, my best friend. I love you so much. Twenty-five years you’ve been my supporter. He's gonna cry, I'm not. Lady Gaga!" (Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Artist Dev Heyrana On How Bravery, Resilience and Sunshine Influence Her Work
Ever meet someone who you feel immediate kinship with on a deep almost spiritual level? That is legit every person's experience upon meeting Dev Heyrana, the star of this edition of Creative Crushin'. A fine artist, hip hop dance teacher and constant collaborator, Dev's particular brand of creativity is one-of-a-kind. She manages to be warm, welcoming and woke, with a focus on inclusivity, social justice and motherhood that comes through in every piece of art she creates.
Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co and one of many humans who has benefitted from Dev's boundless generosity and kindness. We first connected at a launch event, then I asked her if she and her family would like to model for a B+C shoot (they did!), then months later, I asked the IG universe if anyone would be down to co-parent with me for a day so I could speak at a conference. Dev said yes! And for those that know her, none of these serendipitous moments are surprising.
Now it's time to delve more into Dev's story, her creative inspiration, her thoughtful approach to parenting and what makes her more passionate than ever about bringing her point of view and artistic voice into the universe.
Anjelika Temple: First, foundations. Where did you grow up? What is your heritage? What did you study in school? Where do you live now?
Dev Heyrana: Born in The Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. when I was 9 years old. Me and my family are from the island of Cebu and I'm a proud Cebuana. My childhood in the Philippines felt like freedom. I had my swimsuit in my backpack for whenever we decided to swim and I biked everywhere.
Immigrating here at 9 yrs old was a transition, to say the least. My parents had big dreams but the move was heavy on them. It wasn't easy. I had to grow up fast. I took care of my sisters while my parents worked night shifts. By the age of 12 I would cook dinner and get my sisters ready for bed. Something I didn't realize was that kids my age didn't do those things until I got older. We would play these make-believe games to make, in hindsight, our hard situation brighter.
I think this is really when art played a big role in my life. It was something I could escape in and always felt healing.
I witnessed racism towards my family and didn't know how to make sense of it. These events left a mark. I was a quiet kid and observed everything and everyone around me. I think about my grandparents, Lolo Jose and Lola Rita, a lot as I walk through life. When I make decisions. As hard as it feels, you have two choices, do you let it take you down or take it one step at a time forward. I kept going and it really shaped me as to why I am the way I am today.
I studied Fine Arts at The Corcoran in DC. I owe that decision to my art teacher, Mr Giles, in High School. He was retiring and wore a Hawaiian shirt every day during my senior year. He was a curmudgeon and I felt incredibly special since out of everyone in the school he really believed in me. As grumpy as he seemed to the class, he would tell me things like "Go into the other studio and break some glass, then put it on a canvas." He's the reason why my abstract pieces have elements like clay and sand in them.
I've had incredible mentors and all were teachers. Mr. Giles in High School and Christine George in College. Christine was the one who told me to go either to New York or San Francisco because "D.C. is no place for an artist like you." She told me to not listen to anyone, how I can still paint, be a graphic designer, and, if I choose to, have a family. I've never had anyone tell me anything like that before.
I took a chance because of her. Moved and went to Design School in 2006 and I've stayed in the Bay Area ever since, raising two girls with the love of my life.
Anj: You are one of those magical human beings that has figured out how to be a full-time artist. What was your career path like before you were able to dive fully into your creative passions?
Dev: The most radical thing I could have done in my family, I did, I went to college for Fine Arts. A mix of being so young and having to do it on my own, I went with the school that gave me more scholarships. Even then I worked three jobs to be able to get through it. Hard work is ingrained in me.
With my sculpture background, I fell in love with Print and Packaging and why I came out here to San Francisco. I appreciated the security of having a career in Graphic Design. I also learned how to work with clients and the business side of things. Even then, I never stopped painting.
A few years ago I went through a pretty hard time with my health. I dealt with six surgeries in one year and I still have to do some follow-up ones. That experience almost broke me and what got me through was my family and painting in bed while I recovered.
When I finally got back on my feet, my heart just wasn't in Graphic Design anymore. So I made a two year plan. With a toddler and a mortgage, I wanted to make sure my steps were thought out. I put myself out there as an Artist while I still worked in Design. After a year I worked part time as a Graphic Designer and stepped down from my Creative Director position. I loved it, to be creative as an Artist and as a Designer. I looked at 2018 as my year to make the jump. If my work as an Artist balances out with my salary then I would quit in the Summer of 2019. And so here we are. I also am sharing a studio with my good friend, Naomi PQ, and I feel like my creative drive is just beginning.
Anj: What do you love about painting? How do you feel when you're in a creative flow state?
Dev: Like every part of me is free. Free to express myself through the stroke of my hand. How all of it leads back to my heart. These elements I use to paint have a mind of their own and how I need to respect the process.
It centers me and reminds me that the process is just like the life we lead. I know I still have so much more to learn but while I'm painting no matter how it's going, I'll embrace this moment.
Anj: You reference your roots quite a bit in your work. Talk to me more about how your roots inspire your work.
Dev: One of my earliest memories is of my Lolo Jose teaching me how to water mango saplings. He converted to Buddhism when my mother was young, so he viewed the world with love and kindness. I didn't realize it then but watering those mango trees were life lessons. We need to take the time to nurture, practice patience, and respect all living things. I still imagine him walking beside me often, carrying his teachings as I find my way in this world.
Nature and the Sun drive my pieces. My abstract works are fragments of moments. Like the sunset I grew up with when I was seven years old in the Philippines, like how I saw the water in Cebu when I dove in as a young adult, and like when I saw the redwoods with my children for the first time.
I see earth in our skin and especially when I paint people. How our mango trees grew and blossomed because the dark earth was rich with nutrients. I imagine the Sun piercing through these women I depict. I paint their love and bravery because their resilience cannot be contained. I want to celebrate all of it.
This is the beauty of Art, I am able to paint exactly how I see it.
Anj: Motherhood and your daughters are also central themes in your work. How has motherhood changed your approach to creating artwork?
Dev: Everything. I was still deep in my Design Career and I would paint at home. One day Quinn, who was 3 years old at the time introduced me at the park to a mom. "This is my mom, she's an Artist." It struck me that my toddler knew who I was more than I knew myself. That's really when I really owned it. I am more fearless because of my girls.
I own my body, I thank people when they compliment me, and I am selective but fearless when I use my voice. I am more in tune how I speak about myself because of them. When I paint these women I want to celebrate them. I notice how I embrace myself is translated in my paintings.
Anj: What advice can you give to parents who are trying to tap into their kiddos' innate creativity?
Dev: I don't have a lot of guidelines set up. I'll say "Let's draw the biggest fish we can draw" or "how many silly lines can we make" and I let them lead me. They ask me questions, show me things, and I sit there with my coffee watching their eyes wide with excitement. Watching them in their creative process is pure joy for me. Those silly lines can turn into a dragon or waves and next thing we know, we're drawing a big beach scene. My advice would be that you can suggest something to start it off but be open to how they take it. It is such a beautiful window into their minds.
Anj: Shifting gears to HIP HOP DANCE! Talk to us about his component of your creative expression.
Dev: I loved the Hip Hop scene in DC and discovered how much fun the clubs were in college. My friends told me about this Hip Hop Crew I should try out for, I was so scared because I've never taken a dance class in my life. I got in and it was like having another family. We competed all over the East Coast, it was a blast!
I found hipline when I started my first Design Job and needed an outlet. It was exactly what I needed and one of the owners asked if I was interested to teach. I've been teaching there since 2009 and am still going strong. It's a wonderful community of women. Now we're virtual and reaching clients all over.
Anj: What does a typical [pandemic] day look like for you? How does it differ from your rhythm before COVID?
Dev: I've been practicing being kinder to myself lately. Both me and my husband work full time and so having the girls at home is a challenge. Some days we are amazed by how smooth it went and then there are others where if the girls are clean and bellies are full, it's a total win.
Now that we're on month 8 our rhythm before covid felt more chaotic to be honest. I felt like we were always rushing out the door while carrying so many bags. Now my husband and I try to have coffee together, if he has a break from his meeting, and we sit with Quinn before school to see what she has to do for the day. Rowan's preschool closed down but we were able to find a wonderful speech therapist for her and she has an Adventure Pod we go to two times a week.
The one thing we really try to do is go outside once a day. Have some magic in their childhood no matter how small. It could be just going up for a hike by our home and picking up leaves, riding our bikes, or watching the sunset from our window. Seeing how the girls' react to these adventures we have is pure magic.
Anj: When you get creatively blocked or burnt out, how do you reset? Do you have tips you can share?
Dev: I go outside. I go out for a hike or go to the beach. Even if it's 15 minutes, something about grounding yourself in Nature is really healing. I also do exercise where I doodle for two minutes because it feels doable. Judgment-free doodles, always opens the doorway to more.
Anj: I know firsthand that community-building is huge for you. Tell us more about what your support system and creative community looks like.
Dev: I feel a lot of love and strength when I think of my community. My relationship with my sister led the way what women supporting women looks like. It's listening, asking questions, remembering, cheering for all the wins, being there even if it's hard, and taking time to invest in them. The way me and my sister show up for each other is why I have these amazing women in my life. I can talk to them about my family, motherhood, and we're all trying to balance it all while sharing my most recent project. I feel really blessed especially looking back in my college years where I don't know where Art would take me.
Anj: When you need to give yourself a pep talk, what does it sound like?
Dev: I usually take a deep breath then say or think "One step forward". Most of the time, I'm scared (as shit) but the thought of not trying scares me more. That one step forward can be hard as hell and maybe even heartbreaking, but I have to try.
For more on this brilliant artist, mother and friend, follow Dev @_heyrana on Instagram and check out (and buy!) her artwork here.