what’s your #sidehustle? issue2
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5to9zine
issue 2, Spring 2018
Introduction
Contents
One day soon after the first issue of 5to9zine hit the streets...
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chris: Hey Dave, how do you wanna start issue 2? Dave: Let’s find a good mix of various kinds of side projects done by a bunch of different people. Sound about right? Chris: OK, I like it. Can we mix in stuff like music, art, and robotics? Dave: Yeah! That would be awesome! And how about some public speaking and maybe something really different like tying flies? Chris: OK, if you wanna throw in tying lies I got the perfect person. Holly: How about pinball? I want to showcase adults playing and having fun. You’re never too old to play! Dave: Agreed. Chris: As far as music, have you ever heard H2O? Well, Toby the singer has this great positive speaking thing he does with school and has a limited edition merch line. Dave: I’ve heard em and I like their music but I had no idea about the speaking thing. Sounds perfect! And then issue 2 was born, and here it is. Thanks for picking up a copy, and feel free to drop us a line at 5to9zine@gmail.com. We wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who’s featured in this issue. Also a huge thanks to our sponsors. Please check them out and see what they have to offer. We couldn’t do this without their support. #supportthosewhosupportyou – Chris, Dave & Holly
Pete Brown Creates Cultural Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 See One Freelance to Freedom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 FreekiTiki Keepin’ it Freeki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Toby Morse Positive Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Leanna Valente One Big Art Hustle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Inside the PinVault with Matthew Forslund & Aaron Silvers . . . 33 Tony DiPaolo Hooked on Tying Flies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Finding Your Side Hustle . . . . . . . . . . . 41
The 5to9team
Dave Combs
ChrisRWK(Robots Will Kill)
Holly Combs
Rocky the Cat
Editor / Designer
Creative Director
The Guy with a Million Questions
Production Assistant
Contents copyright 2018, 5to9zine. All images and text are the property of their respective owners and may not be reproduced without permission. 5to9zine is published quarterly. Office of publication: 5to9zine, c/o Combs, 5805 Lowell Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46219, USA. Subscriptions available at: www.5to9zine.com 3
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photo by Harold Brown
Interview by Dave Combs Images courtesy of Pete Brown Pete Brown works three day jobs and has two different and very interesting side projects we wanted to learn more about. In his off hours he somehow finds time to run Piggyback App and Midwest Street Art in addition to having a family. A couple of years ago he interviewed us on WFYI Indianapolis, and this is our opportunity to find out more about him. Here’s what he had to say. Can you tell me a little about what you do at your day jobs? Yes, I have a few day jobs. I run a modest creative digital services company in Indianapolis called ASH Interactive. My team and I do audio/video production, help companies with basic websites, graphics, social media strategizing, basic branding, project management and consulting. My real mission there is to help small businesses, individuals and non-profits put together cost-effective and creative solutions that help them get their mission out to the world in engaging ways. I’m also an adjunct professor at the University of Indianapolis in the communications department and I teach the classes that cover topics tied to ASH Interactive services. Those include, audio and video production for ra-
dio, TV and freelance, marketing, PR, digital media for the web and social media and intro communications classes. Another job that’s been a blast for the last 18 months is being an on-air contributor for Indy’s NPR affiliate WFYI, focusing on local arts and culture stories. As I go through these things, it hits me that I’m just one of those people that is fortunate enough (depending on your point of view) to be able to juggle several creative professional endeavors and they usually end up gelling together. That and I have an amazingly supportive and encouraging family! Your side projects are Piggyback App and Midwest Street Art. Tell us more about what you do for those projects. Sure, Piggyback App is a free mobile platform for increasing access to our nation’s arts and cultural organizations. It was created with the intention of providing an even playing field for giving arts and cultural organizations a voice for connecting with new and underserved audiences through their smart phones. On one level it’s akin to Yelp!-style directory with a tight arts and culture focus that also has a second purpose. That purpose is to give the cultural organizations access to the backend to let them create and manage their own content, analyze data about who’s exploring the content and let them cross market with 5
thousands of other organizations. Essentially, they can create a custom app experience right through our platform and have a much larger reach than they’d have in their local area alone. It’s also free for them to start up so it isn’t cost prohibitive for smaller or low staff/ budget organizations. Midwest Street Art grew out of a personal need to shine a spotlight onto the killer street art, graffiti and mural work that has been coming out of our region for decades – but hasn’t gotten mainstream attention. I’ve resided in Indy for about 15 years, but I was born, raised and regularly travel back to Detroit. I started dabbling in professional art in 2008 and was regularly driving back home and through areas of Indianapolis with some fantastic street art. However, whenever I’d get online to search and explore more works I was constantly being directed to either coast, Europe or South America. Creating Midwest Street Art on Facebook and Twitter was simply a way to try and connect like-minds, 6
share photos, video, promote events and network artists from the Midwest and those looking to paint and create here; in a more mainstream way. Why do you do Piggyback App? I spent about eight years as an arts administrator at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis and have continued to work closely with arts and cultural organizations since my resignation to start ASH back in 2013. The short story is that there are some major barriers that cultural organizations face when trying to get their missions in front of people. Generally, I’m not talking about the top 1-3% of the cultural landscape, those household name museums, historic sites, festival, zoos, theatres and such, but I’m referring to the 97%. Our nation has about 50,000 arts, cultural and historic sites and organizations and most people couldn’t name 50; one tenth of one percent of them. As a cultural tourist myself, I want to know
...nothing makes me happier than being able to connect people from different areas; whether it’s artists or an artist with a curator, gallery owner, a fan or even a potential collector. about all of my options before I pick places to travel. My family is into park systems, museums, street art and live performance venues so being able to locate these places helps us dial in our plans. I know that we aren’t the only ones that get tired of visiting the same spots repeatedly, but I was finding it to be a challenge by just searching Google. I’d regularly have to go 3 or 5 search pages deep before getting a suggestion that wasn’t a large organization or a paid ad. So, in some ways Piggyback is definitely a self-serving platform! Why do you do Midwest Street Art? In 2012 I received a Creative Arts Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis with the plan to travel around the Midwest, meet with artists, photo/video document the work I was seeing and the people I was meeting. I used Facebook and Twitter to archive everything, with no major plan for it to grow strategically or anything. Since then I’ve curated/
co-curated a handful of exhibitions around the region, assisted with some public art and graffiti events, lead walking tours, profiled artists and exhibitions/galleries, spoken and “Powerpointed” my way around and been a part of several panels. It’s been a lot of fun to see the organic growth behind it and nothing makes me happier than being able to connect people from different areas; whether it’s artists or an artist with a curator, gallery owner, a fan or even a potential collector. I’d love to see it continue to grow and would really like to bring on some contributors on from each state. Being based in Indianapolis and being from Detroit, I try to keep decent tabs on those areas, but the scene has grown so much that I can’t get to everything. Many folks will email me photos or let me know about events, so I try to promote as many of those as possible. Midwest Street Art could probably populate it’s own zine if I could get organized!
7 photo by Zach Medler
What do you hope to accomplish with each of these projects? Great question… Both Piggyback and MWSA grew out of a need that I observed and I’m just thrilled, and amazed, that they’ve come to life in many aspects. If I’m shooting for the stars, I’d love to see Piggyback become that one app that lives on everyone’s phone as a constant contact point with arts and cultural exploration. I think that there is a large group of people out there that are looking for new things to experience and having our free app could be just the thing to feed their curiosity. You also have to consider that more and more people, especially younger generations, are spending their money on experiences, not things, so an open source content sharing platform full of experiences has some real value.
What’s next for each of these projects? Another great question... The short answer is continued growth for both. The longer answer is that I’d love to see these take off and become my 9to5, as well as my 5to9 gigs. For that to happen, I believe that I’ll need collaborators and, I hate to bring it up but, funding. Folks that are passionate about arts and cultural access, technology, street art, social networking, connecting people with places, encouraging exploration, fundraising/ business development and have their own ideas that have come up simply while reading this interview can reach out to me anytime to chat. I’m always up for discussions, meetings and collaboration. I love working with other passionate and creative people. That being said, I’ll keep chipping away at both for as long as I can!
With Midwest Street Art, I’d love to see it continue to grow. I really hope that a page like this can inspire some artists in more rural areas of the region to start creating. I’ve tried to target the more western states in our region to try to learn about movements and I’ve gotten a lot of “there’s nothing good out here” sorts of responses from people in those areas. Perhaps down the line MWSA can help plan some events and exhibitions in underrepresented areas and get a new crop of artists thinking about murals, graffiti and public art initiatives in a serious way.
Thank you for taking the time from all you do to do this interview. You’re welcome, it’s truly an honor to be included in 5to9.
Is there crossover with these two projects? Absolutely. Once fantasy I’ve had in the back of my mind is to start to use Piggyback as a mobile app platform for Midwest Street Art. We’d set up different areas on Piggyback to map out street art locations where people can go and explore landscapes with great graffiti, murals, public art and street art. Something curated by locals with clear directions and descriptions of each area. I think that a lot of people can be apprehensive to explore areas like Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, etc., larger cities that may be “rough” in areas, so the more information we can provide to people, the more comfortable they’ll be. I’d also love to see bike or walking tours of areas lead by local artists/experts on a semi-regular basis. 8
More info at: www.piggyback-app.com
www.facebook.com/MidwestStreetArt www.petebrowncreates.com
photo by Pete Brown
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Nitelyfe Pins by See One
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Interview by ChrisRWK (Robots Will Kill) Photos by See One Born in New York City in 1980, See One has been fueled by creative curiosity joined with a big imagination ever since picking up a crayon. See One began illustrating as a young child inspired by his love for comic books, Japanese animation and the colorful graffiti of the late 80’s and 90’s. We had a chance to catch up with him about his journey from working a 9 to 5 to doing his own thing full-time, Nitelyfe Pins which started as a side project. Here’s what he had to say. Can you tell me a little about what your day job is and some past ones you’ve had? I’m self-employed as a pin designer working for my pin brand, Nitelyfe Pins while also creating fine art for gallery shows, street art, illustration and comics. When I was in the 9 to 5 world I worked in various forms of design such as Fashion, Graphic, Web and UX design. I’ve created artwork for mobile games, major fashion brands, websites and
more. I decided to leave that world because I felt like I was wasting my time and energy while being stuck in an office making artwork for other people and didn’t feel fulfilled being the cog in some else’s machine. What’s your side project? I’m not sure anymore, pins were my side project but I’d say pins and art both compete for my time these days. So how much of your side project affected or included your day job? Or was it the reverse? Right now it’s all mixed in. I started my pin brand 1.5 years ago and prior to that it was just art and sometimes freelance design. Once I started making pins I got serious about it and decided to create my own job from that so I could focus on art when the inspiration strikes. 11
We only live once, do what you love while you’re able. 12
You do a lot of murals, is that something you’ve always wanted to do or was it something that came with the territory? Yeah I love to paint, it’s something I was always interested in. I saw my first graffiti production on the streets of Queens when I was about seven and it inspired me so much that I knew somehow graffiti and street art would be a part of my future. Once I got into graffiti and felt the addicting nature of it, I was locked in. What’s your main driving force for doing your side project? We only live once, do what you love while you’re able. Would you quit your day job to do your side project full time? Is so why, if not why. Or do you already feel like your side project is your day job? I quit my day job years ago to go sell art in the streets of Soho. I had to do it, I find no joy in being in an office for 8-9 hours of the day and being too tired to work on the
things I love by the time I get home. Even if I failed (which I have) I had to try it for myself because I felt so strongly that I could make it happen. When I had a 9 to 5 I had constant ideas about things I wanted to make or paint but had the job in the way so I removed that roadblock to gain freedom. What’s next? Next for Nitelyfe is expansion. In addition to doing local events next year I’m going to be at more music festivals and comic conventions around the country. Eventually I hope to build a team to help me but that may be further down the line. Thanks for the interview! How can people contact you? Pins: @nitelyfepins on Instagram and Facebook. Website: nitelyfe.co Art: @seeoneart on Instagram and Facebook. Website: seeoneart.com
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YOU-ARE-BEAUTIFUL.COM
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Keepin’ it Freeki
Interview by ChrisRWK (Robots Will Kill) Photos by FreekiTiki When you speak to someone about their day job you sometimes don’t understand what they do. When you talk to them about their side gig you usually understand what they do. Is this because they have more passion for it? With Bobby I think it was that
but it was also that he has a crazy daytime job. Sit back and read a little bit about both. Can you tell me a little about what your day job is? I am a Roboticist and Computer Engineer for the Navy. I work with unmanned vehicles aka Robots! I know those are dear to your heart, 17
as they are mine. I do a lot of different things from managing teams of software developers to the technical design of computing systems which are used to run the robots. An area of interest for me is in the development of autonomy of robots, meaning helping to design the “brains” or “artificial intelligence” which helps the robot to make decisions when it can’t get instructions from a human operator. I guess it’s funny that I’m the one interviewing you since we have a robot kinship. So these robotics are meant to help? The robots I generally work with are largely used on the surface or under the water, it is the Navy after all. Much of what we do is to use them for surveying the bottom of the sea, or to look for things. So yes, these robots are meant to help, recently large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV’s for short) have been used to look for lost airplanes in very deep water. UUV’s are used to survey pipelines and other things where it is tedious or dangerous for people to perform the work for
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themselves. We generally say Robots are best used for things that are one of the three “D’s”, Dirty, Dangerous, or Dull. What’s your side project? I have been doing art using my Instagram handle “FreekiTiki” for several years now. I was inspired to start being creative again, as I was going through the process of getting divorced, and I looked back upon who I had become, and frankly I was saddened. I had given up much of the creative endeavors which I had enjoyed when I was much younger. While on a work trip to Austin, TX, I happened upon Hope Outdoor Gallery. It was here that my desire to become an artist again was fully awakened. Inspired by the incredible work of Austin artists like @DaddyOtis, @400mlbakery, and @HappyRobots, I decided that I was going to start practicing painting and start to create for myself. I setup a backyard “practice” area to paint with spray cans. This was a lot of fun for me, and spray paint is one of my favorite mediums to work
with. I have a condition called Benign Essential Tremor, which causes my hands to shake, sometimes quite uncontrollably, and it always seems to get worse when I am trying to paint fine details, and having a clean handstyle like yours is just never going to happen for me. Due to the tremor, I started making stickers using Adobe Illustrator on the computer. I have always loved stickers and once I realized I could easily get stickers printed my whole world expanded with possibilities. My first sticker was the “Beware of Fluffy” and since then I have had many different designs of stickers. I absolutely love giving away my stickers, it’s so funny almost everyone loves stickers, and when they find out the designs are your own, they are even more grateful to receive them. Where’d the name come from? Both the Beware of Fluffy and FreekiTiki? The FreekiTiki handle, came out of my youth. As a kid I always loved the Tiki mugs and exotic drinks that would be on the backs of menus at Chinese restaurants, and I always wanted my parents to order them so I could see the cool mugs. Tiki was then solidified into my DNA when I was living in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and my parents would take us to a restaurant called the Mai Kai. They had a floor show with Hula dancers, Fire jugglers and all kinds of cool stuff, the restaurant had these amazing tiki drinks, some of which were on fire, and they had an outdoor garden with Huge Tiki statues. I loved going there, and I think my parents liked taking my sister
and I, as we could run around the garden, and leave them in peace to eat and drink, and then we would come back to watch the floor show. I have a modest tiki mug collection, and I really do enjoy making Tiki cocktails, so FreekiTiki seemed like as good a name as any. Since then it has stuck, and I am proud when people recognize my work or call me “FreekiTiki” it makes me feel like I have accomplished something, however small. Beware of Fluffy was my first sticker. As a Floridian, and surfer, I have spent a lot of my time in the water. The sticker is really a reference to the practice some surfers have of minimizing the fear that sharks often inspire, by giving them a different name. Sharks are sometimes referred to as “Fluffy” or “the man in the grey suit” in an attempt to diffuse the fear, and allow the surfer to keep doing the 19
I think we as a society need to be more about giving and less about receiving, I think learning to find joy, in other peoples joy, would go a long way to improving everyones lives. activity that they love. I have been in the water, all alone on a foggy morning, paddled out waiting to catch a wave and had a very uneasy feeling before, this “sharky feeling” leads to one of two reactions typically, you can call it a day and head into the beach, or you can push that fear to the back of your mind and keep going. My Psychology professor friend, Emily, would call this Cognitive flexibility. I find that sometimes a person, just needs to put their fears aside and get on with life, and this sticker represents that, to me. What’s your main driving force for doing your side project? Really my main purposes in doing art are twofold. First I really like to spread a positive message and bring people joy. The second is that I am always wanting to try new things, try new techniques, learn new skills. Recently I have taught myself how to sew with a machine. The original goal is that I wanted to make myself a messenger bag, one that can hold a dozen paint cans, and use it when I am painting. That has expanded into the desire to create clothing with my artwork incorporated into the fabric. Using a website called Spoonflower, I have had several different fabrics printed up, using my artwork as the main theme. Right now I am working on making a bikini featuring a red polka dot lycra fabric which has my original “Beware of Fluffy” design in it. I have done a lot of work with Copper, making sculptures and jewelry. I also like to make things out of Cork fabric. Cork is just an amazing material, and has a great feel, and the pieces I have created with it often get a lot of compliments. I am inspired by the Free Art Movements of Atlanta and Austin, and as such, I give away almost all of the things I create. I really love to see how peoples eyes light up when they are given something unique and handmade. I think we as a society need to be more about giving and less about receiving, I think learning to find joy, in other peoples joy, would go a long way 20
to improving everyones lives. How much of your day job crossed over into your side project? Unfortunately, they do not cross at all. While I would absolutely love to give one of the systems I work with a spray paint makeover, the reality is that I would get arrested for doing that. The military isn’t known for having a sense of humor about things like that. I guess I should mention all my art is my own, and doesn’t represent the attitudes of the US Government, no big surprise there! Would you quit your day job to do your side project full time? Is so why or why not? In a heartbeat, if it could pay the bills, but there is that whole giving it all away thing that would make that difficult. So for right now I am content to let my day job, pay the sticker printing bills, art supplies bills, and send me to cool places where I can meet other artists and appreciate the local art scenes. How can people contact you? I am always open to collaboration or just talking about the creative process. It is probably best to just reach out to me via Instagram or Twitter using @FreekiTiki.
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Interview by ChrisRWK (Robots Will Kill) Photos courtesy of One Life One Chance Toby Morse is a founding member and the lead vocalist for the band H2O. In addtion to touring the world with his band, Toby also founded the nonprofit organization One Life One Chance to visit schools at which he speaks to students in order to inspire youth to make healthy life choices, maintain a Positive Mental Attidute (PMA), be themselves, and to avoid peer pressure. He also runs an online merch store with positive merch related to the One Life One Chance message. We caught up with Toby and this is what he had to say.
How did you get into doing your day job? Just started making merch around my OLOC Movement. My merchandise business has grown tremdously in the past nine years, I’m very lucky. One limited release per month all year round.
Can you tell me a little about what your day job is? Online merch store owner, designer and distributor! What’s your side project? I do my band H2O and I speak at schools both of together them equal a full-time job. 23
Can you explain the One Life One Chance program? Inspiring the youth to make smart healthy life choices! Be leaders not followers. How much of your day job crosses over into your side project? OLOC, h2omerch and H2O are all blended together and balance everything. Your side project has a lot of passion behind it and an extremely positive message. Your talks at schools look like a great way to reach the youth. Is this something you had when you were a kid or is that one of the reasons you started it? I had D.A.R.E. and it was so different. I’m not speaking from drug experience at all. People usually have been through hell and back on drugs that talk at schools. My approach is prevention not intervention. Breaking stereotypes of tattooed musicians, etc. You’ve toured all over the world with H2O, have you done any talks in some of the countries you’ve toured in? If so which and what was one that you felt made a big impact. If not is that some-
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thing you would like to do in the future? I wish! I get offers all the time but nothing ever pans out because of financing to get me there. Love to do it anytime I can though. Touring in the summers and speaking during the year at schools around the U.S. Your music has a very strong positive message also. One Life One Chance is even the name of one of your songs. Do you feel like your music is the equivalent
photo by Carl Fleischer
Its real. It’s just me. No smoke and mirrors, no judgment or preachiness. Just telling my story to them honestly. Just like H2O sings about for over 20 years.
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for adults to the talks you do in schools? Yes. I feel like my story along with my powerpoint connects perfectly. It’s a different approach. Its real. It’s just me. No smoke and mirrors, no judgment or preachiness. Just telling my story to them honestly. Just like H2O sings about for over 20 years.
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How can people contact you for either your day job or your side project? info@onelifeonechance.com or www.h2omerch.com
www.h2omerch.com
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Leanna Valente
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ART HUSTLE Interview by ChrisRWK (Robots Will Kill) Photos by Leanna Valente I met Leanna awhile ago, I believe while I was painting a wall or at an art show. After speaking with her and bonding over our 9-5 jobs and how much we hate how much time they take up we talked about how much it made us appreciate our passion projects. She’s taken photos of some of the best artists out there on top of creating some amazing artwork. Can you tell me a little about what your day job is? My day job is as a senior account manager for a mega-large (too large), industrial supply company. I manage and grow a group of corporate accounts, selling around $2.3 million per year, yet living paycheck to paycheck oddly. I love sales and business in general, it’s in my blood and being responsible for my own day and time at least, the best part. It’s like running your own business but it’s not yours, whatsoever.
What’s your side project? While the day job is my left brain, my side project is from the right side - my lifeblood, which is art, everything art related. It changes depending on what I am working on, whether focusing on my mixed media contemporary art, art blogging, photography of street art and graffiti documentary projects (often for art magazines), curating, doing books/zines, or whatever else, it’s all related as one big “art hustle.” Currently, I have a collage, mixed media series that I have been working on, evolving since 2008 and it is all fashion based. Well, most of my art is fashion based entitled “Changing The Art of Fashion” as I manipulate the covers and pages of fashions magazines from the glamour to grit, the way I see it. Or the way me as an artist sees it. Also related is an interactive curated book/ zine project called “Style Black Book.” Here, various top graffiti, street and contemporary artists do their thing on the cover of fashion magazines – thus “changing the art of fashion.” The first book had 68 pages; the second with 124 and the third will begin curation soon. 29
...it’s all in my blood like breathing air, not doing it isn’t an option. How did you get involved with photography? I have been shooting out on the streets for about 20 years long before social media and on film. However, when living in NYC (where I am from), my apartments were always so small I stopped doing my mixed media collage art as I had no room, so photography moved to the front of the list.
from all around the world. A book will come out eventually, with the forward written by my friend and Martha Cooper. It might take another few years as there have been some big stumbling blocks. Whether I self publish or pick a “true” publisher – this monster will happen! But, I need help and what I have received so far did not pan out. I can’t do this one alone.
Can you talk about your Polaroid project? The “Instant Art Exposure” project began in May of 2013 during a mural festival on my block in Astoria, Queens. I had this camera sitting there and thought let’s play around with this for fun. I had normally been shooting graffiti and street/mural artists and that day, I asked artists to sign their photos while working, like in a timeline. And, a few portrait shots after. Fast forward and I now have over 1,400 photos signed by some of the most prolific, famous and creative painters out there going back to the Wild Style crew of the 80’s to the current incredible muralists and street artists, who are still in their 20’s
What’s your main driving force for doing your side projects? Since there are a few aspects to my side (art) projects it’s all in my blood like breathing air, not doing it isn’t an option. I see things and I want make “something” inspired by it, I want to photograph it, or do a show revolving around it. You never know…but the driving force is just the “obsession.”
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How much of your day job crossed over into your side project? None, except being able to pay for art supplies and such via the day job. Sometimes I am lucky to come across a client who is
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“into art” and we build a nice rapport, which is an unexpected plus. We usually become friends. I then look forward to switching over to the “art” in the early evenings. Would you quit your day job to do your side project full time? Is so why, if not why? Yes! However, being 100% self sufficient with no other financial support it would need to pay ALL of the bills and then some. Quitting without a solid plan is not an option, sadly. If I had the funds available I would build an art empire including everything from my art, to various collaborative books, to grand scale exhibits and projects and a section revolving around the business side of things and art law, which is last on most artists lists. I would have an entire department for this and the business side of things. You’ve done a few publications, print releases etc. What has been your favorite project so far? All of it, as long as I am making something or developing a project, most importantly evolving. I literally love and am obsessed by it all. Seeing the Style Black Books completed and of course putting on a great exhibit of my new work are all favoites. Hard to pick just one. 32
How can people contact you? For my art hustle people can see good ol’ social media such as my art website at www.leannavalenteart.com, Instagram @leannav and the blog at www.theartsalonnyc.com.
INSIDE THE
WITH AARON SILVERS AND MATTHEW FORSLUND
Interview by Dave Combs Images courtesy of PinVault I met Aaron and Matthew several years ago when we were all working day jobs at the same company. Aaron was the head of the art department in which I worked and Matt was the tech guy who made the computers
and network run smoothly. I was happy to finally catch up with them about the side project they do together with several other people, a pinball arcade tucked away in a large vault in the Murphy Art Building in historic Fountain Sqaure, Indianapolis. Let’s go inside the PinVault with them and hear what they have to say. 33
I make all the machines go. Acquire new ones that need work. Troubleshoot any problems. – Matt Can you each tell us what you do at your day jobs? Aaron: I manage the art department for a wholesale large format digital printing company. Matt: I sleep in the daytime! I’m a night nurse. One of your combined side projects is running PinVault. What does each of you do for that? Aaron: I play a few roles in the PinVault. I’m the door-person and grant people access to the PinVault when we’re open (that is my favorite role!). I also work with creating graphics and the signage, act cool, sweep and mop the floor, and hold the flashlight while Matt works on machines.
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Matt: I make all the machines go. Acquire new ones that need work. Troubleshoot any problems. Keep them clean and waxed. Teach people how to play. Can you tell us a little more about PinVault? Aaron: The PinVault is a unique place to play pinball. Access ain’t exactly easy, but I’d say it’s worth it ;) The whole thing started from a need to store pinballs somewhere and then to have people have access to those machines. It’s really grown organically from there with the whole pinball scene in Indianapolis. Matt: It’s a hole-in the wall pinball bar with a speakeasy feel. We strive to keep the machines in impeccable shape and have tons of fun. In addition to you two, how many other people help make PinVault happen?
Aaron: There’s a core five of us that “run” PinVault and then outside that, there is an innumerable amount of people that help and support us! None of us make money from this. Without everyone’s help, we wouldn’t be able to do it. It’s everyone that’s leant us guest machines, brought beers for tap, that have tended bar, and everyone that comes out to support us and that has sought us out and found us! Matt: There are officially five of us. We each bring a different set of skills to make this possible. Sam handles the suds and picks up the slack with repairs and technical stuff I have no idea how to do like practical electricity and tap lines. Tad is our A-list tiltle guy and manages the strange relationship with us and the building mgmt. Jon handles our amazing art, leagues, and keeps track of lots of little stuff to keep us rolling. Tons of people help out though. My wife works the bar alot.
Our friend Nate runs the bar and helps out alot. Other pinball people in Indy are kind enough to share pins with us, so we have a rotating selection of guest machines. Why do you do PinVault? Aaron: I love the pinball and the pinball people. Over the last couple years pinball has really grown in Indy and I’ve been super happy to be part of that. I’ve also met so many great people through doing the PinVault. Matt: I like drinking beer and playing pinball with strangers. Indianapolis has been a dead zone for pinball for a long time. It’s been great helping to bring it back. It’s also important to me to share machines with people. There are tons of collectors with basements full of hoarded machines. That doesn’t really jive with me. I think they are meant to be shared and played by everyone. 35
I like being part of a community... and helping run a space that people... can come together in. – Aaron What’s the best part for you personally about doing PinVault? Aaron: For me personally I like being part of a community that I originally didn’t know existed and helping run a space that people of that community can come together in. Matt: Pride in my work. Tons of free beer. How important is it in your opinion for adults to play and have fun? Aaron: Oh, I’d for sure say that it’s very important. In my life I’ve seen people that as they grow older and have families and responsibilities that they forget to play and have fun and then in forgetting don’t think that’s what people of their age are supposed to do. I try and be an example that you don’t have to grow up and stop playing and having fun. Matt: Very? Where do you see PinVault going in the future or what’s next? Aaron: Maybe… gambling? That hasn’t tarnished pinball or made it illegal in the past, has it? The growth of the PinVault has been a very casual sort of thing. Main goals are to acquire more machines and grow the scene by interacting with others. We basically take what opportunities are brought before us and run with those. Matt: We are just staying the course and slowly making it nicer. Getting better machines and cooler lighting How can people find out more about PinVault or get in contact with you? Matt: We currently just run everything out of our Facebook page. It’s kinda fun to just keep it mostly word of mouth. More at: facebook.com/Pinvault 36
Tony DiPaolo
Hooked on Tying Flies
Interview by ChrisRWK (Robots Will Kill) Photos courtesy of Tony DiPaolo Learning that Tony tied these small intricate flies was amazing. Especially when you know his daytime job is working on bicycles. Sure bikes have small parts but for the most part it’s a mechanical job with things like grease, wrenches and rubber. So seeing these tiny flies and the attention to detail was inspirational. You can also tell by his interview his love of doing his side project. Can you tell me a little about what day job is? Hey Chris my day job is working in a bicycle shop in Jersey I’m the lead mechanic and I mostly do repairs in one of our locations. There are two shops and I bounce between both. I also do sales and fittings on higher end bikes. Did your day job start out as something you wanted to do or was it just a job? So how I got into working in a bike shop was
when I was in my early twenties I used to do a little racing and was really into cycling. I used to hang around a local shop and became friends with the owner. One day he had told me he was looking to open up another store and asked if I wanted to manage and wrench for him and been doing it to this day. On the side you tie flies for flyfishing? Tell us a little bit more about that. Even though cycling is a passion for me I also got into flyfishing about eight years ago. A friend’s father really got me jazzed about it when he would tell me about all the flies he would make and he would give me all these great books and magazines on tying and techniques of flyfishing. I got totally into it. Why do you do the side project? I guess I started doing it because I kept losing lots of flies so much from either snagging them on the bottom or losing them in a tree and I just didn’t want to wait to order more flies so I was like hey why not I’ll give it a try. I’ll see what I can make from watching 37
It warms my heart to see someone catch a fish on something I made from a bunch of materials like feathers and yarn that I’ve come up with... youtube videos and the books my friend’s father gave me. So would you say you do it for the passion of it or are you looking to make a business out of it? I would say I do it for the passion. I give a bunch away to family and friends. It warms my heart to see someone catch a fish on something I made from a bunch of materials like feathers and yarn that I’ve come up with and just get totally stoked on seeing people catch the first fish with it. 38
Can you explain what goes into tying a fly? Research? Technique, etc.? There’s a lot that goes into making something. First is to try and match the hatch or what insects are in the stream that the fish are feeding on. Then once you find out what they’re feeding on you need to find the right materials or recipe for that particular fly. Most guys use natural things like pheasant tail and peacock hurl. Then you have to find out what size hook to use - if you’re going to use it with a bead head - if you’re going to
wrap the body in some sort of a wire and then find the right colors to match what insects are in the water. Also you have to figure out what species of fish you’re actually going after is either trout or bass or panfish or are you going for saltwater or freshwater fish. How much of your day jobs crossed over and vice versa? Not much of my day job cross over to tying flys. My passion for cycling and working on bikes is still there but there a lot of times I find myself thinking of a new pattern or a different spin on an old classic - nymphs. What’s next / where do you see the side project going in the future? I guess, Chris, the next step for me on tying is maybe starting in selling them online. I have guys on tying forums always asking to buy some of my flies or if I had an online store. So what I usually do is I flow them a couple. If they like them then I’ll usually ask for money. I just sent out a few to Australia, Texas, Florida, and out to Minnesota so I think that’s what I will probably be doing in the future. Thanks for all the support from you guys. 39
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Is a
side hustle right for me?
Finding Your Side Hustle By Dave Combs
So what’s all this fuss about side hustles? Perhaps you’ve heard people talking about making extra cash on the side driving for Uber. Or maybe you’ve heard of people finding a kind of personal satisfaction from hustling on the side that they just don’t get from their day job, like the person who sells their own handmade goods on Etsy. Maybe you’ve heard of people running a blog or doing a podcast on the side. It could be something as simple as purchasing items cheaply at garage sales and selling them on Craigslist or eBay for a profit. With all this talk of side hustles, maybe you’ve been thinking about starting your own side hustle. Okay, so let’s start with what we mean by side hustle. For the purpose of this article a side hustle is something you do apart from your day job that may or may not bring in some extra money, but does have the potential to do so if you were to sell a product or service related to whatever it is you do. Though the word “hustle” can sometimes have a negative connotation, it’s NOT a get-rich-quick scheme, or a means of swindling people out of their hard earned money. When we talk about a side hustle, we mean a legal way to earn some extra money and to empower yourself by doing something you truly enjoy that adds value to the world around you.
I’ve been a side hustler for as long as I can remember, even before I had a term for it. I’ve always loved to draw, and in elementary school I started noticing that other kids were impressed by my art. Eventually they began asking me to draw their favorite characters for them. One kid said, “I’ll give you a quarter if you draw Chewbacca for me.” That was the, “Aha!” moment in which I made an important realization. I realized that I had a skill, drawing pictures, for which people were willing to pay. Before that, I only drew for fun simply because I enjoyed it. Looking back many years later, I’ll say I’ve gotten paid quite a few quarters since then for my art skills, and I’ve enjoyed doing it every time. The question you may be asking yourself is, “Is a side hustle for me?” Here’s a quick test you can take to decide. If you answer, “yes” to one or more of the following questions, a side hustle may be just the thing for you: 1. Could you use a little extra income? 2. Is there something you love to do for which people would pay you? 3. Is there some kind of fulfillment missing from what you do at your day job? 4. Do you want to improve your skills in a certain area? 41
Why not get started on your own side hustle today? 5. Would you carve out a few hours each week in your schedule for something you really love to do? If you answered, “yes” to one or more of the above questions then a side hustle might be something for you to consider. You might be wondering where to get started so we’ve complied a list of 10 top side hustles on our site with links for you to check out at www.5to9zine.com/top-side-hustles. But here’s a brief rundown of three ways you can get started...
Create stuff and sell it.
That’s what we’re doing here at 5to9zine. We create a print publication which speaks to what a lot of people are doing in today’s world – side hustling. We love to hear and tell inspiring stories about what people do in their off hours so we decided to make a zine about it. But you don’t have to make a print publication. Maybe your skill set is making art or something else that people would like to buy. You can easily sell your stuff online these days with sites like Etsy, BigCartel. and Shopify. If you already have a WordPress site and little technical skill you can even host your own online store with plugins like WooCommerce. If you’re an artist, podcaster, musician, or other creative type you can also get support to do your thing though Patreon, a site where patrons send monthly financial support simply because they dig what you do. Some of the creators on Patreon choose to offer exclusive content to their patrons as an incentive to support.
Be an affiliate.
So maybe you don’t have that creative impulse. You can still create some extra income by joining online affiliate programs. 42
Especially if you already have your own blog with some decent traffic, you can join affiliate programs related to whatever you blog about and earn some extra cash. They will provide you with links which you can include with your content and they will pay you when people click those links and make purchases. The keys to being successful at being an affiliate are choosing the right programs and having engaging content that will bring people to your site.
Start a nonprofit.
Maybe you see a need in the world and you want to do something to fill it. That’s a great thing to do. And just for the record, running or working for a nonprofit does NOT meant that you yourself can’t make money at it. Though many people volunteer, many other people who run or work for nonprofits are paid well for the good work they do. My wife Holly and I had worked with several nonprofits in the past and we eventually started our own, The Department of Public Words. It started as a side hustle and eventually became our full-time jobs for about three years. It’s always been rewarding work. Toby Morse, who we interviewed for this issue started his own nonprofit to talk to kids about making good choices and not giving in to peer pressure. When you do nonprofit work the payoff is much bigger than financial gain. It’s about knowing that you’re making a positive impact on the world – something that is so needed today. So now that you have some ideas, why not get started on your own side hustle today? If you are starting a new side hustle or have been doing one for years we’d love to hear about it. Drop us a line at: 5to9zine@gmail.com.
Good hustling!
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