ARTBLCK VOL. 1 by ArtBlck

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ART BLCK NO. 1 TAY RO

EDITOR IN CHIEF: CAITLIN RILEY CONTRIBUTORS: NAUTICA FLOWERS CIAMARA DONAWA THE ELECTRICK GIRLS

TAYLOR PHOTOS: Bree Holt @exquisite_eye on Instagram

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Editor's Letter ... pg 4 Comic ... pg 5 DJ Hoodrich ... pg 6 Empathy Gap ... pg 8 Spotlight Artist ... pg 10 Electrick Girls ... pg 12 #STOPKILLINGUS ... pg 16 Talk with Tay Ro ... pg 18 Playlist ... pg 22 DIY ... pg 23

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EDITOR'S LETTER _

If you're reading this, just know I didn't think that anyone would make it this far so thank you. I put in a lot of work, met a lot of new people, and made a lot of sacrifices for this to happen and I truly hope you enjoy it. This first issue is probably small but that's okay. I encourage you to submit your work for future issues to artblckweb@gmail.com. I wanted to give someone a voice and I'm hoping that I've done just that and I'm hoping to continue doing it. Thank you to all the contributors for this project. A special thanks to Taylor for agreeing to this interview. I send infinite love your way. All of your help is extremely appreciated. This isn't a very exciting editor's letter but I swear the rest of the magazine is way more interesting.

all my love. Caitlin Riley

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DJ HOODRICH DAMONT HANSHAW, otherwise known as DJ HOODRICH is a 16 y/o DJ from New York. We talked with him about his mixes and his style. Why did you start music? When did it click that music is what you wanted to do? Well I hard time discovering myself. I wasn’t sporty enough to play sports. Or not analytical enough to be apart of the math team. So my dad took me to the Scratch Academy open house in Lower Manhattan and I fell in love. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment or “big break” so far? Doing a shoot for American Apparel’s Principle 6 campaign back in June. Going to the Hood By Air Daddy F/W Collection Show. How would you describe your style in 3 words? Not just in your music but in your clothing, too. “Carefree Afrocentric Brotha” How was it putting your first mix out into the world? How long have you been making your art? It was about 2 years ago. I was really nervous because no one my age was doing it. People thought it was weird. People thought I was a rapper because the only people who used SoundCloud at the time in my school were the “wanna be” rappers. The only person who supported me was my best friend Kayla. Now two years later, I’m doing gigs and mixes for others. Just for fun, name three trends that should be thrown out, and three that should stick around for a bit. Leather Sweatpants, True Religion Jeans, and appropriating people’s culture gotta go. I love 501 jeans, vintage versace sunglasses, and Comme des Garçons.

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READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON OUR WEBSITE

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by Nautica Flowers

One of the most known attacks happened last year. On November 13, 2015 suicide bombings occurred near the Stade de France along with mass shootings at cafes, venues, and restaurants. The devastating event killed 137 and wounded 368, which led to the trending hashtag #PrayforParis. However, the day before in Lebanon, ISIS attacked Beirut, killing 43 civilians. The attacks were the worst that had been seen since Lebanon’s civil war. Yet despite this fact, major news outlets turned a blind eye to the event choosing to cover the Paris attacks instead. Coming from The Economist, “According to Google, 5190 articles appeared on the subject on the 12th.” It went on to compare this to after Paris, “However it is true that the attacks in Paris generated coverage on a different magnitude, yielding 2.5 million stories on November 14th.” Why is it that even though Lebanon was attacked first, Paris deemed worthy of more attention? Critics of what’s been called the “empathy gap” say that the main reason is that one place is mainly white. Thus the empathy gap is another branch of white privilege. Institut Montaigne, a french think tank, states that since 2004 the French population has been approximately 80% white, so this assumption isn’t too far fetched.

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Although the gap between Lebanon and Paris is an obvious example, it’s not the only one. In fact, another comparison coming under attack happened this past week. Between Brussels, Istanbul, and Nigeria, the terrorist attacks this past week have changed lives. Yet once again while tons were hurt and affected, the world treated one of these locations with more sympathy. Can you guess which one? Predominantly white Brussels. The capital of Belgium was gifted the hashtag #PrayforBrussels along with similar hashtags that were used by influential celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian and Miley Cyrus. We can compare this to the people of Turkey using the phrase Je Suis Istanbul. Their cry for equal attention in a time of mourning never received enough hype to become a trending topic. Let’s parallel this to Nigeria, where on March 16, two suicide bombers killed 25 civilians in their mosque. While #PrayforNigeria did trend, it was not mentioned in President Obama’s solidarity speech. The speech gave its condolences to Brussels but lacked attention to both Nigeria and Istanbul. We live in the digital age, there is no longer an excuse for us to not make ourselves aware to daily tragedies. When these tragedies come it is up to us to make them trending topics. Just because your favorite celebrity hasn’t posted a picture of prayer or the Eiffel Tower hasn’t lit up with flag colors, it doesn’t mean a tragedy is less important. Imagine the people of Lebanon, Turkey, and Nigeria. Remember that they are as much of people as the citizens in Paris or Brussels. The weight of their grief shouldn’t be just on their own shoulders.

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WHEN DID YOU START ART I began art as early as I could put crayon to paper (or wall.) I've always been quite introverted and in preschool would rather be doodling than napping, snacking or socializing with the other kids. My favorite memory, the youngest I could remember is when I'd discovered that colors don't necessarily have tastes, after drawing on my tea cracker with pink crayon thinking it would in result in it tasting like a strawberry cookie. At elementary recess, being friendless, I would practice my sewing on paper towel and sing to myself and of course, draw. I've always been a strange character, often left alone in social situations, which was an isolation to my liking, leaving me to engage in my talents. BIGGEST INSPIRATION(S) I've many inspirations that I could list, many of them artists that have passed. I love to read of the lives of Frida Kahlo and Van Gogh, their weird upbringings, admiring their love of all aspects of art, how their own art was therapy for them, aiding for the broken heart and growth thereof. Another, more modern inspiration of mine is Amandla Stenberg. At times, when I'm in an artists' block, I watch her films and read her stories. Through her fame, she's been able to touch many through the art hoe collective, in which she's been a spark of this rising fire. Young people of color, including myself, are finding their identity; an individual with great potential, a creative person, beautiful and strong. WHAT DOES ART MEAN TO YOU Art is my air, heart, and mind. It's unbelievable. It's a haven in my life. When I feel inadequate which is quite often, it's helps to know that I can draw and paint, I can photograph, I can write, I can see the world through a lens not of any other person. I'm an artist, I can do so much, if I tap into my talents. I take great interest in hyperrealism, because I love to look at human faces. I watch them as they conform to show the emotion within. A look of instrospectiveness, unsurenesss, anger, annoyance, or pure delight. I wish to have my audience lost in the eyes of the subject and wonder, what is the emotion? And to admire how divine people of every hue are. I at times linger in bed, and can't help but admire the blue gray light in the room; and when the lamp is lit, I watch the indents in my fingers when my hand creeps to and fro, around the light. When I've had a good cry, I search my eyes and cheeks, finding they are stained with pink, and my lips as well, and my eyelashes are partnering and growing heavy. I know the gray painting of sadness I display will soon become bright yellow and floral like again, and the pattern will be a pattern. Alike me, my art is never consistent, and is a great big mess at times. A great way to come upon your creative self when it ever seems lost, is to abide more in nature. I find myself more intact with art, when I hang outside, thinking how cool it is that trees get this view all of the time. When you think about it, trees and humans are alike. There is great variety in the human race, as there is variety in trees. Some are more curved than others, some are taller, some sway more to the pattern of the wind, some are broken down and are striving at healing what was lost. We are beautiful and strong, and are always growing more beautiful and more strong.

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Ciamara Donawa is a sixteen year old creative who regularly seeks refuge in art. You can view the rest of her gallery at www.pinterest.com/ artsywalnut

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Electrick Girls is a movement for young creative radical feminists of color, though we are still racially inclusive. We take tons of inspiration from Riot Grrrl and Afropunk and want to create a space for teenage girls of color to defy stigmas and take part in the alternative subcultures they love.

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Black girls are often silenced when it comes to radical protest. We try to avoid the â&#x20AC;&#x153;angry black girlâ&#x20AC;? stereotype. Our anger is always demonized by many, sometimes including white feminists. We want girls of color to be able to let out that anger against the patriarchy and institutionalized racism. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to promote radical punk feminism through the colored girl community and celebrate the women and girls of color who weren't recognized in the Riot Grrrl movement. We have plans this summer to have meetups, sell zines, and much more. 13

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LOLA

My name is Lola, I'm a 14 year old queer artist from Connecticut. I use pronouns she/her. I recruited all the girls for the movement to make a platform for colored girls to reclaim punk culture, which got its roots from African Americans. I feel like nowadays, punk is viewed as a “white” thing when in all actuality it was started by people of color. I want Electrick Girls to popularize radical feminism within the black community.

NICOLE

My name is Nicole, I am a 14 year old peruvian gay girl and I hope to be a filmmaker in the future. I was born and raised on the internet and I’m very passionate about cinema and I really enjoy long car rides, posting on instagram, looking at pictures of young Robert De Niro and hanging out with my girl.

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HOPE

My name is Hope Petra - a queer 13-year old girl who uses the pronouns she/her - and I edit articles and co-manage social media for The Electrick Girls. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a writer, artist, photographer, and blogger living in the state of Vermont. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I was surrounded by a culture quite unique; one dominated by the arts, fashion, news, and entertainment. My loves include painting, writing, fashion, slam poetry, empowering youth, and educating people on racism in our society today. The Electrick Girls is a safe space for girls of colour to express their alternative identities, share their creative content, and overcome the stereotypes and pressures put upon them!

FELICITY

My name is Felicity, I'm fifteen years old, I use the pronouns she/her. I basically manage e-mails and post things on our Instagram page for Electrick Girls. I aspire to be a writer who makes a complete oeuvre of books about real life but in a fictional way, and even make an autobiography of my life. I love to draw, paint, and read lots of books that educate me. Lola put me in a dm with four other girls and asked us if we wanted to make a band of girls that speak our voice and be activists in a big way for other girls, I immediately accepted. I feel like making a safe space for girls to put out what they have and run their creativity in a place where they know no one can judge them is very important. And I knew after that, that I wanted to be apart of this wonderful movement. 15

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#STOP KILLING US 16

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MY PEOPLE ARE COVERED IN THE DARK OF OUR SKIN AND GRIEVING YOUR PEOPLE ARE DRIPPING WITH THE RED OF OUR BLOOD AND YOUR PRIDE THE COLORED MAN IS FORCED TO CARRY THE DIRTY YELLOW BURDEN OF OPPRESSION THE WHITE MAN BASKS IN THE GLOWING YELLOW LIGHT OF HIS PRIVILEGE HIS SKIN IS HOW HE GAINS ACCESS TO THE FREE WORLD, TO THE FAIR WORLD IT PLACES HIM IN THE ONE PERCENT AND HE IS LIVING LARGE WHILE I AM LIVING FRUGALLY AND WATCHING HIS GIANT MOUTH MOVE COMMANDING ME TO STOP FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF AND "JUST OBEY THE LAW" "GET A JOB" "STOP BEING A THUG" WHICH IS JUST HIS VERSION OF "STOP BEING BLACK" "BE WHITE BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S RIGHT" YOU PARADE AROUND IN OUR SKIN, ABSORBING THE CULTURE YOU CLAIM TO HAVE CREATED YOU RUN SCARED WHEN I DO THE SAME WHEN IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR ME TO BE BLACK TO BE COLORED YOU LOVE MY CULTURE YOU HATE ME YOU FETISHIZE OUR WOMEN YOU SHAME OUR WOMEN YOU FETISHIZE OUR MEN YOU KILL OUR MEN OUR LIVES MATTER -c.r

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a talk with

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ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

MEET TAYLOR, the QUEEN of baby hairs

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and buns. Taylor is one of the performing arts curators for Arthoecollective, a safe space for creatives of color to express themselves and their art.

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ArtBlck: How has the collective affected your life? Taylor: The collective has given me many amazing new friends & opportunities! It actually inspires me, seeing all these incredibly talented submissions people are sending in just makes me want to be better.

AB: Why do you think teenagers should be involved with the things that go on in the world around us? T: I think teenagers should be involved in the thing happening because we can change the world. All corniness aside, us just talking about stuff on the internet is doing more than you think. We bring attention to killings that won't even air on the news. Large blogs and magazines see what we are talking about and report it to their audience. Also, teenagers should be involved because everything happening is going to effect us in some way.

AB: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your favorite song(s) right now? T: Rihanna's cover of Same Old Mistakes

AB: Who do you look to when it comes to fashion advice or inspiration? T: Most of the time I just put on whatever is laying around or I see a cool outfit in 80s & 90s movies

AB: This issue will be out around the time school is beginning so what advice do you have for incoming freshmen or seniors? T: I just graduated, enjoy your time in high school. I know you want to just get it over with but once it's over you're going to want to go back. You go from having no responsibilities but grades to worrying about 93262728 different things. The only thing I have to say is GET GOOD GRADES like stay on top of them especially 11th grade and first semester of 12 (if you're going to college) because that's when you send in transcripts.

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\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ AB: What do you hope to accomplish in the future? (college/career wise) T: My dream is to be an actress, it has been since I was in elementary school. As backwards as this sounds, my backup is to be a doctor. But as a confused college student, I'll probably decide on another backup later.

AB: How have your career goals evolved since you were a child? T: My career goals are pretty much the same as when I was a kid! The only difference is that sad reality that I may have to commit to a backup career instead of doing what I want.

AB: What has been your biggest setback so far with reaching the career you want? T: I don't have an agent or agency! It's extremely hard to find work besides being an extra when you don't have one.

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THIS PLAYLIST IS ON THE EDITOR'S SPOTIFY ACCOUNT: heado_verhealy_ Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

DIY

PEN PAL: The First Letter When it comes to pen pals, the first letter is probably the most important. Opening that envelope is like opening your soul. So make sure that your soul is bright and the most entertaining and warmest place on the planet so your pen pal is comfortable. Here is a list of things you could do to impress your pen pal. -stickers -flower seeds -doodles -makeup samples -friendship bracelet -recipes -GLITTER (write a warning on the envelope if you do this) -bookmark -pins/buttons -photos of yourself

Definitely decorate the envelope you're sending. You can look cool on both the inside and the outside.

Make sure your letter states all the important things like your name, your pronouns, and your age. But otherwise, open yourself up to your pen pal so they can know the real you.

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