AMPLIFYING THE VOICE AND VISION OF YOUNG PHILLY ISSUE ONE
JAN 2012
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THE VILLAGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES thanks all the young artists, activists, journalists and entrepreneurs who helped us create this issue of CRED.
Keep being creative. Keep making stuff. This magazine is for you.
To submit your work to the next issue of CRED visit: villagearts.org/cred-magazine
To advertise your local business or organization in CRED, contact communications@villagearts.org
CRED PHILLY IS CRED Philly is a tri-annual arts and culture publication dedicated to promoting and publishing the work of Philadelphia’s young artists, writers, performers and activists. The contents of CRED are created, submitted and curated by individuals ages 25 and under who live in the Philadelphia region.
EDITOR’S NOTE These pages will not disappear when you press the delete key. We’ve shared them with you by putting them in your hands, not your inbox. We’ll know that you like them if you smile—there’s no button to click. These pages contain the voice and vision of young Philly who deserve more than 15 seconds in a status update, blog post or link on a website. CRED honors the courage it takes to put an idea on paper and the courage it takes to show that idea to the world. So, does Philly need another magazine? In answer to every 13 year-old year who is asking, Is my voice important? Yes. We do.
THE OLD(ER) STAFF
SPECIAL THANKS TO
THIS ISSUE IS FUNDED BY
CRED Editor-in-chief Aviva Kapust
BAJ Design Barefoot Artists Digital Connectors / APM Free Library of Philadelphia Fresh Artists Headlong Performance Institute Indigo, by The Blues Babes Foundation Interface Studio John & Kira’s Chocolates Junior Music Executives K-Fai Steele KMC Hoops / Philly 80 Lily Yeh, Awakening Creativity Philadelphia Film Society Philadelphia Youth Media Collaborative PhillyCAM POPPYN Spells Writing Lab Temple Ad Club
The Village of Arts and Humanities
The Village of Arts and Humanities Executive Director Elizabeth Grimaldi Programs & Communications Director Aviva Kapust Operations Director El Sawyer Teaching Artist, Photography Jared Gruenwald Business Manager Jordan Kocak
THE YOUNG(ER) STAFF Managing Editor Heather Jones Art Director, Designer Gina Swindler Street Team Asil Lawrence Leon Sanford Reggie Johnson Sherrieff McCrae
COVER Ceaphas Stubbs Fabric on model, digital C-Print
An SCI Eastern North Microgrant from the Asociacion de Puertorriqueños en Marcha Wells Fargo Regional Foundation
SUBMISSIONS villagearts.org/CRED-magazine
CONTACT CRED CRED is at The Village of Arts and Humanities: 2506 N. Alder Street. Philadelphia, PA 19133 215.225.7830 x206 cred@villagearts.org
IN THIS ISSUE STREET CRED 05
06 CLOWNS 08 STREET NINJAS 09 SNACKIN’ 10
DANCE
12
ART. NERDS.
14
CHINESE TATTOOS
15
NATURAL DYE
16
FIRENATION
18
5 PLACES TO MAKE ART
19
TOP YOUNG EMCEES
THE PORTFOLIO 20
03
STREETCRED Street CRED is young Philly’s unique perspective on the people, places and local businesses that nourish our neighborhoods. This issue profiles some of Philly’s most dynamic, up-and-coming artists, athletes, entrepreneurs and activists.
TAKING LIFE BY THE
NOSE Q+A WITH QUANY THE CLOWN, AKA JAQUAN FIELDS By Asil Lawrence It’s 7:30 am and Jaquan Fields packs his backpack for school. Three textbooks, four notebooks, two pens, one red nose and three juggling balls. Everything it takes to be a good student… that is, if you’re a student of Clowning. Jaquan, aka “Quany The Clown,” founded Party Clown Entertainments in 2009, when he was just 14. CRED sat down with him to find out how this North Philadelphia teenager became a clown, a businessman, and a community leader, all by the age of 17.
What is your clown name? Quany The Clown. It started out as Quan the Clown but I thought it sounded goofier with a “y.”
Jaquan, when did you begin clowning? On October 13, 2009. I was 14. My cousin wanted to hire a clown for his son’s birthday party. I said, “Why pay a clown? I can do it.”
So it helps with school? Somewhat—I still have to figure out that on-off switch. Turn Quany off, turn Jaquan on.
So they hired you? Not right then. They didn’t think I would actually do it. But the first thing I did was go to the library and get a bunch of books on face painting, balloon making, stuff like that. I studied straight for two weeks. And then they decided to hire you? Yes. But I told them I’d do it for free, as a practice run. How did the practice run go? Honestly, not so good at first. I kept popping the balloons and scaring the kids; my makeup was horrible. So did you just pack it in and head home? No. After 30 minutes I went upstairs and changed my game plan. What was the new game plan? [Laughing] Stop scaring the kids. I changed my makeup and put Vaseline on my hands so that I’d stop popping the balloons. I still wasn’t the best clown, but I was better.
How does Quany differ from Jaquan Fields? Jaquan is more laid back, quiet. Quany’s sillier and happy—jumping around acting crazy. The opposite of Jaquan. What would Jaquan be like without Quany? I don’t know. I’d probably get into trouble at school more. I wouldn’t have anywhere to express my silliness.
What is Quany’s personality? What does he like and dislike? Quany is an Auguste clown. An Auguste clown gets into trouble and finds funny, silly ways to get out of it. Like, if Quany’s shoes are untied, instead of tying them right, he ties them together and ends up falling down. Quany’s silly. He’s the one to take the pie in the face. What kind of tricks do you do? I juggle, do headstands, pratfalls, slapsticks, disappearing ball tricks. The list goes on… How often do you practice? Every day. I even juggle on the train to school. I used to do balloons for people on the train but it got expensive to keep buying new balloons. What makes a clown a good clown? I think a good clown does it to benefit others. To make them happy. Not just to make money. What is one of the coolest places you’ve performed? Recently I performed at Universal
Circus. I kept sending them my videos and writing to them. Then they finally asked me to come and perform! How do you feel about being a role model for other kids? It’s hard. You have to be extra careful about what you do and how you behave. If you slip up, the people with you slip up too. What do kids around the neighborhood think about what you’re doing? Most of them want a job with my company. How many people work for you? Party Clown Entertainments employs eight clowns right now. We do about six parties a month. Are you planning to make a career out of clowning? Definitely. I want to grow the company into a full clowning school. Or maybe I’ll join the circus. I’d definitely like to teach youth and older people how to clown. Is there a demand for clowns? As long as there are kids there will be a need for clowns. As long as people like to laugh there will be a need for clowns. It’s better to be happy than sad. It’s that simple. For more info: www.quanyclown.com
STREETCRED
I PRACTICE EVERY DAY. I THROW MY RED NOSE AND JUGGLING BALLS INTO MY BACKPACK AND JUGGLE ON THE TRAIN TO SCHOOL.
Photos courtesy of Village Photo Class 2011 and Jaquan Fields
07
GONE WITHOUT A TRACE TAKING FLIGHT WITH PARKOUR ATHLETE DAVID JONES By Kristen Gillette Traceurs don’t go for long walks in the park, in fact, they don’t walk at all—they leap over fences, jet across buildings and grind stair rails to the bottom with their hands and feet. While the rest of us walk around obstacles, Traceurs climb, jump and mentally overcome them. Stemming from the French word “tracer,” meaning “to trace,” you can expect Traceurs to be just that—gone without a trace. Traceurs are players in the sport known as Parkour where the goal is to overcome and move around obstacles with great speed and efficiency. Armed with the only equipment they need, their body and sneakers, Traceurs take on take obstacles that challenge them both physically and mentally. David Jones, 19, leads the Parkour groups of Souderton and Philadelphia, often training them outside the old, abandoned Souderton High School, a building that is now crumbling to pieces. While the school closed in 2009, Jones sees it as a perfect training spot. “Many practitioners compare Parkour to martial arts. But rather than preparing for the fight response, Traceurs prepare for the flight response.” During a training session, Jones and his crew travel behind the high school through a field of uncut grass swarming with mosquitoes. To get to the courtyard, they squeeze through a fence and gracefully move along a one-foot wide ledge. Jones takes the lead traversing an even thinner platform. He then takes flight in a challenging version of a cat leap. He catapults himself over a metal handlebar that runs along the stairs below, jumps across five feet of nothing but air, and lands gracefully, clinging, one handed, to the wall below. Half ninja, half superhero, David Jones makes it look effortless and even beautiful. “When training others, the most useful advice I can offer is simple; never ever give up. You must persist,” says Jones. “I can say without any doubt that the only reason I’m still practicing Parkour today is because I stayed motivated, dedicated, and persistent. Your ability to do that, in and of itself, is success. So, if you can manage to do that, I promise, you will not fail.” To learn more about Philly Parkour, contact: David Jones at Davidpk18@gmail.com
Photos of David Jones by Myranda Lewis
STREETCRED
TINY MOUTHS
HUGE VOICES MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE ASKING PHILLY TO RE-THINK SNACK TIME
By Leon Sanford and Heather Jones Eating healthy in a world where pizza is a delicious new vegetable and fries always come supersized is no small task, especially for kids. For two middle-schoolers, Ivanna Esteves and Kevin Gonzalez, their battle against eating junk food means more to them than just watching what they eat. It means watching what everyone eats. Equipped with nutritional knowledge and courage, Esteves and Gonzalez are proudly leading their peers and family in the fight against a world of unhealthy choices. As members of Snackin’ Fresh, an education and leadership program that promotes healthy diet and lifestyle, the students learn and teach others how to make better food choices in their everyday lives. What is Snackin’ Fresh?
Photos courtesy of Snackin’ Fresh
K: Snackin’ Fresh is a group of kids who meet and talk about ways to help everyone lead healthier lives. I: We help corner stores sell healthier snacks. We also motivate ourselves and others in the group to eat healthier. How did you get involved in Snackin’ Fresh? I: I joined the group when my sister found out she had high cholesterol and a thyroid problem. She needed to start eating healthy so when I heard about Snackin’ Fresh I really wanted to join.
K: They were looking for people to join and I thought, Yeah, I could eat healthier. What do you like most about being part of the group? K: I love Snackin’ Fresh because I get to give people my ideas. Before, I was shy but now I speak out. Really, I can make jokes every five seconds. I: The best part is that we get to share the experience with our friends and talk about positive things… oh, and the snacks. Do you think that young people can affect what older people eat? K: Definitely. Now, mom makes big bowls of salad for dinner with the Puerto Rican food we eat. At first she didn’t like it, but now she eats it too. I: Some of my family members have diabetes and I want to make a difference for them—like taking the bag of chips and giving them an apple. They’re starting to like eating other things besides chips and junk. Do you think you can bring something like Snackin’ Fresh to other schools? I: Recently I talked to my counselor about my application to Central High School and told her that not only did I want to focus on performing and leadership, I also really want to start something similar to Snackin’ Fresh. I hope they’ll let me. Snackin’ Fresh is part of The Food Trust’s Healthy Corner Store Initiative. As a part of this program, students like Ivanna and Kevin participate in activities such as The Healthy Change Leadership Summit; Healthy Snack Day where they record other students’ favorite healthy snack choices; and “Healthy Buddies,” a studentto-student education program where kids teach younger kids about making better snack choices.
To learn more about Snackin’ Fresh and The Food Trust’s Healthy Corner Store Initiative, visit: www.thefoodtrust.org
09
Pictured, Tori Lawrence + Company’s Awakened Ruins. Photos by Craig Harris
DANCING AMONG RUINS FOR UP-AND-COMING CHOREOGRAPHER TORI LAWRENCE, ALL THE WORLD TRULY IS A STAGE By Laura A. Marins Tori Lawrence is quickly becoming known in Philly’s dance scene for her site-specific installations that explore connections between architecture and choreography. For a few magical summer evenings, the 23-year old choreographer transformed Girard College’s Founder’s Hall, a historic landmark otherwise unseen by Philadelphia’s residents, into a grand performance space for her newest piece, Awakened Ruins. “The first time I saw Founders Hall at Girard College I thought it was the most beautiful building I’d ever laid eyes on,” said Tori. “It looked like it belonged in Greece! I thought, I would love to dance in there.” After an impromptu visit to the site, Tori met with Paul Eaton, the Chair of Girard College’s Fine Arts Department, who invited Tori to use the space as a venue for her new work. In exchange, she become an artist-in-residence at the school. Twice a week, Tori and fellow dancer Ashley Lippolis instructed Girard College’s young dance students in an innovative curriculum that focused on creativity, improvisation, and choreography. Their non-traditional approach taught the children how to choreograph and perform works of their own. Meanwhile, Tory Lawrence and Company rehearsed for a performance that would leave every member of its audience with goose bumps. With one foot gracefully planted in choreography and the other in education, Tori has set her sights on yet another medium—film. This January, she will commence work on a new dance film. “Using film, I can trick the audience more and play with their perspective. I can draw them into five sites rather than one.” To watch some of Tori Lawrence and Company’s captivating performances, or to inquire about her youth classes, visit: www.lhdanceco.com
STREETCRED
11
ART. NERDS. BLURRING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN ART AND TECHNOLOGY By Heather Jones NextFab Studio is a “Gym for Innovators,” where Philly’s finest up-and-coming minds work out complex mathematical equations, not their quads. They exercise their creativity, not their muscles. Equipped with technological and scientific knowledge rivaling that of individuals twice their age, NextFab’s youngest innovators leap across the boundary dividing art and technology with a full range of high-tech machinery, classes and staff supporting them. To categorize their work simply as technology would ignore their attention to aesthetics and form. At NextFab, these young creators blur the boundary between art and technology, generating products that are beautiful in both form and function. Mixing practical application with aesthetics, Ian Adam, 20, proudly displays his carved electric ukulele, an instrument he built with his own hands. The ukulele is “just a side project” he’s working on to satiate his own curiosity. “Art for the sake of art, sometimes feels empty. But technology for the sake of technology sometimes does too,” he explains. “A lot of the things that are built at NextFab have great form to their function. Even code! Really well written code, looks beautiful.” Matthew Lorenz, 19, began his path as an engineer after his teacher sent him to the principal’s office for building a crossbow out of stationery supplies. A creative thinker since his youth, Matthew also views art and technology as interrelated fields. “When people describe technology, it almost always sounds beautiful,” he says. “A friend of mine explores how cell phones communicate with each other using code. It’s not like he’s putting paint on a canvas but what he’s writing is truly artistic… he’s putting himself into it.”
A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BUILT AT NEXTFAB HAVE GREAT FORM TO THEIR FUNCTION. EVEN CODE! REALLY WELL WRITTEN CODE, LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. Ross Kessler, 23, thinks that art and technology can coalesce but do not always coalesce. His creations range from unusual chairs that resemble hamster wheels to traditional furniture pieces. “I think art is a product you don’t measure, you feel,” he states. “Technology often requires that kind of creativity, but it’s important to remember that sometimes it’s just math.” 18 year-old Carter Banks, new to Philadelphia, uses his advanced technical skills to create both functional and elegant pieces of furniture for his new apartment. Carter also believes that the art and technology worlds are not fundamentally connected. “I know the boundaries of what is and isn’t art,” he says. “I feel like a lot of technology can be used as art, or can be artistic, but technology itself isn’t necessarily art.” Experimenting with embroidering conductive thread into fabric, Christina Zapata, 22, is blending the worlds of art and technology to create something that can be appreciated by both fashionistas and techies. “When technology and art really blend, the result is a product that can be appreciated by everyone. It almost instantly becomes popular.” To learn more about NextFab and its young innovators, visit: nextfabstudio.com
STREETCRED Top left to right: Carter Banks, Matthew Lorenz, Ian Adam, Ross Kessler, Christine Zapata Photos by Sherrieff McCrae and Asil Lawrence
13
SLIPPING UP IN INK TATTOO MISTAKES YOU MAY NOT EVEN KNOW YOU’VE MADE By Israel D. Benjamin and Li Ying Chou “Your tattoo is totally hot!” “Really sick tattoo.” Understand any of that? Some of you may, but for others, the meaning is entirely lost. Conventional language is often transformed by culture and context, assigning words new meanings and creating phrases that have nothing to do with their roots. When speaking in a foreign language, it goes without saying that you’re going to make some mistakes. Luckily, those mistakes can be corrected—no harm done. But what happens when your foreign language mistake ends up permanently tattooed on your arm? This mistake is more common than one might think. In fact, some newly turned 18 year old, is sitting in a tattoo chair right now receiving the Chinese tattoo they’ve been longing for since they were 14. They’re probably thinking that their new Chinese tattoo means “freedom” until that fateful, awkward day when they find out it really means “free of charge.” One big whoppin’ OOPS! However, young people aren’t the only ones troubled by their tattoo mishaps. Tattoo confusion runs rampant in the celebrity world. Melanie Chisholm, also known as Sporty Spice from The Spice Girls, wanted to step up her game and got the group’s famous “Girl Power” slogan tattooed on her arm. Melanie had the characters, “女力” permanently inked on her body. When read apart, these characters literally mean “Woman” and “Power.” But when combined, they read, “Female Labor”—not quite the message Sporty Spice was going for. Sporty Spice should have done a little bit of homework before going under the tattoo gun. It’s not a shock to learn that Britney Spears also forgot to do her tattoo homework. Looking to enhance her mysterious side, the pop star had the character “奇” tattooed on the back of her neck. “Whoops,” Britney! That character actually means “Odd” or “Strange.” While one might actually find that tattoo perfectly appropriate for the pop star, Britney should have gone with the characters, “神秘” to express her mysterious nature. In addition to mishaps with character combinations, individuals who are not literate in Chinese are often tattooed with symbols that are backwards or missing strokes. These mistakes render the tattoo meaningless or assign it meaning that is contradictory to that which was intended. What’s more, these walking canvases can go years, or even a lifetime, without knowing the extent of their mistakes. The decision to have ink permanently injected into your skin is not one to be taken lightly. Our advice? Don’t run out and get a tattoo just because you can. Do your homework to find out which Chinese characters best express what you want your new “sick” tattoo to say.
RED YELLOW THEY’RE DYEING TO MEET YOU
STREETCRED
BLUE
By Kristina Pejovski In environmentally conscious Philadelphia, interest in sustainable, green and organic products has touched on everything from food to personal care and household cleaning products. It is no surprise then, that a surge of enthusiasm for sustainable apparel has followed suit. This past summer, armed with nothing more than my experience of dyeing Easter eggs using turmeric, I ventured over to Art In the Age for an educational workshop on the natural dyeing process of textiles, hosted by BLUEREDYELLOW. Standing amid a large crowd of Philadelphians, eager to learn how to create gorgeous color using locally grown resources, I marveled at the ingenuity and passion of Elissa Meyers and Mira Adornetto, young women who are trying to change the way we bring color into our everyday life. Philadelphia locals Meyers and Adornetto founded the design and natural dye house, BLUEREDYELLOW, which provides comfortable, chemical-free textiles and dyeing services to small businesses in Philly. In an industry overrun by chemically-derived and synthetic dyes, BLUEREDYELLOW sets itself apart by using age-old processes of growing, extracting and utilizing natural dye to create beautiful textiles for local clothing designers.
BLUEREDYELLOW source their organic cotton fabric from the Fessler USA mill in Deer Lake, PA. They maintain a large plot at the Schuylkill Center Community garden in Roxborough, where they grow and harvest Indigo (blue), Madder (red), and Marigolds (yellow). Proudly presenting me with her hand-dyed indigo scarf, Meyers enthused, “The beauty behind natural dye is that no two pieces are identical. The living color imparts unique shades that give the garment character.” Meyers and Adornetto believe that Philly consumers should not just be conscious of where their clothing comes from, but also, what it is made of—a belief that they promote through their workshops and their products. As I wrapped my fingers around my new indigo handkerchief, I reflected on the journey of the colors embedded in BLUEREDYELLOW’s fabrics. I saw the yellow of marigolds, the warm burnished red of madder, and the piercing blue of indigo —just a few beautiful hues in nature’s infinitely variable palate of color. For more about BLUEREDYELLOW, visit: www.blueredandyellow.wordpress.com.
Photos courtesy of BLUEREDYELLOW
15
I don’t respect people who take control by using fear. I don’t think we support each other as much as we can.
Top left to right: Reggie Butta, Reggie Butta and Flamez, core Firenation crew, Firenation party Photos by Dante Wright, 17
STREETCRED
BUTTA IS ON FIRE HOW YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR REGGIE “BUTTA” JOHNSON BUILT THE FIRENATION
Walking the neighborhood surrounding 10th and Cumberland with Reggie Johnson, aka Reggie Butta, is like walking around Center City with Mayor Nutter. Hand shakes, backslaps, heartfelt hugs and the contagious cackle of his laughter make it near impossible for us to talk—but this is without a doubt the best way to get to know Reggie. To know Reggie, you have to find out how he just happens to know just about everybody. Reggie is the driving force behind more than a thousand teens and twenty-somethings that call themselves the Firenation. “Firenation is not a gang, not a dance group, and is not a mob. Firenation,” in Reggie’s words, “is a gigantic family.” And with just one text or status update, Reggie can bring his “family” together for some of the most celebrated parties across the city. Now 23, Reggie recalls getting his start as a party host and promoter at the age of 16. “The first party I threw for Firenation was a dollar party; 300 people came and we made $300. There was no going back after that.” Firenation was on its way up when Reggie moved to Maryland to finish high school. After only six months, Reggie hosted a Firenation party, Philly-style, in Maryland. He upped the entrance fee to $5 and drew kids by the hundreds to dance and listen to some of the top young emcees and dj’s around. Firenation was taking Maryland by storm. But back in Philly, “things were light,”
says Reggie. “Groups like Diamond World and Passion 4 Flashin were throwing parties but Firenation was laying low.” In 2008, after graduating from high school, Reggie called his childhood friend and hip hop artist, Young Tay, to let him know that “I’m comin’ home and we’re gonna throw the biggest, most talked-about parties in the city. Be ready.” A man of his word, Reggie came home and started to build momentum by strategically promoting and hosting other groups’ parties. “It’s all about recognition. If the kids know who you are and like you, there’s a better chance they’ll come to a party you’re promoting—even if they don’t know who they’re coming to see perform.” When Reggie took the stage, the crowd would roar in unison, “I’m The Butter Guy,” a theme song he created to build recognition and support for himself and Firenation. “I couldn’t believe it,” says El Sawyer, mentor to Reggie. “This kid I’d known since he was 14 had 500 kids singing his name. It was incredible.” So how did a 17 year-old get hundreds of kids to follow him? (No, not on Facebook, he’s got over 4000 following him there.) “People like me because I never discriminate. I don’t respect people who take control using fear. I want people to like me. And I want to like them—to be there for them. I don’t think we support each other as much as we can.” Though Reggie and the core Firenation crew were profiting greatly from their parties, Reggie never really considered the money to
be his. “People would call me stupid because I would buy food and clothes and shoes for other kids who didn’t have anything. I knew it wasn’t stupid. Because by doing that, I felt good. They felt good. And, at the end of the day, it made kids want to come to my parties even more.” Firenation followed suit, and decided to give back to the families and adults in the community by throwing free neighborhood cookouts. The popular cookouts served as more than just another day of music and food. “People would reunite with friends they hadn’t seen in years,” says Reggie. “It brought everyone together. Even the cops would come and hang out with us.” But in 2010, as the city was rocked by media blasts condemning youth flashmob activity that left several bystanders injured, Reggie and Firenation knew that the party scene was about to change. With the new 9:00 curfew for youth under 18 and flashmob paranoia running rampant, there was no way that Reggie could host parties as big or as popular as he once could. With seven years under his belt as a top party promoter, Reggie is planning his next move. “I’d love to promote professionally for a music label or even a sports organization.” With his natural ability and like-ablity, Reggie and the thousands of young individuals he brings with him will surely make anyone or anything as popular as he’s made himself. Contact Reggie at: reggie.johnson215@gmail.com
17
SECOND STATE PRESS _PRINTMAKING
PHILADELPHIA PHOTO ARTS CENTER _PHOTO
WHERE
WHERE
1400 N. American Sreet
1400 N. American Street #103
HOW MUCH
HOW MUCH
$40 annual membership + $15 hourly
WHAT THEY’VE GOT 4 Charles Brand Intaglio presses 2 lithography presses Exposure room, plate exposure unit Vandercook No. 2 proof press
Student membership: $25 General membership: $50
FIVE SPOTS TO MAKE AWESOME STUFF
WHAT THEY’VE GOT Digital printing facilities Computer lab with editing software
BY GINA SWINDLER
THE CLAY STUDIO
FLEISHER ART MEMORIAL
PERFORMANCE GARAGE
_SCULPTURE
_FIGURE DRAWING
_DANCE + THEATER
WHERE
WHERE
WHERE
139 North Second Street
719 Catharine Street
1515 Brandywine Street
HOW MUCH
HOW MUCH
HOW MUCH
Student membership: $30 General membership: $50
Child, 1 Semester: $15 Adult, 1 Semester: $30
$12 - $22 an hour
WHAT THEY’VE GOT
WHAT THEY’VE GOT
3 classrooms Over 26 wheels for throwing 2 gas kilns and electric kilns
Firgure Drawing, open studio for both intermediate and advanced artists
2 studios with fully sprung floors 3, 8-foot ballet barres Surround-sound equipment Performance lighting package Dressing room
WHAT THEY’VE GOT
PHILLY’S HOTTEST YOUNG EMCEES
_ YOUNG SAVAGE
_ CHILL MOODY
AGE: 19
AGE: 25
BEST KNOWN FOR: performance at Power 99’s 2011 Powerhouse
BEST KNOWN FOR: smooth delivery, clever wordplay
FOLLOW HIM : on twitter @YoungSavage215 BY REGGIE BUTTA AND JON KAUFMAN
CHECK OUT: Savage World 2 (SW 3 coming out soon)
_ OCD: MOOSH & TWIST
_ DIZZLE
FOLLOW HIM : on twitter @ChillMoody CHECK OUT: The Game3Plan Series www.chillmoody.com
_ KHEMIST AGE: 20 CHECK OUT: newest album, Puzzle Pieces
_ YOUNG SAM AGE: 20 CHECK OUT: No Beat Safe
_ LEAN BEAN AGES: Both 18
AGE: 15
AGE: 19 CHECK OUT: her ferocious freestylin
BEST KNOWN FOR: positive lyrics, performance at 2011 Roots Picnic
BEST KNOWN FOR: old-school flow, insane freestyle on Power 99
_ YOUNG TAY
FOLLOW THEM : on twitter @Moosh_Money or @TwistFeighan
FOLLOW HER: on twitter @dopedizzle
CHECK OUT: The Welcome Mat www.ocdmooshandtwist.com
CHECK OUT: her freestylin on “Who Run The World”
AGE: 19 CHECK OUT: Young, Rich & Famous
_ FISBANGA AGE: 19 CHECK OUT: Far From Done mixtape
THE PORTFOLIO Young artists and writers spanning the Philadelphia region submitted more than 300 works to this issue of CRED. In an online poll, they voted for their favorite pieces. Here are their top eighty picks.
Morgan Gilbreath, 21 Silk screen on newsprint, public installation, digital photograph
Jesse Rappaport, 22 Oil on canvas
THEPORTFOLIO
Jesse Rappaport, 22 Oil on canvas Nathaniel Mell, 25 Cast glass, steel cable, recovered sailboat tiller
23
Tim Valshtein, 19 Photograph
THEPORTFOLIO
Jeff Boanes Grade 11 Pastel on paper Fresh Artists
25
Brian Ledder, 19 Collage Morgan Dummitt, 20 Bronze figure sculpture
THEPORTFOLIO
Adam Peditto, 23 Digital photograph
27
Father to Son By spoken word artist Derrick Toler, 22 I walked in the house yesterday and my son said Daddy I want a peanut butter n jelly and I turned around and said well son you gonna have to eat oodles n noodles instead cause right now we don’t have no bread and he shook his head as if he didn’t understand so I stood there tryin to explain the current circumstance then I came to the conclusion to talk to him like a grown man currently currency ain’t flowin like it should and the economy’s at an all time low and poverty’s at an all time high it’s a blessin just to be alive plus taxes are takin way more than the average man can afford and our government thinks bailin out big corporations is better than helping the poor and no you’re not poor just unfortunate forced to deal with the shortcomings of your Father so I pray for you to do more that you don’t have to have this conversation with Your’s
THEPORTFOLIO
Ethan Sacchi, 20 Digital photograph Eric Friedensohn, 21 Digital photograph
29
John Antes, 22 Digital design
THEPORTFOLIO
Nina Marrero, 22 Hand bound book Digital design
31
Brendan Burke, 25 Oil and oil slick on canvas
THEPORTFOLIO
33
Casey Heyen, 23 Oil on panel
Christian Conrad, 19 Writing pen, marker and collage
THEPORTFOLIO
Brian Ledder, 20 Mixed medium, rapidograph pen on mylar, photoshop
35
Christine Zapata, 22 Wood sculpture
THEPORTFOLIO
Bethany Barton, 21 Digital photograph
37
GREEN By Rashon, 8 Green looks like grass Green sounds like money Green smells like nature Green feels fuzzy Green tastes like pears
ROBIN’S EGG BLUE By Samad, 9 Robin’s egg blue looks like really light blue pool water Robin’s egg blue sounds like a whale Robin’s egg blue smells like wax marker Robin’s egg blue feels rough and hard Robin’s egg blue tastes like water, hairy
PINK By Ny’shae, 7 Pink looks like a flower, a pink butterfly Pink sounds like a barrette snap, a pink splash Pink smells like bubblegum Pink feels sticky Pink tastes like meat
Jackie Kessel, 20 Pen and watercolor
Poems created with Spells Writing Lab and The Village’s Rise 2 The Future Summer Camp
THEPORTFOLIO
Sara Hendrix Grade 12 Oil crayon on paper Fresh Artists
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Emily Youcis, 21 Oil on canvas
THEPORTFOLIO
Justin Evans, 21 Digital design
41
Diana Leigh Surma, 25 Acrylic on Canvas Sherrieff McCrae, 22 Digital photograph
THEPORTFOLIO
Lianne Dunsing, 21 Digital photographs
43
Allison Zuckerman, 21 Oil paintings
THEPORTFOLIO
45
Nina Marrero, 22 Digital design Clio Brown, 22 Pen and ink on paper
THEPORTFOLIO
Nathan Harris, 20 3-color screen print
47
Chris Rosado, 21 Digital rendering
THEPORTFOLIO
Cruz Gallardo-Bernal Grade 12 Oil crayon on paper Fresh Artists Andrew Diemer Grade 11 Ink on paper Fresh Artists
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Craig Scheilhing, 21 Photographs, 35mm color film
THEPORTFOLIO
I AM NOT MOURNING Marc Snitzer, 20 I am not mourning the quiet death of Summer I take a shallow breath and insert my headphones as I cross the intersection I am not weeping at the funeral, as sharp winds carry the last of our chorus chamber voices among the dead and brittle leaves I am not mourning the gentle death of Summer I turn my notebook to a clean white page and press my pen against the top I am not weeping at the burial each evening my bed becomes a vacant field beneath a different constellation as daylight softly begins to wane I am not mourning the measured death of Summer, I repeat to myself incanted while shifting through hallowed photographs again I am not weeping in October from the porch, Darran grinned and gave a tongue-in-cheek salute before I turned and walked away
51
Robert Carter, 22 Digital Photograph Model: Ryan Hanson
THEPORTFOLIO
Nathan Harris, 20 Pen, Color pencil
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Lauren Miller, 19 Acrylic paint, oil paint, graphite
THEPORTFOLIO
Nathaniel Mell, 25 Wood, wax, Epson salt
55
Stephen Richards, 23 Digital posters
THEPORTFOLIO
Gisselle Poveda, 24 Digital Photograph Rosie Wiegand, 19 Digital Photograph
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Ally Brosnan, 19 Mixed media collage
THEPORTFOLIO
Viktoriya Dubskiy Grade 12 Tempera on paper Fresh Artists
Leanne Laporte, 20 Acrylic on canvas Asil Lawrence, 20 Pen and ink, digital rendering
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Alexandra Valles Grade 6 Tempera on paper Fresh Artists Miesha Cunningham Grade 3 Oil pastel on paper Fresh Artists
THEPORTFOLIO
Imitation of Audre Lorde by Elishia Peterson I came from the hood not a valley sweltering with blackness Through and between the gorges of the welfare ridden streets I awoke struggling, but bold baffled by the ringing sounds of devils posing as men jolted with re-echoing of wasted promises awaited lifetimes………….. ……………………………………………… I became a story of a people in the shadows I became the dream of lives that never had the chance I became a poster child in a space that proclaimed diversity and the space in the available winning team I was the limb, stretching toward the brightest star the tanned and brittle that is seeking closure…. …………………………………………… And on the branches of the morning the elder ones lifted me the neglected emotion of a captured people lifted me, remembering how down trodden I was in existing how breathlessly I stood yet remembering how readily I could awaken anew. Note from author: this poem is based on an untitled poem by Audre Lorde found on page 118 of her book, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name. She wrote the poem while in high school.
61
Andres Pelaez, 19 Digital photograph
Ryan Powell, 23 Digital photograph
THEPORTFOLIO
Saori Moriizumi, 24 Mixed media sculpture Saori Moriizumi, 24 Watercolor on paper
63
Joy Alexander Grade 8 Collage with watercolor and marker Fresh Artists
THEPORTFOLIO
Diana Leigh Surma, 25 Acrylic on canvas
65
Melissa Kistler, 23 Plaster Jon Kaufman, 25 Digital photograph
THEPORTFOLIO
LISTEN TO ME Shaniqua Chisolm, 21 Look through my eyes and tell me what’s in front of me The force of your fist against my face or The pain that I feel from the words you say to me We can hide what happens to us because it’s not always noticeable But when I write it on paper it will be for all time untouchable The things that happened to me could have been avoided At night when I’m sleeping I find myself being annoyed with Your anger towards me and not this environment we live in Cause every day we don’t have to keep strugglin’ with communication You seem to be the question I ask when I ask Why me… It’s like a symphony that I’m hearing and these songs in my ears won’t stop ringing And the heartbeats of adrenaline racing through my veins won’t stop pounding and I’m so angry at the rain because it’s not washing away the pain We don’t have to go through this life the way we do we change a lot of things just from the words we write we can write truth Saying that I am someone cause back then I wasn’t anything to you just another statistic that wasn’t following the tracks Just another one that was tryin to survive these streets but listen to me I am somebody read what I am saying I am somebody And the day will come when it will be your turn to write your life on a single piece of paper because my past just ended and my future just began.
67
Ceaphas Stubbs, 22 Fabric installation, digital C-Print Laura Gabel, 20 Digital composite
THEPORTFOLIO
Ceaphas Stubbs, 22 Fabric on model, digital C-Print
69
Michael Frazier Grade 12 Watercolor on paper Fresh Artists
Auguste Ahebbe, 12 Marker
THEPORTFOLIO
LYREBIRD Jessica T. Chang, 25 Look beyond the shade of the gardenias and there I perch, lyrebird by the spigot – the line between you and me is indistinguishable for I become what I hear; when you speak I steal your voice, sing your songs, weep your sorrows, for I do not know mine from yours – but while you grow and find yourself within, I flounder in cacophonous dissonance, seek forever to draw my own line.
71
Justin Evans, 21 Digital design
Tim Valshtein, 19 Digital photograph Matt Vona, 21 Digital composite
THEPORTFOLIO
Kyle Kogut, 21 Gouache, watercolor, ink wash, micron, colored pencil, graphite
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ARTSRISING CONGRATULATES CRED ON ITS FIRST ISSUE ArtsRising Builds: • capacity in our schools to provide high quality arts instruction and activities • connections to meaningful artistic and cultural experiences for children, youth and families • the environment for a thriving creative economy Photo by Paola Nogueras Pictured: Students from Grover Washington Jr. Middle School Band
CRED INDEX Adam Peditto 27 Alexandra Valles 60 Allison Zuckerman 44, 45 Ally Brosnan 58 Andres Pelaez 62 Andrew Diemer 49 Asil Lawrence 02, 06, 13, 59
Justin Evans 41, 72
Auguste Ahebbe 70
Kevin Gonzalez 09
Bethany Barton 37
Kristen Gillette 08
Brendan Burke 32, 33
Kristina Pejovski 15
Brian Ledder 26, 35
Kyle Kogut 73
Casey Heyen 34
Laura A. Marins 10
Ceaphas Stubbs 02, 68, 69, Cover
Laura Gabel 68
Chris Rosado 48
Lauren Miller 54
Christian Conrad 34
Leanne Laporte 59
Christine Zapata 13, 36
Leon Sanford 02, 09
Clio Brown 46
Li Ying Chou 14
Craig Harris 10, 11
Lianne Dunsing 43
Craig Scheilhing 50
Marc Snitzer 51
Cruz Gallardo-Bernal 49
Matt Vona 72
David Jones 08
Melissa Kistler 66
Derrick Toler 28
Michael Frazier 70
Diana Leigh Surma 42, 65
Miesha Cunningham 60
Elishia Peterson 61
Mira Adornetto 15
Elissa Meyers 15
Morgan Dummitt 26
Emily Youcis 40
Morgan Gilbreath 20
Eric Friedensohn 29
Nathan Harris 47, 53
Ethan Sacchi 29
Nathaniel Mell 23, 55
Gina Swindler 02, 18
Nina Marrero 31, 46
Gisselle Poveda 57
Reggie Johnson 02, 16, 17, 19
Heather Jones 02, 09, 12
Robert Carter 52
Israel D. Benjamin 14
Rosie Wiegand 57
Ivanna Esteves 09
Ryan Powell 62
Jackie Kessel 38
Saori Moriizumi 63
Jaquan Fields 06, 07
Sara Hendrix 39
Jeff Boanes 25
Shaniqua Chisolm 67
Jesse Rappaport 22, 23
Sherrieff McCrae 02, 13, 42
Jessica T. Chang 71
Stephen Richards 56
John Antes 30
Tim Valshtein 24, 72
Jon Kaufman 19, 66
Tori Lawrence 10, 11
To contact an artist or writer who is featured
Joy Alexander 64
Viktoriya Dubskiy 59
in CRED, please email cred@villagearts.org
POPPYN Episode #7 (to be produced during winter 2012 and released in April) will spotlight Philly Youth Producers
That means young, creative, entrepreneurial people like YOU and organizations who support them.
Tell your story! Are you and your friends making moves around the city using your creative passions? We’ll help you promote your work and you’ll help us show the world how awesome young people in Philly are. We are looking for young people who do music, videos, art, parties, dance fashion etc.
in partnership with Bryn Mawr College
You’ll sweat. You’ll think. You’ll make wild, impassioned work. The faculty will push you and you’ll push back.
Now accepting applications for Fall 2012 headlongperformanceinstitute.org
THINK YOU’VE GOT MOVES ON THE COURT?
PROVE IT
TRY OUT FOR PHILLY 80 BASKETBALL PROGRAM WWW.KMCHOOPS.COM
_ COMPETE AGAINST TOP PHILLY TALENT _ IMPROVE YOUR GAME _ EARN INCOME _ PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS
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