DOGPISS ISSUE #12

Adam Keys

Interview by Ben Haizelden

Photographs by Chris Dale & Klavs Laivenieks

Illustration by Trav Chris Wardle

Mark Vasey

Interview by Ben Haizelden

Photographs by Ben Haizelden

Miceal Wright & Andrew Horsley Sculture by Max Griffin

Daryl Partington

Interview by Ben Haizelden

Photographs by George Davis & Tom Leigh

Tony Lui

So Mark please tell us the basics How old are you? Where are you living and where are you from?

I was born in 1983, I’m from Newcastle, moved around quite a bit when I was younger and in 2009 settled in Bristol

How old were you when you found skating?

I didn’t own my own board for quite a while, broke my arm skating on my mates board when I was 13 and shortly after that I got my own board.

Oh shit, where were you living when this happened?

In a village called Indian Queens about 7 miles away from Newquay

So is that where you really became a skateboarder then?

Yeah , I would say I moved to Indian Queens as a non skateboarder and by the time I left I was definitely a skater

Can you remember the moment when you thought to yourself; ‘this is for me’? When I first started coming across skateboard mags and seeing vids that were on in skate shops; completely mind blown! I can't remember one moment, but once I started ollieing up curbs and powersliding down hills I was obsessed I got through so many wheels, Stu at Sj’s used to get the wheels out from under the counter without me saying anything

I remember you saying you were in Berlin when the wall came down How come you were there? And what do you remember about this?

Yes The reason I moved around so much when I was younger was because my Dad was in the forces I moved from; Newcastle to Weston Super Mare then to Norfolk and in 1989 we got posted out to RAF Gatow in Berlin I think I was 6 maybe 7 and we lived there until 1991 when we got out there we lived on the camp and my parents felt this was a safer place for us to roam a bit freer. Back then I remember BMXing a lot, I had a bike where you pedalled backwards for the back brake, loved that bike. I did have a toy board back then too I remember tick tacking on it but there was no hills to bomb so I wasnt that interested

My parents had taught us about the history of Berlin and taken us (me and my brother) to museums

They told us that families had been split up by the wall and anyone caught trying to cross would be killed and many people had tried and failed, so we understood why the wall was there, even though it makes as little sense now as it did then I remember one night I was asleep and my Mam or Dad came to wake us up. We went into the front room and the news was on, the report was about the wall coming down and people getting through over no man's land It was a huge deal, even as a seven year old kid I felt a sense of freedom in the air It was great to see people smashing that wall up And from an early age realise the absurdity of it all We shouldn’t forget what happens in history otherwise it’ll just repeat itself, even if it does come again looking and sounding different Let’s not build walls, turrets and death strips and remember these extremes come from much more humble ideas. You spent quite a bit of time skating in Cornwall didn't you? Any memorable moments from your time living and skating there? Yeah, I moved to Cornwall in 93 and left in 2003ish so I basically grew up there from the age of 10 to 20ish From being a kid to an adult; so a lot happened in that time Skating where I grew up was probably like it was all over the country back then; no skateparks in small towns, certainly not villages We did a lot of petitions to no avail Most of my youth was spent skating curbs and stuff pulled out of skips in car parks and roads When I lived in St Austell I broke my ankle skating a loading bay by myself. I couldn't walk so the only way I could get out of there was to crawl out. The loading bay was at the bottom of a multi storey car park and the exit to the nearest pay phone (no mobiles back then) was up a few floors, it felt like an eternity climbing out of there, just remember being on all fours, caked in that black carpark filth and in agony asking for 10p for the phone and a little old lady looking disgusted at me Grim But I loved that car park, good times haha.

Ha ha Funny how you can remember something so savage so fondly isn't it? Hah hah You just graduated University, with a first class honours degree no less, any plans to put this to use?

Haha yeah! Thanks Ben, I never thought I would have gone to Uni; nevermind pass with a decent grade. I think education does come in many forms, skating has taught me a lot. For example, it's taught me about perseverance and the true importance that your passions have Once you start to lose your grasp on these passions it can easily lead to losing your will to carry on with life's mudanity

Mark has recently finished University Doesn't mean he cant still use the facilities!

Wallie Bower Ashton Bristol

Photograph by Ben Haizelden

Scan from Sidewalk Magazine Issue 131 Photograph by Andrew Horsley.

and can become a downward spiral quite quickly I think for me, my music and my skateboarding is crucial for my mental health With my degree I plan to use it to go back to study a masters in music therapy For many years I’ve struggled with my mental health and since I quit drinking in 2015 Ive been coping much better. I’ve had professional help in the past and I was surprised how much it helped me. I would love to be in a position where I can help others

Skateboarding Saves! You are so right about how passions are important I don't know where I would be without skateboarding and photography To be able to dedicate yourself, on your own terms, to something is so valuable it can't be measured

Do you have any other passions or interests beyond music and skateboarding? The thing is with skateboarding, music or passions like these there are so many rabbit holes you can wander off down like photography, filming, ramp building out of wood or concrete etc I would say I'm interested in electronics and filmmaking but for me, these are like sub hobbies that have come from my main passions When I'm soldering it feels more like I'm building a synth module or guitar pedal that I can then use for music, rather than soldering for soldering sake This has taught me alot and saved me plenty of money too, because now as well as making my own gear I can fix dodgy cables and trouble shoot vintage electronics As for filmmaking Even calling it film making sounds a little grandiose. I like to make music videos for my songs and add them to my (@markvanvasey) youtube channel. More recently I’ve been working on bigger ideas and collaborating on bigger projects and that has been a lot more exciting, learning loads and producing better results I also love walking/ hiking too, especially in the woods That's probably something I do that isn’t connected to anything I’ve mentioned, even though I do take a dictaphone with me to record the ambience, sound of the trees, birds and rivers. That might sound a little odd but field recording (to give it's proper name) is useful for sound on radio dramas, tv, film and my own songs too. I mainly do it because I love being in the woods and sitting really still, silently listening to all the sounds around My partner told me that the Japanese have a name for forest bathing, they call it “shinrin yoku” It's the simple act of being calm and quiet amongst the trees as a process of relaxation The dictaphone is probably a distraction from the true meaning of shinrin yoku but I think what I'm doing is sommat similar and I must be reaping similar benefits I'm sure.

Vasey's Nose sculture

by Max Griffin

You also have some pretty strong ties to Nottingham Any wild stories to share from skating there? We used to have these mini festivals, kinda like the Dean Lane Fun Day but much smaller they were called ‘Manrodeos’. It was around the time that the UK started getting more concrete skateparks, there was a fun bowl at Carlton where we held one once It was basically an excuse to have a party, BBQ, beer, make up some paper mache crash helmets and skate haha, nonsense We had an after party too where my band Das Ragworms played which was hectic That was another night I spent in hospital, this time with a concussion but that’s another story We played at a nice old man's type pub, I thought we'd be barred after what I saw go down Apparently they wanted us back as an in house band every week as they put so much money through till that night! Notts is a great town. It's in the centre of England too so it's easy for folk to come and visit from neighbouring towns and easy to go on road trips which we did plenty of whilst I was there

Photograph by Micheal Wright

Icon Skateboards advert in Sidewalk Magazine 107 August 2005

P o l e j a m N o C o m p l y & B a n k t o 5 . 0 P h o t o g r a p h s b y B e n H a i z e l d e n

There were quite a few years in the early 2000’s where you were getting photos in Sidewalk; any shoots/tricks that really stick in your brain? Sidewalk was a huge part of British skating back then and the legacy that the mag has left is phenomenal, it was amazing to be a part of it even if it was a very, very small part When I first started getting into the mag it was surreal, I used to be sponsored by a company called Icon and as a team we went on a filming mission to Prague with Andrew Horsley and Ben Powell the photographer and editor of Sidewalk so there ended up being a whole article published The trip was amazing, unfortunately I bruised my heel after a couple of days trying to ollie a big ole double flyte, I did manage to get a couple shots at Starlin Square before that When we first got to Stalin square as quite a big crew we ended up hanging out with another whole other bunch of UK skaters from the south on a HOAX tour people like… Chewy, Dan Leech, and Adam Howe etc which made the group huge. As for tricks, mmm.. Starlin Square is more about the lines but Tom Lock did lipslide down one of them 16 step marble blocks that was nuts That was an epic trip!

Hell yeah That must have been amazing I remember that article How's skating for you now? Things definitely change as you get older huh?

It is different. I think skating as a kid, I'd be thinking of learning something new or trying to do something new with an old trick Nowadays I'm happy rolling around; jumping up curbs and powersliding haha But saying that, that’s what got me obsessed in the first place! I love the way your mind goes into full concentration whilst doing a trick, but the real trick is not to concentrate at all It's like meditation It really boils down to the fact I’ve loved it for decades now and the more I give it the more it gives back. So true You get what you give Do you have any expectations, or objectives, for skating? It's nice to have goals even if they are pretty realistic haha? These photos I’ve managed to get for this interview have been a good goal to go for. But, after all the abuse I’ve given my body over the years, on and off my skateboard I'm extremely lucky and happy to be still skating. So if I keep managing to get out regularly I will be happy

Shout outs? I’d like to thank you for asking me to be a part of your mag! Andrew Horsley and Mike Wright for the older photos of me, my partner, family and friends. All the folk I’ve met along the way, you know who you are x

instagram@tom dupere

THOMAS DUPERE

Feature Photograph by Carlina Dupere Interview by Ben Haizelden

Artist

So Tom. Let's start with the basics. Whereabouts are you from and where are you now?

Born and raised in northeastern Massachusetts. I’ve lived all over but I always found myself coming back to New England. I love the changing of the seasons.

And you’re how old now?

I turn 50 in August.

I read your excellent Juice Magazine interview with Jim Murphy (note to reader google: Juice Magazine Duty Now Tom Dupere) and you really have got around. From San Fran to Burnside and everywhere else in between. Is there

one trip that really stands out? Or even one session from your travels that lives forever in your memory?

I have been fortunate to get my wheels on so many rad spots over the years but one session that always makes me smile is skating the Indian school ditch for the first time We spent hours riding until the sun went down. Epic times

You are one of the principal builders at the amazing Brian Eldredge Skatepark (instagra@amesburyskatepark) in Amesbury, Massachusetts Can you tell us a little about the park and how it came to be? That place has such a special place in my heart. I grew up down the street from there when it was old tennis courts and we would skip school to skate whatever junk we would drag over. As time went on it eventually became a shitty prefab Skatepark. Once I started building parks my friends and I just took it over and built whatever we could when time and resources became available Now we are partners with a non profit and are basically building a new park

Can you also tell me about your involvement in Artisan Skateparks (instagram@artisanskateparks) ? Is building parks your main job these days? I started building parks in 2001 when the town over from me wanted to go a different route than the standard prefab crap I got on the committee to help steer the direction and met Geth Noble from Airspeed skateparks out of Oregon and he offered me a job. I cut my teeth with them and then the infamous sloppy Sam started “breaking ground Skateparks” on the east coast and it was on! Now I work with Artisan as a project manager. We build parks all over the country and internationally It’s my dream job for sure and I feel blessed to be able to do what I love and give back to skateboarding How do you feel about skateboarding now? Does it still consume almost every waking thought?

Skateboarding has given me everything Even at 50 years old it is all consuming! One of the cool things about getting older and still skating is just enjoying and appreciating being on my board I can still jam down the street and Ollie up the sidewalk and slap some curbs so I’m stoked. Gonna keep it moving til the wheels fall off.

Fuck yeah! Any goals for skating this year Tricks? Trips? Just trying to stay healthy and have fun I want to try to film some stuff with my friend Pete(Pete’s pigs boards) and try to put out a fun homie part.

So, what does your art mean to you? Do you ever think about why you make it? For me it’s an extension of skateboarding I can’t physically skate as much as when I was younger so making art helps fill that void It’s also the thing I do that helps me relax, a form of meditation. I can go skate and slappy away the bullshit of the world or I can sit at my desk in my little art room and paint for hours and get the same feeling.

Are there any artists that have particularly influenced you; and the art you make?

So many! From skateboarding it’s all the legendary ones. Gonz, Blender, Lucero, Lance, Chris Miller, Andy Jenkins and on and on. From the art world Henri Matisse and Picasso were the first ones that caught my eye when I was younger Then Warhol, Keith Haring and Basquiat really hit me when I was around 12 or so right when I started really getting into skateboarding and punk/hardcore and it was a wrap from there! Also Raymond Pettibon and Ralph Steadman rule all!

P h o t o g r a p h s b y J u s t i n G o r e m a n

Photograph by Rob Collins

Your art seems to celebrate the smaller moments in skateboarding. And, to me, the things that really make it what it is Do you use any reference images to make your work? Or is it just from your imagination & memory of these moments from your own life? It’s a combination of all those things The beauty of Instagram is having access to so many images that you would have never seen. I love all the rad photos of lesser known or unknown skaters that exist out in the ether now. Or the alternate angle of a famous photo. Sometimes I’ll see someone do something at a session and be inspired to make a painting of it.

A lot of your work harks back to a previous time in skateboarding; there's frequent references to famous photographs of people like Neil Bender And Mark Gonzales But are there any lesser known skateboarders that the less observant or knowledgable might not recognise in your work? Any forgotten favourites you can shine a light on?

Phil E FOREVER! I have always loved the skaters and small companies on the fringe doing their own thing. Who’s Phil E?

He rode for Small Room and Skull skates Had some cool ads and photos in Poweredge back in the 80s.

There seems to be a pretty strong community of skateboard artists floating about in the ether of Instagram Are there any contemporaries that are making work in a similar vein to yours, so far as being concerned with skateboarding, that our readers should take the time to look at?

I love the work of Kenji Goto in Japan (who was featured in the last issue) and recently came across the work of Ken Takahashi, which is so rad!!! Who should I, and the reader, be looking at?

Oh man, so many rad artists out there! A couple that come to mind are Nathan McKee, Temple of |Skate, The Curb Cutting Project, Pencil Pusher Project. So much rad stuff out here.

Any people you'd like to thank?

My wife and daughter,all my skate homies, Russ Pope for including me in the radness that is the transportation unit. Anyone who has supported my art. Keep rolling, keep creating and keep on trucking! Peace TD

Interview by Ben Haizelden

THE GUY FROM THE 'VILLE

So Adam firstly thank you for getting involved: its great to have you in Dogpiss! Can we start with the usual boring things. Where are you from? Google search revealed you are originally from Portsmouth, is that right?

Hi Ben Thanks for having me and running the article, it s a pleasure! I am actually originally from a place called Waterlooville, which is just outside of Portsmouth However, I did move into Portsmouth when I left home at quite a young age

How was it growing up there? Is that where you started skating?

Waterlooville is a nice place to grow up for sure, it s a pretty quiet little town but certainly didn’t really have too much to offer on the skateboarding front It's only in the recent years that they have had a skatepark built Once I was able to, I decided to move into Portsmouth with friends I was already skating for the local skate shop (Bored Of Southsea) and spent a lot of my time in the area anyway. So the decision to move into town was naturally the right decision. Portsmouth has a lot to skate, there are many really interesting spots there, which are very recognisable from a lot of British skate videos but people perhaps don’t always know that these spots are in Portsmouth

The guys from CONS and Polar have Portsmouth spots in some of their edits Portsmouth has a thriving skate scene currently, there are loads of kids on skateboards at the local skatepark as well as crews of lads filming with a VX1000, it's really nice and refreshing to see. There is also an indoor skatepark (Pitt Street Skatepark) in the works It’s looking really incredible, the skater owned business has a long lease on a great building and is currently raising money via fund raising events and such to be able to bring the dream into reality, but it's going to be so sick Big ups to Jake and his girlfriend Jen for giving the community what it has been lacking for such a long time.

You’ve been sponsored for quite a while haven’t you? How's things in that respect at the moment? Are you still riding for Thunder?

Yes, I am still riding for Thunder Ive been riding for Thunder for quite some time now via Shiner distribution. Alan Glass and the guys at Shiner have had my back for such a long time now which I am very grateful for As I mentioned before Bored Of Southsea too, Gary and Ian over there have always been very supportive I also get support from Stance Socks and DC shoes, again cannot thank all these people enough for the years of support, appreciation is an understatement

Alan and Shiner have been a great help to me here too Do you have any projects cooking at the moment? The last video part I saw of you was that short Thunder past which pixels posted a few years back. Yes, I was hoping that you were going to ask that. There is something cooking! For some time now I’ve been wanting to start my own skateboard wheel company Throughout the quarantine I had a lot of time to gather some ideas and get the project off the ground It's been a real challenge but it's certainly starting to come together I want to do as much of the leg work myself as possible Sourcing the product was very tough, I want all the hard and soft goods to be of the highest possible quality The brand is actually named after Waterlooville where I mentioned I am originally from. A lot of the local skateboarders in Portsmouth referred to me as “The guy from the Ville”, it didn’t stick for too long but I always liked the way it was written It felt like a good brand name, so here it is, Ville Wheels The process has been challenging, I took so many sample wheels from different factories before settling with the final product, coincidentally if you want a good quality wheel you really do have to pay for it I could literally be spending a quarter of what I am on the production of the wheels, but to compromise the quality, I would only be under cutting myself and devaluing all the effort that has gone into the project so far. So it's now at a stage where all the product is ready I invested in a camera also so Ive been busy filming a promo video for when the brand launches, which is the final piece of the puzzle I m sponsoring a few guys and we have all been working really hard on the edit, it s been a learning curve for me, how to film properly and use real edit programmes but rewarding and very satisfying We are hoping to have it ready to launch by summer 2022

Hardflip Valencia

Photograph by Chris Dale

Front Blunt Mallorca

Photograph by Chris Dale

You’ve been out in Barcelona for quite a few years now Is it now home? Any difficulties since the dreaded Brexit kicked in? Absolutely I ve been here for 6 years now It s flown by! Yes, I would certainly call it home for the moment I am very comfortable here, the city has always ticked a lot of boxes and continues to offer so much. I am very much into good food and wines, which Barcelona can provide in abundance not to mention the infamous skateboarding scene Brexit has caused a lot of problems unfortunately yes, or more like hoops to jump through might be a better way to phrase it Luckily, as we were residents before Brexit was announced we are entitled to stay here This did however involve a lengthy process where we needed to change our “green card” document to an actual residency permit. Anything bureaucratic in Spain is far from straight forward at the best of times, so this was time consuming to say the least but fortunately we had no problems through the application process It s such a shame as I suppose we were literally the last of a generation, British people can now not stay in Spain for longer than 90 days, I’m not sure how well informed the nation is about just how much freedom and options Brexit has taken away from their futures It's dreadful The only aspect of Brexit which has affected me personally is driving a car, the British government obviously didn’t see it to be important to discuss with Europe whether or not the UK driving license would be valid in Europe post Brexit So currently a British license does not cover you to drive in Europe, apparently there are talks in place to come to an agreement between the UK and Europe, but for the moment I cannot drive, unless I take a test here in Spain, which is not something I fancy doing, at least for now

Mayday Mallorca Photograph by Klavs Laivenieks

Backside Disaster Mallorca Photograph by Chris Dale

Fakie Tuck Knee Photograph by Chris Dale

Don’t blame you mate ha ha You really do seem to be making the most of your location out there though. I see you have been exploring mainland Spain and the islands; do you have a favourite place you have visited?

I love to travel, I get so hyped to skate in different places, Barcelona has a million spots which everyone has skated to death and we are of course spoilt for choice For me the adventure behind going to lesser seen or skated spots is what it s all about The photos for this interview include some real unique finds, I m not afraid to hassle the locals or trawl the depths of google maps to find new spots, it s so rewarding if you get the clip / photo. It s been particularly nice working with Chris Dale on this as we both have a very similar motivated attitude to get something done With regards to traveling within Spain, yes, in recent years I have done a lot of that mainly due to COVID restrictions not allowing international movement But it's so easy to travel within Spain, transport is a small fraction of the cost of what it is in the UK and Spain is a huge country with so much to offer Heavy transition parks and spots in the north in Bilbao. The spot heaven which is Gran Canaria. Mallorca is very small and is therefore very densely populated with amazing things to skate Not to mention Barcelona, Madrid and Seville In answer to your question about a favourite place, that’s tough, within Spain, I d probably say Mallorca You can understand why those Blueprint boys virtually lived there Over a fair few visits and a lot of that fore mentioned hassling I have compiled a really good spot map I m actually heading back in a couple of weeks with (Chris) Dale The over view of my google maps account is ridiculous, years and years spot marking, it has actually made it difficult to navigate around

Switch Heelflip fakie.

Photograph by Chris Dale

Backside Nosebluntslide Bennicassim

Photograph by Chris Dale

What do you do out in Barcelona when you’re not skating? Any hobbies outside of skateboarding?

I ve always been heavily into music So I DJ a fair bit out here, It s something which I’m very passionate about and love to go to nights to watch DJs play I actually co run a record label called Sweet Nothings with an old friend of mine in the UK We are both very much on the same page with the music influence of disco tinged house music, so the relationship works well. We started this at the the complete wrong time due to COVID, which was unforeseen, but we made it through and the business is going really well. We’ve actually recently landed a deal with a distribution company which I guess would be the equivalent of sponsorship in the skateboarding world Off the back of this we run monthly parties, which have been more successful that we could have possibly hoped for so I’m excited for the restrictions to lift so that I can travel to the UK freely to run the parties Besides that my girlfriend and I reap the benefits of Spanish wines and delicious food more than often! A platter of tapas and a chilled Verdejo on a warm summers evening, yeah, that’s where you’ll find us!

Back to the skate talk Can you remember when it first clicked for you? When you said to yourself “I’m a skateboarder?” Was there a defining moment when you knew there was no turning back? It's tough to say I would certainly say that I have quite an addictive personality and skateboarding is just one of those things which hooks people at best of times So I suppose it was just always going to stick with me When growing up, youngsters always go through phases of different hobbies, for me, all I was really interested in doing was going skateboarding. My parents must have thought I had gone insane, I would go to the local parade of shops just to jump down the stairs all day on my skateboard! When skating more in the city it soon became apparent to me that by being a “skateboarder” you were made so welcome and accept by the locals, there was never any cliquey attitude in Southsea Just lots of support, motivation and life-long friendships to the had Over the years I have traveled a lot with skateboarding, all over the world, and no matter where you go, as a skateboarder, you have a friend. This just does not happen with other “sports”, it's such a tight knit community besides at MACBA, that is every man for themselves Ha Ha Right so lets wrap this up Who is your favourite skater ever and why? Thats such a hard question to answer. As far as big name professionals go, that is subject to change depending on who did a sick trick that I saw last in a Thrasher edit I guess I don’t follow skateboarding in the same way I used to when I was younger There will all be the treasured names such as Ryan Gallant, Tiago Lemos and Wade Desarmo the house hold names to keep an eye out for For me a lot of it is about style, a lot of it for me is about trick selection and how the trick was done, but as far as favourites go, it is my friends who are my favourite skateboarders. The people who I like to go skateboarding with on the regular, the people that have helped me along the way, these are my favourite skateboarders ever Ultimately we are all just people and it's hard for me to call some a favourite without the personal connection At this point I would like to give a special shout to the guys who will be riding for Ville Wheels because the past year has been more or less all of the time with them and they’re certainly within my “favourites”, Mats Johannson, Filip Wojnowski and Chris Khan You’re all beasts!

Any thank you's?

First of all I’d like to thank Ben at Dogpiss Mag for running this article, very much appreciated Of course a very special thank you to sponsor past and present for all help and support over the years All the people I skate with My girlfriend Alex. Of course my family and friends. Thanks to you all!

Photograph by Klavs Laivenieks

Fakie Nosepick Barcelona

So Lynda, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions! Can you tell us a little about yourself? How old are you and where are you based?

Hello! I’m 35 and from Erdington in Birmingham I lived in Nottingham for 10 years then moved back to Birmingham and now I’m currently living in Worcester Can you remember when you figured out that drawing was your thing? What is it about making art that makes it important to you? I honestly don’t remember a time I’ve not been drawing It’s been like a normal regular thing in my life like doing the laundry once a week or something, it’s always been in my routine so I’ve never really thought about if it was my thing or not or even if I was good at it. I just liked to draw. Never kept any of my art or anything up until about two years ago so maybe then that’s when I figured it out??

Making art is actually pretty important to me to draw out what’s on my mind even if it’s just a carton of milk and I draw a lot of cartons of milk, I don’t even like milk that much I’m a confused person so it’s important to me to get out whatever I’m feeling. It’s therapy for me.

Do you ever work with colour? Or is it a conscious choice on your part to work in monochrome?

I have worked with colour before but I always just go back to working in black and white It’s more attractive to me It’s bold, it’s classic and it can really POP giving you a good slap in the face at first sight. I’m still working in that pop.

Are there any themes that you find yourself returning to? What do you think your work is about?

I go back to drawing about food and pretend packaging a lot. I don’t know why. I love the fun happy designs on japanese food packaging and I’m always finding myself drawing up my own version of products. It’s hard to describe what my art is about, it’s just my personal interests, feelings, my favourite things and places drawn out with a twist maybe hoping someone out there might relate Sometimes it’s not about anything at all and it’s just a bit of fun Oh Architecture is a big thing for me too and interesting spots. I always go back to drawing a city some point.

You did some board graphics for Karma last year Any plans for more? Would you like to work more within skateboarding?

You know I was so stoked to have been commissioned for those boards. Their design idea for the riders and their favourite drinks really suited what I was doing at the time It matched well It was so special to have designed up Marcus Palmer’s board for when he turned pro for Karma. The reveal was such a sick night at Ideal skate shop! Big up Karma and Farskate Foundation! No current plans with Karma at the moment but I’m always up for doing more for them.

Would love to do more within skateboarding. Working on some more bits now for other rad people which is great I’ve been around skateboarding since I was 16 and I’ve actually not realised how much it’s been a big part of my life. Even met my incredible husband Rob at the skate park who you know very well of I’ve started taking skating a bit more seriously rather than for years just pissing around on the board every now and again haha … and people have been really kind and supportive. The skate community has always been friendly and welcoming to me so I’d love to do more art within it to help keep supporting it and keep up that hype.

Are you working on any new projects at the moment?

I do have a few projects in the works but it’s all hush hush at the moment haha. It’s been a good unexpected start to the year with my illustrations It’s ace For something I was just putting out there for fun not expecting anything is starting to take off I can’t tell you how incredibly grateful I feel when someone requests my work.

Do you have any favourite artists or illustrators? Who has been the most influential on the work you make now?

Doug John Miller is one of my favourite illustrators as well as Kate Benn, Polly Nor and Harriet

Lee Merrion just to name a few. I don’t feel I have one person in particular right now that influences me but I'm defo influenced by a variety of people in different art forms.

Photographers like Lasse Erkola inspire me to draw storefronts and skate photographers inspire me to draw city scenes There’s a bunch of architects I love in London and they have a studio called Haworth Tompkins ltd I have a massive hard on for these guys haha They built The National Theatre in south bank, Bristol Old Vic and various schools and industrial buildings. They're incredible with design. They all influence my art I make now in just teaching me how to think differently in design

Do you have any favourite drawings in your portfolio? What do you think it is that makes that work successful to you?

It’s a toss up between The Custard Factory playset and Lucky in South Bank (note: both are shown within this feature). The Custard Factory is a creative place in Birmingham. People build, create and play and that’s how I’ve drawn it… like a playset. I had some great times there - Date nights, skate prems to my first craft fair It holds a lot of fun memories for me The commissioned South Bank piece was mad The request was to have the whole of the NT,bridge and the Thames in the drawing It was really hard and i put a lot of effort into it It’s a piece i’m really proud of.

Well thank you for taking the time to get involved with the mag! Look forward to seeing more of you beautiful work

Lucky in Southbank

Artist Feature

by Jodi Rogers

JACOB PARSONS

Portrait

instagram@lord otori

Interview by Jodi Rogers

instagram@jodi r0gers

How did you get into street photography initially??

I’ve always been an advocate for ‘people watching’ whether it’s just out of pure curiosity or intrigue, the idea of watching strangers carry out their day has interested me for a long time and using my camera as a tool to capture this actually came really naturally. What was your first camera and what made you pick it up? The first real camera I ever bought was a Nikon D80 digital camera, one of their oldest and cheapest DSLR cameras but still produced some really striking images. Before this upgrade I used to shoot a lot of disposable 35mm and point and shoot digital, I’ve spent a ludicrous amount on various other cameras since then and I one point had a collection of over 50 cameras

Tell us about your work, what do you look for in a photo?

It’s almost impossible to know what to look for, the most exciting thing about walking around the streets with your camera is literally anything can unfold in front of you The things that grab my attention the most lean more towards the obscure side of life, people having weird encounters on the street, someone doing something in a public area that makes you look at them twice. We’ve all walked past someone doing something strange and thought “what the fuck are they up to” that’s exactly what I want to capture

How do you approach your subjects?

Name 3 people (photographers or not) who have inspired your work.

David Lynch, Jeff Mermelstein, Whoever invented the meal deal.

This is very circumstantial, I never ask for permission before I take a picture and everyone reacts differently, some people don’t notice me at all and some do but the trick is to act confidently and don’t loiter around.

Have you had any memorable reactions from people on the street that you’ve taken a photo of, good or bad?

In 2021 I had more confrontations than any other year, the most memorable one was just after I took a picture of a woman who was with her mother, both of them dressed really garishly and absolutely covered in gold jewellery, the daughter for some reason even though I complimented their outfits went completely mad and next thing her 80 year old mum who was 4 foot nothing tried squaring up to me with her fists clenched ready for a boxing match.

How do you deal with confrontation?

You have to take it as it comes, be prepared for it as people do get pissed off but it doesn’t happen as regularly as you anticipate.

What are the ethics involved with street photography Can there be a scene in front of you that would be out of limits to shoot or does anything go? Where do you stand morally.

I would pretty much not shy away from taking a picture of anything, as far as I’m concerned I’m documenting what I see unfold in front of me and photography as an art form cannot be restricted by morals in ethics

Do you see any similarities between street photography and skateboarding and the communities that surround them both?

Both have a huge list of similarities and there are lots of skateboarders who are also shooting candid street photography, Ed templeton for one who has some brilliant books published I think being in the streets, with a camera to film on or take pictures with its hard not to gravitate towards capturing moments of madness that unfold in public areas.

Choose one camera, one roll of film and one city to shoot What would they be?

Leica M6 with 28mm lens, any colour 400 ISO 35mm film I can get my hands on and send me to North Korea

Choose one camera, one roll of film and one city to shoot. What would they be?

Leica M6 with 28mm lens, any colour 400 ISO 35mm film I can get my hands on and send me to North Korea

Your favourite/ least favourite places to shoot in Bristol.

Everywhere most of the time hah! Most probably Clifton everyone is very conservative in the way they act in public and they’re all dressed in the same Jack wills clobber

What equipment are you using?

I’ve used a lot of different cameras over the course of 10 years, but since 2018 I splashed a bit of cash and forked out for a Leica and since that purchase literally haven’t picked another camera up Currently still shooting the same Leica m6 with a voigtlander 28mm lens and any colour film I can afford. By the way I’m taking donations for film if anyone wants to send some my way I’m exchange for a print ;)

Why film over digital?

For me personally it’s the patience behind taking the shot on film and not being able to see it immediately, this makes it way more exciting and gratifying when you develop or pick up your scans. Also the manual process is incredible and I have a huge appreciation for the craft. Someone told me recently that film is actually the most technical consumerist product available on the high street market, I find that a very humbling thought

Tell us your thoughts on social media and the impact it has on photography

Do you think photographers are benefiting from it as a tool or has it just made everyone a photographer?

Are photographers benefiting from it as a tool? In the way of viewing them through social media id probably say no.

Seeing a tiny image lit up on an LED screen is all well and good, but photos are meant to be printed into a larger format so you can really see the detail and appreciate it as an actual piece of art Especially as a photographer who shoots film it’s almost a contradiction going through such a meticulous manual process to produce an image to then just slap it up on social media.

What is your preferred way of viewing images Online, Zines, Photobooks, Gallery spaces etc

Preferably anything printed including photo books, zines, mags, framed gallery pictures way before anything. I have been trying to build my collection of photo books up slowly through the years and it is looking half decent at the moment, not a cheap hobby though which gives online viewing it’s foot in the door

Have you got a preferred focal length for shooting on the street?

I have shot 28mm and 35mm both for a number of years, I recently reverted back to 28mm being able to squeeze that little bit extra in the frame goes a long way

How do you feel about the prices of film at the moment, do you see a point where you will have to shoot digital?

I’m not sure if I’ll be homeless from buying film before I get the chance to switch to digital Basically the prices at this very moment are crazy high I’m thinking about pulling a heist on an arctic container sometime soon, if anyone’s down send me a DM!

What is an average weekend like shooting in Bristol City Centre.

A shit tonne of walking, a few meals deals, some odd looks and comments from strangers you photograph and with any luck a sense of accomplishment after taking a picture you will be happy with!

Thanks for taking the time for this interview dude! Look forward to seeing more of your images soon!

To see more of Jacobs work or to purchase prints please contact Jacob via the below

Instagram address: instagram@lord otori

5 FINGER DEATH PLANT M32 BRISTOL PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE DAVIES

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GEORGE DAVIES & TOM LEIGH

Daryl Partington

Interview

by Ben Haizelden

Hey Daryl! Before we get into the meat and veg of the interview can you tell us the basics? Where are you from & where are you at?

Hey Ben! I’m from a small coastal town called Paignton (most people have heard of it purely because of its zoo) and I’ve been living in Bristol for the last 5 years I used to visit for skates but moved here for uni, which was an excuse to finally move here I’m in Fishponds near the M32 spot and I’m close to St George park And how old are you? 31 years young!

I'm gonna get straight to it and ask you about some of your more unusual trick choices It's pretty refreshing to see someone clearly doing the tricks they want to rather than the same trendy tricks as the next person You seem to have a habit of coming up with some wild moves For example, what do you think it is that makes you decide to do a ‘five finger death plant’? Ah I’m glad the name stuck!

I think it’s due to the fact that I didn’t know much about the world of skateboarding for a long while, so when I learnt to skate it was with limited obstacles and limited understanding. They say creativity comes from restraint, right? Making do with the available spots (or whatever me and my friends could find in skips) really kicked off skating for me

I also have a hard time deciding on getting a particular trick that I’d like to get at a chosen spot, that seems to curse it It always makes more sense to me to be spontaneous and see what the obstacle brings to mind

You are a registered skate coach right? What made you choose to get qualified?

That’s right, I have the Skateboard GB coaching certification. I think it was two things, firstly that I was really put off thinking about a career I mentioned what I do to a jobs coach and they suggested it, saying that there was funding available for it The other reason was that John Cattle (who sponsors me on Wight Trash, and also has a large skate school) mentioned that he had done it, and it started to seem this was the right path

Personally I don't like the idea of anyone being coached to skate I've had a wonderful long journey on my skateboard that was started because I needed, and wanted to, break away from organised sport I've learnt from my friends, from videos, from mistakes All those things were an intrinsic part of what I love about skateboarding That said maybe I'd be a better skateboarder if I had been coached hah hah.

What do you think people gain from coaching? Or do you think it depends on what they want from skateboarding?

No, I understand I guess as skaters we coach and are coached by friends I think it’s important to share the knowledge, especially if you can tell someone something that you wish someone had told you whilst you were learning to skate

From what I can tell, coaching brings confidence. If you can remind someone of their merits and what they have achieved already, they don’t let negativity get in the way of clearing the next hurdle It definitely depends on what people are trying to get from it though I think it’s a given that enjoying the act makes you progress more quickly than if you just want to be good or look cool (or sign up for lessons so you can be in the next olympics)

What's been the most rewarding moment whilst coaching your students There must be something that sticks out?

Oh you almost get to see the moment that lightbulbs switch on above someone’s head when something clicks and they can suddenly do a trick that seemed impossible It’s easy to get hyped about and brings about a nostalgia for me of when I first started to land tricks. Remember your first kickflip? It’s nice to relive that moment.

Also, I read recently that all advice is autobiographical I think this rings true in coaching because if you’re trying to articulate the technicalities behind a trick or fundamental technique to someone, then you’ve just reinforced that idea to yourself

BACKSIDE GRAB PHOTOGRAPH BY TOM LEIGH

SKI STYLE POLEJAM PHOTOGRAPH BY TOM LEIGH

Do you remember your first kickflip?

Haha, yes I do actually I was outside of my house I remember being happy spending the time in the air waiting for the flip, but just waiting for the grip to face up and to land without wobbling and stepping off. When I landed it my two childhood friends spotted it from the bottom of the road and sprinted all the way up to celebrate it with me. I think that made it feel twice as good honestly!

Ha ha Amazing! I bet you’ll remember that til your dying day.

You mentioned prior to this interview that you're involved with the Camp Hillcrest (Skate Camp in South Wales) What are you up to there dude?

Shout outs to Tom at Camp Hillcrest! I got an opportunity to help watch over some budding young skaters aged about 10 16 for ‘Camp Fifty’ It was mostly just skating and getting involved, but also making sure everyone eats and gets a bit of sleep. There was also a camp at Hillcrest for John Cattle’s Skate Club, where the excelling skaters came to skate somewhere a bit different. John has done a good job of providing them the opportunity to get away from the Isle of Wight and skate at parks and events over here on the mainland I’m due to help out at ‘Camp Story’ at Hillcrest in the Summer, which means meeting some more cool groms, being around people with youth leader vibes, and getting on the hype train! The skatepark at the camp is so much fun too, and it’s built on or near an ancient oak tree forest. I swear you can feel it, haha. Are there any other projects you are involved in at the moment? Yeah a couple actually There’s a guy called Nick who has some transportable, transformable ramps going under the name Southwest Skate Ramps He’ll have 3 coaches, experienced skaters, who will be attending the ramps to give lessons and keep the ramps warm at various locations in the southwest, and it looks like we’re getting booked for festivals which is cool. The other one which has just popped up is by the guys at Elevate Bristol who are currently raising money to give St George skatepark the revamp it needs It looks like they’re hoping to knock down what’s there and get something a lot smoother, modern and at a high quality standard I hope they get a few more people on board to help out!

What is it about skateboarding that hooked you Do you remember the first time of thinking to yourself; ‘Im a skateboarder’?

I was hooked on the magic of believing something was possible even though it seemed impossible and the gratification that comes from being determined and figuring it out. Basically put: getting tricks. I don’t remember a defining moment, it seemed like people had a lot of presumptions about what that meant back then, there were only two of us that skated at my school I skated so therefore just happened to be a skateboarder

In hindsight I realise that what made me a skater was spending hours skating at every available opportunity, drinking copious amounts of fizzy drinks from Lidl, as well as skating dusty, greasy multi story car parks on rainy days just to have any kind of skate that we could If skating is the main source of your mindfulness, physical activity, problem solving and socialising then you’re definitely a skateboarder I’m also a firm believer of ‘getting back on the horse’ and not letting a graze stop you from getting what you set out to achieve Sometimes it’s blood, sweat and tears but it translates into something magical for sure. Big props to the resilient, the brave, and the determined.

Well Daryl, thank you for this chat Is there anybody you'd like to thank? Any shout outs? Big thanks to my family: my grandparents for buying my first board, my Mum for being a skate taxi and supporting the passion, and my Dad for always showing an interest. Thanks to Tom and George for their time getting these photos, John Cattle and the Wight Trash riders for being good, kind souls. Thanks to anyone I didn’t mention who definitely already knows I’m grateful for them! Shout outs to the skate coaches and good lads: Ben, Sam and Luca Shout outs to Isi! Respect to anyone who finds peace and fights the battle on a skateboard, and those who carved the paths we take now and who continue to show us the way. Show each other the way, keep each other hyped. And of course, a big thanks to Ben at Dog Piss Magazine for this opportunity and all your hard work, big love to all.

FRONTSIDE FLIP M32 BRISTOL PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE DAVIES

Artist Feature

CHARLIE PURSE

Charlie is a skateboarder & artist from Bristol. "Char is a wonderous being, could say he's one of the most gentle characters I know and has got a unique approach to all things; from skating, art and music which is raw and genuine Fuckin love him massively, never makes a fuss just cracks on with his own mysterious creations."

Gil Amos

To see more of what Chalres is up to go to instagram@couplafakies

FIN SHAW OLLIE NOTTINGHAM

Banks, bros & bump-to-bars: Recent adventures around NOTTINGHAM

PHOTOGRAPHS

BY TOM QUIGLEY

This bump to bar was a 2020 lockdown discovery spotted as I spent that summer cycling around my local area with a camera. Despite attempts with a few skaters to get a photo mission sorted, it wasn’t to be until the following summer when Fin & Fred were filming for the 2021 Honest Skateboards video around this area This day was crazy hot, and our warm up spot was exactly that the paddling pool spot with the bright white floor which is blinding in the midday sun. On the way to the bump to bar Fred even stopped for an ice cream, that’s how nice it was. Can you tell I’m writing this amidst the death throes of another wet winter, complete with fatal gale force winds? Hopefully by the time this issue is in your hands we’ll be back to calm, bright, T shirt weather

While a few bigger tricks have gone down in footage since that summer, I’m always keen on a simple ollie photo especially when boosted as much as this one by Fin. I shot this one on medium format film, which is always a nice change of pace from the ease of digital

BEN FROM HONG KONG BANK TO BANK BONELESS NOTTINGHAM

Ben has been casually ripping in Notts for a little while, and this bank transfer looked far too easy for him Just a few tries and it was done The ultimate in crusty spots, this coarse downhill run up involves jamming over multiple grassy seams before you can get up close and personal with the brickwork This was just spot one on a day of packing into Elliot’s car and driving around this rough neck of Nottingham during an only slightly damp day in January. I think only those avoiding alcohol get a truly dry January

DAN KATCHI NOLLIE HEELFLIP NOTTINGHAM

Early January this year and we somehow got a weekend without rain, after weeks of postponed missions. Dan came down from Harrogate to skate this awkward (and now slimy) bank in one of Nottingham’s university campuses no doubt inspired by the recent tricks from George Worthington & Ollie Lawrence here On filming duties was Ben, putting the graft in for a rooftop angle By the end of his phone’s battery life, the nollie heel ended up being captured on mine instead, which prompted me to immediately get the clip into Dan’s possession – not comfortable at the prospect of being responsible for the only footage of the make after his several hours of battling.

This was pretty ridiculous, on a wet winter day with a short amount of daylight There was no warm up to the noseblunt pull in, other than driving around looking at a couple of other crusty banks, passing on them due to the damp conditions Just Dan & I, no-one else to bring the hype, so who knows what goes through the mind of someone facing down this drop multiple times in a row! Standing on the very top of the wall was instantly impossible due to the slanted brick, so the column one brick down was the ticket. After a few reasonable slams that resulted in increasingly wetter wheels, Dan pulled it off filmed only by his phone propped up on a bin out of frame Look out for his new video soon

DAN KATCHI NOSEBLUNT YANK IN NOTTINGHAM

ANDREW HOLT WALLRIDE NOLLIE

While most of us were pre occupied by a road gap and members of the public were sat all over the only ledge, Holt was giving a lesson in wallride nollies up the side of the Train Station building As ever, he didn't mind doing a few more for a photo!

MYKE TROWBRIDGE OLLIE off block over rail NOTTINGHAM

Another weekend session with a big Honest Skateboards contingent whose regular crew is made up of some of the heaviest hitters to ever break away from Sneinton Market Ellis Blake, Kaii Gunn, Theo Fearon, Conor Andrews, Chris Thorne, to name just a few Myke was setting the bar on this particular street mission, with something for every spot, culminating in this pretty unskateable little set up that you may’ve eyed up if you’ve ever come out of Nottingham train station. The blind bumps and a history of getting kicked here leaves little worth attempting the skinny ledge a last refuse for a run up The rail has been looked at (shoutout Luke Humphries sacking himself in Get Lesta’s ‘Last Orders’), but here Myke opted to go over the side to flat Perfect although I wouldn’t say no to some brighter clothing next time!

NICK HANSON DROP IN 50550

Nick is one of the loveliest humans you’ll meet and a true creative force of nature, on and off the skateboard. One look at his moves in Neil Turner’s ‘Blowout’ video, or his recent winter exhibition in a reclaimed shop space in Sneinton, serve as a great reminder Last summer he was bringing the inspiration for skateboarding & art in one of Skate Nottingham & The Renewal Trust’s beginners’ sessions at a skatepark in a low income borough of Notts He grabbed me for a photo and showed me this metal shelter that might be more at home on the moon a few quick attempts onto the broken glass laden tarmac, and he was back to bringing the stoke to the kids.

INWARD

Vincent was a friend of a friend I met out in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 7 years ago who very kindly took me around his city and let me shoot photos with him while I was passing through on some European travels All this time later, he detoured from his visit in the south of the UK up to Nottingham, to catch up and check out our scene A whistle stop tour of Notts’ favourite town spots included Sneinton Market’s ledges, skate stopped brick banks, and this quiet but bust of a spot Underneath the famous Sky Mirror sculpture, a switch inward heel came pretty easily into the bank for Vincent I can’t pass this spot without picturing that impeccable shot of Will Golding’s nose manual by Matt Clarke from years ago go seek it out if you haven’t seen it, it was a Unabomber Skateboards ad.

JOE LAWTON ROCK FAKIE SHINER BRISTOL PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN HAIZELDEN

CRAIG DYAS LEEDS PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM SMITH

CHARLIE

SIMRAN SOND BACK SMITH BRISTOL PHOTOGRAPH BY TOM LEIGH

BEN BROYD BLUNT 180 RAG LEICESTER PHOTOGRAPH BY ROB WHISTON

CHRISTOPHER 'BAMBI' PRICE WOLVERHAMPTON PHOTOGRAPH BY ROB WHISTON

BEN GROVE 180 STALEFISH STOCKWELL PHOTOGRAPH BY ROB WHISTON

Skateboarder Feature TONY LUI

Photographs & Interview by Tom Leigh

I first met Tony a few years ago at a party. You could tell through talking to him that he is interested in a lot of different stuff outside of just being a skateboarder For the most part to begin with we never even really skated together; just jammed over beers and chatted about ideas for edits Tony is hugely into photography/music/food, he works cheffing up ramen with Tomo no Ramen, does modelling work with RoyalRagzz and Heads Agency, is filming for his own scene video and has generally been putting out rad work on the fringes of the Bristol scene for years When we did start shooting some stuff together though, I quickly realised the level of this dude’s talent. He can skate everything, and it never really looks like he’s thought about what he is gonna do or is even trying very hard to do it. He has a really refreshing outlook on skating, skates fast as fuck and chooses to do unconventional tricks at spots you’ve normally seen skated to death It's all super fun to watch and definitely brings the hype to the session!

C r a i l B l o c k & K e e p o n T r u c k i n F r o n t R o c k

Backside Bonelesss Wallride

Layback Boneless Noseblunt

How old are you? How long have ya spent living in Bristol?

Just turned 30, been living in bristol about 7 years now. Moved here because had the option to get out of Coventry when my parents moved to Bristol

Rad. How do you find the scenes compare between Coventry and Bristol? Whats Cov like to skate?

Coventry skate scene is small but everyone is super cool Spots are super fun, lots of low impact spots to fuck about on Bristol scene is sick as fuck! Lots of different crews of homies doing there thing here, either its filming, building shit to skate or hunting for new spots. Everyone is just being themselves; killing it on and off the skateboard.

When did you start skating?

I started skating when I was 15/16, did a bit of fruit booting before that haha. Jeevan and Kyle big up yourselves! But yeah I remember watching Tony Trujillo at Marseille bowl contest, it blew my mind and I wanted to skate since.

You’ve been stacking clips for a while now, did you get into shooting photos and filming through skating or were you into using cameras before? I first got into filming with a little HD handy cam and whacked a super wide fisheye on it. I just started filming homies and putting random shit together I mostly filmed fisheye, I felt more involved you know haha Really keen to be learning more about photography and filming Documenting plays a big part in skating and its one of my favourite parts of it. You get to share these sick clips and photos with your homies, feels better than getting free boards in my opinion haha.

You mentioned Tony Trujillo, who from the UK gets you hyped to go and skate?

Yeah dude, and all the old static videos got me well into raw street skating, dudes like Ricky Oyola and Bobby Puelo. Bear, J Thax, Kyle Wilson… There’s too many to name, haha. But to be honest I get the most hyped by the homies innit, I skate with these boys everyday, they should be the ones who make you wanna go skate and hang out!

Can definitely vouch for the boys! where’s your favourite place to skate?

Where do you find yourself going the most?

My favourite place would be M32, it's got a bit of everything, all the new bits are super fun And of course love being on the streets with the homies. We get stuck at the “plaza” alot haha, you know how it can be. The slab is always good when its quiet too, come have a beer and a smoke with us!

Whats next for T? Any projects your excited about?

I want to focus on photography and filming a little more. And outside of skating, i’m planning on doing my own food pop up at some point. Im really into cooking japanese food at the moment, so my pop up will be themed around japanese street food and focus on the fried goods

Sick as fuck dude. Any shout outs?

Yeah shout out to all the homies who made me feel welcome when i first came here. Safe Omar, Jake and the jersey lot And of course yourself, anyone that i have ever skated and chilled with!

Layback Wallie

Illustration by Annabel Warley instagram@bellasdailysketch

The Strangest Pet on Earths Poem

Poem by BRUCE MCCLURE Illustration by HENRY 'SWAMPY' MOORE

In My Head I Have Created A Barn

In my head I have created a barn It's a rusty colour, corrugated with wooden beams and panels woven through. From the outside it looks dilapidated but it is secure and modern inside. Inside, I have created a writer sitting at their desk

There is a large hole in the roof where water collects before being filtered away from the structure. The barn is surrounded by prairies, with tall golden antennae where the insects congregate at night A truck lies in wait and you can hear a dog barking ever so occasionally

In the dusty yard there is a shooting range. On the walls hang native American arts and pictures of their own and friends The best picture of all is the one the sun makes with its shadows

The pistols are never used on animals

In the distance and we are talking way off, hours of walking there are a few lights which never get any closer and on special nights there are no lights at all The homes and infrastructure leaving the hills for elsewhere

With him is his partner and lover Has he met her before or is she new? He thinks he has met her before and they are back together again living this life.

The mind is finally at rest Our haunting stops We are both happy and content