The Experience Magazine 2014 [SUMMER ISSUE]

THE

EXPERIENCE Magazine

DIRECTED BY JASON STONE SUMMER ISSUE

EST. In Th

he Womb

Chris Colon Originals Chriscolonoriginals.com/

Yesenia Alonso, Stacey La Flaka & Stevie Gatez

CONTENTS

012 020 024 036 044 050 059

fashion creator art fashion news art power

STYLED BY STEVIE THE JAYZUS GALLERY THE PSYCHEDELIA THROUGH THE FACE, OUT THE GRAVE THE STORY WITH NO ENDING REAL SH#T TAB TWEETS, YOU LISTEN

DIRECTED BY JASON STONE

SUMMER ISSUE

THE

EXPERIENCE Magazine

Jason Stone Editor in Chief/ Creative Director

Simonette White Executive Editor

Jonathan Alonso Head of Photography

Christina Badroe Managing Editor

Ten Sodeinde MaRKETING DIRECTOR

Contributors: Vice Royed TONI BENJAMIN Stevie Gatez YESENIA Alonso Mahdis mousavi Stacey Castillo ALEXANDRA CORREALE TABIA SANTOS

Fashion

Styled By Stevie

STYLED

BY

STEVIE

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The Experience Magazine

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SUMMER TIME FINE STARRING STACEY LA FLAKA STYLED BY STEVIE GATEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY : YESENIA & JONTHAN ALONSO OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

BY ZAYAGOSTINI & MAHDIS

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Jacket & Shorts H&M Sandals Steve Madden

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THE EXPERIENCE

Dress Club Monaco Headband - H&M Necklace Stylist Own

Bikini Top - H&M Overalls - Forever 21 Hat - Stylists Own

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STYLED BY STEVIE

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Styled By Stevie

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Stacey La Flaka

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THE

JAYZUS GALLERY

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SOMETIMES I FORGET THAT I’M A VISUAL ARTIST 1ST....

THAN A MAGAZINE DESIGNER. SO FROM NOW I WILL BE SHARING MORE THAN JUST A COVER.

CHEERS!

J. STONE 21

MASTER’S THESIS PLUG

NSCB

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THE PSYCHEDELIA Interview & PHOTOGRAPHY By

YESENIA ALONSO DESIGN BY

jason stone

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INTERVIEW

N

icole Salgar and Chuck Berrett, known as NS/CB, are a collaborative mural and street art team that pride themselves in creating off the cuff. Without using projectors or grids this talented collaboration produces psychedelic folklore and mythological inspired characters. Their choices of color palettes and symbolism are intentional. The diverse background of each of them and their influences create a Ying and Yang relationship that is meshed insightfully in their work. Both Nicole and Chuck welcome the challenges of today’s modern artist while juggling dual careers and delight in sharing their vision.

YA: First I would like to start by saying your work is amazing.

NS&CB: Thank you very much! We are flattered.

the background we begin blocking out colors in the focal point of the image and keep building on that with highlights and shadows until it looks right to us. We’ve unintentionally adopted YA: How would describe your first a style that is often described as psyexperience in street murals? chedelic, or cosmic.

NS&CB: We approached our first mural We basically render images of living very straight forward neither of us had beings but in a strange parallel dimenany interest in using projectors, nor we sion or universe. did we like the idea of mapping things out on a grid. So we basically sketched YA: Tell me how did you get involved an idea, discussed a color pallet and in art, how did it lead into you two just began painting it on the wall with working together brushes. Once we fleshed out the CB: Nicole was placed in prestigious basic shapes we began to texture the art schools early on and developed background. Sometimes we use waher skill set as a painter, an illustrator, tered down latex paint in squirt bottles a fashion/costume designer, a stylist to create layers and runs, other times etc. we will do several washes of color from NS: Chuck has done art in some way the top running down. “After we’re sat- or another since he was a child as isfied with well.

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NSCB

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“Ultimately anyone would rather have the freedom to do their own thing... but commissioned work can be really fun and challenging. it affords you the ability to make a living and survive as an artist.�

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INTERVIEW

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THE EXPERIENCE YA: I’ll bet that led to a lot of interesting influences.

CB: Stylistically, Nicole is very inspired by a vast array of genres and mediums. From Victorian design to Indigenous Folk Art to fantasy and so on...her background has been steeped in art since she was a child.

NS:Chuck was heavily influenced by early heavy metal album art, along with Frank Frazetta, Creepy and Eerie comics, horror etc...

CB:Nicole and I met through a mutual admiration for one another’s work.

YA: What would you consider your style of art because looking at your work it has a very punkish sort of hypnotic fantasy style to it please talk about that, and how your collaboration with each other has affected that?

NS&CB: The style we would consider ourselves... I can certainly see the psychedelic qualities, and there is almost always some symbolism relating to folklore or mythology. We tend to paint with very bright contrasting colors; most often paint creatures or animals with multiple eyes or tongues etc. I’m not sure what style I would call it though because I feel audacious doing it...it feels like giving yourself a nickname.

YA: Do you prefer your artwork to be commissioned art or freelance?

NS&CB: Ultimately I feel like anyone would rather have the freedom to do their own thing...but commissioned

work can be really fun and challenging.

Also, it affords you the ability to make a living and survive as an artist. If a client is familiar with things we’ve done and they let us have creative freedom, that’s wonderful, but it’s not essential.

YA: Are you part time artists or is your passion also your career?

NS&CB: Neither of us really have a career, so to speak. “Nicole has had a very extensive career in fashion as a designer and she still works in that industry as a freelancer. Chuck has worked in the bar industry in NYC and Brooklyn for nearly the past decade.

Art is something which takes just as much of our time as our jobs, and it always will. Hopefully, someday the Art and the Job will become one.

YA: What message do you hope to send with your work knowing that you put your all into your work?

NS&CB: We’ve never painted anything with the intention of sending a particular message. If anything, I hope that it inspires imagination and a memorable sensory experience. I know there is intentional symbolism in our work, and it is often based off of fables or folklore, but we aren’t trying to retell any tales or teach any morals, we just want to create windows into our own bizarre world on the streets we live in now.

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nscbstreetart.com/

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THROUGH THE FACE OUT THE GRAVE INTERVIEW BY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

YESNIA ALONSO

GREG CAPARELL

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JESSICALYNN

Issue 9

Transforming faces to beautiful works of art is what Jessica Lynn is most passionate about. Not only is she devoted to the craft of makeup, this mother of two manages to hold down a full time job as a certified nurse assistant. What is she the most enthusiastic about? This horror movie fanatic loves the challenges of special effect makeup. If Jessica Lynn is doing your makeup be assured she strives to bring out the beauty in her clients.

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INTERVIEW

YA: How long have you been doing makeup? Has it always been your passion?

JL: I started out by browsing videos on YouTube; I came across this makeup tutorial, which then led me to go on eBay to order my first makeup palette.

From there on I began my journey into the makeup world; a few years later I took a makeup workshop in New York City at Dex New York cosmetics for everyday makeup, all about eyes and bridal makeup. I started working with local photographers and local talent.

Gosh yes since I was about 12. I use to watch my mom put her makeup on all the time. I got more into it as I grew older I started by applying eyeliner.

Than began learning more when I discovered YouTube.

YA: What did you want to do other than makeup?

JL: I wanted to study nursing. I am a CNA (certified nurse assistant) and although I love my job and my residents but my calling in life is being in the makeup industry.

YA: There is controversy with many not considering makeup an art form but more of a trade, what do you have to say on the matter?

JL: Art is art be it be painted on paper or played on a piano or painted on faces I see art in everything but to each it’s own.

YA: What’s your favorite part of doing makeup? Favorite brand?

JL: Seeing the transformation and how makeup helps enhance the beauty that was already there is my favorite part about doing makeup seeing my clients

happy and satisfied. My favorite brand at the moment will have to be motives cosmetics, which I am an independent distributor for.

YA: I also understand you have two beautiful children have they ever been an inspiration for any projects?

JL: Yes they have! I did a showcase at Raw Nyc back in March I was a nervous wreck and wanted to back out!

I said to myself I have to set a good example and show them never to give up on there dreams.

YA: Have you spent days dreaming about doing fashion week?

JL: I’ve spent years dreaming of doing fashion week. I get a little jealous of my friends that have worked fashion week but I am really happy that they got to experience that opportunity because just like me they work really hard to be where they are.

YA: I noticed you like working with gore (Zombies!!!) I’m guessing Halloween is your favorite holiday?

JL: I have to say yes and yes! It is I love the fx makeup I’m a horror fanatic.

I love the gore the bruise the burns and guts of fx makeup.

YA: Who are your inspirations and how do they influence your work?

JL: My inspiration came from Desiree Foote such an amazing artist. She influences my work by telling me never to give up if I want something in life I have to go for it, she said there will be critics but don’t let that stop you. Any thing is possible stay positive and determined. Although I have come across some bumpy roads and people

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THE EXPERIENCE doubting me I still manage to pursue what I love.

YA: Have you ever stopped to look at your work and wonder why did I do this?

JL: Yes! After I’m done with a client I stop and wonder how I did it and how beautiful it looks. Sometimes I feel like I’m a different person in another person’s body.

YA: Go getting you seem between being a fulltime mom student holding down a job and still finding a way to enter your artistic goals and dreams tell us how you pull off this superwoman routine.

JL: I have to say it’s not easy at all!

Scheduling and trying to balance everything is quite difficult I work my CNA job from elven at night to seven in the morning as soon as I come home I have to prepare breakfast, get my 6yr old ready for school, drive him to school come home and get my two year old ready to eat breakfast and ready for the day. Most of my makeup clients would fall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which are my busiest days. It’s all about balancing and scheduling which I am a little bad at doing. (laughs) YA: Seeing as how you like to work with fx makeup have you ever thought about entering competitions such as “Face Off”; which for those of you who haven’t seen the show is an epic competition in

which competitors work to come up with the goriest most creative “creatures” they can come up with.

JL: I thought about it! But I am nowhere near as good as those talented artist I am still learning and trying to get the hang of fx makeup. I still need practice in that area. I think if I got accepted on the show I’d be the first one eliminated.(Laughs) Maybe a little more practice and some workshop classes I would than consider applying or auditioning for the show.

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JESSICALYNN

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“Art is art be it be painted on paper or played on a piano or painted on faces I see art in everything ” Jessica-lynn

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INTERVIEW

YOUR WORLD: VOL 1

THE STOR EN

YESENI 44

Issue 9

RY WITH NO NDING

BY IA ALONSO IMAGES VIA VICE NEWS COREY STINGLEY

YOUR WORLD

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THE EXPERIENCE

This isn’t a story that has had a happy

ending nor one to look back on and wonder if things had happened differently would there be another path for all those involved.

Unfortunately this is your typical situation where you have one person, in this case a young African American boy, who lost his life for being young and of a different color. Corey Stingley was a sixteen-year boy like any other played sports in high school, made friends, and had a girlfriend.

One afternoon he chose to make a horrible mistake that would cost him his life, ending future goals both he and his father had for him. This included following in his father’s footsteps in pursuing his college degree and living life to it’s fullest.

To date many young men of both black and Hispanic decent are charged with malicious intent just by the color of their skin. Corey decided to fall under the terms of adolescent peer pressure and steal alcohol from a

local grocery store. As the store clerk noticed, he calmly asked for him to return the alcohol that he stole or he would have to get the authorities involved. What is shown and proven on camera is the moment in which he gives the store clerk his backpack and reaches over to take back his credit card. This is when three grown men held him down choking the life out of him for nearly ten minutes. There were never any charges pressed against these men due to lack of evidence of criminal intent to murder. Craig Stingley, Corey’s father, has been fighting to seek the justice for his son. To this day, Mr. Stingley has not been able to set foot in that store. He has since then had many nation-wide help campaigns seeking that these men he calls murders be brought to court. More importantly, get the punishment he feels they deserve.

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YOUR WORLD VOL. 1

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Issue 9

T.S.W.N.E

Craig Stingley seen here above

Many magazines and papers would often show you the one sided version of such a tragic story of life cut too short. However that might be, no one ever looks at the side where if you steal you should get punished. In many countries if you were caught stealing you would normally have a limb cut off to remind you of your crime. However harsh that may seem you have to have stolen at least three times for that punishment. Yet here, in America, a nation much more modernized than many, have we allowed one to be murdered for stealing wine coolers? The question of whether color and racism had anything to do with the decision that

these men chose will always come up. Partially do to the fact that Corey was a small-framed teenage boy whereas these men were fully grown and at least twice his size. As stated in the beginning, this story hasn’t ended and probably never will because like so many others, race had a factor in it. Until that ceases to exist then this will continue on. To this day Craig Stingley seeks and fights for the justice of his son during which the Milwaukee, Wisconsin district attorney decided not to press charges on the men involved in his murder.

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REAL SH#T

THE MIND OF PHETUS INTERVIEW BY TEN SODEINDE PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. STONE

PHETUS

Issue 9

Approaching life with the mindset of renewal, rebirth and creativity, the graffiti artist Phetus embodies all of those characteristics and more.

For over twenty-five years, Phetus has spent his life laying claim to the concrete jungle of blank spaces. Focusing on longevity and artistry over money and fame, his artwork jumps off the wall with color, texture and his unique form of “monstrous expressionism.” This well-traveled artist makes it clear that he embraces the legacy of graffiti and pays homage to those who came before him. He makes his art about the future and wants his collective works to inspire others.

TS: Where did the name “Phetus” originate and what does the name mean to you?

PH: Well, I used to write the word “Phat” from 88’ to 94’ until it got played out. Coca-Cola had “Phat Grip- Soda Bottles. Russel Simmons had ‘Phat Farm”. It became commercial and everyone started to jump on the band wagon and that watered down the graffiti movement. It got whack until about 95’ to 96’when graffiti came back. I was still active at this point, but I didn’t want to do the whole “Phat” thing anymore. That was over. So I decided to reinvent myself. I remember scrolling through an Encyclopedia to find a word with the letter “F” in it that I could turn into a Ph. I was first going to use “Phone”. I thought that was crazy, plus back then cell phones weren’t even a thing yet. Plus you had E.T. with the whole “Phone home” phrase.

It sounded dope to me. But it felt like too many letters so I kept looking. Then I stumbled across

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the word fetus. The whole birth and creativity of life jumped out to me. With a “Ph” I knew that would be crazy! I was trying to come back with something different you know. From then “Phetus” began the birth of something new. A lot of heads found the name disgusting, but I still rocked with it. Of course, I also realized it had more letters than “Phone”, but I didn’t care. The name worked!

INTERVIEW

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PHETUS INTERVIEW

TS: What/ who are some of the major influences which helped to sculpt you into the artist you are today?

PH: My roots are in the graffiti movement. A big influence for me was Richie Mirando aka “SEEN” from The Bronx. He painted the 6 subway line, he was in the graffiti art books, Star Wars, all that. All the original official s#!t. And then it so happened to be that 15 years later I became Richie’s apprentice. I ran with him for 3 – 4 years traveling the world. I’ve been to like 2 dozen countries because of him. He is like the Basquiat / Keith Haring of our time. You feel me. This dude that I looked up to who had a book, was in a movie and was one of the forefathers of the graffiti movement in the subways worked with me. Thaw was a major influence and now current day, as for the street art, murals, commercialism, product, pop culture it would be Tristan Eaton. Look him up. That’s the guy that started kid robot. He’s not the owner, he is the creative. So you know, it’s like I am shooting for that Shepard Fairey, top tier s#!t . That’s my goal.

Not a diss, not that I am against them. But that is what you shoot for. If I was a rapper I’m going for 50 Cent or Jay-Z, you know. Set the bar high. Ask yourself “Who is changing popular culture”? When we are dead and gone, “Whose name is going to outlast all of us”? There are a million street artists, but you will only get a grip of artists that break through. You got Futara, Shepard Fairy, SEEN, the MSK kids from California, Revok. You gotta aim for that tier. Every day you gotta get up and go.

when I’m dead and buried my name will outlive all the commercialism you cashed out on. That is what I am looking for. Longevity, in the sense that I am putting in work now, so that I can be in the history books of the movement when I am gone.

You are only here for so many decades. The graffiti street art movement is the biggest art movement in the world period! It’s all around the world. Heavy!

Quick! Global! It changes the way that people see everything.

TS: What differentiates your artistic approach from other artists out there?

Specifically your street work.

PH: We just come out here and do what we do. A lot of people get involved in groups/ collectives.

They want to sit there and map out their art, figure out a structured plan. Man, we got here at 10:00am in the morning with a trunk full of paint. We didn’t know what we were going to do. No sketch, no layout. We come and we freestyle the whole thing for the whole day. We just get busy and go big.

TS: Since 1988 the “Phat Phace” has been a cultural mark that has since evolved into your trademark signature and paved the way for your legacy. But we here at EXPM would like to know when your artistic journey actually began?

PH: I’ve been doing this s#!t since 88. When I was in 10 grade I made my logo and I have been running with it ever since. When they told me I can’t do it, well I’m just that kind of guy who won’t listen to that. It just took me 20 - 25 years to get there and I am still going. We’re not done. People tell me that I am not rich, you are not a multi-millionaire. That’s all a façade. The real ish is the starving artist. It’s no joke. It’s for real. I’ll be a starving artist, but you know what,

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INTERVIEW

“The graffiti street art movement is the big around the world. Heavy! Quick! Glo ever 54

Issue 9

ggest art movement in the world period! It’s all obal! It changes the way that people see rything.�

PHETUS

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TS: We stumbled across many impressive pieces of your street work in Bushwick, Brooklyn recently. You pick some of the most eye catching places to showcase your work. What other places in Brooklyn can our readers find your work?

What other places in the world can we find your street art?

PH: You can find most of my work in Bushwick.

I got a few joints on Thames Street. I have something over by the Williamsburg Bridge. I even got a collection of artwork out in Washington Heights (J Stone silently gives a nod of approval). I kind of shoot myself in the foot because I have a rebellious attitude. I get invited to places/ events and they tell me “You can only paint here”. I mean I’ll paint there, but when no one is around I’ll go and paint on a wall of my choosing. I am old skool with the graffiti. I got roots to the old skool. I have whole blocks with my work on it. Once I am done there, it’s on to the next spot.

TS: A bit Random but... Which musical artists/ groups so you currently have in your music collection right now?

PH: Drake is dope.

TS: Your visions usually depict a lot of bold and unique imagery that you have coined as “Monstrous Expressionism”. It is mind-blowing work.

We here at EXPM would like to know “what is your most monstrous piece of artwork to date?”

PH: I love all my work. The concept of “Monstrous Expressionism” is my characters with big, loud and boisterous features. There is no father to this type of style. We just come and get busy! We have a formula on how we actually lay it down, but the end result is never known. I didn’t know I was going to make this guy with a mustache and sunglasses on today. Besides that, it’s on a gate with waves. It’s a f#*king nightmare! My man back there is still going. He’s like “f” it. If it’s good it’s good. It it’s not, then we will be back here next week. We don’t care. It’s all for the love! We are doing street art with a graffiti mentally of “We just go”. We are rebellious.

TS: We also know you have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Calvin Klein. Can you also tell us a bit about this collaboration?

PH: Just collecting that check, that’s how you pay the bills man! It was a corporate project where Calvin Klein launched graffiti style underwear and undershirts. They specifically wanted graffiti in their showroom so that when buyers came in it would bugg the f%^k out. When I got in there they were all like, “We don’t want graffiti mural, we want real hardcore graffiti. We want tags and throw up’s, a real street element.” So I painted their showroom for like 10K for like 2-3 hours of work. I kind a stopped doing that now though. I really don’t care for all that.

TS: You are well known for your epic street art, but you also have delved into many other major avenues. Can you tell us a bit about “Smiles&Cries”?

PH: Smiles&Cries is a representation of the days and times that we live in. There are people that smile, and there are people that cry. It’s more of a Japanese/ American connection to what fashion is today. We have a collaboration of styles, cuts and patterns that come from Japan all the way to New York. We combine them together and we create this image for the people. We give them different fabrics, different kinds of feels, lettering. Whatever it may be, it’s all for the brand. It’s street art culture.

TS: What new ventures do you have planned/ lined of for 2014 and onwards?

PH: You know what. I’ve been doing this forever and I’m tired of planning s#!t because the plan never seems to unfold the way you want it to. So I just roll man. I just roll. I started doing this professionally since 88’ in junior high school man.

Phetus.com

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STACEY

TAB TWEETS, YOU LISTEN