InkSpired Magazine Issue No. 68 by InkSpired Magazine

LUCKY HELL

Tattoo Artist Michel "Mitch" Schwarzenberger

Dark Triumph

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Lucky Hell 6 Tattoo Artist: 12 Michel "Mitch" Schwarzenberger Dark Triumph 30 Stefan Kärger 46 The Art of Erica Williams

Global: Summer 2019’s Biggest Dance Party + Decadence 2018/2019

InkSpired Travels: Taiwan

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Review

Dockless Bikes and Scooters

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Editor-in-Chief - Candies Deezy Liu Creative Director - Sean Hartgrove Art Director - David Rossa Features Writer: Simone Jane European Editor - Ákos Bánfalvi Staff Photographers - Radek Photography & Billy Ward

InkSpired Tech: DJI Mavic 2 Pro Review Words & Photography: Jeremiah Simmons

InkSpired Travels: Taiwan Words & Photography: Candies Deezy Liu

Tattoo Artist: Michel “Mitch” Schwarzenberger Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi

Lucky Hell Photography: Kamila Burzymowska

Dark Triumph Words: Simone Jane Photography: Paul Fazio & Daveed Benito (IG: DaveedBenito)

Dockless Bikes and Scooters: The Terms and Conditions Leave You Vulnerable Words: Scott O’Sullivan, The O’Sullivan Law Firm ------------------------------------------------------

Stefan Kärger Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Photography: Dimi Stichow Lichtbild Lars Klattografie

Who’s On the Cover: Model: Lucky Hell Photo: Kamila Burzymowska

The Art of Erica Williams Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Global: Summer 2019’s Biggest Dance Party + Decadence 2018/2019 Words: Candies Deezy Liu & Alexis Dezaro Photography: Sean Hartgrove

Advertising info: info@InkSpiredMagazine.com

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Michel “Mitch” Schwarzenberger graces our tattoo artist section this month with his striking, horror themed pieces. Drawing and painting since he could remember, Mitch only began taking the tattoo artist path in 2012. Check out his best pieces for yourself. His passion and talent for art shines through in his work. World-renowned sword swallower and entertainer, Lucky Hell is our cover girl this month. She’s a high-end specialty act, with her steel-boned corsets and swords bedazzled in Swarovski crystals and sky high heels. She makes it all look ridiculously easy and graceful. Lucky is one hell of a lady. No doubt about it, she’s a sword swallowing Goddess.

What does triumph look like when it is dark? According to Paul Fazio, the creator of Dark Triumph timepieces, it comes in the form of custom, luxury Rolex watches. Nothing short of elegance and originality, Paul’s pieces blend magnificence, beauty, and rock ‘n’ roll into pieces that do much more than tell time. Because time is the greatest illusion of all, Dark Triumph is here to tell you how it really is.

was symbolic of so many things that are important to me. It was a pleasure to experience it and get to share it with our readers. I’ve always dreamed of getting to travel the world and tell people stories. With another month dedicated to the exploration of the evolution of tattoo culture and lifestyle ahead, I ask you, “what ‘InkSpires’ you?”

Signed, Candies Deezy Liu, Editor-in-Chief

I had the trip of a lifetime earlier this year, traveling to Taiwan to spend quality time with my mother and elderly grandparents (both over the age of 91). It was something I couldn’t miss out on. I know the day would eventually come that if I didn’t go, I would regret it. I spent the last seven years building two businesses. But I was faced with the decision of what really was important. And I promised myself that I could work from anywhere in the world. This trip

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InkSpot - What Does Being “InkSpired” Mean To You? “Getting tattooed makes me feel empowered, like I can conquer anything. It takes a lot of emotional energy and mental strength. It makes me put my thoughts and memories into physical form.” -Jeffrey Thomas “The thing that ‘InkSpires’ me is the fact that I can do what I want with expression in a free form of either tattoos or piercings. Other people may have the same piece but I have my own reason for it. I deal with anxiety so I got “relax” tattooed on my wrist to remind myself to take a step back and breathe.” -Alex Zych “It’s my favorite form of self-expression.” -Carly Smith “The fact that I can express myself publicly and foremost, personally.” -Brandon Cummings “Telling my story in my own unique way. As if I’m creating a book and my body is the paper. When I run out of room, my story will be complete.” -Larissa Pichette Follow us on Instagram at @InkSpiredMagazine and leave a comment telling us what being ‘InkSpired’ means to you for a chance to be featured in InkSpot in a future issue!

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Photography: Kamila Burzymowska Lucky Hell is a name synonymous with great ink and badass sword swallowing abilities. Having graced some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest and most famous circus stages around the world from Macau to Moscow, Perth Australia to Paris, France, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ultimate specialty act. With her unmistakable high energy and high-end ultra glam style (with deliberate fashion nods to The Blonds and Jessica Rabbit alike, she has helped bring sword swallowing from the fringe of sideshows and carnie shows to the mainstream circus and Parisian cabaret world. Lucky has changed the sword swallowing game, with her glamorous and sexy appeal.

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"LUCKY HAS CHANGED THE SWORD SWALLOWING GAME, WITH HER GLAMOROUS AND SEXY APPEAL."

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"LUCKY (HER LEGAL NAME) WAS HAND SELECTED BY INFAMOUS DIRECTOR, FRANCO DRAGONE (FORMER CO-CREATOR/ DIRECTOR OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL) ."

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The sideshow bombshell swallows some of the biggest and baddest swords in the game, all of them covered in Swarovski crystals. The most recognisable has to be her giant antique double scissor swords “This is an act I like to call, one little girl, two big, big swords,” Lucky laughs. As if this wasn’t enough of a sight to see, Lucky performs in the kind of stilettos most struggle to stand in, cinched in steel boned corsets, again, dripping in Swarovski crystals. Her opulent crystal covered costumes and swords juxtaposed with her tattoos, stunning looks, and captivating stage presence makes her one of the most well-known sword swallowers of our time. Lucky (her legal name) was hand selected by infamous director, Franco Dragone (former co-creator/director of Cirque du Soleil) for a starring role three years in a row in his acclaimed cabaret show, “Taboo” and then again as a main attraction in the world famous, Lido de Paris’ new show, “Paris Merveilles.” Each of her signature acts is carefully constructed to ensure her presentation is both unique and entertaining. Talent and beauty accompanies the skill and incredible ease she sword swallows and dances with such grace with 20--22 inch steel blades inside of her throat. Her performance presence and mesmerizing stare captivates the audiences of every stage she has graced. www.TheLuckyHell.com www.facebook.com/TheLuckyHell @LuckyHell

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TATTOO ARTIST MICHEL "MITCH" SCHWARZENBERGER Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi Michel “Mitch” Schwarzenberger is a 31-yearold realistic tattoo artist from Germany who has been tattooing since 2012. Mitch and his friend/co-worker, Stefan are the owners of Black Rainbow Tattoo Theatre in Zwickau, Germany.

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“THERE ARE SO MANY TECHNIQUES AND STYLES YOU CAN DO WITH JUST ONE TATTOO MACHINE, AND I LOVE THAT…” InkSpiredMagazine.com

What did you do before you started tattooing? I did an apprenticeship as a graphical assistant and after that, I worked for a logistics company at the Frankfurt Airport. It wasn’t really anything creative… But since I can remember, I’ve been drawing and painting in my spare time. Can you tell us why you chose tattooing as a form of art expression? I chose to be a tattoo artist because I love tattooing. With a tattoo, you have the chance to put your art on steady walking canvas. There are so many techniques and styles you can do with just one tattoo machine, and I love that. As a tattoo artist, I can make my hobby my job.

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What was the most inspiring (thing or person) for you in the very beginning? In the beginning, the most inspiring person to me was Jeff Gogue. Not just because his style or his awesome tattoos, but especially because of his attitude for tattooing. Are there any other famous artists that have influenced you in your career? I’ll have to say Jeff Gogue again. I love his attitude for tattooing. He is mainly concerned about the customer and the tattoo. I don’t like how tattoo industry is changing, it’s all about likes and comments on Facebook or Instagram. Most tattoo artists are hyped by so many people but can’t handle the smallest criticism. It makes me happy when I see guys like Jeff, who care about their clients and their tattoos and of course, the healed result of his work. I want to be like him and practice my work day after day and make me and my customers happy. Also, my co-worker Stefan was huge influence for me. I really love his work and like it when we push ourselves day after day to make better and better tattoos. It’s a honor to work next to him.

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What would your job be if you weren’t a tattoo artist? That’s a good question, maybe the same job at the airport. Your style is incredible. What’s your tattoo style of choice? Do you remember where and when your love and fascination with that style first began? My style is realistic. I loved this style before I ever started tattooing. I did some airbrushing before, always in a realistic style, so I think that shaped my style.

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You always create custom tattoos. Do you have full creative freedom? Mostly, yes. Most people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really sure what they want. They just have an idea and I, as a good tattoo artist, have the talent to convince the client to proceed with my custom created work. Can you tell us about a memorable moment you had while tattooing someone? There was a day when I tattooed someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lower back and after 5 hours of work and much suffering, he suddenly farted in my face. (Laughs.) The most embarrassing part of this situation was that the guy completely ignored it!

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What would your “dream piece” be to create on someone if they completely let you choose the design? I really want to do some super crazy stuff like a totally stupid looking gamer nerd in some ugly panties and the tattoo should have some really poetic line included like, “You have only 1 life, so use it!” What is your favorite and the most challenging part of your job? My favorite is getting to meet so many different personalities every day and make them happy with a cool tattoo. My greatest challenge is constantly trying to get better with each tattoo.

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It seems to me a lot of younger tattoo artists have college degrees in Fine Arts. The things they can do now with tattooing is crazy. Do you think it is necessary for a tattooer to have a background in Fine Arts or any formal training? Yes, of course. With a good background in Fine Arts, you get a much better knowledge of color theory and composition. Also, the knowledge of a graphic designer is a very good skill for a tattoo artist because most tattoos in my style begin with Photoshop. What style of tattooing is the most popular in Germany nowadays? I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like in most countries, realistic with all other styles. www.blackrainbowtattootheatre.com www.facebook.com/ Mitchtattoos-614516578624830 www.facebook.com/Blackrainbowtattootheatre www.instagram.com/blackrainbowtattootheatre Instagram: @mitch.tattoo Instagram: @blackrainbowtattootheatre

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DARK TRIUMPH Words: Simone Jane

Photography: Paul Fazio & Daveed Benito

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“I MADE WATCHES AND WOULD WEAR THEM. I GOT BETTER EACH YEAR AND IT WAS NOTICED.”

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them. I got better each year and it was noticed.” The company was started on a dare, during a game in 2012 at the Lucky 7 Suite, Casino Tower Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. “I had no idea if someone would put down their hard earned money on a watch for this one of a kind, unique creation,” Paul enumerated, “but it was a risk I thought was worth taking.” Creating a moniker was the first step. Dark Triumph conjures up many different images. “I went through a lot of names,” Paul confesses, “because I tend to overthink things.” He liked the idea of juxtaposing two ideas together. One, Darkness and the Twilight Zone,

It is important to create desirability in a luxury item. No one knows this better than Paul Fazio, owner and creator of the high end watch line, Dark Triumph. Paul likes to gamble; he was introduced to the game of Blackjack by his uncle, a professional player at the age of 11. “I started to play cards with my friends in Las Vegas as soon as I became of age a couple of times a year,” Paul recalled. “I made watches and would wear

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monsters, horror, and two, overcoming obstacles, and Paul has always enjoyed being the underdog. “If you put the two together it seems to capture the energy and the concept of what I am trying to create.” Paul explains, “A kind of edgier darkness that brought together these elements of design and a triumph of energy too.” When it comes to Dark Triumph as a company, Paul is it, he is the only one. “I’m the guy; I am leveraging some other resources, and what I mean by that is I do almost everything. If it gets out of my

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wheelhouse, I work with the watch technician.” Paul explains, “I have an outstanding, long-term relationship with him.” Working outside of Paul’s circle of one, or two if you count his technician, has recently changed. Australian contemporary visual artist Timothy John is a relatively new relationship for Paul. “I had seen his work years ago, reached out to him to see if he’d work with me, and he actually said no,” Paul recounted. “I was so bummed about it but those things happen. However, less than a year ago he commented

on my work saying how much he liked it and that reopened the conversation.” Timothy hand paints one-of-a-kind “Memento Mori Skull Dials” for Dark Triumph. “Many artists have tragic surroundings but this man is supremely talented,” Paul observes. “He is spectacular. On this microscopic canvas, you can see the brushstrokes like in an oil painting. You can see those different nuances of color that come through and it is spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Not only would this be amazing for any artist, but Timothy John has developed Parkinson’s disease. He paints these minuscule brushstrokes while battling tremors and he can have challenging days. This is inspiring to any artist. Inspiration, simply put for Paul is art, music, and fashion. It started as a kid. “I was one of seven children. I slept in the basement with my oldest brother when he was going through a divorce” Paul InkSpiredMagazine.com

recalls. “While he was getting ready for work, he would blare Peter Frampton’s ‘Comes Alive’ at 5:30 in the morning and I hated him for it. Peter Frampton is, ‘I want you show the way yeah’ Wawa Wawa Wawa, ‘I wonder how you’re feeling,’ and I was like, I feel like sleeping but I love it.” Paul used to invest every cent he earned into stereo equipment. “Music was escapism for me, boy,

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those were my heroes,” Paul recalled. He used to memorize the liner notes, lyric sheets, and the art of every single album he bought. Art has always been a huge inspiration, whether it has been Alice Cooper draped with a huge snake, or his signature gothic heavy eye makeup which keyed into Paul’s love of horror

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movies like Frankenstein and Dracula, mixed in with Alice’s shock rock. “It was intoxicating for me,” Paul admits, “One of my first Christmas requests was an easel and a Learn to Draw art kit, by television artist, Jon Gnagy, as well as a TI calculator with a LED read out. He was always into art and

science, a balance between the two. Paul ended up winning a scholarship in grade school to his local art museum, going on Saturdays into elementary school becoming a graphic artist. “In junior high and high school, architecture became a big inspiration for me,” Paul says, “because of my graphic artistry

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knowledge and my then brother-in-law at the time who was an architect, gave me a bit of advice, ‘You’re not going to be designing the Guggenheim Museum, you’re going to be designing somebody’s bathroom.’” Art morphed into architecture into engineering as a college degree. “Things went down into the science route but it really wasn’t a while ‘til I started the company,” Paul explains. Paul’s father was a veteran of World War II but for his life altering service they only gave them a whopping stipend of $900. He chose to go to the Kansas City School of Watchmaking. In 1945, a watchmaking degree did not support a wife with a baby on the way as Paul’s dad soon found out, so a career in meat cutting it was. “He was frugal but his creativity was endless,” Paul describes. “A man driven by need with a meat cutter salary fed all his children. He could fix anything, cars, and electronics, anything mechanical. He could repair a watch, which was a big attraction for me because he was a master tinker.” It married science and art. “All these micro parts working together at that time,” Paul explained, “they weren’t really works of art but they were artistic by being a little clock on your wrist and I just thought I could do something better with it. What I do is a bit of a nod and a wink to my father. If only he could see the works of art I make now.” Raised as a Catholic, Paul always hated the weekly ritual of going to church. His mother allowed him to draw on scraps of paper to pass the time. Who knew that a born again Christian sales woman named Joy from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas would be the link to Alice Cooper for Paul? Alice doesn’t have a phone so all of his business goes through his wife, Sheryl. “I mostly just text a little bit about Bible scripture,” said Joy. “Alice called me a few days later while I was still at my suite in Vegas. I thought my friends were prank calling me at first,” Paul laughs. “I didn’t believe it was him. I told him one of my designs was stolen, um, inspired by his eye make-up, what is that Picasso quote? ‘Good artists borrow, great artists steal.’” Alice is proudly wearing a Dark Triumph Watch. “It is just fantastic. It is a

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huge deal for me. His promise was to wear the watch for a while and then maybe give it to Johnny Depp!” Other artists wearing watches and jewelry designed by Dark Triumph are Billy Idol, John Cusimano (a surprise gift from wife, Rachel Ray), and Ossy Hoppe, owner and founder of Wizard Promotions. And Paul also works with award winning men’s designer, John Varvatos, his first client and there even is a photo of Peter Frampton on the wall. “Whenever I walk into his studio I always take a picture and send it to my brother,” Paul laughs. “It comes around full circle.” www.darktriumph.com www.facebook.com/DarkTriumphDesigns Instagram: @darktriumph

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STEFAN KÄRGER Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi

Photography: Dimi Stichow, Klattografie & Lichtbild Lars Stefan Kärger is a male model and influencer from Bremen, Germany. Though he only began growing a fan base on Instagram a year ago, he already has almost 45 thousand followers. “I never wanted to be a model. I was heavily bullied in my childhood because of my bad acne. Modeling came very suddenly and unexpectedly,” Stefan recalls.

“I WAS HEAVILY BULLIED IN MY CHILDHOOD BECAUSE OF MY BAD ACNE. MODELING CAME VERY SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY” 46

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"Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M JUST ME AND I ALWAYS TRY TO BE HUMANE AND FAIR. I WANT TO DO GOOD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT."

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How did you get into modeling? It just happened. I posted selfies on Instagram, texted them to different photographers, and all of a sudden, the first job came. What influenced your style? Is it music, film, or simply just everyday life? I’m just me and I always try to be humane and fair. I want to do good for human rights and a clean environment. Are there any male models that inspire you? Sure! Stephen James and David Beckham are big influences.

"I’M ALWAYS WORKING WITH SOME GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS AND IN SOME CASES, THEY HAVE EVEN BECOME VERY GOOD FRIENDS."

Having worked with a number of photographers so far, do you have any favorites? I’m always working with some great photographers and in some cases, they have even become very good friends. What is an average day like for you? At the moment, I am still working normally and building special machines to make rotor blades. That’s why I travel around the world. By the way, I try to model as much as possible. Maybe I can live on it someday but that would be a dream. If it does not come, that’s okay too. What inspires the tattoos you choose to get? Some have meaning, some just look great, and some were spontaneous. Is there anything you do to stay in shape / look after yourself? My work is very physical. The rest is genes. But I have to do something sporty again. Unfortunately, between my daily job and the modeling, I don’t have too much time for it. Favorite brands and designers at the moment? Definitely a brand called: Distortedpeople. Five things you can not live without? My dog, my girlfriend, my family, my Playstation, and traveling. What are some of your other loves and hobbies? I play Playstation, skate, basketball and go out to eat. Something people do not know about you? That I am a normal person. Is there anything else you wish to say? I am currently under no contract with an agency. www.Facebook.com/KaergerStefan Instagram: @inkdependence_

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“TATTOO ART IS A HUGE INSPIRATION AND I LOVE SEEING WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING…”

THE ART OF ERICA WILLIAMS Interview: Ákos Bánfalvi

Photography: Jacky Bc, Dimi Stichow, Klattografie, Lichtbild Lars, Soul Chasing Photography & Sandra Hz Erica Williams is an illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She specializes in nature and animal illustrations. Erica is known for her highly detailed and often macabre work that weaves together lore and mythology from various cultures and histories. Much of her work includes death and occult symbolism and themes. While she started as a poster artist, Erica has also created work for various brewing companies and distilleries, book covers, album art, and murals. She’s also cat mom to five adorable fur babies. 52

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"THAT’S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME STORY AS I HAVE TODAY, KEEP MY HEAD DOWN AND WORK MY ASS OFF."

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How did you become a painter and illustrator? A few years after I moved to Minneapolis, I met a guy who is now my husband. He is a poster collector and musician. He would always buy the posters to any show he went to. There was this one Envy poster he had hanging up and something about it was so amazing. It’s actually still one of my favorite images. Seeing it was so inspiring and I realized that I wanted to make things that were that lovely. So I just sort of started trying to figure out if I could really draw well enough and looked around for people who would let me make art for them. I guess it worked out. Tell us about your visual artist career. How did you advance to where you are today? I hadn’t ever intended to be an illustrator. I grew up in a family that would sew and crochet and work with crafts a lot, but no one really drew. I had a really deep appreciation for textiles and design though. When I was about 14, I met a

girl who was amazing at drawing Sailor Moon and I wanted to be as good at it as her, so I started drawing, but only as a hobby. When it was time to go to college, I was debating between art school for fiber arts or a liberal arts college for Philosophy. I decided to go to a private art school that was known for its fiber department. But after a year, the company supplying my student loan shut down and I couldn’t afford the tuition anymore. I moved to Minneapolis at that time thinking that eventually I would be able to afford to go back to school, but it never really happened. Fast forward a few years to meeting my husband and seeing the Envy poster. Fast forward again through a few years of trying to make posters, realizing it wasn’t a good way to make money and I couldn’t afford to live off it, and just keeping my head down and trying everything I could to improve and find more work. That’s essentially the same story as I have today, keep my head down and work my ass off. I would be remiss to say that a lot of amazing friends and peers haven’t helped me

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along the way though. We all teach and help each other.

"A REALLY IMPORTANT INSPIRATION FOR ME HAS BEEN ACTIVISM AND THE NEED TO DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP. "

What were the biggest inspirations for your career? The Envy poster. My history of growing up in Colorado surrounded by amazing parks and wildlife. My mom who is an unparalleled animal lover and hard worker (I was lucky enough to inherit those traits). Lore for various countries (especially Japan). My friends who I saw kicking ass and taking names and wanting to be as awesome as they are. A really important inspiration for me has been activism and the need to do what I can to help. My career has been heavily affected by sexism and misogyny in more ways than I can detail, so being a feminist voice has been very important to me. Likewise, wildlife conservation has also been important and wanting to preserve and bring awareness is a huge inspiration and motivation. What would you say is your strongest skill and how have you refined it over

the years? I am always told I am a good draftsman, but I don’t really feel like it is true. I look at people like Mucha or Franklin Booth and know that I am not even an ounce of their skill level and draftsmanship. I could also say my patience, in that I put so much into an illustration and it takes a lot of time and perseverance, but I actually don’t think I’m patient at all and I somehow am very misleading when people think I am from my work. I think maybe I would have to say that I’m hard working, which isn’t so much a skill as a character trait. But it’s pretty much all hard work, there isn’t a single aspect of what I do that isn’t affected by it. So yeah, I guess I would say hard work even if I don’t think it’s a skill. What has been your personal key to success? Ha! Hard work and being honest. If you don’t put in the work day after day, and you aren’t honest about not knowing something or needing help, or really just with yourself and about what you need, then you probably aren’t going InkSpiredMagazine.com

to be successful. You can’t become complacent, you always have to keep going and try harder and put the work in. I’d also like to think a little bit of sass helps. But then again I’m a weirdo and I know I have an overabundance of sass so maybe I’m projecting a little. What do you enjoy most about your career? I enjoy my friends and peers. They are amazing people. I’m so lucky to get to meet them, hang out with them, talk to them, and be inspired by them. What are some of your favorite projects that you’ve completed and why? I did a cover for a book called Witchborn that was just really up my alley as far as the theme. I mean I love drawing birds and the book dealt with witchcraft and 18th century (I think) European monarchs being into witchcraft. Another one is actually sort of a series of projects. A business owner from California has several restaurants and each one is themed after a different Aesop fable. I get to do the branding and draw murals for them. It’s just work that plays into my interests and has allowed me to interoperate things the way I like. Plus, there is a lot of drawing birds which I always enjoy. What’s the most challenging part of your job? Not letting it get to you/burnout. I work 7 days a week usually. There isn’t really time off. You always have to hustle. So I get burnt out. And my work is really personal to me. It has a lot of my ideas and feelings in it, so when it’s not received super well or doesn’t perform as I hoped it is a bummer. If you’re not feeling it, tough shit. You still have to show up, work it out, and put your best effort in.

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Do you feel that iy is important for someone to be passionate about their profession to be successful? Yes, absolutely. If you aren’t passionate, you won’t do well. No negotiating or gray area. Passion is a must. Do you like tattoos? Which tattoo style do you like best? Yes! I have a lot. I actually got my first tattoo pretty much the second I turned 18, much to the dismay of my mother. I’m not really sure I have a favorite style though. I love so many different ways of executing an image. And some artists are able to merge two styles or genres together so well! Don’t make me choose, I’ll cry.

"YOU CAN’T BECOME COMPLACENT, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP GOING AND TRY HARDER AND PUT THE WORK IN."

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Maybe do you see any similarity between tattoos and your paintings and illustrations? Yeah, ha. I get asked all the time about designing tattoos. I thought about becoming a tattoo artist for a while but after working in a shop for a few months, I decided it wasn’t for me. But tattoo art is a huge inspiration and I love seeing what people are doing. Some really amazing artists in South Korea and Australia I’ve been watching for a few years just constantly blow my mind. What kind of tattoos do you have? I have 5 tattoos. I have a geometric lace type tattoo by Tyler Hawkinson on my left arm that has one of my kitties in the center. On my back below my neck, I have a little skull sitting on a heart. On my chest, I have a big piece featuring lilies, an anatomical heart, and a swallow. On my right arm, I have an octopus by David Detloff and on my wrist, a little planchette. They styles all kinda vary but each one has a meaning or event that they are tied to so it’s kind of a cryptic history I wear on my skin.

What are some common myths about your profession? That it is easy and that it is fun. It can be both of those, but it generally isn’t. What are some of your personal and professional goals for the future? I have so many… Oh man. Mainly, I just want to get to make the things I enjoy and am passionate about and for people to resonate with and enjoy them. It’s great to make a thing you love and enjoy, but when others also resonate with that, it’s great. So to get to do that more and more would be the best, I think. Finally, what’s the best piece of advice you have heard and repeat to others? Don’t be a dick. And don’t put up with dicks. Words to live by.

"MAINLY, I JUST WANT TO GET TO MAKE THE THINGS I ENJOY AND AM PASSIONATE ABOUT AND FOR PEOPLE TO RESONATE WITH AND ENJOY THEM."

www.ericawilliamsillustration.com Instagram: @hookieduke

As a visual artist, what defines a good tattoo in your eyes? What design and aesthetic qualities are you looking for? Line quality for sure. Consistency in color, you can’t have patchy color and you don’t want it bleeding. But also just the personality of the artist. If you’re into tattoos, you don’t generally approach it as “oh well I’ll get this flower done by whomever.” You go to the artist you like the most, or who does that kind of tattoo the best. I could go to pretty much any shop anywhere and say “I want a rabbit mask tattoo” but it wouldn’t be the same as that request to Cochlea1313 or Brando Cheisa. It’s the soul of the artist that really makes a tattoo spectacular.

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GLOBAL: SUMMER 2019â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIGGEST DANCE PARTY + DECADENCE 2018/2019 Words: Candies Deezy Liu & Alexis Dezaro Photography: Sean Hartgrove

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Summer is quickly approaching and you know what that meansâ&#x20AC;Ś Global Dance Festival, the biggest dance party in the Mile High region of the season. In its second year in its new home at Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Authority Field, Global Dance Festival 2018 proved once again the party follows it wherever it goes. Since its inception, the ultimate summer dance party has resided in the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre with the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best DJs and producers dominating the epic stage as partygoers raved into the nights. 2017 was the first year Global relocated to its new home. Though they had their fair share of skeptics, Global set the precedent that each year would be better than the last. This year, the 17th annual GDF will return with a vengeance for two nights of dance music with a new genre addition to its roster: hip hop superstars.

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"GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL, THE BIGGEST DANCE PARTY IN THE MILE HIGH REGION."

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As promised, GDF is bigger and better than the year before. Tens of thousands of fans enjoyed the larger festival grounds with more stages, carnival rides, fire lit installations and deco, food trucks, and beer and liquor vendors. As the largest annual summer music festival in the Rocky Mountains in the U.S., the event was quite the spectacle. Global has always been known for their fire lineup with new talent and legendary acts alike and their state-of-the-art production. Last year was no exception. Crowds flooded into the tents where various stages resided in addition to two huge main open-faced stages. Wherever festival goers went, there was a party, great music, and tons of melting faces. Lasers everywhere lit up the warm summer sky. Team EZ, a GDF classic of go-go performers in themed performance costumes was in full force, amping up party goers. As always, GDF brought the flames.

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This year’s Global Dance Festival Lineup includes: Al Ross B2B Bandlez Andy Immerman Black Tiger Sex Machine Bonnie X Clyde Blanke Black Caviar Bronze Whale Case Closed Chase and Status Chris Lake Cloud None Dabin Destructo Diplo Dirtyphonics Excision B2B Illenium DJ Jazzy Jeff Dr. Fresch Ecotek Eli & Fur Elohim Galantis Golf Clap Grant Green Velvet Herobust Jason Ross Jessica Audrifred Joyryde K?D Kaskade Krewella Kuuro Kyle Watson Zhu Space Jesus Tanastadi And many more…

"GLOBAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR THEIR FIRE LINEUP WITH NEW TALENT AND LEGENDARY ACTS ALIKE AND THEIR STATE-OF-THE-ART PRODUCTION."

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Decadence (created by the same talented founders as Global) the immersive New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve EDM festival is one of the most attended end of the year parties in America. Hosted by Ha Hau, pronounced ha-how, of the Triad Dragons, the event is held in the heart of Denver at the Convention Center. Party goers were in a dance frenzy for the two last nights of 2018. DJs from around the globe came together to bring the best sounds to you on the final days of the year. The party instantly begins once you walk through the front doors and greeted by the energy emanating from the crowd. Once you get inside, you have a multitude of options at your disposal in terms of music selections. Picture this, three beautiful stages appropriately named the Radius, Silent Disco, and Vortex. All three designed by Algorythym Designs. A beautiful contrast of sound and the absence of it.

"DECADENCE, THE IMMERSIVE NEW YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EVE EDM FESTIVAL, IS ONE OF THE MOST ATTENDED END OF THE YEAR PARTIES IN AMERICA."

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The centerpiece, known as VORTEX, a three story tall inflatable decorative piece was considered a “main” stage. The venue lit up from the stage to the faces in the crowd and had lighting structures specially designed by ESP (Electronic Sales and Production). The Kinetic Motors used were impeccable with a multitude of colored lights that danced in a circle, raised up and down, and back and forth. A UFO-esque feel from the sky any time you look up. As you approach the silent disco stage, you feel as if you’re in another world enhanced by the giant mushrooms all the way to the chill dome; it’s an entirely surreal vibe. The silent disco was unique and almost comical as you watch hundreds of people dancing to different beats. The first night emerged us in sounds from amazing artists with heavy bass. Bassnectar radiated deep dubstep for his set with some drum and bass. Nonstop dancing and headbanging surrounded his stage. He started his set with his remix of Beats Antique Roustabouts. This was a great choice to put a smile on anyone’s face. When you thought you couldn’t head bang any more, Skrillex accepted this challenge and got the crowd dancing again. The night ended after Skrillex nailed his set on the Radius stage. This night was incredible and the energy left us wanting more.

"THE SILENT DISCO WAS UNIQUE AND ALMOST COMICAL AS YOU WATCH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DANCING TO DIFFERENT BEATS. "

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"THE PRODUCTION TEAM REALLY OUTDID THEMSELVES STEPPING UP TENFOLD THIS YEAR INCLUDING TWO FULL COLOR LASERS ON TOP OF A PACKED FULL SILENT DISCO CROWD."

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Claude VonStroke, owner of Dirtybird Records, killed it once again with his house set on the Vortex Stage. The crowd went crazy as he played his original mix, “The Rain Break”. CamelPhat, a British DJ and production duo that also plays house music, had one of the best multimedia assets. Above and Beyond joined these amazing performers executing one of their best sets to date with enough lazers to make anyone’s jaw drop in awe. Denver’s local DJs Ston3 and Lexi Fey had the silent disco stage rocking. With Ston3 playing trance and house and Lexi Fey playing Electro and Breaks no one wanted to leave. When we asked Ston3 how it was playing the silent disco this New Years Eve he stated “F#@$%*! badass, most amazing silent disco to date.” The production team really outdid themselves stepping up tenfold this year including two full color lasers on top of a packed full silent disco crowd. Every time you entered there were at least 200 people jamming to their own flavor. This element was an absolute blast, Silent Disco 2018 was the place to be away from the main stages. The New Year was brought in by Griz (Grant Kwiecinski) and a thousand balloons. From the sounds of his saxophone to the electro-soul, there was no time for your feet to stop moving. Decadence is the place to be to ring in your New Year the right way. From the incredible line up to the beautiful esthetics there is something for everyone. The positive energy and the kindness from everyone you encounter is a magical feeling. There is no other place I would rather be to set the tone for the new year. We can’t wait to see what the next Decadence has in store for 2020. Between Global and Decadence, the two festivals keep us always excited for more. For that reason, summer and winter are the best seasons in Colorado.

"DECADENCE IS THE PLACE TO BE TO RING IN YOUR NEW YEAR THE RIGHT WAY. FROM THE INCREDIBLE LINE UP TO THE BEAUTIFUL ESTHETICS THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE."

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INKSPIRED TRAVELS TAIWAN

Words & Photography: Candies Deezy Liu

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"THOUGH MY PREVIOUS MEMORIES OF THE “MOTHERLAND” WERE NOT FOND, I AM SO GLAD I GAVE IT ANOTHER CHANCE."

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Ever since I could remember, I would always hear adults I grew up around making comments about “going back home to Taiwan” as often as they could. Though I was born and raised in America (Texas to be exact), I grew up immersed in a very traditional Asian culture. “Going home” meant the motherland. I never quite understood the appeal. When I was eight years old, my mom took me “home” and I was appalled. I just remembered it being hot, humid, crowded, dirty, and a complete culture shock. I never had plans to return despite continuing to hear about my friends’ and family’s adoration and excitement for their pilgrimage back to Taiwan. My grandfather, who was a Four-Star General returns to Taiwan regularly to reap the rewards of his military compensa-

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tion. With grandfather 97 years old and my grandmother 91, they needed both my mom and I to travel with them. It was a trip of a lifetime as I got to spend quality time with my family overseas. Though my previous memories of the “motherland” were not fond, I am so glad I gave it another chance. Taiwan is known for its food. Our days were filled with incredible food and awesome whiskey. My family trips always revolve around food-what we’re eating, when we’re eating it, and where we’re eating it. Taiwan was no different. Fresh, inexpensive seafood, delicacies unknown to other parts of the world, delectable desserts, bottles of grain alcohol that’s basically Taiwanese Everclear, whiskey, and red wine crowded our tables. It is custom to always cheers someone when

"TAIWAN IS KNOWN FOR ITS FOOD. OUR DAYS WERE FILLED WITH INCREDIBLE FOOD AND AWESOME WHISKEY."

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you take a drink out of your beverage so as to not drink alone. This makes for some very speedy booze consumption, especially when there’s a ton of people around the dinner table. Every few minutes, there was a ruckus of, “AYYYEEE! CHEERS! Drink, drink... Bottoms up!” accompanied by a slew of glasses clinking with each chug bigger than the previous one. We stayed at my mom’s posh condo in a high end district named Tamsui about an hour outside of the capital, Taipei city. Because Taipei is where all the fun is, we made

"IT IS CUSTOM TO ALWAYS CHEERS SOMEONE WHEN YOU TAKE A DRINK OUT OF YOUR BEVERAGE SO AS TO NOT DRINK ALONE."

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the trek damn near every day. Getting there and back requires riding the lightrail to the MRT which is an underground bus station, and another bus. Throw in all the booze we had every night and getting home was definitely an adventure. Riding public transportation in Taiwan requires speed, agility, and a sense of direction. Luckily, we had an amazing “tour guide” (really just my mom’s good friend) who basically knows every corner of Taipei. Every day, he would meet us somewhere with a different bottle of whiskey because he knows how much I like that stuff.

My visit was right around Chinese New Year, the most important holiday for the Chinese and Taiwanese. Unlike America’s New Year, the Chinese version falls on early to mid February as it follows a lunar calendar. The moon determines when our new year begins. Red and gold decor was everywhere and everyone was in a festive mood for the holiday. I began to realize how lucky I am that I get to celebrate two holidays for each new year for different cultures.

"MY VISIT WAS RIGHT AROUND CHINESE NEW YEAR, THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY FOR THE CHINESE AND TAIWANESE."

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DJI MAVIC 2 PRO REVIEW Words & Photography: Jeremiah Simmons

"I RESEARCHED DRONE COMPANIES AND IT DIDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE THAT DJI WAS LEADING THE PROSUMER DRONE INDUSTRY BY A WIDE MARGIN."

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A couple of years ago, I made a career decision as a photographer to incorporate aerial drone photography into my work. I researched drone companies and it didn’t take me long to realize that DJI was leading the prosumer drone industry by a wide margin. At the time, my two best options for what I was doing was the Phantom 4 Pro (P4P) or the Mavic Pro. I work a lot of events which requires a lot of running around so the size and portability of the Mavic won. The Mavic was great to learn on but I found that the quality of photos and video weren’t up to par for professional work. I still had fun getting to know the ropes of flying drones but I used it very little for gigs. Fast forward a couple years later and DJI comes out with the Mavic 2 line. They released 2 models in this series—the Pro and the Zoom. The slightly pricier Mavic 2 Pro (M2P) had everything that I was looking for that the original Mavic Pro was lacking, so it was a no brainer for me. Upgrading to the M2P didn’t feel too much different than flying my original Mavic. They are about the same size, the M2P is slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor. Despite the size difference, I hardly notice a difference in portability. DJI made some design changes that I feel were for the better. They made the battery bigger which gives the M2P a longer flight time. They redesigned the propellers to be smaller, quieter, and more efficient. One of the small things they did that I really enjoy is that they made the controller flight sticks removable and they store in the controller. Anyone that has flown the Mavic 2 is familiar with the pain of storing the controller without something to protect the joysticks.

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DJI really stepped up their game with the Mavic 2 Pro. They replaced their old image sensor with a larger 1” Hasselblad sensor with an adjustable aperture. Finally, I felt that I had a drone that was portable enough to carry around with image quality that I could use for paid work. Not to mention 4K HDR video. The only downside to this is it is at 30 FPS which I feel the MP is fully capable of 60 FPS, but other than that, I have not been let down by this guy. One of the best features that was upgraded was that they added 360° obstacle avoidance. This thing can go 98

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almost anywhere. I’ve flown this one through some sticky situations and it has come out like a champ. While it isn’t perfect, my drone hasn’t crashed yet, which I feel is paramount. The intelligent flight on the M2P has been improved as well and can even predict the path of a moving object when the camera loses sight of it behind an obstacle. Sometimes you have to turn off the intelligent flight modes and take manual control to make sure you can get out of a tough situation safely and without losing your bird. Honestly, the only time I’ve been freaked out was when a rogue strand of Mardi Gras Beads were sent flying by some random passerby at

my drone. Thank goodness for gamer reflexes! In conclusion, I would have to say the Mavic 2 Pro is worth the money if you are focused on image quality and portability. If you want to keep the portability of the Mavic and you aren’t as worried about the image quality, I would point you in the direction of the Mavic 2 Zoom, which for $250 less has all the same functions but with a different camera. If you are a hobbyist and looking for something to learn and have fun, the Mavic Air would do good by you for half the Price of the M2P.

"IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE MAVIC 2 PRO IS WORTH THE MONEY IF YOU ARE FOCUSED ON IMAGE QUALITY AND PORTABILITY."

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The rental companies, such as Lyft, Spin or Bird, do not insure you. In fact, when you download their apps and accept all their terms and conditions, you pretty much waive every right for compensation from them should you get into an accident. This means that you are responsible for making sure that you operate the ebike or electric scooter properly and lawfully and that you also carry the right insurance to cover your medical bills if you get hurt. Hey, accidents happen! And if you crash or get hit, you need to make sure that the bills won’t overwhelm your finances.

DOCKLESS BIKES AND SCOOTERS: THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS LEAVE YOU VULNERABLE By Scott O’Sullivan The O’Sullivan Law Firm

I was recently interviewed by Denver’s CBS4 News about dockless bikes and scooters and (in my opinion) I shared a lot of helpful information about safety and insurance. But, as these things typically go, the reporters interviewed me for quite a bit, but only one brief quote made it into the news segment: “You hope that if, God forbid something terrible does happen, you do have some insurance, but you should assume that you probably don’t.” In this article, I will expand on that admittedly vague comment with a few more helpful details.

Am I Insured When Riding a Rented Scooter or eBike? I’ve received calls and texts from people who are curious to know if they are insured when riding a rented e-bicycle or dockless scooter. The answer is: Only if you are carrying the proper insurance. 100

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While you may think that accidents on electric scooters are rare or insignificant, think again. Earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that scooter accidents are on the rise, leading to more ER visits and lifethreatening injuries: “They have been pouring into emergency rooms around the nation all summer, their bodies bearing a blend of injuries that doctors normally associate with victims of car wrecks — broken noses, wrists and shoulders, facial lacerations and fractures, as well as the kind of blunt head trauma that can leave brains permanently damaged. When doctors began asking patients

to explain their injuries, many were surprised to learn that the surge of broken body parts stemmed from the latest urban transportation trend: shared electric scooters.” And the Dallas News reported on the first death of a person riding a rented scooter in September. I cannot urge you enough to be cautious when riding these vehicles (they are not toys) and to protect yourself from financial ruin if you get into an accident by making sure that you have the proper insurance coverage.

What Kind of Insurance Should I Have for Electric Scooter Sharing? I am all for our congested cities testing out new forms of transportation and making it easier for people to get from Point A to Point B without driving a car. However, it is the wild west out there right now, with bikes and scooters and cars and pedestrians and light rail trains and buses all competing for space in a city that was originally designed for one main form of transportation: the car. We are just starting to get serious about bike paths and bicycles have been around for a couple of centuries! I suggest that if you are going to be riding electric scooters and dockless

Be a Safety Nut Finally, if you’re going to rent an electric scooter or ride a dockless bike, I urge you to protect yourself by following these safety tips: Wear a helmet Do not – ever – text and ride (or shoot a video and ride, or FaceTime and ride, or even make a phone call and ride). Both hands on the handlebars. Ride in the right-hand lanes and in bike paths where available. bikes on a regular basis, you call your insurance agent and find out if you’re covered for accidents. As stated above, you should assume that you are not covered by the rental company.

Personal liability umbrella insurance

If you have healthcare insurance, that will certainly help with medical bills but what if your injuries are so severe that even your deductibles and copays are too much for you to afford? And what if you cause an accident?

Underinsured motorist coverage

I recommend that you call your auto insurance agent and ask about the following coverages. You may already have these for your automobile or your home, so you’ll be able to check this off your to-do list knowing you’re covered! If you don’t have these types of insurance, I strongly recommend you ask your agent for information on electric scooter insurance and ebike insurance.

This kind of policy can cover your injuries, property damage and even some lawsuits.

Did you know that two-thirds of Colorado drivers do not carry enough insurance? If you get hit by one of these drivers, you will not receive enough money from them to cover your injuries and losses. You need to protect yourself with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Please stay safe! If you have any questions about this article, please contact me at 303-3885304. www.OSullivan-Law-Firm.com www.Facebook.com/ OSullivanLawFirm

Scooter insurance Yes, some companies offer policies precisely for these “newfangled contraptions.” These policies generally include collision (damages resulting from a collision), liability (damages that you cause to others while operating a scooter), and medical (helps cover your medical costs in an accident).

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