interviews
photography
nutrition art inspiration essays
welcome to the farm the staves dear summer the view from here summer salad alaskan made volume three / summer / 2012
Š 2012 Off Switch Magazine All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the editor. Inquiries can be sent to the editor at: info@offswitchmagazine.com www.offswitchmagazine.com Printed in the USA by MagCloud.com Publication Design: Katie Michels Cover photos: Katie Michels
volume three
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off switch magazine
table of contents
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contributors
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welcome
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5
through my lens
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Summer reads
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the staves
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stomping grounds / “SG�
SG: San Luis Obispo
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SG: Grand Rapids
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SG: Seattle
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the view from here
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alaskan made
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thrifting with starr
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dear summer
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the creative life
The Journey Home
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Welcome to the Farm
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Cheers to Juicing
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Summer Salad
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table of contents
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katie michels executive editor, designer, writer, photographer offswitchblog.com
anna klenke copyeditor, writer elbowpatches-annaklenke.blogspot.com
brittany austin writer brittanyaustin08.blogspot.com
Rachel Blakley Ball photographer, writer elephantineblog.com
Bryan and mae photographers, writer bryanandmae.net
Starr Crow photographer athoughtistheblossom.blogspot.com
meg fee writer or-so-i-feel.blogspot.com
Megan Gilger writer thefreshexchangeblog.com
Mike Gilger photographer weber-photography.com
Elizabeth Johnson writer delightfully-tacky.com
Julia Manchik illustrator mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com
Kelly Ann Mount writer flowerchilddwelling.com
Whitney Reeder photographer reedreeder.com/whitney
Kristin Rogers photographer kristinrogersphotography.com
Joanna Waterfall illustrator joannanoel.net
Jennifer Young photographer, writer iartu.blogspot.com
Olivia Rae James
Heather Zweig
photographer oliviaraejames.com
photographer wethreezweigs.blogspot.com
interested in submitting to off switch magazine? Visit our website or blog to see the themes for our upcoming issues and view the Off Switch Mag Submission Guidelines document.
websites: offswitchmagazine.com / offswitchblog.com email: info@offswitchmagazine.com
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contributors
Welcome to the third issue of Off Switch Magazine, folks! With this volume we wanted to expose the idea of “living life without an off switch” – turn it on it’s head and show the true versatility of the phrase this magazine is based upon. Here at Off Switch the goal is to inspire people young and old to pursue their passions, no matter how big or small they may seem. This message typically takes the appearance of interviews with business owners and activists, but with our third go-around we are touching on something deeper, something that goes to the origin of our message. And so I present to you Volume Three: a collection of summer fun wrapped up in the theme of home and togetherness. As you will see in the following pages, this theme can be found in the search for a place to call home, a summer of fun with friends, the importance of family to a successful business, a fresh start, or the realization that home was within you all along. Remember your journey to discovering those things is part of the process, and that you are not alone on that path. Enjoy it. For the person taking the journey of planting roots and allowing them to take hold is already living life boldly, without an off switch.
founder & executive editor
Welcome
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photo: jennifer young
through my lens each issue a theme is chosen, photographers are gathered, and images are submitted...all for the love of photography. the following photos will evoke the heart of this summer volume: a sense of connection between people, Whether it be a shared meal, a warm embrace, or simply a laugh. let’s celebrate one another this season.
{theme}
togetherness
Olivia Rae James (top) jennifer young (bottom)
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whitney reeder (top) heather zweig (bottom)
Through My Lens
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Summer Reads text: anna klenke illustrations: julia manchik
Is there anything better than a good summer book? One with a beach scene on the cover, a great adventure waiting to be discovered inside the pages, and (hopefully) a happy ending? Even if you’re a serious reader who gravitates towards prize-winning literary fiction for most of the year, summer is the perfect time to lighten up and read some books just because they’re fun. Here are a few of my favorites.
Girls Like Us (2009) by Sheila Weller This biography of singer-songwriters Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon is a must for anyone interested in learning about the women responsible for some of the best American pop music ever produced. Weller provides an intimate look into the personal lives of these three extraordinary women and explores the concurrent development of their musical identities and the feminist movement gathering steam in the 1960s. The surprisingly small world of pop culture at that time is also revealed, as King, Mitchell, and Simon befriend and form relationships with legends such as James Taylor, Mick Jagger, Sean Connery, and the Beatles. If you aren’t a frequent biography reader, don’t worry about not being able to enjoy Weller’s story. A good word to describe this book is addictive – the writing is so engaging that you won’t be able to put it down. And the best way to enjoy Girls Like Us is to buy a greatest hits album for each of the artists to listen to while you read. Birthright (1997) by Kendel Hippolyte I never considered myself to be much of a poetry fan, until I participated in a month-long literature course held on the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Trinidad, and St. Lucia. Turns out that native Caribbean writers are churning out more English-language literature than most people ever realize – and much of it is fabulous, and justifiably angry. Kendel Hippolyte comes from St. Lucia, the same island that produced Nobel-prize winning poet Derek Walcott, and his unique perspective on Caribbean culture and daily life comes through loud and clear in this small but powerful book.
The poems in Birthright cover all of the subjects that preoccupy many Caribbean writers: the effects of colonialism and marginalization on their native cultures, resentment towards the tourism industry that supports their economies, the staggering natural beauty that the islands boast, the question of love, and the pure joy of living. This collection showcases Hippolyte’s flexibility as a poet. He utilizes classical forms such as sonnets as well as songs, raps, and Rastafarian language and imagery. Caribbean poetry is definitely meant to be read in the summer – preferably on a beach – when our climate somewhat approximates the lush, junglelike atmosphere that makes up the tropical world. The poems in Birthright will easily transport you to St. Lucia, where coconut-laden palm trees provide shade for people walking down the street as brightly colored birds fly by. Hippolyte very kindly signed my copy of his book for me. Above his signature he wrote, “For those who love the word, the poet gives thanks. And so the circle is completed.” The simplicity and beauty of his language marks every page of Birthright, a book that every lover of literature, islands, sunlight, and beauty should read. God-Shaped Hole (2002) by Tiffanie DeBartolo Beatrice “Trixie” Jordan was twelve years old when a fortune teller told her that she would meet her soulmate, only to lose him to tragedy. Unsurprisingly, this prediction stays in the back of her mind, haunting her throughout her teenage years and into adulthood. When Trixie replies to a personal ad that reads, “If your intentions are pure, I’m seeking a friend for the end of the world,” and meets Jordan Grace, it
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seems that she has found the predicted soulmate at last. The only question that remains in her mind is when the tragedy will occur, and what it will be. DeBartolo crafts an irresistible love story in God-Shaped Hole – the kind of love story that every girl wants to be a part of. Trixie and Jordan are incredibly happy together, but the tension in the story builds as the reader realizes that their relationship cannot be neatly wrapped up in a happy ending. While these two characters and their relationship sometimes come across as over-the-top, it’s in a good way, the kind of intense, once-in-a-lifetime relationship that takes your breath away, even if you don’t quite believe in it. I won’t spoil the surprise ending, but say only that the powerful pairing of hearbreak and joy in God-Shaped Hole is a rare gift. This is one of those books that you will revisit again and again, hoping that the story will turn out differently. The Disenchantments (2012) by Nina LaCour I’ll admit it – I first judged this book by its cover… and what a cover! To me, it screams, “This book is so fun and summery and you’ll just love it!” How could I resist? At its core, The Disenchantments is a novel about growing up. The four main characters, Colby, Bev, Alexa, and Meg, take off in a borrowed van right after their high school graduation to go on tour with their band, The Disenchantments. Colby, the lone guy in this group of wild, carefree girls, acts as band manager, tour bus driver, and general problem solver. But Colby has a secret from the other three – he is in love with Bev, and has been for years. The two of them have been best friends forever, and are planning to postpone college for a year and travel around Europe together. Colby can’t wait to spend time alone with Bev and he hopes to help her realize that they are perfect for one another. But what Bev hasn’t told Colby is that she applied – and got accepted – to a prestigious art school. And she’s not going to Europe. When Bev finally admits her true plans for the upcoming year, Colby feels his world come crashing down. He has no alternate plan, no college acceptance to fall back on. And Bev
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refuses to tell him why she lied to him, why she made plans that she had no intention of following through on. As the four friends drive across the western part of the United States, they each realize that they have some serious growing up to do. Now that high school is over and the world is open to them, a lot of things – including their relationships with each other – may get left behind. Colby in particular must come to terms with the huge changes that lie ahead, and learn to look forward into the future rather than back into the past. The Island (2010) by Elin Hilderbrand The house at Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, has been empty and neglected for thirteen years. But when Chess breaks off her engagement and her ex-fiance falls to his death in a rock climbing accident, her mother, Birdie, decides that it would do Chess good to spend some time healing on Tuckernuck. Chess’s younger sister, Tate, and Birdie’s sister, India, also decide to come along to help Chess deal with this enormous loss. The Island tells the story of how these four women gain comfort from each other and from the peaceful beach cabin that has housed their family for generations. The first surprise for Chess is how little Tuckernuck has changed over the years. The second surprise is how angry she is – at herself, at her sister, at anyone who gets in her way. Tate is dealing with her powerful feelings for the young, handsome caretaker who brings their groceries on a boat each week. Birdie walks all over the island looking for a cell phone signal so she can talk to her new boyfriend, who she’s starting to suspect isn’t that interested in her, and India is harboring secret feelings she has for a young female art student that she connected with at her university. As readers, we spend a lot of time on an isolated island with these characters, and it can sometimes be too much. I found myself getting annoyed with each of them at one time or another. But The Island is the perfect summer read, set in a beach community with well-drawn characters and a conflict that needs to be resolved. I loved the languid, summery pace of the novel, the well-written dialogue, and, most of all, the happy ending.
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THE STAVES
a trio of sisters from britain take on the music industry. interview: kelly ann mount photos: rebecca miller
The Staves is an English folk trio comprised of sisters Jessica, Camilla, and Emily Staveley-Taylor. With gentle melodies and meaningful songwriting, the siblings have developed a perfectly harmonized and dreamy sound that will transport you to a different era...a simpler time. After releasing a few EPs over the last two years, The Staves have been embraced by the folk music world, as well as garnered praise from critics and music lovers alike. With touring stints supporting such acts as The Civil Wars, Joshua Radin, and Bon Iver, people all over the world are quickly becoming aware of, and captivated by, these ladies and their graceful singer-songwriter tunes.
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interview
When did you decide to pursue music professionally? Have you three always wanted to sing together? We have always enjoyed singing, together or apart. We have all grown up with the same music playing at home and are just very comfortable and natural with each other. We hadn’t really thought that we could make it as a band so singing together was just a hobby for years. A point came when we were getting more and more offers for gigs and playing was taking up most of our time, so we decided to just carry on with that and leave our jobs and take a chance. We haven’t regretted it so far. How would you describe your sound to new listeners? We sing harmonies together so it’s pretty melodic stuff. Asking an artist to describe their music is like asking a mother to describe her children – you’ll never get an honest answer! What inspires your music? Are there certain artists that have influenced/inspired you? Inspiration comes from many different places. We grew up listening to a lot of The Beatles and
their song writing style and harmonies are still an inspiration to us now. On the folkier side of things, Simon & Garfunkel have been an influence – the guitar playing intertwined with the harmonies is so beautiful. If you could collaborate with any artist in music history, who would it be and why? That’s a tough one. We would all differ on that one, I think, but I know we’d all agree on Jack White. He’s one of the greats of our generation. Emily would love to sing along with Dave Rawlings. I would love to add a third harmony line to Simon & Garfunkel purely for my own indulgence, but it would probably ruin their stuff! It would be great to work with someone very different from us with a really ambitious sound so you could come up with something you wouldn’t on your own. Maybe Thom Yorke? What is the songwriting process like for you – spontaneous or planned? Do you all write together or separately? We try to plan song writing time between tours, but inspiration is hard to predict. It’s often spontaneous when an idea creeps up on you, and
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thestaves.com often we won’t all be in the same place when that happens. Sometimes it is difficult to express an idea to another person in its early stages so you need to be alone to develop it. Other times it’s a lot easier to throw ideas around together and work on it that way. In May and June of this year, you supported Bon Iver on their North American tour. What did you enjoy most about the tour? The great thing about supporting bands is that you get a free ticket to the gig every night. This was especially good in this case as we had heard wonderful things about the Bon Iver live show. We enjoyed playing in Canada for the first time and visiting different cities in the States. Do you have a favorite memory from past tours? What are some of your favorite things about touring in general? It’s hard to pick a favorite memory. We played in Woodstock recently and it was just the most beautiful place. We walked around a lake and saw a bald eagle flying over. That was very special. Boarding a plane to a new city or country is always such an adventure. There’s so much to explore but so little time, so you end up remembering anything special or extraordinary
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that happened while you were there. So all the best bits. Is it hard being away from family back home when you’re on tour? What are some things you bring along or do to make the tour feel more like home? Is there ever a family-like bond formed with your tour mates? On tour you become a sort of strange, dysfunctional family. With a tour manager to take care of things it’s easy to feel like children again. You form a special bond with the people you tour with – it’s a very intense lifestyle for short bursts of time, and then you return back home to the pace of normal life. It’s hard to explain to people who don’t do it. We always take Yorkshire tea on tour with us, especially to the U.S., as the tea there is just not up to scratch, I’m afraid. What are you currently listening to? St. Vincent. She is very cool. Or is it a they? Your new EP, The Motherlode, was released in April; do you have any other projects in the works for 2012? Yes we do – we are almost done with recording an album. It should be out in September.
Stomping Grounds: 3 cities and the people who love them
San Luis Obispo
california
The first words
that come to mind when I think of San Luis Obispo are: charming, community, small town, and nature at its best. As a photographer working mostly in the Southern California and Los Angeles area, I tend to gravitate toward the things that are less frequently found in the big city when I’m at home – open fields, under-crowded beaches, vast mountain trails, quiet neighborhoods, etc. I am constantly surprised and fascinated by the endless amount of beautiful trails for running and hiking here in SLO. These trails, along with the clean and numerous beaches, are truly gems...they provide me with peace in the midst of the craze of life that frequently happens upon me. I am drawn to SLO because of the community and their emphasis and aim to focus on local and sustainable farming. There are farmer’s markets every day of the week within fifteen minutes of San Luis...how cool is that?! Although things have greatly changed in this town in the last five to ten years, the loyalty to small businesses and “mom and pop” shops is still palpable. I love that! This is the kind of town I imagine raising kids in – it’s simple, beautiful, and community driven.
text & photos: Jennifer Young
www.offswitchmagazine.com