Issue one by spunky

ISSUE ONE

Welcome to ‘Spunky’ – First edition, we hoped you would join us. It’d be good for us to let you know what we’ve set out to achieve, perhaps then you’ll be able to let us know if we’ve managed it (fingers crossed). Spunky – ‘courageous and determined, used to describe someone with attitude’ That attitude, in relation to the photography and visual arts created by women,is what we wanted to showcase and share. The courageous and determined part is what sets those with attitude and skills apart from the rest, we believe our contributors have this going on and beleive it’s worth showing off.

So, a decision to focus on women? It’ll raise some eyebrows maybe, but it was never intended to be a ‘right on’ move, just that here at the editorial team we have many friends whose work is brilliant and deserves putting out there. Hopefully the content will be enjoyed by anyone who loves some pow, art and enthusiasm.

Enough stuff, now, content? We’ve set out to share the things we love and enjoy, the visual side and a little hint at the personalities producing them, there are links to each contributor so that you can go invenstigate. We’ve also added ‘Horizons’ a section for other artists with the same attitude and ability in other fields, this month poetry and singer/songwriter, but we’re open to anyone who has something interesting going on.

We recommend you put the kettle on, find somewhere comfy and have a good snoop through. We hope you’ll like it.

Spunky team.

Contents Page Pagesix Dee Elegia

PageTwelve Dreamcatcher; Jen Brook

Pageeighteen Erin Elizabeth Kelly

Pagetwentysix Sarah Kathleen Page

PageThirty

Street photographylisa leverseidge

Horizons: PageThirtyeight poet leanne moden

Pagefourtytwo singer/songwriter alice walker

DeeElegia â&#x20AC;&#x153;Women are so interesting and complicated. I can totally understand why men get obsessed with them.â&#x20AC;? If you could speak to one type of animal, what would it be? That's difficult! A bear maybe? No actually, whales! They've been around much longer and probably have some awesome stories to tell. How do you handle change? I used to think that change was my biggest fear, what with having OCD and everything; but I've realised over the past year that change is actually what drives me. I respond well to it, despite what I thought previously. My whole life so far has been about how I deal with change and where it's lead me to next. Change brings decisions, and without decisions you don't get anywhere.

Of your work so far, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made you most happy? Probably the models I've met who have become friends. It's easy to shoot them because they are accustomed to how I work, and I enjoy working on those on-going relationships and the work we create together. There's so much more to come from shooting those people right there. Women are so interesting and complicated, I can totally understand why men get obsessed with them. What would I find in your refrigerator right now? I'm poor at the moment, so there's nowt but film, milk and butter in there. Donations to my cake fund are welcome and appreciated. :-) What is the last book you read? I re-read Ham On Rye by Charles Bukowski recently. Utter filth! It has some amazing lines in it too like "Dying in a war never stopped wars from happening." and "Fiction is an improvement on life." I love him.

“Set your own goals. Satisfaction is the death of an artist.”

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be? David Attenborough. Is there something you would offer other creative types as encouragement for those days when they’re struggling? Set your own goals. Satisfaction is the death of an artist. I hate everything that I do but that’s what keeps me keepin’ on. I never want to be satisfied. I just want to be happy. Striving to learn and get better is what makes me happy, and as long as what you’re doing makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.

www.elegia.co

Dreamcatcher; Jen Brook â&#x20AC;&#x153;My dreamcatcher project is a first series of images in a project I have put my heart and soul into. I have designed each shot myself from concept to styling, angle, processing and title. I am working with a variety of teams on this project, all of which I cannot thank enough for giving up their time so willingly and giving me the chance to make my own visions a reality. I hope that my Dreamcatcher Project is the start of things to come for me as an artistic director and concept creator. As each image is released, I will be writing a short blog about each concept, the trials and tribulations of achieving the desired effect, and the final image itself. You can see my blog here: www.jenbrookmodel.tumblr.com One day I hope to shoot an image to join this collection on my own camera. Thank you for following my journey, inspiring me each day with your lovely comments of support and allowing me to create the images I adore.â&#x20AC;?

What’s caused you to move from highly regarded model through to conceptual art, should we expect more in terms of your own photography in time to come? I've always had a passion for conceptual art so the progression to this genre was inevitable, I just needed to find my feet in modelling first. Most conceptual artists use non-models for their work so persuading the best fine art photographers to shoot me was always going to be difficult. However knowing how to shape my body to suit their story, I hoped might give me an advantage. Since meeting one of the artists I have admired for a long time, Brooke Shaden, she has shown me that new worlds are completely accessible through digital reconstruction and therefore photography is only a tool like photoshop to achieve it. My friend Von Wong has been an undying source of support and encouragement and I am so pleased to have him in my life after shooting with him last April. Meeting Lauri Laukkanen and Rosie Hardy this year has also proven to me that anything is possible and when Lauri gave me his camera, it led me to hope that one day I might be able to create the visions I have, by myself. But for now, I am for too invested in the enjoyment of working with others and far too impatient to achieve the standards in photography and post processing I so desire. So for now, I am just a model having immeasurable fun

What’s caused you to move from If you could speak to one type of animal, what would it be? Just one animal? Naaaaw, can't I have them all, like some sort of parseltongue but to all animals? No? Booooo! Well without a shadow of a doubt my most favourite animal is the cheetah. In fact I am lucky to say I have stroked one whilst living in Australia and Steve Irwin's zoo! But I guess if I could talk to cats, I'd probably be disappointed. My own cat, Walter, is the cause of so much entertainment in my household and his muted state only enhances this. Hmm….this is hard. A fly would have a lot of stories to tell, but their lives are so short lived that I imagine their pace to be too quick to keep up with to hear them all properly. Maybe elephants, I'm sure they have seen some things in their time… and they say they never forget.

How do you handle change? I have a purse! BA DUM TSSH! Sorry…. This is a most curious of questions, you have me stumped. I guess like anything, it happens and you learn to deal with it. Change is often for the better, even though it might not feel like it at the time. I can only have this perception as there is no room for negativity in my life right now.

Of your work so far, what’s made you most happy? 4. Travel. I love to travel. I love home…but I hate coming back. I just want to travel forever and the people I have been fortunate enough to meet have allowed my butt to travel all over the country and beyond this year and for that I will be eternally grateful...

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? My fridge is pretty bare right now….*cue the violins*…I'm a starving artist don't you know! But if you came to me after the Friday big shop, you'd probably find strawberries, salmon, mayonnaise, cat food, smelly cheese, apple juice. some form of chocolate…oh and a garlic and herb dip from Dominos that I'm pretty sure has been sat there since 2009 and should probably be in the bin…

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love to travel. I love home.. but I hate coming back.â&#x20AC;?

...I really don't think I can pinpoint an exact moment when I have thought 'this makes me happy' because there are too many. The last six months alone for me have seen two viral blogs, features on big photography websites such as DIY Photography, Fstoppers, SLR Lounge and Petapixel, shooting with some of my heroes and becoming friends with them, meeting the most inspirational new people, travelling to Iceland, Canada and France as well as cities all over the UK, joining the writing team at FaceOn magazine and the start of my dear Dreamcatcher Project. It's been an absolute whirlwind and all of these things have made me very very happy!

Is there something you would offer other creative types as encouragement for those days when they’re struggling? 8. When I have ‘off-days’, which of course ultimately we all do…I watch films. I go to other places in my head with escapism. If I haven’t got time for that, I look at old photographs of times that expose good memories and I listen to music that makes me happy. I try to remember how lucky I am for the life I am living and to stop feeling so sorry for myself. Whatever I feel, someone else feels it too. We are not alone. We are so lucky to have the talents we have. It’s important to remember that.

www.jenbrook.com portfolio.laurilaukkanen.com

Erin Elizabeth K e l l y Inspired by the emotion of women; sexuality, love and power play a major role in Erin’s work producing erotica that is highly feminine and raw. She continues to be inspired by women showcasing this through her own journey as one.

“If there is something I would offer other creative types as encouragement for days when they’re struggling, as obvious as it sounds it would be ‘FUCK THE HATERS!’”.

n Elizabeth e l l y

Erin Elizabe K e l l

If you could speak to one type of animal, what would it be? It would be a crow, I love crows. Them fellas are smart and such cheeky gits, they'd be great craic to hang out with. I would love to say a cat or a dog, but the crow wins this round. How do you handle change? I'm not good at change when other people are going through it and I'm not.. like the academic year. I always find September really weird for that.. but I adapt to change pretty well myself when it's me going through it. The past year I've went through so many different places and locations of being attached to and spending short periods of time there. The only thing I'm not good at is the wait for change... I hate waiting.

Of your work so far, what’s made you most happy? Shot wise – pink stockings and “PUSSY” are my winners. Work wise – the friendships I have made. What would I find in your refrigerator right now? A cucumber.. thats the truth, I love cucumber on toast. Nom nom nom!! That's how those cucumber shots happened, simply because I had one in my fridge. And we all know how that turned out ;) What is the last book you read? The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be? Leeloo Dallas

Photographer: Erin Elizabeth Kelly Make-Up Artist: Rachel Weir Hair Stylist: Ruairi Curran @ Blue Hairdressing Model: Alexis Savage www.erinelizabethkelly.com

Sarah Kathleen Page

“Experiencing the ups and downs in life help to develop your work – everything that happens can be turned into a positive.”

If you could speak to one type of animal, what would it be? I’m cat mad, but if I could speak to a species close to extinction, perhaps that would be most beneficial. How do you handle change? Without change, life would be boring as hell. Of your work so far, what’s made you most happy? Meeting people, travelling and learning are what I most enjoy. If we came to your house for dinner, what would you make us? Cookies and coffee would always be on the menu. What is the last book you read? Regrettably, I don’t read books much. I have a bad habit of buying books and never reading them. The last thing I read was The British Journal of Photography from 1977.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be? I’d like to trade places with a person who’s the complete opposite of me. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? A bank – I’d steal from the rich and share to the poor. Is there something you would offer other creative types as encouragement for those days when they’re struggling? Experiencing the ups and downs in life help to develop your work – everything that happens can be turned into a positive.

Model and photographer:

www.sarahkathleenpage.co.uk

Lisa Leverseidge

“...I love street photography. I’ve learnt that being brave enough to pick up your camera, take it everywhere and shoot is really important.”

Lisa Leverseidge 28

http://tinyurl.com/lisaleverseidge-vogue

If you could speak to one type of animal, what would it be? As much as I would love to say cats, I don't think they would be that interesting to speak to. I think I will have to say sea turtles and then the kitties come second. If I can get a sea turtle and cat three way conversation, that would be perfect. You model too; does that help you understand life the other side of the camera? Oooh. I get asked this a lot. It definitely helps me to understand. I think its very easy to underestimate what a model does until you've done it yourself. I can really recognize when a model wants to produce something awesome and throws him or herself into a shoot. Makes you grateful.

So, student/woman/model/photographer how do you deal with stereotypes? I think I deal with it with a teeny bit of arrogance. Photography is so competitive and male dominated, you need to learn to shout and be proud. Plus there's nothing better than bursting someone's bubble when you show them your work after they expected it to be shit. What is the last book you read? The kite runner by Khaled Hosseini. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a scene of anal rape in the first chapter or so which is disturbing but if you can get past that then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a really good read.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Near an ocean, any ocean will do. Your street photography is featuring prominently right now, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that all about? I think a change in attitude has lead to me to realise I love street photography. Recently Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learnt that being brave enough to pick up your camera, take it everywhere and shoot is really important.

www.lisaleverseidge.co.uk Photos taken in cambridge

Horizons Horizons

Hori H o r i z o n s 34

izons 35

Leanne Moden

Leanne Moden is a performance poet and writer, living and working in Cambridgeshire, she is the current Fenland Poet Laureate, and will be representing Cambridge at the final of the Hammer and Tongue Poetry Slam in 2014. Leanne co-runs poetry open mic night Fen Speak, and has worked with some incredibly talented poets, including John Hegley, Hollie McNish, Ross Sutherland, and Mark Grist. She performs her irreverent, tongue in cheek poetry at events and festivals around the UK Shaving Grace is a poem about personal preference.

Shaving Grace You've asked me six times now, I assure you I'm certain: I will not wax the hair off my fuzzy love curtains. While you might enjoy the plucked chicken look I'd rather not get razor rash on my intimate nook. I like my crotch-blossom and no matter what you say, My short and curlies have not out-lived their stay! My map of Tasmania will not be deforested, And if you come near with Immac I'll have you arrested! What's wrong with you? Have you only seen women in porn? This is one meaty pocket that will not be shorn. You resistance on this issue leaves very little scope for me So I'll just flatly refuse to indulge in any pubic topiary. No landing strip or Brazilian - my lady garden unweeded I might even buy extensions if my words are not heeded. I'm a mammal not a mollusc, let me stay hairy! Surely the twelve-year-old girl look is a little bit scary? If we can't come to a compromise our sex life can't be saved. (And by compromise I mean that I'm not getting shaved!)

www.tenyearstime.blogspot.co.uk

Singer/songwriter

ALICE WALKER

If you could speak to one type of animal, what would it be? Erm, I totally can talk to animals.. I’m basically Eliza Thornberry. When I was 12 we had a horse that went mad and we had to sell her, all the grown ups spent the whole morning trying to catch her, and didn’t succeed, so went in for tea. I walked over by myself to the horse, did a little horse whisper, and walked her up into the horse box. I guess in real life, it’d be pretty cool to be able to talk to wasps. Then I could have a wasp army.

How do ydo you handle change? Usually I put pounds in my piggy bank, coppers in my coppers bottle, and shiny silvers in my car ashtray. What would I find in your refrigerator right now? A lot of cheese. Some lettuce. A miniature bottle of wine. A small bottle of vodka. Sausages and Bacon. Yoghurt. Milk. Some peppers and half an onion. Sad times. I need to shop.

Of your work so far, what’s made you most happy? It’s hard as a self deprecating and creative type to embrace things that I’ve done and appreciate them as great pieces of work.. They’re just songs, and I just sing them, in my opinion they don’t particularly stand out even in comparison with other local artists on the same success level as me (so, mainly school children).. Saying that.. I have a few old songs, few of which are recorded, that I play even now, and always seem to tap right into the mood I’m in. That makes me happy, sometimes I sit at my piano, and play through old songs, and have little personal moments of joy where I tell myself I am an utter genius.. It’s a happy feeling. What is the last book you read? Three Stories by Alan Bennett.. He’s quite good.. I’m not a big reader, I like books with a decent sized font, and a good storyline and characters.. I like children’s books basically.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be? Hmmm.. this is hard.. So many people I’d like to change places with.. It depends if I’d still be me, or if I’d have their talents and skills.. I guess I’d be Jessica from Dragon Quest 8. She’s got mad sorcery skills, and cool outfits, plus, she gets the travel the world with a rag tag group of friends who have swords and bows and arrows and stuff.. Although I should point out, that I was ever given the opportunity to be a vampire, I would take it, and be a badass vampire. Is there something you would offer other creative types as encouragement for those days when they’re struggling? Drugs? Probably not drugs. I’ve heard drugs are for losers right? I would say, stop worrying, it’s all fine.. if you like being creative then carry on, if you don’t like it, have a little break..

www.facebook.com/alice.aliceband Watch Video: http://tinyurl.com/alice-song-home

Pictures and video by

www.profilepictures.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Cover image provided by Erin Elizabeth Kelly Model: Hudson the cat Editors: Neil Plumb and lisa leverseidge www.profilepictures.co.uk www.lisaleverseidge.co.uk www.elegia.co www.jenbrook.co.uk www.erinelizabethkelly.co.uk www.sarahkathleenpage.co.uk www.lisaleverseidge.co.uk www.tenyearstime.blogspot.co.uk www.facebook.com/alice.aliceband