FAU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS MANHATTAN (HOME GAME 2:00)
JUTT BAND @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana
30
THE BRUCE TRIBUTE @ Arts Garage – Delray (8:00)
SPRED THE DUB @ Mathews Brewing Co. – Lake Worth
FAU MEN’S BASKETBALL VS FGCU @ FAU – Boca
DECEMBER 1
SAMANTHA RUSSELL DUO @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (2:00)
CHASE @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana
3
100’ CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION & YULETIDE STREET AFFAIR @ Old School Square – Delray (6:00)
COMEDY OPEN MIC @ Arts Garage – Delray (8:00)
5
HOLIDAY IN PARADISE 2024 TREE LIGHTING –WPB (6:00-9:00)
6
BOYNTON BEACH FIRST FRIDAY CONCERT CELEBRATION @ Centennial Park – Boynton (5:00)
FUNK YOU @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9:00)
BREWS ‘N TUNES @ The Cove Brewery – Deerfield (every Friday 7:00-10:00)
7
7 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY & MUSIC FESTIVAL @ Mathews Brewing Co. – Lake Worth
SURF ROCK CHRISTMAS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter
DELRAY BEACH GREEN MARKET @ Old School Square (9:00-2:00)
WPB BEER WINE & SPIRITS FEST @ Meyer Amp (1:00)
ROCK THE BLOCK & PARADE @ Downtown Boynton (4:00)
8
SPIDER CHERRY @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana
10
FAU MEN’S BASKETBALL VS JACKSONVILLE @ FAU – Boca
TOUBAB KREWE @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8:00)
BOYNTON BEACH HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE (from Old Key Lime House to Delray Beach south of Linton (6:00)
FAU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS KENNESAW STATE @ FAU – Boca (7:00)
THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS @ Mathews Brewing Co. – Lake Worth 15
JOHNNY DEBT @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (2:00)
CHASE STITES @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana 18
14TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7:00)
SIERRA LANE EP RELEASE PARTY @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8:00) 19
NO DOUBT/BLONDIE TRIBUTE @ Old School Square – Delray (gates open 5:00)
ROGUE THEORY @ Old Key Lime House -- Lantana 21
ELECTRIC PIQUETE @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (4:00)
METALUCIOUS @ Mathews Brewing Co. – Lake Worth
INDIGO DREAMERS @ ER Bradley’s – WPB (6:00)
FAT SPLIFFS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8:00)
FUNKIN’ GRATEFUL @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9:00)
PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE @ Mathews Brewing Co. – Lake Worth
FAU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS TULANE @ FAU – Boca
STORMHOUSE BREWING HOLIDAY BREWFEST – NPB (1:00)
STEVE VINCENT @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana 31
NEWS YEAR’S EVE BASH @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8:00)
NEW YEAR’S EVE @ Downtown WPB (stars 6:00)
PUBLISHER
Dustin Wright
MANAGING EDITOR
Ava Bourbeau
EDITOR
Darien Davies
DESIGN
Richard Vergez
WRITERS
Ava Bourbeau
Darien Davies
Brian Hall
EVENTS
Danny Wright
THE ART ISSUE
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dustin Wright
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGRAPHY
Gather & Seek
Jordan Baum
David De Souza
Dan Alavi
Third Eye Studio
Branden Martin
Cailin Byrne
Stephanie Lynn Studios
Jakob Takos
Kenny Laubbacher
ADVERTISING
561-449-2263 info@theatlanticcurrent.com
THE COVER
: Stephanie Lynn Studios
Pictured: Devin Noel
THANKS
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DEVIN NOEL
BY DARIEN DAVIES
You know those places that have just a super funky vibe that basically keeps you from leaving? Maybe it’s a restaurant that has your favorite table, or a friend’s boho-themed living room where you sit down and put your feet up. If you think about some of the favorite places you’ve visited (and stayed too long) in the West Palm Beach and South Florida area, there’s a fantastic chance that Devin Noel and her magical paintbrush had something to do with it.
“I grew up in a super creative household, where gold-leafing the ceiling on a Sunday afternoon was a totally normal occurrence. My mom was a total maximalist when it came to decor and style, so I’ve been a ‘more is more’ person my whole life,” said Devin, 33, who says she’s the worst tenant ever. “I started painting murals in any house we lived in as we moved from Illinois to Florida and ignored the concept of ‘It’s a rental, don’t paint it!’ through my early adult years.”
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LYNN STUDIOS
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LYNN
As with most 20-somethings — especially those who are out-ofthe-box thinkers — she spent that time living an enjoyably spontaneous lifestyle. That included restaurant work, traveling extensively, and painting on the side for anyone who was up for a little color in their life. Then COVID-19 hit, and she pivoted from thinking of painting as something she liked to do on the side to something she wanted to do full time.
“I started painting any wall I could at 16 years old, and dabbled in art at Palm Beach State College, but am mostly self-taught. When you go from painting for yourself and then doing murals for the public to see, it’s an intense feeling,” Devin said. “My approach is always with acrylic, but I’ve dabbled in oil for some personal pieces on canvas. I’m heavily inspired by opulent and decorative pieces of the past, so I try to give a fine art approach to my murals.”
Devin, who has traveled heavily through Central America and Europe, said, “The goal of these trips was to experience new cultures, flora, fauna, and architecture to then inspire my art practice. In today’s world, the act of production can move quicker than a month-long study searching for parrots in the jungle. I found
PHOTO BY JAKOB TAKOS
that everyday experiences from the different media I consume and the environment around me can shape my creative flow just as much (almost) as traveling.”
She has lovingly called Florida home for the past 17 years and is madly in love with the tropics, which you can clearly see from her portfolio. For her, it’s all about immersing herself in the physical and mental environment with eyes wide open and documenting her vision for her clients’ benefit.
And her creative flow has taken her to some pretty amazing places so far. She most recently worked with “Motel Rescue,” a TV show for Magnolia Network, where she traveled to North Carolina with her best friend and fellow muralist Corey Morrow, and painted seven murals in two days. She also painted a mural for Melrose Interiors at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, which has been a “must do” goal of hers. As if that wasn’t enough for the first halfish of the year, she also set her sights on making wallpaper and crafted a collection with Chelsea Lane and Co. (Yeah, kind of a big deal.)
“I live for an immersive feeling, and I love the drama of a full statement! It’s so fun to transform an entire space, it’s an act of making the world you want to live in a reality,” Devin said. “Murals create an environment for those experiencing it, to live a little more boldly and creatively in their own way too.”
She also loves a challenge. While she might live as a walking kaleidoscope, she doesn’t shy away from muted color palettes and monochromatic murals. She loves playing with scale and unexpected patterns, especially when a client request pushes her into unfamiliar territory.
“Creating art allows me to take all my favorite things in this world and put them into one medium,” Devin said. “All my weird little obsessions, all of my travels, all of my books, all of my hobbies... all the things I love in life get thrown in the paint jar. I just want to live in a wonderland, k?”
Fine by us.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LYNN STUDIOS
BUILDING A BRAND w/ Gather & Seek
BY BRIAN HALL
When you think of a city changing over time, you typically think of the skyline — buildings going up, new businesses setting up shop, old businesses disappearing. But if done right, a big thing that comes with it that can really reshape a city is culture. In West Palm Beach, a vibrant scene of restaurants and cocktail bars, coffeehouses and breweries, vinyl record shops, and arts-focused districts have popped up all throughout town, breathing a new sense of culture into a once–sleepy cityscape. And there’s a branding and design studio that works behind the scenes to make sure so much of it is truly unforgettable: Gather & Seek.
PICTURED: DANNI ZELAYA AND JACKIE CHRISTENSEN | PHOTO BY GATHER & SEEK
Since 2015, Gather & Seek has been on a mission: “We are changing the West Palm Beach narrative, one brand at a time, by demonstrating that quality design can drive success and innovation.” Whether it’s working with established businesses looking for a brand refresh or startups looking to build their own brand identity, this team of creatives is the foundation behind making so many local businesses stand out and, most importantly, stick with you. They’re reshaping the look and feel of West Palm Beach, both aesthetically and through experience. From logos and websites to packaging and print material, Gather & Seek has a notable client list with the likes of Hive Palm Beach, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Norton Museum of Art, Rust & Wax, NORA, The Station, Steam Horse Brewing Co., The Blind Monk, Composition Coffee, and yes, Atlantic Current — just to name a few.
Sitting down with Founder Danni Zelaya and Co-Owner Jackie Christensen, it’s ultra clear that their first love is design — a passion to breathe life into the inanimate. And looking at their work, they truly hit the mark. But what exactly defines “good” design?
According to Danni, “Good design should stand the test of time. When we’re building out a brand, there’s going to be that anchor, the structure, the logo, bones that really can stay and hold that brand presence, even through the trends that come at us.” Jackie adds that good design “really needs to resonate with the specific audience for that business. If you’re doing that well, and you’re building that core relationship with your audience, that’s good design.”
The proof that their design efforts are working? “This has always been a transient area, but the influx of people in the last few years has really shown that people are starting to see West Palm Beach as a cool place. It’s a little more quaint. It’s very, you know, tropical and inviting. But a decade ago, Dixie Highway did not look the way it does right now. I think that with like-minded people like us, [West Palm Beach] is only going to continue to be the cool spot to be,” Danni said.
PICTURED: TREY ZIMMERMAN, JAMIE HOWELL, JACKIE CHRISTENSEN AND DANNI ZELAYA
I see people moving here who might invest in design more.”
Looking toward the future, their goal is certainly to utilize design to continue to grow West Palm Beach’s cool factor, but it’s also become obvious how important branding really is for the success of a local business. Danni notes, “I see people moving here who might invest in design more. I think that maybe a decade ago, people didn’t feel that competitiveness, like they don’t really need to do this. But now businesses realize they actually need a very good brand in order to survive here and to resonate. I think that’s going to be a big shift that we’re already noticing with our workflows and potential clients coming in.” She adds, “Foreshadowing on what’s already happening, I give it another five to 10 years and imagine, like, holy sh*t, this place is cooler than I could have ever thought it would be.”
@gatherandseek
PHOTO BY GATHER & SEEK
ROCK THE BLOCK ROCK THE BLOCK
HOLIDAY PARADE HOLIDAY PARADE
CREATIVES ON BEING CREATIVE
ADVICE AND INSPIRATION FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS
Put down the hallucinogenics; new advice on embracing your creativity just dropped.
We asked some artists whose work we love to help us get to the nitty-gritty of what it takes to not only be creative but to be consistently creative. These contributors are uniquely qualified to offer guidance to those of us seeking a push in a creative direction because they’re creatives professionally. They actually get paid to be artists. Yes, that still exists.
There’s an artist in us all. Though how easily it can be accessed also depends on us. Sometimes the artist is drifting within reach just below the surface, and other times its postal code is in the Mariana Trench. Let’s dive in.
LANI GOODRICH CERAMICIST
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
I wish I could put myself into a creative flow at any given time... and then sell that formula to all the artists out there. I could make hundreds!
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
I have always had to manage my time being an artist with my time being a mother, and sometimes those two worlds overlap, but often they don’t. Sometimes I can be intentionally trying to be artistic with my daughters and painting and sketching, and the creativity is there, hovering below the surface, but doesn’t boil over. Other times the creativity will hit me when I’m washing dishes or walking a dog, and then I have to rush home and make notes or go into my studio and start working. I find that a good deadline is a great motivator, too. I like the feeling of pressure and the pursuit of overcoming an obstacle or a challenge. My creativity thrives on a little drama.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
I am highly inspired by the day-to-day normal world. It could be wallpaper in a friend’s guest bath, plates I see in a TV commercial, or a pattern on the shirt of someone in front of me at Publix. I think if you keep your eyes open, you can be inspired by the variety and everyday chaos of life.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
I think people need to remember the feeling of going to art class as a kid and just getting their hands dirty and trying to make weird stuff. The hardest thing for adults to do is to start or pursue a hobby and feel the need to be good at it right away. I don’t think kids have that fear—they just try and fail and try and fail again, and finally, they make something, and it could be terrible, but they are still proud to bring it home to you and hang it on the fridge. Adults tend to tell me that they aren’t artistic, and I have to convince them that A) life is art; B) the pottery wheel is just a tool and a skill to be learned; and C) we don’t have to be good at everything we do.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I am currently opening a brick-and-mortar store that will incorporate my love of community and teaching with my own retail space. The pottery club will offer studio time, classes, pottery parties, and events, and the retail space will showcase my tile and my pottery. It will be a space where I can entertain everyone from designers to art people to parents of kids who are having birthday parties. I am excited to open my doors and get more people involved than I have been able to by working from my backyard for the past decade.
@avenuepottery
PHOTOS BY JORDAN BAUM
RENEE PHILLIPS
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
PAINTER
I need to get into the right headspace before I begin working. Many times that means starting the day with a walk to clear my head, or I’ll do a few sun salutations at the studio before starting to get my mind and body aligned. Then I blast my music and turn the studio into a bit of a party!
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
If I’m experiencing a creative block—and they do happen—that means I need to get out and explore. Sometimes it’s a simple meditative walk through nature where colors and patterns have the power to ignite new ideas. Every year I take an inspiration trip—this year it was Sedona, Arizona, and Zion, Utah. From layered patterns of rock and Earth to the saturated color palette, the energetic frequency of the American Southwest is incredibly inspiring.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but it generally starts with color. I’ve been inspired by color combinations found in nature, fashion magazines like Vogue, or walking the streets of NYC and taking pictures of the advertisements, mold, and graffiti covering the walls. Once a color combination forms in my head, I can begin my process-driven method and continue experimenting with materials.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
If you’re still reading this, then I would say you have an interest in exploring your creativity, and that’s all you need. Stay curious and open-minded. I like to say “follow the fun.” Creativity comes in all forms—from painting to cooking or organizing your home.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about. I recently moved into a new art studio at Studio 1608 in West Palm Beach, just south of the Norton. We have four art parties per year, starting with the season opening exhibition event the weekend after Thanksgiving. It’s quite a bash!
@reneephillips
PHOTO BY DAVID DE SOUZA
DAMIAN FITZSIMMONS
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
Depends what you mean by creative flow. Flow is a real thing — dropping in on a wave, a perfect golf swing, a hit song that you write in five minutes. Being able to be in the moment and be present — this is flow. I surf and most definitely experience flow when I catch a wave. Same with my ocean swims. I meditate and when you’re in, you’re in. As much as I love meditating, I struggle with keeping up a practice. A buddy of mine put it really well though. He said you don’t “have” to meditate, you “get” to meditate. The more time you can spend in “flow” the more creative you can be.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
Picasso said, “Inspiration exists, it just has to find you working.” The first time I heard that was in an interview with Johnny Marr, lead guitarist of The Smiths. I’ve since heard other famous artists say similar things. I subscribe to this point of view. I don’t believe there is such a thing as ‘creative block.’ If you’re a writer you sit down at your desk and write, if you’re an artist you go to your studio and start working. I’m lucky to be both. Creativity comes from consistency. Inspiration is awesome. Sometimes I’m super inspired and have to stop whatever else I’m doing and start creating on the spot. Most of the time I don’t start off inspired. I have a rough idea of what I want to express, I start working and at some stage the inspiration comes.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Sourcing inspiration is different from being inspired. Like I said you have to work to be inspired, but you also need inspiration - stuff that gets you excited, makes you think. This is essential. Travel is a huge one for me. I went to Tokyo recently — no agenda, no knowledge of the language, just booked an Airbnb, landed in Narita airport, and winged it. They have great pancakes. The more life experience you have as an artist the better your work will be. Listening is huge. People say the most amazing things and then I write them down and pass them off as my own, lol. I carry a small notebook to write down quotes. I usually wait for the person to finish speaking and then ask if I can steal their quote. Most recent was, “I met your mom in helicopter school.”
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
If you have never watched the Ted Talk by Sir Ken Robinson “Do schools kill creativity?” stop what you’re doing and go watch it. We are all naturally creative, you may think you’re not but your Thanksgiving handprint turkey painting that used to hang on your fridge begs to differ. I agree with Robinson that most of us start creative and grow out of it. You just have to find a way
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
back in. When was the last time you bought flowers for no reason? When was the last time you wrote a poem, in fact when was the last time you read someone else’s poem? Beauty and creativity are everywhere. Remember when you were a kid and would just lay on the ground and look at clouds passing overhead? All you have to do is tap back in. You may not sell a painting to the Louvre but your life will be richer.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about. My day job is that of a filmmaker, but I recently had my first solo show as a fine artist. It was so much fun to work in a different medium and yet apply all the skills I have acquired — storytelling, composition, color, juxtaposition. I subtly manipulated a bunch of toy water pistols and rayguns and created a whole world around them. I mounted them in vintage light boxes as if they were part of an old museum exhibition. The backstory was that time-traveling archeologists discovered ancient civilizations in the distant future where wars were CONstructive not DEstructive, where weapons were more like musical instruments, and armies more like orchestras. I’m looking forward to seeing where that takes me.
@damianfitz @bravemanmedia
JAKOB TAKOS
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
JACK OF ALL TRADES
I dive into different approaches until something clicks and feels right. I know the first initial steps are the hardest to just get going, so I try to make sure to set boundaries to remove any distractions as best as I can. It takes discipline and self-awareness to know what works best for each individual, which is all a part of the creative journey.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
I change my surroundings or mix up my routine. Sometimes talking to different people for a fresh perspective or just taking a break and doing something entirely different helps reset my creativity. Usually, physical exercise or keeping busy with my hands and feet helps get my mind back on track.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
From everywhere: getting lost in nature, paying attention to details in everyday life, listening to music, learning about artists locally and globally. Recently, I am always reminded that getting out of my hometown and seeing the world fuels my inspiration big time, like my recent trip to New York with my wife and some friends, which often gives me a fresh burst of ideas. Sometimes the best inspiration finds you when you’re not even looking for it.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
You do. Don’t let anyone tell you what you are or what you are not. Keep experimenting and embrace the process. As much as people think it is, creativity isn’t just a natural talent; it grows with practice. Everyone can be creative if they give themselves a chance. That’s why I started my podcast Create to Connect to open that discussion a bit more by always starting it off by asking, “Do you think you are creative?”
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
• Currently working on the first full-length album for the band Jakob Takos & The Connection. It’ll be called “Sweet Brews & Heavy Grooves,” and it’s some of my favorite work musically I’ve done to date.
• I’ve been collaborating with as many musicians as I can. Joey Calderaio and I released a collaboration on Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” that was received so well we just might team up on another cover again!
• Slowly but surely rolling out some new prints for sale by series. This series is called BLUE because, well, it’s all water-based photography, haha.
• Everyone’s favorite tour guide book for Palm Beach County, 111 Places You Must Not Miss in Palm Beach, is getting a fourth version done. That should be out before the end of this year and features some new hidden gems across the county. Being a born- and-raised Floridian from Jupiter, I am very proud of the success that book has
done over the years to the point where it’s getting a fourth version. You can find it at Barnes & Noble or anywhere online.
• Finally, there are two big key elements that I have been working on for the past two years that I can’t yet talk about but will be ready by early 2025.
• And my door is always open for anything the good folks at Atlantic Current ever want to collaborate on ;)
@jakobtakos
PHOTOS BY DAN ALAVI
RICHARD VERGEZ MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
To get into the flow, I always need to have some music going—either online radio like NTS or some tapes of experimental music. Most of what I do is improvisational unless I have a specific theme in mind, so I’ll start with something like sifting through old books looking for source material to cut out.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
The block is a tough thing; you can’t force the creative process. I hit one recently, and my remedy was to just go for it and not overthink. I bound together with screws a few sheets of water-damaged paper from the floor of my studio to create a makeshift book, then just started gluing down whatever pieces were laying around the table. It’s not necessary to be so precious all the time.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Inspiration comes from outside sources mainly; the visual language of film and poetry. The director David Lynch is one of my all-time favorites. The absurdity and mundanity of daily life inspires me to carve out my own surrealist world. Although I do look at other contemporary collage art as well.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
I’ve always believed in the power of choice-making versus skill or virtuosity. Because you may not be able to draw or paint in the traditional sense, think outside that box. I’m drawn to collage art because it’s so immediate yet experimental. I can spend an hour painting a tree or cut one out of a book in a few seconds and move on to the next idea.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about. On December 19, I will be conducting a workshop called Sound & Vision at Locust Projects in Miami offering an exploration of intermedia art and experimental sound. Participants will explore the possibilities of combining visual and auditory media, experimenting with physical materials and hardware to create new forms of artistic expression.
@dickvergez
@noir_age
PHOTO BY KENNY LAUBBACHER
AMANDA VALDES MURALIST
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
Getting into a creative headspace can be tricky. Music is my main go-to, and removing distractions (which is hard to do with a toddler these days!) I try to set up a few hours where I can zone out to the best of my abilities and explore books, favorite songs, old sketchbooks, research, get out in nature, etc.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
Travel! Sometimes you just need to break free from all routine. Also, daily drawing exercises or prompts are a great way out of a creative rut and back into flow. Meditating and reading, as well.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Everywhere. Books, movies, hanging out with my son... It’s incredible to see the world from his perspective. He’s almost 2 years old, and the world is practically brand new and so exciting to him. I love to check out botanical gardens in different cities and explore native floral and fauna whenever I have the opportunity. I’m also endlessly inspired by my artist friends and eternally grateful for all they’ve taught me over the years.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
Find a way to exercise that part of your brain daily, even if it’s just a few minutes.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I’m very excited about my next show, “Suena,” opening in Denver, Colorado, Sept. 6 at Alto Gallery! I’ll be heading back to Australia again for a few murals in Melbourne. (Melbs is one of my favorite street art cities and communities!)
@amandlavaldes
MARCO ARCELIN
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER
1. How do you get into a creative flow?
Usually with some good music and a quiet space. Rhythm and energy are definitely most important to me when finishing/editing a video.
2. What is your remedy for a creative block?
I take a break and do something different; it’s like a reset for me.
3. From where do you source inspiration?
Different directors’ and cinematographers’ work sparks my creativity and gets me inspired.
4. What advice would you give to people who don’t think they have natural creativity?
I believe everyone has a creative side; it can be developed, so just start small and don’t feel bad about making mistakes. Experiment and enjoy the process.
5. Plug a current/recent project you’re excited about.
I’m currently working with Riomar as a newly-hired product photographer, which has been pretty exciting for me. In the film field, I’m shooting on the go while traveling and honing my skills here.
@marcofilmsalot
E
EATING WITH OUR AT DRIFTWOOD
BY AVA BOURBEAU
Chef de cuisine Tommy Coombs will break out the tweezers every once in a while, but really all he needs is a loose wrist, a kitchen rag, and an unusually large spoon. Despite the general lack of ornamental instruments, the plates at Driftwood consistently tell a story. We sat down with Tommy to talk through his storytelling process and gain some insight on the art of plating. This is the Art Issue, after all.
Driftwood, while not a “tweezer kitchen,” has an intentional process when it comes to plating their dishes. The style may look organic, but the regiment is anything but laissez-faire. Notable factors that influence Tommy’s process are availability, flavor and efficiency.
AVAILABILITY
All dishes start with ingredients. At Driftwood, Tommy is constantly adding, changing and recreating menu items based on seasonal ingredient availability. The dedication to using in-season ingredients creates both a test in adaptability and a push in creativity. It’s also one of the principles that Driftwood is known for.
“We just figure out whatever [the farmers] can give us and we’ll figure out how to get that on the menu. We figure out how to present it the best,” Tommy said.
Some of the ingredients are grown behind the restaurant in outdoor garden boxes, while others are harvested from local purveyors. The lemongrass and sunflowers are currently flourishing in their on-site garden, but some ingredients require a little extra attention. The mushrooms, for instance, are faithfully tended to at Gratitude Garden Farm for weeks before making it onto plates at Driftwood. Even the beef is raised on Florida grass.
So, when conceptualizing a dish, Tommy considers what’s in his arsenal. “This is what’s local, this is what we can use, and we build around it. I think it’s actually pushed me to be more creative,” he said. A general principle of plating is that you typically want the focus to be on the star ingredient of a dish. Tommy does highlight the star, but not at the expense of the other ingredients, because each one is curated with intention.
For the Roasted Cabbage and Black-Eyed Pea Succotash — Driftwood’s vegan entrée — a roasted garlic tofu purée is splattered on the plate before a bed of succotash (made with local watermelon radishes, mushrooms, black-eyed peas, and more) is laid down. The mushrooms, chopped roughly, not diced, maintain their organic shape while the watermelon radishes add a vibrant hue.
Tommy compared piecing together this vignette to creating a landscape. “It’s going to look organic. Especially when it’s a veggie dish,
I want it to look like the environment. I want it to look like a forest almost,” Tommy said. The cabbage, seared side up, functions as the centerpiece, like “a mountain above rivers of tofu.”
Most of the ingredients in this dish are available locally all year round. Their garnish, however, may alternate. This day, it was sunflower petals — which are in fact edible. Tommy liked the burnt red color on these ones.
FLAVOR
Second only to what chefs can physically get their hands on, is how a dish tastes. People may eat with their eyes, but we’re pretty sure it’s their taste buds that write Yelp reviews.
So, in the same way that he has to consider available ingredients before he can consider visuals, Tommy works on research and development of dishes based on flavors Driftwood wants to incorporate on the menu.
“I think about how I want the dish to be felt and tasted,” Tommy said. Yes, he even considers mouth feel.
Driftwood’s Steak Tartare, for example, is a unique take on a fairly common dish in fine dining. Rather than being limited to an amuse-bouche monolith of raw steak like you may be picturing, Tommy introduced beer-battered onions, reminiscent of a blooming onion, to house bites of steak. His plating of the dish plays on this idea of using the onions as vessels for the steak by putting a dollop of steak into each onion crisp. Another twist: Tommy grates manchego cheese, a soft Spanish cheese, over top of the onion and steak boats. His goal is to use “flavors that people are comfortable with but make it the best way they’ve ever had.”
The addition of the beer-battered onions is a mark to Tommy’s creativity, but also allows for a functional plating technique. He garnishes with nasturtium for a peppery finish and a mouth feel “like okra in a leaf.”
EFFICIENCY
Maybe the last thing a standard artist would consider, but a variable at the top of a chef’s mind: efficiency.
Back of house has a lot of moving parts, so that front of house can look effortless. Tommy — and other chefs — may wish they could spend longer than it takes a ticket to print on making a plate look pristine, but oftentimes a dinner rush supersedes that desire.
“Can I make it look as beautiful on a 200-cover Saturday night as I can on a 60-cover Wednesday night?” is what Tommy asks himself when deciding how a dish should be plated.
In addition to that initial consideration, Tommy has to take into account if his design can be replicated; by himself and by other chefs. Driftwood places heavy emphasis on its role in the industry as a place of education. Founder and Head Chef Jimmy Everett and Tommy train others as young as high school-age who have a passion for cooking; some who go off to culinary school after learning at Driftwood.
“Everybody does have some of their own little styles. I mean, we do want it to be as consistent as possible, but there has to be some kind of forgiveness. You design dishes based off of that,” Tommy said. “How good the dish is speaks to how well Jimmy and I were able to convey the messages and teach these kids.”
At Driftwood, the emphasis on seasonal, local ingredients is a core value, and plating plays a pivotal role in demonstrating this philosophy by highlighting not just the main of a dish, but each individual ingredient to tell its story. Through his thoughtful approach, Tommy reminds us that plating is more than just a final flourish — it’s an integral part of the dining experience, where every detail counts.
2005 S Federal Highway, Boynton Beach @eatdrinkatdriftwood
BY AVA BOURBEAU
PHOTOS BY CAILIN BYRNE
From appetite satiation to artistic satisfaction, vending machines have now accomplished it all. In West Palm Beach, the Flamango Vending machine feeds the soul with affordably priced art pieces by Palm Beach County artists.
Founder Meghan McKenna, 1909 entrepreneur, was inspired by the nostalgia of vending machines and the drive to support local artists. She also had a unique vending experience that she resonated with and wanted to recreate locally. “I purchased a small, illustrated print of a stingray; it’s framed and hanging in my house now. It’s always stuck with me, that I bought it from a vending machine,” Meghan said.
The machine — refurbished for its new purpose — is lined with art pieces like prints, stationery, mini canvases, stickers, jewelry and more. Art on offer is always rotating with around 40 artists being cycled on a regular basis, and 25 to 30 artists being featured at one time. Some names you may recognize are Sarah LaPierre (@thickpaint), Pia Dugger (@piafauna), Tiffany Tesauro (@drops. of.jupiter.made), Corey Morrow (@coreylovescolor) and Lisa Kaw (@lisakaw).
It’s so much more than a breakroom centerpiece — Flamango Vending has catalyzed talk like only an office water cooler can. The machine made an appearance at SunFest, is constantly relocating around CityPlace and was debuted at Clematis by Night. Outside of physical locations, Flamango Vending has been spotted in pages and browsers all across the county. Rightfully so.
Now, let’s address the feathered, pink bird in the room. No, Fla-
That’s how I see Flamango Vending, something small and special, from Palm Beach County that is meant to be shared and appreciated.” “
mango is not a typo. A combination of flamingo and mango, Meghan landed on this name because of the uniquely Florida iconography. “I read somewhere that the post office carries extra boxes during mango season since so many residents ship them all over the country. That’s how I see Flamango Vending, something small and special, from Palm Beach County that is meant to be shared and appreciated,” Meghan said.
This “small and special” project was made possible by the Mini Placemaking Grant by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. The purpose of these grants is to make “spaces” into “places” by connecting a location with a meaningful interaction. Nothing “small” or “mini” about that.
Meghan shared, “I realized that the vending machine was more than a machine, it fit the criteria of ‘placemaking’ because it provides a chance for activation and connection in an otherwise under-utilized space. I realized my potential business idea fit all the criteria they were looking for, and I had possibly discovered a way to help fund the purchase of my first vending machine. It was the perfect fit!”
Finally, someone is making carrying change cool again. The machine actually only accepts credit cards and Apple Pay, but we’re leaning into the vintage vibe.
Check the Instagram bio for an up-to-date location and, please, no shaking the machine.
The Latest
A new Mini Mango has entered the scene. This tabletop, compact vending machine is located in the Garden District Taproom and its 14 slots are filled with the same high quality and variety of art by local artists. This mini masterpiece was created in partnership with Jess Kirby (@kirbys.art), a local surrealist artist, who took inspiration from “The Birth of Venus” for the artwork on the machine. See instead: The Birth of Flamingo. Datura flowers on the sides are also an Easter-egg nod to Flamango Vending’s conception at 1909, the West Palm Beach co-working space and business accelerator.
@flamangovending flamangovending.com
Andre Design District
cated on Congress Avenue, The Andre esign District offers a perfect blend of fordability and vibrancy
ndre Design District provides a dynamic ace for your next venture, with regular mmunity events that engage the local opulation and bring foot traffic to your doorstep.
QUESTIONS WITH TATTOO ARTISTS RAGRETS?
WE DON’T THINK SO
The internet, tattoos, and that one embarrassing thing you did in the lunchroom in grade school; some things are more permanent than others. We’re going to focus on tattoos. Though, not all tattoos come with ragrets or “Memento”-level implications, so we’re not all that worried about the permanence.
Print media is fleeting, tattoos are forever. For the Art Issue we wanted to take the opportunity to think about permanence and get to know some talented local tattoo artists before sitting down in their chair and realizing we have nothing to talk about. Well, that may still happen, but not for a lack of breaking the ice on our part.
JEFF KOZAN VATICAN TATTOO
1. How long have you been tattooing? 21 Years.
2. What’s your favorite style of tattoo? Japanese and American traditional.
3. How old were you when you got your first tattoo? 15 *definitely below legal age.
4. Do you have a least favorite tattoo on yourself? Not really, no.
5. Colored ink or black ink? Both.
6. What is the most trendy tattoo in your opinion right now? Micro-fine line tattoos. They are a bad idea, all around.
7. Where is the most painful spot to get a tattoo? Depends on the person. Torso, armpit, etc.
8. Strangest place you’ve ever tattooed someone? Use your imagination. Haha.
9. What are your workday essentials? Good tunes, and my machines.
10. What keeps you going through a long session? Knowing the final outcome soon approaches.
11. What style/tattoo will you NOT do? Color realism (ages horribly), and racist imagery. Don’t play those games.
12. Do you listen to music while you work? What kind? Old punk, reggae, classic country, southern rock. Anything but rap, honestly.
13. Can you describe your ideal client? Hard working and loyal. Someone who understands the commitment of time, pain, and cost, and is punctual.
14. Have you ever had to cover up a name tattoo? Dozens at this point. Too many to count. It’s job security!
15. Who is your favorite tattoo artist or one you look up to? Chris Garver, Filip Leu, Henning Jorgensen. Those are the living few. Many that are passed.
16. Tips for readers getting their first tattoo? Look at portfolios! Quality and consistency are key! Line work is always most important. Oh, and they are FOREVER!! Think about that before making foolish, trendy decisions.
17.Do you love or hate when people ask you for the meaning behind your tattoos? Neither. I typically ignore that question. None of their business.
18. What’s your biggest no-no for tattoo aftercare? Tattoo Goo or other Tattoo Branding companies that make healing creams. They are snake oil salesmen. Just keep ‘em clean and lightly moisturize. Don’t fall for the aftercare brand gimmicks.
19. Have you done any tattoos on yourself? Yup.
20. How would you compare art on skin to art on other media? It ages. Shirts, posters, painting...the canvas does not change. The human body does. You must understand how your tattoo is going to age WITH your body, and how it will look when you are old and gray. It’s in a class of its own. Tattooing is something that must be thoroughly understood and respected.
21. What’s your favorite tattoo you’ve done? The next one!
@jeffkozan
REMI ALISEO THIRD EYE STUDIO
1. How long have you been tattooing?
I started tattooing end of 2018… So, about six years now.
2. What’s your favorite style of tattoo?
I specialize in fine line — black and gray. That’s definitely my favorite and what I’m most drawn to as an artist. But I also really admire American traditional tattoos and the history behind that style.
3. How old were you when you got your first tattoo?
I was 18 when I got my first tattoo.
4. Do you have a least favorite tattoo on yourself?
Yep, the ones I got my when I was 18 to 20 years old haha. I’ve done a few laser sessions on some of them to lighten them up, but they’re still there and hold some good ol’ memories. It’s not so much what they are, but just the style and placement.
5. Colored ink or black ink?
For me, on my body, black ink, and I only work with black and gray ink. But again, I really admire that American traditional style color pallet when I see it. Just not something I work with.
6. What is the most trendy tattoo in your opinion right now?
I would say most trendy tattoos right now is patch style tattoos, so like multiple tiny/small/ medium tattoos on arms.
7. Where is the most painful spot to get a tattoo?
It’s kind of hard to say because everyone has different pain tolerances and it just depends on what you’re getting/size/style, etc. But from my own experience I’d say ankle/foot, armpit, arm ditch.
8. Strangest place you’ve ever tattooed someone?
I think the butt cheek was the strangest for both of us.
9. What are your workday essentials?
Outside of all the little products I need, definitely need my iPad, computer and some good tunes playing :)
10. What keeps you going through a long session?
I’d say music keeps me going. I get super tuned in and can go on and on with some good jams playing along with some coffee sips or sweet treats in between.
11. What style/tattoo will you NOT do?
I won’t do anything with color. Other than that, I’m pretty open to different styles, while keeping my own style in there.
12. Do you listen to music while you work? What kind?
Oh yeah always. We change it up a lot in the studio between indie/alternative, surf rock, psychedelic mystical. Just depends on how were feeling every day. Usually lots of Khruangbin and Hermanos Guiterrez vibes and BABE HONEY.
13. Can you describe your ideal client?
I’d say my ideal client is one that lets me have creative freedom and really allows me to showcase my style and work. Lots of fun detail and movement in the design.
14. Have you ever had to cover up a name tattoo?
I haven’t! I actually don’t do many cover ups. I’ve done maybe two to three full cover-ups and the original tattoo was super tiny that allowed me to work over. My style is pretty fine line and delicate, so I usually turn down cover ups, or suggest them to go get the tattoo lasered off.
15. Who is your favorite tattoo artist or one you look up to?
Loaded question! I’m so inspired by so many artists and think everyone holds such unique style. There’s tons of inspiration out there. I especially look up to all of the artists that work with me in the studio: Kelly Hagen, Emerson Carbajal and Eleni Mary :)
16. Tips for readers getting their first tattoo?
Tips for someone getting their first tattoo... Definitely do your research on finding the right artist for you…make sure you like their style and they have a solid portfolio. Take time on figuring out what you want and be open to the artist customizing and making your tattoo unique for you.
17. Do you love or hate when people ask you for the meaning behind your tattoos?
I actually don’t get asked much, but I don’t really mind if someone does, haha, my tattoos don’t have too much meaning behind them. Majority of them are designs I put together while feeling creative, or got them at moments in my life I was feeling really good and inspired, etc.
18. What’s your biggest no-no for tattoo aftercare?
Biggest no-no is submerging the tattoo underwater. It’s usually not a great idea and can really mess with the healing, and could lead to infection if it’s not healing properly.
19. Have you done any tattoos on yourself?
Yeah a few of them! But I usually have one of the girls in the studio do my tattoos.
20. How would you compare art on skin to art on other media?
I was really drawn to fine line tattooing because that was the closest to the feeling and style I draw on paper. Pointillism and pencil. Once you get through the learning curve of tattooing on skin it feels a lot like drawing and creating on paper, especially with designs that require a lot of detail and layering/shading.
21. What’s your favorite tattoo you’ve done?
I don’t think I have a most favorite tattoo. I’ve been really enjoying doing animal portraits and large floral pieces. The animal portraits were super intimidating to me when I first started tattooing and I remember saying to myself, I wonder if I’ll ever feel the confidence to do a realistic style animal. So, it felt really accomplishing to start doing them the past few years!
@remirose
BRANDEN MARTIN
1. How long have you been tattooing?
I have been tattooing for eight years. It will be nine in January.
2. What’s your favorite style of tattoo?
COAST TO COAST TATTOO SHOP
My favorite style of tattooing is black work, fine line, illustrative or anything with dot work or stippling.
3. How old were you when you got your first tattoo? I got my first tattoo when I was 18 years old. It was a pirate ship on my right arm.
4. Do you have a least favorite tattoo on yourself?
No, even the bad ones have good memories associated to them. I don’t regret any of them.
5. Colored ink or black ink?
On myself I love having colored tattoos, but I prefer to do black and grey tattoos.
6. What is the most trendy tattoo in your opinion right now?
I don’t know if there’s a specific image that’s trendy, but I know fine line minimalistic tattoos are definitely more popular now than ever and for me that’s fine because I love doing them.
7. Where is the most painful spot to get a tattoo?
Everyone is a little different, the most painful spot I ever tattooed on myself was when I was working on my chest tattoo, we decided to blackout my nipples, and that was terribly painful. The palms of my hands are definitely a close second though.
8. Strangest place you’ve ever tattooed someone?
Luckily, I haven’t had a tattoo anyone in any weird, strange places. The palms of people’s hands is a little strange to tattoo and very painful.
9. What are your workday essentials?
Definitely coffee, my iPad, and a nice easy morning to just have a good day.
10. What keeps you going through a long session?
A couple good movies, good conversations, a couple coffees and definitely taking a couple breaks for stretching lol.
11. What style/tattoo will you NOT do?
I don’t like to tattoo anything I don’t think will look and heal good, stuff like tattooing the inside of your lip where it never really looks nice. You don’t want to put your name on something that won’t heal nicely. As far as style, personally I don’t do realism really, most of my style is heavy with line work and I enjoy that a lot, so I save the realism for people like my friend Dan Gilbert.
12. Do you listen to music while you work? What kind?
I actually usually do not listen to music while tattooing. I like to put on movies for people so that way they can be distracted, usually a Star Wars film lol, but usually when I’m drawing I like to play a lot of lo-fi music, I just find it super relaxing, but when I’m not at work you would probably find me listening to mostly post hardcore/emo music from the 2010s.
13. Can you describe your ideal client?
Really, I’m happy with a client as long as they’re just an understanding and nice person. We sit there for hours together so it’s nice to have someone that’s easy to talk to. When it comes to the design process, I believe it’s a joint effort so it’s very important for you to have the same vibe. I try to get as much information from them so that way the tattoo we create is a vision of what they want with the style that I do.
14. Have you ever had to cover up a name tattoo?
Yes, multiple times, on a couple different occasions. I would do the name tattoo and then a week later have to cover it up. Definitely think hard about putting someone’s name on you. I actually have a name on me I should probably cover up lol.
15. Who is your favorite tattoo artist or one you look up to?
I have a couple and I’m very lucky to be able to call them friends as well. Travis Brown was the main person who got me into tattooing and has always been an amazing artist I admired, with a lot of my tattoos done by him. My friend Nick Stambaugh is an amazing artist and he pushed me to better myself and taught me so much throughout my career, I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. I could go on to name so many other amazing artists that I look up to, this world is full of so many talented people.
16. Tips for readers getting their first tattoo?
Definitely to research the artist they’re going to and make sure they do the style of tattoo you want well, don’t just go to anyone. Also, to speak up if there’s anything they want changed or don’t like about placement or the design, a lot of people get very nervous [for] their first tattoo and I always try to reassure them because I want them to love their tattoo forever.
17. Do you love or hate when people ask you for the meaning behind your tattoos?
I don’t hate it. Some tattoos can have extreme meaning and be very important to people and some tattoos can just be a reminder of a fun time, I think having a mixture of both is awesome.
18. What’s your biggest no-no for tattoo aftercare?
Definitely no going in the sun or water, a lot of people think it’s OK just if it’s a little bit, but it can really mess up a tattoo.
19. Have you done any tattoos on yourself?
Yeah, I’ve done a couple of them. I did a couple stars on my forearm, a moth on my thigh, a picture of my dog on my ankle and a couple other silly ones.
20. How would you compare art on skin to art on other media?
Art on skin is completely different than any other medium because there is a lot more pressure, you can’t mess up or fix things really and you’re doing something permanent for someone else.
21. What’s your favorite tattoo you’ve done?
I don’t really have a favorite. There’s so many that I love, really anything that involves flowers, skulls, snakes or insects ranks on the top of my list.
