The Manifold Magazine: The Creative Pursuit

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art. music. fashion. profiles. a unisex lifestyle magazine for the independent age

THE CREATIVE PURSUIT the manifold magazine

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letter from the editor This is not a pop culture mag. We are not trying to get super famous mainstream socialites to be on our cover. In fact, we could care less about that. We want to open your minds to the almost famous (or, better yet--the famous and humble), the worthy and oh-so talented, the starving artists, the hustlers, the just under the radar. We want to talk about these things and these people because something tends to happen after the fame monster clenches it’s jaw. And that’s fine, we don’t mind, we just want the humble and hungry souls on the creative pursuit--- who are just like us.

And that’s what we’ve delivered to you in this issue. Another appearance from surfer, Dax McGill, before she blows up. Fashion through the eye of young photographer Laura McKinnon from Scotland. Skater, Wells Shaw, of North Carolina who reminds us the simple life is pretty damn good. And finally the busking band, Tricky Britches, who traveled from Maine to Hawaii in pursuit of sharing blue grass music.

Creativity is what makes life interesting. It’s easy to get caught in the day to day, humdrum, 9-5, monotony of life, but for us at The Manifold the creative pursuit is what makes us want to get up in the morning, that and... Kona Coffee.

---Napua

The Manifold Magazine is an open submission publication. We are proud to feature contributors from all over the world with stories worthy of being told. Make your submissions to TheManifoldMag@Gmail. com

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Masthead

creative director & editor: napua camarillo themanifoldmag@gmail.com

sales/marketing: jermaine fletcher jermaine.themanifoldmag@gmail.com copy editors: laka “the clean” sanchez travis hancock tdhancockblogspot.com contributing writers: ehren bowling (thailand) jermaine fletcher (nyc) napua camarillo (hi) jonny isabello (hi) contributing photographers: christopher “cmart” martin (nyc) cmartphoto.com matt miller (nc) marina miller (hi) laura mckinnon (scotland) contributing illustrators: kristopher baldwin (ca) miller royer (hi) special thanks to the inspiring people that make us want to continue on my very own creative pursuit.

Contributors

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Kris Baldwin’s work can be seen on the inside cover.

IN HIS WORDS: Zaxxonian time traveler. Outer Space lover. Musician. Visual effects artist. Owner of an earth cat and Destroyer of bad vibes. Visit KrisBaldwin.com for more art & interdimensional tomfoolery. Zorp.

IN OUR WORDS: Former Glassjaw member. Ex Dreamworks employee.

Inspiring the visual people of Earth one squid monster at a time.

IN HIS WORDS: Miller is a self obsessed psychotic hell bent on self domination.

IN OUR WORDS: Miller Royer is a true talent. When he’s not making music in his band Brainplane, he’s slanging ice cream at his very own store WING located in Honolulu. You can follow him on instagram @brainplane.

Since the time Ehren Bowling was a three-year-old buckaroo, singin’ his favorite “Illie Ellson on his plastic official Willie Nelson ‘On the Road’ gee-tar, wanderlust and delusions of grandeur have left little room for much else. Gracious angels and the knack of serendipitous timing have led him from lilly pad to lilly pad and by now he’s strung along a pretty good run of adventure and romance. Nowadays, Ehren, is turning over every stone in SE Asia and editing his first book, ‘Nomadness’, freelancing as an English teacher and dabbling in the Arts, martial to conversational.

IN HER WORDS: Elza Burkart is a traveling stylist, writer and singer in The Saint James Society. She currently lives in LA after a move from Austin, TX. She takes along her husband and their demon cats. You can follow her at @thelingernots on instagram.

IN OUR WORDS: Elza lives out our bohemian dream life.

We live vicariously through her adventures, are envious of her style, and secretly wish we were best friends.

Laura McKinnon is an award-winning photographer, based in the UK. Kicking off her career in 2011 at the age of eighteen, she landed herself in the midst of Jaeger London’s A/W runway at London Fashion Week. Taking inspiration from movements in history, her work has been described as “paying homage to the past with a nod to the future”. Laura has secured clients worldwide, with commissions as far afield as Asia and the US. In October 2012, Laura published her first book, a beauty study called MA SŒUR”.

C a n I q u o t e y o u ---

--Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met.

It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile.

You’ve just gotta fight your way through.--” Ira Glass (radio personality)

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Contents [

Art

] [Fashion] [

One design per day for a year.

This is Project Aloha

Architect by day, artist by night.

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Dax McGill ditches the board for a day and scoots around North Shore w/photog Marina Miller.

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Surf

] [

Music

] [

Vs.

] [

Ditch the 9-5 and pursue your passion, like Ryan Struck did.

Fat Mike talks-drinks, Hawaii, and his band, NOFX

Four New York artists go head to head in the same interview.

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Skate

]

Skater spotlight.

North Carolina’s very own-Wells Shaw.

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9 [Fashion] [

Music

][

Fashion

][

Profiles

] [

Art

Ripple ] ] [ TheEffect

Our favorite bands from 2013

Scottish photographer Laura McKinnon gives us what is Cosmo cool.

Singer for The Saint James Society, Elza Burkhart, tells us her creative journey.

Former Vibe employee, Ali Muhammed, tells us about his hustle and flow.

Graffiti hits the streets of Thailand with our writer, Ehren Bowling and the BUKRUK festival.

Rad people doing rad things.

The Ripple Effect introduces The Young & Brave.

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Searching for Solitude with Kyle Smith.

Coachella.

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Growing up is hard to do. rider: reilly thesean manifold magazine

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john oliveira the creativephoto: pursuit

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13 things

to jolt your creativity

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1. Utilize other mediums. If I’m writing a song about something I’ll sketch a scene of it or think of a backstory.

-- John Ridgeway, musician

2. Quit trying to think outside of the box and think into it. Could you become more creative then by looking for limitations? What if I could only create with a dollars worth of supplies? We need to first be limited in order to become limitless.” --Phil Hansen, T.E.D. speaker 3. Retreat to the forest. --Conor McGivern, photographer 4. I’m a firm believer in not working when you’re not feeling it. nizing/business tasks. --Jeanie Randall visual artist

So, when I’m not creative I switch to cleaning/orga-

6. I go swimming in the ocean. It clears my head, gets me away from the computer, and helps me appreciate my family and everything I have been given. --Marina Miller, photographer (page 24).

7. First thing I do is clean up my work space. If it’s cluttered my mind is cluttered. thing in the theme of what I’m working on. --Nicole Jones, graphic designer

Then I bump good music, some-

8. I find now that its more about just doing something. Most inspiration comes from the process of making other work, like one little thing will happen that leads to something else and so on. I also like to look at a lot of other art, music, film and inevitably something will trigger that response that makes me want to create something. Travel is another thing that keeps me motivated, new people, places, challenges. --Dave Hooke, graffiti artist 9.

I surround myself with creative types or seek inspiration from movies, music, or people. --AJ Pappas, musician

10. One is what I guess many people do which is look at inspiring editorials from magazines like Vogue, Russh, No, Lula, and so on. I always find inspiration within other shoots to replicate it but with my own twist. The second might be just me, but all it takes is to go somewhere new. The minute I’m in a new place I’ve never seen before everything becomes a photo-shoot opp for me. --Colin Sokol, photographer 11. I dork out and try to make something really cheesy or embarrassing to remind myself not to take myself too seriously. Making stuff is supposed to be or at least can be a lot of fun. Sometimes I’ll get usable ideas from it other times I’ll just delete it, but doing something kind of bad on purpose makes it easy to get back to the good stuff. --Anton Glamb, musician 12. Read the news. I might find some underlying social problem or assumption worth exploring or I might see something funny. --Travis Hancock, poet 13. I either abandon it completely for a time or just force myself to sit in front of it --whatever it is-- ‘til I get it done but I feel it has less to do with my creative state than my emotional state at the time. --Miller Royer, musician

13 things

5. Take a note from Michael Paz (on the following page) and do something creative every day, whether it be editing a photo on your phone, drawing something silly, or writing a haiku. Keep it in a folder and look back on it when you need a personal affirmation. You’d be surprised how much you can inspire yourself.

Aloha. Pass it on.

interview x napua camarillo graphics x micahel paz

North Shore Underground (NSU) was the shit back in the day. And as I sit with Michael Paz on the North Shore of Oahu over iced green teas and geckos sightings, I learn that not only is he one of the people behind that brand, he was the art, the visuals, the reason why I liked the surf brand to begin with. Hearing his story is inspiring me to take my daily routine to another level.

Michael Paz is a born and raised Oahu boy but I do believe he’s enjoying his time spent on the mainland.

Sure we have waterfalls and sandy beaches but Paz is enjoying 4 seasons and people who go faster than 45 on the freeway. Make no mistake though, Paz has aloha no matter where he goes. And if my word isn’t good enough for you to go by then take a look at his dedication to a something called “Project Aloha” a year long personal daily graphic design challenge that was an attempt to fatten his portfolio after throwing up shakas at his job with the infamously unsurfworthy brand-- Hollister.

Shoots, let’s take it back for a sec though. Paz was behind NSU? I relapse to our interview as he goes on to tell me at one point NSU hit it’s peak as top 3 surf brands in the latter half of the 90’s. And I begin to understand that this guy is more than just someone I stumbled upon while wandering through the net. He describes the decline of NSU as “taking the hometown feel out of the brand” when they took their manu-

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facturing and distribution to California. After this demise, Paz spent time working for Hollister ditching the “underground” and submitting to the man. From Hawaii to Cali, NYC to Ohio, it seemed like Paz was on the continual search for his artistic fulfillment when a year long challenge seems to have put him back in the drivers seat. One year. One design a day. One fat portfolio. And one driving force: Aloha. Project Aloha was born in an effort to take his freelance up a notch all the while passing on the meaning of aloha to the masses. Paz’s designs are now adorned proudly on tee shirts and being sold at various locations on Oahu and online, all with that vintage, soft, worn in, feel to accompany his clever graphics. We chatted with Michael Paz to find out where his aloha comes from.

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How did you start working for Hollister?

Well, after walking away from NSU I got a job with Gotcha sportswear and MCD. I was literally only there for 7 months then I got recruited for Hollister which is located in Columbus, Ohio. And I was broke. I just had my second kid and I had to somehow feed my family. To me at the time Abercrombie couldn’t have been hotter. And they were trying to start Hollister.

I ended up quitting Hollister, moving to Kansas then New York City, freelancing for Da Kine but then eventually coming back to Hollister.

one everyday for an entire year and build up my portfolio. And if someone likes something they see, it can help me get jobs here and there. Like, people are like --oh we like day #23, can get that on a tee shirt?--. It’s worked out.

The thing that I’m passionate about is restarting my entrepreneurial roots cause I didn’t go to school. I didn’t go to art school. I started NSU directly out of high school. It feels like the beginning of NSU again, the fun part!

What was your design process for Project Aloha?

How did it feel to go from surf branding to Hollister?

It was hard to come up with something new every day.

At the time when they first opened up, Hollister, they wanted it to be very surf.

What would you look at for inspiration?

Wait, was this around the time when Abercrombie got sued?

Yeah, they used this photo of Ben Aipa and Fred Hemmings and they created tee shirts with giant numbers on them and used them for their advertising. Abercrombie is no stranger to controversy. They feel like even bad publicity is good. (Pauses) I didn’t fit into their culture. I was overweight. I didn’t fit their clothes. When I got let go it seemed like they wanted to move on. And they maybe felt like I didn’t fit in.

So, I felt like I needed to do something--- At some point we’re going to run out of money! And I needed to upgrade my portfolio.

It was hard, Hollister was 16 hour days. It got to a point where I never saw my kids.

I was on Facebook reading all these posts --girls are fighting, guys are fighting, there’s traffic. I needed something positive.

That inspired Project Aloha.

Back in the day the word aloha was different. It wasn’t this rah-rah aloha vibe. It was kind of bad-ass aloha...my thing is you can never have too much aloha. That was my slogan. I’ll do

I always look at inspirational photos. I have a bunch of tears, and I have a bunch of stuff that I look at, I have the internet. There’s a lot of design blogs. I love old vintage lettering and signs.

What are the top 3 lessons you learned from your 8 years with Abercrombie/Hollister.

Merchandising. How you merchandise a group of things together.

Quality. And what not to do. The way that they treat people. Their culture. They whip you into shape in the sense of designing stuff with a nice aesthetic. So you think--Oh, I would want to wear that. But then they don’t make sizes above 36 ‘cause they don’t want fat people wearing their stuff. That’s the opposite of what I’m doing! You want XXL, I’ve got it!

I learned a lot of things. I don’t want Project Aloha to be elitist. It’s meant for everybody. It’s got a local flavor but it’s not so local that a tourist wouldn’t buy it. It’s meant to be irreverent and fun and not taken too seriously. We have one last industry in Hawaii, it’s tourism. We gotta pass on the aloha.

Adrian Coleman

text x jermaine fletcher images x adrian coleman

Adrian Coleman is an artist we came across while strolling through the Brooklyn Museum last winter. He’s a great example of following the creative pursuit by any means necessary. During the day and by trade he’s an architect but in the early mornings and sometimes nights, he’s painting away at his Brooklyn studio. He invited us to his place for an interview to discuss his day to day process and flow as an artist.

How do you manage time, work, and the ability to create?

It is tough figuring out how to manage your time and not lose your friends or your girlfriend or whatever. In a sense it’s not something I have to do but it’s something I make time to do. Even if I can’t do it everyday, I make sure I do it a certain amount every week so it works out in the end.

Ideally, it’s good to have a couple things going at once because the hardest part with any project is the beginning. Starting. When it’s just a blank sheet of paper, that’s when it’s a bit intimidating because you don’t want to mess up; you’re not sure exactly what to do and so getting going the first couple of weeks by far are the slowest.

I want to do more shows. One thing I did after the Brooklyn show was aim to do bigger paintings. One thing I realized in the museum is that my paintings looked really small.

Another thing that was good about the Brooklyn Museum experience is that I met a lot of artists. To be honest I kind of do this in isolation and I don’t talk to other people who paint and I’m trying to get better at that because if you’re around people who are creative, it kind of inspires you to do more things. So instead of always being reclusive, I’m trying to meet more people who do the same thing, get them to come over, talk about stuff, look at each other’s work and get more ideas.

How do you get into the zone?

How pressuring is the finishing aspect? Do you give yourself deadlines?

For me it happens toward the end of my paintings, when I’m getting to the end. At the beginning, I

No. I don’t, because I don’t really need to. If I have a show coming up then I know I have a deadline and that’s happened a couple of times, but for the most part I don’t really have deadlines. They are helpful but at my job I have so many deadlines, so it’s kind of nice for this area of my life to be a little bit more relaxed.

really kind of have to force myself to say I’m going to paint for one hour, I’m going to paint for two hours and I’m kind of watching the clock a bit more but later towards the end, I forget completely about time, that’s when I know I’m in the zone. I just want to keep doing it more and more and more.

And, I guess it would be different if you were doing this full-time?

At some point I would like to. The thing is, I have a lot of student loans to pay off and I can’t even imagine not having a job but... one day maybe. Right now, I’m trying to get a license to be a registered architect and maybe when I have that I can freelance and work for myself.

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What’s freeing about what you do?

You know what’s nice about it? What’s nice about painting is that when you accomplish something its very obvious because you can hang it up on the wall. So you can look back after a year or something and you can see what you accomplished very clearly. It gives

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me a great sense of satisfaction because I can look at what I’ve done.

I see you that you have some instruments in the corner and I can tell you’re into music. What music currently influences you?

Flying Lotus.

What are universal principles that have allowed you to excel across the board? Especially when hoping to find that balance of the 9 to 5 and your art?

I don’t take anything too seriously. Some people probably define their entire identify by their job or something like that so if they have a bad day at work it really stresses them out. Whereas with me, I don’t take it too serious because I feel like I have more than one life and it’s like I play different characters. I have my life at work, I have my life here when I’m painting and I have my life when I’m hanging with my friends. I’m a little bit of a different person in each situation. In some ways it’s kind of nice because I can compartmentalize everything.

“Some people probably define their entire identity by their job... with me I don’t take it too serious because I feel like I have more than one life...”

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Headed North Photography x Marina Miller surfer/model: Dax Mcgill special thanks to: Flower Child & Muse Room in Kailua

It might be a secret that this girl is as talented as she is (especially if you don't follow surfing or live on the North Shore), but if you were to look at her track record, know her family, hear her schedule for the next month you'd be pretty stupid not to see that this girl's got no where to go but UP!

dress x muse room (kailua & waikiki locations), vintage jewelry

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dress x muse by rimo (from muse room in kailua & waikiki locations), vintage braided belt, boots x uggs, jewelry x aly beach, shorts x honey punch (from flowerchild in kailua), shirt x volcom, socks by lace & grace (lace&grace.com), shoes x toms, bangles x aly beach jewelry

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left: dress x cris and carol from flowerchild kailua, vintage jewelry and scarf right: vintage dress from barrio vintage

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on strike

interview x napua camarillo images x ryan struck

In a daring move to follow his passion, Ryan Struck took on the creative pursuit in the surfing world, ditching his 9-5 for wetsuits and waves.

Find out how his journey is going and follow his Instagram for an endless loop of empty waves....

Name: Ryan Struck Age: 27 Occupation: Photographer Hometown: Currently living in Asbury Park, NJ Can you explain in your own words what drove you to quit your 9 to 5 job?

I was having anxiety that I wasn’t doing what I should be doing: actively pursuing my dreams. I’m always worried that I am putting my own personal desires aside. In this case I felt I was doing what was expected of me: have a job, pay bills, etc. I feel that life is a constant push and pull— tidal. Sometimes it pulls you and that’s ok, I felt the need to push back. Really hard. I bought a round trip ticket to Teahupo’o, moved home and saved a bit of money, and gave my two week notice. I stayed in Tahiti for two months last summer, chased a few hurricanes in the fall on the East Coast, and then headed to Hawaii for 6 weeks. I landed in New Jer-

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sey at Christmas money, and heaps debt. Fuck work! come full circle year truly feels though.

time with no of credit card Right?! It’s again. Last like a dream

What made you want to pursue photography, and surf photography in particular, and how do you feel it’s going?

Photography hasn’t really been a choice. I feel compelled by it. You have to be driven.

There are plenty of amazing photographers out there but they aren’t shooting by divine right. Everyone is good at what consumes them most. Surf photography is just what I love to shoot most and I don’t know why. The more I’m exposed to different photography the more I’ve come to learn that surf photography is the best. Everyone calls it a dream job, well—I don’t really make any money shooting surf photos. So it’s not my job at this point, it just a creative outlet that

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is better than anything I’ve experienced before. I can always improve and I’m always a student. There are so many times where I think, “Ah, I wish I shot more of this or that.” I mentally file that idea away for the next shoot and probably think the same thing afterward.

Art is a mind occupier. Sometimes I can see an image I want to create and I lay in bed and night and just see it with my eyes closed.

Combine that with everything that photography entails and who has time for anything besides the marketing, e-mails, submitting images, answering image requests, editing photos, checking the surf report, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, arranging travel plans, booking clients, shooting, pursuing personal projects. Thank God for photography because I can’t think of anything else to do besides all of the above.

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“I feel that life is a constant push and pull, tidal.�

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Surf photography on the East Coast is a whole other world. It’s colder; it’s treacherous; and you have to wait for the right season?

Tell us more about that.

Yeah the surf on the East Coast is fickle to sum it up in one word. It really isn’t good all that often but maybe 2-3 days a year it’s world class for sure with plenty of other good days. Being used to the way Jersey breaks and traveling elsewhere can be perplexing. “Umm, where’s the barrel?” I have a deep need to shoot hollow surf; there’s just nothing better. It’s definitely freezing at times but that’s kinda fun. It’s numbing after you duck under the third wave in a set and your face has no feeling and somehow the cold has seeped into your brain’s center.

September to April is the bread and butter of good days. Hurricane season, June to October, holds promise and a lot of hype. At least the water is warm then, but I’ve chased my tail a lot trying to score good photos then.

Where have you traveled in your creative pursuit?

West of New Jersey. I’m still dying to go East. It’s not really about filling the pages of my passport as it is to see something with my own two eyes. When I think of travel I think places like Machu Picchu, Egypt, The Middle East, The Himalayas, The Sahara.

I could go on and on. I’ve been to the wave rich Meccas: the Mentawai Islands, Tahiti, Hawaii, Central America. It just feels like a given that I’ll keep seeing great surf destinations, but I want to see the natural world too, if that makes sense.

What sort of things did you learn on your travels? Any interesting stories?

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Before I left for Tahiti my grandma dropped me off at the train station and said, “Learn something you didn’t learn before.” That’s pretty much the vibe of travel for me.

In light of recent advances in technology, what do you hope happens in the way of your craft?

What I hope doesn’t happen is the official death of print. Everything is digital now and I don’t mean the cameras per se. All content is online and viewership is being driven in that direction. I’m even subjecting those who are interested in my work to view it 600 pixels wide. Ugh, that sucks! Absolute gems are being thrown away online but that’s just what it has come to, so you must adapt to survive.

Digital really changed the way photographers operated when the technology was new. It changed the way media outlets were staffed and it has opened up a world of possibilities—as well as closed doors for many. Photography is an evolution and you are destined to extinction if you think otherwise.

What do you love about the East Coast?

I love that it’s still surprising. It still keeps you on your toes and there is still so much to see here in my own backyard.

What do you hate about the East Coast?

I used to get really bummed when I thought the waves would be good and they turned out not so much. If you can get past that, you will never hate the East Coast.

plugging along, that I’m on the right path, and they will be there to support me no matter what I do.

Golden sunlight helps too.

What’s your life’s motto?

Whatever the next fortune cookie says.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

I really can’t fully define inspiration. It has been a concept I have been trying to pin down for a few years.

Everything in the world influences me. If I don’t like something, I don’t do it. If I do, I do. I don’t know exactly what drives my interest in the things I like.

Sometimes you have to do nothing to form an idea and sometimes you have to be grinding 24/7 to achieve your goals. I find that the moments in between the chaos while in the midst of life, work, and the void of time are filled; that’s when beauty is revealed. Without hard work you can never appreciate these respites no matter how fleeting they always seem to be. That being said, my friends inspire me. They’ve taught me to keep

What advice would you give to aspiring surf photographers?

Follow your heart and shoot what makes you happy.

Don’t try and copy what others are doing because then you aren’t you. Be friendly. Run regularly. And don’t beat yourself up. If you want it you’ll get it.

Check out Ryan at RYANSTRUCK.COM where this is his artist statement.

I want to experience every corner of the world, camera in hand.

There’s a telling story under each nook and cranny. I am of the mind set that life is a give and take and if you do not bend with the wind you will snap, leaving behind a brittle and jagged stump.

All thoughts are up for debate and each should be considered carefully. There is beauty in absolutely everything; win, lose or draw.

We love that.

“I find it’s the moments in between the chaos while in the midst of life, work and the void of time filled, that’s when beauty is revealed.” the manifold magazine

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nofx

interview x jonny isabello photos x napua camarillo

The Band That Wouldn’t Die

The last time Hawaii print met NOFX was via an interview for a now defunct local zine called “Fuddy Duddy”

at the Big Mele in 1994, during the golden era of Radio Free Hawaii. Find it at the official NOFX website. Even then, right after the release of Punk in Drublic, the band was receiving harsh criticism, being accused of selling out and being “not punk.” Basically not being or keeping it “real.” As anyone in any kind of spotlight can tell you, one of the disadvantages of being in the media’s eye is a kettle of vultures circling, trying to point out their version of your inadequacies and shortfalls. I’d imagine it’s enough to make a human bitter and disproportionately defensive.

Prior to this 15 minute interview, I was told that Fat Mike was an asshole with very little patience. Armed with this hearsay, the phone call was approached with a fair amount of research on a band that I love and have listened to religiously for the last 20 years. I didn’t want to waste this guy’s existence with questions that he’s answered time and time again. What I found instead was an individual with very little patience for assholes. He was representing a band that’s on his own independent record label. They tour, write and record what, where and when they want. They have families.

They like to have fun. They have little time for bullshit.

For the last 30 years, with 20 albums, 21 EPs and multiple 7 inches and singles under their belt, NOFX has established itself as a punk staple. February marked their 8th visit to our islands and they performed at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and then at The Republik in Honolulu.

Jonny: Well, we got a bunch of questions, might be a bit much, ‘cause we’re gonna edit it down, but better to have too much than not enough…

Fat Mike: Well if it’s too much, I’ll say, ‘cause I don’t wanna be here forever.

J: Why, what’s your time limit?

FM: 20 minutes.

J: Alright, perfect. Here we go then. When did it become clear that music would be your guys’ career?

FM: Oh, well it took awhile, I mean, NOFX, we started in late ’83, and we didn’t start makin’ a living at it til ’91.

You know it’s like, 8 years and I never thought I’d make a living at it ‘cause I went to realty school in 1990, um and I went to college so it took me like 8 years before I realized I could make a living at this. And that year I only made like, 8 thousand dollars.

J: What was that, around “White Trash?”

FM: Nah, it was right around “Longest Line.”

J: Alright also, just outta curiosity, how many takes was it

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““So,, my secret is I just get wasted before every show.”

to successfully record “The Decline?”

FM: We did it in sections. It was like 5 or 6 sections to record it.

J: Ooookay. It’s funny, I posed the question to El Hefe at one of the Big Meles right after the release and he was like ,”76!”

FM: Nah, he was kidding (laughs).

J: Well, just going down the line here, there’s no real order. Where do you see yourselves if all of a sudden you guys couldn’t play music?

FM: Um, well, not being able to play music or not being able to play NOFX? I mean I got the Gimme Gimmes and one other deal with something else, but..…

J: Like, um, your hands got cut off or something.

FM: I dunno, I do a lot of other shit. Like, I have a record label and a recording studio, and I could still sing, I don’t know. That’s a weird question, you mean if I had to choose another profession, what would I do?

J: Yeah, ok.

FM: I always thought truck driving was pretty cool. Or maybe being a porn producer.

J: Yeah, as one, you get a bunch of cool hats, or the other, the internet’s all you need. ‘Kay, this might be a big one: If you were stuck on a desert island, what five albums would you have with you?

FM: Right, that’s a tough question right offhand, kinda have to think about that. But I can give you some of my favorite punk albums: Bad Religion: “Against the Grain,” Randy: “Human Atom Bombs,” Lillingtons: “Death by Television.” I’m gonna put Tony Sly: “12 Song the manifold magazine

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Program” on there, and uh, oooohhhh, Misfits: Walk Among Us.” J: Nice. Yeah! Alright. I’ve been listening to you guys since the early ‘90s and I went back from there on your discography… You guys released “I Heard they Suck Live.” Love the on stage banter, it gets more and more entertaining every time. Then, “Gotten Worse Live,” even better. Obviously I saw you guys at The Republik and wasn’t disappointed.

What do you think it is that keeps the band from taking itself so seriously? You guys are fuckin’ hilarious.

FM: I dunno, it’s kinda how my philosophy on life is, you can’t take yourself too seriously. You can get serious shit done, you know, life’s here to have fun. And on stage, you should be havin’ a good time. I think the crowd, they know when you’re having a good time and when you’re faking it.

J: Yeah, we definitely feed off of it too.

FM: Right. So, my secret is I just get wasted before every show. I have a good time, and as long as you can play wasted, then it’s not a problem.

J: Yeah, I’ve seen you guys every time you’ve played O’ahu and I’ve never been in a funner pit. Maybe Pennywise; Pennywise also puts on a super energetic show.

FM: Yeah, they’re energetic but they’re not really fun. Or funny.

J: Exactly. On that note, what was your funnest album to record and why?

FM: I think our last album (Self-Entitled) might’ve been our funnest. ‘Cause we had Bill Stevenson there, we had a BBQ set up, and we had our families so people were just

hanging out, drinking beer, partyin’, eatin’, it was just really relaxed. I did a little bit too many drugs the last few days, that’s why my voice is so scratchy on the album.

Well, I work in a bar, so what’s your favorite beer and your favorite liquor?

FM: Yeah it’s weird ‘cause the new one, the difference with the new one is I didn’t spend that much time writing it. Or recording it. Which kinda gives it a more natural feel, ya’know, more punk, less thought out.

J: Campari? You know that most Campari you’re gonna drink has been sitting behind the bar for at least 5 years, right? That shit doesn’t move at all!

FM: My favorite beer right now is Lagunitas IPA. My favorite liquor is...hmmm… I’m J: Yeah, sounds good still though. I feel like it was gonna say Campari. I like Campari and soda different, still can’t put my finger on it though— a lot.

J: Yeah it was intense, but a different vibe— FM: People still seem to like it though.

J: Absolutely, fuck yeah. Now what do you think was the lowest point in your guys’ career?

FM: Well, I remember the lowest point in our career was in a squat in Germany in 1988, on tour and the audience REALLY didn’t like us.

They thought we were sexist and like, turned the PA off after two songs, they were throwing bottles at us. We got in a fight with some guy on stage and our drum set got trashed and so we went upstairs and we had to stay there ‘cause that’s where we were sleepin’, in that same place and everyone just hated us there. And that’s when I thought I was gonna give this band up and, honestly, I wanted to work for Operation Ivy (laughs).

J: Awesome. Yeah, Germans can be pretty fucking serious people. Like, as a race.

FM: Yeah. Yeah. They didn’t like our brand of California humor. And you know our band was pretty bad back then and when we got back we kicked out one of our guitar players ‘cause he could not play drunk all the time and, ya’know, things slowly got better after that.

J: Yeah, I mean if this was 1988, it seems shit just kinda swung upwards for you guys ‘til now.

FM: (laughs) Yeah it doesn’t really move, but—what I drink on tour is vodka sodas with Campari on the top. That shit’s fuckin’ bitter man, it’s awesome. You gotta drink Campari and soda, it’s great. Don’t ever drink it straight, though–it’s terrible straight. It’s like drinking cough medicine or something.

J: Yeah, like cough medicine or—I had a friend who was such an alcoholic that he killed like, half a bottle of Martini and Rossi dry vermouth (retching and groaning sounds on both ends of the phone).

FM: I like Fernet but Campari’s it for me.

What else you got for me?

J: If you had drink named after you, what would be in it?

FM: Well, that would be it: A Fat Mike would be vodka, soda, Campari.

J: Copy that. What about Hawaiʻi keeps you guys coming back? You’ve been comin’ here for awhile. Not as much as Dance Hall Crashers but they’re gone…

FM: Heh. Well, just, it’s pretty close and ya’know, a lot of us are golfers, we’ve done a lot of golfing around there. And it’s just a nice place to go and we do really good out there.

J: Yeah, I grew up here, I can’t imagine living

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I dunno, it’s kinda how my philosophy on life is, you can’t take yourself too seriously. You can get serious shit done,, you know., life’s here to have fun. And on stage, you should be havin’ a good time. I think the crowd, they know when you’re having a good time and when you’re faking it. or raising my kids anywhere else. What haven’t you experienced here that you wanna check out next time?

FM: Yeah, that’s what I need: a spot that’s really close to the shore, less paddling.

FM: Um, Hawaiʻi? I wanna know some good restaurants to go to. Some like, good places that locals know about. We always get stuck in some cheesy, like, fuckin’ chain restaurant.

J: Yeah, bring your kid too, I’d be down to teach her to surf.

J: Yeah, super easy to fall into those traps. Man, hit us up next time, I work at Downbeat Diner and don’t see myself leaving anytime soon—

J: Shoots, moving right along, The Republik is a newer venue. How was it playing there as opposed to, say, Pipeline? The sound was good?

FM: And I do wanna surf Waikiki at some point.

FM: Not much difference, they’re both pretty cool. And yeah, the sound was good. I thought it was a great show at The Republik.

J: What? You guys haven’t surfed out here? Fuck, I’ll take you guys surfing.

FM: Well, I tried at Diamond Head but I guess it’s a little tougher than Waikiki.

J: There’s a spot there that’s really close to the shore that companies use for surf lessons— the manifold magazine

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FM: She’d probably be up for it in a couple years, she’s 8 now.

J: In your mind, what was the best part of the show?

FM: Ya’know, I was so wasted I don’t remember. I just remember having a really good time.

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J: And the after party at Downbeat? How was that?

FM: That was fun, that was the first time I got to hear Eric Melvin DJ. Hey, can you hold on one second?

J: Yeah, I got only one more question, man.

(Background noise for a moment) FM: Okay, go ahead.

J: ‘Kay, what do you feel is the biggest difference, from a performer’s perspective between Honolulu and Maui?

FM: Well, I mean, Honolulu is way more rockin’ ‘cause there’s more people and people that are more punk rockers, not just goin’ to a punk rock show. But the thing is that in Maui we played an outdoor place. I mean there were 800 people but it was a huge place so it didn’t really have the vibe.

The Republik was just a great vibe and a really fun time.

J: Yeah, indoors it’s all condensed and a more urban population in Honolulu.

FM: Yeah.

J: Well, I guess that’s it, man. When do you see yourselves comin’ back?

FM: Well, we usually play cities once every 3 or so years so I would say 3 years.

J: Cool. Thank you, Fat Mike.

FM: Yeah, thanks for the interview!

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Vs.

This time around, we took 5 artists all living in New York all ripe with reputation and all anxious to create. interview and photos x christopher martin

WIZARD SKULL

Name: Age: 77 Birthplace: East Coast Current city: Bushwick, Brooklyn Mediums: Whatever I feel like.

Where is your studio located? Or a store or gallery that carries your art?

Where ever I am is my studio, as long as I have my pens and sketchbook. Usually in a bar or coffee shop around Bushwick.

Who or what were your youth influences? What inspired you to make art?

The 1980’s (cartoons, movies, etc).

Projection for the year? One goal or place your showing work? Any exciting events?

I’m just trying to make it to tomorrow.

Daily routine? Daily constant?

Influences now?

Devendra Banhart, Bright Eyes, Macaulay Culkin.

Get up, go to work. Come home, work on my art, go to bed. Sometimes eat.

5 things you love about NYC?

Explain your creative process??

I don’t need a car. I go outside of my apt and I can skateboard. Plenty of things to do.

I come up with an idea, and then I make it.

Favorite piece of work you have made? Or favorite experience working or collaboration?

I don’t have a favorite, I just like to keep making work.

If you could hang with any artist, alive or dead who would it be? What would you do?

I can’t think of any.

Hours a week spent in your studio?

What is your Favorite city?

60+

I can’t think of one.

If your studio or house was on fire, what would you grab?

What artists do you have pieces of in your home or studio?? Trades/purchases?

I would grab a fire extinguisher.

Matt Crabe zines.

Other creative outlets?

Current/Next project?

I ride a skateboard.

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One fad or trend that you don’t like?

Dying.

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Gallery or museum?

Gallery.

Canvas or wall?

Either.

Permanent or temporary?

Beer or liquor?

Water.

Website? Insta? wizardskull.com  @Wizardskull Shout out?

Nope.

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Temporary.

Buff Monster

Name: Age: 34 Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii Current city: Brooklyn Mediums: Usually acrylic and airbrush. Working in the streets, I use other stuff.

Who or what were your youth influences? What inspired you to make art?

I grew up on Heavy Metal music, Hello Kitty, Garbage Pail Kids. Later on graffiti and street art inspired me a whole lot.

Influences now?

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All the same stuff…and the work by lots of super awesome artists…

5 things you love about NYC? I love everything about NYC. After living in LA for 15 years, I was over it. I’ve never regretted moving out here.

Ever since the first night I moved here, I hang out with Sucklord, L’Amour Supreme and Greg Mishka all the time. I never had a community like this in LA. Favorite piece of work you have made? Or favorite experience working or collaboration?

Lately, L’Amour and I have been travelling the world doing live painting. It’s always fun!

What is your Favorite city?

NYC is an easy answer, but I don’t know if that’s my final answer.

What artists do you have pieces of in your home or studio-trades/purchases?

I have original pieces by Barry Mcgee, John Pound, Neckface, Dalek, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Mike Giant, and others. I have some prints by Takashi Murakami, Shepard Fairey and bunch of others.

Current project? Next project??

L’Amour and I have a show together in April in Brooklyn,

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more travelling, a second series of The Melty Misfits, new resin and vinyl toys. I’m always super busy!

One fad or trend that you don’t like?

Where is your studio located? Or a store or gallery that carries your art?

Gallery or museum?

I work at home in Brooklyn. I’ve worked with Corey Helford Gallery in LA for many years.

Projection for the year? One goal? Or place your showing work?? Any exciting events.

Like I said, I got a whole lot going on. It doesn’t matter how many ideas you have or how many things you start, it’s a matter of finishing things.

Ugh emails. There’s always so many emails!

Explain your creative process?

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Both. It’s about the art, not the building.

Canvas or wall?

Both.

Permanent or temporary?

Both.

Beer or liquor?

Both.

Website? Insta?

Heavy Metal music.

BuffMonster.com, buffmonster on Instagram and twitter.

If you could hang with any artist, alive or dead who would it be. What would you do?

Shout out?

It would be awesome to hang out with Andy Warhol. I’m sure it would be really awkward, but it would be a good story to tell.

Hours a week spent in your studio?

Most of them.

Must haves? A favorite brush, type of paint, a joint etc??

Heavy Metal. Can’t do anything without it. Coffee helps too. It’s a winning combination!

If your studio or house was on fire. What would you grab.

Ugh, I don’t even want to think about that.

Other creative outlets?

The ladies.

This magazine, the person reading this magazine, and all the awesome people that support and inspire me.

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Daily routine? Daily constant?

No idea.

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Lee Trice

Name: Age: 30 Birthplace: Detroit Current city: Brooklyn, NYC Mediums: Paper, spray paint, acrylic, dust, sweat, tears, whiskey and a little blood for good measure.

Who or what were your youth influences? What inspired you to make art?

Hmmm comics and cartoons were a big influence. Skating and surfing culture was always very inspiring too. Growing up in Florida I was always surrounded by a number of artistic rebels.

Influences now?

My good friends Judith Supine and Anthony Lister were really the biggest push for me to get more serious about my art.

The girls, The music, The Brooklyn homies, the inspiration, and the fact you can get anything you want at anytime.

Favorite piece of work you have made? Or favorite experience working or collaboration ?

Probably this 30 ft x 12 ft collage I did where I work. It took me almost a month working everyday on it.

What is your Favorite city?

NYC of course, than probably Amsterdam. I lived in the red light district for 7 months.

What artists do you have pieces of in your home or studio--trades/ purchases?

Daily routine? Daily constant?

I work as an Art Director full time, and have a serious craving for music. I work on art the rest of the time. No sleep is getting rough though.

Explain your creative process??

Joint, couple beers and its off to the races.. a little Dark Star in the background doesn’t hurt.

If you could hang with any artist, alive or dead who would it be... What would you do?

Dali. Get loose and hit on Williamsburg Bettys.

Hours a week spent in your studio: 20-30 Must haves? A favorite brush, type of paint, a joint?

Maybe a 3D printer and a laser cutter would be pretty epic.

If your studio or house was on fire, what would you grab?

My fucking skateboard and six pack. and probably the Lister paintings I have. Ha Other creative outlets?

Design, Typography, Crate Digging, Fried Foods.

On fad or trend that you don’t like?

The Kale Craze.

Parra, Judith Supine, Faile, Anthony Listers (plural). Hopefully soon some Lamour Supremes and Buff Monters maybe a skinner too.

Gallery or museum?

Current/next project?

Shit, both I guess.

I have a Solo show and tee dropping for MISHKA at there flagship store in Brooklyn on 350 Broadway. Come through if your in the hood!

Canvas or wall?

Where is your studio located? Or a store or gallery that carries your art?

Permanent or temporary?

My studio is in Williamsburg. Hmmm NBKC has a few prints left and Also Desert Island on Metropolitan.

Projection for the year? One goal or place your showing work? Any exciting events?

Wall

Perm Beer or liquor?

BOTH FOR SURE.

Shout out?

CMART, DIRK, SLATZ, LUCAS WALTERS, GOLDSTEIN, SUPINE, LISTER, BRENTO, CHANG, MAX D, DIRTY BOOGIE, JOSH, PJ3, PATRICK ROCKWELL, JOEL, GREG MISHKA, GREG MIKE, CHRIS THOMAS, FRED GaLL, SHERRI TRICE. and all the other scum bags I forgot to mention. Love you guys.

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5 things you love about NYC?

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Hmmm just to kill this Mishka Show and keep pushing it, you know.

L’amour Supreme

Name: Age: Unknown Birthplace: Hell

Current city: Homeless in the lower east side of NYC Mediums: Life.

Who or what were your youth influences?

Influences in my youth would have to be old Masters like Michelangelo and Raphael as well as the music of Mozart and Beethoven What inspired you to make art?

Next project?

Can’t discuss yet but to travel more places an cities live painting.

Where is your studio located?

Or a store or gallery that carries your art?

Lower East Side of NYC as well as the MISHKA store in Williamsburg Brooklyn Projection for the year?

To keep continuing to be creative and stay new and relevant.

One goal?

Always stay present and inspire other fellow artists.

Or place your showing work??

Influences now?

Cotton Candy Gallery in Brooklyn NY April 12th with Buff Monster.

Influences now would have to be Jack Kirby, Pushead, EC Comics, Fantasy artists like the Brothers Hildebrandt.

Daily routine?

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Inspiration to create at an early age would have to be the need to express and create worlds that existed in my mind.

5 things you love about NYC? 1. Pizza 2. Diversity 3. Attitude 4. Family and friends 5. The vibration Favorite piece of work you have made? Or favorite experience working or collaboration ??

Too many to name but the one that comes to mind is the piece in Thrasher magazine that Pushead colored and published in his music section of Puszone, circa 1986 What is your Favorite city?

I usually wake up around 11, get ideas conceptualized. Go to the studio around 3 and paint till I pass out.

Explain your creative process??

First I empty my mind and let ideas flow and then paint or render what comes to mind If you could hang with any artist, alive or dead who would it be...

Pablo Picasso.

What would you do?

Drink and smoke cigarettes with him.

NYC of course but Tokyo as a close second. Could never live there but the people and Japanese culture have always been an influence on me.

What artists do you have pieces of in your home or studio?

I have a custom Nag Nag Nag from my friend Shigeru in Japan which is a directly influenced by an old toy called Frankie drop your drawers. It’s a vinyl you with custom made clothing and complete with clothes and paint applications.

Hours a week spent in your studio: 40-50 Must haves?

My Rolex Submariner watch A favorite brush type of paint.

Current project?

I really use A Japanese cartridge sumo brush tip pen.

Working on a two man show with Buff Monster at Cotton Candy Gallery April 12th

If your studio or house was on fire. What would you grab?

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My kid. Hahah

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I love them all. Not hating just loving everything and hopefully it’ll come back.

Gallery or museum?

Museum.

Canvas or wall?

Canvas.

Permanent or temporary?

Permanent.

Beer or liquor?

Liquor.

Website: Info@Lamoursupreme.com Instagram: Lamour Supreme Shout out?

I’ve never liked shouting out because you’ll leave some out and then they get butt hurt

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One fad or trend that you don’t like?

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THE SUPER SUCKLORD

Name: Age: 44 Birthplace: NYC Current city: NYC Mediums: Toys, music, movies, print

Daily routine? Daily constant?

Jerk off , make toys, watch TV, Get fucked up.

Explain your creative process??

Who or what were your youth influences?

LSD, Ralph Bakshi, Star Wars,

I’m in the fantasy business, the idea and concept business of things... as cheesy as that sounds.. so the figures I make are a representation of that. I think of an idea and I represent it through these forms.

5 things you love about NYC?

If you could hang with any artist, alive or dead who would it be... What would you do?

Everything is close. Whole foods, Chinatown, all the big players come here. I actually fucking hate it here.

I don’t really care.

Favorite piece of work you have made? Or favorite experience working or collaboration?

Hours a week spent in your studio?

60

I don’t really know.. selling my art is fun, making my art is fun. My favorite experience is being able to turn the stupid ideas that don’t mean shit into rent.

Must haves?

What is your Favorite city?

If your studio or house was on fire. What would you grab?

NYC What artists do you have pieces of in your home or studio?

Bakshi hanging in my house, Cosbe, mostly vintage toys, Lots of tags in my studio though.... Buff Monster, Lamour Supreme, Mary Papers, Cosbe, Tonetank, some other guys too... a Mexican bootleg black velvet Gandolph painting I stole from The Work of Art series 2.

Food, air, water.

Grab my hard drives and run!

Other creative outlets other than art?

Like what. Sports? No. My work is all consuming.

One fad or trend that you don’t like?

Circle Jerking.

Current/next project??

Making the Suck store happen! It is located at 88 East Broadway, Triple 8 mall in Chinatown NYC ! Making more figures like Dickship, Cracky Smurf . More fucking toys.!

Gallery or museum?

Fuck em both.

Canvas or wall?

Where is your studio located?

Neither.

Christie Street in L.E.S, NYC Project for the year?

Permanent or temporary?

Just keep the store going.

Permanent is always better.

Beer or liquor?

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Beer Website? www.suckadelic.com

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Wells Shaw

interview & images x matt miller

Ask any kid at Carolina Beach who the best skater in Wilmington is. They will almost undoubtedly say Wells Shaw. The local enigma has been a skate-teammate of mine for a long time and a friend for much longer. Interviewing him was almost weird. It was as if we couldn’t have a normal conversation. It seemed too professional. I had a few questions I knew I should ask, but other than that I was pretty stumped.

Wells isn’t the kind of person to dwell on the unanswered questions of local fame. It didn’t feel right sitting him down in my office, so instead we opted to hang out in my driveway where we spent many hours back in the day learning how to skate. Instead of typing up a formal interview I wrote a few mandatory questions. Wells, our mutual friend Adam, and I popped the tops on some cold ones and just had a simple conversation. If the answers seem short and boring, well that is just how Wells is. Mellow and relaxed, never getting too worked up over anything. A simple man who loves to skate.

Alright so, what’s your home town?

Adam: Those things were dangerous!

Wilmington, North Carolina. I’ve lived here my whole entire life. Same house.

You’re fucking running at something...

You like it?

I love it. It gets boring, but I love it. I would never leave permanently.

How old are you?

22 going on 23 boy!

How long have you been skating?

Well I got my first skateboard when I was 7 years old and I always had it kind of sitting there, but I didn’t get too into it until I was about 13.

From then on it was nothing but skating. I used to do everything, though.

Blade, scooter, bike, Soap shoes... (laughs) Soaps, dude...

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Adam: They were so cool though...

Where are you working at?

I work at the movie studios in town, making movie sets and destroying movies sets with my dad. It’s pretty rad. It takes me to new places.

If you’re not skating or working, what are you doing?

I play some guitar, shoot some basketball, or just chill with the homies. I like to fish too.

Shit.

We need to go fishing, man.

We need to go fishing.

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What about your musical influences?

iPhone. GoPro that shit man!

My musical influences? My father.

What’s your ideal day like in Wilmington, NC and surrounding areas?

What do you like playing?

I like blues a lot. Anything, really, with guitar and some drums and some bass. None of that poppy, techno, dubstep bullshit. I like real instruments, good lyrics, good songwriters, but when it comes down to it I’ll listen to anything and try to enjoy it.

What’s your favorite color? (laughs) GREEN! I sat at the green table in art class in first grade and ever since then it’s been green. White was my favorite color before that but I was so stoked when we got to sit at the green table.

You working on any projects now, skating wise?

Another Skate Shop video, it doesn’t have a name yet, but it is going to be another shop video technically.

Just trying to get photos and all that good stuff. Satori is putting out a video, but I didn’t actually have to film with them, just sent them footage. He’s gonna make me a part.

VX or HD? I could care less. As long as it’s documented somehow. It could be an

I wake up, sun is shining...

You can talk about weed man, it’s cool, this mag is from Hawaii.

I wake up and the sun is shining.

My mom just cooked breakfast. I got plenty of the weed that I can just smoke all day if I want. I eat, get all energized, go down to the CB skate park and get warmed up, mess around, get the legs warm, and try to meet up with people. Then we usually hit the streets. It’s always the same spots we’ve been skating for 10 years, but they’re fun. Like Hoggard [High School] the other day, that was fun.

That’s definitely one of our first street spots. We lurked there so hard back in the day.

What are your inspirations?

Don’t really have any.

So what are your sponsors? Shout outs?

Big thanks to Dan, Mike, and Jenny at Another Skate Shop, Travis at Satori Wheels, and Gabe with Matix Clothing. Mad props to all those guys. And I want to thank you for hooking up this interview, shooting photos, and filming.

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I wake up and the sun is shining. I got plenty of the weed that I can just smoke all day if I want. I eat, get all energized, go down to the CB skate park and get warmed up

Matt Miller was born and raised on the skate and surf culture of Wilmington, NC. He found a passion for photography at age 15 and followed the passion to college. Matt graduated in May 2012 from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Photography and General Business. You can find him at MGMILLERPHOTO.com

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Seeking Solitude photography x napua camarillo

modeled x kyle smith @radicalsmith

special thanks to Barrio Vintage

visit our website to see Kyle in fast forward

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opposite page: vintage button down x barrio vintage, black board shorts x hurley. this page clockwise: tshirt x 808 skate, blue board shorts x hurley, multicolored striped board shorts x rvca, shoes x vans, grey tee x 808 skate, hat x volcom, jeans x volcom. next page: tee x 808 skate (anti-haole), jeans x volcom, vintage button down x barrio vintage.

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Coachella photography x sierra presscott text x napua camarillo

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63 Coachella. It’s almost the modern Woodstock with a slightly more pretentious vibe. It’s where the uberly obscure indie followers meet desert heat and psychedelic bliss. Modern bohemian women wear flower crowns while shirtless guys flex muscles and don weird outfits. The land of beers before noon and the thrill of discovering the newest eargasming music. Sierra Prescott our fav LA photog of the moment road tripped to Indio Valley and got to explore the festival for three days of camping.

Here’s the current stuff that’s making our playlists.

Check one, two, three.

Skinny Lister. Portugal the Man. Palma Violets.

Skinny Lister.

Named the Hardest working band in the UK in 2011 for hitting more concert festivals than any other band, these Brits (with the addition of one Hawaii musician) seem to have what it takes. They took that mentality of workmanship to score spots on the Van’s Warped Tour, SXSW, and this year’s Coachella. Started in 2009, Skinny Lister has become --the one to watch-- for us. You can expect a more in depth story about these dudes in the next issue but for now their video ---Rollin Over--- satisfies the folksy music we sometimes crave.

Portugal. The Man The answer to your disappointment with MGMT’s last album or was that just me? Anyways, Portugal. The Man gives us that catchy electronic sound but with a darker side. Originally formed in Alaska but eventually moving to Viva La Hipster--Portland, this band is said to be working with Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) on a new album influenced heavily by Pink Floyd. We are so into it, guarantee game changer.

Palma Violets Rock and raspy, Palma Violets, hail from the UK and make us feel dirty in a good way...concert sweat dirty and hungry for the next song. Each time vocalist, Alexander Jesson, sings it feels familiar for some reason. Perhaps it feels comfortable because when you add up the elements-- 90’s garage rock sound, semi surf riffs, and those deep and seemingly drunken vocals, it leaves you feeling like the night is endless-- where we going next--? The BBC nominated them for the Sound of 2013. Check out “Best of Friends” both versions and let us know what you think at TheManifoldMag.com

Bring on the summer!

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Cosmos Photography x Laura McKinnon www.lauramckinnon.co.uk

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Make-up and Hair x Elaine Burns – www.elaineburns.co.uk Styled x Stephanie Boyle – thetinystylist.tumblr.com Modeled x Holly Hepburn @ Model Team.

left: shirt x topshop, vintage skirt middle: dress x new look, stylists own accessories right: brandless skirt found @saint ouen flea market

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left: kimono x dorothy perkins, stylists own accessories right: playsuit x h&m, next page left: dress x new look, next page right: vintage 1970a dress

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An Endless Search

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They say a journey of a million miles begins with one step. For Elza Burkhart each step brought her one step closer to the creation of her true self: a vintage loving songstress, with an envious style, and a serious case of wanderlust.

How did I find my passions? I’m not sure. I believe that they found me, and I’ve grown into them.

There’s the time when you are enamored with an art, or action and as a beginner you’re God awful at it.

You take photos and end up loading the film wrong the first three times. And then you change cameras and everything is better, this you learn, is taking the time to find your instruments. You have vivid images in your head, clear as reality, you put pen to paper and the sloppy lines and smudges of colors don’t look anything like your vision. When you start understanding that letters make words and when you write letters, you forget how many lines to put in the E’s and which way an S goes. “ What are you going to do when you grow up? As a little girl, I noticed these were adult’s favorite questions. Their eyes seems to become bigger and all their facial expressions seem contorted and then you had to think hard because the question seemed so final, so testing. Who knows? I’m four years old and today, I kind of want to be Michael Jackson’s backup dancer on MTV or in the circus. My mother always told me I would paint. I would be an artist but most of all, I would paint. At the time, I liked drawing, and it was something I did for hours every day but I didn’t want that to be it. Even before I knew what stress was, it terrified me to be stuck doing one single thing and it seemed like this was life; picking one thing and sticking to it.

When I was younger, I lived in a beautiful valley in Northern California. We moved there after leaving Cannes because my father wasn’t well and he and my mother wanted to enjoy the rest of their life

together in a place that seemed like heaven. At home, records were always playing; Marley, The Stooges, The Rolling Stones. There were always men with boots and slicked back hair playing guitar and their wild haired girlfriends running around the hilltop cottage smoking weed and making sure my parents were okay. I learned to ride my bike with the older boys that rode their bikes with surfboards under their arms. I built tree-forts and bopped around my best friend’s room to TLC and Kim Wilde. I made comic books and my own doll houses while my mother held my dad’s hand in his last days on this earth. Early on I felt pain and saw that sometimes life isn’t fair. I was always taught to embrace life and keep on doing the things that were worth singing about. I lost my father to AIDS at eight years old and although his death always felt and sometimes still feels like someone left the window open in a storm. My mother chose to surround me in beauty and wilderness and let me learn that the world is scary, sad, magical and yet giving at the same time.

Fast forward a handful of years later to high school, when I bothered to show up. I was seventeen years old and I still didn’t know what I want to do with my life. I got good grades but I couldn’t seem to do assignments the way my teachers asked me. I spent my time skipping classes and going to art shows, burlesque shows, going to classic movies at the Castro theatre in San Francisco and drinking green tea. I wanted to be an artist, but was not inspired. Nothing truly spoke to me and demanded interpretation. I could draw and paint but they translated empty thoughts. I was painting the boredom of teenage suburbia, and there isn’t much to say about that.

So, I left. Left my friends, my home, the hills that surround the little town with the road that goes straight into a magical fog city. Left the glittering men, leather clad women, doe eyed girls in short dresses and the city where everything is cool. I moved back to the South of France. I decided not to go to college and spent a year by myself. I went from social butterfly to observing outsider…and I learned. Learned how to handle when people berate you on the street. I learned how to walk with your head up when you feel lonely. I learned how to drink wine. I learned how to be alone. I learned to miss your real home and fall in love with a new one. I learned to feel pain again.

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I learned to accept criticism, and essentially, grow up.

I learned that I will never be one thing, it’s absolutely against my Gemini nature, but I have learned to be faithful to my ventures and to devote everything I have to ending the things I have started. After years of floating from city to city and being weightless, I realized that it’s important to me to create, to be self sufficient. I find myself to be inspired by all sorts of things, by words on a page, by the sway of a man’s coat when he walks slowly. I’m fascinated by the bounce of bodacious girls when they strut down the street. Flowers capture me. Statues confound me. The ocean mystifies me.

Neon lights, graffiti and palm trees make me feel at home.

My husband and I are kind of cut from the same cloth, we had known each other for a long time but never quite allowed ourselves the opportunity to spend time together.

When it was finally the right time we realized we finally were two, seeking to live a life together, created by our own circumstances. Not content to sit at home and wait for great things.

I think if there is one rule for success, it is first, to determine what your definition of success is. My definition might be a bit unconventional but it fits the vision of what I’d like to achieve.

I believe the right way to succeed in a creative venture, is to trust your instinct. The true creative

pursuit IS to be unbreakably true to your instinct. I’ve never really done things in a conventional way because if it doesn’t come naturally to me.

I’m apt to sit on it for too long and doubt myself into oblivion.

When I find myself staying still in one place for long I find myself comparing what other people are doing and how and whether or not I’m doing it right. I sometimes hold myself back or just sit on my hands and wait for the right moment. I waste the hours away biting my knuckle in anxiety and watching the same films while scribbling really over-zealous to do lists on post-its. Doubt is natural, self examination is a gift, but you do have to be careful of being too eager to kick yourself while you’re down.

I find I do best when I’m in my own world, working alongside Brandon on our respective works like The Saint James Society a band my husband and I started. We’re releasing our first full length LP and getting ready to tour the States and Europe.

On tour we’ll explore cities and towns. We’ll get to meet absolutely beautiful people. It’ll gives me a chance to find treasures for my vintage collection Fauve&Hunter.com.

When we travel I spend time creating, photographing, reading, and kissing, instead of being concerned with how someone else made what they did. When we’re home I do freelance styling for musicians and artists, and work on my online boutique Fauve&Hunter where I get to create a sort of virtual

emporium for people that feel a similar philosophy on life.

Today we’re setting the stage for the life we want.

Life is a beautiful thing. It’s terrifying and full of wonder and we might as well decorate it and ourselves in our creative expression on our own terms of our creative pursuit.

follow along on instagram @thesaintjamessociety @fauveandhunter

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--Elza

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Tricky Britches

Tricky Britches is a perfect example of the creative pursuit. They’ve traveled the country busking, made harmonies and memories in New Orleans, roadtripped through massive Texas, and brought blue grass to the Aloha state. Let’s get to know sticky bitches, oops, I mean hickey witches, no, no, it’s Tricky Britches. With lead vocalist Jed, Tyler on the fiddle, Seth trickin’ out the mandolin and an absent banjo player who couldn’t make the trip, we sat in Kings Pub in Waikiki to get to the bottom of why their such prickly ditches or whatever.

The Manifold: What’s with the name?

How’d you decide on it?

Tyler: We thought Tricky Wizard would be cool but there was a band called Silly Wizards so it was too similar to that.

We basically just put a bunch of words together that we thought were funny.

Seth: Then there was Itchy Britches.

I took a buddies room who was rooming with Jed. That’s how we met Jed. Then we convinced Jed to go on our first trip in 2009 to New Orleans and across Texas then up to South Dakota.

Jed: I quit my job the day before that trip. I had 100 dollars! But I’m really glad I did it, I saw a bunch of beautiful places I hope to see again.

Tyler: At one point we really tried to come up with a name that was different before our next album came out. And we couldn’t think of something else that had the same punch...and everyone seemed to remember Tricky Britches.

Tyler: That was kind of the birth of the band. We came up with a name and a CD just to go on that tour.

TM: How did TB begin?

Everyone: Ireland. Hands down. It’s the people.

Jed: I’ve been in bands since I was 16.

I started out in punk rock, heavy metal, and hardcore. I played clarinet in 5th grade. Eventually I started jamming with friends playing folk music. Blue grass music is just folk music and folk sort of introduces you to blue grass. And blue grass is just folk but from a certain part of the country.

TM: How did you guys all meet?

Seth: Tyler and I started playing together in high school.

Playing Follow Elza and Appalathe Saint chian fiddle tunes. Then in college we kept playing together on breaks. Then

TM: Tell me your favorite place you’ve gone with your music.

Seth: It’s a party culture. Everybody wants to party all the time and they are almost obsessed with American Folk Music.

Tyler: If we wanted a break we’d have to leave our instruments at home on purpose to go into a bar and buy a beer. If we brought our instruments, they’d be all-- play us a tune, boys--. We got off the bus to use a bathroom in Waterford.

They saw the instruments. They talked us into playing a tune, set down 3 pints of James Society on Facebook.

Guinness and we didn’t leave that bar for the rest of that night. We played a

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gig, then we played a show, then they put us up in a hotel next door.

Seth: And bought us dinner!

Jed: Which is why we don’t like to make a lot of plans. We like to go into something without a schedule. Cause you never know what’s going to happen. We’ll just see how it goes.

Tyler: What’s interesting is where ever we go we meet someone who hooks us up. Usually it’s someone really proactive and connected and looking for a project. In Ireland we met this woman who is a community organizer and she hooked us up with a bunch of shows.

Jed: We’ll be happy if we can continue to travel.

Seth: And be stable as musicians.

TM: Do you guys have day jobs?

Tyler: We only have jobs in the winter.. The summer and the fall we’ve got a bunch of gigs.

Jed: Maine is the place to be in the summer!

TM: Do you see yourselves leaving Maine?

Tyler: We’ve considered it, but it’s difficult to say. Portland is having this revival, there’s a ton of art and music. And aside from the winter it’s a great place to be--Jed: The quality of life is-Tyler: That’s what it is---we could go to Nashville. But it’s a big city, it’s landlocked.

When we did that first trip there wasn’t a city we went to that we like better than Portland.

Jed: We are big part of our community there and we like that we feel really important there. Everyone knows us.

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Tyler: And it’s chill, it’s right on the water.

TM: So you’re Maine boys at heart?!

Everyone: Yeah!

Shortly thereafter, Tricky Britches, took the stage and I began to feel their presence which was toe tapping, feel good music with addictive vocal harmonies. It reminded me of my family strumming on a homemade bass and ukulele singing loud and proud at family functions. And that’s when it occurred to me why I liked them so much-- Tricky Britches seemed familiar, comforting, and home-like. And maybe their so tricky because their backgrounds in music run for a fair stretch of time which becomes apparent when they all switch instruments including harmonica, fiddle, washboard, banjo, mandolin, upright bass, and guitar.

For whatever reason, tricky or not, they are a perfect example that roaming the country with minimal money, no schedule, no agenda, singing for the few and many and fueled by passion is the perfect example of the creative pursuit.

You can find Tricky Britches on Facebook.com/ TrickyBritchesPage or at TrickyBritches.com And be sure check out their new album

Hustle vision As a producer and director of numerous ongoing projects, Ali Muhammad has full of meaningful media. With years of magazine experience at Vibe and a production, Ali is now preparing to explore a digital revolution. Serving vision.com, we caught up with Ali in New York to discuss and learn how he the“creative pursuit.

You’ve worn many hats in the entertainment and media world. How did you first get started into this business?

I basically got started back at FAMU (Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University) in the journalism school. That’s really where I learned the “nuts and bolts”of TV. We ended up producing a show called On the Set.”It played on ABC in Tallahassee and ran as number 1 in that slot for like 3 or 4 years. After that, I ended up doing radio at 90.5 as the GM after I graduated. We changed the format from Jazz to a more Hip Hop & RnB and that kicked ass and changed the market to where you saw a town of 200,000 people have 6 radio stations formatted for hip hop and RnB when there was none. That’s when I saw the power of it (media). Instead of what everybody was doing, it felt better just to do what you felt like people wanted. That was the start of it.

When I moved to New York I started at Vibe Magazine. I spent 7 years there doing events and working with marketing and advertising so I really got to see how the business of it is run and that’s where I really learned how to make money. How to really make money!

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I was mixing the entertainment part of the business (artist & music) with the brand and the advertising which is good because now, everything is in that space. That gave me a good idea of what was on the horizon.

At one point after Vibe, you had a magazine by the name of 21st Century Hustle and now you have Hustle Vision.

How did these movements get started?

Well, the 21st Hustle Magazine was expensive as you know. It’s not cheap to make a magazine. Once I jumped out, you’re thinking I know how to do this, I’ve been doing this at Vibe. Jump out and get these major advertisers but you don’t have a major track record , you don’t have a major audience yet so it’s a big difference. What I did find in the business part of it is it was harder for us to have a conversa-

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text x jermaine fletcher

built up a resume and life diverse background in film as the curator on Hustlehas always lived within

tion about the magazine than it was to have a conversation about the internet or video so we ended up doing a couple video projects. One with the Bermuda Tourism Board and Jet Blue sponsored that immediately put us in big brand, big marketing-advertising scenario and it just gave me the idea that they want this from me. I can have this conversation other than fighting everybody trying to be the best magazine. I can have this video conversation easy.

I shot this one piece for Lil Wayne’s Foundation, when he was about to come home from jail and it came out great and it traveled around the internet and it hit all these different parts.

From there, I started to really see the distribution model of the internet and how video moves so fast. So I just changed everything from what we were doing (print) to video. I went and bought the 5D and a bunch of other stuff and started over.

Being the “cameraman” gives me more insight. So if you got somebody like me who understands the business part of it, the brand part of it and then I’m also asking the questions, then I’m going to get a lot of information I need out of everything that I’m shooting. That process is going to be in the DNA of what we’re shooting.

It’s a big difference from just hiring someone to do it. You learn way more

and you make deeper connections.

Getting to our theme the-- Creative Pursuit--”how exactly do you view it? For example, there are a lot of creative people out there in the work world who may have a 9-5 but are looking for ways to monetize their creativity outside of that. What are some of the things that have helped you fight through that work and gradually become stable in a sense of pursuing your creativity and more?

The thing about me is I view a lot of things that some people might not see as creative, as creative. Some standard work stuff. Like, I think my tax man is creative as fuck! (Laughing) He understands the rules but he knows how to artfully make them work for the individual. As far as I’m concerned, I always just lived in it. I never did leave it. So every since I was a kid I’ve always worked in line with what I was trying to do. Now, there’s a big difference when you’re doing it for somebody else. That’s where I was at with it and I said I’m great but I want to do this on my own. That’s where you have to balance. They pay me six figures.. and I’m not making six figures out on my own, on the side? So how can I keep my house and my kids and then at a certain point, the only way to know is to just jump in!

When I jumped out, I had a nice big project. I was working on Stomp the Yard when I left Vibe. So I felt like this is a good segway. I was down in Atlanta and I found out how weak my hustle muscle was.

(Laughing) Because it wasn’t exercised in the same way people on the out side...

When you’re talking about people that are outside doing their own thing, with their own rules and how they do it, it’s a different process from corporate. When you’re in corporate, especially in a magazine,

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it’s at least 3 months. So anything you do, you’re doing for 3 months from now. Everything you’re doing is just slower.

So I’m out with these guys and I’m in my room and they’re like, What you doing?” We’re at your hotel eating breakfast downstairs, come through.”So it’s like 4 in the morning and they just left the club. I come downstairs and eat breakfast with them, and (one of them) is on the phone doing their next deal. This was a Sunday night and he’s doing a deal for Wednesday...

Something, something something...$300,000.

Let’s make it happen. “ I was like, Damn! I was about to be asleep and this fool is still up doing deals. You get to really see that your timing, your reflexes are way slower than someone who has been out in the elements just doing it. I learned really quickly that I had to step up fast. When you’re out here, you don’t have time. Your bill cycle is still 30 days and the pay cycle, especially when you’re dealing with corporate is 60 days. So now what?

How do you balance that? That’s the trick. The trick is (figuring out) how to manage all of what you’re doing creatively with the timing that needs to happen with life.

In life, what would you define as some of your personal philosophies?

My general philosophy has always been to stay in a

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world that’s of your banking. The ideas that came to me were always family. I had this crazy idea that I would be able to vacation and have my vacation paid by the work that I’m doing. Now that’s real. It puts you in a position where you feel like you don’t have to change. Be who you are and people either except it or they don’t.

Everybody isn’t going to understand what you do and it’s not for them to understand. They understand once it’s done. For me, it’s not important for anyone to understand what I do.

It’s important for me to get it done.

It’s important for me to work on my vision to where it’s clear enough and done enough for people to see it. That’s where I get all my joy.

The creation part is almost a lonely part of it. I enjoy it that way.

What’s next for you?

Personally, Growth. Always trying to get to the bigger prize. Professionally, we’re going to launch this Hustle Vision and provide a platform for other filmmakers.

We’re going to provide a place for people to enjoy online content produced specifically online.

Hustlevision is now launched and viewable at www.hustlevision.com

more fashion at

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trespass or invade

As the world shrinks and the epicenter of our race

shifts, the debris of our pursuits does not settle evenly across the floor of our world. As the evolution of technology spins out of control, human spirituality has remained comparatively stagnant. Lil’ kids get their arms chopped off so we can greasily finger-fuck our smart phones. It’s enough to make ya say goddamn. “God damn!”

The pursuit of creativity may yield somewhat meager monetary profits but the ecological, spiritual and moral benefits reaped are beyond measure. The artists and dreamers of the world are the ones who will save us…if we entrust them with our hope.

Hope blossomed on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand as the first annual BUKRUK Street Art Festival brought 16 European and 11 Thai artists together in the largest collaboration of its kind to date. Over a year in the making, the project was the brainchild of Myrtille Tibayrenc of The Toot Yung Gallery, Nemo Studio’s Nicolas Dali, Bow Wasinondh and Fon Muangkeo of BKK Arthouse. On February 23rd, the event kicked off with an open-air party where live painting and music, DJs and hip-hop ninjas filled up what has become something of a rarity in the city, a green grassy empty space.

The event received an extra sense of legitimacy through a partnership with the BACC (Bangkok Art and Cultural Center), which helped to open the eyes of masses to an art form often misunderstood and persecuted. The literal translation of the Thai word “Bukruk” to English is trespass or invade.

With the BACC providing more than 400m2 of exhibition space and over 1000m2 of public space in the form of walls across the city, artists, generally spray-can Picassos who

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translations & photography x fay HatGoDown text x ehren bowling

have been accustomed to ducking in to and ducking out of trouble to express their aerosol-editorials, were allowed uninhibited access to relax and do their thing. With the ‘trespassing’ ticket book pocketed and ample room, beauty was allowed to erase desperation and painted the participants as the artists they are. The public was allowed a glimpse into what usually is a guarded family of artists, helping to dissolve the criminal stereotype falsely attached to graffiti and tagging. Smiles and curious eyes of passers-by and faces in windows showed the community’s overwhelming acceptance of the artists and their work.

What’s more, the BACC opened access by making their hosted exhibition a free event.

The vision of the production team was to create an interactive experience with the public and celebrating Thailand’s relationship with Europe. The festival brought attention to Thai artists and created opportunities for foreign artists to take away experiences to share in ten different countries. Melding The Kingdom’s mystique with European imagination and vision made for some brilliant creations. Lending her badass touch to the columns welcoming visitors to the BACC, Switzerland’s Tika said, “[My] ‘Lotus Trees’ is a collage of experiences I made, stories I’ve heard, temples and expositions I’ve visited, food I ate, everyday street-life I lived and thoughts I had during my six weeks stay in Thailand.” Tika explained her pursuit runs on her passion for expression and creativity. She’s a soldier for it. She knew since she was a child that she would not be confined to a cubicle or high-heels; instead, she perches high atop creaking bamboo scaffolds and dangles herself over concrete for our eyes’ enjoyment.

Love drives her.

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Historically, Bangkok, and Thailand at large, have been humiliated often in Western media, and elements from the seedy side of life tend to sell tickets to most international events. So BUKRUK’s international draw brought much needed positive attention to SE Asia’s burgeoning global presence in arts and entertainment. The Thai art community is over-due for some respect. One of those at the forefront of the Thai movement is the prolific MAMAFAKA. He described the situation, saying, “I can’t refuse another country judge us from a movie or some news clip. I can’t stop their thought.

I hope it will be better if they see Thailand in another dimension.” With the glare of the red-light district blinding the world’s view of their kingdom, so much talent and beauty has gone unnoticed. Turning the side of a tenement into a 3-story mural, MAMAFAKA explains, “This place look like use to be battlefield but for me it like a battlefield of graffiti. Finally, I wish my work here can show ability of Thai artist to the world.” It is only a matter of time before the Thais’ undeniable talent outshines the glitter on a ladyboy’s ass.

Though the rest of the world may overlook the Thai art scene, the artists have a clear view of the rest of the world. Inspired by his daughter, acclaimed Thai-artist Alexface’s ‘Mardi’ is a reminder “to think about the world. Think about the future.

Take care of the world. It’s not a Thailand problem, it’s not a one country problem.

We have a world problem. We need to all think about it. Raising environmental consciousness so that the future, the chil-

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dren, have homes on this planet.”

Bringing the art to the people, putting it in their faces, will guarantee the voices are heard. While the “art-world” can sometimes be perceived as exclusive, BUKRUK should be applauded for the accessibility and consideration they made for the community, and for providing a stage and avenue for those going hard in the paint.

“It’s not a Thailand problem, it’s not a one country problem. We have a world problem.

We need to all think about it. Raising environmental consciousness so that the future, the children, have homes on this planet.”

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The Young & Brave

I am on a quest to find those companies and individuals who inspire me to give back, support, and remain selfless. When discovering The Young and Brave, I couldn’t help but want to encourage their success. We interviewed Matt Coulter, co-founder of this organization to find out how they do what they do.

The Ripple Effect

What is the mission statement behind The Young and Brave?

The Young and Brave Foundation is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people beat cancer. We aim to help these brave fighters and their families overcome the challenges and hardships brought upon by cancer. Built on the foundation of LOVE we exist to inspire, encourage, inform, as well as to invest directly into treatment and recovery. We do so through networking, individual fund raising drives, community building, and financial support. Our one goal is to stand up and fight cancer for those that shouldn’t have to stand alone.

How did this organization begin it’s journey?

The Young and Brave Foundation was created in 2010 to help raise funds for medical expenses and community awareness for a dear friend’s sudden cancer diagnosis.

Our journey started out as a temporary fix to a very serious problem: beating cancer!

The cancer came out of nowhere, a complete shock, and was the last thing anyone expected. But it was the fight for life that occurred after the diagnosis that truly opened our eyes to reality. After experiencing this on an intimate level with our dear friend the writing was on the wall, we must do more, much more.

In 2011 The Foundation received its 501(c) (non-profit) status with the vision of helping young adults, teens, and families with little ones diagnosed with all forms of cancer. This was a huge accom-

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plishment and essential to the growth of the Foundation. Fulfilling this goal gave us the confidence to realize that we were on the right path. With many new opportunities coming our way we are beyond blessed and so excited for the future.

Where did the name come from?

The name came from the two main co-founders Nathaniel Curran and Matt Coulter.

After deciding that building a movement/ brand/non-profit foundation was the goal figuring out the name was the most important thing. After throwing around a few ideas and nothing really sticking we turned our focus to understanding exactly what we wanted to be about as an organization. Coming along side those that were young, brave and battling cancer was the idea and fighting this deadly disease with them no matter the circumstance was the goal. Once this was clear they thought naming the foundation after these people was the perfect fit and The Young and Brave Foundation was formed.

Whom have you helped directly and perhaps indirectly?

Being a grass roots organization every single person we have been able to help has either had a direct relationship with a member of the foundation or been a friend of a friend. As we are growing and more and more people are finding out about who we are the opportunity to help so many people is being put at our doorstep. We are so excited about the people we are meeting and blessed to help in any way possible.

So far we have been able to bring awareness and fund raise for about 7 people.

From a young girl dealing with a 5 year battle of a rare form of cancer, to a young father that lost a limb due to amputation, to a young woman that was diagnosed with Leukemia.

These are just a few examples but as more people find out about the cause, the opportunity to help more that are young and brave is endless. We feel completely blessed and strive to help as many as possible!

At an early age I was told you have to dream big. If the dream doesn’t scare you it isn’t big enough. All of this is pretty cliché but is honest about what we want this foundation to be.

We want to build a Foundation/Brand/Movement that gives us the availability to help millions of young people all over the globe fight this terrible disease called cancer.

So far we have only helped people we know but eventually we want to give opportunity to complete strangers to partner with

In the past months we have grown through social media a great deal and really see this as a great avenue to grow and expose what our cause is all about. Our new website is currently being built and once completed we will grow exponentially. The website will be a major tool in exposure for the foundation but more importantly a huge resource for each one of our“warriors batting cancer.

Who is the biggest inspiration? Feel free to name drop specifics or be general.

To us the biggest inspi-

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ration are the few beautiful people that we have been able to come along side and help through their battle with cancer.

These young people don’t complain about their circumstances and have continually put others needs and wants in front of their own. We are beyond humbled by their journey and fight!! It’s not athletes or movie stars that inspire us it is the everyday child or young adult that fights cancer with everything inside of them that propels everyone at The Young and Brave Foundation to chase our dream.

How were you most affected by this company or disease?

Cancer is one of the gnarliest, scariest most deadly diseases in the world. Watching a loved one go through a battle with cancer is a life changing event. There is no way to prepare for cancer but once you have it you are in for the fight of your life. Each one of our founders has seen this first hand and have been deeply affected by it.

Building a community of people helping those that are young and brave is the #1 goal. In this day and age there is no better way than through social media.

How can people support your cause?

At this point following us on all of our forms of social media; Instagram, Facebook and twitter is a great way. Also attending anyone of our charity events, for example, coming out to The Malibu Invitational, the 7th annual pro/am surf contest held at first point Malibu in southern California on August 3-4 2013.

us, build a global community, and help all those that are young and brave and battling cancer.

www.themalibuinvitational.com Obviously once our website is complete following our blog of everyday happenings, learning about events, purchasing soft goods and most importantly learning about each and every person we are supporting will be right at your fingertips. www.theyoungandbrave.com

Every single Mom, Dad, brother, Auntie and Grandpa that has a young person in their life fighting this ugly disease will have the opportunity through our organization to fight like hell against cancer. We feel it is our duty to provide those resources to make beating cancer a reality.

If you know a company or individual who is an inspiration, don’t hold back, email us their story at TheManifoldMag@gmail.com

The Ripple Effect

How do you hope to reach out to people?

What do you hope comes out of this company in the future?

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Last word I have no name Until you name me.

I have no form Until you shape me.

I don't exist Until you make me, I am creativity.

I am waiting deep inside you Touch my spark And let me light you, Give me life And I'll revive you I am creativity.

--Jane

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the creative pursuit

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photo x Charley Greenfield

the manifold magazine

issue 3

the creative pursuit