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Local Arts & Entertainment Magazine

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Hair on Fire

TAKING FLORIDA BY STYLE

Documentary THE BASS THE ATE MIAMI

Celery

APIUM GRAVEOLENS

URBAN POP ARTIST & ILLUSTRATOR

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FATVillage Arts District FATVillage.com

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COME TO ARTWALK THE LAST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH!* 7-11 PM GET THE APP! FATVillage is located in downtown Fort Lauderdale from nw 6th st to nw 5th st on 1st ave.

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Foxy Publishing, Inc. WeMerge, Inc. Surge - www.iamSurge.com Dwayne Adams - Dadams@WeMerge.com Ryan Lombardi - Ryan@WeMerge.com Alexandra Aloia - Alexandra@WeMerge.com Ryan Lombardi, Cary Polkovitz, Katya Neptune, Justin Scott, Aaron Merullo, Seth "Brimstone"Schere, Alan Pincus, Sheim Francis, Marc Cheever, Natalie Schere, ill Phill, Jojo Fabs Rob Smith - RobSmithArt@yahoo.com Julio Salvat - www.auxiliumstudios.com Dwayne Adams - Dadams@WeMerge.com Katya Neptune - Katya@WeMerge.com Felipe Goncalves - Felipe@WeMerge.com Nicole Lorenzo - Nicole@WeMerge.com Deborah Lorenzo - Deb@WeMerge.com Holly Metzger - Holly@WeMerge.com www.WeMergeTV.com Justin Rotkowitz - www.synergymedia.us JMS Associates - www.jms-associates.net

Copyright©2012-13 WeMerge, Inc. All rights reserved to WeMerge, Inc. All content included in this magazine: text, graphics, logos, icons, & images, are the property of WeMerge, Inc. and/or its content suppliers (writers, photographers, illustrators, and others) and protected by US and international copyright laws. No content is allowed to be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from WeMerge, Inc. WeMerge Magazine contains the opinions and experiences of other people and the publishers do not necessarily approve, agree with, and/or condone those opinions or actions. WeMerge, Inc. cannot be held responsible for these opinions or actions. We provide a community service to our readers. All collaboration or verification of event postings are the responsibility of the reader prior to relying on such information for any action that may be taken on their behalf or on the behalf of others. For all legal issues call our lawyer.

Feature Take An Inside Look with Famous Graffiti Artist: Dolla of AM7

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Feature Chad Baptiste Amazing Talent Entertaining Interests

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Graffiti Spread Local Graffiti from around South Florida, spreading love to walls and crews

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Design For Designers A designer is only as good as the resources they have at their finger tips

Who's Next Gallery Showcasing South Florida's talent for reades to vote on their favorite

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Good Eats with Flavor A fresh look at local eats and where to get a complete meal on a budget

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Get a Tattoo No "Scratchers Here" This is some of the best you will ever see from a local shop

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From the Publisher: See everything as it is, not how they make it look. Love is the true answer to everything. Believe that or nothing.

“Man's status in the natural world is determined, therefore, by the quality of his thinking.” — Manly P. Hall “I ask not for divine providence or more riches but more wisdom of which to accept and use wisely the riches I received at birth in the form of the power to control and direct my mind to whatever ends I desire” — Napoleon Hill Nicci “Bean” Loren for helping with imagination. All the haters for giving us motivation. Job16:4-6. The invisibles that help us through each day. We give thanks. For without you, we would be nothing. And last but not least, the Bonus Red Dot for always being an extra free bonus. Your worth every penny.

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l COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS: We welcome and appreciate

your feedback. Any suggestions or comments that you would like to submit to the editor, email Editor@WeMerge.com l HAVING AN EVENT? If you would like us to add your

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WEMERGE MARKETING If your brand needs marketing, send us an e-mail or give us a call. We will send you some pricing and distribution information. We are here to help!

info@WeMerge.com (561) 305-2070 Promote your business, website, art, & music to 20,000+ readers in Dade, Broward, & Palm Beach WeMerge Magazine | www.WeMerge.com

Local Music Culture An overabundance of local music with the energy to make you move your feet

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FEATURE

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Bold Style While Keeping Clean Lines Being creative to me simply means being talented and unique at something special that not everyone can do

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orn in Los Angeles and raised in Miami, Urban Pop artist, Surge, has taken his bold, unmistakable style straight from his sketchbooks to the sun-stained streets of South Florida and beyond.

Surge’s love for cartoons and brilliant colors, along with a passion for hip hop culture, has shaped his artistic identity and resulted in work that can now been seen everywhere from walls in Miami’s legendary Wynwood Arts District to live painting performances during some of the area’s most highprofile charitable events. His brash illustrations feature anthropomorphized characters that are both inviting and cool.

Serving as a recurring cartoonist for the Miami New Times, his artwork has been featured on the cover of Sun-Sentinel’s City Link Magazine, as well as a variety of publications on a global basis.

It is the ability to be daring and free with his art that is ultimately closest to Surge’s heart. His work has toured the world as part of the “Sneaker Pimps Show,” has been a part of the “Sleepless Nights” art series and has also been displayed in various South Florida galleries.

Who are you and what type of art do you do?

My name is Sergio J. Quinonez, better known as SURGE. I am a husband, a father of two and an artist. I consider the type of art I do as “Urban Pop Art.” It’s fun, never serious, inspired by pop culture in a cartoony style and always colorful.

What mediums do you work with?

The majority of my work is vector illustrations (digital and then printed and mounted to wood or printed on canvas). However, I’ve recently started painting using acrylics. But I do prefer the vector work.

What’s your background?

My background is in graphic design, which is probably the cause of my “fine art” being vector and printed on canvas. I’ve been a graphic designer for about 15 years now and I am currently a Creative Director for an agency in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. What does “being creative” mean to you?

That’s a good question. Being creative to me simply means being talented and unique at something special that not everyone can do. (continued on next page)

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Published Works Sun Sentinel’s City Link March 2007 - “Crimes of the Art” solo Art Show featured in Fresh Bet column October 2008 – “Make Art Not War” artwork featured on cover for The Bear & Bird Political exhibition.

Sun Sentinel’s Showtime July 2013 – Interview for Artserve’s REDEYE event.

ArtHash.com Online Artist feature and interview

Miami/Broward New Times Recurring illustrator

I Want Your Skull Annual Collective Artist Book

LIVE Painting/Murals 2012 - #WynwoodBear Mural, during Art Basel in Wynwood 2013 - The Stage Miami, during Chuck D’s performance 2013 - Island Water Sports’ Daytime Radness 2013 - Boyton Beach Arts District, The Bay Gates Project 2013 - Jason Taylor Foundation’s Cool Gear for the School Year event at Old Navy

Exhibited 2007 – “Crimes of the Art” Solo Show – Gallery of the Unknown, Hollywood, FL 2007 – Sneaker Pimps Show - Miami Design District 2008 – Bear & Bird gallery, Annual Munny Group Show 2008 – Bear & Bird gallery, Political Group Show 2009 – Bear & Gallery, Annual Small Stuff Group Show 2009 – Sleepless Nights, Inner Artist Show, Solo Exhibit - Miami Beach, FL 2010 – Bear & Gallery, Annual Small Stuff Show 2011 – Minibar, Inner Artist Show, Solo Exhibit Miami Design District 2013 – “52 Colors” Solo Exhibit - Gab Studios, Wynwood, FL 2013 – Artserve’s REDeye Annual Underground Street Art Showcase, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

CLEAN LINES

OPE LIKE A D AM S DRE DEALER

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(continued from previous page)

What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have?

I really don’t have any creative patterns. Although, now that I think about it, I can’t paint alone at home...I have to be painting live at an event. That is the only time I paint and paint well. Also, I am a procrastinator and wait for the last minute for everything. I work well under pressure. Maybe that’s why I paint better live?

What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever created?

I like all my work and don’t have any favorites.

What are you communicating with your art?

My art is fun and doesn’t have to be serious. It doesn’t have to have some deep-rooted meaning or in the normal sense of the word be “fine art,” and it also doesn’t have to be expensive. I like to make great, colorful and affordable art. But hey, if someone wants to pay an arm and leg for it…I’ll take that too!

What do you like about the art world?

Other artists.

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What do you dislike about the art world?

Sometimes I feel as if the art world has too much “red tape.”

What is your dream project?

To see my illustration work with a brand like NIKE or to work with Kid Robot in designing my own line of “SURGE” vinyl Munnies or Dunnies.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

“Stick to what you do best and what you do quick.” An established Miami artist told me that years ago.

Professionally, what’s your goal?

To make a living as a full time artist and make my kids proud of their “Papi.”

What wouldn’t you do without?

Music, it inspires me.

What art do you most identify with?

Street Art/Graffiti

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What type of art do you most enjoying doing?

Actually, I am having a good time painting.

What’s your strongest art memory of your childhood?

Drawing profile faces and heads with Mohawks…I know, weird. But that is what I remember the most. Not sure why I was drawing guys with Mohawks.

What’s your favorite artist or piece of art?

My favorite artist is Pablo Picasso. I love that he could do anything in art and pushed the boundaries in his work. He did whatever he wanted…simply because he could.

Any last words to the fans?

I have a nice following on Instagram. Thank you for the support and kind words! If you’re not following, hit me up for your daily dose of some dope work @illsurge.

Checkthisout "Stick to what you do best and what you do quick."

An established Miami artist told me that years ago.

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SUPPORT

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Forgotten Soldiers Outreach (FSO) is a non-profit organization that requires donations, care package items and letters of encouragement in order to provide support to our deployed service members serving in the United States Military and their families. Our main focus is to reach those who receive little or no support from the home front. We aim to send “that little bit of home” to assure they are not forgotten.

Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is committed to our U.S. servicemen and women in all world theaters, for as long as they are deployed.

Since 2003, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, Inc. has benefited well over 300,000 of our military, covering all world theaters and all branches of the military.

A donation to support their mission can be made via the website: www.forgottensoldiers.org t Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is a member of America Supports You, an ongoing, nationwide program organized by the Department of Defense to showcase Americans’ support for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families.

Things found in the world that are..

Often Overlooked T

homas lay in his bed and stared at the ceiling.

Sleep was just not coming tonight. There was no way.

Twenty minutes ago he, Anne and Kyle had finished preparation for tomorrow’s launch. They sat on the bench and took a moment for silent reflection. Anne and Kyle had said a few words to mark the occasion. A great, no, a massive achievement. Something so few had attempted, certainly no one

The name that everyone would remember, either in glorious victory or ignominious failure and tragedy.

Ever fill a room with 8 years of cut pape

r scraps?

under the age of 12 (Anne’s age as she was the eldest). Thomas kept his own council, looking serious and thoughtful. He was always serious and thoughtful.

It had taken all of their lunch money for two weeks to come up with the funds for this event, and four months of prior planning.

Sketches. Schematics. Research.

Tearful arguments and manic excitement. It all came down to tomorrow morning.

Thomas wasn’t going to sleep tonight. There was just no way.

He stared at the ceiling. His was the honor of the attempt. The one who would go. The name that everyone would remember, either in glorious victory or ignominious failure and tragedy.

The sky outside his window

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For more of these stories, visit Facebook.com/OftenOverlooked “Often Overlooked, Vol. 1” is also available on Amazon.com.

Look for Vol. 2, coming soon!”

MarcPaperScissor MarcPaperScissor is a Florida based artist working in many mediums, but is best known for his vivid color, composition, and uniquely meticulous methods of working with cut paper. He has cut thousands upon thousands of pieces of paper to create his body of work.

Marc has just completed producing, designing, and

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began to grey and lighten. He lay in his bed and watched the morning slowly approach, almost painfully. The morning sounds crept in, birds greeting each other.

The slamming car doors of the local fathers heading off to work.

In a moment he would hear the sounds of Anne and Kyle’s bicycles as they approached his house.

Thomas sat up slowly and made his way over to the window and looked down at the two eager faces looking up at him in the soft autumn light.

It was time. t

directing the Spam All-Stars animated music video, “Around the Track” with C3 Motion Graphics. He was also featured on the front cover of The Spring 2011 Issue of WeMerge Magazine. t For more on Marc or his paper visit www.marcpaperscissor.com He is always looking for new projects and travel opportunities.

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ArtHeart Rwanda Reach In, ReachOut An overwhelming burden and grief was rooted in my heart...There had to be more we could do

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he burdens in our hearts differ and I can only share what’s been in mine.

In 2004 while I was attending college working on my Associates degree, I learned that in 1994 a genocide in Rwanda took place which killed 80,000 people within a span of 100 days.

From that point on, my life had dramatically changed. An overwhelming burden and grief was rooted in my heart. Regardless of whether the entire world was oblivious to this horrific event when it happened, I was in no way able to justify that I wasn’t aware, especially because I was living a self absorbed, all about me life.

Through the years, the burden I had felt for the Rwandans, especially the orphaned children, never ceased. And here I am nine years later with the same lingering, nagging thought that there must be something I can do. Anything. Although, what’s a stay at home mom supposed to do? I had absolutely no clue other than to give a monthly donation to support Hand of Hope, an organization I trusted that performed a ton of relief work all over the world. It's presence in Africa was also very known. Yet, I was never content and it

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definitely never eased my heart. I continued to hope that there was much more I could do.

In 2009, I became active in the South Florida art scene. I had all the intentions of donating all the money I made from my sold works to help the oppressed, especially the orphans.

Although ,that idea bore a different fruit. Selling art wasn’t as easy of a task as I had thought.

Thus came the birth of ArtHeart. I wasn’t able to raise enough on my own, so I thought I’d curate and organize my own events. Since 2009, I’ve organized nine exhibitions/events and I’m currently working on the tenth one.

“ArtHeart for Rwanda” was held at the Fat Village Art District on November 16th, 2013. This show was focused on raising funds for orphans in Rwanda in partnership with ZoeHelps.org. It featuring more than 25 artists with live art by Skott Rage Johnson, live music, and DJ’s. For more information on the next Art Heart Event visit www.ArtHeart.com. t

SUPPORT

A Nation Dedicated to Brazil We are Farofa Nation.

A local design and T-shirt company dedicated to helping the poor and unfortunate kids of Brazil.

From our own designs to artist designed tees, we create some of the coolest charity based T-shirts and apparel.

Our mission is to have a collective of T-shirt lovers, designers and people who simply want to contribute to helping these kids escape this desperate situation.

We want to create a Nation of designers and artists who wish to help us with our cause. For their part, the artists donate their art to us and we print it.

And in turn, we give the artists full credit, link to them and help promote them. So if you are an artist and you are interested in helping us with our cause, email us at info@farofanation.com with the subject line, “I've got an awesome design”, and we will email you our Design Pack.

If you would like to carry our line, please contact us about our wholesale prices at info@farofanation.com. t Remember, only together we can become a great nation... we become Farofa Nation.

Katya Neptune / katya@ArtHeart.co www.ArtHeart.co www.facebook.com/ArtHeart.Artists

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LET US FONDLE YOUR FOLLICLES! A one-stop shop, Hair on Fire is a place where customers can have their beauty services performed by an approachable and knowledgeable staff, without getting burnt.

In today’s busy world, it’s nice and convenient to have all your beauty needs taken care of in one location by a staff that cares and knows how to do it right.

At Hair on Fire, they offer everything from

haircuts, blow outs, weaves, Brazilian keratin treatments, hair extensions, up-dos, color specials and more. “Our employees strive to make you feel great on the inside while making you look incredible on the outside,” - says Gari & Nanette of Hair on Fire.

At Hair on Fire, the cutting techniques vary from a simple, clean trim to sexy fire. They can transform your image through careful and deliberate choices in hairstyles, using cuts and color, while keeping

your sense of identity and personal style.

Hair on Fire prides itself on understanding different hair types and textures, making sure to not only understand your needs, but to also give you a complete hair experience.

Below are the 3 locations where you can go to look HOT!!! Contact Hair on Fire today to have your look set on FIRE!!

TAKING FLORIDA BY STYLE! ROCK ON SEXY...

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Blanca

Leona

Monike

Joann

Mikki

Amie

Erica

Dante

Stacey

To see the full photoshoot and more sexy stylists please visit www.HairOnFireFlorida.com WeMerge Magazine | www.WeMerge.com

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FEATURE

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An Inside Look with Famous Graffiti Artist: Dolla Words to live by: You cant shine when you’re in someone elses shadow!

What’s the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?

Definetly took a piss. It’s a no brainer, you go to the bathroom first thing.

Then a little coffee and a little robutusin.

Definetly the first thing that went down.

Something about yourself the average person wouldn’t guess?

I guess it would be I’m getting over being a diabetic. I was diagnosed with diabetes a couple years ago because of eating bad shit and spnet the past two years getting healthy. Eating better and exercising helps. I’m a pre-diabetic and hopefully cured in no time. WM:That’s whats up.

Congratulations on that, that’s big!

What is your first art-making memory as a kid?

That would be copying cartoons out of the TV guide. Like we didn’t have a whole lot of books and shit like that at our crib. So I mean we always had a TV guide and it always had like the cartoons that would be coming on, you know like a little picture of the cartoon, and I remember always flipping through that and tracing down any kind of character I would like to draw.

Like one of the first drawing contests, like draw the pirate or the turtle and shit. That was where it all started.

Have you ever been arrested for art?

Yes, I got roped up, shit probably like right when my daughter was born, so it was probably like eight years ago, but, ah, yeah I was out in my area I had an art show. I was just putting up some posters for the show and I put up one on the main drag. I just had this lit up spot. I thought, "yeah I’ll just hit that shit and be done for the night.' That was the last one, I got half the poster up and two squad cars pulled up on me and they had like my wife's car blocked in. Wife and kids were at the hotel. It was some tough shit. I just got caught slippin' man, you know, one of those things. That was the last time I got caught doing anything illegal while at work. But yeah, I guess the reason was I just got fucken' complacent man, you know? I just thought it was an easy piece to get up, and I just got roped up.

What is the single most important thing you did to break through as a career artist?

Um, that’s a tough one. For me, I would have to say, like, documentation. Documenting your work and keeping a good portfolio of shit that you have done and, uh, you know that’s the only way to really get out in any kind of publication. Get out high quality photography, and you don’t have much to show anyone unless you have a good photographer to do it for you. I’d say that's the main thing, most important thing besides doing the actual work.

Documentation.

What gets your blood pumping?

Definelty, like, the day before you know you're about to start a new project. Just like the anxiety of whatever it is, if it’s a

wall or a sculpture or anything, man, just always the night before it's always exciting you know, exciting, for the work ahead and whatever challenge you have to overcome for that certain project.

I look forward to it.

What will 2023 look like?

Man, I don’t know if it will be that much different unless something, you know, catastrophic happens like a war or some alien invasion or some shit. But other than that, maybe people being a little more disconnected than they already are, you know? (continued on next page)

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Wallof Fame

NW 23 rd S NW 6th treet Ave Miam i

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If you could have a drink with one artist, living or dead, who would it be?

Uh, probably Jean-Michel Basquiat, but we would just smoke a fatty and skip the drink.

(continued from previous page)

What kind of car do you drive?

I drive an 83 Dodge Sportsman, it says its a Plymouth Voyager, but the same exact as a Dodge Sportsman and it was the last year that Plymouth made a full size van before they went to what they call a mini-van, now the Plymouth Voyager mini-van. It’s a classic van this year. That’s what I asked my wife for Christmas this year is the Personalized Blue Liscense Collector Plate, and my shit is blue and white and my fuckin' van should be popping. WM: That's Tight!

Can’t live without: I’m sure most people would probably say like music, but I don’t know, I like to unwind with a little television. I got my shit I like to watch and shit I don’t. Like Dextor and Breaking Bad. I just start looking forward to it at the end of the day.

Can’t stand: Rudeness, rudeness, whether it's rude drivers or just rude people. I mean, I don’t know if just one rude thing could fuck your day up if you let it. If more people were nicer and shit, I mean it would make your day a little easier. It doesn’t always have to be about them. Definitely rude people.

WM: Agreed!

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What do you write? How did you get into graffiti?

I write "Dolla," and I know I got really interested in graffiti when I was a kid, like when I was in 7th grade and, uh, you know I wasn’t good at it yet or anything like that. I was super interested in graffiti and always saw it, and I would also do drawings in my sketch books and I got up a couple of times in high school, but I never really got super into it until like years, years later, shit probably, like, I don’t know... probably around 2000. In 2000, I started getting back into street art and spray painting again, but I’d say who got me into painting pieces and shit would definetly be, like, M-6 from TE Crew. He kinda pushed me in that direction to go paint with him one day and it just flicked my wick man, it just kinda fell into place where it never did before for me. It was like a hole knew medium again, like with the paint, the crew and it just inspired me to persue it.

That’s what kinda got the ball rolling again .

Most memorable moment while painting?

I'd say one of the coolest times I remember most was at Art Basel and I forget what year it was, but it was, like, three or four years ago.

It was the first time I painted with TAKS from Seventh Letter, and I had just finished a piece out front and I was kinda worked, and then he asked me paint with him and I only had a couple of days left in town. Actually one full day and a night left. I kinda

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painted the whole thing straight through without any sleep. It was just a surreal experience, getting done and painting with TAKS and, like right across, was MEAR ONE over there painting and I got to chat with him and sit with him for a bit. It was just cool, all these, like, well known graffiti artists and just gallery artists were passing by. It was crazy, it was surreal.

WM: Yeah, we have a video of MEAR ONE on our YouTube page, painting live inside the Wall of Fame.

Does “Dolla” have any significant meaning to it?

No,nothing like, you know, out of the box type way.

It was my friend, Shawn, who actually started calling me "Dollar Bill," like, 20 years ago, and we would always do these single dollar bets and I was always lucky at that type of thing, and it was just off the cuff one day. He just started calling me "Dollar Bill" and, you know, it just kinda snowballed from there and a few years later when I stated getting into the graffiti scene again, I just shortened it up from "Dolla Bill" to "Dolla" and just ran with it.

Preferred aerosol brand?

And do you have a favorite color?

Ok, Yeah, I would say there’s Belton. I like Belton a lot and I always use it in every single piece. I use that single black that has that gloss on every piece for my

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outline. I also like Montona Gold. The grays they have are crazy tight. They have this one color Mt. Fuji Blue which is my shit and they make a Hot Pepperoni too.

It's like, a greenish color. It's a pretty dope color.

What do you love most about Florida?

I’d say, like, the beaches and the winter months, you know, like the weather is perfect in the winter.

Anything you hate about Florida?

Yeah, mosquitoes! WM: Agreed, mosquitoes, period.

Words to live by: “You can't shine when you’re in someone else's shadow!”

Any country you would like to travel to and paint?

Yeah, I have always wanted to paint over in Europe, France, and you know, Prague and, you know, definetly hit up Australia. That would be cool, those are probably at the top of my list.

Any last words?

Yeah, man, just want to say thank you and you know I appreciate this opportunity, and I hope you and your readers enjoy what I had to say.

Visit Dolla at Facebook.com/dollalama t

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GRAFFITI

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GRAFFITI TAG THIS

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CULTURE

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HipHopDocumentary

Alex Weir & Jock-D: The Bass that Ate Miami

The 80's and early 90s' were a special time down here in South Florida when Miami embraced that 808 kick drum that we have all grown to love.

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who grew up in those days that didn’t bump the Power 96’s 5 o'clock traffic jam from a pair of Punch 12" sub woofers in the trunk (or even the back seat for that matter), then being stuck on the side of the road with some blown fuses. Or a Club Boca Thursday night Booty contest hosted by Dj Stevie D and Joey Jet Roc, If so, there is a must see documentary coming out called “THE BASS THAT ATE MIAMI”.

Like the DJ Laz song ,this documentary takes you on a “journey into BASS” with interviews & rare video clips of some of the most influential people in the industry that created a genre of music that dominated south florida for many years. The movies creators Alex Weir & Chris Walton, better known as Dj Jock-D from Cut it up Def Entertainment, have been involved in the Miami Bass scene since the beginning and have had the idea for this

(L-R) Ryan Lombardi, Breezy Cabrera,

documentary for quite some time. Simply put “this story needs to be told, ya know” says Jock-D, who along with Alex Weir, brought their resources, talents and connections together to create a proper documentary on the bass scene of the late 80’s and early 90’s that took Miami and the world by storm. “with all our connections and the fact that we actually lived the documentary back then, Content was never an issue and with the help of a few friends we were able to raise a couple dollars to pay our good friend Tim to follow us around with the cameras”!! said Alex. Tim actually went to Hollywood to study film and movie productions, so he was a huge help in this project, then Jock put out the word to the Family and everybody kinda just came together and here we are. It was a Labor of love!” Some of the people involved in the project are MC Zeus, Pretty Tony, Afro Rican, Mr Mixx, Danny B, MC A.D.E., Debonair, Scratch D, Coolie C, DJ Crash, and DXJ among others, as well as some New York influences such as Afrika Bambatta, Rick Rubin, and T-La Rock.

Miami Bass is still prevalent in todays music.

Producers like Jim Jonsen, Will I AM, and Timberland can all trace there roots back to the Miami Bass scene and it shows in music titles such as “Hotel Room Service” by Pitbull, “Fergilicious” by Fergie, “Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas”, “Lose Controll” by Missy Elliot which all sport that 130 BPM 808 break beat that was made famous by the pioneers of Miami Bass so many years ago.

Bass music not only crossed over into pop culture, but since the early 90’s it has remained true to its underground roots in the

south florida electronic music sceen. Artists such as Dynimix II, Jackal n Hyde, Space Men, DJ Icey & Trip Theory are among those from the old Miami Bass sceen that keep the 808 kick alive producing Electro Breaks.

So Jock-D who was the big push behind getting people involved in the project? “Yeah you know the real hero here is Mr. Mixx he was in with this from the beginning and it needs to be know - he is the Godfather of Miami bass. so we were good from the start. After Mr. Mix came onboard we sent out a little tease and soon enough everybody was like yo this is gonna be dope. the thing is we were still doing shows so we were in contact with a lot of guys, so once we decided we could do this, we called them up and said hey were gonna do a movie about the some of the crazy shit we did when we were young and that’s all it took.

How important was Miami Bass in influencing todays music, legend DJ Jock-D said “look at Scratch D & Dynamix II’s “Give the dj a break”, that was a major record of Miami bass. It was one of the first songs to use the SP-12 and multi-pitch the Bass, which ultimately berthed drum and bass, we want this movie to show that Miami bass is the parent of break beats, PoP, dub step, drum and bass, hell anything that’s got bass and makes you get up to get down. So yea the biggest goal for the movie is to highlight all of that music, it was build right here in South Florida, from the foundation up.” Hip Hop man, All these relationships go back to loving hip hop and back then, it was all about hip hop.

Check out www.cutitupdef.org for more info. t

Jock-D, Alex Weir, Dwayne Adams

18 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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5

DESIGN

Sites for Freelance Graphic Designers

We always say a designer is only as good as their resources.

Unfortunately, some of these resources can be really expensive and for a freelance designer or one-man-studio, spending $100 on stock that may or may not be used is not an option. So we put this little article together to help you build your arsenal of resources. -Justin Rotkowitz

GRIFF sitting on his mint condition 1988 Chevy Caprice Classic

GRIFF’ter Goes...Legit?

By Rolando Chang Barrero

Umm, maybe not such a “Legal Eagle” after all!

“It happened on the way to the ballpark,” may seem like a cliché, but for “GRIFF” it really did. GRIFF, one of South Florida’s most respected graffiti writers, says that’s exactly where it all began, “I used to ride the train to Red Sox games with my dad and be amazed by graffiti around that same time, which peaked my interest in writing.”

Griff, the trackside trouble-maker from Lynn, Massachusetts, began sketching at about seven or eight-years-old. By the time he turned 15, his focus was to “bomb” the town and try his hand at “pieces.”

That decision has paid off better then he imagined. Now, working on large scale “productions,” and “commission’s,” Griff after 3 separate arrests (for graffiti), now call’s himself a “Legal Eagle.” Never the less, his real identity remains hidden---umm, maybe not such a “Legal Eagle” after all!

Rolling up to meet me in his mint condition 1988 Chevy Caprice Classic which sit’s on a set of 22’s, the sometimes humble, at times arrogant, but all the time talented, Griff has some really specific thoughts on graffiti and “street art.” He laughs at some of the Internet “jocks” and their “new words” like “slaps.” He says, “You see them on Instagram like “Yo, lets trade slaps.” Again, he laughs. His favorite style of writing is still just Classic New York/East

Coast stuff although he says that Miami has a fresh style, that is way different than stuff he saw coming up in Massachusetts and the Northeast. With no favorite artist, he claims, “ I have a deep love for all graff. from the “noname artists” with some bass-ass elements, to the writers I work, live, and hang with… I love graff!”

A freehand writer at work in his sign shop, or on the street; Griff has made stickers in the past, but as for stencils and projections, definitely not the street.

In regards to “gallery graff” Griff is no hater, he lives and lets live. “I can’t knock anybody’s hustle. I’m sure if a gallery offered me to do some fancy art show and make some money I’d be right there. I’ve done a few small shows but nothing huge. Some graffiti is definitely gallery worthy and some def isn’t! I feel like there are a lot of writers that do gallery work that has nothing to do with graffiti such as: oil paintings, photography sculptures etc.... A lot of writers are not only into graff –they very good classic or contemporary artists. I can’t hate. Do what you love and get money!”

Griff, now representing for “crews” like LMA, SA, and GW, when asked about his “street cred” raises his brow, tips his head and chuckles, “I’ll let the streets decide…. most of my stuff doesn’t get buffed anymore!” t

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1. Gaaks

www.Gaaks.com - This is a collective of designers that find 3rd party links to just about anything you’d need for any project, stock images, mock-up templates, web templates, audio, video and more. There is a wealth of good stuff here, just be aware some of the packages aren’t complete all the time, but for free,who’s complaining.

2. Brands of the World

www.BrandsoftheWorld.com - This site has been an indispensable resource to me for many years now. Not all companies know or have access to their scalable company logos, no worries, you’ll most likely find it here. This is the largest database of vector logos on the web to date, hands down.

3. DaFont

www.Dafont.com - Of course we’re going to reference the largest database of free fonts on the net. When looking for something themed or specified, this is the first stop. Be sure to search “Cammello” for a free font created by Justin Rotkowitz, the original font creator for WeMerge Magazine. For something a bit more rare and professionally built, check out LostType (www.losttype.com) there is some great professional typefaces with a “name your price” checkout, you can type 0 and download for free.

4. Din Pattern

www.dinpattern.com - All great websites have great patterns and textures. No matter what kind of website or web based document you are doing you can find awesome 72 dpi seamless patterns here. 100% free of charge.

5. PSD Tuts

psd.tutsplus.com - This is not really a place for graphic resources as it is a place for technique resources. Whenever we have some free time, we go on PSD Tuts and do a tutorial or two. No matter how much you think you know about Photoshop, these guys will show you a different (and most of the time easier) way to do things. If you like the free tutorials, the Tuts+ Subscription is worth it, the give you all the layered resource files to download and follow along and dissect. You can re-use stuff from the resource docs for real jobs too. Win-win! t Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 19

WINNER

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s U d SenurArt Yo e to se e v o l rk We’dour worge.com y weme r@ edito

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WINNER

Who’s Nexy Gallery Winner: Jose Sary Irreverent friend turns into a suicidal protester in acrylics

J

ose Alessandro Sary spent what seemed like a whole life, from age 0 to 23, in Brazil. He went through an entire incarnation - from age 16 to 27 - working creativitysuppressing jobs, walking too uncomfortably close to commercialist paths. Fortunately, a reincarnation took place for him in South Florida, where he’s been living for the last 13 years. In this new life, he likes to think of himself as a vessel for visual expression; for art on canvas and on skin at the moment.

In his journey of brush strokes, friends, family, and acquaintances will often show up in his work. On his canvases these real people - small dwellers of our times, simple heroes of survival, strugglers - appear sometimes as themselves, often times in different roles: A tattooed, smooth-talking, charming and irreverent friend turns into a suicidal protester in acrylics; fellow artists become characters in a fable done in oils; a cute, artsy, easy-going classmate becomes a mysterious magician. Strong reasons to paint may or may not lie beneath his impressions on canvas, but his painterly career is young and has only started back in 2007, as he painted his then recently deceased uncle in acrylics on canvas, followed by his self-portrait as a backwards Superman. Before that, he toyed with watercolors and pencils when time allowed – but with little direction.

Jose wishes to maintain a clear separation between his day-timejob creations and his more personal material. Both his tattooing and painting benefit from the craftsmanship acquired in his constant studies of form, light, and colors; those studies both from self, and college education. Even though he could continue on at his current level of abilities and progress with no tutelage, he aims for more soul-searching and fine-tuning in a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree.

For him, it’s awarding to be among aspiring artists and students of art because it makes him look back at his accomplishments, and look forward to new projects. His plans, therefore, are to paint more, paint bigger, and to paint freer. According to Jose, as a human being, he must express himself; the human experience must be depicted; and feelings communicated - throughout time and without rules. t

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Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 21

WEMERGEGALLERY

THE WHO’S NEXT GALLERY

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE

Sarah Thompson

Amber M. Moran

Andrea Buenfil

Heather Hill Abell

22 Supportthe theScene SceneororThere ThereWill WillBe BeNo NoScene SceneToToSupport Support 22 Support

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H

ere, in the “Who’s Next Gallery,” we provide you with some samples from artists we are considering for the next issue. We invite you to email us and tell us which artist’s work you like best. The winner receives a 2-page featured spread in the following issue.

Email us your vote today! t editor@wemerge.com

Brett Climan

Jon Hunt

Ilana Feinblum

Freshtoast

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Support Supportthe theScene Sceneor orThere ThereWill WillBe BeNo NoScene SceneTo ToSupport Support 23

24 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 25

FEATURE

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. . . o o o o S ss Bada

ut This Check O g Work Amazin

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FEATURE

Amazing Talent Entertaining Interests These small, thirty minute intervals of time encapsulated my life and imbued such joy and happiness...

M

y name is Chad Baptiste, a Trinidadian native born and raised, and I am an independent comic artist!

I am naturally a traditionalist; I am preferable to pencils and paper when I illustrate my pieces. However, I do utilize computer programs like Photoshop to color or even conceptualize a piece without having to scan it. Cuts out the middle man.

I came to the States in 97 at the wee age of ten, and have been a Florida resident ever since. As a kid I had always shown a fondness for drawing, but back then it was just a hobby, something to kill time with.

Of course, growing up as a 90's kid, with the onset of Japanese anime and its almost absurd level of success in the west, I fell deep into that chasm of drawing 'anime'. But, like any other source of inspiration, I respect what it did for me and the foundation it helped fortify, and even opening my mind to possibilities of turning my hobby into a career. Otherwise I'd have been a mechanic!

If there's one thing I can respect the most about art is the art of sequential illustrations. I love comics, it's such an endearing medium of story telling; having only so many pages per book, panels per page, to tell a complex narrative has always been a worthwhile challenge to me. It almost

paradoxically forces you to create within a confined space, knowing that you can't extend beyond the limitations set upon by the medium!

My strongest memory as a child varies depending on the context of a circumstance; were I choose one that, let's say, helps fuel my yearning to be a great artist would come from a bet I made with my best friend in Trinidad prior to my leaving. He was a talented SOB, still is today! But I looked to him and said; I'm going to beat you one day, you just wait! But you have to keep drawing, because I will! However, if you were to refer to what made me choose art as a career, it would come from an epiphany I had while watching cartoons on a Saturday morning.

I had realized that these small, thirty minute intervals of time encapsulated my life and imbued such joy and happiness, to the point that it made me want to do the same. I realized that art has impassioned me to follow my dreams, and I would hope to, one day with my own art, instill that mindset into the heart of others.

My favorite piece of art comes from, and simultaneously my favorite artist, a man by the name of Zdzisław Beksiński. Ironically he had a habit of not titling his pieces, but it's one of my absolute favorite paintings from him. It depicts these (continued on next page)

Designer talk...

My fondness for the traditional usually lends itself to some of the more favored pieces I've done in the past. But I guess more concurrently, my methodology with illustrations are the same as with my comics; I usually start them with pencil and move on to ink. The brand Staedtler is my go-to product for both, their pencils and especially their ink pens are as far as I'm concerned top of the line for maintaining clarity and ease of usability! However, there is a technique I like to use that creates a faux water-color appearance with extremely soft outlining and rich tones, it involves PrismaColor Gray Toned makers applied directly to a pencil sketch; use a soft enough pencil like an H or higher, and they get washed away under the marker's dye; really cool stuff!

ToolsoftheTrade Staedtler pencils | Staedtler pens PrismaColor Gray Toned Markers

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Chad Baptiste

Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 27

FEATURE

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WeMerge.com/Feature

If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

Wolverine; nuff said! (continued from previous page)

ominously towering individuals, draped in robes and holding objects that seemingly fit the mood of the painting, and right there at the bottom; a man walks beneath them holding a lowly torch that just barely illuminates his path. Amazing!

Art, no matter the medium, is expression. It is this preliminary fact that I respect the most about it, and probably the underlying reason why I chose to make a career out of it. You have to, somehow, take something that has been time and again refined on

every level to better suit the needs of the individual and the era in which it was created, and identify yourself within it. Outside of that, I find the idea of constant growth very appealing!

There are plenty of things I dislike about this industry, but I think it's the fact that art has since become so industrialized that is most irksome.

Circumstances vary from person to person, in the end it's always up to that individual to make the best of things.

What makes me angry? That's next level stuff!

I think if anything would make me angry would simply be brilliantly talented individuals losing out on opportunities to prosper due to shortcomings brought on by their upbringings, or things that aren't necessarily their fault. I find it very unfair.

I've always held a soft spot in my heart to be a director, and personally, THE biggest dream project of mine would be to bring Dragonball Z to the big screen, correctly!

If I could be honored to one day be compared to any other notable human being on this planet, which alone is an astounding triumph, it would

28 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

be what Joe Madd, Jim Lee, and Jeff Scott Campbell is to the comic industry. There was a time when I wasn't fond of the idea of drawing Batman or Superman as a career; I saw them as preexisting edifices that were what fans only cared for, you couldn't uniquely make a name for yourself under that light. But I was quickly shown the error of my ignorance, and was made aware that it was a privilege to be given the right to draw these characters, being entrusted by the organization responsible for their future to continue such a profound lineage. So I reconfigured my understanding of this industry, and realized that the day your style can become synonymous with the power behind the character you're illustrating, that's something to smile about! It's no longer just Batman, it's (your name here)'s Batman, now that's nuts!

I haven't had the luxury of traveling much, but there is only one place on Earth I find to be among the most tantalizing places in existence: Easter Island. Everything about that island is shrouded in mysticism; the statues carved in a stone (if I'm

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Checkthisout "just keep fighting, all you need is a little luck, and when the day comes that you find it, all of your hard work will guarantee success"

What makes me angry? That's next level stuff!

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not mistaken) that's not native to the island, by an entire civilization that left little trace of their presence, all looking outward into God knows what.

Pretty mental stuff man!

The best advice I've had the honor of receiving is from an old painter named Ed, who's father was a cartoonist for MGM during the days of Tom and Jerry; he said simply: " just keep fighting, all you need is a little luck, and when the day comes that you find it, all of your hard work will guarantee success".

I hope to one day become an astounding concept artist, and be apart of a team or company that builds a narrative from start to finish! Then move on to the next idea!

If there's one thing I could never do without, is peace of mind. It is, to me at least, a very rare luxury.

It fosters hope and simplicity, the type of clarity needed for creation.

I guess if there's anything one should leave here with, is that everything starts with you. If there is a level of skill that you aspire to, or a job that best utilizes you as an individual, or just a place in life you'd really love to obtain, in the end it all starts with you. More than likely, no one will provide that push necessary to gain momentum. t Cheers!

-Chad Baptiste Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 29

WEMERGESHIRTS

30 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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Vargas Gallery is the Jose Maria Vargas University professional Art Gallery coordinated by the Art Department

954 322 4460

jmvu.edu

8300 S. Palm Drive. Pembroke Pines

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Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 31

GOOD EATS

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It's a Nice-A-Nice!

Interview with Chef Stevie at Tony Dell's

"I’m on fire Tony, I’m on fire," he wouldn’t even turn around.

But if you slammed the oven door to loud, he would hear and turn around and smack you, like he would hit you.

Tell us a little bit about tony dells and how it came to be and how you became involved with Tony Dell's.

1984-1985 I applied for a pizza man job here, when I met Tony Dell. Tony Delvecio is his name. When I started making pizza here there’s this really tall skinny dish washer a couple of years older then me, his name is Robert and after about 6 months Tony asks me to teach this guy how to make pizza I said alright so I taught the guy how to make pizza.

And about six months later Tony Dell sells the restaurant to this Irish guy name Mitch McCormick, and he comes from a seafood restaurant McCormick seafood. He owns it for about 4 or 5 years. I ended up leaving and he ended up having the dish washer, Robert, becoming the pizza man. 4 or 5 years later Mitch has a heart attack and dies. So the guy who I taught how to make pizza, the dish washer buys the restaurant from Mitch. And all he knew how to do here was make pizza!

So he calls me, like “I bought the restaurant." "You have to be crazy, you know I just taught you how to make pizza few years ago and now you are buying the restaurant," I said. He goes yeah I need you to come back and help me make pizza, and I have Tony Dell coming back to teach me how to saute, teach me how to make the dough, teach me how to do everything. So me and Tony Dell come back to help Robert basically get all the skill together and I stayed a little bit with Robert off and on throughout the years. I pursued my DJ career for 27 plus years, but told Robert back then "well if you bought the restaurant, then I’m buying it next!"

About a year and a half ago he calls me up and says "my lease is up. I have a 5 year option and I’m not ready to renew it, he says if I don’t find a buyer I’m gonna throw the keys in the garbage and I’m gonna walk away."

He called a year and a half ago and asked me if I was ready, I said I’m gonna make myself ready, and it took me a few months and I got ready. Originally I was gonna was gonna buy it with a partner and that fell through, thank God! I ended up getting it by myself to where I wanted to, and if anybody else would have bought Tony Dells they could have done anything.

Changed it to a Chinese restaurant, post office it would have been anything. Only I was the last living soul who knew Tony Dell who cared. I use to golf with Tony Dell. We were friends, I loved the guy like a father. So I was the only one who could keep the tradition going. If it wasn't me, anybody else would be like Tony Dell - Tony Schmell who cares.

Quick funny story about Tony Dell because it is all about Tony Dell – he was deaf in both ears, he had hearing aids in both ears. You'd be in the kitchen with him and you could be right behind him on fire yelling "I’m on fire Tony, I’m on fire," he wouldn’t even turn around. But if you slammed the oven door to loud, he would hear and turn around and smack you, like he would hit you. He had selective hearing so to speak. So that’s how I ended up buying Tony Dells.

How many employees do you have?

We don’t have a lot of employees we are a small restaurant I’m the chef, owner, operator, so I hold about two or three jobs here. I have my right had women, Roseanne. She’s been here with me from day one. I wanted her for this position before I even bought the restaurant. I actually even offered her a partnership. She is my main girl, she does some prep in the day time. She has a cooking back ground, so she does some prep in the morning and I come in a little later on in the afternoon. I have a couple of waitresses and I a dish staff and I have a couple of drivers. So not a lot .

What is something that you would want the people to know about your place here?

That it is hard to find a restaurant that has been in business for over forty years so we are doing something right all I’m doing is continuing what’s already been done right!

What is your favorite food to eat Barbecue I’m not even kidding, because I work here and I cook here five days a week. When I get home I want to cook something I can’t make at the restaurant, which is barbecue! Nothing in particular, anything that’s red, you know, steak and sausage, my summer sausage and the pin wheel sausage with the broccoli robe.

32 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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What is your favorite cuisine to cook and why?

Most people don’t know I’m ½ Sicilian and ½ Lebanese so I have a Mediterranean /middle eastern background. With family cooking and then with professional cooking, its always been Italian restaurants.

An example of a meal you would prepare for a guest: I have my signature dish which is Chicken D'Angelo sautéed boneless chicken breast with chopped onions and asparagus with a white wine and a nice marinara sauce mixed in. It's A Nice-A-Nice!

Get out of the kitchen it's for women," said my male chauvinist grandfather

Why did you choose to become a chef?

I would consider myself a chef probably by the age of 18. I’ve been cooking since the age of 4 years old. I was on a stool making eggs for my mom that she never ate, I think I burned them every time but she never stopped me, she encouraged it. My grandmother was a big time cook. I would always be in the kitchen, my grandfather was a male chauvinist, he always be yelling at me to "get out of the kitchen, it’s for women," but because he didn’t want me in there, I probably wanted to do it more and watch and learn. I grew up with a couple of friends who's families owned Italian restaurants. So the first time they invited me to the restaurant I was like “oh what’s that”?

That’s a garlic roll, teach me how to make it. 25 trays later I knew how to make garlic rolls! It was on to the next thing like the calzone, the Sicilian, so within two months I knew how to make everything on their menu. They said "hey you want a job," so by 14-15 I was already working in a restaurant and by the age of 19, I was managing a restaurant. It was the DJ world that got me out of the cooking world. I always wanted to own my own restaurant, but I didn’t want to work in a restaurant, to buy it. I figured I’d be burnt out by the time I made enough money to own a restaurant, so the DJ world came along and I was lucky enough and able to go into that.

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What do you do to stay educated about new trends?

Not many people remember The Frugal Gourmet, he was before Julia Childs one of the very first chefs on TV. He was Italian and he would travel the region of Italy and get certain fruits and vegetables they were seasonal and only could grow in those parts of the regions and he’d give you the history behind it and he would tell you all about it and he would cook a meal and you would know so much more than just what the food was by watching him. We’re talking about the eighties I was watching that show.

As far as education I have my family that I was educated from and other chefs in other restaurants that I’ve learned things from, you take it all in and you become who you are and that’s who I am.

Do you find that the recipes that you’ve been cooking for so many years, at Tony Dells, stand the test of time?

Yeah, you know what, it’s almost hard now to go to an Italian restaurant and find a lasagna and an Egg Plant Parm. Those are like staples. Dishes that have been on this menu for 40 years, I didn’t want to take them off. But Chicken Francese was never on the menu, Pene Alá Vodka was never on the menu. So you add a few, you keep the tradition, it’s just like djing.

The first DJ party I ever did, I know I had a Slick Rick record in there, and a KRS One record and De La Soul records. Well guess what, those four records never left my crate. Till the day I stopped DJing I always kept those records in my crate and I always played at every party I went to. So you want to consider yourself a classic kitchen you need to keep classic dishes and that’s what we do here at Tony Dells.

(Read full article online at WeMerge.com) Tony Dell's Italian Ristorante & Pizzeria 9846 Sandalfoot Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33428 www.tonydells.com

GOOD EATS

Photo by Ricardo Diaz

Yo!!Where aretheFood TruckEvents?

So, you like the food trucks do ya? Me too. But how and where do you track down your local faves? As we get into the cooler weather months (thank god), these locales will surely be the hot spots for street food in our neck of the woods: 1. Wellington Ampitheater (Forest Hill Blvd west of 441): Every Thursday 5-10pm. Check out foodtruckinvasion.com for details.

2. Abacoa Town Center (North of Donald Ross Rd near Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter): Every 3rd Friday from 5-10pm 30 food trucks gather, bars and restaurants swing open their doors, and 3,000 people converge for South Florida’s biggest and baddest street food fiesta.

See foodtruckinvasion.com for more information.

3. Young Circle, Hollywood (Hollywood Blvd east of 95): Every Monday night 5-10pm catch 30 food trucks here. See burgerbeast.com for details.

4. Cypress Creek Rd. at Powerline, Ft. Lauderdale: Every Wednesday night 5-9pm long standing truck rally hosted

by BC Tacos. See bctacos.com for more information.

Read more food blogs at: ps561.com

Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 33

MUSIC

Tay G: MCHS

This is an Artist to watch for sure. Truly pushing the Miami rap scene with new flow, and great delivery!

Greatness isn’t given, it’s achieved, and Tay G Aims to reach the top. Support the Tay G Movement! @thetaykeover

Omniscient: D.R.U.G.S.

This 9 song release makes me wanna bump this loud as hell in a vintage cadillac while cruising over the bridge to south beach!

You won’t find another artist like this. True talent! @omniscient305

Mic Bebe: kiss the baby

Dropping his first official album, and captures a raw sound of bass heavy beats and songs concepts that push the envelope. Songs to make u party, scream, and have a Molotov cocktail fight with friends.

Definitely original! @Micbebe954 1sttakestudios.com

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iii Points Festival

The boy was air pumping him from behind like a disco dancer exploiting Tina

S

“Alright so which way should we go first?” This was the first communication we had when hitting the streets of Wynwood.

“We should hit up the GAB Studio and do some gaming, $10 says you have no gaming skills what so ever!” 10 mintues and $10 richer we moved onto Cafeina for the BBQ food and to see Yacht spinning live. The BBQ was amazing, but nowhere close to the little gay boy that was dancing on a friend of mine when he wasn’t paying attention. When he would turn the boy would look away, but when he wasn’t looking the boy was air pumping him from behind like a disco dancer exploiting Tina.

After the air rape we went on to Kryogenifex, where they have liquid nitrogen setups that spray nitrogen throughout the area. Let’s say you need to use the porta potty, it has a setup that goes off after you get in. Exploding with nitrogen for an excellent burst of cold

delight. They also had a frozen nitrogen drink that felt a bit hallucinogenic, which helped to start the night off just right.

Now, it was off to see James Murphy inside Sound Stage at Mana Wynwood.

Let me just say this is a huge venue. Plenty of space to get lost in and explore. Makes for a good trip and the music was beyond expectation. That man performs a set that can’t be matched and the crowd was more than happy to express their gratitude.

The entire event was amazing. The ability to walk around from show to show without any hassle, plenty of parking, with no strenuous vibes to hinder your experience. It was a great time and we look forward to the next event. For more information and to find out about the next show, please visit Facebook.com/ iiipoints Special thanks to David and Lauren for their support of the magazine and for inviting us to experience an amazing show. t

Miami Scratch Dj Academy

iLL PHiL: Late Nights & Palm Trees Of course I have to include my album. This 16 track album is the theme music to any ambitious, hungry dream chaser. Lyrics and songs that illustrate life’s canvas on incredible beats!

Melodic hooks with a go big or go home mentality! @followillphil illphilmusic.com

In 2002, Rob Principe partnered with the great Jam Master Jay of Run DMC to bring his long held vision to life. If jazz can successfully be taught at every major university around the world, why isn’t the same done for the art form of the DJ? After all DJs are musicians and turntables are bestselling instruments. It was this question and the ensuing tireless work that spawned the now famous Scratch DJ Academy.

With the goal of lowering the barrier of entry to the art form of the DJ, Scratch’s historic first semester received media attention worldwide with instructors including Jam Master Jay, DJ Premier, A-Trak, Evil Dee, and many more. Scratch DJ Academy went on to sell out every semester during its first year and eventually moved to a permanent location in the East Village.

Over the next few years, Scratch opened additional locations in Los Angeles (2004), Miami (2005) and coming soon to Chicago (2013) as well as expanded its course offering to include music production. Today, Scratch teaches over 50,000 people how to DJ annually through its physical locations and national tours. Scratch has taught students from all 50 states, 35 different countries, and is widely recognized as the world leader in DJ and music production education. For more information vist www.Scratch.com and check out the Miami location for DJ Immortal, a great friend of WeMerge. t

34 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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W

e turn to muic to desribe who we are. It's a means of undertanding someone as soon as you meet them.

"What kind of Music are you into?" To some of us it's the most important thing even in a relationship.

We are surrounded by good music, but it is very hard to find. Some would think you could just turn on the radio, but oh no.

Music enthusiasts know there is nothing being offered there. Only commercial garbage on repeat, but good music, oh good music. This is like a relic waiting to be found. "Find me oh heavenly listener," says the good music. "But where are you?" you ask. Well we got a couple gems for you to check out within our pages. t

MUSIC

AttentionMusicBuffs Miami Music Breezy Beat MC/Breezy Cabrera pioneering veteran rapper, singer-songwriter has not stopped creating music since his signature tune "shake the joint" was released in 89.

Currently appears in Miami Bass documentary "The Bass that Ate Miami". (pg.18) Check out his latest creations with Jock-D, Great Scott, Soundchasers Elevated Solz as well as under alter-ego name Breezy Cabrera at breezybeatmc.com. t

Local Music Made Fresh

GAB Studio

ill Phil “ Late Nights & Palm Trees” Review by Jojo Fabs

They make a statement with their music and relay a message of their struggle or a positive statement for their fans"

ill Phil

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As Broward carries its Hip Hop scene at a great direction, we may come across those who actually make a statement with their music and relay a message of their struggle or a positive one for their fans. ill Phil is one local MC that has a personal vibe in his music showing us what he is here for and what he is striving for with his melodic rap and hard work. Releasing his recent project “Late Nights and Palm Trees” we come across an artist expressing the hard work that has been put in the last few years of ill Phil’s career. Taking a listen to “Late Nights and Palm Trees” you will find a variety in this production having producers like Lexi Banks, Omega Nova, Soul and lets not forget the recording and fully mixed by Hazardis Sounds. Each track takes us on a quick journey of the upcoming life of an artist showing that giving up is not an option as his track L.I.F.E how his ambition is nothing to play with as greatness is on the way. The 16-track album has a few jams within especially Diamond In The Rough, Free My Mind, Millions, Rearview, and Cigarettes & Black Jeans are a few tracks that can definitely a supporter of real Hip Hop. ill Phil describes the title of this independent album as such a breath of fresh air Late nights of hard work, Palm Trees of the South Florida life style. ill Phil is just lyrical about triumphs, family & his career he does have a magical flow that can make you not want to skipping thru a single tracks. This is real music and each track influences that a lot. Overall I find this album as great work from the production, choice of tracks, lyrical talent from the artist, but most of all it embodies his dedication to the craft. t Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 35

MUSIC

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John Paul

Experience the Strength & Dope of One of South Florida's Hottest Artist South Florida is best known for hot weather, hot ladies, night clubs, South Beach and of course the Miami Heat. Well get ready!!! it’s time to gather around ladies and gentlemen, the spotlight is starting to shine on a local artist out of Broward County that goes by the name of John Paul. With over 10 years of song writing under his belt, John Paul truly is the definition of hustle and originality.

His smooth delivery, subject matter, and song structure will hold him in the ranks with greats for years to come. John Paul ( born John Gosney) well… to put in one word, is “INSANE”. The Versatility, his Lyrical Content, and his Production is phenomenal.

In the last 6 years John Paul has released 5 underground albums, opened up shows in 10 states for artists like: Flo-rida, Ace Hood, 2 Chainz, Plies, Gucci Mane, David Banner, Birdman, and Lil Wayne just to name a few. Not to mention has also done features with: Young Buck, Spider-Loc, Bun-B, Ace Hood, Pleasure P, Casely and every local artist he

comes across. Like most underground artists you either have bad management or lack of capital, and in this case it was both. With the down economy, the previous label John Paul was signed to fell into complications leaving his talent to be independent.

“After all the ups and downs music wasn’t cutting it anymore” said John Paul. So he did what he knew best…

Now back better than ever John Paul is currently in the studio working on his new independent project Now or Never Volume 2. His 1st single "Aint Going

Home Tonight" feat. Pleasure P, Casely, and Goldrush is starting to bubble nationwide on the radio. John Paul says “after taking time off to run a business, I’m starting to understand business and that’s what it comes down to in music.” Be sure to be on the lookout and stay tuned for upcoming videos, shows and events by loggin on to www.officialjohnpaul.com. t

Twitter @johnpaulent | instagram@officialjohnpaul Facebook.com/officialjohnpaul

Army Gideon

ARMY GIDEON is a high energetic band of musicians with an extensive library of live music and songs of freedom. While maintaining an AfroCaribbean background, ARMY GIDEON is based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL. The group consist of lead singer Anbesa, lead guitarist 'Lion', bassist Sheldon, drummer 'Spice', keyboardist 'Cabbage', and trumpeter Chico. Their lyrical content advocates equal rights & justice, universal love, and most importantly Ras Tafari awareness through a militant persona. ARMY GIDEON's sound is most defined by a foundation of Reggae music, but transcends genre's such as Blues, Rock & Funk, creating a vibration that is more eclectic than anything else. All members in the band have shared stages with reggae giants such as: The Wailers, Dennis Brown, The Abyssinians, Yellowman, Apple Gabriel, I-Wayne, Midnite, Julian Marley & Anthony B, just to name a few. One live experience with ARMY GIDEON is an event of epic proportions. armygideon@gmail.com t 36 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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AWARENESS

Hell No GMO: Frankenstein Food

By Ryan Lombardi

Chicken DNA has been added to potatoes to increase disease resistance for longer transportation and shelf life.

Artwork by Invi @ invimonster.com

So, what are GMO’s and why should you care?

GMO’s are vegetable seeds engineered or (Genetically Modified) in a laboratory. The aim was to resist weeds and insects. Instead they evolved new superweeds and superinsects, which in turn require over 26% more pesticides and herbicides than before science and food met. That's 26% more chemicals on your food and 26% greater profit for Monsanto, the worlds largest producer of GMO’s.

The biggest opposers to any legislation requiring that products containing GMO’s be labeled for consumer awareness are mega companies like Monsanto, Coca-Cola, and Nestle, just to name a few, who recently contributed millions of dollars to a campaign in Washington state against labeling, where they promised a major increase to every household's annual grocery bill if such legislation was passed. One has to wonder what they are so worried about. Are we to believe that these companies are more concerned with creating chemicals that cause serious health and environmental problems, and monopolizing seed production and product sales, than the health and safety of those who buy their products? What do you think?

What's really amazing is that 62 countries already have bans in place against the production, sales and importation of Genetically Modified foods and seeds.

The United States is not one of them.

In May, A Supreme Court Judge named Clarence Thomas, who worked as a lawyer for Monsanto before obtaining that position, played a huge part in the unethical passing of GMO patents against local farmers and in favor of Monsanto. Can we say CONFLICT OF INTEREST? The list of individuals who have bounced between high level positions with companies like Monsanto, and jobs with the FDA, supreme courts, and other political and governmental offices is disturbing to say the least. Most of these positions are in place to protect the citizens of our country, not the profits of large companies. But when the same people who are trusted to protect Johnny Public are in bed with

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big corporations, who knows who’s got our back?

Now why is putting science and food together so bad you ask?

Well for starters, did you knowfish genes are being incorporated into tomatoes to prevent freezing at low temperatures and that chicken DNA has been added to potatoes to increase disease resistance for longer transportation and shelf life.

The many people who choose not to eat meat for religious or moral reasons should wonder if their vegetables are 100% meat free.

Chickens have been known to mature so fast that

the breasts often become too large for the small body to support, leaving the animal immobilized until, well, you know So you've got to wonder, what do the chickens, pigs and cows eat that are causing so many new health problems for us? You guessed it!!! Genetically modified corn and grain. Not to mention that these

animals are being pumped up using Genetically Engineered Growth Hormones to increase size and speed up the birth-to-plate ratios , Studies have shown that women who eat large amounts of beef during pregnancy have produced children with low sperm counts(in males), high birth weights, early puberty and cancer.

Another fun fact: female pigs that have been fed a GMO based diet show 25% larger uterus!!

Bacon anyone?

Not so fun fact, new studies find that Glyphosate induces human breast cancer cell growth via estrogen receptors. Glyphosate is the main component of the widely used herbicide, ROUNDUP, produced by, guess who, Monsanto.

According to the American cancer society, in 2013, an estimated 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the US along with 64,640 non-invasive cases. In2012, the total number for both was 226,870.

With all the information and statistics out there, who the hell is making sure GMO’s are safe for human consumption?

Well...nobody . The FDA does not monitor Genetically Modified production, usage or distribution.

Now, this article is not meant to scare you or turn you into a tree bark eating schizophrenic. It's simply to help you make good educated choices that could save your life. Now it’s simple, try to buy locally grown fruit, vegetables and meats but, becareful. There are plenty of commercial attempts at tricking you into the “organic” trap. It's like this: if it's at a supermarket, it's probably expensive and no so organic.

There are plenty of awesome local farms and green markets here in South Florida yearround and you can find them by going to www. localfoodsouthflorida.org and B or by checking local listings. I challenge you to get out and meet your community, be creative and always say HELL NO GMO. www.Yeson522.com t

Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 37

#6

COMMUNITY

Support The Scene

WHO SAYS SIZE DOESN'T

From

MATTER

Ultra Thin

Average paint width of 0.3-0.4 inches

Thin

Average paint width of 0.5-1.5 inches

Medium

Average paint width of 1.5-3 inches

Fat

Average paint width of 4-5 inches

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Cardboard to Classrooms

Serve or Get Served

C

oming out of the Civil Rights Era, Hip Hop culture was inspired by a community of people combatting poverty, injustice and racial marginalization. Leaders like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and The Black Panther Movement, parented the first generation of so-called “Hiphoppas.”

During the early 1970’s, young leaders in the Bronx, such as Afrika Bambaataa, transformed drug/gangridden communities into cleaner, less violent and inhabitable places to live through community service, entrepreneurship and social welfare.

Community service projects included free jams in the park, mural projects and cleaning up the neighborhood. Entrepreneurship existed through the art of Deejay’s and Emcees, party promoters, club owners, security, graphic designers, record labels and more. In order for Hiphop to grow, it had to be selfsustaining so it could eventually help those in need.

The importance of using Hiphop as a way to help and serve others can’t be underestimated. Any talent that is used solely for self-aggrandizement will eventually be fruitless. If your Hiphop artistry or business will not directly or indirectly represent the need of a community, then don’t associate yourself with the culture. One of the very reasons Hiphop culture prospered was because it saved lives.

Do not use Hiphop as a way to destroy, degrade, discriminate or disrespect others. Do not use Hiphop as a way to only promote yourself! Use Hiphop as a way to support your community and earn an honest living.

There are so many ways you can get involved in Hiphop service: create a Hiphop blood drive, throw a free jam, host BBoy/Graff classes for youth, or create a song that sheds light on an under represented community or idea. Be a part of the Hiphop solution, not the problem. Let’s clean up Hiphop’s image - like the pioneers before us cleaned up The Bronx – and give Hiphop culture the respect and reverence that it deserves! Serve or Get Served! t 1 Love.

Extra Fat

Average paint width of 7-8 inches

Seth “Brimstone” Schere is Co-founder of PATH: Preserving, Archiving & Teaching Hiphop, Inc., South Florida’s premier youth Hiphop organization.

He has been actively involved in the Miami Hiphop scene as an emcee, DJ, writer and Bboy since the 1980’s.

Email: brim@pathtohiphop.org

38 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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W

ith the dawn of technology and the amazing new inventions that have come to be, people are now able to bring their music to audiences like never before. Some people have a hard time finding exactly what to create, but some know that the more you produce the more you will experience, and the better each project will be. You have to strive to find something in yourself to push this existance. If you need assistance, just ask.

WeMerge knows a great deal of people looking to work on projects that can both benefit them and you. Contact us today to get your next project started. t

COMMUNITY

MusicVideotoCheckOut Projects With Friends John Paul James & The New Taste: InnerState Love Song From The Album: "Dressed To Kill Time" Available at: JohnPaulJames.bandcamp.com Hear More & Like This Artist @ Facebook.com/JPJTNT Directed by: Dwayne Adams of WeMerge

Makemoves, notexcuses: RiseUpGallery

R

David McCauley

Hip Hop culture was inspired by a community of people combatting poverty, injustice and racial marginalization

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ise Up Gallery is raising the bar in Wynwood, with fresh art, great vibes and a powerful purpose. The gallery showcases and sells quality art created by people with disabilities, mostly paralysis.

After a soft opening for Art Basel 2012, the gallery officially joined Wynwood’s bourgeoning art scene in January 2013, with help from both private and public donors. Since then, patrons have been supporting a worthwhile cause and scoring one of a kind pieces from talented artists under one roof.

Rise Up Gallery founder, David McCauley, is a visionary artist, photographer and collaborator.

The former board rider (surf/skate/snow) made Miami his home two years ago after sustaining a spinal chord injury that limited the use of his limbs. This only slowed him down temporarily; in addition to running the gallery (with generous support from an army of volunteers), he is a prolific mixed media artist and advocate for the paralysis community. McCauley offers adaptive art therapy to paralysis patients at Miami Jackson Hospital on the first Friday of every month.

David has managed to achieve something that many only dream about – fulfilling his passion while serving others. Despite the seeming limitations that he faces as a result of his paralysis, he asserts, “I’m fulfillled...it’s tough to say that my life has gotten better because of this injury, but in terms of what I do on a daily basis, it’s really awesome.” David is making quite an impression in Miami by making big moves and making no excuses. t

Rise Up Gallery is the flagship program of Rise Up To Cure Paralysis, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Visit the gallery:187 NW 27th St CU-1, Miami, FL 33127.

Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 39

Support The Scene

CRAFTED

3

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Sexy Pieces of Work

t

Flirtatious

70’s Gibson les Paul pro with p 90s

Photo by Alan Cleaver

Hand Crafted Walking Sticks:The Stick Man

t

Very Outgoing 1961 Gibson les Paul standard

t

Seductive

1959 fender telecaster

The staff, once an ancient symbol of power and authority, held by prophets and kings, has dwarfed over the millennia to its current state as just a walking stick for the infirmed. That is until Jay Berlin, AKA “ The Stick Man, “ resurrected its previous stature.

Like Michael Angelo releasing his forms from stone, Jay brings forth his walking sticks by carving away the bark of their wooden bondage.

His creations are discovered in nature, not produced in a mill.

Bringing forth his walking sticks by carving away the bark of their wooden bondage.

Jay searches the wooded areas near his Lake Worth home for days at a time until he finds the next ordinary branch that will be transformed into an extraordinary piece of art. Jay, like many of us, sees all of nature as art, but unlike most he also sees the spirit within these natural forms yearning to be liberated. In nature, butterflies emerge from their cocoons instinctively. In the mortal world only the eyes, hands, and soul of the artist can bring about these transformations. Jay was born in Brooklyn, and through numerous transplanting’s ended up in the arts friendly community of Lake Worth. Jay attended Peabody High School in Massachusetts,

then owned and operated his shop for six years in Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. From there and some aliases such as “ Jays Craft “ and “ Wood U Believe,“ he came to Dr. Fleas Market in West Palm Beach.

Jay was there for over a year when he, again, went out on his own.

You can now find Jay at different times at various flea markets and local events across the greater Palm Beach area. Jay also has an eclectic array of other wood carvings such as custom signs, wall plaques, key racks, etc. Jay will also do original creations upon request. t

For more information on Jay’s work he can be reached by calling him directly at (561) 656 – 4843.

Fashion Forward Bags RecycleMyBag.com Vibrant and hip, fun and funky, MIGDALIA’s upcycled bags transform the discarded into art, proving that sustainability need not be dull and unfashionable.

We all have clothes buried deep in our closets that are rarely worn. They stay hidden in our drawers or pushed to the back of the shelf. But… What if we could give them new life? Not just a make over, but a full-blown 40 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

resurrection.

Meet Migdalia Pace. Migdalia has been transforming the plain and simple into fun and funky through her art and fashion illustrations her whole life. Now, through a unique approach to craftsmanship and design, Migdalia rescues those forgotten fabrics and favorite clothes, upcycling them into one-of-a kind works of art. Her new fashion forward bags are unlike any before. t

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Support The Scene

CRAFTED

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The Box and other clichés

Sheim Francis

Syllables that Speak form Short Stanzas If words were an army, spoken word poetry would serve as the commander If words were an army, spoken word poetry would serve as the commander.

Directing, with authority, the platoon of syllables that form its stanzas, spoken word poetry fights on the battle field of pronunciation and enunciation to bring about the most powerful form of poetic expression known to the art.

Spoken word, unlike conventional poetry, defies the laws of iambic pentameter and engages the listener in a sporadic, yet methodical, oration of thought. Just ask the fans of Made S.O.N., Da Youngsta, Poetically Yours, Flashlight, Chunky, and Quick the Poet; all local South Floridian poets. Their delivery, content, and zeal for spoken word make them a force to be reckoned with in the poetry community.

Spoken word is a fusion of battle rap, smooth jazz, and a hint of Sunday morning inspiration delivered by a Preacher. It crosses cultural barriers to engage all listeners yet remains true to the essence of its roots.

Spoken word began to be used centuries ago in ancient Olympic Games. It reemerged as one of the driving forces of hope during the Harlem

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Renaissance, and later on in the Civil Rights movement. The Last Poets, Langston Hughes, and Dr. Martin Luther King are considered influential poets in this style of delivery.

The beauty of spoken word is such that anybody with the desire to express themselves can become a novice at the art, unlike other forms where an initial ability is a pre-requisite; this was the case with me. My personal journey with spoken word began as the result of a heart break; young, dumb, and infatuated, I poured my heart out with the worst written poem ever. As time progressed, I, alongside my writing, grew tremendously; the rest, as they say, is history.

This article can do spoken word no justice if you don’t take the time to experience the art form in action for yourself. With venues in Miami, Broward, and West Palm Beach, you have no excuse for missing out on a spoken word piece.

I know what you’re thinking – I don’t where to look! Log on to the net, search Facebook. t

www.facebook.com/4HisGloryAlone www.twitter.com/sheimfrancis www.reverbnation.com/praxismusic Book Website (My e-store) www.createspace.com/3847768 Book can be purchased from Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

,

by Marc Cheever

Here’s the cliché: “You have to think outside of the box”, but what if there is no box. Don’t worry this isn’t a pep-talk about how to make your interpretive dance better.(I wouldn’t even know where to start with that.) I hate pep-talks, almost as much as I hate clichés. They’re everywhere: “A very pretty box with a bow but nothing inside” “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what to expect.” Where did all these friggin’ boxes come from?! Screw the box. Screw the clichés. THINK FOR YOURSELF! …Oh dang it. I just did it didn’t I?! Clichés are everywhere.

Unoriginal, boring, recycled bull that our parents have brain-washed us into believing, how can we put them to an end for once and for all? How do we destroy the box?

That’s it!!! We destroy the box! Smash it to the ground and dance on its unholy pieces; until freedom and creativity shoots from our finger tips like electricity!! Now I know what you’re thinking: “Marc, clichés a figurative. How can we smash these figurative boxes and dance upon their figurative pieces so that we can shoot freedom and creativity from our fingertips like electricity?!” That’s easy!!! I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!’ Damn it! I didn’t write that! That’s a quote from the 1976 classic “Network” and it’s cliché as heck!!!

I can’t tell you how to destroy the box without a cliché, I’ve been trying; three hours at this keyboard trying to beat down clichés without a cliché. They’re everywhere now, music, movies, the McD’s menu board, even this column about avoiding clichés, and the box remains. I don’t know what to tell you except, be you. t

This is Marc Cheever "In a Box"

*No Marcs were hurt in the making of this image, only egos.

For more information on Marc and his writings visit BigBeardComics.com

Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 41

TATTOO

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No Hard Feelings Tattoo Gallery

Teddy Mendoza Tell us about yourself and what got you into tattooing?

Been doing tattoos for about 13 years and was getting tattoos before I was doing tattoos. Was just kinda drawn to it. Always thought it was neat and kinda cool the way they did it. So the guy that was tattooing me I started asking questions about how I could get involved in the industry and from there that’s how it kinda took off.

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration for your tattoos?

I got them from about everything, I can go to a gallery and see some art, just watching TV or even scrolling trough the internet. You can always take the customes ideas and kinda put your own twist on it.

Are the tattoo designs in the shop done by you?

They are not all done by me. We have a group of about 10 very talented artists here now. The art is more of a melting pot type collaboration that everyone feeds off of. Everyone gets to share their different style of tattoos.

On average how long does each average size tattoo take?

The average size tattoo usually take about 3 hours. If you did like a half sleeve that something like 10-15 hours.

Do you enjoy your job?

I love my job very much. We are lucky to wake up everyday and come to work and do something we love. The only thing I love more then my job is my family.

42 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

Chris Blinston

How long have you been tattooing?

I have been tattooing for sixteen years and two months and the reason I know exactly when I started was the day I got hired on at a professional tattoo shop was the same day that Princess Diana died in her car accident.

How people have you tattooed?

Back in 2010, we were sitting around by figuring out how many people I did per day, times the number of days I work, times the number of years I worked and we got about 10,000 tattoos so I’d say I’m somewhere at about 12,000 by now.

What is the starangest tattoo you have ever done?

Oh man, back when I was younger I would do anything crazy. One of the crazy ones I did was back in 2003, we had a guy come in the shop that was very Gothic, before Gothic was even a style. He was very vampire like and wanted me to tattoo 666 on his forhead. I told him no and to leave my shop, then the next day he came in and we asked him to leave again. Then the third day he walked right up to the booth and said “look I’m sober I’m not crazy and I’m going to get this done somewhere and I’d like it done nicely

because it’s on my forehead so would you please do it?” Now, because he was so prefesional about it I agreed to do and we picked out a font and did it in about 1 inch letter all the way across the forehead. Now, the crazy part of the story is when he left shop, which was on a main 6 lane street like the shop is here on Sample Rd., and all the cars comeing just skreethed their wheels as he kinda just floated across the street and everyone in the shop just kinda watched. It was very weird. We never saw that guy again.

What is the weirdest place on the body that you have ever tattooed?

I have tattooed every place on the body.

Genatalia, back end genatalia we’ll call it, ears, obviously forehead.

Have you ever tattooed yourself?

I did tattoo myself one time. I originally started tattooing in the marine core tattooing with my friends. We would charge people a value meal and we would tattoo them. We got a few beers in us one night and decided to tattoo the bottom of our feet, so I tattooed a giant smiley face on the bottom of my foot and it lasted about four month and then just peeled off.

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Underline in this panel here if you want am zzrit nullut adit aliquat. Riuscilit acidunt nulput

Eric Juice Jazvac

Eric Juice Jazvac

TATTOO

Gabe Tucker What got you into tattooing and tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been drawing and painting since I was about 5 or 6 years old. Once I stared doing graffiti and murals I kinda got into tattooing. I had done a huge mural at a tattoo shop for a tattoo artist and that’s what kinda got me in the door. Then from there my work just progressed.

What was your first tattoo experience like?

I was freaking out thinking I can't erase so I have to make this really count.

Who taught you to tattoo?

My teacher was Fox Tattoo in Pompano.

How many tattoos do you have and what was the most painful?

By now I have about 40-50 but they have turned into sleeves, but I would say the most painful would be the armpit where the hair starts to grow in. That’s for me was where the pain started to kick in.

What did you do before you decided to get into tattooing?

I was painting murals for about 10 to 12 years. Doing commercial, residential murals and canvas paintings. Just trying to do anything that was involved in art. Then the avenue of tattoing opened up and I had to take that path. I still paint on the side for customers and to relieve stress.

Do you remember what you tattooed?

Oh yeah it was this little tribal sun face.

It came out great though, but man was I nervous.

I have about 50 tattoos that have turned into sleeves...

John Guzman

John Guzman

Chris Rusty Calsetta

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Dana Hauser

Jeffy

No Hard Feelings Tattoo Gallery 10331 W Sample Rd Coral Springs 33065 (954) 341-3585

Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 43

WeMerge Presents

IWANT WeMerge.com/coolstuff

Support The Scene

"If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever.

Use a pile driver.

COOL STUFF Check out some of these cool things and let us know what you think. You got something cool we should see? email us at cool@wemerge.com

Find Public Art: WynwoodMap.com

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ynwoodmap.com looks to archive past and present street art murals and installations in the Wynwood art district and the surrounding Miami neighborhoods. Its goal is to ensure all of the work that is created is preserved and all artists are given credit for their creation.

The site is intended to be used as a reference for past work but also as a gallery guide while exploring the streets of Wynwood and Miami. The location-aware map will quickly show you what pieces you are next to as well as include information about what pieces and artists used to be featured at a particular location.

With the evolving nature of street art, no one piece is ever completely permanent.

Wynwood Map's goal is to make certain each piece lives on.

Their Second Spooky Book

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here is no denying that Justin “INVI” Vilonna is a rare breed of artist, so when he teamed up with Amanda Torroni to write the sequel to Ghosts! Zombies! Monsters!

Bunnies!, the result was a creative force to be reckoned with. Fans of the first book will be blown away by short stories, poems, and illustrations that are bigger, better, and funnier than ever. New readers will feel like they never missed a beat.

The authors take the traditional spook out of your favorite supernatural creatures for a light-hearted, whimsical experience you’re sure to enjoy. So kick back, relax, and put on a scary soundtrack as they take you to the Zombie Days Festival, read your Horrorscope, and recite poetry about the monsters under your bed.

Fnd the book on Amazon.com and also invimonster.com

The Zombies will get you...

Where to Buy: invimonster.com 168 pages $15 BONUS: For an autographed copy by BOTH Amanda Torroni and Justin INVI Vilonna $20

Paper Tentacles Big Beard Comics has announced its most ambitious comic book series to date, “Paper Tentacles” expected to be released in January 2014. Set in the mid-1950’s we meet 12 year-old Maxwell Thurston as his world he knows is thrown upside down, as his fantasies and nightmares suddenly come clawing their way to life. Artist Erika Taguchi-Newton’s unique whimsical style mixes seamlessly with writer Marc Cheever’s bizarrely sweet characters and story telling.

Paper Tentacles is a shining example of Big Beard Comics’ commitment to redefining what comic books can be.

Get Your Copy today!

Where to Buy: While supplies last - Etsy $5 DESCRIPTION: Fantasies and nightmares suddenly come clawing their way to life

44 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

Furotiffy While searching for alternatives to preserve the environment, nature and wild life, I came across a Japanese traditional wrapping cloth called “furoshiki” We design and individually handcraft our own Furotiffy hobo bag line using a wide variety of fabrics imported from Europe and Asia that are both attractive and versatile.

Facebook.com/Furotiffy

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Lion on a Bicycle

ark Cycle Clothing was founded by husband and wife team Coryn and Adam in 2009. The concept for Dark Cycle began with Adam thinking up quirky animal on bike designs while making his 17-mile bike ride to work. Eventually, he screenprinted the designs up on some extra t-shirts and they generated quite a bit of interest every time they were worn. In 2010 Stephanie joined the team and is currently the backbone of their customer service and is fantastic at getting back to customer queries within 24 hours and hooking them up with custom work.

Over 15,000 happy customers later they decided it was time to branch out on their own and start Darkcycleclothing.com.

Dark Cycle Clothing’s mission is to provide ethical and quality clothing while promoting alternative transportation.

UM..YES

Random Heart Monsters Random Heart Monsters are hand-sewn by Victoria Woodward. They are oneof-a-kind adorable stuffed monsters and cute creatures.

They come in three sizes: mini, medium, and large.

Custom orders are available!

Mini - $3 Medium - $10 Large - $15 Custom orders: Medium - $15 Large - $20 Facebook.com/ randomheartmonsters Etsy.com/shop/ randomheartmonsters

Collection of Japanese Inspired Tattoo Art

F My Amy Lou Jewelry Amy Lou is a jewelry line infused with the energy and spirit of the natural elements yet explores designs enriched with a mixture of funky subculture fashion. Each piece is created to not only capture the eye, but invoke emotion and inspiration.

The Eclipse Ring myamylou.com

This gorgeous new collection of japanese and traditional inspired tattoo art by Pooch in large format is a must have for any tattooist or tattoo collector. Featuring full page color designs of Pooch’s latest forays into japanese and traditional art. Using a Wacom Cintiq monitor which allows Pooch to draw directly on the screen, and Photoshop, he has been creating tattoo style digital art in a more graphic style, which translates better into tattoos, and allows the freedom of experimentation in a speed of light fashion. Containing tons of japanese style imagery including, dragons, koi, foo dogs, tibetan skulls, demons and mythological creatures such as kitsune and bakeneko, the shape shifting fox and cat creatures, respectively. Also included are some american traditional tattoo designs such a roses, victorian girls and skulls. Available online through Blurb.com just search for tattoo art of Pooch or go to www.blurb.com/b/4519660-tattoo-art-of-pooch-volume-1 Tattoo Art of Pooch Volume 1

The Dena Venable Store Dena Venable is a very talented Miami fashion designer of apparel, undergarments and accessories.

Her pieces are all one of a kind, handmade, hand dyed and finished in Miami. Venable is known for her ability to make women look sexy and youthful, without losing their sense of sophistication. Dena’s collection feels feminine, earthy, flirty, laid-back and effortlessly chic. The palette is composed of earthy neutrals, neons and soft shades. Black, tan, white and crème are staples; however, color wise, what stands out the most is the combination between bright and soothing colors that go intertwined in the tie-dyes. The inspiration behind Venable’s brand is bohemian-chic meets Miami-sexy, and it’s shown in her use of fringe, low necklines and high/low hems. www.denavenable.com - Facebook.com/ denavenablemiami | 936 North Victoria Park Rd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

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Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support 45

MORE

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Who's Next Gallery The Who's Next Gallery is a place where any local artist big or small can showcase their work. Our job at WeMerge Magazine is to select and print these works of art for you. Your job is to enjoy the work and email a vote for your favorite piece to us at editor@wemerge.com. The artist with the most votes will be selected as the Who's Next Gallery Winner and will be featured in a two page spread in the following issue. By presenting the gallery to the community, we are able to give back with out any cost to the artist. We handle the promotion and distribution of their artwork by supplying the community with an outlet to expression and creativity. If you know someone who is an artist and may benefit from having their work promoted across South Florida in over 20,000 magazines from Miami to West Palm, please have them email us as well. We are alwasy looking to give artists more exposure in any way we can. Our goal at WeMerge Magazine is to bring artists in all genres, together.

Renda Writer - You Can With his insperational art quote "YOU CAN" Renda's work can be seen and heard along with his spoken word poetry in many local venues through out Miami such as Moonchine bistro and Red Bar Gallery. Renda Writer has been a long time suporter of the art scene. His work has been featured in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

To find out more visit RendaWriter.com

Painting Live Graffiti Art Synergy, responsible for creating the first series of satellite exhibitions during Art Palm Beach weekend has invited Eduardo Mendieta and Venom to Art Palm Beach 2014 to paint live in front of thousands of VIP’s during gala opening on Thursday, January 23, 2014.

Mendieta and Venom will also be painting live at the Kick-Off party at the Boynton Beach Art District, during ARTal’FRESCO. Various other writers and street artists will also be painting that evening--while the haughtytaughty of the arts world coalesce. -Rolando Chang Barrero

What is the Bonus Red Dot? Since its historic first public appearance, the Bonus Red Dot found its way onto many show flyers before landing its current position as the full time symbol of wit, optimism, and generosity on the cover of every WeMerge Magazine release. We salute the Bonus Red Dot for its commitment to the community and for humbly carrying the torch of originality with it for the past seven years. As if giving you a free magazine weren’t enough, we are proud to also give you a free Red Dot as a Bonus – Offer may vary in different states, subject to availability. If you feel like you have received this Bonus in error please disregard and return it to your nearest neighborhood gathering post. We will be more than happy to reimburse you.

46 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

Pink Slip Threads Pink Slip Threads is an in-store and online boutique that offers all things cute for the sassy, chic, and fabulous.

Curated with an obsession for everything retro and vintage, the notorious 1950’s street racing term “racing for pink slips” became the main inspiration for the boutique’s title. The owner, Karen Reinstatler, set out to issue the pink slip for the best threads in town. PinkSlipThreads.com

The Truth About Celery People always ask us “What is up with this Celery on the cover”? Is it a band or something? We always proceed to tell them “it’s one of the greatest calorie burners out there.

You can add peanut butter or even raisins. It’s a great snack”. Usually the response to this is a puzzled look. Truth of the matter is we feel that everything needs promotion. So WeMerge Magazine provides that for Celery and anything else that can use just a little more exposure. Contact us today for more exposure. Info@WeMerge.com

BarberShop: The Deerfield Buzz

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or years, the barbershop was a place that a man could go to feel like a man. Not only was it a place to get a haircut or clean shave, but also a place where guys come to relax & "shoot the shit" with other guys about a wide variety of topics from sports & music to everyday life. A lot of hair cutting establishments fail to realize this mentality, but there is one place has hasn't forgotten what the barbershop experience should be like and that place is Deerfield Buzz.

"The barbershop is as much about feeling good as it is about looking good" says the owner of Deerfield Buzz, Bobby Caffiero Jr. Originally opened in 1993 by the late Bobby Caffiero Sr & his wife Leona, the family owned & operated Deerfield Buzz has been making guys feel good about themselves for over 20 years.

A classic barbershop infused with a trend setting appeal was the vision of Founder Bobby Sr brought to South Florida after years working in New York City's world famous Astor Place. Like Astor Place, Deerfield Buzz specializes in all aspects of barbering including hot towel shaves, classic barber cuts such as Tapers, Fades & Flat Tops to all of the latest cutting edge styles. Even hair designs & men's hair color. Barbering is an art & the artists at Deerfield Buzz are among the best in the industry.

Over the years, Deerfield Buzz has won numerous awards such as "Best barbershop in the southeast United States" & "Best of" Broward County by consistently turning out flawless haircuts no mater what chair you sit in, and even though the shop itself has recently been remodeled, the current staff has all been part of the culture around there for about 15 years each. One client said simply "You cant get a bad haircut here. These guys are the best around!"

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48 Support the Scene or There Will Be No Scene To Support

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