Steve Minotti The Love 9ART DMAC - WeMerge Magazine
Steve Minotti The Love 9ART DMAC - WeMerge Magazine
Steve Minotti The Love 9ART DMAC - WeMerge Magazine
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FREE TAKE 2<br />
ISSUE #6 l FALL 2009 WEMERGETALENT.COM<br />
9 ART<br />
gallerIes<br />
See more on pg. 7<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Love</strong><br />
of MusIc<br />
Find out more on pg. 12<br />
<strong>DMAC</strong><br />
It can happen<br />
<strong>Steve</strong><br />
<strong>Minotti</strong><br />
DoIng what he loves<br />
KEEPING THE ART<br />
In MartIal arts<br />
Read more on pg. 19<br />
Album Review<br />
<strong>The</strong> 7th Direction Pg. 22<br />
Local Arts & Entertainment <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> Re-Definition of South Florida Hip-Hop - Read about him on pg. 6
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
SpONSOREd By<br />
Pg. 2 - Letter from the Editor<br />
Pg. 3 - Loren Squier<br />
Pg. 4 & 5 - Kazilla (Cover Story)<br />
Pg. 6 - Cynic, Nicole Esposito<br />
Pg. 7 - 9 Art Galleries<br />
Pg. 8 - DJ Hurricane/Remix Hunter<br />
Pg. 9 - Kitchen 305 <strong>WeMerge</strong> Event<br />
Pg. 10 - Ackerman, Vilonna<br />
Pg. 12 - <strong>The</strong> <strong>Love</strong> of Music<br />
Pg. 13 - Anastasia Clark<br />
Pg. 14 - Nathan Delinois<br />
Pg. 16-17 - Who’s Next Gallery<br />
Pg. 18 - <strong>DMAC</strong> - Digital Media Arts College<br />
Pg. 19 - Barrett Hapkido<br />
Pg. 20 - <strong>WeMerge</strong> Book Review<br />
Pg. 22 - 7D Album Review<br />
Pg. 24 - Vionette Photography<br />
Pg. 26 - <strong>Steve</strong> <strong>Minotti</strong> - Loving what he does<br />
Pg. 28 - Teens Merge<br />
Pg. 29 - South Florida Camera Club<br />
Pg. 30 thru 31 - Supporters<br />
Pg. 32 - <strong>WeMerge</strong> UPDATE: Power Couples<br />
Pg. 33 - Supporters<br />
Pg. 34 - Graffiti Page - ALL FROM MIAMI<br />
MySpace.com/<strong>WeMerge</strong><br />
Celebrity <strong>WeMerge</strong> Supporters<br />
Our street team is always<br />
attending events to get our<br />
magazine in the hands of<br />
compelling celebrities. pictured<br />
here are Sid Haig (Left), who<br />
played “Captain Spalding” in<br />
the Rob Zombie horror film,<br />
“<strong>The</strong> devil’s Rejects” and <strong>Steve</strong>n<br />
Bauer (Right), who played<br />
“Manny Ribera” in “Scarface.” To<br />
see hundreds more pictures of<br />
people holding <strong>WeMerge</strong>, go to<br />
MySpace.com/<strong>WeMerge</strong>.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
President<br />
Creative Director<br />
Dwayne Adams<br />
Marketing<br />
Vice President<br />
Chief Editor<br />
Renda Writer<br />
info@wemergetalent.com editor@wemergetalent.com<br />
Alex Vidal<br />
Research<br />
Michele Barenfeld<br />
Contributing Writers: Carol Ann Conover, Rachel Galvin,<br />
Jennifer Harper, Ashley Lombardo, <strong>Steve</strong> Rullman,<br />
& Julia George (You could be part of the team also)<br />
College promotions: Andrew Ackerman, Nick Christos<br />
Cover Art: Kazilla Productions<br />
Contributing photographer: Jacqueline Falcone<br />
proofreader: Alex Vidal<br />
Copyright©2009-10 <strong>WeMerge</strong> Talent, Inc. All rights reserved to<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> Talent, Inc. All content included in this magazine: text,<br />
graphics, logos, icons, & images, are the property of <strong>WeMerge</strong> Talent,<br />
Inc. and/or its content suppliers (writers, photographers, illustrators,<br />
and others) and protected by US and international copyright laws.<br />
Wemerge Talent <strong>Magazine</strong> contains the opinions and experiences<br />
of other people and the publishers do not necessarily approve, agree<br />
with, and/or condone those opinions or actions. <strong>WeMerge</strong> Talent,<br />
Inc. cannot be held responsible for these opinions or actions. We<br />
provide a community service to our readers. All collaboration or<br />
verification of event postings are the responsibility of the reader prior<br />
to relying on such information for any action that may be taken on<br />
their behalf or on the behalf of others. For all legal issues call a lawyer.<br />
Special Thanks to Michele for her patience, encouragement &<br />
passion for the success of the magazine. Lou, Bob, Joey, Carlos,<br />
and George for helping with production. MR for all her support &<br />
knowledge. Nicci “Bean” Loren for helping with imagination. All<br />
the haters for giving us motivation. Nicole for her support. And<br />
last but not least, the Bonus Red Dot for always being a bonus.<br />
I want to personally thank everyone who has been involved<br />
in our movement. Everyone who supports Renda Writer,<br />
the hardest working Poet in South Florida and all the artists<br />
who strive so hard to be the best at what they do. It’s hard to<br />
do what you love when people try to hold you down. Look<br />
past what they try to do. Most of it is hot air anyways. Keep<br />
your path & your focus and these Cats won’t even bother<br />
you. Not a scratch. Yell out, “get off our coat tails Cat.”<br />
- Dwayne Adams<br />
WEMERGE ADVERTISING<br />
If you would like to advertise with us<br />
please send us an e-mail or give us<br />
a call. We will be happy to send one<br />
of our reps out to meet with you.<br />
Editor@<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com<br />
(310) 404-4184 or (561) 305-2070<br />
www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com<br />
Promote your business, website, art,<br />
or music to 15,000 readers in<br />
Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
1
What is passion? It’s what makes<br />
Loren Squier continually<br />
create new works of art while<br />
also working two jobs and going to school.<br />
It’s what drives DJ Hurricane to teach<br />
classes at the Scratch DJ Academy while<br />
also DJing at most of the tri-county area’s<br />
hottest dance clubs... and also moderating<br />
his brand new website, RemixHunter.com.<br />
It’s passion that has fueled <strong>Steve</strong> <strong>Minotti</strong>’s successful 30-year<br />
career as a working musician, and it’s passion that drove local<br />
conscious hip-hop group <strong>The</strong> 7D to drop their debut album after<br />
several years of working on it between life struggles. It’s passion<br />
that inspired Talina Adamo to create a documentary about music<br />
and it’s what keeps <strong>Steve</strong> Rullman of <strong>The</strong>HoneyComb.com always<br />
out there scouting new bands to promote and book for shows. It’s<br />
what inspired Nicole Esposito to start modeling after several years<br />
of stylist experience, and it’s what has made Cynic into one of the<br />
most sought after rap artists and event hosts in the area. It’s also<br />
what inspires Phil Barrett to teach and carry on the tradition and<br />
culture of Hapkido. It’s also what landed talented artists like Justin<br />
Vilona, Andrew Ackerman, and Nathan Delinois on the pages<br />
of our magazine, and it’s definitely what made Kazilla worthy of<br />
being our cover story.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se artists, and everyone represented in this issue all have<br />
that one thing in common - passion. No matter what genre of art,<br />
music, or culture they belong to, what unifies everyone here is the<br />
passion they have for what they do.<br />
It’s also passion that fuels our creative director, Dwayne Adams,<br />
myself, and all of our talented freelance writers that contributed to<br />
this issue and previous issues.<br />
Without saying “passion” too many more times, I’d like to say that<br />
I hope this magazine awakens the passion in you, to do whatever it<br />
is you want to do... whatever it is you’re... passionate about.<br />
Oh yeah, and one thing that I am personally very passionate<br />
about is reaching a goal that I have had since 2007, and that is to<br />
perform my original poem, “Half Hearted,” on <strong>The</strong> Ellen Degeneres<br />
Show. If you would like to help me reach my goal, please go to<br />
www.RendaWriter.com and sign my online petition.<br />
“Support the scene, or there will be no scene to support.”<br />
Peace,<br />
Renda Writer<br />
Chief Editor<br />
Editor@<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com<br />
2<br />
Letter from<br />
the Editor<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
We Can’t Change the World,<br />
but We Can Change Our Ways<br />
Loren<br />
Paintings and Prints For Sale<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Squierwww.LorenSquier.com<br />
Available for commissioned paintings and design work<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 3
Cassie “Kazilla” Williams<br />
We would be hard pressed to find a local artist<br />
more deserving of our cover than Cassie “Kazilla”<br />
Williams. She has a tremendous amount of heart and a<br />
remarkable balance of left and right brain talents. She<br />
supports and plays an important role in the local arts<br />
community, and she has a bright future ahead of her,<br />
complete with several projects and opportunities that<br />
are sure to make her a household name real soon.<br />
Heart<br />
Simply put - her art is good… because she’s a good<br />
hearted person. She has that vibe that people have<br />
who have lived in many places and have experienced<br />
life – every inch of it. People like that tend to be good<br />
hearted – as well as open minded, non-judgmental,<br />
and down-to-earth. Cassie’s own life of becoming one<br />
of these well-rounded travelers started at a young age.<br />
She went to Australia and New Zealand when she was<br />
13, and attended 16 different high schools in various<br />
states, including Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, and New<br />
Mexico, which is the state she calls home, referencing<br />
4<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
that it is known as “the land of enchantment,” and the<br />
place where her heart will always be, no matter where<br />
she lives or travels to. She muses, “it’s an amazing<br />
spiritual, intellectually fed, liberal place full of artists<br />
and creative types.”<br />
She emphasizes her heartfelt involvement with her<br />
art by saying, “I’ve been truly blessed in my life. I’ve<br />
worked so hard. I have so much in my mind and my<br />
heart that I just want to give away. That’s one of the<br />
reasons why I do live art… so that people can feel like<br />
they are a part of it. That’s why the heart is my logo.<br />
Cause my heart is my art, and my art is my heart.”<br />
Right Brain Brain<br />
<strong>The</strong> right brain is most closely associated with the<br />
realm of creativity. Kazilla’s well developed right brain<br />
allows her to create art that she describes as having<br />
“indie flair” and being, “expressionistic, with hints of<br />
surrealism.” While the left brain controls linear thoughts<br />
and logical and analytical thinking, the right brain sees<br />
the big picture, understands spatial relationships, and<br />
thrives when dealing with complexity and creative<br />
ambiguity, which is evident in Kazilla’s<br />
work. <strong>The</strong> artwork of hers that we’ve<br />
included here will stimulate the right<br />
Kazilla.biz<br />
Facebook.com/Kazilla<br />
by Renda Writer<br />
brains of readers everywhere and serve as proof that<br />
Cassie Williams will never let go of her creative side.<br />
Left Brain Left Brain<br />
<strong>The</strong> left brain version of Kazilla is Kazilla Productions,<br />
which she describes as a “multiversal creation<br />
company” and then comments, “I like the way that<br />
sounds. I just made that up – ‘multiversal creation<br />
company.’ I do it all… professional photography, lyrics,<br />
beat production, illustrations, graphics, web design,<br />
film, motion graphics, fashion design.”<br />
In a recent conversation she said, “My roommate<br />
moved out, but I don’t think I’m going to get a new one.<br />
I’m just going to use the other bedroom as a studio<br />
cause business is booming right now, and I don’t need<br />
that extra help with the rent.” For an artist to be able<br />
to make a statement like that in today’s economy is<br />
truly impressive. Her business background came from<br />
helping her parents with their home automation and<br />
design company while growing up. She says, “By the<br />
time I was 17, I was already working as a marketing<br />
consultant.” With that kind of a left brain business sense<br />
steering her vehicle of creativity, Kazilla might not ever<br />
need a roommate. She’ll actually end up needing a<br />
bigger house and a bigger studio pretty soon.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
She Gets It She Gets It<br />
One thing that really stands out about Kazilla is the<br />
fact that she gets it, the proverbial ‘it’ being the idea that all<br />
artists should bond together. She understands the value<br />
of community, which is why she is so supportive of<br />
other local artists and so passionate about the collective<br />
success of the local arts community. It’s also why she’s<br />
always been so supportive of <strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. After<br />
we put one of her pieces of art in our 4th issue’s “Who’s<br />
Next Gallery” she began promoting the magazine<br />
to her vast network of artists and friends, which then<br />
earned her a full page feature in our 5th issue, an issue<br />
she began promoting to the point where she almost<br />
seemed like one of our distributors. She is exactly what<br />
our magazine looks for, an artist who sees the two-way<br />
street that is mutual promotion. With plans to curate her<br />
fist show at <strong>The</strong> American Legion in the Miami Modern<br />
District during Art Basel this year, as well as shows<br />
with WST Worldwide (WSTworldwide.com) Kazilla is<br />
about to ascend to a whole new level of collaboration –<br />
and success.<br />
Good luck Kazilla. We wish you the best. From All Your Friends at <strong>WeMerge</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> Future for Kazilla<br />
<strong>The</strong> Future For Kazilla<br />
“I have a bunch of projects lined up. <strong>The</strong> first thing I’m<br />
working on is my art autobiography. I’m also working<br />
on a photography book and a series of art books. <strong>The</strong><br />
photography book I have is rural New Mexico, so I plan<br />
on having the art foundation of Santa Fe fund me and<br />
publish the book. And then, I have short film. I have a<br />
product line… and an animation I’m collaborating on<br />
with friends… plus a comic book… coloring books.<br />
I’m also doing a book called ‘Art Beats’ that will come<br />
with a CD that will have wallpapers for your computer,<br />
and 6 or 7 music tracks that I’ve produced.”<br />
In addition to all of Kazilla’s entrepreneurial projects<br />
and free spirited endeavors, she somehow found the<br />
time - as well as the loans, grants, and scholarships - get<br />
an education at <strong>The</strong> Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale,<br />
where she will be graduating from in December, with<br />
a Bachelors of Science degree in Illustration. She’ll<br />
eventually go back for her Masters of Fine Art, which<br />
the school will pay for once she switches from part time<br />
to full time at her job at the school bookstore.<br />
Kazilla’s future also includes a trip to New York<br />
City, where she will be meeting with several gallery<br />
curators, applying for an internship with MTV’s design<br />
studios, and meeting with some alumni from the<br />
Society of Illustrators. She will even be meeting with<br />
Yuko Shimizu, the creator of Hello Kitty.<br />
Update<br />
Updates Already?<br />
<strong>The</strong> night before going to print on this issue,<br />
Kazilla calls us with late breaking news... She<br />
was just invited to be a part of the prestigious<br />
“Hollywood Zombies Art Exhibition” in December in<br />
Hollywood, CA. More info at KaydenCreations.com.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
5<br />
5
Why is he the re-definition of South Florida<br />
hip-hop? Cynic breaks it down like<br />
this: “For literally 10 years, I’ve moved<br />
my way up from the bottom to the top. My first<br />
show was opening for Pitbull. <strong>The</strong>n I took a 3-year<br />
hiatus and came back and just started taking every<br />
opportunity that came my way. With everything I<br />
do, I always try to be different, to be original. I redefine<br />
Florida hip-hop with every verse I spit. I feel<br />
like I’m one of the hardest working MC’s in South<br />
Florida…hands down.” He says that while sitting<br />
at a table with a big stack of flyers from past shows<br />
he’s done, with the likes of big names like N.E.R.D.,<br />
Pitbull, Mister Cheeks (Lost Boyz), Canibus,<br />
Dead Prez, Murs, and a ton of others. Never one to<br />
sit back and be content, Cynic is always hustlin’…<br />
always taking on new projects. He just wrote the<br />
lyrics (track produced by Hazardis Soundz) for the<br />
intro song for a show that will soon air on national<br />
Photography by AlexanderPutnik.com<br />
6 Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
<strong>The</strong> Re-Definition of<br />
South Florida<br />
Hip-Hop<br />
MySpace.com/Only1Cynic<br />
Facebook.com/Only1Cynic<br />
Twitter.com/Only1Cynic<br />
television called, “Livin La Vida Miami,” hosted by<br />
Stella Vidal and Stuart Dansby.<br />
Cynic says, “I’ve contributed a lot to helping<br />
create and enhance the hip-hop scene here in South<br />
Florida. I, along with other local movers and shakers<br />
such as Lex One and the people over at Contagious<br />
Musiq, have always played a key role in making<br />
sure that South Florida hip-hop is known for more<br />
than just the “Dirty South” style. We have literally<br />
“re-defined” the perception of what is hip-hop<br />
down here.”<br />
Re-defining your chosen genre definitely<br />
pays off, especially once you’ve worked at it long<br />
enough, like Cynic has. After 10 years in the game,<br />
Cynic is now on the brink of stepping into the<br />
majors, but will always continue to support the<br />
local scene. Check out his music online, or go see<br />
a live show and see how he landed himself on the<br />
pages of our magazine.<br />
Nicole Esposito is a professional stylist with 8 years of<br />
experience. Her expertise lies in cutting and styling both<br />
men and women, including several local and international<br />
bands: Mission Veo, Last Laugh, <strong>The</strong> Sounds, Foxy Shazam.<br />
Nicole is available for freelance styling for photo<br />
shoots and live events and also holds a full time position<br />
at Resta Delray. Recently making the decision to work on<br />
the other side of the lens, Nicole also introduces herself<br />
to our readers as an emerging model looking to build her<br />
portfolio. Photographers are encouraged to contact her via<br />
ModelMayhem.com/NicoleEsposito or<br />
coleyboleyalious@yahoo.com.<br />
Resta Delray<br />
660 Linton Blvd. Suite 109<br />
Delray Beach 33444<br />
561.266.2611<br />
Recreation - Style - Art<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Bands You<br />
Should Know:<br />
By steve rullman - thehoneycomb.com<br />
SURFER BLOOD<br />
“HERE ARE THE yOUNG MEN”<br />
You must be this tall to ride. <strong>The</strong> first<br />
time I caught a Surfer Blood set was<br />
late 2007 at Respectable Street in<br />
West palm Beach. Back then they called<br />
themselves TV Club. I recall warm, dirty<br />
textures, brilliant melodies and clever<br />
arrangements. <strong>The</strong> band was extremely<br />
sloppy, the room’s sound wasn’t perfect...<br />
but there was something special<br />
happening; something very, very raw<br />
yet extremely comforting. I remember<br />
thinking, “THIS is true Indie Rock! This<br />
is what it is supposed to sound like!”<br />
Finally someone local was capturing the<br />
essence of that oft misused moniker.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir songs carried traces of <strong>The</strong><br />
Pixies, bits of Joy Division, drippings of<br />
<strong>The</strong> Jesus & Mary Chain; the loose jangle<br />
of Small Factory, Versus, or Galaxie 500<br />
and a tiny androgynous dose of 80’s<br />
glam. I knew they were a band I would<br />
need to keep an eye on, a band that had<br />
real promise... a band I’d want to book<br />
as often as possible. <strong>The</strong>y reminded me<br />
also of the now-defunct Secret French<br />
Kissing Society… well-crafted tunes<br />
with mysterious lyrics, sweet/obnoxious<br />
guitars and unique vocals.<br />
This stuff is stupid catchy and I<br />
find myself singing their songs all<br />
day long. Several months ago I wrote<br />
in PUREHONEY… “Last night I was<br />
converted. I’m a true believer. I’ve always<br />
thought Surfer Blood had something<br />
special to offer us but last night... well...<br />
WOW! <strong>The</strong>y’ve come a long way and are<br />
officially my new favorite local band to<br />
watch. <strong>The</strong>ir upcoming disc Astro Coast<br />
is awesome and their live performances<br />
are electric. <strong>The</strong>y bring the sound and<br />
I’m extremely impressed.” Astro Coast is a<br />
kaleidoscopic rollercoaster of sound that<br />
you can’t wait to ride again and again.<br />
Anyway, these four fresh-faced punks<br />
recently received significant praise from<br />
both pitchfork and Spin… and on Sept.<br />
4th they signed with Brooklyn-based<br />
Kanine Records. (Grizzly Bear, Mommy<br />
and Daddy, Chairlift, Mixel Pixel). <strong>The</strong>y’ve<br />
got their ticket to ride and so do you.<br />
Congratulations gentlemen!<br />
MySpace.com/SurferBlood<br />
PS: Look up XOXO from Orlando. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
are AWESOME!<br />
SHOW OF THE yEAR ALERT: Vivian<br />
Girls Oct. 21 at PROPAGANDA with<br />
Hooray for Goodbye and Pretty Please!<br />
9RESTA DELRAY<br />
660 Linton Blvd., St. 109<br />
Delray Beach - 33444<br />
(561) 266-2611<br />
* Full Service<br />
Hair Salon<br />
&<br />
Art Gallery<br />
THE BEAUTY COTTAGE<br />
777 E. Atlantic Blvd.<br />
Delray Beach - 33483<br />
(954) 588-3640<br />
<strong>The</strong>BeautyCottageDelray.com<br />
* Artist reception, third<br />
Friday of the month<br />
6pm-10pm<br />
WEBBER GALLERY<br />
709 Lucerne Ave.<br />
Lake Worth - 33460<br />
(561) 585-0003<br />
WebberGallery.net<br />
* In downtown<br />
Lake Worth<br />
ART AND CULTURE<br />
CENTER OF HOLLYWOOD<br />
1650 Harrison St.<br />
Hollywood - 33020<br />
(954) 921-3274<br />
ArtAndCultureCenter.org<br />
* Art school in adjacent<br />
building<br />
18 RABBIT GALLERY<br />
18 NW 1st Ave.<br />
Fort Lauderdale - 33301<br />
(954) 990-4315<br />
18RabbitGallery.com<br />
* Ft. Lauderdale’s premier<br />
contemporary art gallery<br />
Mural by<br />
MSGcartel.com<br />
ANSU GALLERY<br />
2028 Harrison St.<br />
Hollywood - 33020<br />
(954) 454-5632<br />
AnsuGallery.com<br />
* Currently exhibiting<br />
Estefania Lopez<br />
CULTURE KINGS<br />
4300 NE 2nd Ave.<br />
Miami - 33137<br />
(305) 573-2399<br />
CultureKings.com<br />
* Urban apparel store<br />
and art gallery<br />
STUDIO 19 FINE ART<br />
933 NE 19th Ave.<br />
Ft. Lauderdale - 33304<br />
(954) 764-0055<br />
Studio19FineArt.com<br />
* Venetian glass,<br />
sculptures, etc.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or or there will be be no no scene to to support 7<br />
G ALLE<br />
A<br />
R R<br />
IES<br />
T<br />
BAKEHOUSE<br />
ART COMPLEX<br />
561 NW 32nd St.<br />
Miami - 33127<br />
(305) 576-2828<br />
BACFL.org<br />
* Non-profit art center, low<br />
rent studios for artists<br />
Support your local art scene<br />
and visit one of these local<br />
galleries. Make sure to<br />
tell them that<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong><br />
sent you.
8<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 9
10<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
Andrew Ackerman is a passionate painter whose<br />
star is burning bright on the South Florida art<br />
circuit. While completing his painting degree at<br />
FAU, Ackerman has garnered high praise for his<br />
exhibitions at FAU in Boca Raton, <strong>The</strong> DeBilzan<br />
Gallery and Kevro’s Art Bar in Delray Beach<br />
and, most recently, an exhibition with <strong>The</strong> Miami<br />
Stuckist painting group, at Grace Café & Gallery<br />
in Dania Beach. Ackerman’s work is emotionally<br />
charged, playful and mysterious. He asserts, “My<br />
canvas is the mirror for which I convey my deepest<br />
moods and emotions. Recently, I have discovered<br />
calligraphy and graffiti art having a profound impact on my art approach. Growing up in<br />
Brooklyn and absorbing the Miami art scene have also helped me bring more ideals of urban<br />
art into my work. <strong>The</strong>se elements continually lead me down new paths of creative thought.<br />
My large abstracts deal with visceral, organic and playful qualities<br />
of my life. While, my psychological self portraits are more direct<br />
and call upon my viewers to stare right into my “painted eyes” and<br />
see something deeper.” Andrew presents his artwork online at<br />
AndrewsArtWorld.com. His new website showcases his many<br />
exhibitions and dynamic artworks. So, take a moment and journey<br />
into Ackerman’s art world. You might be pleasantly surprised that<br />
you too, can relate to a piece, and if you do, feel free to leave your<br />
creative input, which Ackerman kindly welcomes.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Evolving &Expanding<br />
By Renda Writer ..............<br />
Whether we are consciously aware of it or<br />
not, many of us have a sort of inner need<br />
to be a part of something… something<br />
important. For local emerging artists, the perfect<br />
opportunity is here to become a part of the rapid<br />
evolution and expansion of a gallery that has for the<br />
last five years exhibited several renowned “blue chip”<br />
and mid-career artists.<br />
Previous and current artists that have exhibited at<br />
Grace Café & Gallery include Purvis Young, Ferdie<br />
Pacheco, Kyunam Han, and Laurence Gartel, four<br />
well known names in the international art world,<br />
names that collectively yield about a thousand pages<br />
of results if you were to Google them. <strong>The</strong> 7,000<br />
square foot, 2-story art gallery<br />
in the famed Antique District<br />
in Dania Beach has featured<br />
Haitian, European, American,<br />
South American, and Asian<br />
<strong>The</strong> gallery is now looking to<br />
supplement its reputation for<br />
attracting established artists<br />
by bringing in more emerging<br />
artists who can be a part of the<br />
plan for the evolution of the gallery as a bridge to<br />
connect different generations of art.<br />
Gallery owner, Clare Vickery, puts it like this: “When I<br />
started here I appealed to a lot of older people because<br />
I was in the antique district, but I also<br />
want to appeal to people in their 20’s,<br />
the ones looking to go out and get some<br />
intellectual stimulation… I am looking<br />
also for crafters and musicians that want<br />
to be a part of the 5 th Annual Folk Art<br />
& Antique Festival we are sponsoring<br />
January 30-31 st , 2010. I saw the page<br />
about the Stitch Rock event in the last<br />
issue of <strong>WeMerge</strong>, and I’m looking to<br />
get more involved with crafters and<br />
people in that culture. I’m also looking<br />
to expand my second floor dining area<br />
and maybe incorporate an<br />
improv dinner, some one-act<br />
plays… events with poetry<br />
and music, combined with<br />
evening dining. We’ve also<br />
recently really expanded our<br />
dance schedule, including<br />
tap, tango, & other dances<br />
in our upstairs studio. I’m<br />
putting out a ‘call to artists’<br />
and those that want to become more involved with all<br />
that is going on at the gallery.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> evolution and the integration of art<br />
generations at Grace Cafe & Gallery has already<br />
begun, with a recent 30-day exhibit by <strong>The</strong> Miami<br />
Stuckists, a group of progressive 20-somethings, on<br />
the wall just opposite the exhibit for Purvis Young, a<br />
67-year old folk artist who was given the key to the<br />
city for putting Overtown, Miami on the map. Grace<br />
will continue to evolve along this path and it invites<br />
you to participate.<br />
GraceCafeAndGalleries.com<br />
MySpace.com/GraceCafeAndGallery<br />
49 N. Federal Hwy<br />
Dania Beach, 33004<br />
(954) 816-3324<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
11
THE<br />
LOVE<br />
OF<br />
MUSIC<br />
12<br />
August 16 at Ft. Lauderdale’s Cinema Paradiso was all about the<br />
love of music. Talented singer and filmmaker Talina Adamo brought people<br />
together to see her new movie.<br />
Adamo, who also celebrated her 28th birthday this night, has been involved<br />
with music since the age of 9. In 2006, she became involved in film, attending<br />
the Palm Beach Film School. After working on many other people’s videos, she<br />
decided to do her own movie, “<strong>The</strong> <strong>Love</strong> of Music.” With a VH-1 sensibility, this<br />
documentary focuses on interviews with various bands, interspersing serious<br />
commentary with humorous content. “I want to inspire artists to not give up on<br />
their dreams, anything is possible,” she said.<br />
One performer for the evening’s event was fellow birthday girl, Michaela<br />
Page. This 14-year-old singer already has hit the charts in the UK and performed<br />
all over South Florida. Her goal? She says, “To get my music out there and to<br />
bring joy to other people.”<br />
When cool cat Marc Solomon and<br />
his band, “<strong>The</strong> Collaboration” took the<br />
stage with R&B hipster Jay Smoove,<br />
the house really began to rock. Smoove<br />
brought high energy groove and confetti,<br />
serenading Adamo, who later had mini<br />
b-day cupcakes for everyone, along with<br />
other eats, on the patio. Solomon’s newest<br />
tune “<strong>Love</strong>, <strong>Love</strong>” lured singer Stephanie<br />
Smerkers and others to the stage.<br />
Nanda, winner of Adamo’s online<br />
talent competition, also performed.<br />
Marc Solomon, Talina Adamo, & Jay Smoove<br />
Michaela Page, Talina Adamo & Rachel Galvin<br />
l BlackOnyxProductions.com<br />
l ReverbNation.com/<br />
TalinaAdamo<br />
l BlackOnyxTv.com/WordPress<br />
l MySpace.com/<br />
BlackOnyxProductions<br />
l Twitter.com/BlackOnyxTV<br />
l MySpace.com/<br />
JaySmooveMusic<br />
l CrazyBabyRecords.com<br />
l ImSolomon.com<br />
By Rachel Galvin<br />
Her prize? A free recording session<br />
with Crazy Baby Records. <strong>The</strong> groove was<br />
so hip, the party later moved to the patio<br />
for an impromptu acoustic jam session.<br />
“Tonight was a collaboration of brilliant<br />
artists. It was great to see the love people<br />
feel for art and how the community<br />
comes together,” summed up Solomon.<br />
<strong>The</strong> love of music brings people<br />
together.<br />
Jay Smoove singing Happy Birthday to Talina Adamo<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
* Funding for this event is provided in part<br />
by the Broward County Board of County<br />
Commissioners as recommended by the<br />
Broward Cultural Council.<br />
* Special thanks to <strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
and DRW <strong>Magazine</strong> for special advertising<br />
rates and to all the libraries and their staff,<br />
who are hosting these poetry readings.<br />
*Dates and times subject to change.<br />
Please contact each library to verify date<br />
and time.<br />
3 WEEKLY OPEN MICS<br />
hosted by Renda Writer<br />
Open Mic Tuesdays @ Kevro’s Art Bar<br />
166 SE 2nd Ave - Delray Beach 33444<br />
FREE AdMISSION - 1 Drink Minimum<br />
Every Tuesday since 9/11/07<br />
Open Mic Wednesdays @ Stage 84<br />
9118 W State Road 84 - Davie 33324<br />
FREE AdMISSION<br />
Broward’s Newest Open Mic<br />
Open Mic Fridays @ Mega Bite Cyber Cafe<br />
1910 Hollywood Blvd - Hollywood 33020<br />
FREE AdMISSION<br />
Try the “Bubble Tea”<br />
Wanted: Aspiring Poets, Poets, & Poetry <strong>Love</strong>rs!<br />
You are invited to attend<br />
*All equipment is provided. You just bring your instruments, talent, and<br />
friends.<strong>The</strong> list is first come, first serve. A great way to practice, get stage<br />
time, promote your shows, start a band, make new friends, collaborate,<br />
spend the evening, and have fun.<br />
All 3 Open Mics - Open to All......<br />
poets, singers, comedians, rappers, bands, acoustic, magicians, jazz, blues,<br />
bluegrass, country, vocalists, crooners, emo, ska, punk, funk, neo-soul,<br />
R&B, slam poets, prop comedians, impressionists, jugglers, surf rock, folk,<br />
storytellers, dancers, solo acts, duos, trios, quartets, garage bands, reggae,<br />
dub, beat boxers, pianists, banjo players, saxophonists, doo wop, and YOU!<br />
MySpace.com/Renda<strong>The</strong>poet - RendaWriter@yahoo.com<br />
“Broward County Poet-In-Residence,<br />
Anastasia Clark’s Poetry Reading Series”<br />
Featuring Tips on Getting Published, Poetry News, and Poetry Readings / Discussions<br />
All events are FREE!<br />
Anastasia Clark is a poet and the author of four full-length poetry books:<br />
“Vagabond Pond,” “Skeletons and Other Complaints,” “Bloodsongs,” and “Grieving with Poetry”<br />
Visit www.AnastasiaClark.com for details Call 954-536-8311 or Email goldenrush59@aol.com<br />
SERIES SCHEDULE:<br />
Miramar Library 10/5/09, 6-7:30pm Opening Reception<br />
Dania Beach Paul Demaio Library 10/12/09, 6-7pm Guest of Teen Poetry Cafe<br />
Helen Hoffman Plantation Library 10/22/09, 7:30-8:30pm Halloween/Eerie/Spooky Poems<br />
Carver Ranches Library 10/28/09, 6-7pm Halloween/Eerie/Spooky Poems<br />
Riverland Branch Library 10/29/09, 6-7pm Halloween/Eerie/Spooky Poems<br />
Miramar Library 12/14/09, 5:30-6:30pm Featured Poet, Holiday Poems<br />
Open Mic – 6:30pm-7:30pm<br />
Hallandale Beach Library 1/9/10, 11:00am-Noon Poetry & Coffee Event<br />
Tamarac Library 2/11/10, 1:30-2:30pm Valentine’s Day, Romance<br />
Main Library 4/13/10, 6-7:30pm Featured Poet<br />
Southwest Regional Library 4/17/10, 2-3:30pm Seniors<br />
Weston Library 4/28/10, 6:30-7:30pm National Poetry Month<br />
Sign Up Starts<br />
@ 7:30pm<br />
Open Mic Starts<br />
@ 8:00pm<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 13
ThE Who’s NExT GaLLEry WiNNEr<br />
Nathan Delinois<br />
14<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
We have never had as large of a response to our “Who’s<br />
Next Gallery” as we did after the release of our last<br />
issue. <strong>The</strong> overwhelming feedback was mostly in<br />
favor of featuring the work of Nathan delinois in our next issue.<br />
So here he is... Nathan delinois, an ambitious, talented,<br />
and experienced artist who believes that, “Art is the texture of<br />
life.” Active on both the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami art scenes,<br />
Nathan is by no means a shy, reclusive artist with no people<br />
skills. Instead, Nathan can be found at most of the popular<br />
art events, mingling with the crowd, networking, and getting<br />
noticed. He’s the kind of guy that you would introduce to a<br />
visiting out-of-towner who might ask, “Who are the big artists<br />
around here? Who can you introduce me to.”<br />
www.MySpace.com/Artkitexturalfoudation<br />
Facebook: Nate Dee<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Raising the Integrity<br />
Level of the Stage”<br />
30 YeARS of Live MuSic AT BoSTon’S on THe BeAcH by Renda Writer<br />
Not everything in South Florida comes and goes.<br />
Some things actually stick around. Case in point<br />
is Boston’s on the Beach, a live music venue and<br />
friendly watering hole now celebrating its 30th year<br />
of business in downtown delray Beach, literally just a<br />
few hundred feet from the Atlantic Ocean. Aside from<br />
the happy hour specials, full menu, warm atmosphere,<br />
and the obvious benefits of its location, what has no<br />
doubt kept the place in business for so long is its long<br />
standing tradition of always bringing in the finest local<br />
and national musical talent.<br />
“We don’t brag much about what we do. We just<br />
do it. We’re successful as kind of a ‘non-venue venue,’ as<br />
a bar and restaurant that brings in fine musicianship,<br />
both national and local,” said Mark pissari, the bar’s<br />
entertainment coordinator.<br />
“Raising the integrity level of the stage” is a phrase<br />
that Pissari mentions repeatedly throughout<br />
the interview, always speaking passionately and<br />
barely stopping to breathe when mentioning<br />
all the big names that have played at Boston’s,<br />
names like: legendary Jamaican reggae veteran<br />
GlenWashington, 2009 Blues Music Awards Harpist<br />
of the year Billy Gibson, hometown hero of crossover<br />
country Amber Leigh, 12-year saxophonist for James<br />
Brown, Jeff Watkins, Grateful Dead tribute band,<br />
Crazy Fingers, reggae star Mikey Spice, Bob Dylan<br />
collaborator Brian Stoltz, and even <strong>WeMerge</strong> cover<br />
story band Ghost of Gloria, from our last issue. As<br />
that somewhat condensed list of some of music’s<br />
top names suggests, Boston’s on the Beach is serious<br />
about its entertainment. <strong>The</strong>ir varied schedule<br />
includes all 7 nights and has every genre from blues<br />
and rock to reggae and country on its custom built<br />
professional stage, complete with a theatre quality<br />
sound and lighting system. <strong>The</strong>y also have another<br />
stage out back, by their “Back Bay Tiki Bar” and<br />
adjoining hotel.<br />
Chatting over a beer at one of the venue’s three<br />
bars, Mark Pissari goes on to talk about how the place<br />
will celebrate their 30-year anniversary in full swing<br />
during the week of October 19-25th, when their<br />
normal entertainment schedule will be turned up<br />
a few notches with some special guest performers,<br />
surprises, and all sorts of specials. Also, on October<br />
21st they will have the release party for their special<br />
30-year anniversary commemorative live 30-song<br />
double disc, “One More and I’m Outta Here.” <strong>The</strong><br />
free live CD set will be available with the purchase<br />
of a 30th anniversary commemorative T-shirt, and<br />
all proceeds will benefit delray Citizens for delray<br />
Beach police.<br />
“We have everything from tots and toddlers, to<br />
20-somethings and 30-somethings, and on down to<br />
our original customers, people in their 50s who have<br />
been coming since we first opened, 30 years ago,”<br />
says Pissari as we are closing out our conversation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> quote lingers in my head as I walk to my car, and<br />
I begin to appreciate how Boston’s on the Beach can<br />
be thought of as being somewhat like a beachside<br />
version of a big reputable local live music venue - but<br />
without the cover charge and with an atmosphere<br />
that is welcoming for the whole family.<br />
Not everything in South Florida comes and goes,<br />
not places with integrity.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 15
BRITTANy SMITH - www.MySpace.com/BritterArt<br />
16<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
CHRISTINE KERRIK - www.ChristineKerrik.com<br />
JOSE CALdERON - www.MySpace.com/Ronan7<br />
Lisa parrott - www.ComaGirl.com<br />
ThE<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Who’s NExT GaLLEry<br />
ALEX BOdNAR - MySpace.com/AlexBodnar<br />
“<strong>The</strong> job of the artist is always<br />
to deepen the mystery.”<br />
- Francis Bacon<br />
KyLE WILLIS - www.Opeyuvadown.Wordpress.com<br />
We are constantly receiving submissions and scouting for new artists<br />
to be featured in our magazine. Here, in the “Who’s Next Gallery,” we<br />
provide you with some samples from artists we are considering for the<br />
next issue. This is not a contest, and we are not tallying votes, but we would like<br />
for you to review the artists in this gallery and thier online portfolios, and e-mail<br />
us to let us know who you think should be next. Editor@wemergetalent.com<br />
Suzana de paola - www.Suzanadepaola.com<br />
Nora Morales - Check Her Out on FaceBook<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 17
18<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> has always taken pride in<br />
introducing its readers to the talented artists of<br />
all genres that live here in South Florida. Our<br />
hope is that reading about them will inspire<br />
people to follow their own artistic ambitions<br />
and pursue the dream that is a rewarding<br />
career in the arts. But inspiration is not always<br />
enough; it needs to be supplemented with<br />
education, and if you are looking to become a<br />
digital artist, then Digital Media Arts College<br />
in Boca Raton is a great place to get the<br />
education that will help guide your inspiration<br />
in the right direction. <strong>The</strong> satisfaction of the<br />
current students, the accomplishments of the<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
school’s alumni, and the credentials of the<br />
staff at <strong>DMAC</strong> all combine to make it a great<br />
place to get the education that will turn your<br />
talents into employable skills and turn your<br />
hobby into a career that revolves around your<br />
passion. <strong>DMAC</strong> offers BFA in Graphic Design,<br />
Advertising Design, Computer Animation and<br />
MFA in Graphic Design and Visual Effects. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
also offer Professional Certification Programs<br />
as well as individual illustration courses.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> recommends attending one of their<br />
open house events in order to get a real behind<br />
the scenes look at the making of a digital artist.<br />
It can happen at <strong>DMAC</strong>. by Renda Writer<br />
dMAC.edu youTube.com/dMACedu<br />
iT can happen<br />
I think it’s amazing that I can<br />
create an entire short film<br />
from scratch. I’ve learned more<br />
in the two years I’ve spent<br />
here than any two years of my<br />
life. I’ve learned everything<br />
I wanted to know about the<br />
computer animation field of<br />
study, including the various<br />
specializations, and I am now<br />
able to perfect my craft. I’ll<br />
always remember the friends<br />
I’ve made, how everyone is<br />
willing to help, and how <strong>DMAC</strong><br />
made my childhood dream of<br />
being an animator come true.<br />
Lindsey Holcomb<br />
Silsbee, TX<br />
Most importantly, <strong>DMAC</strong><br />
gave me the skills and mind<br />
set to find work after college.<br />
<strong>The</strong> third week out in<br />
California I had an interview<br />
with a (company) named<br />
Mighty Oak Entertainment<br />
(Whacked Out Sports, Video<br />
Zonkers). I interviewed and<br />
showed work I created while<br />
at <strong>DMAC</strong>. Two hours later,<br />
they offered me a position<br />
and cancelled the other<br />
interviews they had set up<br />
for the day… they made me<br />
head of animation.<br />
Michael Angrisani, Graduate<br />
- Los Angeles, CA<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Barrett Hapkido, a leader in martial arts in South<br />
Florida for over 13 years. <strong>The</strong> Hapkido motto,<br />
“Strength through each other,” remains as true as<br />
ever in this family-run operation which introduces<br />
adults and children alike to an often overlooked form<br />
of martial arts.<br />
According to owner and Hapkido<br />
Master phil Barrett, Hapkido is not<br />
a way of fighting. “It is reactive and<br />
live and teaches the student to<br />
recognize opportunity<br />
versus merely<br />
rhythmically<br />
following<br />
pre-set<br />
patterns of motion as are often seen in other forms of<br />
martial arts.” <strong>The</strong> literal meaning of Hapkido, a Korean<br />
term, is “<strong>The</strong> Way of Coordinated Power” “Hapkido<br />
teaches personal development and self-defense and<br />
uses technique rather than force.” Barrett, in his 30 th<br />
year of teaching, believes in guiding students to earn<br />
rank rather than just selling them a mainstream and<br />
commercialized martial arts program that tends to<br />
strip martial arts of its intended dignity and rites of<br />
passage.<br />
Hapkido is the martial art of choice for training<br />
personel of the U.S. Air force, police officers and<br />
Diplomatic Security guards. Barrett is proud to have<br />
the honor of teaching Hapkido to many of our civil<br />
servants. Even the body guards of the peaceful Dali<br />
Lama have used Hapkido.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Barrett family shows their dedication to<br />
the art by pulling together and delivering<br />
a fast-moving, action packed sequence<br />
of freestyle tumbles (which are as much<br />
an exercise as a training technique) and<br />
grappling with close observation and<br />
instruction. Daughter Kimber, 22, works closely<br />
with the youth who respond to her peaceful<br />
instruction with determination and respect.<br />
Ten-year-old Tavish has a resounding kick<br />
By carol Ann conover<br />
for a young<br />
lady and<br />
started with<br />
Barrett Hapkido in<br />
an after-school program but found that she loved it<br />
so much, “I wanted to practice all the time. “ Barrett’s<br />
son Blake, 19, is a dynamic force whose kicks and<br />
agility will leave you spellbound and though he only<br />
weighs in at 150 lbs, is an excellent and challenging<br />
sparring/grappling partner for adults twice his age<br />
and size. He also delights children with his character<br />
performances, dressing as Spider Man. So if you<br />
need a superhero give Barrett Hapkido a call.<br />
Dawn Barrett, mother and wife to the Barrett<br />
Hapkido team rounds out the art by teaching the<br />
Hatha Yoga classes they also offer. Phil Barrett, a selfdescribed<br />
“unruly child” was forcibly introduced to<br />
martial arts and for 40 years now he credits Hapkido<br />
for giving him discipline and confidence and this is<br />
the crux of his teaching. Barrett Hapkido requires no<br />
contracts and offers lessons at a fair price where the<br />
emphasis is on the quality of training.<br />
Spend one evening in their<br />
dojo and you will see how<br />
Hapkido can change your life.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
19
Book Review<br />
By Renda Writer<br />
Walking from Memory By D. Tori Morgenstein - 2010 Ghost Post Publishing<br />
If you were to frequent the Dania Beach Pier or an old beat up dive bar in<br />
Hollywood right off I-95 called “Stratford’s” you’d have<br />
something in common with Cane, the main character<br />
in the book “Walking from Memory,” by d. Tori<br />
Morgenstein. But beyond that, you really don’t want to<br />
have much else in common with him. You wouldn’t want<br />
to live the life that he has lived… and that is exactly the<br />
point of this book. It was written in an effort to wake<br />
people up, to open their eyes wider to the severity of the<br />
problem that is domestic violence in America. <strong>The</strong> book<br />
gives brave readers a very raw, uncensored, sometimes<br />
bloody, and always poetic glimpse into the life of a man<br />
who at one point in the story says, “I just think that pain<br />
is the only real thing a person can feel.”<br />
Using pain as a way to gauge reality is fittingly<br />
appropriate, because the painful history of abuse<br />
that the main character has, starting at age 4, makes<br />
this story feel way more real than the book’s “fiction”<br />
classification would allow you to believe. As a jaded,<br />
restless, and emotionally scarred 20-something, Cane<br />
struggles to survive each new day of his perceived<br />
meaningless existence and passes time with a “misery<br />
loves company” group of friends and lovers. He breaks<br />
from narration periodically to share some of his worst<br />
Has brought you the<br />
following books<br />
“Funky Gorilla Fist”<br />
- A novella by Anthony pepe<br />
reviewed in the 1st issue of <strong>WeMerge</strong><br />
“…that defines the light.”<br />
- A collection of poetry by Anthony<br />
pepe & d. Tori Morgenstein,<br />
to be reviewed in the 7th issue of<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong><br />
Both books available<br />
now for purchase:<br />
www.thatdefinesthelight.com<br />
www.myspace.com/funkygorillafist<br />
www.myspace.com/warriorpoets<br />
www.myspace.com/warriorpoetsaloud<br />
childhood memories with the reader, memories that explain why Cane is the type<br />
of person to say, “Self destruct buttons are made to be<br />
pushed. Mine is worn down to the nub.” One particular<br />
flashback has Cane recalling, “Looking at his face now,<br />
through my memory, I recognize him; he is father.<br />
But if it’s all the same to you, for now I would prefer to<br />
continue, when referring to him… I’d rather continue<br />
speaking of him in the pronoun form. I’d like hold on to<br />
the disassociation for as long as I can.”<br />
Luckily, Cane’s story isn’t solely a telling of blunt truths<br />
and graphic accounts of horrific violations of innocence,<br />
for there is actually enough humor, poetry, witty<br />
dialogue, and geographical relevancy in this book to<br />
remind the reader that as troubled and tortured as he is,<br />
Cane is a very likable protagonist. It makes the book into<br />
as much of an enjoyable read as it is a poignant expose<br />
of what life is like in the darker places. Watching him<br />
fumble with the broken pieces of his life and try to deal<br />
with the irrevocable damage done unto him by those<br />
who were supposed to love him and show him how to<br />
love, the reader is pulled in easily and tempted to not put<br />
the book down until the last page has been turned.<br />
“Walking from Memory” will be released by Ghost<br />
post publishing in early 2010.<br />
Two very compelling looks at the<br />
tragic epidemic that is domestic violence.<br />
Raw, uncensored, and unapologetic - real.<br />
www.ghostpostpublishing.com<br />
20 Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
Warnutz the Loser is an<br />
unkown MC straight out<br />
of the slums of Miami...<br />
bringing hip-hop as its neva<br />
been brought before. Take<br />
a listen, and you just might<br />
get hooked.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 21
<strong>The</strong><br />
7D<br />
Songs in a Language Once Spoken<br />
When <strong>The</strong> 7D recorded their latest CD,<br />
“Songs in a Language Once Spoken,”<br />
they obviously had something else<br />
in mind beyond just rapping over some beats<br />
to sound cool, get paid, and get famous. Paying<br />
attention to almost any random lyric on the 19track<br />
independent release calls attention to the<br />
fact that MCs Chopp devize and pilot Rai are<br />
really trying to wake up, educate, and inspire<br />
their listeners. <strong>The</strong>ir music takes fans in another<br />
direction, the 7th Direction, which is where the<br />
conscious people travel on a path toward self<br />
mastery and personal betterment, while having<br />
fun and vibing with the sounds of real hip-hop<br />
music, provided by <strong>The</strong> Architect’s production<br />
and the turntable skills of dJ Immortal.<br />
“Sounds of Struggle“ speaks directly to the<br />
hearts of those out there that are struggling to<br />
make something of their lives and inspires them to<br />
hang on, hold their heads up, and just stay focused.<br />
“Another Way” carries a similar message, speaking<br />
to those not happy with where they are in life and<br />
encouraging them to make the choices that will<br />
lead them to where they need to go. “Transform” is<br />
the record’s sleeper hit, a track that has the vibe of<br />
a well produced “conscious party track,” something<br />
almost like “Hip-Hop” by Dead Prez. <strong>The</strong> verses by<br />
Chopp Devize, Pilot Rai, and special guest Vibe One<br />
combine with DJ Immortal’s infectious scratches &<br />
cuts to create a track that can literally “transform”<br />
22<br />
22 Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
a stressed or worried normal working person into<br />
a carefree dance machine basking in the moment<br />
and the music.<br />
Aside from the collective power of the group,<br />
<strong>The</strong> 7D’s individual members are each worthy of<br />
the spotlight, like when Pilot Rai opens his heart<br />
up on “She’s Somewhere Tonight,” which shows<br />
just how up and down it can be inside the head<br />
of an artist dealing with a break up. “For the<br />
Music” illustrates how important music is in the<br />
lives of the members of <strong>The</strong> 7D, reminding us of<br />
how important it is in our own lives too. Chopp<br />
Devize says it best when he tries to imagine a life<br />
without it, “…no music, I’m a featherless wing,<br />
spiraling endlessly without a destiny, but that will<br />
never be, cause it’s embedded in me…” “Attitude”<br />
is another stand out track. <strong>The</strong> intensity of the<br />
production and the energy behind the delivery<br />
make it the perfect soundtrack for physical<br />
training. It’s what it sounds like when talented<br />
artists vent, and it makes you wanna pump<br />
some weight, run a few miles, and then go take<br />
on the world. A review of this must-listen CD<br />
would not be complete without mentioning the<br />
genius behind “Resurrection,” which is definitely<br />
a song written in a language once spoken. It’s the<br />
language spoken back when hip-hop promoted<br />
life, positivity, and personal strength. Go grab<br />
the CD, and listen to a forgotten language. You’ll<br />
remember it all over again.<br />
Art and the<br />
Aquarian Age<br />
By Julia George<br />
As we evolve into more enlightened<br />
human beings all areas of life are affected.<br />
Especially within creative expression, the<br />
energy shift in the arts arena is emerging as a<br />
growing awareness of the positive exchange<br />
between the human effect of an artist’s<br />
creation, and the ability to convey a spiritual<br />
message becomes a primary intention. It is a<br />
sign of the time, the Aquarian Age; an energy<br />
and push from the Universe encouraging<br />
us to relate and heal through one another,<br />
at a soul level, supported by music, fine art,<br />
dance, poetry, etc...<br />
Art is for the soul, from the soul. When<br />
we are attracted to a piece of art, it is<br />
because it evokes a feeling in us, as<br />
intensely as the creation of it. Art is a<br />
personal phenomenon and as a result, a<br />
relationship is developed between the<br />
artist’s expression and the recipient’s soul.<br />
Since “no man is an island,” our perceptions<br />
based on our life experiences drive our<br />
creations (as well as our destructions) and<br />
impressions, impacting us all collectively.<br />
What we choose to create and the message<br />
we convey, consciously or subconsciously,<br />
makes an imprint on the world at large<br />
even if it remains unseen by others.<br />
Art is a healing expression and a catalyst<br />
to higher consciousness. Emotionally<br />
motivated; identifying our feelings is the<br />
only way we can wholly navigate through<br />
our lives to reach higher consciousness. Our<br />
emotional awareness propels us to access<br />
our most creative reservoir within and<br />
collaborate with others interested in the<br />
highest good. This is our responsibility as<br />
Human Beings… this is the Aquarian Age.<br />
For more information, contact Julia George<br />
of Aquarian Age: aquarianagegallery@<br />
bellsouth.net 561.750.9292<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
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<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 23
When he finally had a<br />
minute to sit down and talk<br />
with me amidst the busyness<br />
that was Tattoolapalooza<br />
2009 at the<br />
Miami Beach<br />
Convention<br />
Center, my<br />
opening<br />
question<br />
for the<br />
organizer of<br />
the event was,<br />
“What was your overall goal in<br />
putting this event together?”<br />
Mickey Steinberg’s answer was, “To try and let<br />
people see that tattooing is art, not just something<br />
that bikers and gang members put on their bodies.”<br />
A simple enough goal that was more than reached<br />
over the course of this 3-day event with 180 exhibitor<br />
booths and flocks of people that traveled from far<br />
and near to be immersed in tattoo culture. Obviously<br />
a family man at heart (his own son and mother were<br />
both there), Mickey kept the kids in mind when he<br />
included a “Kiddy Corner” at the event, complete with<br />
a few bounce houses, rides, and a temporary tattoo<br />
artist. He seemed proud of his achievement in putting<br />
together such a large scale event, but at the same time<br />
was humble and balanced, telling me that he is already<br />
making plans for next year’s convention, as well as the<br />
24<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
upcoming Tattoolapalooza<br />
in San diego. Although our time together was brief, I<br />
did get to also ask him about his personal highlight of<br />
the convention, to which he replied, “<strong>The</strong> best thing is<br />
just hearing people say that they’re having fun.”<br />
<strong>The</strong>n, as quickly as I pulled him aside, he was pulled<br />
away again from our impromptu interview area on the<br />
staircase to tend to some business. So I walked back into<br />
the convention too, where I heard a voice on the sound<br />
system saying how people could visit a certain booth<br />
to see an attempt at a world record being submitted to<br />
Guinness Book in progress. At this booth that someone<br />
was being tattooed with a black and grey rose, being<br />
worked on by 14 different tattoo artists, the highest<br />
number of artists to ever work together on one tattoo.<br />
<strong>The</strong> voice was that of “Marcus,” the runner up for the<br />
2008 season of Last Comic Standing. He was walking<br />
around the convention with a cordless mic, cracking<br />
jokes and chatting with ‘palooza patrons. <strong>The</strong> star power<br />
present at the convention wasn’t just limited to the host<br />
though; horror movie icon Sid Haig (Captain Spalding<br />
from “<strong>The</strong> Devil’s Rejects”) was also in the building,<br />
signing autographs and posing for pictures. But the<br />
real stars were the 14 featured artists that Mickey had<br />
flown in from all over the country to exhibit, tattoo, and<br />
conduct seminars. I had a chance to meet one of those<br />
featured artists, Nikko Hurtado, just moments after he<br />
wrapped up conducting a seminar upstairs. <strong>The</strong> smiley<br />
Californian seemed happy to be a part of the whole<br />
event and had an aura that reminded me that everyone<br />
there was having a genuinely good time.<br />
I made my way to the back, by the main stage, and<br />
<strong>The</strong> Art of the Convention<br />
that’s where I saw an ice sculptor using a chainsaw to<br />
create a 6-foot motorcycle. <strong>The</strong> roar of the chainsaw,<br />
the steady buzz of tattoo guns, and the sounds of<br />
excitement were all in the air, and on the main stage<br />
was a shirtless midget with a painted face named Toad.<br />
He was letting people use a staple gun to staple dollar<br />
bills to his chest. <strong>The</strong>se are the kinds of things that make<br />
a convention into a “palooza,” and why this event was<br />
so much more than just a bunch of booths with artists<br />
sitting behind portfolios of their work.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Zoological Wildlife Foundation was even<br />
there… with an alligator, a tiger, some snakes, an owl,<br />
and a bunch of scorpions. Walking by the animal area<br />
made me realize that Mickey knew all along how to put<br />
together a tattoo convention that would be about more<br />
than just the tattoos, and would have enough extras to<br />
pull in interest from people not typically immersed in<br />
the culture of the tattoo scene. Like he had said earlier,<br />
he wanted people to see that “tattooing is art,” and he<br />
did a great job of finding creative ways to introduce<br />
people to the artistic side of the culture. Affirmation<br />
of this came as I walked past a booth from <strong>The</strong> Art<br />
Institute of Fort Lauderdale and saw several paintings<br />
that looked like they could all one day be turned into<br />
tattoos. For the next few hours, I meandered through<br />
the aisles, grabbing business cards from all the booths,<br />
noticing that each one had a different zip code on it,<br />
proof that art brings people together from all over.<br />
For info on next year’s convention, visit<br />
www.Tattoolapalooza.com.<br />
Live, <strong>Love</strong>, & be Free<br />
Event Photography, Portraits, Comp Cards,<br />
Product Placements, etc. - Prints Available<br />
Exhibiting 10/14-11/23 @ Fletcher Art & Culture Center in Hollywood<br />
Vionettephotography.com<br />
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<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 25
<strong>Steve</strong> <strong>Minotti</strong><br />
Simply Loving What He Does<br />
When a magazine that publishes<br />
behind a mission of promoting<br />
local art and music comes across<br />
someone like <strong>Steve</strong> <strong>Minotti</strong> it is happily<br />
reminded of the natural overlap between<br />
the scenes associated with both local art and<br />
local music. As a musician with over 30 years<br />
of experience performing right here in South<br />
Florida, <strong>Steve</strong> <strong>Minotti</strong> is a real musician’s<br />
musician… a live performer, singer/songwriter,<br />
and entertainer who does it all for the love of<br />
the music and is always up for an impromptu<br />
collaboration. He plays just as many open mics<br />
as he does paid gigs, and can usually be found<br />
on the bill for most fundraisers and charity<br />
events. He is a mainstay at such yearly events<br />
as the Everglades Awareness Benefit and the<br />
Medicinal Marijuana Benefit in Miami and<br />
played for 8 years at the legendary Elwood’s<br />
Dixie BBQ in Delray Beach.<br />
Aside from music, <strong>Steve</strong>’s other love is art,<br />
which is why his latest CD is titled, “<strong>The</strong> Gallery,”<br />
which features a collage of artwork from 12<br />
local artists on its cover. <strong>Steve</strong> explains his<br />
CD by saying, “<strong>The</strong> concept of the gallery<br />
was designed because I had fallen in love<br />
26<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
with an artist… and I was trying to convey my<br />
appreciation for her art, and I see the creative<br />
side of people... and that inspires me to write<br />
music that is really painting a picture, versus<br />
just being nonsensical babble…basically –<br />
which a lot of music is today… I think. When<br />
I started writing it, the concept of the gallery<br />
came about because the gallery is really the<br />
heart, where we store all the pictures of our<br />
lives – in our hearts. It’s that thing that a lot<br />
of people aren’t always willing to just open up<br />
and display for everybody.”<br />
But <strong>Minotti</strong> has no problem using his music<br />
to open up his heart for everybody, which is<br />
why he is so well liked, and why he is one of<br />
the most consistently booked solo singer/<br />
songwriters in the area. It might also be why he<br />
was able to independently sell 1,800 copies of<br />
his CD. <strong>Steve</strong> also fronts a band, aptly named,<br />
“Luminotti,” which contains members of “<strong>The</strong><br />
Secret Police,” paul Voute, Chris Korzen, and<br />
Mark Brovich. His next project will be the<br />
release of his 2nd official CD, “<strong>The</strong> <strong>Love</strong> You<br />
Give” in early 2010, which is named after a song<br />
that <strong>Minotti</strong> proudly covers, a heart-warming<br />
song written by fellow local musician and<br />
friend, Crawford Redgate.<br />
When this 30-year veteran of the local music<br />
scene was asked for one word to describe<br />
himself, <strong>Steve</strong> <strong>Minotti</strong> replied, “simple.” Sounds<br />
like a pretty reassuring recipe for success and<br />
happiness. Keep it simple, appreciate the arts,<br />
and love what you do. That’s what <strong>Steve</strong> does.<br />
by Renda Writer<br />
<strong>Steve</strong><strong>Minotti</strong>.com<br />
MySpace.com/<strong>Steve</strong><strong>Minotti</strong><br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
<strong>The</strong> Coolest, <strong>The</strong> Hippest By Renda Writer<br />
Whether you realize it or not, South Florida is actually home to some<br />
very cool and hip coffee shops. But there is one in particular that stands<br />
out from the rest. It just might be the coolest… maybe the hippest.<br />
Undergrounds Coffeehaus is the kind of place that you really have to<br />
go check out at least once. <strong>The</strong> adorable little coffee shop is also part<br />
art gallery, vintage book store, and hang out spot for coffee drinkers,<br />
art lovers, and free Wi-Fi seekers alike. <strong>The</strong> owner, Aileen Liptak, puts a<br />
great deal of effort into making sure her place always has a full schedule<br />
of events, including art shows, themed movie nights, and their widely<br />
successful “Stitch-n-Bitch” event that invites people to come out to<br />
crochet, knit, cross stitch, and bead their own hand crafted trinkets.<br />
Stop in on Johnny depp Night or when they’re showing the whole first<br />
season of the hit HBO series, “True Blood,” or check out their website<br />
and find a night that tickles your fancy.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
27
Teens<br />
merge<br />
by Ashley Lombardo u Teen Correspondent<br />
Hanna<br />
By Ashley Lombardo<br />
Recognized as Hanna,<br />
Aubriana Fumagali has her eyes<br />
on her dreams. She hasn’t taken<br />
a pseudonym for nothing; her<br />
solo project is known as Hanna<br />
for a reason bigger than auditory<br />
sensation. She calls herself Hanna<br />
as a tribute to the little mountain<br />
town in Utah where she spent<br />
her summer two years ago. While hiking, participating in numerous outdoor<br />
activities, and taking in the beauty of nature, Aubriana wrote the majority<br />
of her upcoming EP, appropriately named “Conquering Coyote Gulch,” which<br />
is an area of desert and canyons located in Hanna that she “conquered” by<br />
trekking over 60 miles. <strong>The</strong> EP includes songs such as Wasted Breath, Out at<br />
Sea, George Senior, and Stay Quiet. Stay Quiet is her recent favorite not only<br />
because it’s new, but also because it’s a crowd pleaser… fun for her to play<br />
and great for everyone to enjoy. <strong>The</strong> song that is most important to her is<br />
George Senior, which is written about her grandfather, the patriarch of the<br />
American firework industry who died five years ago. Her and her family relive<br />
his memory through it’s performance, which is the reason for the emotional<br />
significance of the song. Aubriana began playing piano at age two, and now<br />
at age sixteen, she composes all her own music. When asked to perform at her<br />
grandfather’s funeral, she realized that she would take her singing seriously.<br />
She is learning the German harmonica and is planning on soon incorporating<br />
it into her music, and she aspires to one day be a master of the cello. Her music<br />
is written for all ages, from her eleven year old sister to her performances at the<br />
senior citizen open house. She’s currently targeting teens, in hopes that they’ll<br />
be able to relate to what she has to say. Aubriana’s songs are inspired by and<br />
written about life; all it’s wonders and struggles that everyone experiences.<br />
She’s prompted by her appreciation of everything she’s been given in her<br />
life, along with her mother’s never-ending support. Through her music, she’s<br />
telling her story. When Aubriana’s feeling creative, she also writes about<br />
situations and stories that come straight from her mind. She usually writes<br />
her lyrics during class on anything and everything, but she also has a journal<br />
she brings along in her travels that she couldn’t live without. When asked<br />
to classify herself into a genre category, Aubriana finds it difficult. For now,<br />
she claims to be indie/pop, but her music is always changing. Her lyrics are<br />
beautifully written and full of soul, which compliment her light upbeat tunes<br />
with vigor. She is often compared to a young, new-age Vanessa Carlton. She<br />
involves herself in this industry, with it’s ups and down, because it’s an outlet<br />
for expressing her emotions. She hopes to bring her music all over the world,<br />
believing that this is her destiny. She feels that if it’s what she’s meant to do,<br />
she will end up doing it because she is an avid supporter of fate. She plans<br />
to attend FAU for commercial music on the creative track and let it take her<br />
where it may. Aubriana’s favorite studio to play at is Solid Sound, along with<br />
warehouse shows in Boca Raton, and private performances. She is continually<br />
booking shows in new venues and expanding her horizons. She is thankful<br />
for meeting her three biggest fans, Kendal, Kali and Katie, who truly love the<br />
music as much as Aubriana does. She now sells t-shirts, stickers, and buttons at<br />
her local performances, and her EP, “Conquering Coyote Gulch,” is also available<br />
for purchase. She can be contacted on MySpace.com/hannafl, or emailed at<br />
projecthanna@yahoo.com.<br />
28<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
Tattoo: Where Art & Body Unite<br />
by Jennifer Harper<br />
I never imagined that when I agreed to interview Fort Lauderdale tattoo shop<br />
owner, Stevie Moon, and staff artist, Josh Kreeps, that I would be so enlightened<br />
about the tattoo industry. What I had expected to be a typical hour-long interview,<br />
turned into a three hour gab fest. Not only are Stevie Moon and Josh Kreeps<br />
absolutely amazing tattooists, they really are two very cool people.<br />
<strong>The</strong> exponential increase in reality TV shows, including the popular TLC show,<br />
“LA Ink,” which originated here in Miami, has brought an immense amount of<br />
popularity and attention to the tattoo industry. What was once considered to be<br />
more of an underground community within the art world has now been catapulted<br />
into the mainstream as a profession of glamour and prestige, which has the younger<br />
generation vying for apprenticeships. Just keep in mind that Kat Von d., doesn’t<br />
really whip up a flawlessly finished drawing in the five-minute time interval that the<br />
show seems to portray… this stuff takes hours, days, and even weeks to complete.<br />
Stevie Moon, originally from DC, got his first glimpse of the tattoo biz at the<br />
impressionable age of 17. It wasn’t until after nearly completing a pre-med<br />
program, however, that he decided to put down the periodic table to pursue his<br />
love of art with his mentor and namesake, Juli Moon. A legend in the tattoo scene,<br />
Moon took Stevie under her finely inked wing and taught him the ways of the<br />
wand. Her single-needle tattoo method used to create her stunning portrayals of<br />
delicate angels, intricate pattern work and oriental themes are admired and studied<br />
by tattoo artists all over the world. “She still blows up my concrete skirt,” Stevie says<br />
with a look of pure adulation. He goes on to mention an impressive resume of<br />
other talented artists he’s worked with including Jef Whitehead, who has worked<br />
with the exceedingly successful Ed Hardy… one of the few tattoo artists who has<br />
managed to market his work into a pop culture apparel empire.<br />
Throughout the 90’s, Stevie became immersed in the world of tattooing,<br />
spending nearly every waking moment creating and experimenting with different<br />
genres and techniques. Today, his work showcases a large palette of tasty flavors<br />
which are a gently stirred concoction of over 20 years behind the iron gun. Stevie<br />
puts it best by saying, “I’m not monogamous with any style. I want to sleep with all<br />
of them from the Japanese styles to the hard-core full color portraits. I want to know<br />
everything, like Freddy Mercury, ‘I want it all and I want it now.’” Well stated, Stevie…<br />
only you could get away with saying that and sounding completely appropriate.<br />
Fellow ink slinger, Josh Kreeps, walked into Stevie’s shop one day about a year<br />
ago, showed his work, and hasn’t found the exit door since. In similar fashion, Josh<br />
got his start after a friend saw his sketch book and offered him a job at his shop. He<br />
spent the next 4 or so years learning everything he could. Josh doesn’t conform to<br />
any particular style, like Stevie, he has taken what he’s learned and blended it into<br />
his own recipe for success. This all-around, easy going guy, has spent the last five<br />
years translating his art onto living beings in a way that complements - not distracts,<br />
from the beauty of the human form. He may not be a 25 year veteran, yet his skill<br />
and attention to detail are comparable to that of a seasoned master. His advice to<br />
the newcomer: “Keep creating, in every form and style and expect to pay your dues.<br />
Many apprentices spend their first year doing mostly cleaning and prep work. You<br />
have to really love art to get anywhere in this business.” This is quite interesting<br />
advice from someone who began wielding the tattoo gun after only about one<br />
month of apprentice work.<br />
By the end of my visit with Stevie and Josh, I was beginning to feel like a part<br />
of the family - cracking jokes with Josh and poking fun at Stevie’s attire: a beat up<br />
tank top and pair of Joe boxer full-length underwear. “I have to work in comfort,”<br />
Stevie quipped in defense of his relaxed wardrobe. Comfort being the operative<br />
word here, I could’ve stayed the rest of the day. Thanks for a great interview and a<br />
wonderful Friday afternoon guys!<br />
Next time you’re looking to get that ultimate piece inked, stop by Stevie Moon<br />
Tattoo for the best South Florida has to offer in quality tattooing. <strong>The</strong> shop is located<br />
at 2336 NE 26th Street in Fort Lauderale, just south of Oakland Park Blvd, off of<br />
Federal Highway. Check out their website at www.StevieMoon.com. Call (954) 565-<br />
4470 for more information. Tell them Little Jen from <strong>WeMerge</strong> sent you!<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
<strong>The</strong> South Florida Camera Club Photo Gallery<br />
What you see before you are 14 photographs from<br />
members of <strong>The</strong> South Florida Camera Club,<br />
a local club for photographers of all ages and levels<br />
of skill. <strong>The</strong> club meets twice a month, has monthly<br />
photo field trips, competitions, and guest speakers.<br />
Many of their members attend the monthly gallery<br />
night that takes place on the 2nd Friday of every<br />
month at UNCOMMON Gallery in Ft. Lauderdale (2713<br />
Tracy Mendy - TracyMendy.com<br />
Keith LeBlanc - Pbase.com/kleb7842<br />
Vionette - VionettePhotography.com<br />
George Quiroga - Qnetx.com Jack Levy - ImagesByJack.net Jessica Savidge - SavidgePhotography.com<br />
Malcolm Kahl - mhklaw1@earthlink.net<br />
John Marks - jcmarks@bellsouth.net<br />
E. Commercial Blvd., UncommonStock.net), which is<br />
a great event to go to if you are looking to chat with<br />
some of the club’s members and find out more about<br />
why they like being a part of it. <strong>The</strong> club’s president,<br />
Danny Hammontree, is usually there too, so introduce<br />
yourself to him, and tell him that <strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
referred you. www.SouthFloridaCameraClub.com<br />
(danny.hammontree@gmail.com).<br />
Lew Lautin - LewLautinPhotographer.com<br />
Danny Hammontree - DannyHammontree.com<br />
James McCallum - Flickr.com/bocaphotography<br />
R. Lewis Hooten - UncommonOrchidPhotos.com<br />
Linda St. Hilaire - AllOccasionsByLinda.com<br />
Adilia Ortega - AdiliaOrtega.com<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 29
30<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
Poets t Painters t Rappers t Comedians t Bands<br />
Sculptors t Performance Artists t DJs t Actors t Tattoo Artists t<br />
Authors t Graffiti Artists t Producers t Dancers t Singer/Songwriters t<br />
Cartoonists t Martial Artists t Make-Up Artists t Magicians t<br />
What does <strong>WeMerge</strong> look for in an artist submission?<br />
1. Talent<br />
2. Commitment to their art (gigs, portfolios, credentials, etc.)<br />
3. Professional packaging (high quality photos & logos)<br />
4. A willingness to participate in<br />
promoting the issue you’re<br />
featured in<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is<br />
always accepting artist<br />
submissions. We<br />
catalogue them all<br />
for possible inclusion in<br />
future issues.<br />
Our advertisers are<br />
very important to our<br />
survival. For this reason,<br />
artists who can<br />
provide advertising<br />
referrals will have thier sumbissions<br />
reviewed immediately.<br />
Visit our website and fill out our Talent Submission Form.<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 31
y Renda Writer<br />
When I walked into Eternal Ink in Davie<br />
on a Sunday afternoon and found Christa Z<br />
and Frank La Natra both hard at work on this socalled<br />
day of rest, it became evident once again<br />
why they are a true “power couple.”<br />
I had stopped in to chat with them about what<br />
they’ve been up to since we shared their story<br />
in our last issue, and as expected, they have<br />
both been super busy. Frank seems to have<br />
been blessed by the gods of publicity, having<br />
racked up features in five magazines in just the last few<br />
months, including “Tattoos for Men,” “Tattoos for Women,”<br />
“Skin Art,” “Tattoo Society,” and “Savage.” While doing a<br />
touch up of some fairy wings on a woman’s back, Frank<br />
responds to my question about how he stays so busy<br />
and accomplishes so much by saying, “I don’t stay busy<br />
by choice. I guess my talent is just keeping me in demand. Being more of a regular<br />
artist helps too because people like my artwork and want to collect it... and so<br />
getting a tattoo from me is a good way for them to have one of my pieces.” From<br />
there, he goes on to tell me about how he has been booking guest spots at tattoo<br />
shops around the country and has dates reserved all the way out until next August,<br />
with upcoming appearances at Monkey Ink in North Carolina and Broadway<br />
Tattoo Lounge in New Jersey. His more immediate plans include preparing for<br />
the upcoming Tattoolapalooza convention in San Diego, where he will be one of<br />
the featured artists and will also play a big role in organizing the whole event, just<br />
like he did for the South Beach Tattoolapalooza back in July. Christa also helped to<br />
produce and organize the summer convention, which is why the couple barely had<br />
a chance to celebrate their 2 year anniversary that same weekend.<br />
In discussing the success of the South Beach convention and her role in helping<br />
to put it together, Christa says, “That was a whole different experience for me. I never saw myself doing that... putting<br />
together and being a part of a show of that scale. So it was kinda weird, but a great experience overall… and I painted<br />
a 4x4 acrylic of Bob Marley live on stage, and sold it for $350.” Later in our conversation Christa gave me a flyer for a new<br />
book that she was invited to be a part of called “Pint Size Paintings” (PintSizePaintings.com), which will be released in<br />
early 2010, promoting a newly popularized genre of small sized art, which is in great<br />
demand these days and will hopefully lead to the financial success that Christa<br />
desires and deserves.<br />
She emphasizes her<br />
goals by saying, “I’ve got<br />
a lot of prints I need to<br />
sell. I start at $10 and go<br />
up to about $150, and I<br />
work with people on the<br />
prices too.”<br />
Never too busy for<br />
each other and always<br />
intelligently managing<br />
their priorities, Christa<br />
will be accompanying<br />
Frank in his travels<br />
throughout the coming<br />
32<br />
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
Power Couple<br />
Christa Z & Frank La Natra<br />
christa Z painted a 4x4 acrylic of Bob Marley live on stage,<br />
which sold for $350<br />
months, and the two will be taking a semester off from their studies at <strong>The</strong> Art<br />
Institute of Ft. Lauderdale while they focus on their current projects.<br />
I left Eternal Ink that Sunday afternoon thinking about one of our slogans here<br />
at <strong>WeMerge</strong>, “We help artists that are helping themselves,” and about how well it<br />
describes why we were glad to write once again about this couple that is working<br />
so hard to advance in their art careers and stay happily in love along the way.<br />
MySpace.com/paintingsByChrista MySace.com/LaNatra<br />
Other Local<br />
POWER COUPLES<br />
Let us know who you would<br />
like to read about next:<br />
Deb Sullivan & Kevin “Kevro” Rouse<br />
Well known in Delray Beach, Deb<br />
& Kevro are artists, photographers,<br />
and co-owners of Kevro’s Art Bar.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y compliment and balance each<br />
other well and are always working to<br />
enhance the art scene in Palm Beach.<br />
KevroArt.com<br />
Trina Slade-Burks & Anthony Burks<br />
Trina is a published poet and Anthony<br />
is an artist whose work is coveted<br />
by several prominent collectors.<br />
As husband and wife, they are very<br />
active in the art community and work<br />
relentlessly to keep art alive in the local<br />
area. <strong>The</strong> two met while attending <strong>The</strong><br />
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and are<br />
Class of ‘88 Alumni.<br />
AbsoluteArts.com/portfolios/a/anttri/<br />
MySpace.com/ArtBarGallery<br />
Yvonne Colon & Garo Gallo<br />
<strong>The</strong>se two have made waves most<br />
recently by opening up <strong>The</strong> Bubble in<br />
downtown Ft. Lauderdale, a warehouse<br />
that they converted into an art gallery,<br />
live music venue, and destination<br />
site for cool events and cool crowds.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y have been promoting the local<br />
music scene for several years with<br />
their organization, IWAN, and Garo is a<br />
member of the band dooms de pop.<br />
MySpace.com/BTWMusicproductions<br />
IndependentWorkingArtistNetwork.com<br />
Leah Brown & Peter Symons<br />
<strong>The</strong>y moved here from New York City<br />
just over a year ago and Leah and<br />
Peter are making some very solid<br />
connections to become more involved<br />
in the Ft. Lauderdale art scene. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />
newly opened 18 Rabbit Gallery in<br />
downtown is sure to soon become one<br />
of the go-to places for people seeking<br />
art and culture.<br />
18RabbitGallery.com<br />
LeahBrownArt.com<br />
Flickr.com/photos/petersymons<br />
Amanda Watkins-Ginther & JR Linton<br />
<strong>The</strong>re really isn’t much that this couple<br />
doesn’t do. Amanda’s yearly Stitch<br />
Rock event is always successful and she<br />
continues to thrive with her House of<br />
Sweets cupcake business and JR has<br />
credentials as both an artist and a tattoo<br />
artist that have grown<br />
Rock<strong>The</strong>Stitch.com<br />
HellcatTattoo.com<br />
Slushbox.com<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com Support the scene or there will be no scene to support 33
Support the scene or there will be no scene to support<br />
ALL GRAFFITI SHOTS WERE TAKEN FROM ONE CONTINUOUS WALL IN MIAMI OFF THE EAST SIDE OF I-95<br />
<strong>WeMerge</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - www.<strong>WeMerge</strong>Talent.com