SKYPAGE [interview]

SKYPAGE
artist/graphic designer
SKYPAGE is a Bay Area native with an uncanny ability to create letters. Now residing in Los Angeles, SKYPAGE uses his various skills to bring his art to the masses. There is a pretty good chance, no matter where you live, that you have seen his work on a public space, a skate deck, a magazine or a graphic tee. SKYPAGE’s work has been featured in the pages of Arkitip, Mass Appeal, Big Time and Transworld. He has designed logos and artwork for Stussy, Nike, PROS N’ CONS, Brooklyn Basements, and many others. I've had the honor to spend some time with SKYPAGE recently and all I have to say that he is very inspiring.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Probably wanted to be tether ball champ. Back when all you had was BMX, gleeking, trading cards, cursing and tether ball. Never ran no biker shorts though, we were little then but you still had to find different ways to be fresh. Couldn’t be no geek man, had to earn your keep.

Have you ever questioned whether or not you should be an artist?

Not much, the need to produce things came naturally, no questions asked. A lot of it seems like it’s more about problem solving anyway, like how to make stuff happen, with which materials, and what steps will it take to get there. Assembling alternative solutions for getting things done.

How do you define success?

Success is what you make it I guess. It’s like landing a trick, you set it up you knock it down, in some situations it means being able to do whatever it is that you do, your way and without much compromise. But with success comes responsibility. Blowing it if you let it go to your head.

What is going on with Skypage in 2009?

Kind of psyched man, been painting more public spaces, doing artist collabos with Left Field and Heel Bruise in the first quarter. Got a few new tees on the way too, more Skypage objects, the Skypage Mixtape volume 2 is on it’s way. Working on more text heavy art, type stuff, behind the scenes branding and book making. Right now I got this zine I’m creating for a show in March with my buddy Thomas and perennial art maker Lance Mountain.



What do you think of robots?
Robot’s are cool man. I liked Kubrick’s 2001 and the idea of robots malfunctioning. The Enforcement Droid in Paul Verhoven’s Robocop was especially crucial. Human cyborgs from the future, sent to destroy people in the present, all that stuff is pretty legit.
Favorite color?
That universal buff color usually looks good on everything.

Where do you find inspiration?

Movies, move making, cool old stuff from other eras, human interaction, sunlight you know, being outdoors, catching momentum, people who make a positive impact on others, social change, spare change, breaking waves, breaking stereotypes, 2010, I want to be there.

Describe your creative process...

Most of my concepts start small. With paint on walls, I don't use much of the new brands, I like cheap paint and rusto colors, maybe use an old krylon as an accent color and some house paint. I try to keep myself in the mode of drawing, whether it be a lot or a little.
Favorite beverage?
Served best when cold and right after a long day.

Last place someone might find you?

Probably street-pasting or lining up for limiteds.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Nothing never came to a sleeper but a dream.

Thank you for your time SKYPAGE and we look forward to the Left Field Project x SKYPAGE collabo tee! *coming soon*
interview by duane fernandez

Levi Maestro [interview]

Levi Maestro
Creator/Director
LFP has been keeping a watchful eye on Levi Maestro and with the 4th installment of Maestro Knows already airing we thought we better chase him down and catch up with him while we can... Maestro happens to be one of the most passionate and absolutely unique individuals in this project. He is humble, focused and most importantly ambitious.
For those who aren't familiar with you, let me start by asking: Who is Levi Maestro?
I'm me. Nothing hidden, I'm a creator.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
[laughing] I think a car salesman.
Please tell us a little bit about Maestro Knows...
Maestro Knows is great because it's my voice, it's my story, it's my life, all packaged together in a short story form that's entertaining and will have something for everybody.
How has your passion for documenting evolved over the years?
I did begin by filming skateboarding. I made the move to Los Angeles to progress and intern for a director, eventually I imagined myself directing commercials and some music videos. But now I'm just making content and letting it take me places I didn't even realize I'd be able to go. That is the biggest blessing so far.
If you could meet or interview anyone who would it be?
Al Green. He's amazing, he has an amazing talent, he has lived his life as a journey and he now lives his life with a purpose.
In one word, how would describe the last 2 years?
Amazing.
I notice a lot of In-N-Out on Maestro Knows, their food is incredible and I hate myself for moving away from such deliciousness, what do you order?
Double double with no onions, half vanilla half chocolate shake, and sometimes animal style fries.
It's crazy to me that most people don't know you can get fries "animal style". They are SO good!
Let me ask you this, what was the last trick you threw down on your skateboard:
Switch 360 flip, or unless falling down is a trick, if it is then falling down was the last one.
What kind of set up do you ride?
I like Girl/Chocolate boards, Venture trucks, Black Panther bearings, I don't really care what kind of wheels as long as they're skinny. Oh and I like gripping over my bolts!
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
My mother telling me to speak things into existence. It works! Best advice ever!
Let's say that you are flying from LA to Moscow and someone asks you why they should watch an episode of Maestro Knows, what do you say?
Because it's dope! That would be my real answer but I mean you should watch it only if you want to. I you want to see something unlike everything else that's out amongst all this internet content, then you can watch my show.
Finally, in the last 2 weeks I've heard SO much about the incredible Korean Kogi Taco Truck roaming around LA... Then on one of your last episodes I saw you and Estevan Oriol enjoying them in downtown. How was it? Is it incredible?
Yea it's really good, that was my second time having it. It smells really good and tastes really good so it gets two thumbs up from Maestro.
Maestro, we know you are crazy busy and we thank you for your time. We can't wait to see how 2009 unfolds for you. Cheers. Now get back to work.
Enjoy the Maestro Knows trailer:


More information about Mr. Maestro and the rest of the episodes here: www.maestroknows.com
interview by duane fernandez

speakin ain't easy

So last night was the lecture...
I was working on my presentation til about 5:15. Threw it on an external harddrive and made my way down to the Tulsa Little Theater. Aside from not being able to read my notes, (because I don't know how to use Keynote aparently), I think it well. I was anxious. I remember at some point in my life I had taken a public speaking course, but all those tools have long been replaced. A few hours before the event I started wondering why I had agreed to do this...
Well, I am now sitting comfortably in my office listening to Outkast on vinyl and I am stoked. It wasn't that bad. I liked it. Rather, I enjoyed it. The process of it all.
I remember when I originally started LFP I had visions of one day sharing what I have learned from these great individuals. In hopes of inspiring at least one person. If one person is inspired by sharing the love and undying passion of those involved with LFP = All is a success.
I'd like to thank everyone that came out to support me last night. I really apreciate it more than I can express to you here. I am so fortunate to have such an amazing circle of friends and family. Thank you.
Also, it was fun to do some autogrpahs and meet some new faces:
*Darshan and Carla, the posters came out perfect! You guys rock!
thank you thank you thank you.

Girl Talk [interview]

Girl Talk
Laptop Producer
I was totally caught off guard when a local (Tulsan) asked me if I had heard of you last year. And I had not. I did some research and picked up Night Ripper. I became a fan instantly. Moving here from Phoenix Arizona I had spent my college years stalking Z-trip. Needless to say, I’m a HUGE fan of the "mash up" style that you have created for yourself. Just recently, a couple weekends ago, I bought a ticket and peeped out my first Girl Talk show. I was going to hit up your people and do the interview thing and photo thing, but I kind of wanted to just enjoy a good set and not make it about work. Good DJ’s don’t make it out here very often and if they do, people usually don’t have a clue as to who they are and the show goes undersold and overlooked. I’m glad I waited to do the interview until after the show because it is truly something that should be experienced before attempting to find out what you are all about…
Who is Girl Talk?
I'm a 26 year old man who is pumped about most things.
Why do you do what you do?
I got really into music when I bought my first Bel Biv Devoe cassette in 2nd grade. I kept diving deeper into new music as I could find it. I was blown away when I discovered noise music at around 14 years old. I was interested in the concept and execution of avant-garde electronic music and performance. This is when I started my first band. A couple years later, I started working with cutting up audio tapes, damaging CD's and blending sounds together with 4-track recorders. My band would do performances where we would smash old computers and light off fireworks at the crowd while working with various electronic noisemakers and sometimes incorporating live versions of the collage work we did. I loved the juxtaposition of noise and pop. I wanted to continue to explore sound collage when I got my first laptop, and that's when I started the Girl Talk project. Over the years, it's evolved into what's happening now. I love music. This is the way I make it.
My first impression of you was Mash-up and DJ. Now that I have seen your show and I have learned more about you and what you do up there. I see your albums in a new light, I’ve realized I was wrong on both accounts. I’m sure you get this quite a bit, but as someone who grew up spinning records, you’re not necessarily a DJ, so what are you?
I'm a laptop producer. I never wanted to be a DJ in the traditional sense. I've never tried to beat match records. What I'm doing now is an accessible extension of my high school band. It's electronic music that is based around using samples. I don't want to play songs. I want to make songs. The people I look up to, like The Bomb Squad, John Oswald, Negativland, and Kid 606, were never considered DJ's even though they often worked primarily with pre-existing media.

I like that term - “Pre-existing media”.
During your show I couldn’t help but to think “What’s he doing up there on that laptop?” So, an inquiring mind would love to know, if you don’t mind – what goes on up there?
It's all live sample triggering. I work with a program called Audiomulch. I have hundreds of loops in front of me, and I mix and match them in real time. Every part of the collage is as isolated as possible. So there will be individual loops with kick drums, melodies, hi hats, vocals, and so on. I typically have many of the arrangements thought out beforehand because I don't want the live show to be an exercise in improvisation. I basically perform audio collages live. I can cut up and tweak things in real time. If I ever walk away from the computer or get in the crowd, the same material will loop over and over. There will be no progress. Even when you hear a song melody go from part A to B of the same song, I'm muting part A and triggering part B live. There's usually between 2 and 10 loops playing at any given time. I probably play, mute, or manipulate a different loop at least every 15 seconds of the set.
What do you think of robots?
I'm cool with them. Terminator 2 is one of the best movies ever.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
When I was little, like in grade school, I would do college basketball half time shows where I'd do complicated dribbling routines.
Which bear is best?
All bears rule.

*This is only a small portion of the Girl Talk interview.
interview by duane fernandez

Mike Sexton show at LFP gallery

Please come out and join us for the opening reception of "Sexton", a collection of works by abstract artist Mike Sexton. This is an incredible body of work which features a handful of large scale pieces. Watch this video to learn more about the artist:

The opening reception for the show is tonight:
LFP Gallery
819 E. 3rd Street
Tulsa OK 74120
Door opens @ 7PM

Urban Tulsa Weekly - Eye of the Beholder

I was super excited when Holly Wall contacted me for a cover story she was working on. It just hit the news stands today so go out and pick one up! [or if you are out of town - download it here]
Katie Sullivan and Holly Wall have always been extremely supportive of all our projects/events - Thank you! It was an honor to be part of the story... Thank you so much.

Friend/photographer/creative director/designer: Jeremy Charles was the dude behind my photo and I'd like to give him all sorts of props for coming in here on an early/rainy Friday morning and knocking this out - you're awesome dude.