Interview Wednesdays: Ciro Bicudo

I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite artists, Ciro Bicudo. You may have already read about him on Santos SurfArt or Grass is Greener, or perhaps you saw his work in Longboard Magazine's last art issue. He is also the creator of PineappleLuv's happy new logo!

Ciro is such a genuinely good, soulful person. He goes by the nickname 'Organik' because as he explained, he takes an organic path in life and when he paints, he always starts with his mother's garden.


Ciro, where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in Piracicaba, which is a countryside city in Brazil, but my grandmother used to live in a beach town called Peruibe. Every weekend I would visit her and around that time I had my first contact with surf. Nowadays I'm living in São Paulo, which is a big city, sort of like New York; I moved to São Paulo in order to study at the University and stayed here.

When did you first start drawing and painting?

Since I was young I used to do some drawings either at school or at home. But it was skateboarding and surfing that introduced me to the graphic culture when I was about 14 or 15 years old. I remember buying a skateboard deck with the Powell Peralta mini logo. And I always loved that graphic, so simple, so clean and perfect.

Around that time, one of my friends gave me a surfboard to paint and do some art on it... that's when I started doing some for my other friends as well. Later, I started in advertising school and my focus was to work with art of surf/skate brands. After that, I received some invitations to exhibit in art shows.

Are there any other artists in your family and do you have any brothers or sisters?

I have a 28 year old sister and a younger brother who is 22. In my family, my mother is an interior decorator/designer and my sister is an architect and an unbelievable artist. She paints with water based ecolines .

What gives you inspiration?

Music, surf, skate, colours, architecture, photos... Nature is one of my greatest loves. I love to paint flowers, leaves and the ocean. Nature makes me feel so good, it makes me peaceful and happy.

What is your creative process like? Do you get an idea and draw it first, then paint? Or just start painting and see what emerges?

It's a freestyle process. Some ideas just happens as I paint, or I'll do a sketch in a blackbook and then I paint it. All of my works are an expression, colours says how I feel at that time.

Like many other artists, we have other jobs. How do you create that balance where you find time to do your own artwork?

I work in the Local Motion office during the week, developing products and a design that is more commercial. But at night when I'm at home, I try to created some concept designs. When I'm creating my personal paintings it's something real, that I truly feel and believe. All nights and weekends is when I do something for me, not commercial stuff. These two points (commercial designs and pure art) help me to always exercise my brain. 'Cause the evolution is constant.

Do you like to play music when you paint?

Every time when I'm in the process of painting, the radio is on. I love music, I am listening to something all day long. Some of my inspirations are DUB, JAZZ, FOLK, PUNK, music from the 70's, 80's and 90's.

What are some of the last CDs that you played?

Neil Young - Harvest and Harvest Moon
Drag The River
Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
The Descendents - Live
Rancid - And Out Come the Wolves
Coltrane - A Love Supreme


I think a lot of us in other parts of the world would like to listen to more Brazilian music. Can you recommend some of your favorite artists?

My favorite Brazilian musicians are...

Bossa Nova: Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Donato, Chico Buarque, Toquinho, Vinicius de Moraes and Baden Powell.

Punk band: Garage Fuzz

Rock: Los Hermanos

What is your favorite home cooked meal?

All my mother's food. And my father's barbecue.


What is on the top of your wish list for travel?

I love Brazil, but my dream is to visit California, then Barcelona, Ireland (and drink some Guinness) and Italy.

What is your favorite place to surf in Brazil and where did you first learn? You also skate, right?

One of my favorite spots is a secret spot near my grandmother's house. You need to get on a boat to arrive at this beach. I learned to surf at Peruibe's popular beaches. Yes, I skated when I was young. I love skating just as I love surfing, but nowadays I'm not skating too much.


I am so jealous that you never have to wear a wetsuit in the water! What do you ride?

Oh, here in Brazil, in June and July we need to use a wetsuit, because the water is too cold. It is winter here in these months. My favorite boards are my twin fins fish 6'0 and my 6'1 evolution fish with 3 fins .

Do you play any instruments?

I play chord instruments and harmonicas, but I love acoustic guitars, and I love to play folk songs.

What is the most exciting thing to have happened in your career so far?

Being in the Longboard Magazine Art Issue is a dream come true. And when I met Ben Harper and he said, "Your work is gorgeous."

What are some of your dreams for your future and what is your greatest ambition as a painter?

To have my personal art space/studio and live for some time in California working with art, design and surfing. I want to do art shows around the world.



Favorite artists?

I have a lot... OS GEMEOS (The Twins); Flavio Samelo (photographer); Thomas Campbell; Andy Davis; Yusuke Hanai; Kyle Lightner; Mucha; Rick Griffin; Jesse Ledoux; Evan Hecox; Beatriz Milhazes and Hieronymus Bosch.

Thank you, Ciro. What advice would you give to a young person who wants to be an artist?

Trust in yourself, and if you want to, you can. Think-feel-do it.

Interview Wednesdays: Mick Sowry

For many of you, Mick Sowry needs no introduction. He is a friend to a lot of us, even if we've only met him through his Safe to Sea blog. No doubt you already know that his film, Musica Surfica, won Best Feature at the New York Surf Film Festival last Fall.

After thoroughly loving the film Saturday night at the Ocean Film Festival in SF, Jay and I had a few questions. Thank you for taking the time to answer them, Mick.

400+ audience on Saturday night in San Francisco

Musica Surfica

As the writer and director of Musica Surfica, did you actually come up with the idea of the finless surfing and music collaboration, 'Musica Surfica' or was that idea already planted between Australian Chamber Orchestra's leader, Richard Tognetti and surf legend, Derek Hynd?

If the idea had already been planted, how did you become involved from the very beginning and what drew you to this story?

The idea began in Richard and Derek's friendship, which in turn began 10 odd years ago when Derek was still with Rip Curl. Way back then they tried to do something together, with mixed results - as the surf community was perhaps not ready for it. But it bubbled away and, at the behest of one of the ACO board members, they kept the ideas generating and eventually Derek came up with the term 'Musica Surfica'. (A nod to an Australian classical concert series called Musica Viva).

Derek Hynd

Independently, I'd begun research filming and interviews on a surf related project of mine. I'd been aware of Richard T. for many years and took a punt, contacted him explaining my story. I asked if he'd be interested in doing the sound design, as I wanted to break the mould in that area and his depth of knowledge, and staggering talent, fit the bill. That he agreed floored me, but I wasn't to argue.

That began a sporadic email ping-pong that ended in a phone call asking me to come along to a concert, check it out and meet afterward.

This was our first meeting and there, walking through the streets of Melbourne, he asked if I'd like to come to King Island with Derek and a bunch of very good surfers, and film them attempting a week of finless exploration. He told me it was called Musica Surfica, they were going to play a bit as well, but didn't know where, it was all very disorganised - but for me the opportunity was too good to miss, though I still didn't quite get it.

I asked why, and he said he wanted to be able to play a concert that had the finless surfing filmed on the island, cut to a set of classical pieces, and then in concert played live to exactly the same music. Essentially live music to a surfing backdrop, but with the edit and the playing working together precisely.

I too asked 'why finless surfing', and that goes back to the relationship between Derek and Richard.

Derek had been surfing finless for about a year or so, his exploration with it beginning when attempting to teach a friend to surf, and wanting to engage his empathetic gear to understand what it was like to learn again. Something got his attention and he began riding the shore breaks of Sydney, persistence and talent paying off as he began to get very good.

Richard picked it up too, was gaining in proficiency, and together they felt they might be on to something.

l to r: Jed Done, Richard Tognetti, Mick Sowry

Classical music was naturally part of the mix as that is what Richard is, a classical musician... a great one, and one who is dedicated to getting it seen as something more than only for concert hall audiences.

The connection Richard made was that perhaps by drawing audiences in to see surfing in a classical setting, these atypical concertgoers might become inspired to engage with classical music on a more regular basis.

The finless surfing became an analogy for moving out of your comfort zone, to learn you need to do new things, not rehash the old. Essentially, the rewards of risk in creativity.

All this came out as we spoke and later night I wrote a treatment of what I thought it could be, as for me it was far more than just a surfing backdrop to a concert, and that treatment is essentially Musica Surfica, the film.

Of course I had to meet Derek, and get the money to do it, but with the help of the ACO management, and Foxtel, and later the Australian Film Commission, it was pulled together.

wall of boards

It seems we are noticing an increase in the return of alaias. Is it just a coincidence that your film came out at this time, or perhaps this is what is called a ‘collective consciousness’.

At the time I thought we were breaking new ground entirely, filmically, but I think Tom Campbell has begun some work with Tommy Wegener, though we were I think first to get it to screens, and of course Tom Wegener had been filming his early efforts himself I suppose.

Was it a coincidence...? I think more it was something that was happening and Derek had the foresight to invite Tom along, who in turn told me about the Joske family and their experiments, which rounded out the Australian contingent in ancient board experimentation. Perfection I suppose would have been adding Tom Pohaku Stone to the mix and getting it from a pure Hawaiian perspective.

I think the alaia's time, as an alternative form, has come... an awakening of new possibilities and it'll be very interesting to see where talented surfers take them. Growing a surfboard is timely though... isn't it?

Would you like to see more people experiment with earlier board designs? Is this something that interests you personally as well - is there a finless board in your quiver?

I suppose it's up to them, but I think the more we free people from the need to be seen to ride the 'correct' surf craft, the better and more fun filled the experience will be. I have a finless Derek made me, it's hard to ride but definitely a conversation starter when I take it out. I just wish I could do some of the things Derek manages to do so effortlessly. That he gets five or six go outs a week to my one or two I think will guarantee I'm no threat.

Derek Hynd, deep in thought

It was lovely to watch Tom Wegener shaping wooden boards and then listen to Richard Tognetti describing what it was like to be able to play with a Carrodus (which I learned is even more rare than a Stradivarius). It must have been even more lovely to film these masters.

That was one of the great pleasures of the time on the island. To see Richard and Satu playing in such an intimate setting... they are moments to treasure and everyone there recognized how special that night was. To have an instrument of the magnitude of the Guarneri del Gesu 'Carrodus' sealed the deal.... though I think those guys could play a saw and blow your mind.

The thing I've noticed with continued exposure to music of that standard is, like everything, the more you know the more you realise you don't know and the experience gets better. You appreciate it more as you comprehend more and more of what's going on.

As for watching Tom, he's just one of the most engaging people I've ever met, so happy all the time with that big smile of his, and his enthusiasm is infectious. That he was so lucid and knowledgeable about the history of the boards, and such a craftsman, was a great asset to us as well.

One thing we noticed during the screening in San Francisco is that when the musicians spoke about the surfers, the audience was quiet, listening…in reverse, when the surfers spoke about the musicians and how blown away and appreciative they were by the music, some of the audience laughed - inappropriately was our interpretation - the surfers were not saying anything funny, just expressing pure emotion - but the audience put a sort of false stereotype against the surfers. This could be that old misunderstood perception of surfers in the US - does Australia have that same stereotype of surfers?

Yeah, I've noticed that a couple of times too. We had pure, genuine guys telling it as they saw it without the benefit of being comfortable in front of the camera. For me though it was what was said, not the delivery. That people unused to classical music can communicate the depth of the experience successfully is enough for me... I think the surfer stereotype exists everywhere, but in Australia, people like Richard at least lift the image out of the ruck... to a degree, and as surfers get older and people see it is something that for some strange reason captures some people and holds them till the day they die. We know why, they wonder why and sometimes they try and discover what we've known all along.

Was it ever hard to film when you were seeing something on the other side of the lens that was blowing you away? Perhaps the Paganini piece or Derek doing 360s on the alaia?

Fortunately the filming was done by Tony and Jon, I was directing traffic so to speak which really meant let them do their thing, and wave spot for Tony a lot as sometimes the action was going on all over the place and choices had to be made. We missed some belters along the way, naturally. As for the concerts, naaa it was easy. Once we were set up I left them to it and enjoyed the show.



On the other hand, when we were doing the interviews I was often bowled over by the answers I was given and had to be on my toes to take those balls and run with them. That way you get far more than you planned and with Richard and Derek, I had great material pouring out.

One of my favorite moments of the film was when assistant violinist Satu Vänskä, rode an alaia and she moved her hips back and forth in a playful way, to show how much fun she was having. Did she grow up surfing, do you know?

Satu was a prominent Finnish violinist before she joined the ACO. She said to me she came to Australia to join the ACO and learn to surf, which she has done over the past four or so years. She doesn't ride an alaia or finless, just this big old weird thing Derek made - she loves it and has a ball. She is as gutsy as all get out though, and will think nothing of heading out at 8ft Bells. She speaks fluent Japanese (without an accent) as well as two or three other languages apart from English. She'd be scary if she wasn't so nice.

Another favorite moment is when a young teen surfer in the lineup, whom Derek described as 'not even a very good surfer', asked if he could have a try with the alaia - and promptly figured out how to surf the thing straight away, blowing everyone away.

Yes, young Sol turned out to be the star of the show in a way, and I think Derek was a little unkind with the 'not a very good surfer' comment, though it was Derek that gave him the board afterwards.

Since the film came out, is the same group of musicians playing together (besides their regular commitment with the ACO) and has their music continued to evolve?

Danny and Mike went on to tour with the ACO on our return, and I think remain in sporadic contact with Richard, but as with anything these are gigs that come and go. Both are very successful musicians in their own right, but I do know that the cross pollination that occurs with the mixing of styles has had a great response, with the exception of the odd purist looking down their nose.

photo: Sean Davey

The location seems very special. How much did King Island impact this project?

Without the loneliness of King Island it would have been a very different beast. To have it all to ourselves with a guide like Jeremy Curtain (Wire) who knew everything there was to know about wind, tide, swell and where not to stand made the film. And it was so beautiful, plus... we were very lucky with the weather.

Mick, did you get to surf with Derek Hynd?

I've had quite a few surfs with Derek now and they are an experience. He is a very eccentric, engaging guy and a lot of fun in the water. Hooting, directing traffic, and he could pick a good wave out of a mixmaster.

Your sons are young teenagers - what did they say to you when they first saw the completed film?

'Cool, Dad'.


You have new distributorship in the US and Europe. Does this mean I will be able to find Musica Surfica at my local surf shop soon? Hint hint, Mollusk SF.

We've just shipped a few hundred copies over so yes, get onto your local surf shop and get them to give Mutiny Media a ring.

Do you have plans in the works for your next film? If so, can you give us an idea as to what it’s about?

I do, as I'd like to finish what I started before Musica came along, which was a revisiting of a very influential surfing film and it's participants, forty years later. I must admit to being a bit gun shy now though as it's no way to make a buck and I have these mouths to feed. I am working on a couple of documentary ideas that are related to surfing but not specifically about it, and am also attempting a screenplay, but that is more a what if than when. I hope I do get to do more though as it has been quite a ride and is genuinely one of the most satisfying things I've done.

I did step out of my comfort zone, waaaaay out, and it worked. Not financially, but personally, though we would like both.

Musica Surfica is so educational and as our friend Mary said, opens your mind to possibilities - inspires one to perhaps try new things. It is such a beautiful film. One does not need to be a surfer or lover of classical music to enjoy this 50-minute gem of a film.

When I started this I wanted it to appeal to non surfers. I've always wanted to work with unexpected music and play with showing what we do in a new light. Where I couldn't believe my luck was that two men of genius asked me to throw my hat into their ring, and join them. What I managed to do, with a lot of help, (please look at the credits) was to make the most of a rare opportunity.


Anything you would like to add, Mick?

I suppose I'd like to say that without Simon Whitney and Richard Keddie, who backed me up as I staggered along, and Anne Carter, my editor, who sat and listened to my ravings for weeks and gave me such an immense amount of help, and of course Tony Brennan, Jon Frank and sound man Craig Johnson to capture the sights and sounds, there'd naturally be no film. And of course having Richard and Derek and the ACO trust a first time film maker to do this... I still shake my head about that.

Oh yeah, and thanks to all my bloggy friends for following the ride. They have been a great source of inspiration, believe me.

Mick surfing Winki

update: Mick *just* found out Musica Surfica won the Adventure Award at last weekend's San Francisco Ocean Film Festival!

Interview Wednesdays: Jamie Watson

When I wrote down my goals at the beginning of the year, near the top of my list I stated that I wanted to create a body of surf themed prints and exhibit them.

This is a moment in my life where I am truly thankful, because that dream is becoming a reality. I am also blown away, because this dream is happening in Brazil, alongside a whole community of talented artists, photographers, shapers and filmmakers. I do not know if I will be able to go in person, but I cannot wait to share more of the process and my art with you.

Last week you may recall I interviewed Jair Bortoleto and this week, I am on the other side of his questions... here is my own interview for the Santos SurfArt Show - January 20-26, 2009.

Yippee!

Interview Wednesdays: Jair Bortoleto

Jair Bortoleto

Jair Bortoleto is someone that I admire because of his passion and kindness, his authenticity, his vision and his way of bringing people together. I was hoping we could get to know more about Jair as an artist and as the man behind Santos SurfArt.

Olá Jair! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for PineappleLuv.

What is your local break?

Santos city is divided by 7 canals, and the best waves break on the canal 1, so, this is where I consider myself a local.

Jair surfing his local break

What is your favorite surfboard?

I have a 6’6 that I shaped, that really looks weird, but works very nice... Everyone that sees it, always thinks that “this thing doesn’t work”, but then they try it out and change their minds…It’s a 70’s template, flex single fin glass on.

What is your favorite place you've ever surfed while traveling?

I surfed big Jockos in Hawaii once…that season I had a tattoo in my mind… 4 big bombs, with a long gun…

I loved reading your history on your website and how you started surfing. How did you choose Peru as your first surf trip?

I found that some friends were going to Peru and I was 18 at the time... Brasilians are not used to traveling a lot, like Australians you know… So to me it was a big highlight in my life. I surfed nice waves in Punta Hermosa and went to Macchu Picchu on the same trip. Peru was a culture shock.

How did you start shaping and designing surfboards?

When I was 17, I start to work at the Lightning Bolt factory here in Brasil. I used to cut templates of fins in a big saw machine…kind of scary actually. A lot of times there was nothing to do and I used to sit and watch the local shapers do their job in a thousand boards. One day I bought a blank and asked for some help and did my first board. Shaped, glassed, didn’t sand… and put the fins on…It was fun and rewarding.

In that factory I had the chance to meet Erik Arakawa, Glen Minami, Mark Jakola and the best shapers from Brasil. Then I moved to Hawaii for the third time and my home mate was a shaper and taught me a lot about boards and designs… talked a lot about boards… actually he is from Redwood City, but lived in Hawaii for a long time. His name is Micah Truax. Good man and good shaper… Also learned a lot from OJ Midgett, also in Hawaii. And now I speak a lot about designs with my good brother in faith Bob McTavish on the net.

Is there a shaper you would like to meet in person?

Yes, would love to meet McTavish in person. Only spoke on the net, you know… Would love to meet Skip Frye…so smooth.

When did you realize you were meant to be an artist?

I was more about photo journalism… then I moved to Boston and had art around me a lot… museums, people, Harvard… all this vibe around me that made me want to do a different kind of photography. A photography student that used to work in the same hostel gave me black and white film, and my life changed… From then I never saw the world in color anymore… it’s all black and white for me….

Picuruta Salazar
The most influential surfer in Brasil - nicknamed The Cat
Photo by Jair Bortoleto

Was photography the first way you expressed yourself as an artist?

Probably not. I was checking some old stuff from my child times and I found some drawings… kind of funny stuff. Probably is where I found that I was an artist.

Where has photography led you in this world?

Photography allowed me to show the pureness in the imperfection. We are all imperfect and we can show some pureness in our acts and words. That’s what I want to show with my photos.

Thomas Rittscher
Photo by Jair Bortoleto

Tell us how you came up with the vision for Santos SurfArt.

The Festival organizer asked me last year if I want to take care of the art in the Festival, and I got the idea to organize an art show. First one was ok, but full of little mistakes that I don’t want to repeat on the second edition. It was with wood walls, and we printed all the pictures here… after it was done I felt kind of fake… The photos didn’t get touched by the artists, you know…

How has your vision changed or expanded for II Santos SurfArt?

First difference is that all the works are original, and will be sent by the own artist. Second we will have a surf museum. And it’s all love, all free and I have the chance to show top art to all kinds of people. Last one we had on the same time the mayor and homeless people looking at the same stuff at the same time… this is special for me.

You are bringing together art, surfing, a bit of skateboarding, and a surf film festival for thousands of Brasilians to see. What is your biggest hope for this festival?

That people here open their minds to what is going on around the world with surf. Surfers here are more about thrusters and super airs tricks, and they forget about the glide and the soul of it. I want to show the best of art and show that surf is more then airs and competition. It’s all about the love that you feel when you are inside the water.

This year's festival is in a new surf museum. You must be very excited about this!

Yeah! The surf museum is almost ready, and the whole area was designed by a famous architect named Ruy Ohtake. And the whole park has been rebuilt. Everything is looking sick already.

Is it true that your town Santos, is the city where Brasilian surfing began?

Yes. It’s a big controversy between two guys about who was the first, but it was four pioneers that began everything here. Two American siblings, Thomas and Margot Rittscher, and two Brasilians, Osmar Goncalvez and Jua Hafers. They built a Tom Blake type of board from a Popular Mechanics magazine from 1937, and started to surf over here.

To me, this is all super romantic, you know… Controversy, love, angry, waves…. It’s all beauty, and still have some angry discussions about who was the first, but I prefer use that they were 4. The two Brasilians friends already passed, but the American brother and sister are still alive and I photographed them for my book.

Margot is a 93 years old lady. She says that when she’s looking out her window and sees surfers, she wishes she can go and surf, but she’s too old… And some guys here did a Tom Blake replica and when she saw the board, she cried. This is romantic or what?

What would be your "perfect" imperfect day?

Wake up early, coffee, go and talk about God’s Kingdom to people, then comeback for lunch, rest, grab my board and go to a perfect 3 to 4 feet, with good friends, then comeback and drink a beer with my wife Michele and dog…

Michele

Does your dog like to go with you to the beach? What is her name?

Melka hates to go out… she is a schnauzer. When we bring her out, she cries a lot.

Devo would think Melka is really cute!

What is in your CD player at the moment?

Andrew Kidman’s new cd… it’s not that new already, The Brown Birds from Windy Hill… how good are they…. Soulful!

Do you have a secret talent that most people wouldn't know about?

Not really… I don’t have too many talents. I force myself to do everything right, but make a lot of mistakes and I’m very anxious.

What is the worst job you've ever had?

When I got to Hawaii the second time, this guy asked me to work in his house and clean the houses and stuff. He asked me to clean beneath the houses and was full of rats and centipedes…I just held my breath and cleaned that thing… Was very nasty and crazy and I had to do it on my knees…But it was all good.

What was your favorite candy as a child?

Chocolate bar, and still is…

What is the last surf movie you watched?

Innermost Limits of Pure Fun, that Mick Waters sent to me and George Greenough allowed me to screen on the Festival… sick!

I learned on your website that you lived in Boston for awhile and learned to love jazz there. Was there a certain moment in Boston that inspired this passion – did you hear a band in a club?

I used to work in a Hostel, and the buildings around were full of music students. And I could hear people playing jazz… Was a very deep moment in my life and I felt very lonely, but full of inspiration there. And one day I met a girl that used to tune the pianos on the music school over there… How sweet and lovely was that…

If there were a huge thunderstorm in your town right now, what jazz record would you play?

Let's Get Lost, Chet Baker.

Do you collect anything?

Memories.

What is your favorite home cooked meal?

Barbecue, beer with friends.

What is the funniest thing you saw today?

My dog always surprises me with little things… she makes the funniest moments in my day.

Is there anything more you'd like to say to the readers about the festival or life in general…?

One thing. Next time a Jehovah Witnesses knock on your door, listen to them. The message is that God’s Kingdom is coming.

Jair, working with the DRIVE Skateboarding crew in the City of God -
"The craziest place I have ever been".
photo by Mark Falkenstein

It was an honor to interview you, Jair.

Santos Surf Art – Blog for II Santos SurfArt Festival (Jan. 20-26, 2009): artist interviews and more

Pureness in the Imperfection – Jair's blog

Jair Bortoleto Photography – Jair's Photography website and info on his book

Interview Wednesdays: Dustin Ortiz

I couldn't be more pleased that my first artist interview is none other than Dustin Ortiz, a very talented artist from SoCal. I found out about him accidentally when I was researching Int'l Surfing Day. I was on the Surfing Mag website and saw his name connected to The Art Mosh.

I then went to Dustin's website and was totally excited by what I saw - the whole style of his site, his prints, his posters for my new favorite band, and his offer for a free pencil. After I e-mailed him for the free pencil, I asked him if he'd be willing to be interviewed, and he was totally gracious about it. Something cool you should know, he sent me his answers in orange.


It looks like you do art for a living and for yourself. Can you explain what kind of art you do?
I do all sorts of things to keep myself living, Paint, Draw, Apparel Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, and all sorts of various projects. I would love to be able to just paint full time but you gotta do what you gotta do.

What are your current influences? Other artists, musicians, where you live...?
I'm really influenced by people around me, I get excited when other people are excited about things. It keeps me going. The Mattson 2, Peter McBride, Mikey LeBlanc, Cody Hudson, Eric Abel, Cut Copy, Seu Jorge, just to name a few people off the top of my head.

Your artwork has been featured in Surfing magazine and in posters for talented musicians such as Mattson 2. Does this kind of work bring you satisfaction the way your personal work does?
For sure, I kinda get stressed out over projects like that, I don't really like the fact that a bunch of people are looking at them.

What would your perfect day be like?
I would be happy if my dog would let me sleep in once in a while. Being able to camp at the beach with my crazy family and friends, I could really go for just hanging out with them all day.

What town do you live in and what is your favorite place to eat there?
I currently live in Carlsbad, but I will always view Leucadia as my home, and I would have to say Juanita's is the best mexican food joint ever.

Your pencil project is really fun. What made you decide to do it?
Not really sure why. I'm a big fan of Fluorescent Orange and I love making random little promo items and I found a company that was having a huge discount on Orange pencils so bing bang boom, I got em made.

You also have a blog. Is that like another creative outlet for you? I enjoyed learning on your blog that you can rip a phone book in half.
It turned out to be that way. I was living on the road with a friend of mine all winter. We started a blog to keep everyone back home updated in all our adventures. It was just easier than telling the same story over and over, this way they can just check up on us when ever they felt like it. When I moved back to Leucadia after about a year on the road, I decided to start my own blog. Its a good way for me to reflect the good things that happen day to day.

Any upcoming shows?
Yeah, I have one on June 20th in Washington DC, and another one in September in New York, and a couple in the San Diego Area this winter.

Dustin, thank you so much for your time.

update: No matter how much I try, I just can't deny including this video. It's only 12 seconds long, and it's irresistible.

Interview Wednesdays: Jaden Nichols

I happen to know a young boy who turned five years old today. I've been fortunate to know him since the day he was born. His name is Jaden Nichols.

We dropped by his home this evening and when Jay and I came to the door, Jaden greeted us so politely. "Thank you for coming on my birthday", he said. He invited us to stay and eat homemade sliders with the family, and to stay for presents, strawberry chiffon cake and a game of street hockey - which turned out to be one of his gifts. During dinner I asked Jaden and his parents if I could interview him and they all said sure! Now try to imagine a sweet little voice when you read Jaden's answers...

Jamie: Jaden, does it feel different to be five, than it did when you were four?

Jaden: It feels different because I'm going to a different school and I have a different teacher.

Jamie: Do you feel older?

Jaden: I do feel older, yeah.

Jamie: How does it feel to be older?

Jaden: It feels better. It just feels good because when other people in school are five, like Nathaniel and Murphy, they thought that when I turned five they'd be six, but they're still five!

Jamie: What is your favorite thing about being you?

Jaden: That I'm alive and that I have a Mom and a Dad.

Jamie: What's your favorite toy?

Jaden: Spiderman and Batman. (Mom mentions that she's surprised and Jay wonders if he might have a different favorite toy tomorrow). Jaden says it might be Speed Racer tomorrow.

Jamie: Do you know any words in a different language?

Jaden: I do! Gesundheit and...(Momma helps and asks, "What do we say when I drop you off at school")? Jaden smiles and says, Au revoir.

Interview Wednesdays: Papi Martinez

Abraham "Papi" Martinez, on the right
Cover of September 1968 Skin Diver magazine

When I was in the Dominican Republic, I attempted to ask questions to a few friendly faces. They spoke such little English that I really couldn't communicate with them. I was in their country after all. (Mom, I really want to take Spanish from you this summer).

I wanted to tell them how nice their smiles were, and when I asked how to say "smile" in Spanish, I was told the word is contento. My Mom told me that means "content" (as you may have guessed), and she thought that was sweet because in Mexico for example, the word for smile is sonrisa.

On my way home from the DR, I had a long layover in Miami. I decided to go find some dinner. I ended up sitting near an older gentleman with a nice face, a cream colored guayabera shirt, and a beautiful shade of brown skin. I wish I had my camera with me so I could show you. We ended up acknowledging one another, and then we started talking. His name is Abraham, he spoke a little Portuguese to me and quickly determined I couldn't speak it. ('Bufa' doesn't count, right Barb & Lesley)?

Abraham is known as Papi Martinez and he is 73 years old. He has been skin diving for 60 years and is from the island of Curaçao (Coo-ra-sow). He said I should go there someday, and I should learn to dive. He said diving keeps you healthy. Abraham looked very healthy. He told me that his country is beautiful, that it's south of the Dominican Republic and it's easy to remember where his island is - just think A, B, C. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao.

I asked him if he'd been to those islands nearby and he said Yes, he's been diving at all of them and since Curaçao is near Venezuela he's been there too. I asked him if Venezuela was nice. "Oh yes" he marveled. "They have everything! Of course you wouldn't want to go there now, because of the problems with their government. They produce lots of oil. Curaçao doesn't have any oil, but we refine it and send it to the United States".

We spoke about his diving some more. In 1956, he was on his country's dive team and they beat out all the other international locations in that year's diving championships. He said it was like a miracle. He also did a stunt for television, driving a car into the water.

Abraham was on the cover of the September 1968 Skin Diver magazine. Around this time he became well known in the skin diving community and was invited by another diver to come to California. They dove off the coast of Catalina Island. He thought it was so beautiful and he couldn't believe the bulbs on the kelp, as he had never seen kelp before.

Now, since he is mostly retired, he does some business dealings. Sometimes he and his team of divers catch tropical fish to sell in saltwater tanks all over the world, like Germany and Japan. He said they are very expensive. All the time he was speaking, he had a twinkle in his eyes.

He handed me his red & white diving card and said that if I ever make it to Curaçao, I can call him to go diving. He then stood up to shake my hand and sweetly said that he must stand up for a lady. (Jay he was not hitting on me)!

I walked away feeling like I was very lucky to have had this encounter. There are remarkable people around us at all times, just waiting for us to find out.

Interview Wednesdays: Marilynn Welsh

Miss Marilynn Coles with her Gamma Phi Beta sisters
bottom row, far right

Marilynn Welsh (in the green dress) at the "Bum Party"
warning: photo on the left is rated PG-13 (that's my Dad in the blue baseball hat)

In my previous post, I mentioned that my mom helped Kristi and I put together those ridiculous outfits, because she was an "expert" at that sort of thing. This led me to think, well why don't I interview my own mother and see what kind of stories she'll share?

Jamie: Mom, will you share a couple of your wild and crazy experiences? (They were pretty much like bed-time stories for me when I was a child).

Marilynn: (Laughing and wondering aloud if she can tell a particular story). OK, how about the one about the chocolate cake.

The Chocolate Cake Story

Marilynn: Freshman year of college, I lived in approved apartment housing with Mary C.

Jamie: What the heck is an approved apartment?

Marilynn: It's the kind all the parents wanted their kids to be in because there was a curfew where you had to sign-in and sign-out, and once a week your apartment was inspected to make sure the floors, stove and bathrooms were cleaned. I hated that.

So one day after classes, Mary C. and I decided to bake a chocolate cake. We were both wearing slips. We started laughing and getting silly, and we started to put the chocolate on our teeth. We were laughing and laughing and then we put chocolate on our faces and on our arms too.

Then we wanted to make the next door neighbor girls laugh, so we knocked on the door and when they opened it, their first thought was that the chocolate was blood. We all started laughing but were trying not to make too much noise, because the apartment manager lived underneath us. We were still laughing and heard a knock on the door. We thought it would be more of our friends so I opened the door and said, "Hellooo!" with chocolate everywhere. It was the apartment manager and she looked at me and said, "You're campused!"

Jamie: Ooo what did that mean?

Marilynn: It meant I was in trouble! I had to stay in for the whole weekend and sign people in and out.

The Shrunken Mattress Story

Marilynn: Another time while I lived in that apartment, we stole our girlfriend's mattress and left a kotex in its place. We left a note that said, "Sorry but your mattress shrunk when we washed it". We hid out and waited to see her expression when she came home.

Jamie: What did she do?

Marilynn: Oh, she was surprised! We all had a good laugh! You know after this, whenever a prank was played on someone, they all blamed me. That was not good!

The Water in the Vases Story

Marilynn: I'm not sure if I should tell this one (relays a little of what it's about).

Jamie: Yes Mom, I think you can tell this one!

Marilynn: Junior year in college, I was living in the sorority house. The house was in the shape of a square, with a back balcony and an open inner courtyard with a pretty garden.

It was a boring Saturday afternoon, and usually on Saturday afternoons the girls were either studying, or with their boyfriends, or at home with their parents. So a lot of girls were studying in groups.

Jamie: Mom, why weren't you studying?

Marilynn: Well I tried that and I got bored (laughs). There were all these empty vases in the bathroom from flowers that the girls got from their boyfriends. So I said to my friend Dana B., "Let's do something fun. We can fill those empty vases with water and throw them on the girls. Furthermore, if we do it in the nude they will be so shocked that they won't retaliate"!

We ran into the first bedroom and everyone's mouths dropped open! We threw the water all over them and ran out to do the next group.

Jamie: Mom! What did they do?!

Marilynn: Well they were laughing and they were pissed! So we ran to the next bedroom and one of the girls was getting ready for a date and she had her hair in those beer-can rollers. We threw the water and her hair got wet. We didn't mean for that to happen but she was pissed! They started chasing us! Dana and I ran into our room and locked the door. Dana hid in the closet and I hid behind something. Little did we know they had a key. To my surprise the door opened and six girls grabbed me (since Dana was in the closet) and dragged me to the back balcony that overlooked the inner courtyard...and locked the sliding glass door.

Boys started coming and going, picking up their dates, and here I was, nude on the 2nd story! I scooted as close to the sliding door as I could, and lay flat so no one could see. Whenever the boys were out of sight I yelled, "Let me in"! The girl with the wet hair, Barbara R., was so mad. See, she had a hot date and there were no blow dryers in those days! They had hair dryers that you sat under, but her beer-can curlers were too big for those. After about 30 minutes, they finally let me in.

Jamie: (Both laughing) Mom, did you and Barbara make up?

Marilynn: Oh yeah, really soon after.

The Bum Party Story

Jamie: Mom, will you tell the story about the party where you, Dad and your friends dressed like bums?

Marilynn: This was in 1977 when we lived in Michigan and your father was in the Navy. We got an invitation to attend a "Bum Party" at the Air National Guard station at Selfridge. All branches of the service were invited - the Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Airforce and National Guard.

It was held at an old, defunct train station at the base. Bales of hay were scattered around and part of the party was in a caboose. Your Dad and I and the Kinneys, decided to dress to the nines like bums. We got plastic flies at the joke store to put in our nostrils and that rubber turd. We got Japanese toe shoes - they were cloth with no soles, and size 18 dresses (Mom was a size 4 at the time).

Carol Kinney and I both had long hair and we washed but didn't comb it. We blackened some of our teeth and put lipstick on like a cheap waitress in a diner, and it was an ugly color. Dad wore the blonde wig.

We were the best dressed bums there. We were hard to look at Jamie, we were ugly. The rest of the people wore clean jeans and freshly pressed shirts. People are afraid to be creative, I guess they are too vain. Carol and I put big red kisses on guys' faces. We put that turd on the plate of the commanding officer when he wasn't looking. Commander Bird wasn't too pleased! He took life too seriously.

One guy came up to me at the end of the night and said, "I can't take it anymore. Can you please take that fly out of your nose"?

Oh that was a fun night, Carol and I laughed so hard. I'm glad your father did it too. As you know, he was usually more reserved. Boy was I full of the dickens!

Jamie: Mom, this was great. This is going to be so much fun for people to read. I'd like to do another interview with you later, because I know you have more great stories to tell!

Mom: (Laughing) Certainly honey, it was fun thinking about all of these memories.

one of my favorite photos of my Mom, from Christmas Eve

I hope you all enjoyed reading about such a special lady. After I typed the stories I had my own 'a-ha moment'. I realized that one of the most important things I can learn from my Mom is never to take life too seriously. Because I do sometimes, and boy is that silly.

Interview Wednesdays: Bill Ackerman

Bill and one of his early boards

Bill's Wheels on Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

Bill Ackerman is the owner of Bill's Wheels Skateshop in Santa Cruz, CA.

Jay and I were staying in Santa Cruz a few weekends ago and Jay said, "Let's go to Bill's Wheels - this place is a skateboarding institution". We walked in and I immediately felt this really good vibe. There were 3 guys working there. 2 of them looked to be early 20's and the other guy maybe old enough to be their dad. They were all friendly and helpful and the older guy looked so cool. I wondered, is that Bill? Yes it was.

Jay struck up a conversation with him and told Bill that when he was a kid back in Baltimore, he got skateboarding magazines and remembered the ads for Bill's Wheels. Around this moment, I got a scary feeling inside and knew I had to ask Bill if I could interview him. A very small interview, I would make it 3 questions. He is a kind person and he obliged.

Jamie: What is your favorite thing about your job?

Bill: Working with kids.

Jamie: What inspired you to open your own shop?

Bill: A love for skateboarding. When I was younger I worked in a sport shop. The shop started carrying skateboards as skateboarding was just becoming popular. I ran that department and I enjoyed helping the customers. When the shop went out of business a year later, I started my own skateboard shop. That was 31 years ago, in 1977.

Jamie: What was your first skateboard and when did you get into the sport?

Bill: My first board had metal wheels. I think one of my first boards is in a closet somewhere in the shop.

I started skateboarding when I worked in that sport shop. I used to compete, doing high-jumping. I jumped cars too. My idol at the time was Brian Beardsley.

Jamie: Thanks Bill.


If you're ever in Santa Cruz, be sure to stop by this awesome skate shop and say hello to Bill and his friendly employees. Make sure to check out the collection of old boards in the front window, and ask Bill to show you the photo of him jumping that yellow car, behind the cash register. Also, you can't go wrong if you pick up a Bill's Wheel's t-shirt. They are too cool.

How about...Interview Wednesdays!

I've been looking for a little cha-cha in my life, a little merengue, a little lively up yourself! So I thought it might be fun to add a little pizazz in the middle of the week.

I've had a deep desire in recent months, to do short interviews of anyone I meet. I think it's going to be really fun and each time I post an interview, it will be on Interview Wednesdays!

I have a special one for you next Wednesday, but today we'll start with an interview that my husband did with me. Here it is on the Linden Street Warehouse blog, I hope you enjoy it.