ISSUE 8 // Free SPRING 2013
NEED A SKATE PHOTO?
Alberto Montes skating solidified sand in a desert south of Lima in Peru. Photo by Miguel Rueda.
View this zine in FULL COLOR at www.RealizeCulture.com As with each new issue, Realize has once again taken it to the next level, no WE have taken it to the next level! As a magazine that chronicles the expansion of collective visionary consciousness, the complexity of problems we face fuels the evolution of thought and art to counter it. But instead of focusing on the problems, we focus on the hope and beauty in an attempt to inspire and manifest a positive vision for the future. Alyssa Duhe // Creative Director Sean Basalyga // Senior Editor, Photographer, Writer Jesse Berger // Content Coordinator Jeff LaPrade // Writer, Spiritual Support, Thanks to Chris Dyer, Travis Knapp-Prasek, Creation Skateboards, Satori, Andrew Look, all the skaters, all the contributing photographers, Scott Hess, and Maya Lord If you have photos, articles, art, music, videos or anything you want send to Realize, PLEASE email us at realizezine@gmail.com Produced in California – Spring 2013 www.RealizeCulture.com
Barry Walsh Photo by Dan Mathieu
Geir Andre Myrvang // Photo by Alex Holm
Justin Nahavandi // Photo by Arnel Dumalig
Habeeb // Photo by Mark Steinlein
“My favorite part about skateboarding is that it’s learned and not taught. Motherfuckers dont need someone tellin’ them what’s what. Skateboarders find out for themselves. Then find themselves. Then shred shit wide open.” johnny ransom
ip ack L ta - B asalyga r a b A Mike by Sean B o Phot
ODE TO FGO
by Jeff LaPrade
Enamored and blindly following the vibrations of this place. Drawn day after day as I symbiotically feed it my time it feeds my being through priceless experience; unseen, inaudible connections in are deepest search for identity. Vulnerable and open, and yet unforgiving mass of misshapen concrete has a gravity attracting counter culture, subversion. A haven for blissful anarchy in the heart of the suburbs rated the highest per capita household incomes. Salvations for the strays , the backgrounds of the participants held only vague similarities, but some invisible force drew us in. And consistently lying there for us unjudgingly, just for you, just for me. On Christmas, while my family is busy screaming at each other, this place sat patient for me content and peaceful, with open arms of silent understanding. Even if it was the unintentional and harsh embraces of the dense winter concrete, still it was unconditional and accepting, it would never yell. And if you found yourself mistreated here it, it was a view in the mirror, you mistreating yourself. Made for one reason, but facilitating uncountable others creations, the place itself would grow to an unimaginable size. It grew into every single one of us who shared it as a paradise, an island getaway protruding up from the fires of a corporate fascist hell, a world seemingly run by commercials. In a city where superficiality reigns supreme and the norm was to look no deeper than brands and the ability to conform, our haven saved lives, and sadly, destroyed others. For here you could be you as the layers shed whether you wanted them to or not, raw and open this place helped dismantle the mainstream social illusion the draped itself so heavily over the immediate area. Given time the generations move through, permeating this cultural filter and moving on with their lives. So many people grew and moved on, they left the place, but the place will never leave the people. The idea of this simple accepting utopia created by a bunch of
kids trying to get by in a cutthroat monetary world, still chasing what they live, struggling against the pressures of a lost society. This place stayed with so many of us and it lingers to this day, a powerful force for those who found themselves there in so many different ways. Mortally immortalized on and in these transient bodies through pricks strategic and precise, the pigment stains us each in its own way, spreading these concrete curbs a across the earth. What started in 1995 as a tiny skatepark in the upper middle class suburbs of Oakland, now penetrates far beyond the borders of the tiny city. Uncontrollably it expands from Los Angeles to Reno, Boulder Colorado to New York City, across Germany to the eastern shores of China. The childhood escape indulged itself in our beings where it found its own culture and in turn, its own being. To this day it welcomes misled youth with open arms as a place to grow and try and understand the world from a detached perspective. Still I find myself on pilgrimages back to the heart of this place even though its blood constantly pumps through n veins. My motivations may be different than so many years ago; there is still an irreplaceable comfort that accompanies the heartbeat of this concrete, as it helps mold the future into critical and compassionate beings. From the unforgiving rock, that at times promises to break bones, it teaches the lessons of pain an recovery, and through the connections that never fade or even waver under weight of countless years of separation, it teaches life lessons of compassion and understanding. It is an everlasting being, a consciousness living through all of those that choose the experience, each and every constituent of the network searching for their own personal salvation, through this medium that transcends space and time, spanning confidently generation after generation.
Labrona
Interview By Chris Dyer
For those who don’t know you, where are you from, how long have you been painting and skating? I grew up in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. I began skateboarding in ‘84-’85ish. I started painting later in mid 90’s. I always drew when I was a kid, but in my teenage years I just drew in class instead of paying attention. I didn’t take art seriously. Back then I was too busy skateboarding, partying and chasing girls. I got into making art at around age 24 or 25 and started doing graffiti when I was 27 or 28. I’m a late bloomer.
What would you say is the connection between graffiti/street art and skateboarding? First off, when I was growing up skaters were an extremely creative bunch. Most of the dudes I grew up skating with had other creative outlets. So it think it is natural that a lot of skateboards got into graffiti and hiphop. Street skaters spend all their time out in the city and see what happening out there. Looking for a good spot to skate is the same as looking for a good spot to paint. We look at cities in very differently than most people and see potential everywhere. Also they are both rebellious, I spent my childhood getting chased out of spots by security guards and angry citizens that couldn’t understand why we would want to jump down a set of stairs.
Do you think you’ll be doing both till your old or is it already wearing you down at your age? I think I will keep doing both as long as they remain fun for me. I don’t see age as a reason to stop doing something you love. I love skateboarding more than ever now. I know I wont be able to skate forever so I want to make the most of every session I have.
What have you been up to lately? Seems like you got around last year, no? I’m still trying to figure out how to make a living at this stuff. I am trying to get hooked up with good galleries and paint murals. Got to keep this thing moving. I had a great year in 2012, got to travel a lot to paint murals. Took trips to paint in Philadelphia, Baltimore, the painted desert project in Arizona, a residency in Reno Nevada, pawn works in Chicago hooked up a wall, a big wall in Montreal through MU, and the year ended on a high note with a trip to Miami to paint with Montreal art collective EN Masse. So yeah, it was awesome. I hope good thing continue to happen.
What is on your horizon for this year? What would be some goals you’d like to accomplish? I want to skate as much as I can, travel, and paint big walls. Make better paintings and hook up with a good gallery so I can make money and continue to do what I love.
Any final words or shout outs? Thanks to all my friends for the inspiration to keep doing what we do!!!!!
KENNY REED Interviewed by Chris Dyer
Hi Kenny, what are you up to these days and where in the world? I am now where I arrived 10 years ago, movin’ out from the US. For the past 10 days I’ve been visiting friends. You get around tons, what’s some locations you’ve skated in the last year? I so much enjoy a mixed populous of on lookers, bewildered while unable to maintain what might be there timely routine. The former being equally captivating, whilst my gaze being inherently receptive, far from the urban pestiferous bustle obstructing their daily obligations. You’re involved with Skateistan, no? Tell us a bit about that. I was invited to visit Skateistan in 2009 as a member of a crew to film and experience. There is a new movie that just came out where you can learn more about it. Wallride in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Photo by Alexei Lapin
What every happened to Ipath and your relationship with them? There were some differences in management which didn’t conform to a place where I could fit in. Do you think something like skateboarding can make the world a better place? Something like skateboarding?? Yes, I get a sense of harmony when I see people who may have once been strangers sharing something pure and innocent, which gives them the opportunity to express themselves unconditionally. Any final words or shout-outs? There is love inside for everyone. Skojpe, Macedonia 35mm by Patrik Wallner
Banglore, india
Positive Creations
Chris Dyer Interviewed by Jesse Berger
For people who are unfamiliar with your work, Where are you from? How old are you? How long have you been painting/ skating? I am originally from Lima, Peru and now I live in Montreal Canada, but I spend a lot of time traveling all over the world, making and sharing art and skating. I’ve been making art since I can remember (2 or 3 years old?) and I’ve been skating since I was 7 years old (1986).
From following your Instagram it seems like you have done a lot of traveling because of your artwork. What’s been the most interesting city, skate-wise, art-wise, you’ve been so far? I love to travel and see new things, cultures, and people. It’s the best! And as an artist, I can’t help but want to paint in those new cultures. It is hard to choose one place as my favorite, but I loved Bali, Egypt and Burma a lot! Ruins are my jam! Artwise, Miami art basel is insane and Berlin is an explosion of street art. Skate-wise, Barcelona of course but also Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, which is a newer city with tons of potential but has a strict Muslim culture.
Mural from 2012 in the small rain-forest village of Kuranda, in Queensland, Australia
Walls or canvas? Do you have preference? Both are beautiful and keep me in balance. There is something real special about spending all winter inside my studio (because Canadian winters are super cold) just taking it easy, chipping away at a super detailed painting. Introspective time and I get to see a lot of cool movies and listen to great audio books and records. But then in the summer you gotta get outside, enjoy the nice weather and drop colorful creatures in the streets for the people to enjoy for years to come. The quickness you can do something big and powerful is a shocking experience every time.
What is the connection for you between skateboarding and painting? They seem to go hand in hand with a lot of your pieces.
Chris paints, Fabrizio Santos skates! Photo by Chris McCune
Well skateboarding is a physical art-form, like a dance. It’s is not a sport where you win or loose. It’s the soul proving it can make magic with matter and create a unique feeling in yourself and those who watch it too. Unfortunately, I am not a very coordinated dude, so I invest more time in doing my bangers with a brush or spray can.
What was your first skateboard setup? A “Chicama Surf Shop” board. It was a huge peruvian log with all the extra unnecessary plastic guards of the 80s, carpenters sandpaper as grip tape and a Powell imitation sticker as graphic. I don’t even think I could ollie on that monster today!! Photo by Anne-Emanuelle Romanelli
It seems like you’ve come along way from being a ‘punk-skate-rat’ to a very positive, spiritually developed person, any major events that may have sparked the change? Well, the skate punk rat is still within me, but with a better perspective and attitude. I was very self destructive till the point where I left my city life to go tree-planting in middle of the northern Canadian bush. Being immersed in nature taught me the true spirituality of wordless energy. From then on I started following the synchronicities of life that led me to the lessons of the path I am still on today. I still fuck up plenty, but accept my humanness and try to self-realize my higher potential the most I can.
Any events or shows you wanna talk about? I just had an awesome solo art show at the ArtLab Studios in San Diego in May. Next, in August I will be at Alex Grey’s land in New York (Cosm) assisting an art workshop he’s doing, then hosting an “Art Church” along with Amanda Sage. Should be rad, and in December I will be back in Lima, Peru to do another solo show. It’s been 7 years since my last visit, so I’m pretty excited...
What projects do you have on the burner? Well it took me several years to produce a full feature documentary (now available on youtube) and a big hardcover art book (available on Amazon). Now that my art is reaching many with the book and film, I travel around painting and doing shows. Last year I hit up LA, Italy, Ohio and Australia along with a few other places. I am trying my best to make my passion a financially sustainable thing, while having fun and stoking peoples lives!
The Innate Wisdom of Positivity with Being isOne Interview By Sean Basalyga What most fascinates me most about “visionary art” is to see other artists validate the same thoughts, visions, worries, and hopes by seemingly pulling them down out of the clouds of collective conscious to materialize in a single image. Being isOne’s paintings instantly struck a chord of resonance within me when I first saw them, however I knew the meaning behind the paintings had to be much deeper than the canvas could contain…
What spiritualities influence your art work or life? As most people might say, the biggest influence in me, spiritually, is the expansiveness of our imagination and life reality itself. There’s nothing else, it is all that is. Contemplating the beautiful fleeting nature of appearances and forms, the world, experience of the moment, ...as temporary as all things are, there’s still always this formless perceiving-awareness being observing it all,... the life soul within. After we see into dimensions of reality beyond the surface of the physical world, (the intricate underlying patterns of interconnectivity, the elegant calligraphy of nature’s infinity), we see later that all cultures of the world have been referencing the same experience of transcendental reality through their art. Everything made out of the same genius.
What is the meaning of your name and how do we learn that being is one? The meaning of my name “Being isOne” was originally a joke about names themselves. All of us exist by the same life force awareness field perceiving it all, so we are essentially all cells of one great being. How do you name the nameless awareness of our true nature? How to realize this? They say the easiest way is to ask “who is asking the question?” Seek the origin of your own awareness, ...seek the seeker... The presence of our own awareness is the great mystery itself, and it’s center is nowhere, intangible, yet perceivable ...as the perceiver. Within the presence of our own awareness lies a greater intelligence beyond our small individual minds, ...this is the creative force of the life and the universe. It communicates to us through the silence that is never broken. I love these kinds of insights from ancient wisdom because you don’t have to believe them, you can see for yourself if it is this way or not.
What message or vision do you try to portray through your art? Life’s essential nature is peace, goodness and beauty. Most suffering in the world is unnecessary. This is the message in my art, the innate wisdom of positivity. Goodness is the only way. With the realization that all things exist within awareness itself, we see all life as our family, and the inherent togetherness of this experience. If we are all one being, why would we ever want unnecessary harm upon another, if it is not a natural part of the web of life? It is only out of ignorance. We are all made of stardust, light, radiant emptiness... and this is scientifically true. We have abilities within to massively influence the outer reality through inward prayerful meditation. Our actions can help bring about a golden age of peace and abundance. If this life is a fleeting dream, we can make it a good one, where all beings are happy and free from suffering.
Anything else you’d like to realize? It is false to speak of realization. What is there to realize? The real is as it is always. We are not creating anything new or achieving something which we did not have before. ... There is no greater mystery than this, that we keep seeking reality though in fact we are reality. We think that there is something hiding reality and that this must be destroyed before reality is gained. How ridiculous! A day will dawn when you will laugh at all your past efforts. That which will be the day you laugh is also here and now.�
Cosmic Terrain Like the title of the show, the magnitude and size of these pieces transcends the boundaries of this zine. I ventured to The Petaluma Arts Center with the intention to get sucked into these surreal landscapes that slowly melt into geometrical patterns, reforming as visual poems, that can only be truly experienced in person. Mars-1, Damon Soule, and Oliver Vernon came together to transcend traditional landscapes and open up to the inner environments of the Cosmic Terrain
Curator, Scott Hess in the Petaluma Arts Center
Damon Soule, Mars-1, Oliver Vernon Photo by Murray Rockowitz
(Left) “Dark City” a collaborative painting from Burning Man 2010 by Mars, Damon Soule, Oliver Vernon, Nome Edonna, and David Choong Lee (Below) “Unfoldment” by Damon Soule
placeholder/ omit for b&w print version?!?!
“Transcendental Disaster� by Mars-1
In a world where megafestivals are mindlessly herding the masses, DIOFEST proves that dreams still can come true, that a seemingly unorganized, hungover, yet motivated group of friends can come together to throw their own festival! For 3 days, the harvest moon backlit the redwood forested mountains of Santa Cruz, CA, echoing with music, laughter, art, and camping all in the do-it-ourselves attitude. Words and Photos by Sean Basalyga
Realize ZINE!!
Steep Ravine
Collaborative Art Projects!
Endless Fullmoo
Kendra McKinley!
Camping, Hiking, Sunshine Waterfalls, & Redwoods!!
Kids At Heart Craft Corner Mark TWANG!
Sparrows Gate!
on Campfire Jams!
North Pacific String Band!
On The Spot Trio & Friends!
D
Michael Kershnar - Cl Ras Terms - Oakland Tubes
“Monster Mash” Oakland, CA Ernest Doty, Griffen One, Skinn
Deadeyes -Ear Peace Records, Berkeley - Ernest Doty
larion Alley, SF
A ner
Xavi Panneton Jammin on Haight, SF
Yoga of self Standing in tadasana, exhale down into dog’s plank wait what, forgot to breathe, too fast, no, everyones ahead of you, need to fart, ugh, I paid for this? aaaAAAAHHHH…! Then you realize that you can change EVERYTHING… in only one breath. For every breath is your creation, a conscious intention of your own choice to express your vibration out into the universe. Don’t get caught up in the ritual; playful and creative like a child, submit to the flow of your own intuition. Do what feels good for your body, it will tell you if you consciously listen. Follow your own religion in which you are the god, sent to earth to free all beings from suffering. Don’t look for answers externally, look inward within yourself. Your most important gift is to be who YOU are and shine bright. You are your own guru… Gee yoU aRe yoU! Realize that to change the world you must first change yourself. A change inward will eventually manifest change outward. Finally, we must extend this change outward into the world for all as we walk along the path to enlightenment together, the world will constantly seem to get in our way if we seek only for ourselves. We must do this not by preaching but by cultivating compassion for ALL and realizing the interconnectivity of everything, the ONE, YOU!
- RealEyes
Book Report
by Sean Basalyga Jeffrey LaPrade has been Realize Zine’s poet laurite for for quite sometime now, if you have enjoyed his poetry from the past few issues, now he has a whole BOOK of mind melting poetry that destructs chaos, spreads it to infinity, and reforms words to form surreal patterns and mindscapes that when viewed from the right perspective form Fractalcosm. Available at www.RealizeCulture.com and on Amazon, support your local visionary! A word from the author...
finished? when can one tell? a piece of art is done? which line will be the last drawn?
If the body is the microcosm of the macrocosm that is the universe, than from what I can see this pattern repeats at scales of time and space unfathomable to the human experience, yet we are here capturing it, living this paradox that is consciousness. This repeating pattern of existence is what I call the “Fractalcosm�. This book is a of poetry is small taste of what it is like to be lost in my head, pretending to know where to go, faced with the enormous responsibility of being alive. These are the marks I choose to leave in my wake of reality, my scars on eternity, and I urge everyone else to do what they love and share it with the world!
Stop after we have made the point? and if there is none
Matter of Fact
sink further into the sum of feelings, words and breathing
as a matter of fact
erased, respun or undone
there is no matter in facts
let something loose
just a universe full of energy
it may as well run
that self interacts
forward without looking
our grasp at understanding
to lunge
falls through the cracks
the state of mind is all becoming
no telling how long this will last
taking over the stream of thought
until the truth crashes down
losing the spot
our separations are drown
the original thesis
lost connections are found
is dropped
under the veil is our crown
it does not matter when you start
what is here?
but true art never stops
has always been around
“Earth Prayer”
by Mugwort Artemesia
Practicing the Prithvi Mudra, or ‘Mudra of Earth’ balances the elements of the body, helps to open and relax the mind, promotes tolerance, patience and strength, while alleviating debility, depression and weakness. As i worked on this, I was contemplating the relationship between micro and macro scales of being. It seems like our internal processes are amplified on a collective scale, deciding our social organization and manifesting the dominant consciousness that programs us from birth. This cultural feedback loop demonstrates the fractal property of self-similarity across scales. Like following the branches of a tree to its trunk, we can trace back from the infinite complications of our lives to a more basic and profound nature. In our imagination, we have the power to zoom in and out of an impossibly intricate fractal image to arrive at a simple shape. In this state is a sense of interconnectedness and oneness with all. This even momentary awareness of oneness, nurtures a profound sense of compassion. Is it possible that our individual meditations and visualizations can influence the overarching nature of society and the evolutionary direction of humanity? Through my own experience and research, it seems inevitable. Therefore i give sincere thanks to those holding intentional space, by praying, doing the work to release our energetic shackles and see beyond the veils, being conscientious of what energy we put into the world, and by inspiring others to do so, we can influence the course of history *
Young Santa” by Being isOne
“When the Earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto Earth from many colors, classes, and creeds. And who, by their actions and deeds, shall make the Earth green again. They will be known as…the Warriors of the Rainbow.” - Hopi prophecy