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CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)

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surf/skate issue The CC Crew is all about trying new things; you could say it is what we do! A large part of that is stepping outside of ourselves and listening to our readers. In an effort to bring together a cohesive and collaborative voice, we have chosen to work around a central theme. The March/April issue of Culture Clash focuses on the Galveston surf and skate scene. Skateboarding has its roots in surfing. Sometime in the 1950s when the waves were flat, surfers began attaching roller skate wheels to wood planks so that they could go “street surfing”. This strange connection with fluidity and maximizing both our liquid and solid natural resources has inspired a mixture of topics. Be it COMMITing (pg. 7) to a way if life, respecting the WATER (pg. 14) we rely so heavily upon, or understanding WHAT’S UP (pg. 16) in the local community, we hope this issue motivates you to think outside of the norm. Pull up a park bench and dive into some tasty photography. Strike up a conversation with someone you have never met. And speak up about the what interests you most. We hope this issue of Culture Clash gives you an inside look at Galveston’s underground world or surf, skate, art, music and activism. ENJOY!

Write us an email or shoot us a comment any time online: facebook.com/CultureClashMag CultureClashGalveston.com CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com Janese Maricelli-Thomasson Publisher

Special thanks to artist Christina Mattison Ebert for the custom art seen above. Inspired by this month’s theme, she created this image especially for Culture Clash. Check out her work at christinamattison.com COVER ART BY JIMBO PHILLIPS: While piecing together this issue we ran across the amazing art on our cover. We had to have it! Jimbo is an artist from Santa Cruz, CA and once he heard about Culture Clash, he graciously gave us permission to use his work. YOU ROCK JIMBO! - jimbophillips.com 4

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table of contents Issue 3 (March/April 2018)

FEATURES 16 WHAT’ UP - 6 months Post Harvey

8 12

Be A Better Human 7 Commit 8 The Pursuit of Happiness

Express Yourself

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14 Water 15 Surfing the Dark Side

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facebook.com\CultureClashMag CultureClashGalveston.com cultureclashgalveston@gmail.com

#TBMG (Throw Back My Galveston)

25 Pulse Events Calendar 26 Q+A with ERASMO

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CONTRIBUTORS Jessica Antonelli • Justin Bailey Lexi Bland • Christina Ebert Steve Harris • Billy Hill Rob Henson • Bryan Manuele Pat McGrew • John Mohan Katie Pemelton • Jimbo Phillips Sara Ramirez • Texas Logger MAKE A CONNECTION

12 In Like Flynn

24 Free Flow Visions

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LAYOUT & DESIGN JanMar Agency

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CL AS H PUBLISHER Janese Maricelli-Thomasson

29 People of Galveston

21 Oldie But Damn Goodie

CULTURE

SUBSCRIPTIONS Please mail check payable to JanMar Agency • 1625 23rd St Galveston Tx 77550 In the amount of $24 Note “Culture Clash” in memo line *This magazine is NOT printed on recycled paper or with soy-based inks YET! But we are working on it. Help us get there, advertise or sponsor us. Email for more details CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com

be a better

Don’t let Galveston’s water turn into this! Your actions matter. Your voice matters. Be better, do better. Be the change you want to see in the world. Start now with Surfrider Galveston! 6

Balianese surfer Dede Suryana is engulfed in rubish while surfing off of a remote island near Java, Indonesia. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

Photo by Zak Noyle/A-FRAME

human

CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)

COMMIT

By Justin Bailey

There I sat next to our little house on the prairie in Lexington, Texas, slumped down in a lawn chair looking at a cold Coors Light beer can in my hand, trying not to see my growing beer gut showing through my shirt. I looked up and all I saw was work: property to mow, fences to clean, ponds to maintain, and a house to keep from falling apart. Doing the math in my head, I calculated how much of the rest of my life I would spend on the lawn mower - 260 full days. Not to mention working 60 hours a week on top of that. Thinking about my newborn son left me wondering when the hell I was going to see him. Catching another glimpse of my beer gut left me wondering how many more beers and being worn out from work days it would take before I lost sight of what real life was supposed to be. Maybe it was time to make a change. Maybe it was time to commit to something new. Galveston had a lot to offer - things that I did as a kid that were so much fun: bike rides and running on the beach, body surfing and playing chicken fight in the water. Things that you forget about as you get old, fat, worn down, and boring. Holding a little kid in your arms forces you to think about reality and the path you are on. How am I going to get on the ground and play with this little guy when I can’t even sit cross-legged on the floor for 30 seconds without my feet going numb? In Galveston I saw a way to grasp at things I knew I loved, or at least remembered loving. In my case, surfing was what I had my eye on. And so we moved to the island. We committed. To start surfing, I had to get some of my forgotten muscles firing again. Surf conditions, family schedule, and my work prevented me from surfing as much as I wanted, but I took advantage of my 10-minute breaks at work and started doing 20-30 push-ups or sit-ups each day. But I needed more time on a board. Any board. So I built a skate ramp in my yard, and had my own wooden wave out my back door. I have a group of friends that had skateboarded at some point in their lives, and a couple of them still had boards. Everyone was willing to pitch in. As we were putting in the last screws, someone handed me a celebratory beer and another friend passed me my brand new, unridden board. They looked at me and said, “Shred, Dude.” As I put the board down and tried to pump into transition for the first time, they realized that I am just a big, awkward kid, trying something new. But again, I was consistent with practicing 5-10 minutes each day. I just kept trying. Since we have more dry, flat days in Texas than we do surf-able days, I got to skate a lot more than I surfed. That’s when skateboarding turned into its own passion. Skateboarding is gnarly, man. You meet the best people, it’s a great community, and if you’re not falling, then it’s pretty good for your body too. Learning to carve a pool, front side, back side, all the lingo. Trying to copy people’s body language and style, trying to create your own. It’s an investment in yourself. And when you start getting better, it just keeps feeling more gnarly. Your balance gets better, so you skate better. I made 185 days of consecutive skateboarding at one point, at least 10 minutes per day. I was trying to get better, at least get my feet on the C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

board every day. I’m not trying to be Tony Hawk or John Mohan, but I want to be good or at least comfortable. You meet people your age that are awesome and it gives you hope. Just keep putting in the work. Commit. My wife is a yogi or aspiring yogi, and I needed more flexibility. I was stiff in the water and on the ramp, so I introduced a little yoga in my life - 10 minutes each day. I added it to the push-ups on one break at work, yoga in the morning, a little skateboarding in the afternoon, surf when the surf is up. Everything contributes to everything, and makes you better all the way around. Maaaaan, yoga is better than you think, and really gets you in a good place. Skatin’ and surfin’, pushups and all that jazz are almost an an ego thing. You wanna be gnarly, you wanna be cool, and you wanna look good. But with yoga, you have to shuck some of your ego. But you keep doing it because your body feels good, your body thanks you every time you get done with that 10 or 15 minute yoga session. Nowadays, I surf, skate and yoga as much as I can. And it just gets deeper. Doing yoga puts you in tune with yourself to a point that sometimes things come out that you’ve been squashing for a long time, like funky spirituality stuff. If nothing else, just commit to something, and give it a year, or three or five. I don’t really see the difference in doing my stuff until at least three years in, but I’m in this journey now at least six or seven years. And I keep getting better. Keep feeling better, keep tuning into myself more, which makes me happy. 7

By Culture Clash Staff

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CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)

Surfing is at its core a selfish pursuit. My son is just over four years old and still has a healthy fear of the water, so we have yet to really bond over dad’s obsession- although my hopes are high that he will be a third generation Galveston surfer. My wife, despite my best efforts, has not caught the bug. So when I sneak out my phone at some god-awful hour of the night to check the buoys or return home from a three hour hiatus sun burnt and worn out, I am conflicted: should I share my excitement about the upcoming swell that is being groomed to perfection by light offshore winds or recount that epic hang ten to floater to cover-up? Best case scenario I am pat on the head like a little boy that just built the best box fort ever, worst case I am reminded of all the stuff that didn’t get done while I was out jacking around. If I spent just half the time I do on surfing on writing, learning an instrument or another language, or volunteering I might just make the world a brighter place. And what of the thousands of dollars I have spent on boards, wetsuits, board shorts, sunscreen, wax, racks, board bags, and trips? That money could be better spent pampering my wife, paying for my son’s daycare or college fund, bills, savings, or any number of other things. Even among fellow swell riders I am greedy. Some days I sneak out just past the short boarders on my log snagging the best sets or hoot some poor soul off ‘my wave.’ After a great ride I look to see if anyone caught a glimpse of ‘my accomplishment.’ If a photographer is out, we are all gunning for the best shot of the day and frantically checking to see if they caught ‘that shot’ as soon as we are out of the water. When a secret break is going off, do I call my buddies to join in? Nope, well maybe one so they can later attest to the epic session. Surfers are cliquish, running in bands of like-minded individuals and scorning all outsiders as ‘kooks.’ We are known to be territorial- grunting and glaring at outsiders bold enough to come surf ‘our spot’ (although Galveston is not all that localized anymore). Examples go on ad nauseam. So why poopoo on my passion… err… obsession? I believe that despite all of the pitfalls, surfing (even on the Gulf Coast) is a worthwhile pursuit. My criticism is rooted in a desire to stake out a

THE PUSUIT OF

HAPPINESS

ByThe Texas Logger | Photos by Billy Hill & Rob Henson healthy space for this activity in my life, and rid – or at least acknowledge – some of the baggage that it can bring. Surfing is an edifying activity (some call it a lifestyle, but I find that a bit of a stretch) that can enrich the physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of people. While it might have been my ego that first led me to the water, I quickly realized that the ocean cared nothing for it. I took my lumps, got worked and worn out, nearly downed, and slowly realized that I had a lot to learn. I studied the tides, currents and winds. I built up some stamina through swimming and paddling my butt off. When I finally rode my first wave (as opposed to just being pushed in by white water), the rush – this stuff called ‘stoke’ – was amazing. Unlike so many other things humans can get addicted to, in surfing you can experience that rush an endless number of times with almost the same feel as the very first time. Wanting to ride waves changes your perspective. Sure our boards are made of some toxic materials that will be around long after I have given my last hoot, but being so intimate with the ocean forces one to care for it, even if it is for selfish reasons. My heart ached when the BP oil disaster happened. We dodged a bullet here in Galveston, but more recently we had a small oil leak in the ship channel that washed up at one of my favorite breaks. It was strange, but I was so enthralled with going out that I didn’t even notice the black shit all over the beach before paddling out. I take climate change very seriously and do my best to lower my carbon footprint. Politically I am more engaged, as Texas’ open beaches policy come under fire and as I watch our beaches wash away. I try my best to be at one with nature,

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even when that means swimming in a body of water filled with decomposing sargassum and crab larvae, with a predisposition towards hanging around in my shorts. As for the time away from family, well everyone needs some time alone. Dads need time to reflect. Why should I stress about all that long ‘to do’ list when there won’t be swell for a month after this? It also widens my circle of friends. Surfers, come from many backgrounds. Everyone from successful bankers or to landscapers can be found exchanging pleasantries in the water on a given swell. I need an outlet for all the energy stored in me from my progenitors’ days of killing buffalo and forging empires. Then there are the hours of paddling a board around, training for surf, and eating healthy so I can stay in the water. Galveston is purgatory for surfers. Surfing or the prospect thereof gets me amped about life, forces me to work more efficiently to get stuff done so I can go out when the time is right. So for better or worse, I chase waves hoping to score some stoke with a few buds. In the process I get humbled, make friends, get in shape, and travel the globe to chase the dragon.

Fun Photography for Everyone

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Houston skater Chris Schalg, representing Cockfight, shows off his stylee with a frontside grind in a random backyard pool.

express

Phot by Steve Harris Photography

Yourself Expression comes in many forms. Be it writen, vocal or physical, the need to express yourself is REAL. Here is your chance!

Got something to say? Go on and say it! Express yourself -CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com

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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

In Like FLYNN Interview By John Mohan

J: John Mohan- Culture Clash interviewer F: Flynn Donavan- Local Skater J: Name, age, where you from? F: Flynn Donavan, 42, I was born and raised in Galveston, TX. J: When did you start skating? F: 1987. First board was a Ken Park. It wasn’t the board I wanted, but it was the board I got. J: What’s your favorite thing about the Galveston skate scene? F: For me, it’s always felt like home and a comfortable place for me to skate. It’s not easy to skate here, it’s kind of rough, it’s old town. The friends I’ve started skating with here, I’ve been friends with for over 20 years and still skate with them. I think a lot of beach towns provide a great environment for skating. J: Who were some of the locals you looked up to as a young skate rat? F: Definitely Beano, Boog, Troy, later on Brent Steen from Houston. My friend Anthony is always just a ripper. There are so many people… definitely Beano was pretty much my skate dad on this island. J: What’s your favorite thing to skate here in Gtown? F: I love the white stairs, or the federal ledges. There’s a lot of good curb cuts just because our sidewalks are so high, and Kroger for slappies, but we’ve been getting busted there. J: So what’s the story about the slab? F: After Hurricane Ike, all the apartments were torn down and there were 5-6 slabs. About five years ago, Conner Smith built the ledge. Then a year after, they built the twinkie or spine. I moved back after my son graduated high school. Then we all got motivated to build something out there. What we made lasted. We just got everyone

Photo by high_ﬁvers

Flynn Patrick Donovan has been skating Galveston for 31 years. Skateboarding allows him to spend time with his son and chill with friends. He has never had a travelers’ budget which has kept him on the forefront of the Galveston scene. Flynn is full of self-expression which can be seen in his art, music and especially his skate style.

together and a lot of the local kids came out to help, whether it was getting water for us or turning shovels. We really had no idea and had never done anything like that before. But we had seen people do it and figured we could do it. It all started with that first ¼, which is more like a Jersey Barrier than anything. J: Hahaha! Yea it is! F: Like a Jersey Barrier with transition! But like anything, if you put it there and people skate it, people start to master it, you know what I mean? J: Yea F: Even though it’s not perfect, I don’t think anything we made out there is perfect, but I think we have gotten better each time. J: What’s the gnarliest thing you have witnessed at the slab? F: Justin Grubbs, doing a kickflip on the Jersey, backside kickflip about 2 feet out. Heath doing about a 3 foot high backside ollie on that thing. J: What was your gnarliest slam? F: Probably, when I rolled out of the car and I was just warming up… goofin' around and did a no-comply disaster up on the banana pile on the corner, our dump pile. I went up and the board caught on my foot, flipped out, and hit me in the chin and then ripped down my shin. So it was like,

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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

all that hype and no skate. I was done immediately. Or the worst was Anthony, with the compound fracture… slipped out of a back 5-0 and put his arm down and bones just splintered. Gnarly dude! J: Oh man! You witnessed that??!! F: I had to drive him to the ER dude! Of course he said, “I’m quitting skating”. A week later he was skating with a cast. J: What’s the worst trend in skating right now? F: I think skateboarding is fun, so if kids do it different…. I’m sure there have been a bunch of people who thought that the ones who are coming next are doing something wrong. J: What do you think about skateboarding in the Olympics? F: I think it misses the point, but sells tickets I guess. I don’t think it’s anything like real skateboarding is, but people are at a level where it was bound to happen.

J: Got any shout outs? F: Shit just everybody. My son Liam, my girl Steph, Anthony, Jay, Conner, Rob 5, Corey Wilder, Matt Cabz, Adam Valadez, Ivan, Max, Heath, JD, you (John), Bryars, Garrett & Kellz, Major League City homies, cockﬁght boys, of course, Bino, Boog, Bob Fox, Troy, and everybody that’s still rolling… too many people to name. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

“ Flynn seen sticking a sick backside ollie at "the slab".

Keep pushing. Push yourself, even when it scares you...

Photo by Adam Valadez

J: What advice would you give young skate rats that want to keep skating as they get older? F: Don’t stop skating. Just keep going, ya know? A lot of people I know have stopped for 10 years. You just have to get into it and keep going. Keep pushing. Push yourself, even when it scares you to keep going. As long as you’re having fun, just have fun and do stuff that makes you smile.

” 13

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

By Bryan Manuele

“Cosmic Tide Pool” by Miguel Gusto

It has always been an understanding in the Far East that humans are a micro-replica of the macro-cosm. As above so below. That the inner and outer world are a mirror image of each other. The violence we find in the world and abhor is actually within us. Our personal lives are full of violence: our TV, our movies, our aggression behind the wheel, right down to what’s on our dinner plate. This, they would suggest, are rooted in the same consciousness. But this article is about water and this early digression is intended only to establish the bias. George Osawa, the founder of macro-biotics, “the way of eating”, used to say that our blood is a replica of the ocean.

WATER, The source and sustainer of life covers slightly more than 71% of our planet and try to wrap your mind around the idea that there is NO clean surface water ANYWHERE. We did that! Our children now think water to drink comes from a plastic bottle. And, we are cautioned to avoid or minimize our seafood intake. Pregnant women are strongly advised to avoid it altogether (doesn’t matter how fresh it is here on the Island). BLOOD, simply stated is the source of our health and wellbeing! The quality of our inner rivers and oceans are very much determined by what we eat, drink, breathe and otherwise consume. Sadly, only a small percentage pay any meaningful attention to these relationships. I think George Osawa’s message is to notice that we regard the ocean/water pretty much the same way we regard our blood and consequently our health. 14

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CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

Surfing the Dark Side … Auh, the envy as I watch the skilled surfers. But is it their skill? Or are they just BRAVER than I am? OMG, are we DYING to have fun? Ok ok … death is subject more slippery than the bottom side of a well-waxed surfboard. So, let’s back off and talk about living through some blood-“curling” surf sites. We don’t think of surfing as spooky, but in the dark depth under a wave, I suppose we should … like Friday the 13th super eerie spooky! Shiver at the names of some famous surfing spots … Ghost Tree, Witch’s Rock, Dungeons, Cyclops and, OMG, Teahupo’o, which in Tahitian means “sever the head”. Let’s start with that one, Teahupo’o, where deep water crashes a few feet over an edgy, sharp reef creating fierce, hefty waves. Legend has it that a beautiful native named Vehiatua was an amazing surfer and the first ever to ride the dangerous waves of Teahupo’o. The village chef got really jealous. So, he figured he could steal her skill by killing her. And, so, he did the kill-for-skill deed, to no avail. Legend doesn’t say if he severed her head, but when it came to surfing, he still just couldn’t “cut it”. Head west to Australia, where the massive power of heavy waves at Cyclops can hold surfers down into a watery grave or at least a very frightening event.

“A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” -Mark Twain The seafloor undergoes a huge depth change, so when the large swells come out of the deep water and break on the shallow, jagged reef, a unique wave is formed into an oval shaped barrel, like that 3rd eye of the mutant cyclops of lore. Dare you battle the giant? Across the Pacific to Ghost Tree, California, where the coastline is covered in large, knotty cypress trees that look, well, like ghosts. Oh, another legend! The story goes that one of the coastline trees is frequented by a spirit in a wedding gown, called by the locals “The Lady in Lace”. Add the usual fog in this area and, oh my, a few Great White Sharks and you might have a ride spookier than anything at Fright Fest. Head south to Costa Rica and the famous Witch’s Rock for yet another legend. Amidst the tropical winds and pleasant temperatures, surfers say that when they ride in the shadows of the Rock near sundown, they get wigged out by shine-chilling feeling. A curse from the Old Witch who lived there long ago? But the incredible waves make it worth tolerating the uncanny side of this primo spot. Think “Endless Summer II”, the documentary in search of the perfect wave, and head across the Atlantic to South Africa. Enter the Dungeons, where you might face two backto-back waves, each over two-stories high … in Great White Shark infected waters. Being held under is scary enough, but being held under and seeing a Great White, well … why drown when you can just have a heart attack! All in all, surfing is sunshine and laughter and excitement. And a little risk can add to the thrill. But if a surf site is daunting enough to be named after a horror movie character, well, I think I’ll just surf our tame waves here in Galveston, where the ghosts only hang out in historic building and old hotels. Teahupo’o, Tahiti. When the lip breaks here, don’t be there. Kierren Perrow says hello to the lip.

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Photo courtesy of Billabong- by ASP/Kristin

By Pat McGrew

CULTURE CLASH (Feature)

WHAT’S UP 6 months Post-Harvey & How You Can Help By Jessica Antonelli Galveston is no stranger to storms, but even to those of us with experience on the loooong road to recovery may have forgotten that hundreds of Galveston families and thousands of our neighbors to the north in Houston are still living through the post-hurricane Harvey nightmare. 6 months later, where do we stand? Time has given us hindsight on some of the issues that caused Harvey to be so damaging to our built environment, but volunteers are just as needed as ever. Although the scale of disaster can feel overwhelming, as conscientious citizens there’s plenty we can do to make a difference. Our island got off lucky in Harvey, compared to the effects of Hurricane Ike 10 years ago. Islanders weren’t untouched however, and although the brunt of the damage was in Houston, 776 Galveston families were living in hotels as of the end of January, supported by $100 a night “transitional housing” vouchers, according to FEMA data. But those of us who dealt with Ike know what it’s like. A big hoo-ha and lots of national attention when the big event strikes, but then time goes on, more sensational stuff takes over news coverage… and yet your house is still damaged. Slowly, the apocalyptic piles of reeking carpet, damaged furniture, and refrigerators taped closed to protect the world from their rotten bacteria bombs within, get cleared from the streets. And that’s just the beginning. Back in the era of Ike, we struggled through FEMA applications, predatory out-of-town contractors, insurance hassles, and rebuilding our homes after their walls were halfway ripped apart to repair moldy sheetrock. While the rest of the country forgot, we spent months and years slowly returning to a new normal.

This issue of Culture Clash focuses on surf and skate, one a water based motion and both actions exhilarating and at times tumultuous activities. Although Harvey is in no way a sport or a system for release, it is absolutely water based and invigorating. Not to mention, the story is timely and extremely relevant! Now, our neighbors in Houston are going through the same struggle. Our little island braced for the worse during those last days of August 2017, and watched with gratitude (or survivor’s guilt) as the worst of the storm swung around us and sat over Houston to dump over 50 inches of water… closer to the usual annual rainfall than what’s expected during a single storm. But expectations can lead to trouble. How do we know where we expect hurricane damage? Flood maps. You have your 100 year floodplains, where it is expected the area has a 1% chance of flooding each year. (Not, as you might think, that the area only floods once every hundred years.) A 500 year floodplain is where there’s supposedly a 0.2% chance of a flood in any given year. But here’s the thing, after Harvey, the Memorial Day weekend storm of 2015 and April’s “Tax-day flood” in 2016, we’ve had THREE “500 year” floods IN THREE YEARS. According to a study by Rice University’s Kinder Institute, 41% of flooding happened totally outside of even the 500 year floodplains, areas that theoretically shouldn’t flood at all. So, we’ve got super flawed data that policy makers are working with, and it effects people by making the average person more likely to be surprised by major, life-changing damage and left totally unprepared for it. Eighty percent of those affected in Houston didn’t even have flood insurance—because they weren’t required to, based on our faulty flood maps. Gee. I sure wish we could get like, 99% of the worlds scientists to agree on some reason why we’ve been having these strange extreme weather events more and more frequently.... Oh, wait. They did, it’s called Climate Change, and we are already facing the repercussions. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

Photo courtesy of NASA Observatory: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=90818

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PEARLAND

ALVIN 18

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PhotoS by David J. Philips. Courtesy of the Associated Press.

DICKINSON

But as Michael Kimmelman writes in his New York Times article, Lessons from Hurricane Harvey: Houston’s Struggle is America’s Tale, “Global warming may not specifically have caused Harvey, any more than a single major league home run can be attributed to steroids.” Unless you are a policy maker, floodplain-mapper, or city planner, it may seem out of your reach to make a difference in these grand sweeping disasters and world-threatening issues like climate change. But there is SO much you can do! First of all, mental game is important. Let’s not pretend like this doesn’t affect us. Houston and Galveston are a symbiotic pair: we play their laid-back beach party friend, and Houston is the cultured upstairs roommate who can be counted on for endless rad restaurant suggestions, museum trips, music and big events. When Houston is hurting, Galveston feels it in the guise of empty restaurants, attractions, and pocketbooks. Of course, although the rest of the nation thinks of “Houston” as just downtown and NASA, we know the “Houston” affected by the storm includes Dickinson, Pearland, Alvin, and all of the surrounding ‘burbs where so many who actually work in Galveston go home to lay their heads. Helping Houston is helping Galveston, and island businesses. You can make a difference by taking actions like those we suggest below, and in fact, we really need everyone in the game. One action you can directly take is to help Houston families rebuild. A favorite organization out there making a difference is West Street Recovery, which was born in the eye of the storm of Harvey, and has met need where it is most needed, one neighbor at a time. West Street Recovery started with two Houston roommates kayaking down the street as the storm receded to pull their neighbors out of flooded homes. Word spread and the volunteer group grew, as well as donations. They noticed aide wasn’t reaching the neighborhoods nearby that needed it most. Now, 6 months later, the grassroots group is still working with residents to rebuild homes one at a time, to families who have fallen through the cracks of bigger agencies. Be it materials for them to rebuild on their own, hands-on construction help, or financial aide, their case managers identify

CULTURE CLASH (Feature) what each household needs to make the biggest impact for them to move on with their lives, and ﬁnd a way to make it happen. Sign up for their volunteer list, or make a donation if you are short on time, at their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/WestStreetRecovery. Other Houston volunteer opportunities can be found at www. rebuildinghouston.org Finally, you can make a difference through the daily deeds that help mitigate climate change, the root cause of the upswing in occurrences of our coastal catastrophes. -Your eating choices can make a surprisingly big difference. According to skepticalscience.com, the livestock sector is responsible for 37% of human caused methane emissions. If you’re not already vegetarian or vegan, consider doing “meatless Mondays” for the environment and your health. The 3 R’s you learned in school are still good rules to live by to make a smaller impact. Reuse, reduce, and recycle, yo. Nowadays the young’uns also add “Refuse” and “Repurpose” to the list. REFUSE needlessly wasteful options and products made with excess packaging or environmentally harmful materials, and REPURPOSE items that have outlived their original use, like keeping a scrap paper stack, or looking up what to do with old cosmetics or jeans on Pinterest. If you’re not already recycling, the Ball High National Honor Society makes it easy to get started with their toyour-door recycling pick-up service. It’s only $30 a month, and proceeds go right back to the kids at NHS. Email francescaantonelli@gisd.org for details and to get your house on the list for weekend recycling pick-ups.

There’s only one thing that’s certain round these parts: the next hurricane is a matter of when, not if. Gritty Galvestonians aren’t the types to complain or do nothing. We know our neighbors in H-town are still hurting, so if you can, get up there and volunteer in person, and if you can’t, consider the daily lifestyle choices that will make a difference in the long term.

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VOLUNTEER If you are reading this and want to get involved- YOU ARE A BAD ASS! But more importantly, the Culture Clash Crew asks that you take that motivation and put it into action. GET INVOVLED!

WEST STREET RECOVERY

is in need of volunteers like you, whatever your skill. “Almost every organization we connect with has communicated volunteer shortages.”

CAN’T GIVE YOUR TIME? GIVE MONEY! “Your donation means mold-resistant sheetrock, insulation, and the household appliances necessary for a normal life, like sinks and refrigerators. These items are undoubtedly more expensive than our earlier asks, but excitement around the recovery has waned.”

Check out the Culture Clash website for interactive links and information. Offer us feedback and suggest more ways to get involved. 19

Life on this barrier island is always changing. It may be a glorius place now, but a lot has happenned to get us here. Scope olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; timer Bobby Morrow catching frontside air at the original Galveston Skatepark; circa 1980-1981.

Send us your #TBMG Galveston stories, CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com

throw back

my galveston #TBMG

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Oldie

CULTURE CLASH (#TBMG (Throw Back My Galveston)

But Damn Goodie By Culture Clash staff | Photos pg. 20 & 21 courtesy of Boog William “Boog” Cram, age 56, was born and raised in Galveston. When it comes to authentic Galveston, Texas skater- he is your man! When the publisher of Culture Clash decided to do a surf and skate issue, Boog immediately came to mind for our #TBMG section. Boog has been skating the streets of Galveston since the mid 1970s and knew every jump, ramp and grind before anyone else. In fact, he most likely declared it! As a boy, his favorite skate spot was his backyard which included “a small half-pipe”, 9.5 feet tall and 8 feet wide, amongst two others with similar dimensions. Boog remembers skating the original Galveston Skatepark at 85th Street and Seawall, not too far from “the slab” which is a current local favorite. He recalls his two biggest teenage inﬂuences as Bobby Morrow and Alvin Cooper, “these guys were like the Gulf Coast version of Stacy Peralta and Tony Alva”. ‘THE TRICK’ that young Boog worked tirelessly to master was known as the Miller Flip, a full 360-degree ﬂip. “I loved the feeling. It took me a while to learn it but once I did, I put it in my bag of tricks!” The Miller Flip, as many above the lip tricks on the half-pipe, positioned Boog with the other upper-level riders of the time and quickly earned him a sponsorship with Quiksilver and SIMS Skateboards. He was now on the 1981 circuit and began to skate contests, demos and shows for anywhere from 10 to 1000 people. The rest, as the say, is history! Today Boog is still doing what he loves and is a true inspiration to the community. Find him behind the counter at Ohana Surf and Skate on Seawall Blvd. or rocking-out with fellow band members in his KISS Tribute Band, KISS ALIKE & Green Day Tribute, Green For A Day! C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

Boog C ram, ide ai r on t he ‘Blue Ramp’ at Housto n’s fa Pipeli med ne Ska tepark ; circa 1979.

fronts

(Below): Alvin Cooper perfecting the layback air at Houston’s Pipeline Skatepark; circa 1979.

Boog Cram, age 29, held-up doing a straight ACME/invert; circa 1990. 21

New exhibitions opening in conjunction with FotoFest

Free Admission | Spring Break Art Camps | Adult Classes

2127 Strand | 262.492.9299 | galvestonartscenter.org

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Artist: Devlyn Von Patrick Mahanay Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool? You decide. We think of coolture as art, music, literature that really gets your mind moving. Want to feature your work or event in the Coolture section? Shoot us an email at CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M â&#x20AC;˘ M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

Free Flow Visions Of A Sharpie Virtuoso

Con face tact Dev book .com lyn on F /dma hana B yart

SEE MORE OF DEVLYN’S ART ON PAGE 23 24

Devlyn Von Patrick Mahanay, a Galveston artist with a unique medium, who likes to make things weird and keep it real. The wearable art created by Mahanay is out of this world! His creations are a wonderful example of art that steps outside of the box and creates beauty in madness. Devlyn’s clients come from all walks of life; high school students to NBA players. Devlyn Mahanay has something in mind for everyone. Having a father as an artist, Mahanay was introduced to art at a very young age. Growing up in a world of sketching, body painting and sculptures, Devlyn’s passion for art took quickly hold of him. There is no doubt, he was born to make and design. In highschool, his peers were so intrigued by the hat he made for a close friend, that Devlyn decided to start selling his merchandise to his classmates. In no time he had created his own technique and turned his hobby into a full time job. With a mind dripping in inspiration, Devlyn has the ability to create beautiful works that we can all relate to. His art is an explosion of color and creativity. One of the most memorable things about this unique art is the monsters he creates. Devlyn uses these strange creatures to create pieces that are open for interpretation. So many people have already been inspired by his unique style of sketching and he continues to inspire so many more every day. Devlyn doesn’t stop at hats and shoes. If you need a freakyfresh logo, custom skateboard deck, t-shirts, stickers, or even a pair of tighty whities, Devlyn is your guy. He takes your vision and turns it into everything you never knew you wanted and more. These one-of-a-kind, custom designs are sure to have you rolling in style. Mahany describes his creative process as, “Impromptu, random and the most planned, unplanned thing.” As an artist Devlyn wants people to look at his work and dig deep into their mind and soul, to create their own unique vision, to learn something new about themselves and get inspired to create their own beautiful madness. His art makes you think outside the box and it shows you should never be too serious about anything. There’s a lot we can learn from this free ﬂow artist. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

Photos courtesy of the artist

By Katie Pemelton

pulse

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SEE ART Annie Laurie Erickson Data Shadows, 2017, Interactive video still. See it now @ Galveston Art Center 2127 Strand St

March-April 2018 Calendar of Events

March

DRINK UP

april

Celebrate Texas Independence Day with Drunken Monkeyz and other Downtown Galveston Bars! Help break the Guinness World Record Attendence Record of 4,885 that was set in Kansas City (Really???) to show that EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS!

Mystery Loves Company at Galveston ArtWalk Saturday, March 3, 2018 6 PM - 9 PM MOD Coffeehouse 2126 Postofﬁce St. FREE Adam and Chris Carroll live at the Old Quarter Friday, March 9, 2018 8:30 PM - 12 AM Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe 413 20th St. Admission: $20 2018 In Bloom Music Festival Sat. Mar 24 at 11 AM to Sun. Mar 25 at 10 PM Eleanor Tinsley Park Allen Pkwy. Houston, TX Admission: $79- $125

FUNKY MONKEY Recipe: 99 Bananas Coconut Rum and Pineapple Juice

Harbors Over Highways Saturday, April 7, 2018 8:30 PM - 12 AM Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe 413 20th St. Admission: TBD Anitra Jay / LIVE Soul Music Saturday, April 21, 2018 7 PM - 9 PM MOD Coffeehouse 2126 Postofﬁce St. FREE Third Coast Music Festival April 26 - April 30 40 bands and 50 shows! This new island festival features bands of numerous genres and venues across the city. Admission: $40 – $125

LET’S MAKE CIVICS SEXY!

Available at: Drunken Monkeyz 202 20th St Photo courtesy of Drunken Monkeyz

Come and Break It! “World Record Pub Crawl” Saturday, March 3, 2018 12 PM - 10 PM

Galveston island residents can vote at any of the county polling locations, both on and off the island. Early voting will take place April 23rd- 27th 8am - 5pm each day and on April 30th and May 1st from 7am -7pm. Election Day is May 5th, 2018, and polls will be open 7am -7pm. The election will be held for the purpose of electing our Mayor and Six District Council Members. Imagine how good you’ll look will your SEXY “I Voted” sticker!

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O M

S A R

Interview questions by Culture Clash staff

Where did you grow up? Right here in Galveston, straight from the East End. I throw it up in every picture! Hell, I lived in the bricks before Hurricane Ike destroyed most of ‘em. I still stay on the island right now, right by the Skatepark. What is your musical background? I really have deep love for music in general. For as long I can remember. I have always done anything I could do to be a part of the music scene. Not just hip-hop, I was even in a punk band and a death metal band in high school. I started rapping just like everyone else in South Texas. Freestyling every chance I got. When I felt that amazing feeling of a crowd cheering for me, it changed my life! Then I started to get serious with my art. And there was no looking back... 26

Have you performed around Galveston/ Houston? Deﬁnitely, Galveston is my home! I’ve preformed too many shows to count here on the island. I’ve played at Old Quarter, Patrick’s, Bubbas, The VFW, Senpai’s, and those are just the places that are still around! I’m performing more shows in Houston than ever before! Musically, what are your biggest inﬂuences and who are your favorite musicians? That’s tough for me to say. I love so many different genres of music. If I have to pick as far as hip-hop goes, I’d maybe do a top 5: Z-ro, Fat Pat, Snoop Dogg, Big L, and Tupac.... Even my Granny fucks wih Tupac! Those are just my OG picks too, I jam a few newer hip-hop artists as well. I’ve been jammin’ a lot of XXXTENTACION, Rich Brian, Ski Mask The Slump God and a few other new artists. What do you think of the hip hop scene in Galveston/ Houston? The hip-hop scene in Houston has changed the world. If it wasn’t for the people that paved the way for me, I wouldn’t even be speaking in this interview! Galveston has always had a hip-hop scene. It’s just not as well known. But shit, if it wasn’t for Kappa weekend, a lot of artists wouldn’t have gotten so famous. Selling tapes outta their trunk! I’m ready to leave my mark and really hold it down for my city! Trust me, I’m going to. How would you describe your own style? Complicated. Usually pretty fast, I never intentionally try to rap fast. But that’s how it comes out. My style is my own, I make every song unique; it’s own place! Completely different from the next. Maybe a similar feel, but that’s it. When you hear Erasmo, you want more, there is no other artist like me! So you have to jam my shit! I want everyone to see for themselves. And let me know what my style is to them.

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Photos courtesy of the artist

QA +

Erasmo is an innovative hip-hop artist from Galveston,Texas. He is best known for his unique style and high energy performances. Culture Clash gets the inside scoop on what motivates this up and coming artist and why he thinks “Galveston is poppin’ man!”

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Who do you collaborate with? I’ve done some work with G-Razor, the song “Galveston”. I’m very proud of that song! It was my first single world wide and it felt great to release it. He’s also on the song “ACE”. A track from my latest release, The Island Madness (EP). I’m currently working on a full length album, which is going to have a lot of amazing features! I can’t say too much right now, but there will be some well known artists on the album... In the mean time, me and the homie Cat Daddy Slick will be releasing a new project! Cassete only. Limited edition, collecter type shit. It will be our 2nd tape together. I’m headed to the studio in the next week with my boy Abe G! Check my Instagram to stay updated. @ erasmo409 In what ways has your newest music changed from when you first started? In a lot of ways. I wrote most of The Island Madness (EP) when I was still a teenager. Even though it was just released Halloween of 2017, three of songs were written way before then. The song “Galveston”, and the song “ACE” where both written around the time they were released. When my new album drops it’s gonna be on another level. What are the main inspirations for the lyrics you write? The fact that I was fortunate enough to be from Galveston, to be from South Texas, to have my family and friends, to have had access to all the music I grew up around. It all makes me who I am. My lyrics are the way I express the opinions and emotions I have. I didn’t have a baller-ass life as a kid, rich parents to buy me cars, put me through college, and all that. I work for everything I have. I put what I love first. Sometimes even before myself. I take inspiration from everything in some way or another, but at the end of the day the lyrics I write are ME. That’s why they are so carefully pieced togther, this is all I have.

To learn more about this local artist or to hear his music, check him out online. Scan the QR code below to see videos or visit his Facebook page at facebook.com/erasmo409

What would be your dream venue in which to perform? If I had to pick a venue I would say... Cynthia Woods. I really don’t even know why! Maybe cause it’s one place in Houston that’s pretty hard to book a show at. In reality I want to play at any venue, cause my dream isn’t the place. It’s the thousands of people I want to preform in front of! That’s what I want to accomplish in life.

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CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

ROBERT KUHN

La Izquierda is Spanish for “the left”. The feminine left. It’s the front side for a goofy footer. It can mean anything you want. Imagine; a bell rings in the still morning wind, signaling the start of the first heat. The groms paddle out. There is a visible swell rolling in from the horizon. It is 10 am on May 12, 2018 and roots reggae music is floating over the water from an old vinyl record a DJ is spinning up at Jimmy’s on the Pier in Galveston, Texas. La Izquierda is a surf and music festival dedicated to enriching and uniting communities of Galveston, the Gulf Coast and beyond, through a good old-fashioned surf competition and fund raiser for the Surfrider Foundation, Galveston Chapter. And of course, there must be music. Local and touring bands and artists from near and far will celebrate surf culture and the preservation of our natural waters and beach habitat with groovy tunes setting the mood. There’s also a beer competition. Artisan beers will be available for the price of one beer- one purchased ticket and at the end of the day, the brewery with the most ale donated, wins the prize. (Go GIB) There is an 8am (highly encouraged) free surf and coffee session sponsored by Galveston Coffee Roasters with yoga on the beach. Live Music and surf competitions ($10 entrance fee) go from 10am-10pm. Prizes include cool artwork, gear and an all inclusive, world class Surf-Getaway. For information and the line-up as it appears visit the Facebook page, La Izquierda Surf and Music Festival. For inquiries about getting involved or nonprofit sponsorship opportunities contact Robert at robertkuhnmusic@gmail.com. There are still vendor and booth spaces available! La Izquierda is a free event open to the public brought to you by Jimmy’s on the Pier, Culture Clash Magazine, the Surfrider Foundation-Galveston Chapter, Robert Kuhn Music and Galveston. 28

“Maria the Gun” is a progressive album of multicultural American folk and rock and roll music. Join Houston native and Galveston favorite, Robert Kuhn, as he takes you on a musical journey through space and time!

ALBUM AVAILABLE ONLINE or in person at

CACTUS MUSIC robertkuhnmusic.com C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

p e o of galvple e

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Photos and Interviews By Sara Ramirez

(Above) Jeffery Mullins: My motto in life is live and let live. See God had us, he put us here to enjoy life. He said, you love your enemy and those who are around you, keep an eye on the ones close to you.

(Above) Taylor Moore: I have a very close relationship with my grandparents, they’re like my best friends. I have a big family, I am 1 of 6 kids, so lots of love. My favorite memory is learning how to ride my bike; I remember I was riding down 25th Street right by the museum, totally falling into the bushes and everyone was laughing. Living day to day is probably my greatest achievement, just telling myself I’m okay, I can do this...just being the boss person that I am. c u ltu r ec l a s h G ALV ESTO N . c o m • m a r c h /a p r i l 2 0 1 8

(Right) Johnathan Beasley: I’m originally from Houston, TX. I came down here after my house burned down about 3 years ago. I like it here because of the seawall. I like watching the beach and the scenery, it’s beautiful. My greatest achievement in life had to have been graduating high school. My favorite memory was back in Houston when I was playing varsity basketball and I scored the winning point.

ston

(Left) Savannah Fennel: I moved down here after I finished school at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. It’s the coolest thing ever if you’re into dead people. Something interesting about me would have to be that I don’t have a sense of smell. When I was growing up, my neighborhood was down the street from the dump, and that’s a smell that I associated with my childhood. When I lost my sense of smell, I became kinda lost without familiar scents, you know the smell of my mom, stuff like that. But when I went to funeral school, I didn’t smell the decomposing bodies so that was great. 29

CULTURE CLASH (Feature)

(Above) Mohammad Ahan: I am from a city called Ahwaz, Iran. I have been taking pictures of people, my family or other things that are around since I was 8 or 9 years old. I took slides and at that time there was no laboratory in my hometown to develop them. So I’d have to send it to the capital and wait for the whole month to come back. I still have maybe 20 or 30 trays of those slides, and my goal is to put them on a flash drive one day.

(Below) Mahogany Kingston: I was on America’s Got Talent in 2013. My audition song was Beyoncé’s Hero. You have to try, right? I don’t shoot for the stars, I shoot for the moon. Shoot for the moon then you land among the stars- that’s what I always say.

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CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

We We Are Are AA Marketing, Marketing, Design Design and and Talent Talent Agency Agency That That Thinks Thinks Differently Differently

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