Warm Soda Magazine | Issue Four

Issue 4 | Feb 4, 2020

warm Soda art music culture

Fallen Seven-Headed Cherub

Pen, watercolor, ink, gel pen, colored pencil on paper

Lauren Marx

A Look Inside Bruiser Queen

Coffee Shop Personalities

Local Art Pages

A talk with St. Louis duo after their tour around the U.S. | 16-19

Finding the right brew for you | 28-31

Local artist submissions from the Greater St. Louis area | 50-59

Staff Editorial Director & Co-Founder Lauren Leady editorial@warmsodamag.com Creative Director & Co-Founder Shelby Clayton creative@warmsodamag.com Writers & Photographers Abagail Rowling Alex St. Peters Andrew Dobson Ashley Klein Cal Stevens Linze Aya Lydia Jackson Mariah Huelsmann Miranda Munguia Rosita Event Coordinator CyRhen Sohngs Friend to All/Moral Support Pup Buddy L. Associate Editors Ashley Klein Maggie Fazekas Advertising Send inquiries to Ash Hagerstrand advertising@warmsodamag.com

Warm Soda Magazine 2818 Sanford Ave. Alton, IL 62002 Submissions Submit us samples of your art (copies of originals only). DVDs, books and music may be sent to our mailing address with “Submissions” written on the back of the envelope. Please send email links to editorial@ warmsodamag.com with subject title “Submissions.” Please don’t send email attachments. Links only. We suggest uploading an online gallery.

We are happy to accept samples, but submissions do not guarantee coverage. Samples will not be returned.

Legal The advertising, features, and reviews appearing within this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.

All rights to art, writing, photos, design, and/or likeness are property of respective owners, and no assumption of ownership is made by this publication or the publishers. Everything else is Warm Soda Magazine and may not be reproduced in part or in whole without written permission from Warm Soda Magazine and the respective contributors.

Cover Lauren Marx Contact warmsodamagazine@gmail.com Warmsodamag.com Facebook.com/warmsodamagazine Instagram.com/warmsodamagazine patreon.com/warmsodamag

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Editor's Letter Hey there! Issue 4 coming in hot!

It’s exciting to publish our first issue of 2020!

Each issue allows me to learn something new and meet so many new people. That’s the best part of this magazine: getting to know everyone in the art community. Shelby and I have made so many new friends and acquaintances.

On to making even more friends! We have a few events coming up. Our third installment of our artists of color exhibition “RISE” will be on display at Jacoby Arts Center through the whole month of February. The opening ceremony will be 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 7 at Jacoby with snacks, an acoustic performance and artist talks.

We also will help host RISE Fest on Feb. 22, featuring performing artists of color. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with show starting at 7:30 p.m. at Jacoby. Hope to see you all there! Supporting all artists is so crucial to the foundation of a strong art community.

Next month we officially celebrate our SECOND BIRTHDAY. WHAT??? That is so wild. I know I have grown so much in the past two years (maybe gained some white hairs too) and learned not only about myself, but also about community and artists, and how important both are to this area. In addition, I appreciate art, in all its forms, so, so much more now. I am thankful for that.

Please enjoy reading this issue and take a gander at our past three issues if you haven’t just yet. You won’t regret it!

Thank you for reading.

Stay fizzy!

Lauren Leady

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Table of Contents Art Carbonated Comics by Rosita............................................................................................7

The Sacred Decay of Lauren Marx’s Art by Ashley Klein............................................8-15 DIY Portable Sewing Kit by Rosita..............................................................................24-25

Letting Light Shine Through: Stained Glass with Sarah Neal by Lauren Leady.....38-45

Local Art Submissions.................................................................................................50-59

Music Bruiser Queen by Abagail Rowling...............................................................................16-19

Steven Regal: A Life of Rhythm by Linze Aya............................................................20-23

Gear Review Series by Cal Stevens............................................................................26-28

Reflecting Riffs with Melissa Powers by Lauren Leady.............................................32-37

Culture Coffee Shop Personalities: Finding the Brew for You by Lydia Jackson.................28-31 Tinfoil Alley: The Seven Gates of Hell of Collinsville, Illinois by Alex St. Peters.....46-49

“Aesthetic” by Mariah Huelsmann.....................................................................................53

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REVIVING ALTON FOR EVERYONE We’re on a mission to revive our city. One building, one street, one park & one opportunity at a time.

altonworks.us

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Lauren Marx Art

The Sacred Decay "From Our Flesh" (Diptych) pen, ink, colored pencil, graphite and gel pen,17.75 x 10 in., 2015

The Sacred Decay LAUREN MARX ART

Written by Ashley Klein Photographed by Shelby Clayton

Lauren Marx has built has been years in the making. Her art, typically employing an Thearrayworld of mediums in every color under the sun, imagines a world where humanity is cut from the picture and wild flora and fauna take front and center; where the circle of life moves so fluidly that you can hardly tell where decay stops and new growth begins. This is a world where the severed head of a doe feeds peacefully on bee-ridden branches, skeletal birds nest in a fox’s open carcass and a snake weaves through a rabbit’s ribs as its entrails sprout fungi. Oddly enough, for all the spilled intestines and broken bones, these animals are too alive to be dead. Their eyes are open. Their bodies move. That’s the thing about Marx’s art — it paints the earth’s most innate rhythms in the most subtly uncanny light.

"My animals, in my mind, are not alive nor dead, but are more like supernatural creatures that transform themselves from one decaying body to the next..."

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"Offerings" Pen, watercolor, ink, gel pen and colored pencil on paper, 26.75 x 42.5 in

“My animals, in my mind, are not alive nor dead, but are more like supernatural creatures that transform themselves from one decaying body to the next or by using their ‘death’ to create plants, nests, birds, moths, etc.,” she said. “It is something that I am still working on pinning down, but my brain is obsessed with it and I must figure out why.”

“Obsessed” is an apt description. Marx has spent years of her artistic career exploring these topics, and her interest in plants and animals began when she was young.

“My fascination with flora and fauna has been a part of my life since I was a little kid,” she said. “I dealt with a lot of bullying and abuse when I was a child, so I became very reclusive and dissociated from people.

I grew up absorbing information from shows such as ‘Zoboomafoo,’ ‘Mutual of Omaha’s: Wild Kingdom,’ ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ and ‘The Jeff Corwin Experience.’ I would study animal encyclopedias, play animal-based video games and visit the zoo whenever I could. I was, and still am, fascinated with all the evolutionary intricacies in animal biology.”

TOP: "Blue Cherub" Watercolor, ink, gel pen & colored pencil on paper, 18 x 23.5 in MIDDLE: "Red Cherub" Watercolor, ink, gel pen & colored pencil on paper, 19.5 x 17 in BOTTOM: "Yellow Cherub" Watercolor, ink, gel pen & colored pencil on paper, 16.75 x 22 in RIGHT: “Honey” Pen, watercolor, ink, gel pen, gouache & colored pencil on paper, 37.25 x 31 in

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While she’s remained faithful to certain topics, her body of work shows notable growth and progression.

“My love of plants began when I discovered my love for scientific illustrations and is a more recent obsession,” she said. “I have a hard time seeing how my work evolves over time because of how slowly I work, but I would say, besides technical skills, my works have become progressively more and more mythological and less and less purely realistic.”

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Coming from an artistic family, Marx knew she had her family’s support when she decided to pursue art in college. That’s not to say, however, that the path was easy.

“A lot of my drive originally came from an ‘I’ll show ‘em’ mentality stemming from criticism I received by various groups throughout my life,” she said. “I didn't have the easiest childhood, so I grew up fighting for what I wanted and that drive continues in how I take on my career. It helped me to develop a dependable work ethic, which I am forever grateful for.”

And while she’s loyal to the St. Louis art scene, Marx’s work has won praise across the country.

Mid-December of last year, Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles displayed her exhibition, “Chimera.”

It was the largest show she had ever put on, and her efforts paid off.

“I wanted to challenge myself on some technical aspects of my work since I was between conceptual ideas at the time,” she said. “I wanted to see how large I could comfortably make my work, to attempt some corner-to-corner lush backgrounds and to start combining animals from previous pieces. Basically, I wanted the show to help me decide where I want my work to go stylistically in the near future. With that goal in mind, it was a success.”

With this under her belt, she has chosen not to put on any large shows during 2020 and to, instead, spend the year putting what “Chimera” taught her into action. She’s ready to explore new ideas and see where they take her.

Additionally, she’ll be releasing her first book with Dark Horse Publishing. "Sacred Decay: The Art of Lauren Marx" comes out July 22 and is now available online for preorder through Penguin Random House, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In the meantime, her Instagram @LaurenMarxArt features her latest work, and her website laurenmarx.com offers a full gallery of her work. As much as Marx finds her artistic obsessions a mystery, one thing’s for sure: she’s gotten the rest of us hooked too.

RIGHT: "Fallen Seven-headed Cherub" Pen, watercolor, ink, gel pen, and colored pencil on paper, 22x31.5in

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IN G A G A IL R O W L B A Y B N E T W R IT G U IA IR A N D A M U N M Y B D E H P A PHOTOGR

E D I S N I K O O L A e u Q r e s i u r look insid Ba

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St. Louis-based duo Bruiser Queen has a one-of-a-kind sound: garage-pop meets rock ‘n’ roll. Consisting of vocalist and guitarist Morgan Nusbaum and drummer Jason Potter, the band formed in 2010 and has rocked the area since.

They released a deluxe edition of their album “Heavy High'' in 2018, which included five new bonus tracks under Velvet Elk Records based out of New York City. Recently, the duo finished a tour, stopping at numerous venues around the St. Louis area and quite a few other places as well, such as Texas, Nevada and California.

Sharing music all over the nation is no easy job. Tour comes with its challenges, but it also has allowed the duo to share their music to all kinds of people.

Nusbaum talked to us a little about Bruiser Queen, her tour experiences and new music in the works.

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What is the meaning behind your band name?

You share many photos of your tour manager, XZERPBLAP. What, along with XZERPBLAP, is the best Well, first off, I’m very clumsy. Second, it’s the part of touring? What are the challenges you face name of an album I love by the band Cake Like. while touring? How do you overcome them?

The best part of touring is definitely the traveling.

Seeing different parts of the country and different Having fun, ghosts, aliens, heartbreak, love and cultures is incredible. Making friends and fans food. I love lots of different music genres. From along the way has really made touring such a garage rock to riot girl and punk, pop and R&B. positive thing for us. Some obvious challenges are long drives, no money, no sleep and fast food.

Jason built a bunk in our van to sleep in, which can save money, but also gives us a place for a quick nap on a long drive. I do a lot of cooking and food prep on tour to save money. Turkey sandwiches and fresh fruit are some staples. I also have a How did you and Jason form Bruiser Queen?

We were in different bands in the St. Louis area. propane burner and can make us anything from Jason’s band Left Arm was nearing an end, and quesadillas to pork chops and broccoli.

I had a bunch of songs I had written that didn’t quite fit in with my band The 75’s. So we started What do you want to say to your fans and jamming in my basement. supporters?

Who/what are your biggest influences?

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We’d seriously just like to send out a huge thank For new listeners, what do you believe would be the you! Thank you to everyone who has listened to our music, come to a show, bought a T-shirt or best song to start out with?

I hear a lot of people get into us from hearing music, or [bought] us a round of shots. Let us “I’m Yours� off our album “Swears.� “Tiny Heart know what our band has meant to you, if you’ve Attack� off our album “Sweet Static� is another fan recommended us to a friend, booked us on an fave. Our newest record “Heavy High� is probably event, invited us in your home to sleep or eat — thanks for sticking by us through the years, the closest to our live sound. through all the ups and downs. Y’all are our family.

Is there any new music currently in the works?

Yes! We’ve been recording with Gabe Usery at Encapsulated! Everything is sounding so amazing and we are so excited! Still working out when/how we want to release the tunes with our label Velvet Elk Records.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

What is the best part of the STL music scene? What could be improved on?

St. Louis has such a thriving music scene — so many types of musicians producing all types of music. If you’re into it, there’s someone here making it. Overall — and this likely applies to many cities — it’d be nice to see more excitement (and show attendance) from the general public.

You know, it’s not necessarily a music industry Be sure to check out their music and give them change, but a change in how we consume a follow! everything. Paying people a living wage and buying quality goods that weren’t mass produced Bandcamp: bruiserqueen.bandcamp.com in China would also help the music industry. Music Instagram: @brusierqueen and art don’t hold as much value because people Twitter: @brusierqueen can’t afford it. It’s also not valued as a career choice anymore. More people are opting out of hiring live bands and replacing them with DJs or Spotify on shuffle.

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A Life of Rythm Steven Regal

Written and photographed by linze aya

“Music to me is life. It’s how I breathe, how I grow. It’s how I speak when I don’t have a voice. Music is how I connect. I help heal people with music.

It’s my legacy – my mark on the world.”

Steven Regal has been a musician for 30 years, almost his entire life.

He started singing at 6 years old at the Missionary Baptist Church in the South End of East St. Louis, Ill.

“Once I got into choir, it was my moment,” he reflected. “Music was my way to have a voice.” Regal was born in East St. Louis and raised both there and in Minnesota.

He comes from a creative, musical family. His grandfather was one of the original singers for the Four Tops before they became famous. His mother wrote poetry, sang and listened to reggae throughout his childhood.

Additionally, an aunt and several cousins are musically inclined. Growing up, Regal wanted to have the vocal power and stage presence of Whitney Houston, while being smooth and suave like Luther Vandross. His career highlights include being part of a group, touring independently, performing for politicians, working with several non-profits and more.

Regal is most proud of his role as an ambassador for Black culture.

“At one point, I was staying in an almost all-white town in Tennessee and working at Memories Theatre, which is a well-known venue dedicated to Elvis and similar styles. I was their very first Black entertainer to headline the theatre,” he reminisced. “I gave thousands of people a different outlook on not just Black music, also Black culture.”

People from across the nation and even different countries come to see shows at Memories Theatre, where he performed as Jackie Wilson.

“It was really powerful to hear kids say, ‘I didn’t know who Jackie Wilson was and I pulled him up on my phone because of you. Now, he’s one of my favorite artists.’”

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Steven Steven

I represent my city. I am East St. Louis – it’s not all drugs, gangs and all that other stuff they try to put in the tabloids.

Great people come from my hometown.

In addition to being an ambassador for Black culture, he is also an ambassador for the Midwest, in particular, East St. Louis.

“I feel like people have such a negative stereotype of the area. I look at myself as a focal point of representation. I represent my city. I am East St. Louis – it’s not all drugs, gangs and all that other stuff they try to put in the tabloids. Great people come from my hometown.”

His fan base is diverse – ranging across all spectrums of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, geography, etc. I asked him why he thinks he speaks to such a vast audience to which he replied, “I think it’s because I’m honest and when I’m singing, I’m trying to reach everyone. I’m thinking about what taste I leave in their mouth when they walk away.”

Regal Regal You can connect with

Regal on Facebook and on Instagram

@StevenRegal8

When Regal sings, he presents an authentic story and all the emotions that come along with it in order to connect to the listeners. “When you leave, you’re going to feel at some point, that I was speaking to you personally. My whole goal is to connect.”

friends to gun violence. When he got the call to participate in a Motown show, he considered it the blessing he needed, swiftly returning to music.

“There are a lot of gimmicks in the world – a lot of games, a lot of stunts. I was taught that an artist only needs a microphone and a light to touch hearts. I don’t have to conform to make people notice me – all I have to do is sing,” he explained.

“You have to be open, honest and authentic to have longevity. I’ve seen so many people in my 30 years in this industry come and go. You have to stay true to your talent.”

“This new project is totally independent. I’m investing my money to create an album that is truly authentic to me. I’m picking every picture, every instrumental. I write every word.”

Regal is currently in the middle of launching a new project, an album called “612/618,” which will be available on all major streaming services.

Expect a diverse sound that mixes genres.

“Every song is going to sound totally different.”

He wants to empower listeners and viewers to liberate themselves from the cultural norms A few years ago, feeling beaten by life, Regal surrounding music and art by expecting originality gave up music and considered pursuing acting; and authenticity from artists. however, within a short time, he lost two family members to illness and separately a total of 12

Portable Sewing Kit Sustainable Fashion DIY Written and photographed by Hanna Berglund

Did you know that clothing manufacturing is the second most polluting industry in the world?!

Yeah, that’s a big deal. Fast fashion is responsible for 10 percent of humanity’s carbon emissions.

Now, wait a second – what is fast fashion?

Take two big fashion stores, for example: H&M and Forever 21. These stores sell cheaply made clothing that will soon be irrelevant, according to trend setters, in a few months or less. Then what happens to the “off-topic” apparel from three months ago? Some people donate the clothes, but often the fashion pieces fall apart and end up in the trash. Since 60 percent of fabric fibers are synthetic, the material is derived from fossil fuels and will take FOREVER to decay in the landfill or ocean.

Even though the waste and pollution that comes with fast fashion is totally heartbreaking, I have good news. There are multiple actions each and every one of us can make to help eradicate pollution.

Supplies

Fabric Cotton (sacrifice old stuffed animal if you need to) Glass jar with lid Straight pins Scissors Buttons Fabric ruler Hot glue gun Thread and needle

First of all, shop secondhand! Not only will you save money, but you also have the option to redonate pieces of your wardrobe when you get tired of it. There is less worry about wasting money since you only spent $4 on a stylish shirt.

Another solution is knowing how to mend your clothing. Have you ever been out and about when a button falls off or a shirt rips? Instead of throwing the article of clothing away, here is a great solution for you: a portable sewing kit! I will walk you step by step on how to construct this practical tool you never knew you needed until now.

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Step 1

Cut an 8” square out of any unused fabric that’s lying around the house. Old cloth napkin? Awesome.

Unworn T-shirt? Brilliant. Random material from a secondhand store? Perfect!

Step 2

With your warmed up glue gun in hand, dribble some glue on half of the outside of the flat lid. You will only want to glue half so you can put the stuffing inside. Then attach the fabric to the lid, being careful not to burn yourself as you push the fabric down onto the glue so it becomes flat.

Step 3

Stuff it! Now take a portion of cotton to fill between the fabric and the lid to make a dome shape. Pile in as much cotton as you can without tearing the fabric away from the lid. The cotton will get pushed down later on.

Step 4

While trying your best to keep the cotton in place, glue the other half of the fabric to the lid, making sure the fabric is pulled tight around it. I had to do some touch up work with the glue where some fabric didn’t get covered. Then cut the excess fabric away.

Flipped over, the lid should look like a smooth half sphere.

Step 5

Fill the glass jar with your thread, needles, buttons and a fabric ruler if you have one. Put the lid on, dome up and tighten the lid ring on top. Now you can stick your safety pins, needles and straight pins right into your new portable pin cushion as you work anywhere and everywhere. It also helps if you have a tiny pair of sewing scissors to bring along.

(Unfortunately, I don’t have one to exhibit.) You never know when a button will pop off or a rip in your shirt will appear.

Step 6

Learn how to sew if you don’t already know how.

It’s a skill that will be useful your whole life, I promise.

Because of the rise of fast fashion, sewing is unfortunately rarely taught in schools anymore.

Have no fear, hand sewing is easy to learn! Many craft stores offer basic sewing lessons, but often times wiser (I’m not saying old!) family members can be great teachers. If both of those options are not available to you, YouTube is there for all you need to learn about sewing.

Thanks to the “New York Times” and “Business Insider” for the statistics found for this article.

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written and illustrated by cal stevens 26

L

ooking to add the same punch and power that came from overdriven, vintage tube amplifiers to your sound? Why not give the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver a try! With its simple, sturdy design and straightforward controls, the Blues Driver is a must for any guitarist. This pedal is primarily used for blues and rock sounds, favorited by a variety of different guitarists such as John Mayer, Kevin Parker, Billie Joe Armstrong, Norah Jones and many others.

As previously mentioned in Warm Soda’s issue 2 “Gear Review of the Maestro Fuzz-Tone,” the marriage of guitar and overdrive began when amplification came into prominent use. Blues guitarists such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jackie Brenson and Chuck Berry created what we know as rock and roll guitar by cranking the volume on their tube amplifiers past the (suggested) limit of producible sound. Doing so compresses the outputted sound coming from their speaker cones, adding more grit and sharpness to the overall tone. Unfortunately, getting that overdriven sound back then usually meant damaging your amplifier.

Fortunately enough though, this same concept has been replicated into many different amplifiersafe stomp boxes over the years.

History of

Distortion gear review series

The Blues Driver is a fairly simple box to operate, featuring control knobs for gain, tone and the overall level being outputted. This pedal is great for boosting your tone or sending it into total overdrive depending on the current gain setting. It's also fantastic for putting in front of a fuzz or general distortion pedal, such as the Proco Rat 2, if you are hoping to achieve some thick, desert tones. Adjusting the tone knob from left to right will take you from dark, spooky thuds to bright, crisp leads and anywhere in-between. The Blues Driver has an ¼-inch input and output jack on its right and left sides respectively.

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As far as powering the device, the Blues Driver has two options: a 9V power supply jack on top or a 9V battery slot accessible underneath the footswitch. Of course as with all Boss pedals, the mostly metal enclosure has a sturdy, nononsense design that is ready for the road but still comfortable to use.

The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is an easy choice for any guitar player looking for a warmer, classic tone at an affordable price. Whether you're in need of an always-on boost or something to help your leads achieve liftoff, the Blues Driver will have you covered at the turn of a dial.

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Coffee Shop Personalities: Finding the Brew for You Writen by Lydia Jackson 1st page photos by Brianna Ayers 2nd page by Lydia Jackson

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My name is Lydia and I am an avid coffee lover! It started as a child — my great grandma had a special little tea set she would get out when I would come over. My sister and I would act like grown ups, drinking coffee with her. It was more milk and sugar than coffee, but nonetheless a start. When I turned 18 that’s when my love for coffee really kicked in. I had already gotten into the usual Starbucks thing, where you purchase the occasional sweet coffee concoction, but when I turned 18, I moved to Ecuador for a three-month trip with a house full of other young adults. I was lonely; it was my first time away from home without my family, and the local coffee shops quickly became a place that felt like a slice of warmth and home to me. I started realizing how going to a coffee shop is far more than just a drink. It’s an experience.

Finding the Brew for You After coming home, I become a barista for my first real job, quickly becoming a shift manager and eventually an assistant manager at a brand new local coffee shop. It was a real education!

Not only did I learn how to make drinks correctly and efficiently, but I also learned the business side of things too. I learned what it was like to interact with customers every day, many of them so regular that I knew their order even before they had time to say it, along with their names and various other tidbits of information. It was a great small business experience for me, a place to learn by trial and error.

With the idea of getting into a corporation that would provide benefits and of finding a way to move up the ladder from my current barista position, I got a job at a large coffee chain.

I thought it would be awesome, but I found quite quickly that coffee shops are all about the experience, even for the workers. I was suddenly working in a place where no one really wanted to interact or develop connections, it was incredibly impersonal, large and not my vibe.

Now I’m working in a coffee shop that fits me like a good Goldilocks story. It’s personal, professional and all about giving a quality drink and product with excellent customer service. I have the opportunity to grow and develop my skills as a person who not only loves coffee, but also wants to know all I can about the whole process.

Maybe you’ve found the same thing to be true for you. You’ve probably been to several different coffee shops if you’re a typical adult in the United States. Sixty-four percent of American adults drink coffee every day!

The average adult in America drinks just over three cups of coffee a day! But not all coffee and not all coffee shop experiences are the same. You can experience anything from driving through a McDonalds to visiting a chain place where you know the menu and setting by heart, to exploring a unique coffee shop where who knows what you might see, taste and experience.

I’ve been to coffee shops that had pets, coffee shops with a hippie vibe, shops with an industrial feel, small coffee shops, large, spacious coffee shops and everything in between. I’ve been to coffee shops in small towns and large cities. Coffee shops with lots of natural light and those with little to none at all. I’ve been to coffee shops with extensive menus and options and others where the options are quite narrow. Some coffee shops serve pastries, some actual meals and some no food at all. Some coffee shops are personal, and they know you when you walk in. Some coffee experiences are clearly made for people who want to just be a number and don’t really want the personal touch.

The point is: whatever your personality, there’s a coffee shop and experience for you, and it’s probably even within a short driving distance from your home. Even if you don’t care for coffee, there are so many other drink options you may find that you enjoy going just the same. You’ll know it when you find it.

You’ll love the taste of what you order. You’ll love the people who work there — in fact, they will become your friends. You’ll meet other customers and interact, because they’re probably regulars too. You’ll bring your friends or your family to sit and hang out, making it a place to have great conversations, to laugh and possibly even cry. You’ll probably even start to feel like it’s an extension of your own home if you really find the right fit. But not every coffee shop will be for you. It’s alright.

That’s the way we’re made. No two of us are alike. A good coffee shop is as unique as you are.

This is where I got the statistics: disturbmenot.co/coffee-statistics/

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Written by Lauren Leady Photographed by Shelby Clayton

D

uring January, you may have seen lead vocalist and guitarist of local rock band Sisser, Melissa Powers, participating in the She Shreds magazine #1riffaday challenge on Instagram. If you haven’t, I highly recommend you witness the amazing musical phrases she hashed out daily. Powers not only serves as an inspiration for those wanting to pick up a guitar with her daily riffs but also motivates other musicians to pick up their instruments and get to writing.

With a Sisser album under her belt and a solo album taking shape at the moment, this powerhouse of a guitarist is a songwriting master. Despite the obstacles life throws at Powers, she overcomes all with new riffs to reflect. Learn a lil’ about this amazing musician and what makes her tick in this interview.

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Can you talk a bit about what brought you to the guitar in the first place, and how you learned to play?

I started playing when I was a teenager because I wanted to sing and write songs, and I figured I needed an instrument to make that happen. My grandpa and uncles played, and before I really knew it, my grandpa had given me his old acoustic and that was that.

What guitars and gear do you use?

My primary guitar these days is a Gibson SG Special, but I occasionally play a Les Paul Studio or Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty, depending on tuning and what kind of sound I’m going for. My amp is an Orange Rockerverb MKIII (2x12) and on my board right now I have a tuner, an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9/808 pedal, an Electro-Harmonix Triangle Muff, a Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra and a Stone Deaf Tremotron. I’m frequently making small changes to it.

Where do you get your inspiration with music and songwriting?

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Magic. Not that inspiration is magic, but I get excited about and am inspired by the forces within us. What we do with them. What it means (or doesn’t) in the grand scheme of things.

Guitars are such a personal thing to an artist. How does your instrument factor into your songwriting?

Generally, when I pick up a guitar, it’s very intentional. I know what kind of mood I’m in and I know which guitar is going to work for that mood.

In that way, the guitars I have (and I have several others I don’t play out) probably say a good deal about my inner life.

How do you approach a writing session? What is that process like for you, whether with the members of Sisser or by yourself?

For me, I’ll get an idea playing guitar, or a line in my head or a 3 a.m. thought that I have to record and sometimes they go somewhere and sometimes they don’t. When the band starts writing we usually have at least a section or two of a song that I or someone else has written. From there, we just work together to get to something we all like and are excited about.

What obstacles do you face with the #1riffaday challenge? What are you hoping to learn or experience while participating? What is your favorite part of the challenge?

The biggest obstacle I’m facing in the #1riffaday challenge is definitely time. I have a day job that can sometimes be intense, and my band, Sisser, is gearing up to play out and record.

I’ve also just finished recording a solo record, so as much as I hate that busy has become something to strive for, I’m moving at a good clip.

With the challenge, I was really just hoping to step outside my comfort zone a little. I have a tendency to overthink and obsess about things. I thought this would be a great opportunity to say to hell with all that and just see what happens.

The best part about it has been a lot of positive interaction with other people. She Shreds is fantastic and has created a very inclusive online community, but I’ve also had a lot of nice conversations with other people I don’t usually hear from.

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What advice do you have for those who are interested in learning the guitar?

Do it for you and just don’t quit.

What's next for Sisser?

We are actually going to start recording at the end of February, and we’re all eager for that.

We’ve also got a couple shows coming up on Feb. 29, 2020, at the Sinkhole and Guided by Voices Tribute show Saturday, April 11, 2020, at The Heavy Anchor. It’s going to be a big year for us when it’s all said and done.

You finished recording a solo album, can you tell me a little about it?

As of today, it’s not mixed or mastered so I still have a little while before it’s ready to go. That said, it’s four songs that I recorded with Ryan Wasoba at Bird Cloud in Edwardsville, Ill. I’m estimating that it will be out in the spring or early summer.

It’s certainly rock leaning and guitar heavy, but the themes are a bit more individual and characterdriven. I think the instrumentation and production reflect that as well.

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Find Melissa and her #1RiffADay project on Instagram

@meliss_uh_yeah

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Letting Light Shine Through Stained Glass with Sarah Neal

Written by Lauren Leady Photographed by Andrew Dobson

S

ection by section, carefully selected glass puzzle pieces become one cohesive stained glass artwork. For Sarah Neal, stained glass is second nature, an extension of who she is, a skill she has honed for years and shares with others. Recently Neal took the plunge into full-time freelance, taking the reins into her own hands. Seeing her vending at various events around Alton is a frequent occurrence, but she also has a knack for teaching her craft to all ages. Not only is she passionate about her own work, but she adores being able to share art with others. Although going full time comes with some challenges, Neal’s works speak for themselves. Her pieces are unique and full of life — no sunlight required, although it doesn’t hurt to shine some light through.

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Roughly a seven-step process, stained glass can be a tedious but rewarding medium. Neal explained that immediately after finishing a piece, she puts it in the light to see it glow.

“Putting the completed piece in the light at the end is part of my process and a big part of what I love about working with glass — that first moment of, did the worlds come together [physically] as I saw them in my head? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no,” she said.

In addition, Neal doesn’t use many outside tools for her trade, such as special saws. Instead, her process is unique: remembering glass colors and using her mind’s eye to choose. When talking about the process in terms of time, she said a 6-inch by 6-inch suncatcher can take six or more hours to complete.

From cannabis leaves to caterpillars, nature has a strong influence in her glass works. For Neal, light is an inspiration in itself. No wonder she is so drawn to stained glass.

“I've always found solace in nature and the interaction between humans and nature. Even in destruction, there is beauty,” Neal explained.

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“Light in all ways plays a big part in how I see the world's beauty and in lines, shapes and colors. The relationship between light and colored glass and light and my environment connect and translate in my artwork.”

After quitting her job last year helped begin her endeavor into full-time art — her business lookin4green was born. Launching on April 20, 2019, lookin4green became more than just a business, it also became a conversation starter and opportunity for self growth. Lookin4green is where Neal sells batches of her cannabis leaf-shaped stained glass suncatchers. Not only are they sold on her Etsy shop and at shows, but Neal also sells to local retail shops across the country.

Again, Neal sticks to nature to inspire her designs, specifically for the subject matter and colors. She also creates small stained glass treasure boxes, among other designs.

“The cannabis stained glass design holds its own beauty due to the variations of green, blue, red and brown colors and hues used to emulate the natural leaf colors found in nature.”

Although Neal tends to stay on brand with her cannabis creations and lookin4green, like any artist, she feels the desire to focus on other mediums.

On top of stained glass, she also works with fibers and metals. She has been known to make and sell necklaces, embroidery and upcycled notebooks.

“There is so much more to explore with glass and heat. I've always loved everything fiber and sewing/ hand stitching, but metals is something I'd like to explore more. I got to weld a few months ago, and pushing around hot metal is exhilarating. Other dreams include sculpture work with glass and metal.”

Aside from experimenting with different mediums, Neal also explores different designs when she has the chance.

“Some days I feel the need to focus primarily on the cannabis leaf design for the benefits of branding and sanity, but I'm still an artist and have the desire to create other designs for sale — and lately I have been interested in focusing on architectural designs for residential or commercial, as I personally love the way light reflects through colored glass into a space and the ambiance it creates and want my constructed designs in those spaces for others to walk through.”

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This isn’t the first time Neal has been in business.

For many years, she ran The White Pelican in Grafton, Ill., an art gallery, and in her spare time worked on her own art. But now, Neal is fully immersed in her business selling her own art.

is the same ... I knew nothing about selling art except that I believed in it and, now, in myself.”

In addition to selling her work, Neal teaches art classes. She often drives from Alton to Staunton, Ill., to teach at the Macoupin Art Collective “I've been half in on myself for many years while (MAC). Whether teaching adults or kids, Neal is running a business, raising a family, managing passionate about connecting with others over art other artists; I found myself in a unique position to in a classroom environment. This passion stems make some real choices for my development as a from her youth — art was always a favorite during her school years. human and as an artist.”

“I am literally the luckiest person in the world.

At times, challenges do arise that Neal has to work through, but believing in art and in herself I feel it every class day when I get to see the propels her through the hardships. excitement about art class. Art class was my “The thing about being an artist [is that] I feel favorite class in school — it saved me. It's a we forget, due to a lot of circumstances, is we are unique dynamic, an art classroom, and I love that capable of creating the life we want. Challenges I get to share that experience with my students. can be as simple as redirection or walking away My students teach me as much as I am sharing from a work of art and working on something else with them. Art is the connector and I actually get until that one comes back to us. The business to implement that idea.”

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On the whole, Neal is a long-standing artist in the local art community. Whether sharing her skills with others in the classroom or selling her pieces across the country, Neal’s passion for art only grows. As an artist and businesswoman, she is definitely someone to admire. For anyone looking

to learn stained glass, I recommend taking a class with Neal at the MAC. Follow her Facebook page to see classes available. In addition, if you are an artist aspiring to go full time with your art, Neal has some good words of advice. “Any full-time gig takes time and work to get

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established and managed.” But to Neal, an art career is just another version of entrepreneurship.

“Tell your family you're going to school for business and then take all the art classes you can or vice versa. Either way, an artist can only suppress their artist for so long.”

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Follow Sarah on Social Media!

Facebook: @snealarts or @Lookin4green Instagram: @snealearth @lookin4green2 Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/lookin4green

l p v m u p e s uc em at is it dolu d mo per m mq llu bu is d i de lic ici s u u i t s s r o t m i qu a el e uo as d mo ore el ec les s t s d . m v e a q n u t l c e e at ns bor rem to ape lab es v r ve ist is ia se tio t d p a u i m m u n d l t qu ius rume sum eum es ua aru Na t q ren ollu ol s e q s a . o a re est i t or o t t ip et tu t v Bi t i i p n t i r t e i a t u r . i u se in en qu min de lo m, us or r q t s o c es e , n i d ua i r, x m m e , c , r a e e a v t m r s s o t q a la olor ve ori et, sequ bu emp ratu uia ec gni a i l l t s d o u o qu i t olo m q do um ma ud i uis n e t d bero e sa . u m i d a r u u q a s q mq s i ime i s a a tu ur er u , t t s l e b al s b t s p i u t u o n iq i e et e o t c r t t i i e r a e o a i t e d t , t t l o n l t d at ol ea u it up ndun dem del atum s er , op t a i co a vo rem n d i si an por usa to nis ect qua us bite , s ulp tur us e i m m s e c r i n . e e e i n us mn id tem erio is upta ur s st a and rciu esed e i im e m o n ol a i se v ec s p l t e a s ni n o o s e e n l s rr er non ac cu s d s e ep vo tia con api l mo tas c pe o d p u a u r e o e p s m l ta per dae orro ict orib ptat d qu olu temo tia e v r? O ul ol d n v r v p s u i m u p i a o a u r t a a l p e ol s e cus tem it c m is r vo as odit e, cu sin n d d o a t h of a e l e e p r d l u u nim co tem lla ni aep ue sa t n a e q l a t d l i si on l s nu adig que s ea i cu s u eo iat rend ent n , l u t e i c i s t n t a a n d d i a c n u e t e u n n d ne ige b dund d e ic fa ib au gni lup ige i d d u u o Q l q t s l t s um ma al ma , cu es s ma er r? e in or inci t i qui o dis m e n x u u r o u s l e t A ar , c agni m ni s un abor mo ab r, se h a g e u . u u s ut s r q ll m s t q i i a u i U i i u ic ob im t am an uun . nsec hil el or l o l it t, c a n ame rsp oss q l i e u r u m e e co tem do t d et n o q c i i l hi id a m a i h m u di m, re vo ndae t l su rc us u ia a eq e a s t i u r c s e ru atu ? Q i e el a c e a u c n a t l e s t a o r h a e n a f c ve exp ut at it lupt metu tat us no um ot s t a b , t e v i r p i e l c i as rro i do qua olu erum lo iam n r er ve o f qu em o t e d i m t m ol icit dam im v t d olu li s m t er iu v i e c f c ru en lan lau a d e s bu s li ae off er es r u i u e x b li e t re t xp im sam mqu ep rit ut i e e a c r m s i un o u a a su in is co at sc exe uos git uis lab gi u t t a s , u s i s ili f nd au ect ex it q fu seq iam ur m mu ve tiu , m s i s e i a t it ea mni tec eri t, s ? I vere olor l sus gna en v i ta r e v O h e s m v ma ch am re por e. uo nia ren atiu tem id t ar us e el o q a u l o a e t i ib la su ev . mo ame squ es ias imp rupt auta ant up m l m t x u u l u do en d e unt scil t q equi llam qu m, s s a ut ar , c nv ol p s m u a a s i d u a u e s r l i d o i i c r t ni ut is e oc o m s n qui tius ptur usan a cu o iu cim et t a e t a , i t l v am rept au tec qu ndae deli ullu facc es p dol al laci ae il m , t s n i i m am io ia ni la ui os imu uri lam um q n ag pti unt t al sequ t la ut ta v pla r e t po qui m ax ita i b id o d lu r s lu ion adi s a op ae r v o o i M po do or it m al ess ci ii si di qu re sit ia d u i c n r t a r r f s i d i e co t e ic is omn le ne pa of olo s et qu en ximu r s um d e t s s o d t c vo u d u u s io i u u a ct u e e e l b i t b q s m l t m s s i r i i o a n e n s p ti bo dit osa sol su al a a n s s no i v quo t i exc u A t s e a e q u r u cor ne e . t q qu li e e em u o mqui ute s e m a u i a a , a A m u r s , s t m a it ips vell eseq de em ta li tur qua eni o. con Rae it q d i e o b o g d m t b a m u i n ap inc id eu m, ur? si s a aut xero inc ip m f om r u i a t o iu s q i a , i e t e p re fer quia t, tae ten qui ur onse t, an um e o t s r u la r m l s up a iu u q s e e c l e o i u b po a i u r m n ol q i od re ari omn re t rfer is t t ta t v t, e o i a e er c p i u n l u m e s p s m t a o q ni d i r e u e u a a a v e s am t pis tat da vol ui qu es nt ut olor m qu n s u q a o p n i c a e n 46 i us s a a v tia io ex nest at ta s dige icia ta qu , l t o m a t p i i e up a t mi o i i e p o

Seven Gates of Hell

m t l mo cul d e agn mo ru e p llup os tore o mo ex t c m a u m e r u a q o n o o a o s se tes pa n t ti ll isci t me ita ber ne n i a n i l t u i c r r co eic on t to ar ndu dae ant xpe re m a c r e n e , m s a or empo non er o it de pos iun ip ro l x S l e i e b e d t e i u ? p a m i a n v u r ad aq is iu ci mi oll rers in nos umq e tu r n a v sc iis ae s ta n tu ar ge li gn a m t quo p p h i I e i t o e u l d t t b a xc o c rum ol pu ide ea o. te de od qua e v i a n r r e t t b se da te ut n p abo ia la up tor uam To c l i c s l r n i q t er o e b l e u e . e c m qu li r o s s s o a m o d s o a on lab m l um um ai t la di ur l c uo i m t l b u q t ol r? i u Pu d un do que di tr um e nse se s a r u s i . o a i a t s et qu uga ea mp ad ra c e no is gi ni t p uia uris e u m f s m d s n f q nt o u u le dolo emqu t qu uu id t etSt.Peters ei unt ci by Alex Written i e q et s i s v e r t u h a rei n t ed rrov nde s ta nti ni ti au unt est p e O m a e t o s e Photographed a byuAlex St. Peterst&aShelbyrClayton t u . co s ic t ped tis es o q que p io qui nim i e r lo a s d r r e u en off d ex it tii rer res lo ct net et v su o i l s s m, o r v e pe , e i p m p ff e r a o u m fu s um is atu osa ers ser ua t p t a r q s a e a e d c s e s levil p ne pe it in the In America, rpmost i gnat atq s o ua usa niisvreal s ex there o e p i u q r p e i a m ob liq nse sim us. ordinary de em ofntowns. ic ima r, , quietest ps mand nu iplaces t l s e o u a s a p c c e i ofathose ua story iisd a qtrue r quam uat ui nis a di eofstone qu This o t q i c n q l a co e t e m splaces. e e In the backaroads of Collinsville, i l l c s s h e e m v u l i b e e e i r r u i f l were r eq tu qu ut t aresseven ci alegendary that togates ui xper d m m il us ep a EIll., s q m t t u e u t a i m t e ese ui s ni trestles ra that or l nt ga. nonce a qseries of railroad am m e E l o u t o d s e e n b u lau es isRoad. u . The dgates fu us run i t r o along Lebanon e s l i a b i c a Et or none ser onet nd beweretsaid de Ut est r l c a a to be constructed in the late . m ui iti ari e e cit sae di con orem is c us re uga. nt, e u s ulp 1800s to help trains navigate through s u p t i m b i t f e t eq e e oss iu a ima bla arc t i ibe s arthen, t the tformer mining town. Since b i a n e e i p r u la ap m atu the ib el imax aio ue la m il tec up gates um have been the r v discussion e t l s q t t t m s u a p e e t i e n up m vo bof ihangings, ec KKK meeting grounds, rf it ore sit ass tiu c t em l i t e v n c a u i p o a e er m l satanic rituals emandqparanormal er dol us, por upt and aper ui n n activity. u t d s i b nim dol au te uaeGATE The i gates or ta athemselves ti m s are extremely ui s1: l olor a , q q . g l l a i s s u u o r s u deteriorated and covered int graffiti; d creepy of all f t e1 seems p to mbe theiless sa et mi, Gate cu u a e m m u t s i t d u gates n ofta i heavily ralso surrounded ni ti ru they st are the la because r, by pi m iu ? a its closeness to townand sit, u u a lo itiwooded n t u e t l l o areas. The woods around the a v to some of the u other t l s un openness er icompared al dene iur es e s mo nul m l sand a atur mo n are also no stories surrounding x i c m gates definitely add to the creep factor e l e m e a i gates.

There u sen li r l n o t t p mn nitam t cu turi ien dis co sumthis ngate. gi only help o amplify aspthe e perfect c le t hiand f u u a a e c e e elegend u n v ri es ips t,urban s to surface. ti u r i q place for an t , i e a q u d i s i i c e r n t n d s o il d m GATE t2: r id v a e . s bo pe imdating an ea moriginal a nv maxi ata qui per am, a urbanimlegend, n s l i t g ni id The a e e m gate u et e a you m states up is the t rwith e cidrive ia epud ex ns stories nifirst uso, lThis ol 40 o reported back n im ifes nyears or b t o e o d i n e a e n v of theuparanormal e KKK activity. There’s r and l each l e q t, p m gate ut emp nos upta re ta and then ie inporder vo vi e upta through e es e n d a story that a young African-American boy u i e u a u l o o l m t c l gate at exactly sthe ofinal through R c e a re members eq was Vo ptthrough do rect go imbytKKK n eichased v cu s . the s n o r o n m e . m c u a t midnight, a portal from Hell will open. i o as e o c i t c d a a d p es s de tur odi wooded area by gate two. It’s said e i that the the portal is opened, Hounds ue res ilit olu sand tque eOnce i ss Hell od here and psan , q p e m d KKK members caught the boy m u a u u a come out dto e to it oldragatyou ia will ci a mi, vAnother ri etHell. uthe te Ithung m q n s him from gate. story states i , se ut qAnother form s u i a u c s e statesgifiyou m eo of the en iuyoung o. lanother a im dulegend nu was hungsby m u i man his friend s i i m o t s f r mgatesax go t through the in reverse, starting e m i a a o o u v t e cu m au a because d o i a girl. Then, in a pofr a dispute over orandtending iwith sa tearpe r e p seven at one, in u u r e u r r q au cum e n psa aer moment ct hung himself from the tat ua ro of regret,nalso lo will li v reality appear, allowing you to look p o t t e s i q p i u a d s gate. It’s said a depths no l lu id ac t, of a if you drive through the ogate u e into a a e i t the Hell. b p s i m p v of a v t d c i s i arounddi midnight, you can see theebody el er dip s mo ptat pore x eu sa uun es n v r a a o r e u e , e i boy swinging from the gate. q s c c t d i pr et t um dit i ac r m, m fa t oc sus sum t en t m s f e o n e m au nci qui sa ipsa st, sand re e te a u a at ti 47 d e b o i o i ese s o a t s u u u m a r u q q c t n , ti

Tinfoil Alley: The Seven Gates of Hell Location: Collinsville, Illinois

s d i dol d m m l b d ic ci pe ss su cti sti tru dol m i qui o al eli o e m s l r m v e ae qu ta ed ne lle es ve es at. bo o e a ns boru rem ec io t a p t v i s s s s l a r d i m unt am ui ndi lupt la etu s ume um e um u s a q l u q e u N r e l e i q t a r vo is re estr ips et is ta or o. pta ntu t vo to B t i i t i r t e t . uu tin en qui min de r eria , se lo m, us or q s o c es n i d ua i r, x m rc m e , , r a e e a v t m s t a a a q bus mpo atu ia la olor ve ori et, sequ ec gni i e l r u l t s u t o d o q o u o q d um ma ud i uis n e t d bero e sa . ui dol rum m i a r u q a s u q mq e i s i a r a t e m u t us t, t s u l e b al b s eni qu p i t t os tu i e et e o t c r i i r a i e o a t t l d t pt adi con vol emo ea ta p t dunt emo dell tum, ere o u i r t u n d d i si an por usan to nis ecta quas ius, ite , si ulpa tur s e b m m s . in m nu e re ni d e em c rio s i pta r se t a nde ciur sed us m i e m o i e u u e s r t n a ia vi ni ro ero nec acep usa dol ent vole a n onse pis mos as s epel m r c us e d c no r us e upti o c am a vel Opt o sp ro b la t o u t e a i l a r q m c a l t l i e ? r u t d vo eate upt re tur vo sp sand mpor odi aio lup m i r a p t s s l c s be cu ate hit d m vo ni or ta modi re, m do a cu sin of a e l e e p i e d l u u ni o te n aep u sa t l n a e q l c i l a t d l i s on l s nu adig que s ea i cu s u eo iat rend ent n , l u t e i c i s n a a n d ac de net igen uibu aut gnia upt gend dici be dund du en f i d l n i qu sto ma um ma s al r? Q int r ma cil il uis us r , c e e o di t david o demonic the in staruof um con nis e yes,ol re sqLOL ex tu orah r i n A b m u a ur, se ha s, am gn es . ag u r qu llab is ut m s t q i a U ecu il ni un li u o3b AND ri t 4:pic sim am GATES a . e c n s o e h t u l o s s n l m i t, o o ul d q t ri co tem ue ma ita cer e d n o q i i l e 4 are uknown as i the “Twin Gates” a m ch idGates ch3 and di m, re vo ndae t la am s proximity s close quto each other. r i a u e e u because of their The a s le t u ? Qu u r c s r i e a ci se t a u c n a t l e satanic t o n fa surrounding cthese gates involve ta t h upta etur ate ve expe ut s ta a u no ustories o s m i t a b , t i rthe day i during e le sacrifices.eEven c rituals and animal ov dol uam lupt um m s o r r i e r a a l u v q r r o f q em ti two do ithe in creepy. The te olo citi dam m v t de lu m r areatbetween um m it is extremely l e i u v s o e by iwoods i c f gates sc is completely ar s bu and s li ae offi ren lan blau a d pe er surrounded e u i u e x t i m u m t t x a areaqand recently rep ri ut isecluded It’sea pretty ie xere ssi t al s e b un eerily quiet. u nc s s sum o am c a t i c i it has been blocked off large piles of rock s , inlita ut t us x e quo fugi equi m la ug diby two sa i s f n a u e it r u e s this i i u entrance. v ia m tUnfortunately, s caec is emfront ofieach im doesn’t s t, r e I a a i t n s i o r e r n l n a e , e u v l e allow people to drive through the gates anymore, ? g i ss t ve net iur m v Om o t mo v re . the ma people torgather ch it edoes eh pobetween am a e u allow d t e t i l ar but o r e q a i u t s a n e l o a t u gates i ibtwo se as la s ev . me sThe mosacrifices. mp rupt auta ant to do animal qu lastetime up a i m l m t x i u m s l i t u o l u n a e u q a i u n r d l c e t q m, us wasiu in this area, t ssome ll odanimal sc I ufound eq different pa r, i nv s mo au ad I s a u e l i d i c r e u u n r i s t niremains, mgate walls satanicut images i cim t c oc ontthe sa s painted o as n e qu tiu ptu at a makeshift o a u i , t l ve andll p c t u i c even ouija board used to contact u da m ep li acie u te o c l l q a a a i s d a l e m dead. e n f m i or lare nu There multiple if d m,reports iaalso s us rit am l quia ni theia la thatvi m ui a o m u t a q l t stop a n i ag pyou t e tu bl x u hear the or ui un between taa carpl se gates, t youacan t u a a p s p n id o d i u l t r e o o i v d l o i m q s o a r do s a car i i M poapproaching l i fast, will appear. i u ri but no i re sit ia d um fic r a t es nd r to dit usci i s i q a r o s e e c 5:en im c s i omn le ne pa of olo s e qu um di t r et GATE t s s o d x c vo u d u u s i u u a ct o e eGatel5uis some e l b i t b q s m i t m s s i r i i u fromagates 3pand as n e o dit osa sol t s vo uo i distance al in xcaway b a n s s no 4, u A s e a i e t to be ethe narrowest q i u seven r u cor oftthe qit seems ne qu and se , q e. laut quo mqu ute m li se e rem i a a a A m u s , this t e gates. There aren’t any reportsisurrounding s t a ur quam eni l ip vel ese o d dem gita o. con Rae it q di t e b o m gate, but it is pretty scary gate considering how c p t b m u i n a la m, ur? eu in uid si s a aut xero inc ip m f om r it is.

If you’re not paying attention while i a t o iu narrow s q i a , i e t p se t, e re fer quia t, tae ten qui ur hit an umgoingsthrough eyou could n o it, someone head on t r u o la r m l s a u q s e e p c l e u o i u b po a i u u r i m n q i d ofethe gate r l i itself. n t or hit theoside , vo met ta et erfe nis or par com ure i at er it l u i s p s m t a o q n d i r e u e u a a t a v se sa ui is itat nda vol qu es nt ut olor m qu n u q p a o n ip ta o ue exc est t a a s ige cia us s a a v tia i q , l t o a p m i a n ri t i od it ei op ia im olu e op ugi hent rae am nt s i al i po v , en

o l m e e t e c m ne qu esto no om o or ci l au e a as a ro e i l s t e t l is t e m t on ic t n pa li ta un uci eri tib e n r c o r e t p t a r m ore a co nd da san ex e GATE 6: n , m a r r n t e p p s n o em e o d no Si Gate 6 is often po tiu b i ero ll ifor ex confused i e d e another gate in the i u ? p a m a n u q r nv os ad iu ci mi oll rers iBridge. mqa story that some ea nis tu area called Acid There’s r u a v sc iis ae n a u r e n t the 1970s t backpin o as acid m t n pkids ha ig lli Ig decided to droptsome o e u d at ebi d qu ate c c m l u xtry toodrive r u o de ea p are o. te There u d e v i o i a q and through all the gates. n r r e t t e b o p r m a p s da te uttwondifferent bendings ia o a l o u a c t u to the story.

One claims that T l i c qu er o es b i oll er un seq o. et c m li r s s a m o d approachedogate a6 and wrecked the kids into thel n b s um ai t la di ur l co bla um eum uo iand their m t l q t ol r? u front of the gate car exploded in n do que di tra fiery se si ad i u . P ru u s um ons o t a i a t i s other u crash. i The oneasays the kids got lostcand a a p s e p d i n q g e m a g i r of Acid t u thetu mnup ndriving e uis ra toudie fu s m de s fu q o o ended off top Bridge u u e u q l q i n u id et ei unt el both et stin anqexplosive em u do stories t ic si However, v crash. say e v r i t h a n d t o e a i i e rr nde s ti a ghostly au ureenactment nt est of Ot ant s r mn you canasee te repsometimes o e t u a t u . co t m o is gate es 6oorqonqAcid ed at ue Bridge. In crash teither ep dis ficthexp ri qui eni lo a s r r u t i n r essome people were o v f t e i there su tiis aostory re that ol s e , o ed addition, ic net met r l s v f e , e i p p f m r p r a Acid m a e driving s Bridge po and they stopped before tu am f ernear a is tatu osa ers ru qu st a s e e e stopped, they saw a cpair a d they s e gotathere. s e p While n sa i gn oft atq o u ni veli porp bis sp ex u p u q r e m i . q a headlights m se si in the de em no eli on ma from , ic them usdistance approaching nu ips am, t i r l s a s They decided to wait afor the p c behind. car to u pass d c e r quam uat ui nis qu c i m qu ndi esti ata tia eqand o q go over l m the icar when it did, theylwatched co l s s he ve fac ue res re l i b e e e i u q l r u r i e thin miair. qu ut ui vanish at pe into Et usc iam esto imil atus rep Acid Bridge toqjust d t x e m t e es n r o lu et a ni nt ga. nam mqu us GATEte 7: E l o s o d s u lau es e fu us aru lib iti bo. t d e through s ist the r d be e i ne se t This gate that if you drive atr net c a E o n d o s r l U c a t n e co . t,a portal ui iti ari e ea cit sae. i and em midnight, will open em will nHellhounds a d r s s r o g e p i o c u s p However, i noimu e untake you toa Hell. it t fucome care abthere e t ul seq e es ossu i a r r l m b a t b and i a n e it axhappening pathere reports of this be api lab lactually auisn’tili ec o m atur upt um i e e l i m r v si u this l s t gate. t ma eq any other reports from emBy lat e t ut ecte i paranormal n t f t s u up m vo b ip e t i o i t r i m er as tiyou’re gatea7, a u ic about ov time l you,gosthrough re in d mp ui n nec r rthe t o e er m l n e o e p da of Collinsville d s Ill. Maybe ap mp e athe lutheapeople e cityiof buTroy, ru at tisq sin u i t o r o t n d o b l ogates the of the lseven to say that a m , l qu created qu o gi sastory s. u ra us et d , fu ut l a si e p sa t cu i Troymis in fact Hell.um i e m m t s i t , d i u u n ta a i r , i n r st nd sit, a ur lup la anti t l um lo iti e iu ? a e t o n r v t ur l al den iur es e s mo nul m l su x e nis aisu nothing t t mo i c m e Now, the story of the seven gates l e m n e a i a i u r l n o e t n i l s es m p u surrounding co sumbut antlocal urban legend. Theccarea ur cien adis l t hi fugi , om e na pe t u a e e s e i s u n than v ri e t s 3nand morescreepy ur nat di 4,misi, i it rci d qu ore ed q os l ipthe gates, especially t d ve a e xi in athe . I don’t s story i i p the storyat itself. im an ea ab er am, ui ofpthe nv mbelieve t a q i t a ni id lum t l m im agn ias e e m p e d a s i u seven I do t somewhat n butin l gates, o ene eu nim esc o pofu ae ab tisome onbelieve o d r e ex e n v e r l t, l ta u surrounding a the stories the s gates. t It’s a dangerous p e t e a e o q m m r u s t i v e up i e e no lprobably up tu have mlost de e people iI do believe ue iso road on l cte Rov usap olup c q o c o m e a r e re V pt of its seclusion d re i t n lives area,eand ns stheir m. i c it v es . because mnin the co u a o e o c t s r c a it could pa meeting e s d tu ed ue da place ia rituals orandi t lbe e for d satanic u od s n s i u e i s a e o l do q s s t up ia uam, le temq tur e i the at paranormal. ip i o , i c a v r d e i u t t a s se ut q s ci eum gian o. I enim um q us, mu u eo a i d n m l i u i s i i m o t f r as os o te orum max ut ea d m ovi r cu a i p i s e a r e p t u u r p e u r r u q t t o a cum e n psa aer lo li ta qua nc pr p i at l i nos de e vo aut t, u s a ol vid ac ta bu p s odi tia epe um v c i s i i l a e a r m d nt s e er ip ve an e or t, s quu ra sed ces cupt t po ex i r d i m p c m e a s n t c u , t am si der odi fa am em f ut o su i su et e n a i m us ips ost, osan ore e e at at ti a inc equ da b i s s u i us q qu t m m, t m ra cu na it t e t b e e c i e s e n b e u a e i l s n o e

Maxine Thirteen Sherlock Oil on Canvas IG: @maxine_thirteen

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Katherine (Trina) Helms Erosion Gouache IG: @kriais

Alan Hollingsworth FaceBall Oil Pastel and Pencil IG: @alan.hollingsworth.art

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Timothy Wagner Meditator Mixed Media on Reclaimed Wood Panel IG: @studio-de-la-finch

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Genevieve Esson Prince's Purple Rain Acrylic on Stretched Canvas IG: @genevieveesson

“Aesthetic�

Mariah Huelsmann

Subtle tension subdues our brains And tightens our reactions Yet confuses our hearts And ties us to what is aesthetic Over what is real

Leslie Song Where To Go From Here Oil on Canvas IG: @lesliesongart

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Abbie Hernandez Testimony to Time Digital Photography IG: @ahernandez.photography

Anna Juliet (Bananna Mochi) ćœˆ (tsuki) Gouache IG: @bananna_mochi

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Leroy Binks Beneath the Surface Digital Manipulation LeroyBinks.com

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Sarah Elliot (Syrup) Ill Will Mixed Media on Canvas IG: @artwithsyrup

Tylr Gottschalk Devil on My Back Digital Art via Procreate IG: @scumflower

Tamarra Lynn (Ceru) Between Seasons Acrylic on Wood Panel FB: https://bit.ly/2vEXGba

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Maura Eads Cabbage Face Acrylic IG: @justsomeart2

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