Afele Ulualofaiga Coleman: DJ Activist

“Occupy Oakland” by Tuffgyal808

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Afele: I consider myself a Bay Area Native because I lived most of my Life here.. pretty much since I was a baby, mostly in SF, Bayshore and Geneva all day.. but I was born in Torrance,CA.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Afele: I feel like I was set on this path since birth. As far as really finding my voice and using my words/music/other kinds of art to express myself (and to express my gratitude for the Growth I have found within my Life) I am really just beginning.. with new eyes and a new found fearlessness that only comes from overcoming certain trials and tribulations. Love is the foundation.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Afele: It could be in my baby nieces smile or a quiet conversation with one of my closest aunties; in my Polynesian Roots, nature, struggles or within my Sisters and Brothers; it could be a night out with my cousins, at family gatherings or a spontaneous conversation with a stranger… The Bay Area! Meeting and connecting with people such as yourself is always a Blessing and very inspirational.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Afele: hmmm… wow! Its been a long time since then, dang I can’t even remember and I don’t have too much of a vinyl collection but the first record I ended up scratching the hell out of as a kid, on my regular ass turntables,was my Uncles copy of the “Do The Right Thing” soundtrack. lol!! I used to try my best to cut that thang up and emulate what I heard on the radio.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Afele: I Love all of my Family! I Love that God never gave up on me and has set me on a path that I am still getting used to. I am truly grateful for all the wonderful people that I have been meeting and connecting with, and for the opportunities for Growth that come with that. I wasn’t always so unafraid to express myself but I hope that whoever reads this will find their voice and the courage to express themselves from their Heart. My ultimate goal in Life is to buy my Mom a house… yup, not rent. Its time to connect and be a positive influence on each other… encourage each other to grow and progress and let Love and compassion be the foundation. Together, We can! One last thing: I want to share an old Samoan proverb that has become one of my favorites, “We are moved by Love but never driven by intimidation.” OneLove!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samoan-Solutions/131322913600154?sk=info

Mike Tyau: Muralist, Photographer, Graphic Designer

“West Oakland Walls” by Tuffgyal808

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Bam: I was born & raised in Honolulu, Hawaii but moved to SF after high school to go to art school. I lived temporarily in LA for 2 years to hook up with my wife, but I’ve lived in the Yay Area for 23 years. Trip out that it’s been over half my life in the beautiful Bay Area!

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Bam: Many friends of mine have told me that I was born to be an artist & have the innate ability to do art (draw & paint anything the eye can see or apply the aesthetics of good design). I went to the Academy of Art with Estria. He majored in Illustration & I majored in Graphic Design in the 80’s. I stopped doing graffiti back in the early 90’s to “grow up” and work in the videogame industry. However, after becoming a project manager & working a desk job for 6 years, Estria brought me back to the game in ’06 to help me back on my true love for painting graffiti art. Since then, every free moment I have, I paint.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Bam: Besides sharing graffiti art with my graffiti fraternity brothers, I’m inspired by everyday life. A ladybug crawling up my sleeve, a bird soaring across the sky, talking to female friends about what their favorite colors are. The dance of Malia Movement! After doing computer graphics for 10 years, I am inspired by good lighting and color…because with out light, we are all in the darkness. It was not until I met a bunch of friends from Pixar and started doing photography that I understood that controlling light in my art sets the tone of how people feel. Besides the content of what you paint, it helps to know a lot about lighting & color.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Bam: I think my first piece of vinyl was either the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever, Mantronix Needle to the Groove or Rap Raplinger’s Poi Dog (Hawaiian comedian). Kids out there have to understand the background that when we were young, we all didn’t have our own individual iPods or Walkmans. My brother, sister & I had to share a record player & 1 cassettle player. Since I am the youngest of 3 siblings, my oldest brother had dibs on what was played on a record player 1st. He listened to the Beatles, Led Zepplin, Johnny Cash & the Eagles and introduced me to “Classic Rock.” My sister was next, so she played disco records of Andy Gibb, the BeeGees and Shawn Cassidy. Later in the evening was when I got to play my records of “New Wave” music, heavy metal & comedy.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Bam: You know a person is from Hawaii when the interview is over and they say “all pau!” Mahalo for the interview!

http://miketyau.com

Mini Interview with DJ Toks

Toks Ajike: Reggae/House DJ, shown here with DJ Henroc (not my photo)

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Toks: I’m not from the Bay Area, though I’ve been here for 20 years. I grew up in Nigeria.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Toks: at age 12 , when I would go pick records with my Dad, from Ojays to Bob Marley.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Toks: from creative minds, selfless and like minded humble people.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Toks: good question, hmmmmm, I believe it was a Donny Hathaway record.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Toks: be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity- Horace Mann

Deadeyes: Graff Writer

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Deadeyes: Yeah, I was born and raised in the East Bay… Third Generation. I grew up in Hayward and have been in Oakland for the past 11 years.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Deadeyes: Specifically the street art… 15 – 16 years…But I also have other creative outlets. I used to play the sax from elementary school to high school and have been writing, designing and doing videos since high school. My earliest 2 dimensional pieces were based of the cut paste zines I was making in highschool…

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Deadeyes: Besides the influences I grew up in because of my family and my environment… hip-hop, jazz, blues, reggae, fusion, and new wave.  I’ve had a strong interest in counter cultures from the 60’s on. Besides the music of these periods, I’ve been influenced by the art, film, writing and philosophies of various movements. Political posters, flyers, rock posters, murals, independent comic books and anything that rubs against the grain of sheep mentality.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Deadeyes: Oh Man… Eric B and Rakim.. Follow the Leader.  and Marrs.. Pump up the Volume…

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Deadeyes: I roll like galactus… I absorb planets.. keep the good.. discard the bad… defined by my own light…. and only responsible to GOD

Jennifer Johns: Songstress, Artivist

“Family” by Tuffgyal808

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Jennifer: Yes I am a OAKLAND NATIVE!!!

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Jennifer: I was born an artist. My parents say that I was singing before I could really speak! I think it was my first language.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Jennifer: Inspiration is hard to speak about because there is no rhyme or reason for me. I am one of those artists who could not be inspired enough to write a song for 2 years and then write 200 in a month. Its about where I am in my spirit and what I feel strong/vulnerable enough to share at the time. Sometime my music is just for me!

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Jennifer: I don’t know what the first piece of VINYL I bought was- but I think the first piece bought in my honor was an Earth Wind and Fire record.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote?

Jennifer: GO LIV!

• http://www.myspace.com/jenniferjohns

Jerry Limon: clothing designer, Owner of Estillo Clothing

“Dia de los Muertos” by Oni Connor

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Jerry: In the Bay since ’84…

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Jerry: Started on my path in ’95…

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Jerry: I draw inspiration from my interests/hobbies in general and lately that can be narrowed down to music interest and the culture that embodies the music.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Jerry: The first piece of vinyl I copped was lifted from my pops, which I still have and it was Cortijo y su combo original con ismael Rivera – “juntos otra vez”

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Jerry: Just a huge thank you for all the love and support that’s been given over the years and especially in the past few that has been so rough on everybody – it shows how truly blessed I am to be able to do what I do….

Gracias!!!

www.estiloclothing.com

Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi: Filmmaker

“Blood Brothers” by Tuffgyal808

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Eli: Home is where the heart is, I have lived in the bay longer then I have lived anywhere else.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Eli: I remember at age 9 I went to a visual arts summer camp and I took a video production and photography class. In high school my mom bought a Hi8 camcorder and I took it as my own. At UC Berkeley in Loni Ding’s class I found out I could make this my profession, and the rest is history.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Eli: I find inspiration from the people around me and from the movements around the world working on creating peace through justice. I’m inspired by people who do so much with so little.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Eli: The first vinyl I bought was Criminal Minded by Boogie Down Productions.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Eli: My big brother Kahlil is my business partner and best friend our mom would always remind us that: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

http://www.ClenchedFistProductions.com

http://www.HipLifeMovie.com

Eric Arnold: journalist, photographer

“Oakland Art Murmur” by TuffGyal 808

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Eric: I was born in NYC and have lived here since ‘1971.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Eric: In the womb. Actually my mom has a picture of me at age 1 1/2 in front of a poster saying ‘Free Bobby and Huey’.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Eric: I get inspired by people a lot. Artistic, Creative types. Folks for whom rhythm is revolutionary.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Eric: hmm, Ashby flea market… I was maybe 5 or 6. It was either Donovan’s greatest Hits or a Monkees album. I can’t remember.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Eric: “Promise me with every opportunity you’ll use the all illuminating eye beyond obvious buffoonery” -Lyrics Born.

Sean McMahon: Dancer, Choreographer

peck peck dance ensemble by Al Lin

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Sean: I am originally from Salt Lake City but have been living in the Bay Area since 2000.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Sean: I began choreographing by demanding my sister and her friends to perform my choreography when about 7 or 8. Formal training in dance began in middle school. Went to Ohio University to study dance, specifically choreography. Performed and produced dance in the Bay Area until about 2009. Been on hiatus since then…

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Sean: Inspiration comes from everywhere. Artwork by Yoshotoma Nara, readings into psychological topics, my own writing. Right now I am feeling like I need to choreograph something about Bert and Ernie from sesame street getting a divorce http://videogum.com/351531/you-can-make-it-up-bert-and-ernie-get-divorced/franchises/you-can-make-it-up/

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased? Sean: I have never purchased any vinyl! I remember my mom playing the eurythmics from vinyl, and my sister had a record that sang the “me and my teddy bear” song…

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Sean:  I am on hiatus from dance right now so that I can spend my money on me, and save it. I became very frustrated that in order to produce dance I needed to martyr my life to dance… i.e. spend all my money on dance, and never have anything left for insurance, etc… I keep thinking I will eventually return to choreographing, but honestly just can’t stomach spending money on renting space, when that money should go to debt… I was also looking around at other dancers, mentors, those that where older, and seeing that they weren’t any better off than I was. Had to make an intellectual decision. My heart is still with choregraphing/dancing/teaching but my brain had to make a different decision… and since I am on a rant, I am also very frustrated with the SF Dance Scene…

Ellen Sebastian Chang: Writer, Creative Consultant, Goddess

“FuseBOX” by Tuffgyal808

Q#1: Are you a Bay Area Native? and if not, how long have you lived in the Bay? Ellen: I was born in Seattle, Washington.  And my “wonder bread” years were spent in a small farming community in Eastern Washington called Pasco.  I moved to the Bay in 1970… so I guess by now I am almost “native”.  I have always lived here in the East Bay.  I have seen the Bay go through some amazing changes over the past 41 years.. some of them break my heart but I am not a nostalgic person for the good old days.

Q#2: When did you start on the creative path you are currently on? Ellen: I think it is interesting that you pose the path as currently on — I started my creative path as a teenager and the course of that path has been long for me.  That path included a love of poetry; an obsession with film especially non-American film; in college I fell in love with and studied lighting design and had hoped to join the union but became a director instead.  I have developed theater projects for homes, for a fountain with a skateboard crew, in small art galleries and radio plays, created numerous solo works and toured a large scale production called “Sanctified Church” about the work of Zora Neale Hurston.  I have directed a Ukrainian folk opera and a Balinese Dance drama.

All of this is to say I am fascinated by culture. There has been various times when I have said I am not good enough for this path or I will not be successful on this path and I have considered other avenues but I now accept that this path of creativity is meant for me.  It may look different to people who know me recently, or people who are just becoming acquainted with me and the work I choose to do but it is has been a path always in search of what makes us human.  What is the essence of our humanity — the good, the bad and the ugly and most of all the beauty.

Q#3: Where do you find your inspiration? Ellen: My Mama, grandmother, from Mississippi was my first inspiration — the way she told stories and animated them with her body and cigarette smoke.  When my daughter was born 14 years ago, the early morning breast feeding in the shadow world of her nightlight also became inspirational.  The streets and watching public interactions are a big inspiration. These words of poetry from Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese “Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting ” And recently the sci-fi work of Nnedi Okorafor.  To me it is impossible not to be inspired when I look outside of my own fears, worries and ego. The world is full of wonder.

Q#4: What was the first piece of vinyl you ever purchased?  Ellen: The first piece of vinyl was the 45 of “Going to a Go-Go” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. It was also the first really big lie I told my Mama. I was asked to walk to the local store to buy hamburger.. a pound of it for a dollar.  The black owned store also sold records and I wanted that record soooo bad.  When I came home with out the hamburger, I lied, saying I lost the money thinking I could get away it. I played that record for the rest of the afternoon.  That night at dinner when I came to the table the 45 was on my plate.  My Mama said, “You think I don’t know what comes in and outta my house?  Now you eat Smokey Robinson!”  I cried.  I could not listen to that record again but it still held a big place in my heart.  And today it is still one of my favorites because it taught me later in life about the depth of choice and consequences.

Q#5: Anything else you’d like to share? a joke/quote? Ellen: An old Moms Mabley joke:  Two Old Women walking down the street. One turns to the other one and says, “I smell hair burning.”  Other one says, “Maybe we walking too fast.”

I love it because it is no longer relevant in the age of the Brazilian Bikini Wax.  I love it because it keeps me mindful of change, relevance/irrelevance but it still makes me laugh.