THE FLOOD
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The Flood ISSUE TWO
EDITOR/DESIGNER: Natalie Walstein
CONTRIBUTORS: Holton Brock Ranee Brophy Arantxa Garcia Mark Illing Karen McKie Eleni Nikoletos Karston Smith Zebulon Zang
SPECIAL THANKS: Sophie Lundstrรถm Halbert Eleni Nikoletsos Abby Kallas Jessica Hische
SUBCRIPTION INFORMATION: thefloodzine.com
CONTACT or SUBMIT:
thefloodzine@gmail.com
{
all photography is by eleni nikoletsos unless otherwise noted
}
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ART DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY FASHION BOOKS MUSIC
W
O C EL
E M O 2
ART
Karen McKie
RICHMOND, BC
HOW DO YOU GENERATE IDEAS FOR YOUR WORK? I be sure to document everyday things because some of the most interesting works can come from the smallest details.
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Holton Brock
VANCOUVER, BC WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST? New paints are like Christmas.
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Karston Smith
VANCOUVER, BC
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE CREATIVE? Mostly because when you aren’t good with numbers, creativity is the only thing that’s going to pay the bills. It’s also just deeply satisfying to be able to create something that didn’t exist before. I’m not sure how to describe it really, but it feels good. In a wider importance, creativity is the answer to our problems that need obvious solving, whose solutions are hidden. The Romans knew creativity’s value when they built the aqueducts to transport water, as do modern thinkers, demonstrated by the use of micro-organisms to breakdown our cities’ waste by-products. Creativity, not to sound entirely generic, is hugely important for everyone; from artists, designers and thinkers of all disciplines. It’ll make sure things don’t get too stagnant. I want to make cool work, have unique stuff and know amazing ideas in my life, and I guarantee you that I’d have neither if it weren’t for creativity.
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Ranee Brophy
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE? The thrill of tracking and uncovering the anomalous substances in life, the subtle pluses and minuses that build us up.
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Arantxa Garcia
MEXICO CITY
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DOODLE? Intricate lines and imaginary creatures.
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Mark Illing
CALGARY, AB
WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO WHILE YOU WORK? Audiobooks and podcasts.
Pierce Jordan
TSAWWASSEN, BC WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT USING PRINT MEDIA? Big, solid blocks of pure colour. The ability to reproduce with speed and precision.
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DESIGN
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Jessica Hische BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
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Freelance illustrator and typographer, Jessica Hische, has been working on an ongoing project for the past year entitled “Daily Drop Cap.� Each work day, she posts a newly illustrated initial letter along with a code for bloggers to use as the opening character in their posts. > Portfolio @ JessicaHische.com. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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AT DAILYDROPCAP.COM 31
PHOTOGRAPHY
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Zebulon Zang VANCOUVER, BC
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Eleni Nikoletsos TORONTO, ONTARIO
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John Tyler Ramage OWEN SOUND, ONTARIO
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FASHION
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MyExCloset TORONTO, ONTARIO PICTURES BY GIZELLE NORIEL GRIARTE WORDS BY CASSIE COWIE
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MYEXCLOSET IS AN ONLINE CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE DEDICATED TO CLEANSING AND REPLENISHING CANADA’S TRENDIEST CLOSETS. Cassie Cowie founded MYEXCLOSET in the Summer of 2009 during a break from the University of British Columbia when she longed to find a proper new home for clothing that she no longer wore, but still cared for. “My suitcase sat untouched on my bedroom floor for weeks. I glanced at it daily procrastinating unpacking because I had spent a year with those clothes. I felt my time had come to an end with
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had come to an end with them... I was ready to accept that. They were my “EXES.” I cared for my “exes” though... I remembered the initial spark, and the experiences and I kept good care of them. I wanted to know that they could still be taken care of, just no longer by me. I was showering and wondering why there was not a venue that I wanted to use. I was not going to let them sit in a thrift store, and they almost
seemed too “trendy” to put in most consignment stores. I wanted them to directly cater to their market. In addition, eBay and Craigslist were not the outlet I was looking for. The online aspect was appealing, but
I wanted a look. I wanted a boutique and complete closet trendy feel, a blend of modern and vintage, a new take on the consignment industry. The metaphor of the “EXboyfriend” followed my train of thought throughout this… and in an instant “MYEXCLOSET” came clear in my head- the concept, the name, it all appeared in an instant. I jumped out of the shower (and without dressing) scribbled the name and a lot of what is today’s “About Us” page all over a scrap pieces of paper. In an attempt to evoke the feel of a complete closet online our items are carefully accepted in consideration of our condition and “style” guidelines. By crafting the MYEXCLOSET look, we hope to offer both our consignors and customers a caring experience; a venue that they trust. We understand that it can be difficult letting go of pieces – even though you aren’t wearing them anymore, you remember picking them out and the occasions that they were perfect for. Imagining them collecting dust in a thrift store is heart-breaking, nor do you have the energy to create an eBay or
Craigslist post for them – you don’t want them gone that bad. MYEXCLOSET is here to do the grunge work for you, make them look new and fresh for their new owner, and very importantly, once they sell our consignors receive a cheque for 50% of the sale price. By offering a simple, caring and profitable experience we are opening the consignment industry to those pieces that just seemed to special to give away. My experience and education in business has been an obstacle so far, though nothing to stop me. I was a General Arts student at UBC, and though very interested in business and economics, it wasn’t what I was putting my energy into. I was mainly feeding my creative energy at school (creative writing, acting, philosophy). Thankfully these studies have been crucial to my entrepreneurial spirit (where dreaming and planning is essential). However, business studies have been left for me to learn through personal education and experience. MYEXCLOSET did not begin with a business plan, which was probably the hardest part. I had an idea and thought that was enough. Though now that I see how much I believe in this company and want to make the most out of it, I am working on our business plan while running the company. My plate is definitely filled, though I really do love it..”
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SHOP/SELL AT: MYEXCLOSET.COM “Winter is a great time to play with texture. In regards to colour, one statement piece (such as the cape) is enough, but I really love monochromatic tones of black, white and grey. A visual consistency in colour allows you to have fun and layer different textures; clunky boots, sensual lace, thick wools, and fur.� 52
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BOOKS
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AN OBJECT OF BEAUTY BY STEVE MARTIN Is there anything this man doesn’t do? Actor, comedian, playwright, producer, musician, composer, and author Steve Martin’s new book, An Object of Beauty, follows the fictional story of Lacey Yeager as she experiences life as an art dealer’s assistant in the New York art scene. Filled with full-color images of famous art works, this beautiful novel sheds light on the struggle between the value of art and the complex pleasure of the painted canvas.
TREE OF CODES BY JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER The award-winning author of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has released a new take on the choose-your-ownadventure books of yesteryears with the untraditional format of Tree of Codes. Using text from his favorite book The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz, Foer had each page die-cut to reveal a haunting new story.
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MUSIC
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The Do (the “dough”)
was the first English-singing French band to top the French charts in 2008 with their first studio album “A Mouthful.” Now, Olivia Merilahti, Dan Levy, and drummer Pierre Belleville have released their new EP “Dust it Off” featuring three new songs off their upcoming LP including, “Dust it Off”, “Too Insistent,” and “Slippery Slope.” Olivia Merilahti’s soft and insane vocals mesh wondrously with Dan Levy’s instrumental framework to create a oneof-a-kind sound that radiates artistic compatibility. Their style oscillates between folk, pop, rock, and jazz, allowing each song on the EP, like their first album, to embody a feel all its own.
The Do’s newly released music video for “Slippery Slope”, a song featuring chant-like singing and tribal drumming, is completely captivating. As you stare into the eyes of a Finnish beauty, you are kidnapped away into a dreamlit world of tribal masks, wild birds, ninjas, and animal print outfits.
LISTEN TO THE NEW EP “DUST IT OFF” AND WATCH THE NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “SLIPPERY SLOPE” AT HTTP://THEDO.INFO
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Now that you’ve seen it...
Do SOMETHING!
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S U B S C R IB E Submit SUGGEST SOMETHING COOL A P P LY TO B E A N E DI TO R Send a tip WATCH HTTP://THEFLOODZINE.COM FOR DAILY INSPIRATION T E L L U S W H AT YO U T H I N K Distribute us in your area COLLABORATE ON A PROJECT T E L L YO U R F R I E N D S
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JANUARY 2011