3.1 Venice Contributing Author in Standing Rock, ND

A friend and contributor to this magazine (Vol. 4), Eddie Webb, has been in Standing Rock, North Dakota, participating with tribes and supporters from across the US and around the globe. This is a historic gathering to protect the environment as-well-as the human rights of all people. Webb is a respected member of the Keetoowah tribe, a professor, and a documentary filmmaker. In his discussions with the leaders of the camp he has found a consensus that they do not see themselves as media but as storytellers.

"… we are the storytellers. Storytellers complete the circle. The speech-makers, the Holy people, the elders, the warriors, the life-givers and the storytellers all have an equal place in the nations. We are the storytellers, the thinkers, the interpreters and we give voice to those who need to be heard."

— Edi Webb

This peaceful gathering, which is committed to nonviolence, is comprised of over 90 tribes with the intent of actively protecting the land. Through songs and prayer, they have put out a call to pay attention, to hear their stories and to think about the actions which are taking place now. Edi Webb has produced a few short films which provide some insight into this moment. https://vimeo.com/182807872

#StandWithStandingRock #NoDAPL
https://vimeo.com/182807872

THE RISING IS COMING...

In a world run amok with greed and avarice, the common man is feeling restless and revolution is in the air. But under the ever watchful eye of "Big Brother" how can a revolt against poverty and injustice even gain a foothold? The ISHI seem to have the answer as they organize an unorthodox rebellion to create a new society.

ISHI The Rising, is a new novel written by Taylor Barnes and Will Keane, and illustrated by Taylor Barnes. We will be releasing the book in weekly installments on the ishitherising.com website.

Driving the concept...

The art for the new cover was born from the multiple interviews we did with various musicians around Venice. With each conversation, it became apparent that the intersection between art and music was distinct and unavoidable.

Music has inherent within it a visual component. Although the sound may enter your ears it is processed by your mind with visuals.  It was this concept that drove the idea to create a piece of art that would somehow combine the visual with music.

I reached out to a friend and lyricist, Will Keane, who had recently visited Venice Beach from Ireland, and asked if he could write a song from a visitor's point of view. Once he sent me the lyrics for "Dogtown's the Place" Venice came into sharp focus for me. The musical component of this town has always been a fabulous gumbo pot of rock, blues, punk, surf, jazz and a whole lotta cayenne to spice it up. Of course, the lyrics could never capture all of that but they represent the spirit of the people.

With that in mind, I decided to render the energy of the creative community in an abstract way. The center of the painting is the spiritual vortex that so many believe exists within Venice. The vortex is the pulsing creative heart of our community. The lyrics overlay that, they are the surface or the outcome of our creativity. The lyrics represent what people see when they visit Venice – the by-product of our free expression.

And that... is called driving the concept.

ANSWER NO. 9 →

Welcome to Volume 3 of 3.1 Venice

Men in Skirts, boardwalk musician Sunny War, vegan cookie bakers at the Stoop, the Wiles of Wylie Wilson on Abbot Kinney Blvd., or the thought provoking documentary, "Embargo" are a few of the stories covered in this issue.

https://issuu.com/3point1-venice/docs/march2016-3point1-venice/1

Men in Skirts, by Venice-based author Nika Cavat, explores what happens to fashion, and other things, when they are adopted into an upscale economic environment.