aking over the world one masterpiece at a time, Justin Bua’s art celebrates a living representation of the urban experience. A product of the streets of Harlem, this modern day artist generates elegant and provocative images of the crazy and decadent life from New York’s underworld. Bua describes growing up in the city as, “A very crazy time but it was beautiful because the city was alive and had a rhythm of its own. Colorful, rich, vibrant, and crazy.” From his Los Angeles studio, Bua keeps the beats of the streets alive through the New York inspired art he creates. Ranging from classical to commercial, Bua’s unique approach to the definition of creativity drives him to play with alternate mediums of art including video games, music videos, posters, sneakers, and the creation of a book, “The Beat of Urban Art”.

Preserving his passion for the city culture, Bua continues to honor his roots and is even considered as the revolutionary behind the birth of a pioneering genre in art- New Urban Realism. This groundbreaking style documents the birth of hip-hop and the true heroes of the era as seen through the distorted eyes of Bua. “All my characters are city dwellers who are influenced directly from hip-hop,” says Bua. “These are the people who I paint and who are important to me. People always paint bucolic landscapes and I was the first person to put out an urban landscape when I did, The Block. I paint the ghettos.”

Recognized as the contemporary father of urban art, this vivacious, and at times, sarcastic individual has remained driven by ambition since the onset of his career at the tender age of four. He has come a long way since his first creation of Coloring Machine Man by evolving and continuing to paint the world- omitting different hues into the universe.

“I have always been very motivated with a voice that needs to get out there in the world,” explains Mr. Bua. “I am an artist for the people, by the people and of the people and so I feel like it’s important for people to see my work and to share my work with the people. It’s not just my work; it belongs to a generation because it is something that speaks volumes to the people. I feel like I have been chosen to create art for everybody.”

But even so, the USC professor describes himself as the eternal student- “I’m always learning, always growing and always trying to get better. It feels good to give back and share my knowledge and experience.” Further advice that Bua offers not only to his students but also to aspiring young artist, is to maintain a high level of persistence, determination, perseverance, and to most of all, “Keep it real.”

Ten years from now we can expect to see this hero of the imagination hard at work stepping up his game bigger than ever imagined. “I hope to be known as the one who took our culture and celebrated it.”

For more information and photos by Justin Bua take a look at his official website, myspace, twitter and facebook.

By Lauren Mitcheom

you want to see in the world”. Ghandi’s inspiring words are the essence of what resonates in the heart and mind of Billy Raftery. Six years ago on a move to Durban, South Africa, the 29 year old Columbia University graduate was faced with an exponentially growing issue; the insane high numbers of desolate and misguided street children living in extremely poor and dangerous environments. Raftery is one of the few that have opened their eyes to the gravity of the situation: “I would come home everyday to homeless children puffing and raising hell and it was absolute chaos but no one was batting their eyes at it”. In collaboration with Tom Hewitt, one of the primary founders of Umthombo, a non-profit organization that aims to change the image of street children, Raftery created the Children Rise Foundation, attempting to take the children off the streets and place them into more civilized, healthier, and stable homes and communities.

A vast majority of these street children have fallen into these desperate circumstances in order to make a living and survive. Billy explains, “These kids get there for an array of reasons: abuse, neglect, extreme poverty, no food, no clothes, the parents tell their kids to go beg for money but then they stop coming home”. In addition, the HIV orphan crisis results in a number of vulnerable and sensitive children that are swayed into a lifestyle they know no different from. One of the rising issues that strongly influence the children is the addiction to huffing glue. Glue is known to suppress appetite and fuel body heat becoming a good outlet for these children to escape their reality. Sadly, “these children live day by day, they don’t know if tomorrow is going to come” but yet a sense of hope has arisen that keep the founders of the organization, including Billy, striving for the betterment of the lives of the children in Durban.

Inspired by the hope and the surprisingly strong and positive spirit of many of the children, Billy began filming a feature length documentary, “Children Rise”, to use as an advocacy tool for Umthombo and assist in raising awareness throughout the world to the circumstances that these street children are living in. “The attitude of the kids and the hope you see in them, the hope they give off” gave Billy and his crew faith in initiating some kind of change. The film focuses on the struggles of two children in particular Zuleika, representing the girl’s story, and Ariel, representing the boy’s story. In essence, “ Bill Raftery’s film challenges viewers to look past the violent and often times graphic images of Durban’s street kids and to see the homeless youth for what they are…children”. In other words, the film is intended to shed light on the dark lives of the street kids.

High anticipation is held for the world premiere of this film, which is 90% completed out of competition. Hopefully this documentary will fuel activism. As Billy stated, “We are a global community and we need to start thinking that way and acting that way. We need to really acknowledge the problem and help out or intervene”. Change starts with one person and as a human race we are obligated to take affirmative humanitarian action to help the neighbors surrounding us.

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By Marcela Villegas Castañón

has perfected the art of combining passion and precision. The maverick team leader of Apple’s original translucent computer has put his creative genius to work once more in creating an equally unique product: the revolutionary tapered, hourglass-shaped surfboard.

The ground breaking idea for this one-of-a-kind board dawned on this Swedish born mastermind through his own surfing experiences. But despite his understanding of a typical surfboard, the creative process in developing his new innovative cutting-edge design was nothing easy.

Meyerhoffer explains, “A design is such a thing where it’s part creative and more of an artistic exploration and part of it is more conclusive and you need to be a little bit more precise”. In spite of public critique of his unconventional model, his trials and errors fueled his determination to perfect and demonstrate the success in going against the grain.

Yet Meyerhoffer emphasizes that not only is a positive perspective essential in making a vision possible, but patience, time and space are also key elements; “You need a little space for reflection. I think the hardest thing is to know where you are when you are designing something but it’s important to give yourself and the creative process time so that the idea grows and you have some space to grow.”

After four years of his open-minded attitude complimented with his calm and patient nature, the “building blocks” of ideas molded together and prospered into an exclusive, contemporary, dynamic and revolutionary surfboard: he carved off the bulk from the middle and tip of the long board in order to make it easier to turn and maneuver, much like a short board.

Despite his satisfaction with the design, Meyerhoffer continues to tweak features on the board because, as he states, “There is always improvements since time always goes forward and there is always new things and feedback”. In other words, the long but rewarding process is a never ending creation.

Although the art of design is tedious and difficult work, the benefits of actualizing the creative vision is satisfying. With a receptive, optimistic, determined outlook anything that you put your mind to can be accomplished, Thomas Meyerhoffer being the perfect example of embodying this innovative spirit.

Meyerhoffer’s board was released earlier this year at the Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, available for all surf lovers to experience.

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By Maggie Fitzgerald
Editor: Marcela Villegas Castañón

it’s no surprise that a tribute to the “Most Official Bitches” would surface. Owner and founder Leah McSweeney did just that by launching Married To The Mob in the summer of 2004.

A brand inspired by New York’s parties, and clubs has made “MOB equal parts chic, smart-mouthed, and definitely not-to-be messed with.” After all MTTM is not just a brand for sassy women, but “a lifestyle that speaks to style-confident females everywhere.”

“Let’s Talk Shit,” “Money Over Bitches,” “Head Bitch,” and “Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck?” are a few bold statements on MOB T’s. MOB has further established the kiss print throughout the line of bright colored sweaters, hoodies, jackets, denim and flip-flops. Leah even took a stab at the male dominant street wear community by releasing “Men Are The New Women” stickers.

MOB then continued breaking the ground by collaborating with Colette and Reebok to create ‘The Freestyle High.’ The Freestyle High became the first sneaker geared specifically at women’s street wear fashion. Only 350 pairs were made and sold worldwide, making the red kiss print design a limited edition must have.

So what’s in store for the next season? Leah said, “a couple big projects going on, but we really can’t talk too much about them.” I guess will just have to wait in the upcoming seasons and see what ‘these official bitches’ have up their sleeve. For the time being stay up to date with the latest news from the folks at Married to the Mob by visiting their official website and myspace page.

By Andrea Garcia

and your love for Mario Bros? How about your obsession with collecting as many gold coins throughout the game? “Follow the coins,” is the creative inspiration behind the San Francisco limited edition based clothing company known as ‘Gold Coin.’

Gold Coin was created last August from the love of video games, cartoons, and toys. Founder Ray Robinson, creates only limited edition gear that is never reproduced, with releases raging between 300-500 pieces. The line carries large print graphics, and bold colors in T’s and crew neck sweaters. Recently button-ups and caps have been added to the line that is sold exclusively through Karmaloop.

So how do you “follow the coins?” Gold coin carries a unique tag idea, the ‘1Up Program,’ setting this clothing line apart markedly. Each Gold Coin item comes with a proof of purchase coin ticket. By collection these coin tickets (1Up like in Super Mario), the customer can redeem the coins for exclusive limited releases only for collectors. These limited items are released in a lower quantity from the already regular limited edition items.

Its limited aspect already has celebrities like Travis of Gym Class Heroes, and Goldie of The Federation rocking the GC gear. Even rap artist Collie Buddz teamed up with Gold Coin and collaborated on a tee. More collaboration’s are sure to follow, as Ray Robinson revealed to Formatmag.com. “In the future Gold Coin will have a whole catalog of special release items with different coin costs. At that point the coin cost will go with the size and quality of the item. The full catalog should be coming next spring.”

There you have it, till next spring, just keep “following the coins.” Stay up to date with the latest clothes and styles from Gold Coin by visiting their official website and myspace page.

By Andrea Garcia