Here is a link to Episode 1 of Urban Jacksonville Weekly.
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I first met Arturo in the streets of Jacksonville where I noticed their distinctive designs over and over. Shortly after that I received and email from them, followed by a package in the mail with tshirts and stickers. I finally met them in person at the Partisan the Sea poster show. They’re an awesome group who make quality clothes so I wanted to spread the word.
Who is Arturo Clothing and what’s up with the name?
Arturo Clothing is a underground movement based around the Jacksonville street scene. The name was inspired from a small bundle of joy who we befriended at a local summer art camp.
What types of clothing are you making. What are you planning to make?
We basically make clothes for everyday use. Things like tshirts, bags, and beanies….because everyone wears clothes.
Where can I buy Arturo?
Well you can’t really buy Arturo himself, but you can buy our clothes at Anomaly in Five Points, Artwalk the first Wednesday of every month, and we will be launching an online store early next year.
You guys are currently using a lot of insect symbolism in your clothes. Is there any meaning behind that?
Well, our product isn’t necessarily based around bugs, but around the pests of society.
What would you say distinguishes Arturo from other local clothing brands
We make everything at our house, all of our images are original, and we only print on the highest quality of shirts. For instance our screens are hand crafted instead of the popular photo emulsion process that most local clothing companies use.
You say on your myspace all your shirts are hand screened. Why did you choose to screen shirts yourself instead of outsource it to a digital printer?
We are a diy company. We do EVERYTHING ourself.
Why do you choose to use American Apparel instead of another brand of shirt to screen on?
American Apparel makes the highest quality fitted tshirt that we can get our hands on.
What is your next big project or promotion coming us?
Well coming up quick we have our booth at the Art Walk. Big event wise we are hoping to put together something along the lines of a fashion show, and have urban jacksonville be part of it!
Last night Byron King from Globatron came down to the Churchwell Building for a preview of tomorrow’s Partisan the Sea Political Poster show. In addition we successfully tested a system to stream (via the Internet) and project (on the wall) Friday’s Presidential debate.
If the debate goes down, we’ll do our best to show it to you. However, a successful test and actually getting the debate to stream on Friday are two different things, but we’re hopeful.
We also hung most of the art last night and put up our (much) larger window posters, seen below.
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Jacksonville is lucky to have an abundance of people creating and organizing events. Whether it’s Burro Bags, Sunday Sixers, Community Festivals or new bands on the scene, 20-somethings are establishing an environment of artistic dedication and urban development. Nicole Middleton is just another part of the mix.ÂÂ
Nicole’s artwork is showing up all over town and she’s painting like a maniac in order to keep it that way. She’s a little lady but she does big work.  Nicole is a dear friend of mine and agreed to answer some quick questions via e-mail last night. Here’s what I got:
Who are you?
Nicole Middleton. Shorty. Artist. Mom. Fashion, music and art lover. Jack of all trades.
What kind of artwork do you create?
Awesome. (Mostly watercolor animals with some acrylic mixed media thrown in for good measure.)
When did you begin making art?
When I was a kid. Drawing Ninja Turtles a thousand times pays off!
Why did you choose skeletons?
I think the parts of animals you don’t see are interesting. You don’t realize what goes on underneath the skin.
What’s your typical atmosphere for creating?
Some Mates of State playing, some green tea and my seven year old talking my ear off.
Where has your artwork been displayed and where is it displayed now?
It has been displayed at the Pegasus Gallery in St. Augustine and is now located at Cafe 11 in St. Augustine and Raglands in Five Points.
Do you have any upcoming shows?
Yes! Other than First Fridays in Five Points this week, I’ll be at the TSI art show July 11th, and Bogda August 2nd.
Who’s buying your work?
Lots of different people! Everyone likes animals. Mostly awesome people, really.
How tall are you really?
Five foot one and three quarters of an inch. (Aside: I don’t think that’s accurate.)
Why is First Fridays in Five Points so great?
Everyone goes, there is dancing in the streets, djs, free booze, awesome stores with the best stuff, and fun people!
I bought a wolf from you and commissioned another. Where is it?
Listen hoe, I’m working on it.
Leave me some last parting words.
Shake and bake!!
Find Nicole and her artwork at First Fridays this week, which always proves to be a good time. Bring some dough and add a piece of art to your collection. Nicole will soon have an Etsy site, but until then you can see her work at www.myspace.com/birdsnoctopi.
Can You Hear the Buffalo Tears?
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In a land far away drop the tears of a beast onto a barren field.  All around trees sway in unison to the beat of their thud on the hard, dry ground.  Such is the way of Buffalo Tears, bringing music to the lands in melancholic rhythm and ever-wistful chords. Maybe you’ve seen them or maybe you’ve heard them. This is their story as told by their people.
Who is Buffalo Tears?
We are the downtrodden and disenfranchised, the children whose voice must be heard through the voice of past and distant generations; and Brandon, Janie, Adam and Joey.
So you still have a girl drummer? That’s awesome.
No, you’re awesome. We love women.
How did you come up with ’Buffalo Tears?’
Sometime ago a buffalo bust was bought at a second hand store. Wine and some free association later we have Buffalo Tears.
What kind of music do you play?
White funk (Adam); Stage fuzz (Brandon)
What inspirations do you draw from?
Soccer, football, soccer (Joey), my mom (Janie), the 50′s, 60′s, 70′s, 80′s, 90′s, 00′s (Adam), nothing in the past 18 years, I am horribly bored (Brandon).
How did Buffalo Tears form?
You know how kids meet; ice cream socials, IRA meetings, love-ins. Officially, we meet at an Asian-themed opium den.
Who’s your favorite local band/who’s your favorite band in general?
After the Bomb, Tuffy’s beautiful voices, Black Kids’ post-Motown sound, Lazerstar, Face Eraser, Fruit Machine. Jacksonville has a lot going on right now in terms of people playing music. In general, Arthur Lee, Stax Records, 60′s and 70′s punk. Brandon wakes up every morning to Nillson’s “It’s Over.”
What’s been your favorite show to play?
We once played outside at the Orange Park Town Hall midday. The wind was in our hair.
Where are you going next?
We are currently self-recording demos. We are going to record an ep. Play the Southeast. Become Internet darlings.
Tell me about the shows this weekend.
We will be playing Friday at TSI with the Recalls. Then Sunday we will be one of the hundred bands playing at the Pearl for the Community Festival. It’s gonna be amazing.
Leave me some last parting words.
A very lonely German man once spoke of unification. I don’t think it panned out very well for him.
Check out Buffalo Tears this Friday at TSI and Saturday at the Pearl. We’ll have more on the Community Festival just for you tomorrow. Thanks to the guys and gal of Buffalo Tears for taking some time out to answer questions.
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I talked with Matt Bort the 1st and Chris Williams from Burro Bags, a messenger bag store in Springfield. Burro Bags is having their grand opening this Friday, May 16th from 6:00 to 10:00 at 1520 Main Street in Springfield.
Podcast Episode #15: Burro Bags Grand Opening May 16th (42:56)
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Chris
Matt
Photos compliments of Jennifer McCharen. Entire photoset
Podcast Episode #13: Springfield Community Garden (30:53)
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In this episode I talk with Phillip Ramsey and Jennifer McCharen about the Springfield community garden. The garden is located on Main Street in the raised lot north of The Pearl.
We talk about how the garden got started, plans for the garden and Jacksonville in general. Eventually Phillip and Jennifer hope to provide space for the community to grow their own food and possibly provide food for their neighbors and the surrounding downtown community.
Here are some links we discuss in the episode:
Riverside Avondale Development Organization (RADO)
Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative (JCNI)
If you are interested in subscribing to the climate change mailing list mentioned in the interview, send an email to: atilley@unf.edu.
