SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine

Spring 2011...

2011-04-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

SPOKEN Spokane: Spring 2011

Inside this issue:

-Editor’s Letter: Mediocrity Principle

-Is it art?

-Artist Profile: The Perennials

-April Poetry Slam: Photo Editorial

-After Words: What’s Your Passion?

SPOKE(a)n(e) Magazine, Winter 2010

2011-01-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I am no longer able to keep up with the magazine as a monthly publication. Since I didn't consider shutting it down as an option, I decided to move to a quarterly format.

For our Winter issue, we are featuring Spokane poet Mark Anderson. I have also started a new feature that I am very excited about. I am hoping to move the magazine in a more "by artists, for artists" format. Our After Words section is designed to host a variety of media. Short fiction, editorials, poems, photography and other visual art. I am even looking into using our beloved internet to move the magazine to a new level of visual and audio presentation. But, that's in the future. For now, sit back and enjoy.

Thank you for your continued support!

SPOKE(a)N(e), Winter 2010

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #20: October 2010

2010-10-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

Issue #20: October 2010

I stayed pretty much in the background with this one. I had some fantastic help getting everything I needed. A huge "thank you" to Brooke Matson, Alyx Franz and Eric Strate!

Featured Article - Spokane’s Art Scene Dropped the Atom Bomb

Profile - Photographer Eric Strate (you can find more of Eric's work at his website www.ericstratephotography.com)

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #19: September 2010

2010-09-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

This month we talk to Karli Fairbanks and take a look at the first Hillyard Hippie Happening!

We were not able to include First Friday or The Music List this month.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine, Issue 19

House work...

2010-08-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hey there SPOKE(a)N(e) fans!

I've come to the conclusion that I can't completely eliminate our coverage of First Friday. Yet, I still need to find a way of covering it and experiencing it that works for me. I have a plan for August and while I could tell you what it is, I feel that would be absolutely no fun for me. Stay tuned is all I can say.

Secondly, a huge thanks to Sara Habein for her work on getting an index of all the past issues put together. I've set it up on a page that can be accessed by clicking the Artists Index link on the right. Thanks again, Sara!

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #18: July 2010

2010-07-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

SPOKE(a)N(e) #18

Salutations good readers!

This month was a blur of starting a new job, and trying to wrestle PageMaker, which is what we use to layout the magazine, to the ground. A quick note about the pictures in the last few issues. From what I can tell, I'm doing everything the same. I've messed around with DPI in Photoshop and it doesn't seem to be getting me anywhere. They just don't look right, and I can't figure out why. By next month, I should have it sorted out.

On to the content...

We tried something different this month.

-Editor's Letter: Rethinking First Friday

-Profile: Becca Lux and Brooke Matson of the RiVerSpeAK Collective.

-The Music List wants to hear from you!

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #17: June 2010

2010-06-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue 17

Inside:

-Letter from the Editor: To the class of 2010
-Profile of INDABA Coffee House
-BOBFest
-Guest write up from Jessica Crichton on Art Fest
-The Music List gets a little "weird" (you can also follow TJ List on Tumblr)

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #16: May 2010

2010-05-19T01:25:00.000-07:00

I'm not late, you guys were just way too early. Ha! I kid! No, but seriously, I was lame. Here it is at long last!

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue 16

Inside:

-Letter from the Editor: Yeah, about that
-Profile of local author Thuy-Dzuong Nguyen
-A look back at The Truth Lenders launch party
-First Friday coverage
-This month we are introducing a new column, "The Music List"

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #15: April 2010

2010-04-16T10:32:00.001-07:00

Well, here it is. My first issue as the new editor of SPOKE(a)N(e). It was a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy what we have to offer.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue 15

Inside:

-Letter from the Editor: Intro
-Profile of photographer Matt Shumate
-First Friday: Transcendence Project, Brick Wall Gallery and Kress Gallery
-"Forward": A special letter from editor Michael McMullen

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #14: March 2009

2010-03-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

So this is it, folks. Tyson and Sara Habein's final issue at the helm of SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine. It will be taken over by a very capable replacement, I assure you.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue 14

Inside:

-The reveal of our new editor
-A profile of local photog Tim Thompson
-The Sommy Awards
-Shrinking Violets Birthday Bash
-A Photo Editorial by our new editor! Day/Night
-The First Friday Artwalk, including visits to Empyrean, RiverRidge Arts, Chase Gallery and many more
-Sara's Final Compulsive Chronicles column. This one is about the best concert she saw in her 7 years in Spokane.

Thanks so much for a great time as editors of this magazine. Stick around and see what our new editor has in store next month and beyond!

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine #13: February 2010

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000-08:00

Greetings. Another issue is upon us. What can you expect this month?

-A very special Editor's Letter from Tyson Habein regarding the future of the magazine

-Shadra Beesley's 2010 Downtown Karaoke Tour, with photos by Wendy Gaskill and Sara Habein

-Tyson covers the February First Friday Artwalk, including River Ridge Association, Sante, Brickwall Gallery, Kress Gallery and RawSpace

-A few notes on the RiVerSpeAK Launch Party at Empyrean

-And in Compulsive Chronicles, Sara spends this month of love ruminating on heartbreak and Ryan Adams

READ IT ALL HERE!

Thanks all.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine Issue #12: January 2010

2010-01-17T15:11:00.000-08:00

With a new decade, SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine is officially one year old! Thanks to all of you who have kept up with us along the way. Keep telling your friends about us, keep telling us what you want to read, and we'll keep compiling quality content.

Now then, what can we expect with Issue #12?

-Profile: Photographer Shane Savage

-Profile: Time Bomb, the coolest retro shop around

-Profile: Andrea Parrish and Peter Geyer of Wedding Cans fame

-Tyson Habein has a photo spread entitled "Tiny Universe."

-Tyson also covers January's Art Scene, including stops at the Chase Gallery, STA Plaza, Avenue West and Kress Gallery.

-Compulsive Chronicles: Sara Habein has issues with the term "sell out" and the people who use it.

READ ISSUE #12 HERE

Thank again!

December Bonus Content #3: Photographer Stephanie Elliott

2009-12-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Though Stephanie Elliott (nee Boettcher) and I have known each other since middle school orchestra, I did not become acquainted with her photography until a little over a year ago. Her work is at once striking, beautiful and sometimes ethereal. I’m a big fan of her portraits (both street and posed), which often play with ideas of geometry and space.

Originally hailing from Great Falls, Montana, and now based out of Norwich, England by way of Portland, we decided to profile her as part of our December Bonus Content. Sometimes it's nice to look outside our own backyard. ( — Sara Habein)

1. How did you get your start in photography?

I had always loved shooting my friends with disposable cameras. That began in college, but I never really took it very seriously. I began painting around then as well. In high school, I had always been very caught up in academic success -- I never really thought I had time for art. Now it is all I want to do.

My interest really began when I traveled to London on a study abroad course. My mother forced me to get a 'real' camera, rather than the disposables I insisted I was happy with. It was the instant results of the digital camera combined with an excuse to shoot every day that really made me notice the potential behind a camera. I've always loved finding beauty in the everyday. For some reason, until then, it hadn't dawned on me that photography was the perfect medium.

2. You've done quite a bit of traveling around the world. How has that affected your photography? And where are some of your favorite cities to shoot?

Like I said, travel was my excuse to begin photography. I really like observing a situation from a distance, allowing it to unfold, and capturing that, rather than getting involved. It is what I am most comfortable doing, and what I think is the purest form of photography. I have recently done some modeling shoots, where I have to take more of a directorial role. It is strange, and against everything I thought photography should be -- but I do enjoy the new potential. It is still possible to find those naturally beautiful moments - you just have to juggle a few more tasks at the same time.

That being said, there is nothing like exploring a new city with your camera. It is what makes me most relaxed. I think Osaka has been my favorite city to shoot so far. Or maybe I am just happiest with some of the shots that have come out of there. I don't want a shot to need to be in Japan -- I want it to be universal. At the same time, you can't completely divorce a situation from its place. Also, there is a comfort that exists in Japan. There is safety. I hate it when people watch me take photos, and in Japan, it seemed I was so conspicuous no matter what I did, it didn't matter that I was taking photographs. Now, living in the UK where I blend in a bit more, I feel like I need to answer for why I am taking people's pictures. I wish they would just see they are lovely in a lovely situation and go about their business.

3. What projects do you currently have in the works?

After all that talk about the purity of the found moment, I have to admit, I have begun to move into portraiture. I guess you really can't knock it until you try it because it is quite fun. I've been playing with editing software and self portraits. I also made a tiny silly stop animation. It is an amazing medium, but you have to be careful it doesn't end up being a jagged film. There has to be a reason you are using stills instead of a movie camera. I will always love street photography, though. I hope I never stop that. I don't really plan projects when I go out. I like the freedom of shooting what I see.

Also, I do have an ongoing project that stems from the idea of looking itself. It's about peering though a layer of glass. I think that having a self imposed layer -- like the camera lens, or a piece of glass, can make you truly see what is there. It is about the subjectivity of reality -- and the attempt (and probable failure) to see something objective.

4. Being from Montana, what's the silliest stereotype/misconception you've heard regarding your home state?

Ha! If people knew where it was I might have to deal with that! Actually, most people are quite awestruck when I mention that I am from Montana. It wasn't until I left that I realized how incredibly beautiful it is. Not so much in Japan, where they definitely thought we rode horses to our one room court house, but in the UK, there is a fascination with America. In particular, they love to romanticize our blue collar, down home values. Montana fits perfectly into that. Being a nation the size of Montana itself, there is an admiration for our space, our ruggedness, and to a degree, our wholesome naivety. I find myself buying into that, and to a degree, seeing how true it can be. I can't wait to come home.

For more of Stephanie Elliott's work, please visit her webpage and her flickr page.

Two authors walk into a bookstore: Sherman Alexie, Jess Walter and the Magical Madness of Spokane

2009-12-07T22:16:00.000-08:00

“Hating the place you're from is another form of self-loathing. You can either make the city you live in better, or you can find another place to live.” — Jess Walter

From Great Falls, we scattered. If we wanted opportunity, wanted to experience college, or wanted to just plain make something of ourselves, we felt we had to leave. The rest of the world, we assumed, offered so much better than our windy Montana city. By way of Missoula, Tyson and I came to Spokane in the spring of 2003. I wish I could say it was for reasons more romantic — for a great job, a great person or some fantastic idea of the culture we'd discover, but no. Spokane was the closest larger city, with higher wages and lower rents. We still consider ourselves Montanans, and proudly so, but Why not try Spokane?

No one told us about the Spokane Insecurity Complex — that underlying sense of complaint, the older generation filled with harrumphs of “that's just how it's done” and the young biding their time until they could afford a move to Seattle or Portland. We were baffled — Look at how much you could do here! We would've killed for a place like Empyrean in high school! There's nothing BUT potential.

Since 2003, things have improved. The restaurants, the art events, the music — all of it seems to be on a continuing upswing. Sure, plenty of kids still hightail it out of here and find success in bigger cities, but an increasing number are staying. They not only want to work with what Spokane has, but show the rest of the state that it can (and will) be so much more.

It's not an easy battle. I heard a joke once that Spokane is the city comes together once a year to vote 'No.' And in some ways, that's still true. Fear of change and prejudice are difficult things to overcome in any city, and Spokane has a stubborn streak.

“In the rest of the world, I'm vaguely ethnic. Here, it's 'Who's the Indian in the blazer?' In my head, I'm thinking, 'I'm a fuckin' millionaire, you asshole.'” — Sherman Alexie

Still, the bright spots remain. In front of a packed audience at Auntie's Bookstore, two of Spokane's most famous authors read new pieces centered around their hometown. Both fresh from book tours, they mentioned relief at talking about something other than their latest, The Financial Lives of Poets (Walter) and War Dances (Alexie).

Reading a selection of free verse poems, Sherman Alexie talked about growing up in Reardan, the Spokane Indian Reservation, his family, and most affectingly, the death of his father, Sherman Alexie Sr. He told a story about how when his father was in the hospital near the end of his life, the staff would come in with books to sign, assuming that he was the one who wrote them. His dad would sign them anyway. Now, with Alexie meeting fans who say they've visited his father's grave, “he probably feels like Jim Morrison.”

“I want to stay with my father, even inside a nightmare.”

After he finished, Jess Walter read a poem that listed off his reasons for staying in Spokane, after years of being asked why he continues to live here. He talked about living in a neighborhood filled with halfway homes, shelters and the poorest elementary school in the state. He talked about keeping a man from beating a woman, who was limping and carrying a child, and escorting her to a shelter. “I don't want to be the sort of person who hates a place because it is poor.”

“This used to be a list of why I didn't want to live in Spokane,” he said, before also pointing out that Seattle drivers lose 26 hours of their lives in traffic. “What would you do with an extra day?”

At the end, both authors took a handful of questions from the audience. Alexie expanded upon his views on digital media. After his Colbert appearance, he'd received emails calling him everything from a “conservative luddite” to a “communist” for believing that digital overload and addiction was contributing to the failure of our bookstores, magazines and newspapers. They also talked a bit about the film licensing of their books, including how Billy Bob Thorton once expressed interest in directing Citizen Vince. "But then he didn't get the money he wanted."

Then, I raised my hand. “Hi,” I said. “I was wondering if you keep track of the things you've written about that have since disappeared.”

They did not quite understand. The copy editor in me realized I should have been more clear.

“The places, I mean. Like the place with the faded Pepsi sign that you wrote about in Citizen Vince [set in 1980]. It's something else now.”

“Oh, Sam's Pit,” Walter answered, appearing somewhat surprised by the question. “Yeah, I used to think some things would be around forever, like the motels up against Sunset Hill, but that's not the case anymore. I used to think that if we shot the movie in Spokane, we wouldn't have to move that many cars off the street.”

Alexie called himself “terminally nostalgic,” and that he was constantly thinking about what was no more, even down to the now-closed doughnut shop where he worked for three weeks. And I thought, I know how he feels. Where is the line between moving ourselves forward as a culture and preserving the small things we hold dear? The diner where I spent so many high school evenings, Cattin's, is now a Rite Aid. And while the food may have been greasy and the air thick with cigarettes, I hate that nothing remains.

“Asking for your advice is like asking for rain in Seattle. It's going to come whether you want it or not.” — Walter to Alexie

Despite the seriousness to the discussion and some of the work read, Alexie and Walter are beyond funny together, giving each other a hard time about basketball, joking about Spokane's quirks and some of the silliness inherent in their writing careers.

On recording the audiobook versions of their novels:

Alexie: “It's funny, they don't let you improvise.”
Walter: “I kept tripping over words, thinking, 'This damn author!'”
Alexie: “I have a lisp. […] I am never writing with the letter S again.”
Walter: “I only have so many voices. I kept waiting for an opportunity to work Sean Connery in.”

When the questions finished, those of us with books lined up to have them signed. Some took photos with the authors, some talked about relatives they had who went to school with them. When I approached Jess Walter with my Citizen Vince, I said, “I drove by the place with the Pepsi sign on the way here. It must have changed recently.”

“Sam's Pit,” he said again, and I immediately wondered why I kept not mentioning it by name. “Yeah, I think it's been about four months now. When they first started remodeling, they kept the Pepsi sign up for awhile, but not anymore.”

Now the building looks like a yellow Craftsman needing a little repair, strangely plunked down on the corner of a busy road. I've driven past it hundreds of times before the remodel, stared at that sign and the boarded up windows, and never once thought to take a picture until it was gone.

I thanked him for signing my book and let the next person in line approach. Walking through the store, then out the front door, I crossed the street and stopped. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out my camera.

Just in case.

—Sara Habein

Bonus Content: Robert Sevilla Naudon, completed chandelier

2009-12-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Did you enjoy last month's photo spread on welder/artist Robert Sevilla Naudon? Here is how his project turned out:

Contact info:
robert@robertsevillanaudon.com
www.robertsevillanaudon.com

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #11: November 2009

2009-11-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings all. Hope you're staying warm. Our eleventh issue is ready for reading, and here's what you can expect:

-Profile: cartoonist Michael McMullen
-Profile: Broken Mic Poetry
-Art in Progress/Photo Spread: welder Robert Sevilla Naudon
-November First Friday coverage by Tyson Habein

READ it all here!

No Compulsive Chronicles column from Sara this month, as she is currently participating in both National Novel Writing Month (which you can read about in the October issue) and Pajiba's Cannonball Read. Her review of Devil in the Details by Jennifer Traig was just featured on their site.

All of her reviews (and supplementary material to past columns) can be seen on Glorified Love Letters.

And if you're still itching for something to read, go read her call to productivity over on the RiVerSpeAK blog. RiVerSpeAK was featured in SPOKE(a)N(e)'s September Issue.

December will be the magazine's off month. But we'll still have a few things up on the blog throughout the month. Stay tuned!

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #10

2009-10-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our tenth issue. Such a satisfying round number, isn't it?

It's our Photography Issue! Featuring...

-Profile: Photographer Shelly Wynecoop

-Profile: Photographer Nick Schaffert

-Fashion shoot at Shop Sabotage with photographers Tyson Habein and Shane Savage, as well as an interview with shop owner Al Taft.

-November is National Novel Writing Month. Read all about what's planned for the Spokane area.

- First Friday ArtWalk and Terrain coverage

- Compulsive Chronicles: If you think there's not any good music programming on TV, Sara Habein would suggest that you're just not looking hard enough.

Read it all here!

Thanks for reading, and tell us what you think.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine: Issue #9

2009-09-17T21:21:00.003-07:00

Greetings all, here we are again presenting the latest in and around Spokane. September's issue is almost all about one-night-only events and the sense of community surrounding them.

Check it all out here

--Photographer Shane Savage and writer Laureen Savage cover the recent Finding Fiction gig over at Art, Music & More.

--Tyson Habein captures the sights from both the Main Street Fair and that evening's Sustainable Uprising.

--Sara Habein takes a quick look at the new creative collective, RiVerSpeAK, founded by Brooke Matson.

--Tyson also covers this month's First Friday Art Walk, with looks at the Saranac Gallery, the Community Building, Sante, Brickwall Gallery, Avenue West, Studio Capelli, and Empyrean.

--And in Compulsive Chronicles, drifting away from group efforts, Sara ruminates on the perils and triumphs of solo albums. "For every John, Paul and George, there’s a Ringo..."

We do hope you enjoy. And if you haven't yet, please take our reader survey.

Hey! You there! We want to know what you think!

2009-08-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

One week ago, we posted a reader survey over on our Facebook page. We realize that some readers of the magazine may not be Facebook users, so we are now posting the link here.

We want to know what you think about our magazine.

It's only 15 questions. Really, it will only take you a couple of minutes. What do you like? What do you dislike? What do you wish we'd cover? This is all to make it a more enjoyable reading experience for YOU.

We know you're out there, readers, and we're assuming you have opinions. Let us know.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine Issue #8: August 2009

2009-08-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Issue #8 is (almost) all about FOOD. Inside, you'll find:

-Profile of the personal chef service, Your Table Gourmet
-A quick visit with Dry Fly Distillery
-Photo Editorial: Cultural Stereotypes - Aisle 5
-Adventures in Shopping: What can you get with $20 at three local food sources?
-First Friday and Art Loose on the Palouse coverage
-Compulsive Chronicles: Sunday Morning Records

All 28 pages of tasty goodness available here.

Enjoy!

Also, keep an eye on our Facebook page, as later today we'll be posting a survey. (If you're not already a fan on Facebook, take a minute now to become one. Think of it as a bonus feature.) We want to know what you think of the magazine --- what we've covered so far, what we should be covering, and other tidbits. Stay tuned.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine Issue #7: July 2009

2009-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hola and hello, Spokane. It is indeed that time again...

Read Issue #7 here!

What will you find this month?

-Profiles of local bloggers Spokane Skeptic and John from Spokanarama. They give us their favorite place in the city and what makes it notable.

-Tyson Habein's portrait series, Focal Point. All photos were taken on a manhandled disposable camera with quite interesting results

-Photos and commentary from the First Friday Art Walk. This time with real, live readers along for the ride! You could be one of them next month, it's true!

-Finally, in Compulsive Chronicles: Before you name your band, Sara has some guidelines she'd like you to consider.

It's a lighter issue this time around. Escape the heat, take a peek and tell us what you think. It's good for your face!

Frequently Asked Questions:

2009-06-28T22:30:00.001-07:00

With six issues under our belt, SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine would like to answer some of your frequently asked questions. If you have a question that goes unanswered below, please leave it in the comments section or email us: spokenspokane [at] gmail.com

Q. How in the world am I supposed to pronounce the name of your magazine? I stumble every time I read it.

A. The answers lies in our email address, as well as this blog address where we post the links to each issue. We are “Spoken Spokane” Magazine. You can call us Spoken.

Q. Why the weird parentheses?

A. We were trying to be clever. From now on, we’ll aim for actual cleverness rather than attempted.

Q. Did you know the name of the magazine is misspelled on your Facebook page?

A. Yes. Our bad. The copy editor dies a little every time she sees it and can’t believe it took her months to notice.

Facebook does not allow us (yet) to change the name without making a brand new page. Around the time we noticed our mistake, our number of fans jumped from around 6 to 60, and the number (as of this date) is now over 80. Rather than make all of you ‘become a fan’ all over again, we’ll hope for a day when we can just edit our name.

Q. Is SPOKE(a)N(e) available in print anywhere?

A. No. We like holding real magazines, newspapers and books as much as the next print fan, but we don’t have that kind of cash. Print publications require either independent wealth or plenty of consistent ad revenue, and at this time, we have neither.

That said, if your home printer can accommodate an 11x14 inch page size (or 8x10 for Issues #1-2), by all means, print yourself a copy.

Q. Why make the magazine a PDF? Why not a flash-based page?

A. The short answer: convenience. Long answer:

1. PDF files can be viewed on any computer, web-capable mobile phones, iPod Touch, etc. We picked a format that’s visible on the greatest variety of platforms. Flash pages often do not load on mobile devices. We also like how a PDF mimics the feel of a print magazine.

2. Editors Tyson and Sara Habein both come from print publication backgrounds and have more experience with double-page-spread design over web design. Since we are a design staff of two, we prefer a format with the least amount of headache.

3. Believe it or not, but some people are still stuck on dial-up. Flash is a pain to load on dial-up. We know this from personal experience.

Q. Do you pay your contributors?

A. Every contributor receives a free 1/4 page ad within that issue. Use the space to promote yourself or promote something else. Design it yourself or we’ll design it for you.

Any advertising revenue the magazine receives is divided equally among all contributors of that issue. Ad rates are listed in every issue from #3 on.

No one’s getting rich from this publication, but we do want to compensate the work contributors do in whatever way we can.

Q. I would really like to write/take photos for SPOKE(a)N(e). How can I?

A. Email us. Tell us what you would like to cover, and we’ll go from there. We’re always looking for new contributors, especially when it comes to First Friday Art Walk coverage and the monthly photo editorial.

We want to cover anything creative and we don’t have strict rules about what we cover other than it should focus on the Spokane area.

All content is copyright to the contributor and all contributors speak for themselves, not necessarily SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine as a whole.

Q. The Compulsive Chronicles column doesn’t focus on anything local. What’s up with that?

A. Local people listen to and obsessive over music that isn’t local, don’t they?

Q. I don’t live in the Spokane area. Why should I care about your art and music scene?

A. Presumably, you like artists/photographers/musicians/writers who are not from your hometown. You never know where you might see the next thing that has to hang on your wall. And you never know who will be the next ‘big deal’ on a larger level.

Jess Walter, Timothy Egan and Sherman Alexie? All award-winning writers from this very neck of the woods. Local favorite Kaylee Cole just signed a shiny new deal with Chrysalis Music, and she’s worked with Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio. Former-Spokane band Hockey have gone on to greater success with major label deals and major festival appearances.

If nothing else, bask in the warm feeling of being ahead of the curve. The magazine has fans from all over the world. We may be different from Seattle or Portland, but we’ve still got some pretty great things going on. And hopefully, SPOKE(a)N(e) will have had the foresight to talk about them.

Q. I really love your profiles on local artists, but I’d love them a whole lot more if you profiled my genius (or my friend’s genius). How can I get you to talk about my (their) work?

A. Email us, spokenspokane [at] gmail.com

We have no problem with self-promotion. If we like what you’re doing, we’ll talk about it.

Painting, photography, sculpture, music, clothing, jewelry, writing, theatre . . . pretty much anything is fair game.

Q. I’d like to draw your attention to my upcoming event. When do I need to let you know about it?

A. Email us.

However, we don’t have an Event Calendar. We figure enough publications and websites have that covered. However, from time to time, we do have articles relating to specific events.

The sooner we know about your event, the better. At the latest, we need to know about it by the 3rd of the month. Please keep in mind our publishing schedule.

We publish between the 15th and 17th of every month. That buffer of a couple days allows for any technical or scheduling problems our staff of two may encounter. All content from contributors is generally submitted by the 10th of that month.

If your event occurs in the first half of the month (i.e., September 4th), then we need to know about it before August 3rd.

If your event occurs in the last half of the month (i.e., September 22nd), then we need to know about it by September 3rd.

That said, we can’t be everywhere. Again, if we like what you’re doing, we’ll talk about it, but we still have to be choosy.

Q. Why would I want to advertise in an online magazine?

A. For the same reasons you might advertise on Google or Facebook, except we have the added benefit of being locally targeted advertising. And compared to most print publications, we’re inexpensive.

Advertising with us not only directs the eyeballs and wallets of Spokane’s creative community to your business, but you will also be supporting the people who cover that community.

Q. So what’s this business about participating in First Friday?

A. If you’re a regular reader of the magazine, you know that in every issue, we feature the First Friday Art Walk held in downtown Spokane (when else?) the first Friday of every month. We have photos from a handful of the exhibits as well as some commentary about the work itself.

While we’ve had a handful of people contribute to the coverage, we would like to see First Friday become a more social event. We welcome anyone who wants to submit photos from the night or even write art reviews, but we also recognize that some readers might also want to just come out and have a fun evening.

Every month, we plan a meet-up somewhere downtown before walking to different exhibits, and we end the night around 8pm with coffee/beer at Empyrean. Become a fan on our Facebook page, and you’ll always receive the details.

Q. I’m not a smarty-pants when it comes to art. Would this really be something for me?

A. Don’t be intimidated. We’re not smarty-pants about art either, and we don’t think it would serve our readers even if we were. It’s more about gut reaction, and we’re all about just saying, “Wow, we thought this was really cool. You should see/hear it.”

You don’t really need us to tell you why something is good. We’d rather point out the art and let you decide all on your own. Why would we tell you what to think?

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine Issue #6: June 2009

2009-06-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings all. The sixth issue of SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine is uploaded, awaiting your eyes and comments.

Read it all here!

What can you expect this issue?

-Profile: Photographer Carl David Leeth

-New contributor! Faythe Saxton talks about knitting-induced madness

-ArtFest: Lloyd N. Phillips profiles some of this year's vendors.

-Elkfest: Sara and Tyson Habein cover all 3 (hot) days. She writes about it, he takes the photos.

-A Photo Essay from Sara: Because we mean it when we say that if anyone else has an idea they'd like to shoot for a photo editorial/essay, let us know. It's not just the Tyson Show around here. ;)

-June First Friday Art Walk: Featuring photos from Tyson, Lloyd, Paddy Hoy and Jonathan Martinez. Some really cool stuff to talk about this month.

-Compulsive Chronicles: Vignettes from Summertime Past

SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine covers the First Friday Art Walk every month, and we always love to see more people out -- Come take photos, scribble down some thoughts, or just come along to say, "Hey."

For more information on meet-ups and other extra goodies, become a fan on Facebook.

As always, thanks for reading.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #5: May 2009

2009-05-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

The fifth issue of SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine is up, and as usual, we want to know what you think.

Check it out here.

What can you expect to find this month?

-Tyson Habein interviews photographer and Mon Cheri drummer, Brandon Vasquez, along with clothing and accessories designer, Dayle Sandborn

-Lloyd N. Phillips interviews musicians from the Spokane Babes of Music Showcase, featuring Gutterpony, Cure All Remedy, Kristen Marlo, and Colleen Rice. He also covers the First Friday Art Walk.

-Tyson’s interview and eight page fashion spread featuring the work of 17-year-old clothing designer Lexi Carr.

-In the current Compulsive Chronicles, Sara Habein devotes some thought to what makes cover songs special. While possibly alienating Rolling Stones fans in the process. Try not to hold it against her.

SPOKE(a)N(e) is always looking for contributors (writing and photography), advertisers (see the back page of this issue for our rates), and all around recommendations. Email us, promote your work, promote your friend’s work, or just say, “Hey, I saw something really cool, and I’d like to tell you about it.”

We want to cover anything creative, in the farthest-reaching definition of the word, so if you’re unsure if what you want to promote is our “style,” email us anyway. We’re an inclusive bunch.

Even if you don’t want to contribute, let us know you’re reading. We can also be found on Facebook, where fans of the magazine receive updates, teasers for upcoming issues, and whatever other goodies we’d like to share.

Thanks for reading.

SPOKE(a)N(e) Issue #4

2009-04-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Issue #4 is now available for your viewing pleasure.

What can you expect?

- Tyson Habein reviews and photographs the recent Attracted to Gods/ POS / Atmosphere show at The Knitting Factory

- Lloyd N. Phillips profiles blues guitarist Robin Trower (performing soon at The Knitting Factory), gets the goods on the upcoming Spokane Comicon, and interviews local student playwrights, Rachel and Rayla Collins

- Profile of local artist Matt Smith

- Profile of local graphic designers Slide Sideways, Scott Scoggin and Jacqui Savisky

- First Friday Artwalk coverage

- In this month's Compulsive Chronicles, Sara Habein has some words for her teenage love, Gavin Rossdale. And not all of them are nice.

Check it all out, tell us what you think.

Gonzaga Bulletin Interview

2009-04-14T18:14:00.001-07:00

Earlier this month, the Gonzaga Bulletin interviewed both Tyson and Sara regarding the magazine. Check it out, while you're waiting for Issue #4.

Issue #3

2009-03-17T23:22:00.000-07:00

After some technical difficulties with old and angry software, Issue #3 is now ready for your viewing pleasure.

Read it all here!

So what can you expect?

This time, we're all about music. We have...

-A profile of Spokane's omnipresent music writer and all around multimedia guy, Isamu Jordan

-New contributor Alex Toney takes a look at the up and coming local band Mon Cheri

-Lloyd N. Phillips interviews KYRS Thin Air Radio's Bob Rice

-Tyson Habein's photo spread and Sara's concert review from a recent Empyrean show, featuring Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Kevin Long, and Blind Pilot

-Photos and commentary from the March First Friday Art Walk

-In this month's Compulsive Chronicles column, Sara Habein's gotta fever. And the only thing that can cure it is more British rock n roll...

Plus: The very back page of the magazine is a poster. Should you love us and want others to know about us, please feel free to print it out and plaster where ever such things are allowed. Make sure to hit 'scale to fit' for your home printer.

Welcome to SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine

2009-02-25T16:30:00.000-08:00

After 2 months of peppering the internet with links to our first two issues, SPOKE(a)N(e) Magazine has finally found a more stable home. Here you will be able to find links to all past issues and stay notified when the new ones arrive. We publish between the 15th and 17th of every month.

So what have you missed?

Issue #1 (January)
-Photographer Profiles: Graeme Hunter MacPherson and Alberto Sed
-Photo Editorial by Tyson Habein: The Thrill of the Chase
-Ongoing Music Column, Compulsive Chronicles: Sara Habein ruminates on using specific names in songs.

Issue #2 (February)
-Artist Profiles: Justin Aerni and Dara Harvey
-Venue Profile: The Blvd.
-Lloyd N. Phillips interviews the man behind 4000 Holes, Bob Gallagher
-Portrait Series by Tyson: 10 Strangers
-First Friday Artwalk: Photos and commentary by Tyson and Lloyd
-Compulsive Chronicles: The Act of Music Shopping, Keep the Joy Alive

Stay tuned for March!