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Contrast first agreed to partner with Hurley on the annual The Anti-Canvas: a showcase of boardshort art for charity as a sign of appreciation. We were initially approached by Hurley homies, Seth McKinney and Leilani Patacchia, to lend our network of creatives and promote the art show/silent auction for charity. We viewed the non-traditional art show as a way to thank the artists for contributing their creative energy and work to the magazine.
After four years of producing the event, which runs annually on the December First Friday art walk, I finally felt the weight of the Anti-Canvas’ clout at Duke’s Waikiki for the launch of the Sig Zane for Hurley collection.
Kuha’o Zane, pictured here with the microphone, was one of the first artists at the inaugural Anti Canvas. I’m always impressed by how KZ translates the Hawaiian culture to his designs and also how he incorporates classic alohawear to contemporary fashion. So naturally, Kuha’o was perfect for the first Anti Canvas class.
During the discussion for the 2010 AC, Sig Zane’s name came up as a participating artist. During the conversation, Seth McKinney asked me if Sig would be into a bigger collaboration. I said, “probably, try let me text KZ.” KZ responded quickly and positively suggesting I text his dad. I texted Sig, “like make some surfshorts with Hurley?” Sig texted back with an enthusiastic-yes and the rest is history.
There are three mens boardshorts, two womens boardshorts, a women’s v-neck and tee, a men’s tee and tank top, a hooded sweatshirt and two different trucker caps in the Sig Zane for Hurley mini-capsule. During the launch event for the collection, we wore the SZ x Hurley shorts for a quick surf out at Waikiki. Before we paddled out, Sig led a small prayer to bless the day and all of us.
On Sig’s 60th birthday, we were surfing Honoli’i and Sig mentioned the idea of having the launch event at Duke’s in December and going for a surf at Canoe’s. I said, “don’t do it because it’s going to be flat.” Boy, was I wrong!
Sig and Kuha’o persisted though and were blessed with a random southwest swell from Kona winds that provided fun chest high waves at Canoe’s. After being a surf journalist for over a decade, I was blown away that the ocean cooperated.
Hurley team rider Rob Machado enjoyed the Waiks session and was by far the best sweeper out of the crew. People were tripping that The Drifter was there and many tourists randomly came up to him and asked for a picture.
I wonder if the tourists were asking: “Why is Evan Valiere and Pat Towersey surfing Canoe’s? Shouldn’t they be at the Banzai Pipeline?”
The Drifter, Pat O’Connell and Joel Centeio on a party wave. Aamion Goodwin reminded all of us that Joel is a former NSSA longboard champion and the Haleiwa local looked comfortable riding the log.
Besides being blown away by the impact of the Anti Canvas and the aloha from Sig Zane, I was most stoked to surf with Hawai’i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, who won the heat with this 30-second headstand. The boys were frothing!
The best session I had in December and it was in Waikiki. Mahalo for including me Sig Zane and Hurley.
Whenever I feel tired and overwhelmed by Contrast duties I’m going to look at this picture and remember the tremendous amount of aloha that was shared in that session. This image also reminds me that if you work for the right reasons you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much you can benefit your community and friends.
Seth McKinney and Bob Hurley look good in Sig Zane Designs aloha shirts. The icing on the cake came the day after the launch event when I bumped into Leilani Patacchia at the Surfer Poll Awards. She mentioned that Bob Hurley, founder of the brand, emailed the Hurley Hawai’i staff to tell them that the Sig Zane For Hurley Launch Party was the best surf event he’s been to in 30 years. I instantly got chicken skin.
Mahalo to everyone who came out for the 4th Annual The Anti-Canvas: a showcase of boardshort art for charity on First Friday. Below are links to some of the coverage the event received.
A big crowd of heavy hitters filled up SOHO Mixed Media Bar last night for the 4th Annual Anti-Canvas showcase of boardshort art for charity with the proceeds going toward Pow Wow Hawaii & Kokua Hawaii brought to you by Hurley & Contrast.
In honor of tonight’s event, the 4th Annual Anti Canvas charity showcase happening at SOHO Mixed Media Bar, DJ Delve has put together a mixtape for your listening pleasure.
To download the mix, click on the artwork, which was also designed by Delve.
It’s not every day you get to ask a DJ his insights about where his mind was at while recording a 39-song set in one take. Here was my chance.
Riana: I’m already a huge fan of your “SummertimeFine” mix series. You said on your SoundCloud description that you were already collecting songs for the next installment. What made you decide to put this handful of songs toward the Anti Canvas mix? Was it just perfect timing or were there more factors involved?
DJ Delve: Well, long story long, I am always collecting songs to potentially make various mix ideas I have. One of those ideas was to a complimentary mix to my “SummertimeFine” series for the winter. Coincidentally, Daniel Ito from Contrast Magazine asked me to put together a mix for the Anti Canvas show, and in looking over the songs I had for that winter mix, songs started to jump out at me for the Anti Canvas mix. It just kind of just made sense to use those songs as a skeleton for the direction of the Anti Canvas mix and fill in the blanks from there. So long story short, perfect timing.
I feel like the first song is one of the most crucial moments in a mix because it sets the tone. Right in the beginning you start the mixtape off with “Paulette” by Balla et ses Balladins, which was amazing. What made you choose this particular song?
Music and art is my life. I played piano for 10+ years and have been collecting records since I was 15, which is going on over 20 years now. Jazz, soul and funk is what I listen to when I’m at home and what I look for when I’m in a record store. I feel like mixtapes/mixes are the best opportunities to be as free as you want with your selections because you are not necessarily pandering to a crowd. “Paulette” is a great song in general. I felt like it would be a good way to get people thinking right off the bat because it was used as the sample for J.Cole’s “Can’t Get Enough”. I also don’t scratch very well so I can’t really make those tricked out DJ mixtape intros - so there’s that too…
In your description you said that all 39 songs were mixed live in one take. That’s extremely difficult and challenging! The transition between the first couple of songs were already perfectly seamless. Were the majority of the songs picked up on the spot?
I don’t think I have ever actually sat down and planned a mix for a mixtape or for a DJ set, ever. I have always played more off of feeling out the crowd when I DJ parties or a general feeling I want to portray for a mix. It is definitely a major challenge to put together any mix live in one take, but I also feel like the mistakes are part of the beauty of being human. With music editing software almost on the level of prosumer, you could realistically put out a perfect mix in your computer without touching a single turntable, which I have nothing against because that sounds great too, but I happen to like to hear the parts where a DJ is slightly adjusting to make beats match, etc.
Where did you record your mix? Is this your ideal location?
I record all my mixes at my house. It is the most un-ideal location for a number of reasons: 1) I have roommates 2) live in a super quiet neighborhood 3) am home usually only late at night 4) have small speakers as monitors…the list goes on. I basically cannot hear anything when I make these mixes because I have the volume turned so low that its like all the songs are literal whispers. Its pretty comical.
What was going through your mind during this mixtape? What do you want your listeners and fans to feel when listening to this?
I have fans? Rad. My goal with this mix and any mix I do is to take the listener on a journey. I’ve been very lucky to have gained countless knowledge jewels about creating builds in mixing through music selection and pacing from so many DJ peers and that I’ve looked up to throughout the years. I don’t ever stick to one genre of music because I like 245234432758325923532 different types of music, and I’d like to think everyone else does too. I honestly just really am grateful that I am in any position to have people listen my mixes or to me DJ at all. Thank you all.
Not only did you make the mixtape for the Contrast Magazine & Hurley Anti Canvas Art Show but you are also a participating artist. How does it feel to contribute not just visually but audibly (if that makes sense)? Do you feel that this mix embodies the show?
As someone who has studied and created art my entire life, and also been surrounded by music my entire life, this is like the best of both worlds at the same damn time. It’s truly an honor. I am so low key about my art that I am surprised that anyone even knows I make art, but yeah, this is such a once in a lifetime opportunity. I just hope my boardshorts sell because 100% of the proceeds from Anti Canvas goes to charity. I think this mix embodies the Anti Canvas Art Show because like all of the participating artists, there are different styles involved.
Any last thoughts?
Thank you to all my friends and fam at Hurley and Contrast Magazine for their countless support of my creative endeavors over the years. Thanks to everyone who has ever checked for my mixes or when I’m spinning in the clubs. I appreciate you all. Oh and don’t outbid me for my homegirl Brandy’s (from Sig Zane) boardshorts!
Right now, it’s mostly my daughter Lamalama when she’s hungry. Growing up, it’s probably been Uncle Johnny and Aunty Deedee. Only because they cared, and hello you supposed to dancing as one, not solo. But then you realize why you get scolded and get with it and keep dancing. A lot of who I am today is because of the opportunities that hula has brought to me in my life, and if doing what I love has gotten me this far, I am living!
Why did you major in Hawaiian Studies?
Why not? I’m Hawaiian, I live in Hawaiʻi, my lifestyle is the culture . . . it was an obvious choice for me. Even though I didn’t grow up speaking Hawaiian, every song I learned to dance to was. At kula I was able to meet a lot of determined and inspirational kanaka maolis and be part of the revitilization movement. My kumus are some of the most passionate people I know about preserving and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture. They helped me strengthen my connections to the ʻāina and helped me realize my kuleana to my ʻohana and my community.
What is the concept behind your Anti Canvas piece?
My piece is called “Pūpū Hinuhinu”. It’s from a Hawaiian song I remember learning in kindergarten, now it’s the lullaby my mom sings to my daughters. Literally it translates to “shiny shell”, figuratively this piece is every experience at the beach, camping trips with my kāne, my friends and our shell hunting missions, early morning sessions, my never ending obsession of the ocean and this island. I like to offer an escape in my art, something for the viewer to get lost in.
When did you start at SigZane?
I started working at SZD in 2005 as a concierge in the store and model for their website. Once I went up to the design department I knew that’s where I wanted to be. Being able to work with the Zanes has helped develop my sense of style, my taste in fashion and most importantly listening to that naʻau. It’s pretty much a dream job for me and the opportunities at SZD have blown my mind, like with Anti Canvas. I’m super honored to be a part of the show with so many talented artists, it’s crazy to see my name with theirs!!
Where are your favorite spots on Moku O Keawe?
Makalawena, Waiuli, Four Miles, and of course Bayfront! Clean days only though, I’m over chocolate water.
Jack Johnson sporting the shorts he helped design for Anti-Canvas boardshort charity show! We have chosen The Kokua Foundation and Pow Wow Hawaii as our charities this year. See you Friday evening at Soho!
Who has been your biggest motivation within your career?
The people in Honolulu. That was what would have me jump out of bed after working 12 hours to go out at night and take their photo. The promoters in Honolulu, the club owners, the DJs, the bartenders, the clubbers, the musicians, the new 21 year olds; they all held me captivated for almost a decade. I would go out and try to capture it all, then sit up for hours and hours uploading, editing, posting, then writing about it. Every week, every month, every year, for eight years. I had to do it. I wanted to share what was going on as much as I could, because it was amazing to me. Before Honolulu I had lived and traveled all over the world and there was nowhere like this city. It is truly the most amazing city in the world.
Why are you excited to participate in the Anti Canvas?
Both of my parents are artists, but I was never that good at anything besides music growing up. I want to make them proud. The Hurley Anti-Canvas is one of the most unique art events I’ve ever seen, and I remember gushing about it when you guys did the first one a few years ago. I would have never believed in a million years that what I do would be worthy of such a creative event. I’m excited to be in the ranks of some truly amazing artists that I admire greatly; Ekundayo especially. He blew my mind at our first Hawaii Pow Wow with not only his artwork, which in itself is complex and beautiful but also his experiences and views on art and Hawaii.
What was the inspiration for Anti Canvas piece?
For my trunks I wanted to make something that someone would actually want to wear, but also try to take my website and bring it to life. I started clicking through the old photos and old posts, looking at each year, and pulling out my favorite images. It was a lengthy, thorough process to go through everything, and it made me realize how much there is online. There’s been so many people that have come up, so many hang-outs, so many restaurants, bars, clubs, concerts. The nostalgia really crept in when I was going through all of it and made my chest heavy. I was so obsessed with archiving every single detail, as much as I could. As I looked back through everything I was so so so glad that I was able to do it for so long. It will be there forever. A huge piece of our life. I pulled images of the people, the scenery, the high fives, as many as I could put together. After working on it for a while I decided to make the images all black & white, because that is what I think of when I’m thinking of an archive. I always wanted Honolulu’s Nightlife Diaries to be a decade of nightlife in Honolulu, archived online forever. Something easy to click through by month or year and go back through. Like a chunk of our history online. I tried to bring that out in the trunks.
When did you begin your career?
I started blogging in 1997 when I was still living in Newquay, England. I had an Angelfire website and would post photos that I scanned from trips all over Europe, Africa and the surrounding islands. It was mainly for my family and friends that I left behind to live abroad and work in the Navy. I was really lucky because I did good in the training and was able to get cleared for a high level security clearance, so they didn’t just send me to the fleet; I got to work for NATO’S Southern Region Headquarters in Naples Italy for my first command. It was so amazing! I wanted to make sure to keep everyone abreast of every moment of it, and it was easier to just post updates for them than to e-mail everyone all the time. This was when the Internet was first sort of happening, and I felt like as learning and growing with it. When I got to Honolulu it was right around the time that social networks really started to take off, and once we all got on MySpace is when the site really blew up.
Where do you want to be with your career in 10 years?
My career has seriously been so all over the place that nothing would surprise me. I went from troubleshooting e-mail issues to head-hunting software engineers, to managing a skate team, to selling radio to the job I have today. Everything after the Navy was just to stay in Hawaii. I didn’t care what my job was, I just wanted to be able to make a life here. Now that I have been doing my current gig for almost five years I realize that this is the job for me. I have gone from being the person going out everywhere all the time to being the person that is able to help make all that happen. Wine & spirits is big business, and we have the capacity to not only support the community but influence the youth culture as they come up as well. It’s fun, it’s productive, it’s stressful, but I love it. As for my blog I really believe that 2012 is the year to put it to bed. Content has gotten so much smaller and bite-sized, and the only way for me to do what I do is to make long, elaborate posts. There’s too much to do it any other way. I have the outline of a book sitting on my computer that I visit here and there.
Who has been your biggest motivation within your career?
Currently, my biggest motivator is Emil Soriano, Design Director at Crooks & Castles. Working with him the past few years has pushed me to constantly grow. He has been a great resource in my development and transition into apparel design.
Why are you excited to participate in the Anti Canvas?
I’m humbled and honored to be a part of this amazing show. Working in the surf industry for close to a decade, I’ve witnessed the evolution of the boardshort and boarshort art. After attending the first exhibit, I knew I wanted to be a part. It’s a great fusion of Art + Surf + Charity. Big thanks to Seth, Leilani and everyone at Hurley and Contrast for the honor!
What was the inspiration for your Anti Canvas piece?
My piece is dedicated to Christopher “Lewds” Natalio, Marketing Director for Crooks & Castles, who passed away suddenly on June 2, 2012. His passing was and still is one of the most trying times of my life thus far. I’ve never lost anyone so close. Chris was one of my biggest supporters and always had my back. I miss him everyday. Rest in Paradise Lewds. 1975-Forever.
When did you begin your career?
I would say my career is just beginning. I started out in 2007, mainly working in print design. Gradually, I have transitioned into apparel. I love print, but apparel is where I want to be. I still have so much to learn, but am blessed to be surrounded by so many talented individuals who are willing to share their years of knowledge and experience.
Where do you want to be with your career in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to be a successful apparel designer, making a career out of the field I love. I’d love to call Hawaii home, but have the opportunity to travel frequently and experience everything the world has to offer. Traveling is a passion of mine, and I find inspiration where ever I may be. The details and intricacies of places and cultures fascinate me.
Who has been your biggest motivation within your career?
I’m more than lucky to say that I have many supporting friends and family members who can all be accredited for my current situation. To all of you, a huge “mahalo” from the bottom of my na’au.
Why are you excited to participate in the Anti Canvas?
Receiving the Anti Canvas invitation was a shock for me in many ways. When I recognized the impressive list of artists who’ve participated (as well as those participating this year), it was more than an honor for me to accept. This is one of the biggest events to happen within my short and growing graphic design career. Excitement is an understatement!
What was the inspiration for Anti Canvas piece?
The many journeys and travels I’ve experienced throughout my life have led me to better understand the beauty and uniqueness of my home, Hawaii. Through this, I have acquired a deep respect for the life, culture, and environment that has molded me into the person I am today. My Anti Canvas piece is a tribute to what Ke Akua has blessed me with. Throughout the artwork, you will notice elements of certain Hawaiian deities, such as Kāne, Lono, Kanaloa, Pele, Hina, Paka’a, and Nāmaka, that all balance each other to create an environmentally perfect paradise. There is no other place in the world I’d rather call my home.
When did you begin your career?
I’d like to think that I’ve somehow been naturally conditioned a graphic designer. It was recently that I’ve realized my whole life to this point has been blessed with hidden opportunities pertaining to different forms of art. Whether it be music, graffiti, doodling in class, etc, I’ve always seemed to unknowingly fall back into some sort of art form. Before being given the title of “graphic designer” by my kinfolk at FITTED, I have no experience of working with graphics through a computer. It was about 6 years ago when I designed my first FITTED hat with just a paper and pen. From then on, my love for art continued to subliminally direct me into learning more and more about technical and visual elements of design.
Where do you want to be with your career in 10 years?
To understand how far we’ve come at FITTED, it’s easy for me to see endless company growth and potential. I am very confident and proud when I say that I am part of the best ‘Ohana around, period. Rest assure we’ll keep setting the trends, inspiring, and raising the bar.
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