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JUGGLING ACT

Max and Ari, the duo behind Oakland Surf Club, have quietly turned OSC into one of the Bay’s most eclectic retail destinations, curating everything from gear and boards, to vinyl and fine art–all while balancing a budding business with a new marriage and a brand new baby girl.

Category Archives: Features

FAR FUCKIN’ OUT

Isis Aquarius remembers her days inside the early 70's spiritual commune known as The Source Family

May 15, 2013 by Max Gibson

The year was 1970. The chaos, freedom, turmoil and liberation of the ‘60s had yet to subside, seeping into a new decade that had yet to be defined. In the midst of war abroad and the struggle for civil rights at home, American society was in flux, with many left searching for answers.

Out of this landscape, The Source Family was born. Founded on a synthesis of spiritual beliefs and ancient religions, the Family was the brainchild of one man; his name was Jim Baker. A World War II veteran, turned martial arts expert, turned restaurant entrepreneur, Jim Baker the man was both famous and infamous. After being acquitted of murder for killing a man with his bare hands after an altercation with a neighbor turned physical, the onetime bodybuilding champion turned to health food, establishing one of Los Angeles’ premier organic, vegetarian dining destinations in the form of The Source Family Restaurant. From the health-conscious ethos that characterized Baker’s eatery, The Source Family was spawned.

Embarking upon a spiritual quest that consumed him for years, Jim Baker immersed himself in the metaphysical world, studying the teachings of any and every known Western and Eastern tradition, secret society, or metaphysical source he could find. After numerous encounters with the known spiritual leader Yogi Bhajan, Jim Baker found a new pursuit that would not only consume him, but transform him forever, into what many considered to be a spiritually enlightened being in human form. Following this transformation, Jim Baker was no more, and in his place was Father Yod. Birthing The Source Family soon after his transformation, he would go on to create his own self-sustaining commune; wholly spiritual, unwaveringly loving, and unimaginably wealthy.

The Source Family grew quickly, attracting those searching for answers while garnering widespread acclaim for their forward thinking restaurant and idiosyncratic leader. One woman at the center of the family was Charlene Peters, better known as Isis Aquarius, who served as the family’s chief historian and archivist. Collecting numerous artifacts from the family’s archives, she remains one of the prevailing individuals still preserving The Source Family’s legacy. As one of Father Yod’s 13 wives, she was intimate with the leader, digesting much of his guidance and teachings. On the heels of the release of The Source Family’s feature length documentary, we spoke with Isis about her experience in the family, shedding light on one of the ’70s most legendary spiritual communes.

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Read our full interview with Isis Aquarius here

May 15, 2013 BY Max Gibson
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SEE AS YOU SEE

Photographer Alexis Vasilikos separates ego out of his art, and lets the images speak for themselves

May 13, 2013 by Will Bundy

Alexis Vasilikos

“There is a seeing which doesn’t see objects. It doesn’t see thisness and thatness. It is pure. It doesn’t come from thought or intention. This is why it has the power to bypass the mind, and speak directly into the heart of being.”

It’s not every photographer I’ve interviewed that elects to send over a collection of personal, philosophical meditations with his work. The longest of the bunch is above, but most of the brief notes Alexis Vasilikos supplied were no longer than a line or two, taking on the air of a tossed-off poetic observation, and yet gesturing toward the kind of question you could sit and contemplate for years. His photography can feel the same way. Alexis’ images capture these subtly serendipitous moments, fragmentary glimpses of everyday life that seem to hint at something bigger: a funny juxtaposition, an expression, maybe just the way a shadow strikes an object.

There’s something very deliberate in Alexis’ presentation too. His website consists of ten collections, pristinely laid out and accompanied only by vague, open-ended titles like swimming in the wind or back to nothing. No artist bio, no background info, nothing to take in but the images themselves. It’s that sense of mystery that gives the photographs so much power. Free from outside context, Alexis’ work allows your imagination to wander, to ruminate on whatever feeling you pull out of the image itself, rather than searching for something external to it. Later on, Alexis gave me a bit more context–about places he’d been, and things he’d learned in his seventeen years behind the lens. Whether the context is necessary is still up for debate, and given what you know already, I’d suggest digging in to Alex’s archives here first. At the very least though, our conversation offered a chance to dig a bit beyond the surface of those gorgeous shots.

May 13, 2013 BY Will Bundy
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JUGGLING ACT

A budding business, a new marriage, and a baby girl: short work for Max and Ari of Oakland Surf Club

May 6, 2013 by Max Gibson
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Oakland Surf Club
Photography By Lauren Crew

Starting a business isn’t easy. Raising a child isn’t either. The first words I heard inside the doors of Oakland Surf Club were barely audible. They came from the voice of Coco, the glowing creation of shop owners Max Klineman and Ari Serrano-Embree, and the OSC’s beloved shop baby. From Coco’s blue stripped blouse and polka dot leggings, to the vibrant array of men’s and womenswear pieces lining the walls of their Downtown Oakland boutique, the couple’s aesthetic synergy is constantly on display.

The first floor of OSC boasts an eclectic selection of the things Max and Ari love–from Mara Hoffman swimwear and Tepsic magazines, to art books, Madlib vinyl and skin care products from Baxter. Meanwhile, the second floor functions as a gallery space, playing host to a number of local artists, most recently Paul Solis. Through those two outlets, OSC has managed to celebrate art, culture and commerce while cultivating their own community of like-minded and creative individuals. It’s really something to be seen, especially considering the fact that the couple met, got married, opened a store and had a baby in the span of four years.

Passing the seven-month-old Coco back and forth, while taking turns answering questions, Max and Ari took some time to touch on the origins of Oakland Surf Club. Opening up about their approach to retail, the benefits of brick and mortar, and the importance of family, among other things, our conversation shed light upon one shop at the forefront of revitalizing Oakland’s retail landscape.

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Read our full interview with Max and Ari here

May 6, 2013 BY Max Gibson
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FEEL MORE

Kicking it with entrepreneur and adult industry pioneer Nenna Joiner at Oakland's premier adult gallery

April 24, 2013 by Danielle Schnur
feelmore

Feelmore

Sex shops are funny. Neon cliches hang above heavily cloaked windows, hailing a “Couples Welcome!” policy, or supposedly enticing DVD rental deals, inviting all-too-obvious questions like, Who the fuck goes there? or, perhaps, Do people not know porn is free on the internet? Inside you can usually find a predictable cast of characters, like the 20-something couple or middle aged man, all awkwardly dodging eye contact and trying not to judge themselves. More than likely, you’ll find some cheap fluorescent pink boa lingerie hanging in the corner, dildos sealed in plastic packaging across the walls, and a few toys you’re surprised anyone even knows what to do with. The radio plays either awkwardly soft or abrasively loud, and otherwise, everyone is silent as church mice. Silent, self-judging, horny human church mice.

Feelmore510, on the other hand, is something altogether different. Billing itself, rather, as an ‘adult gallery,’ the downtown Oakland establishment is that and much more. Neat piles of vintage nude magazines populate the open center display tables, local art lines the walls, classic soul and conscious hip-hop plays over the sound system and founder/owner Nenna Joiner greets you with open arms at the door. Feelmore is eons from the shameful culture of the typical sex shop, exuding an energy of comfort, acceptance, and sophistication. From paddles and vibrators, to flaccid silicone packers and harnesses, Feelmore has it all. “I think sex has definitely progressed in the sense that it’s not one thing or another,” says Joiner, “we just really make everybody feel comfortable as they come in.”

April 24, 2013 BY Danielle Schnur
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HYPHY, BITCH

A reflection on the Bay legacy we thought we left behind

April 18, 2013 by Danielle Schnur
HYPHY, BITCH

Hyphy

A “trend” in contemporary popular culture is less defined by its success and more by its transience. In many cases, the term is used with a negative connotation, to denote what was not important enough to hold ground in our ever-evolving pop cultural climate. Unfortunately, by labeling something a trend, we essentially discredit both its historic climb to common knowledge and whatever shape it continues to take after the public has thrown it away and moved on.

Take the Bay Area’s very own ‘Hyphy Movement,’ for example. Sprouting from its roots in the mid 90s, Hyphy grew popular as associated with the rising success of local rap artists Keak da Sneak, E-40, Too $hort and Mac Dre. Their messages emphasized the unique qualities of the urban Bay Area life style, rooted primarily in modes of partying as well as the overall party-going/life-living mindset of Bay Area peoples. By the early 2000s, Hyphy had become a full-fledged sub-genre of music while rappers and civilians alike shared overlapping understandings of slang, activities and beliefs, all captured under the umbrella of ‘Hyphy’.

April 18, 2013 BY Danielle Schnur
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SARTORIALY SPEAKING

A glimpse inside the ever-evolving career and aesthetic of stylist Jessica Willis

April 10, 2013 by Max Gibson
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Jessica Willis

In a sense, Jessica Willis‘ career started when another ended. It was, in fact, getting fired that provided the spark for Jessica harness her own creativity and step out on her own. A preschool teacher, turned costume designer turned stylist, Jessica’s already built up a portfolio featuring some of today’s more iconic faces and brands. Finding comfort in the ever-evolving realm of the avant garde, Willis’ versatility is reflected through the eclectic identities of her clients. If brands like Cerre or Hotel De Ville don’t ring a bell, perhaps names like Rita and Azealia do.

Commissioned to lend her sartorial vision to a variety of well-known and emerging brands, Willis has already built up an impressive body of work, merging the converging worlds of art, music, and fashion through her selective lens. At this point, it’s pretty safe to say that Jess’ star is only beginning to rise. Over a quick lunch in Los Angeles, we had the opportunity to connect with the artist, to learn more about where she’s been, what she’s doing, and most importantly where she’s going.

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Read our full interview with Jessica Willis here

April 10, 2013 BY Max Gibson
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THEY SAY

Syd the Kyd has the world at her fingertips, but she's content to let the music speak for her

April 3, 2013 by Will Bundy
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What a difference two years can make. Back in April 2011, the Coachella crew and I were first making our rounds at the Polo Fields, when we spotted Tyler and Hodgy, armed to the teeth with supersoakers, blasting groupies in the face from point-blank range. On a sweltering Saturday afternoon, the white-hot ball of chaos billed simply as “OFWGKTA” would take the stage, and we’d wade through a sea of late-teenage elbows to catch a glimpse of all the fun they were having. Standing behind the turntables, energetic but quietly poised, was Syd the Kyd.

When Syd took the stage in Indio two years ago, she was a few weeks shy of her nineteenth birthday. Now, two years later, she’s already carved out her own distinctive space, not only in the context of Odd Future’s illustrious roster, but also within the broader landscape of indie music. As half of the duo The Internet, along with producer Matt Martians, she’s had a hand in crafting one of the more sultry, intimate and uncategorizable debuts in recent memory with Purple Naked Ladies. A cosmic, psychedelic blend of avant-garde R&B, the album found Syd taking on duties as a singer, songwriter, producer and recording engineer, not to mention, the de facto face of the band. If OF on the whole has, maybe unfairly, earned a reputation based on the noisier aspects of their collective personality, Matt and Syd’s music helps to round out all that eccentricity with a gorgeous touch of subtlety.

Fresh off her second tour in Europe, and holed up in her brand new Hollywood studio, Syd found the time last weekend to catch us up on where she’s been and where she’s going. The answer, in short, is wherever she wants to go. For the immediate future though, we’re lucky enough to have Syd standing behind the tables at The New Parish Friday night, curating a selection of bangers at a Wine & Bowties function. In the meantime, Syd sounded relaxed and comfortable, filling us in on everything from the new Internet album, to the Myspace-fueled genesis of Odd Future, to the power of family. Somewhere in between all that, we even got to touch on a tragically short hoop career.

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Read our full interview with Syd the Kyd here

April 3, 2013 BY Will Bundy
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IN THE NAME OF LOVE

Facing discrimination, Uganda's gay community is finding a voice, and Rachel Adams is there to tell their story

March 25, 2013 by Will Bundy
RACHEL ADAMS / performers

Rachel Adams

The world is changing fast. A half century removed from colonialism and a quarter century after the reign of Idi Amin, Uganda is facing all the challenges that come along with an underdeveloped economy and a legacy of political turmoil and sweeping tragedy. More recently though, one story caught the attention of the global community, which shed a troubling light on the tension within Uganda, between old and new ideas. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, first proposed in 2009 by Member of Parliament David Bahati, represents a substantial threat to Uganda’s LGBT community on the whole, proposing harsh criminalization of homosexual behavior of any kind. In some versions of the bill, offences have carried with them proposed punishments such as life imprisonment and even the death penalty. It would be hard to imagine a more high-tension backdrop for ground level photojournalism than the one UK-born, Cairo-based photographer Rachel Adams has chosen to explore.

There’s something genuinely heroic about the kind of DIY journalism Adams does. With something as simple as a camera and a computer, Rachel’s been able to offer a glimpse into a world, and a set of issues of that might otherwise remain impenetrable. Of course, from afar, it’s the kind of situation that’s easy to moralize about in broad, sweeping terms. But for Rachel, watching from home hardly seemed like something she could do.

And so last year, Rachel found herself in Kampala, Uganda for a small, but momentous event in the history of the LGBT community there: their first pride parade. Through words and images, Rachel told the story of that day–all the way up to its unfortunate conclusion, which included several arrests by local authorities–and soon after attracted the attention of media outlets worldwide. Already, Rachel had captured a powerful moment, a snapshot of a community pushed to the fringes of their society, struggling to be heard, and to find a space in which to celebrate a fundamental piece of their own identities. Since then, Rachel has spent time in Uganda, documenting the issue from all sides, from an intimate portrait series of transgender performers in Kampala, to an in-person interview with Bahati, the man behind the infamous bill, published by Vice late last year. That her own safety and well-being has often been in jeopardy throughout the course of this project isn’t all that surprising, but it should give you an idea of her commitment to great journalism. Recently, I had the opportunity to ask Rachel about her experiences, in Uganda and beyond, and about the stories she’s been able to tell so poignantly.

March 25, 2013 BY Will Bundy
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MOHSIN HAMID

Fresh off a monumental third novel, Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid is a literary hero for the globalized world

March 12, 2013 by Mustafa Abubaker
MOHSIN HAMID

Mohsin Hamid
 

The memory is eternal. Young, perusing through countless novels, I would be leaving for college in a week or two, and I would have to decide which pieces of literature were going to come with me. Of course, I had already stowed away personal essentials like Alan Lightman’s Einstein’s Dreams and William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. But, when I turned the corner and came face to face with the paperback novel that would shape my perspective on life–its cover splashed with an azul hue and a thick cloud of smoke billowing vertically out of a man’s mouth–I knew I had stumbled upon something special. The familiarity and the connection I felt with Mohsin Hamid’s debut novel Moth Smoke that summer before college stays within my soul, harnessing a certain energy which, at that pivotal moment in my life, was foreign to me. The copy’s been written in, highlighted, bent, twisted and re-read on every trip I embark on, to remind me of where I once was and how far I’ve come.

Years later, Lahore, Pakistan’s very own Mohsin Hamid is at a pivotal moment in his journey. Fresh on the heels of his critically acclaimed third novel, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, Hamid’s second, The Reluctant Fundamentalist was recently optioned for a feature film starring Kate Hudson and Kiefer Sutherland. The notion that Lahore, at the heart of a nation that’s been targeted more recently in the media as a “failed state”, has produced a writer on the verge of becoming an international literary mainstay–speaks not only to Hamid’s mastery of his craft, but to the undeniable relevance of Hamid’s global perspective. Known for his unparalleled ability to capture the complexities of Pakistan’s rapidly changing sociopolitical climate, Mohsin is at the forefront of a rising generation of writers, an author whose insight and genuineness leap off the page, and who is unafraid to experiment in form or style.

March 12, 2013 BY Mustafa Abubaker
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