Subject: Table
Creator: Gareth Sther
Photographed: Jamie Parkhurst

For more on Jimmy visit jimmyfontaine.com

In the last moments of consciousness, a stream of reflection takes over. The fourteen day haze that is Australia plays back through my head. The smile that overwhelms my face could be a result of two opposing thoughts: A) “That was the best time I have ever had.” Or, B) “What did I just do to myself?”

From the warm surf of Byron Bay, to the vortex that is Bondi Beach, my split decision to break the bank and purchase a plane ticket two days before Christmas has proven to be worth it. For every miserable hour spent in the Los Angeles Federal building waiting on a expedited passport, there was a night of debauchery that turned new friends into what family. For every penny lost in purchasing a ticket only two days before departure, a life long memory was created. Taking a risk, blowing everything off, saying “fuck you”, proceeding with irrational thought, loosing yourself and choosing to do it all again are some things that my peers and I value. Living with no plan B, no backup plan while putting all of your eggs into one basket – It is just a better way to live.

The plane continues to soar through the dim lit sky, its a thirteen hour journey back to Los Angeles. With eyes shut, I fell asleep. There was only one song on the playlist, it was repeated five times.

If you have the patience to watch any– if not all– the videos I created on my last Tokyo journey, I can assure that you will come away with something (More than likely the complete envy of such a mass of people jamming out of the Maria Carey Christmas song.)

Spears has just published a photo-zine of his work, which he was gracious enough to send us a copy of. It hosts an eccentric spread of titty shots and heterochromatic pups. Let’s take a moment and get to know the very talented Mr. Mike Spears.

Howdy Mike. I noticed the care package you sent was from Brooklyn. Is that home?

Yes, Brooklyn has been home for 12 years now. I live in Dumbo which is picturesque and faces Lower Manhattan. It’s as if I’m always looking at the city and it’s part of me, but Brooklyn is home. Brooklyn is welcoming. Manhattan is elitist.

What’s your weapon of choice?

I shoot with three, 35mm film cameras mainly. I carry a Yashica T4 as a pocket cam for quick snaps of things I see when I’m out and about. I use a Contax G1 for the flashy seafood and fleshy female shots. I got a Konica Hexar in 2008 and love it for landscapes and rich color shots. It’s a poor man’s Leica. I also have an RZ67 medium format but rarely use it unless I’m doing a “photo shoot”, like a headshot job or beauty photos. It’s big and slow but beautiful.

One of the raddest things about your zine (to me) is that it was made through Kickstarter. What was that process like?

The Kickstarter process was easier than I expected. Hardest part was getting my pitch, video shot and edited. I spend a lot of time online so I just hounded people on my Facebook and Tumblr. I also sent out email blasts to anyone I thought might be interested and it worked. The more I pushed the more I got contributors. It’s important to offer good incentives so people feel like they’re not just giving to charity but getting something for their money. I offered prints of my work for contributors over $50 and for $20 you were basically buying the portfolio booklet in advance.

Were most of those contributions anonymous or do you know a lot of the people who donated to the project?

Most people who coughed up loot were friends, acquaintances, and fans of my work. However there were a few complete strangers from overseas who contributed which was encouraging.

All the subjects in your work look like they let their guard down around the dude with the camera. How do you get such a natural reaction?

I have good timing from being a former skate photographer so I know when to hit the shutter release. That said, you have to engage people. Be a good human. Talk to them. Show that your intentions are artistic and not exploitive. I’m also good at editing. Well, I’m ok at it. Some friends say my work is all over the place…which it is. I find everything fascinating sometimes. I guess I just don’t show people all the shitty photos I take too.

You’ve done some work with Vice. Was that a good fit for your aesthetic?

I have no connections at Vice these days. In the mid 2000s I was assisting a lot on Vice photo shoots with Glynnis McDaris and Tim Barber (who was the photo editor at the time and now a major photographer/curator in NYC) so by association I had some “ins”. I had photos in the Do’s and Dont’s about ten times which doesn’t count for much. However I was in the Photo Issue in 2005 and it was a proud moment. Vice likes the snapshot aesthetic which is how I shoot mostly. Also they seem to favor “the theatre of the bizarre” kind of photos which I’m attracted to in my work.

Any surf trips planned out our way?

I don’t have any Cali trips planned in the near future but would love to check out Costa Mesa. I’m feeling the stoney soul surf aesthetic. Hopefully sooner than later I’ll make it out there. Offer me a place to stay and I’ll book a ticket dude!

For more of Mike’s work:
www.mikespears.net
www.alieneyeball.tumblr.com/

BLOUSE – INTO BLACK

Cliff

Like the greats, Nina’s live rendition of ‘The House of the Rising Sun’ is paralyzing. It’s still, honest, and brutal.

Nina Simone – The House of the Rising Sun

Kerri

This is how I spent my New Years Eve seeing American Nightmare. I am currently still smiling, days later.

American Nightmare Reunion Show 2011

Gareth

I like this clip because it seems so raw and powerful.

Arcade Fire – Take Away Shows

This is just amazing how would it have been to go to that concert??? Fucking brilliant.

The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter at Altamont

Dustin

I love my girlfriend dearly but I will never look at another woman the way I look at Stevie Nicks. Dark and mysterious, she did ‘witchy’ better than anyone and still inspires countless “Gypsters” to do the same.

Stevie Nicks – The Edge of Seventeen

Brandon

As far as I know, this is the only legit pre-reunion footage that exists of this seminal, yet sadly underrated, band.

The Soft Boys – Only The Stones Remain

Is Jaki Leibezeit the best drummer in the world?

Can – Vitamin C

Uncle Lou is in very funky form in this footage from Paris in 1974. Is that blow he’s doing off that roadie’s arm?

Lou Reed – Vicious

“Like Motorhead hugging the Fall.”

The Monorchid – The Warmers

Simultaneously mind-melting and mesmerizing.

Leo Kottke – Vaseline Machine Gun

Mike

This is what is wrong with America…in a nut shell.

Eden Wood - Cutie Patootie

Classic Americana…

Michael Jackson – I Heard It Through The Grapevine

GZA – Liquid Swords

Kurt Cobain getting beat up on stage…

Nirvana – Unknown Song

Julie

Always enlightened by and a huge fan of jónsi. I love this song’s haunting sound and emotive, slow burn lyrics about breakups and the passage of time.

Jonsi – Sinking Friendships

Billy

I am getting the title of this song tattooed on me today. Enough said…

Neil Young – Long May You Run

Nathanetics and Uncle Gary present GET WEIRD WITH BEARDS (first Thursday of each month)

901 E 1st St Los Angeles

I recently spent a day in LA with Gareth as he created, “No Equal,” an original piece of artwork which will be hung at CHAPTER HQ. He has definitely got a system worked out. The printshop has handled his work for years, and the hardware store employees know him by name. The weather was shit and the lighting was dismal, but “Gary” didn’t even notice. By the day’s end he had created something truly epic, all with a meticulous attention to detail and finesse, which I hadn’t expected to find. He’s an interesting creature.

Filmed & Directed by Clifford Lidell
Edited by Sterling Foxcroft
Starring Gareth Stehr
Music by Lilac ‘Moon’
Additional music by Starfucker ‘Mystery Cloud’