 "Photo: courtesy of SPOK(a)N(e)")
Looking for an outlet for the hidden creative talent in Spokane, Tyson and Sara Habein decided they would have to start their own. Enter SPOK(a)N(e) (pronounced Spoken Spokane), a monthly digital magazine featuring local artists, including the creators themselves. They talked to The Bulletin last week about their brand-new mag:
So, why did you start SPOK(a) N(e)?
Tyson: We've been sad about the lack of an option for a creative community outlet besides The Inlander. They're great, but they have a set group of people they love to talk about. For us, this is an opportunity to talk about the other stuff. We both have experience - Sara with writing and copy editing, and me with photography. I'd been talking about this for a year. It made sense to do something online. It's viable, economically.
Sara: We don't have to chase down advertising in order to survive. And for me, well, the joke about being married to the editor is that you get a column to talk about whatever you want.
SPOK(a)N(e) exists in PDF format online. How does that affect the magazine?
T: We're not limited in terms of space. Extra pages don't cost anything, full color doesn't cost anything.
S: We just randomly changed the page size.
T: It gives us more room to breathe with the pieces. I can't imagine calling a printer and asking for those changes.
S: Your turn-around time is much quicker. We put it all together in a week and a half. We ask contributors to turn stuff in by the 10th, and we publish between the 15th and 17th.
Why did you choose a PDF format over a web page?
T: We both knew how to use Page Maker and Photoshop. I know nothing about Web design. I couldn't design my way out of a paper bag. We've had someone offer to design, but we were concerned about making the magazine accessible. If people are more comfortable with the layout, I think they're much more likely to come back.
What do you envision for SPOK(a) N(e)'s future?
T: Short-term, we'll expand our coverage…some fashion-based stuff, some tie-ins with local venue coverage, and then review a concert or art show at said venue. Long-term, we want to have fun with it and create something the community hasn't had before. We're all about having a good time. We certainly want to do it well, but there's no…
S: Grand ambitions, you could say.
T: It's very lo-fi. We're working with Photoshop 6 and old, ancient software.
S: We're on a dial-up connection. We live out in Rockford.
OK, let's talk about Spokane. What do you like about the creative community here?
T: I like the amount of variety that's in Spokane. We're both from Montana, and where I grew up, in Billings, it was very rare to see something non-traditional - that is, that wasn't oil-based landscape paintings or high school kids starting a punk band. It's great to see art that's very unique, like spoken word artists and folks making their own clothes. It's pleasing to see people in Spokane who don't mind freaking out the grandmothers of the world.
S: Coming here, in some ways, the scene is just a little bigger. The size of the city provides a greater likelihood of there being variety.
T: I think Spokane is on the cusp of being a vibrant, creative community. I think it's looked down upon in the Pacific Northwest, but it will depend upon who decides to stay and give it a go here.
What do you dislike about Spokane's creative scene?
T: There's a certain insular nature to a lot of the groups, where if you're not a member of that group, and if you don't think the same way, some people will discount you.
S: You get a certain group of musicians, for example, who all know each other, and they might be more concerned with the continual promotion of what they're all doing rather than looking outside of themselves.
T: There are two groups in Spokane: The business people and the ultra-creative artists. The business people need to realize that without this creative community, there's not a lot of selling or buying happening.
How do you find that untapped talent?
T: I look for things everywhere. I'll find one really interesting thing hanging in the back corner of the gallery, surrounded by hundreds of other pieces, and find contact information. I figure if I haven't heard their name and they're doing something cool, I should talk about it. I ask people who else I should talk to.
S: People are really eager to suggest things. It's just a matter of asking. We're not trying to say that people don't think it's important, but people in print media have to make do with the space they're given.
Who do you really admire in Spokane right now? Can you give us any teasers?
T: John Austin is a great photographer. He shoots portraits obsessively. He came here [Brews Bros.] for an interview with me and ended up shooting the barista.
There's also a junior in high school who is designing her own clothing.
S: We'll be working with her for the May issue. Her name is…
T: Lexi Carr. She's shown her stuff in Spokane runway shows. She makes corsets with a million buckles, and dresses with layers and layers.
S: It's like wearable costuming.
T: It looks professionally produced, not like something someone's putting together in their basement.
Anything else?
T: We love for people to contact us. If someone thinks they're doing something cool, or if they know someone…
S: We have no problem with self-promotion.
T: There's two of us, but I have a day job and we have two kids, and we live out of town. We love feedback - good or bad. We'll run it.
S: We're not afraid of criticism!
T: Contact us at spokenspokane@ gmail.com. There's always contact info in the magazine: www.spokenspokane. blogspot.com
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