Ryan Gattis : Links

Julia Biel
(http://www.juliabiel.com/)
There are voices, and then there are voices—you know, the kind that makes writers effuse all over their notebooks when comparing vocal tones to warmed-over butter, to honey straight from hive, to velvet crushed by children's thumb tips. It just so happens that Miss Julia Biel possesses one of these voices, but it isn't like any of those things. You'll just have to listen to the purity for yourself.

Chinatown Soccer Club
(http://www.chinatownsoccerclub.com/)
In their own words: "Chinatown Soccer Club is a semi-organized crew that meets year-round for friendly soccer matches in New york City's Chinatown. It's made up of a diverse group of players. Many are successful artists, photographers, skateboarders, designers, and all-around good people. CSC was formed during the 2002 World Cup. The crew has grown, acquired real equipment, and sharpened their skills. Stay tuned for more CSC gear and projects. See you on the pitch."
BONUS: The World Famous CSC Blog

.ISM Quarterly
(http://www.ismcommunity.org/)
Driven by the submissions of its readers, .ISM is growing up faster than a baby kangaroo from its humble Orange County beginnings and is now distributed internationally. In fact, they have now made the leap into nonprofithood as The .ISM Community Project and are increasingly focused on providing unique artistic and educational coverage for both the local and global community. Now, I'm not even sure what that means, but it sounds excellent.

Patrick Neate
(http://www.patrickneate.com/)
Author of 2001 Whitbread Winner, Twelve Bar Blues, and National Book Award-winning Where You're At, Patrick is a genuinely insightful guy. To add to his lore: in a drunken state, he once handed me fifty quid and I bought a big, fluffy sweater with it the next day. Truth be told, this guy is always making the rounds and putting on one cool event after another. Whether he's contributing to a poetry reading or hosting Book Slam @ Cherry Jam, Patrick gets it done.

Mindy Nettifee
(http://www.thecultofmindy.com/home.html)
Mindy Nettifee was born near corn fields and buried geodes in Des Moines, Iowa to a minister and trouble maker. She currently writes from the foggy shores of Long Beach, California where she reads as a contact sport and is editor-in-chief of GetUnderground.com. Mindy has competed, slam-mastered and performed in the poetry slam circuit poetic since 1999, and served on the advisory board of Tebot Bach's Five Penny Poets from 2000 to 2005. She has toured with her work internationally and been published in various journals. Her poem “Metal Detectors and Other Important Thresholds” was a nominee for the Pushcart Prize. Her newest collection of poetry Sleepyhead Assassins is out on Moon Tide Press.

Wayne Newton
(http://www.waynenewton.com/)
The "King of Las Vegas" is an immensely talented performer, under appreciated songwriter, and all-around legend. Thanks to Roo Kickkick & the Big Bad Blimp, he can also now add "have appeared in a novel" right next to "have appeared on Bonanza and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" on his already awe-inspiring list of life accomplishments.

Plum Live
(http://www.plumlive.co.uk/)
Great fiction and poetry readings four times a year hosted by Luke Williams and Natasha Soobramanien at Public Life, 82a Commercial Street (a five minute walk from Liverpool Street Station, across from Old Spitalfields Market), London E1 6LY. I've not heard much about it recently; I hope it's still going on.

Stochlfoto
(http://www.stochlfoto.com/)
Not only is Gerhard Stochl one of the classiest guys around, but he also happens to be a damn fine photographer. Some of the shots in "Skateboarders 1996-2006" are breathtaking. Two of my absolute favorites: HUMMEL IN VIENNA (2000) & ROBBIE IN LOS ANGELES II (1997).

Andrew Sutherland
(http://www.andrewsutherland.com/)
Andrew's work is simple, clean, and brilliant. His artistic creations have been featured in INY, an excellent book about NYC street art. Make sure to check out the video on the site for a real sense of the precision needed throughout the production process.
BONUS: XLR8R Interview

Peter D. Sutherland
(http://www.petersutherland.net/)
Peter blew up in 2006 after securing a gorgeous DVD/book release of Pedal from powerHouse books, a solo exhibition called Game at Mu in Eindhoven, Holland, and a corresponding book. Peter is an amazing force that stradles multiple media formats: documentary filmmaker (Pedal and DP on Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator), photographer, and author as well. Autograf: New York City's Graffiti Writers is still going strong too, so melt that plastic and help a brother out. From Publisher's Weekly: "This terrific books shows its subjects in full effect (if in full stealth mode) with their canvas—New York's five boroughs—sprawled out beautifully and variously behind them, and their names."
BONUS: TMWRK.com

Peter Chun Mao Wu
(http://www.peterchunmaowu.com/)
Quite possibly, Peter is the owner of the best biography known to man: "Born in November. Has two parents. Likes Roquefort cheese. Makes films." Simple, direct, life-affirming—that's Peter all over.