Modified Arts opened it’s doors on January 1999 and became a mainstay of downtown Phoenix. Known for it’s showcase of the best art in Phoenix and a venue for a wide range of music, it’s a favorite to go on First Fridays.
Initially I didn’t know much about Modified Arts. All I knew was through second hand information. So I decided to find out more directly from the owner, Kimber Lannning. Not to say the least, I was about get a history lesson. Take a seat Johnny…
I didn’t meet Kimber at Modified Arts, but at Stinkweeds, her second home. Stinkweeds is yet another interesting story I hope to tell you in the future. There is a good interview of her by QRD issue #31, it’s a little dated but still has great information. I highly recommend you reading it since it contains good history and some back information.
There was a monsoon warning for downtown Phoenix when I was driving to Stinkweeds. Street lights were off and the wind was strong. What a strange night I thought. Walking in I see Kimber and the first thing she says was about the monsoon. I thought I was going to have an easy interview since no one else was in the record store, 10 minutes and done, boy was I wrong. Standing at the cashiers counter and readying my voice recorder we began with the usual questions. Then it happened, people began to come in. It was around 7:25 p.m.
A gentleman with black curly hair walked in carrying a vanilla folder. I thought nothing of it since he began looking at magazines and such. Probably saw me talking to Kimber. So I continued my interview a little more. Then a lady carrying a box full of flyers, posters, and promotional items came in. We both looked at her and I stepped back to give her more room at the cashiers counter. She was dropping off promotional items, a poster, and stickers.
The time was 7:40 p.m., I was watching the whole interaction between them. They seem to know each other well, like friends. It was quick and straight to the point. Can you use this poster, she said. How about these stickers or another poster. She didn’t even take a look at me at all standing to the side. I felt like I was a nobody. I didn’t want to interrupt them. The conversation was quick, she was out no less then five minutes. Kimber apologizes, I said it’s ok, it’s buisness and I understand.
We began the interview again. A minute or so the gentleman with the vanilla folder comes up to the counter. I stepped away from the counter since he looks like he needed to check out. It was getting late. He says hi to Kimber and she says, “Hi Nick”. I heard that name before, I thought. He puts the vanilla folder on the counter. Pulls out a print out of magazine covers.
It hits me. He is the publisher of Hoozdo magazine! We did a story on Hoozdo awhile back. Check it out here. I introduced myself and told him that we talked over email and myspace before thesoop.com launched live. What I had asked him was advice in starting an online magazine and what challenges he had face while publishing his magazine Hoozdo.
The reason why he was there was for Kimber to choose a magazine cover for an upcoming issue of Hoozdo. There was about 5 or 6 versions of the cover. Kimber takes a look at them and comments on some, the color isn’t right, this one looks good, when was this taken, ect… Eventually one was championed. This one looks good. Nick agrees and puts them back in the vanilla folder.
They start talking about downtown politics and how things are in the community. From the Mayor of Phoenix to an outrage with parking meters. The parking meters at Modified Arts, specifically. There was another story about a crane driver carrying steel parked near a construction site that got a ticket for parking next to an expired meter. The crane driver ran after the ticket meter personnel screaming after that person. That’s hilarious! The story ends. He says bye and walks out the door.
I looked at Kimber and say what an interesting night. I need to hangout here more often I said. Kimber looks at the voice recorder and says was that on all this time? I said yes, but wow what a recording of conversations I had! It was a gold mine in my eyes or ears. We eventually finish the interview but I was more interested on the events that just happened.
A chance meeting with the Hoozdo Magazine publisher, the interaction with local record label marketers, and hearing interesting stories from all who came in the store. What a strange and interesting night. Well for me at least.
I want to thank Kimber Lanning for her time and the opportunity to speak with her. I’m sure more is to come, to be continued…
More information:
www.modified.org
www.stinkweeds.com
