The first of sculptures leased by the city through the Quad City Arts’ public sculpture program was installed Wednesday near the marina on Riverview Drive.
First sculpture leased by City in public art program installed
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In photos: Extreme solar storm brings spectacular northern lights
ArtSpace/Lima Juried Photography Exhibit Call for Submissions
May 10, 2024, Press Release from ArtSpace/Lima: ArtSpace/Lima is announcing the call for submissions for their annual Juried Photography Exhibit. Copies of the prospectus can be picked up at ArtSpace/Lima, 65 Town Square, or available online at the ArtSpace website www.artspacelima.com.
The exhibit is open to all ages and all types of photography. The exhibition will open on August 3 and continue until September 14, 2024.
For further information about this exhibit or other ArtSpace/Lima programs, please call Sally Windle, Executive Director, ArtSpace/Lima 419-222-1721.
InstaHeadshots.com is redefining professional photography
Lee Enterprises newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
For professionals looking to advance their careers, personal brand is the key. The advent of social media and digital networking platforms has intensified the need for individuals to distinguish themselves effectively. That is where InstaHeadshots.com comes in.
InstaHeadshots.com leverages AI to transform personal branding through AI-generated headshots. This innovation is reshaping how professionals across diverse sectors manage their professional image while democratizing access to high-quality headshots. But can these images really stand up against traditional photography?
The short answer: Yes. InstaHeadshots.com prides itself on photorealism. Using advanced AI algorithms, the platform promises meticulous attention to detail and an accurate representation of the nuances of a user’s facial features.
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Additionally, InstaHeadshots.com is known for its versatility, catering to the specific requirements of professionals across industries. Whether you’re a corporate leader, a creative entrepreneur, or a freelancer, the platform offers an array of clothing styles – from formal corporate attire to casual and relaxed looks – and settings – such as real estate properties or Wall Street backgrounds. In this way, InstaHeadshots.com ensures that individuals effortlessly create the ideal image for their brand.
But why not opt for traditional photography? Vinod Bollini, InstaHeadshots.com founder, says, “Traditional headshot photography comes with an often overwhelming amount of challenges, such as exorbitant studio fees and the sheer amount of time lost to coordinating appointments and perfecting your appearance. And, after all is said and done, most professionals receive maybe 2-4 usable headshots.”
“InstaHeadshots.com simplifies the headshots process tremendously,” Vinod continues. “By uploading multiple photos, our users enable the AI to generate personalized models and produce a diverse range of headshots in various styles and settings. Within just 60-90 minutes, users receive between 50-200 high-quality images in various styles.”
Vinod underscores the platform’s simplicity and efficiency, noting that, for professionals whose careers or appearances evolve as years pass, InstaHeadshots.com offers a much easier and more affordable way to represent these evolutions in one’s personal brand.
Moreover, InstaHeadshots.com is committed to democratizing access to premium personal branding, offering an array of styles at a fraction of the cost of traditional headshot sessions. This affordability ensures that professional branding is accessible to individuals across all budget ranges. With its intuitive interface, diverse style options, and unparalleled value, InstaHeadshots.com empowers individuals to seize control of their online persona and stand out in a crowded digital sphere.
In Vinod’s words: “InstaHeadshots.com streamlines the inconvenient process associated with traditional headshot photography, eliminating the need for studio appointments and extensive hours in front of the camera. With a few simple clicks, users can upload their photos and let the AI technology handle the rest. It’s a process that saves time, saves money, and saves stress, letting busy professionals spend their energy elsewhere – without sacrificing quality or professionalism.”
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A Night at the Country Line Dance
“I love a gas station,” Tim Marsella gushes over Zoom. An accomplished photographer, Marsella usually works for brands like Nike, Disney, and Armani. He was born in Yorkshire, UK, but has now officially been living in the U.S. for five years, and the consummate documentarian in him is loving it. “I moved to America, and the world all opened up,” he says. Here, everything is new to him. “I pull up to a gas station, there’s a story in it.” In contrast to glossy shoots for brands like Zara and Fanta, Marsella is here to talk about a very different photographic subject: country line dancing in Canton, Illinois.
Marsella has taken on “hundreds” of personal projects like this since moving to the United States. From car culture to skate parks, rodeos to rappers, he has kept himself busy photographing his favorite subject: “real people.” He tells a story about running into a teen in Nashville, Tennessee who asked him for tips on photography. “Yeah, sure,” Marsella told him. ”Just get 20 of your friends.” Marsella met up with the kid and his friends in a car park, showing him how to photograph and film as his friends messed around. Then, the whole crew went to McDonald’s to eat and drink sodas. Marsella kept shooting—and the result became a worldwide Coca-Cola campaign.
Tim Marsella
Tim Marsella
Driving through the Midwest regularly, Marsella has found a well of inspiration in Americana. “I find still lifes in these places really amazing,” he explains. “I photograph motels; I photograph signage, I like the buildings. Everything’s interesting. Everything’s graphic. Everything’s straight.” On visits to his partner’s hometown of Canton, he’s photographed everything from deer hunts to Christmas decorations to butcher shops. On one recent trip, he stopped for lunch and realized he was dining in a dance hall. That evening, he returned with his cameras and a backdrop and got to work.
He loves how willing the everyday Americans he meets are to be in front of a camera; looking at his line-dancing photos, it’s clear why this is a photographer’s dream. Once Marsella got over his English reserve to match American friendliness, he was never at a loss for photographic subjects. “If I see a guy with a big beard dressed as Elvis, I have no fear now of going up and saying, ‘Hey, can I photograph you?’ And he’ll say, ‘’Course you can. Where do you want me?’ They’re just proud. Very proud.” This combination of pride and openness is evident in Marsella’s pictures. While he laments the small turnout at Country Line Bar & Grill that night due to a prom (“I’m still trying to do a prom!”), the photos are striking.
Tim Marsella
The images also made me appreciate what he was getting at with his love of photographing real people; the combination of poised humility and shy confidence is enchanting. Marsella describes his subjects’ reactions to hearing magazines were interested in the photos—“Wow, really? Us?”—but you wouldn’t guess this from the photos alone. The outfits are stunning, the subjects relaxed and happy, sometimes downright jaunty—and in their element, why wouldn’t they be? Marsella’s photos are a testament to the power of culture, something personal yet communal, mundane yet special, both comforting in its ease and intriguing in its uniqueness. The relaxed self-assuredness he encountered in Canton is immediately recognizable: it’s cultural pride.
When I ask Marsella about the draw of the dance hall, his answer is succinct: “Purely fashion.” He recalls telling friends in England how Americans do actually wear the plaid shirts, cowboy boots, and big belt buckles they see in the movies. Like most fashionistas, the dancers sacrifice foot comfort for sartorial excellence; many carry multiple pairs of cowboy boots in their car and swap them out to rotate their blister points. Marsella and I discuss how the country aesthetic is having a moment in the fashion mainstream, led by artists like Beyoncé and Pharrell—the latter of whom some dancers that night said they had never heard of.
Country Line Bar & Grill owner Morey Denny
Tim Marsella
Marsella was particularly struck by the dancehall owner Morey Denny. Born in 1940, Denny has farmed all his life and worked as a certified welder for the Caterpillar Tractor Company (now Caterpillar Inc.) for 31 years. He started racing stock cars and in 1983, used land on one of the family farms to build a successful race track; it’s still in operation today. Lifelong fans of country music, Denny and his wife opened Country Line Bar and Grill four years ago; it’s since become a local destination for good food, good dancing, and family-friendly fun. As a Johnny Cash man, he dresses all in black. When asked if he likes operating a dance hall, Denny says, “Without a doubt, I do, as you meet so many nice people.” His portrait is undeniably compelling. “If I’d seen him on the street, I would have photographed him anyway,” Marsella says. For anyone ready to dismiss the country aesthetic as a mere fashion trend, Denny is a reminder that this “aesthetic” represents a real culture worth exploring.
Marsella has another somewhat delightful reason for loving photographing American culture: “It’s like I’m in a movie every day.” He describes his surprising reaction to getting pulled over by motorcycle cops: ”I couldn’t stop laughing. They had sunglasses on and walked over, just like in the movies. It was like CHiPs!” Marsella never fails to take the romanticized view of America: “I’m in Atlanta, it’s like a hip-hop video. I go to Canton, I’m in a Burt Reynolds film. I drive through Texas, I’m in a Western.” I tell him how refreshing it is to hear an Englishman describe America with such positivity, so different from the usual culture wars between Europe and the States. Marsella is surprised. “I think everyone aspires to America,” he muses. “You influence us. You’re big characters.” I express my relief that not all of Europe writes us off as stereotypical dumb American tourists. “I don’t think we find you stupid,” Marsella assures me graciously. “You’re just annoying because you’re loud.” Fair. We discuss other tourist stereotypes, but Marsella isn’t into the catty dishing as much as reminiscing about all the wonderful people and amazing places he’s encountered over the years. “We’re all kind of amazing,” he concludes thoughtfully. Spoken like a true photographer.
Cristiano Ronaldo sand sculpture takes center stage at ‘Sandwelten 2024’
The sculpture made entirely out of sand, captures Ronaldo’s iconic ‘SIUUU’ celebration
Live Nation Urban Partners With Polly Irungu’s Black Women Photographers Organization For Summer/Fall Festivals
Live Nation Urban announced this week that it’s teaming up with Polly Irungu’s Black Women Photographers Organization for the third straight year in a collaborative partnership. Black women photographers and videographers can apply now for the chance to shoot LN Urban’s celebrated summer and fall festivals including Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic and Washington, D.C.’s Broccoli City.
The initiative is described as “a paid opportunity for Black creatives to chronicle the most memorable moments at marquee festivals throughout 2024, documenting the culture in motion on the grounds and as it unfolds onstage.” Applications are now open through May 31 at https://blackwomenphotographers.com/live-nation-urban
The partnership between Live Nation Urban and Black Women Photographers began with a contest to shoot just one festival in 2022, giving the photographers a chance to boost their visibility as their work was shared on various prominent social media channels. This week’s announcement notes that the expansion of the partnership to include eight events “reaffirms Live Nation Urban’s commitment to uplifting black women creatives and emphasizing representation as a core value.”
Other participating festivals include Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman Festival in New York, Twogether Land and Kirk Franklin’s Exodus Music Festival in Dallas, One Music Fest in Atlanta BETX in Los Angeles and Lil Weezyana Fest in New Orleans. Check out the full list below.
“In our third year of partnership, we’re grateful for Live Nation Urban’s continued support and leadership in providing more paid opportunities for Black women and non-binary creatives to advance their work and careers in music photography and videography,” Beth Irungu, Executive Director of Black Women Photographers, said in a statement. “The next time you’re at a concert or festival, look at the photo pit and count how many Black Women Photographers you see documenting the event. That’s why this partnership is so impactful. Together, we’re changing the game and landscape of music behind the scenes.”
Live Nation Urban Marketing Manager Jasmine Kelly added, “Live Nation Urban is dedicated to fostering an environment of inclusivity for people of color and women. Through our continued collaboration with BWP, we not only showcase the talent on stage but also honor the invaluable contributions of those behind the scenes, behind the lens, and in the pit. Capturing the authentic essence of Black culture from within the community itself is paramount to the narrative we strive to uphold. As a Black woman immersed in the live space, I intimately understand the challenges of finding representation over the decade. Being part of this mission carries significant personal meaning for me.”
The Live Nation Urban festivals include:
May 10-12: Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman Festival – New York, NY
May 25-26: Twogether Land on May 25-26 – Dallas, TX
May 25-26: Kirk Franklin’s Exodus Music Festival – Dallas, TX
May 25-26: One Music Fest in Atlanta, GA
June 1-2: Roots Picnic – Philadelphia, PA
June 27-29: BETX – Los Angeles, CA
July 27-28: Broccoli City – Washington, D.C.
Fall 2024: Lil Weezyana Fest in New Orleans, LA
New big fish landmark arrives in Deer River
The sculpture is from Mosinee, Wis.
SWAIA Native Fashion Week Debut: Trends And Stars In Santa Fe
Santa Fe was aglow with Indigenous joy and creativity. Here are some of our favorite trends from this weekend’s SWAIA Native Fashion Week.
The debut of Native Fashion Week happened on a denim carpet — there’s enough red in Indian Country — and offered a full slate of runway shows, pop-up shops, and exhibits.
An overdue offshoot of the Native Fashion Show during the annual Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Indian Market in August which has sold out for years, this event ultimately expanded the universe of Native fashion and style.
All-star models and entertainers taking part throughout the events included Tantoo Cardinal of Killers of the Flower Moon, Kiowa Gordon and Jessica Matten of Dark Winds, and Dakota Beavers of Prey, all of whom have respresented Native fashion and designers frequently on Hollywood red carpets in the past.
Tantoo Cardinal in Patricia Michaels (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Kiowa Gordon and Jessica Matten in Lesley Hampton (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Dakota Beavers in Maria Hupfield (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
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Fashion Week director Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Blackfoot/Siksika), who started the Indian Market fashion show in 2014 working out of a truck in Santa Fe’s Plaza, hosted a swanky fashion week kickoff party at the Governor’s Mansion to kick off the events. “Why a Native Fashion Week? Indigenous designers are barely a footprint in the mainstream fashion world and fashion academia, yet Native artists are the original couturiers of North America,” Bear Robe said. “We don’t get more couture than hunting an animal, gutting, then cleaning the intestines to make an exquisitely beautiful, lifesaving, one-of-a-kind couture garment.
“We gather not just to witness history, but to honor the legacy of storytelling, Indigenous pride, and artistic innovation. Native Fashion Week is not just about clothing. It’s a powerful expression of Indigenous knowledge, language, identity, and contemporary expression. Each garment, each design carries layers of meaning, fashioned by innovative designers who, with their unique expression and techniques, push boundaries to create new narratives, and sometimes re-interpret time-honored narratives.”
Jamie Schulze and Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Sifting through the four-day swirl of activity, we found several trends that stood out.
Natives Supporting Natives
We observed a lot of community spirit, in Native American attendees actively showing support for other Native products and businesses. In every show, designers relied on each other’s input and pieces to complete their visions with accessories, shoes, makeup, hair, and skincare folded into many looks. Award-winning designer Patricia Michaels, who closed the show with a gorgeous flow of hand painted silk dresses, used handcrafted moccasins made by Robert Mirabal of Mirabal Mocs, both of whom are from Taos Pueblo. Multicolored with fringe, laces, and appliqués, the high-end, down-to-earth designs complemented Michaels couture.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard
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Vibrant Makeup
Successful makeup entrepreneur Cece Meadows of Prados Beauty, whose line is carried in more than 600 JC Penny stores, said “People all around are using Indigenous business products, not just the fashions, One of the trending things that is going on now is a lot of makeup, very pigmented neon color makeup, a lot of ’60s- and ’70s-type makeup and eyeliners. In the Indigenous community, it’s always about vibrancy with strong eyes and strong red lips.”
Vividus by Tierra Alysia (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Lesley Hampton (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
House of Sutai by Peshawn Bread (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Peshawn Bread (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
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Inclusion
Native people come in all shapes, sizes, and genders, so the recognition of that on the runway shows felt like a reflection of the real world — with professional beauty help. Kicking off the event was House of Sutai by Peshawn Bread, which brought out brightly colored graphic outfits with intricate beaded neckpieces featuring pearls and dentalium shells worn by a diverse collection of models. A roller-skating beauty expertly danced the U-shaped length of the platform to a roar of applause, a long-haired male model strutted the runway playing air guitar to the music of “Electric Pow Wow Drum” by Halluci Nation. It was a powerful statement of the new and now.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Studio Seven
Jewelry
No Native look is complete without jewelry, and major pieces were on the models, in the crowd, and in the popups. Star jeweler Kenneth Johnson showed his Seminole roots with intricate pieces in silver, featuring turtle designs that graced earrings and pendants. Cody Sanderson is known for his stars in silver. His flashy knuckle-to-knuckle rings were everywhere. Indi City is pushing the length of their acrylic earrings to more than a foot in geometric designs that glitter from earlobes to the waist. Prize for the most daring accessory goes to Helen Oro and her beaded gas mask in orange and silver.
Helen Oro Designs (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Towering Stone by Loren Aragon (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Heather Bouchier x Indi City (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
House of Sutai by Peshawn Bread (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
TOC Legends by Himikalas (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
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Horsehair
There must be some bald ponies running the range as horsehair showed up in wildly unusual places during fashion week. Jason Baerg had extensions dyed in blue and pink tied into his models’ hair, braids, and of course, ponytails. He showed the colored horsehair on bags and earrings. Amber-Dawn Bear Robe wore a large Baerg gold chain necklace with red horsehair dangling from the links.
Ayimach Horizons by Jason Baerg (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Canadian and Arctic Designers
With its distinctive look born from geographical necessity, the great white and furry Northern designers showed Arctic looks with sustainable seal fur and fox trim. Warmth and function are the priority as designers take cues from parkas, huge tundra boots and mittens as seen in Victoria’s Arctic Fashion. Clara McConnell of Qaulluq uses arctic fox and seal skin in glossy grey and white on ballgowns, vests, and dresses.
Victoria’s Arctic Fashion (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Tira Howard)
Designers in Museums
Beyond the runway, designers’ work is being exhibited in major museums. The Wheelwright in Santa Fe and the Metropolitan in New York have both exhibited Jamie Okuma, who is known for her beaded boots and graphic patterned separates. A special exhibit of her outfits was on display from the collection of film producer Jhane Myers (Prey). Patricia Michaels has an exhibit now at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture.
Jamie Okuma display (PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Sandra Hale Schulman)
See more of C&I at SWAIA Native Fashion Week on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Large sculpture honoring homicide victims planned for Downtown after memorial locks removed from bridge
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