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Photography + Review: Future Islands

By in Photography

Photography + Review: Future Islands
Home  >  Photography + Review: Future Islands

Posted: 22nd June, 2024 by The Editor

Future Islands kicked off their tour this week in Boston and set their new era in motion, touring in support of their new album “People Who Aren’t There Anymore”. Thematically, the new record tackles numerous facets of absurdity in life and it was fitting to hear these songs after the week New Englanders have been having. One day, the Celtics are setting world records, the next, our state is breaking record high temperatures. 

Future Islands’ vocalist Samuel Herring has previously stated that he wants the audience to move at their shows and it’s no surprise why. From the get go, he used every square inch of the stage to choreograph different dances for each song. When it came to upbeat songs such as “King of Sweden”, Samuel made sure to interact with all the fans on the barricade and get them in sync with his movements. This cascaded into each row behind them locking into a rhythm together. To call this a live show almost feels like an understatement, since it felt more like a theatrical performance.

When it came to slower songs such as “Corner of My Eye” and “City Face’, everyone took a moment to connect and feel the shared space that was a brief moment of release. One thing we also noted was how little phone use there was at this show, even during these quieter moments. It’s fair to say their crowd interaction and choreographed show lends itself to a more “in the moment” show and separates Future Islands from the rest.

All good things must come to an end and that is true for this show as well, however, that isn’t without an encore!. To officially close out the night, Future Islands performed “Ancient Water”, “Vireo’s Eye”, and “Little Dreamer” for their three song encore. This show was true performance art and we’d recommend everyone grab tickets HERE before they sell out.

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Kyle Musser//

Identity Through Photography Vernissage

By in Photography

Identity Through Photography Vernissage

The Community Digital Arts Hub (CDAH), is proud to present the “Identity through Photography” photo exhibition running from June 27th to June 30th at the CDAH Studio – 460 Ste-Catherine West, Suite 511.

The exhibit is the culmination of a series of photography workshops and features the artworks of immigrant, newcomer and refugee women/LGBTQ+ who participated. The workshops and exhibit were led and curated by Pantea Pezeshkan, an Iranian-Canadian photographer in residence at the CDAH since January 2024, thanks to a DémART internship grant from the Conseil des arts de Montréal.

Participants were encouraged to answer questions around their personal identities and unique experiences, using cameras to tell their stories. They were led through the process of creation, from introductory photography workshops to selecting final works to present. The exhibit will feature 6 artists: Parisa Akbarmalkeshi, Baran Asghari, Sona Javid, Sara Nayerabadi, Alma Perreault, Pantea Pezeshkan.

Please join us for our vernissage on Thursday June 27th from 5-8 PM to celebrate the artists. 

Date and Time

Thursday, Jun 27 , 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Event Registration

To register for this event please visit the following URL: https://forms.gle/SPEMqZjYmwFZgYSr7 →

Location

Community Digital Arts Hub, Saint-Catherine Street West, Montreal, QC

Art empowers villages in a once-troubled part of Bengal

By in Native

Art empowers villages in a once-troubled part of Bengal

A Bengal artist who transformed a once-nondescript forest village into an art hub has now connected with several other surrounding settlements — once the hotbed of the Maoist movement — to make art a way of life and empower marginalised communities.

It was in 2000 that Mrinal Mandal graduated from the Government Arts College in Kolkata, following which, as a landscape artist, he scanned the rural landscape of Bengal to familiarise himself with various traditional arts. Then, in 2008, his native place, Jhargram, came in the grip of the Maoist movement.

“Killings had become common. People would go missing. Places would be set on fire. This went on till the end of 2010. I felt deeply scarred. In 2011 I held an exhibition titled ‘Roots’ at the Ganges Art Gallery in Kolkata. It depicted the suffering of the people caught in the movement, and the tremendous destruction of public property,” Mr. Mandal told The Hindu.

He then set up Chalchitra Academy, an artists’ collective, and in 2018 returned to Jhargram to make a nearby settlement called Lalbazar, a village inhabited by less than 100 people belonging to the shy Lodha tribe, his second home. There he began holding regular workshops, with the help of associates in Kolkata and also indigenous artists, to train villagers in various forms of traditional art, including dokra, katum-katum and kantha stitching. Today, Lalbazar, given the sobriquet of ‘Khwaabgaon’ (village of dreams) by an admirer of Mr. Mandal’s efforts, is frequently visited by tourists coming to Jhargram. Art has not only added to the income of the villagers but also decorated the walls of village homes.

By late 2023 Mr. Mandal had extended his efforts six kilometres away to another village, Konedoba, populated by the Santhal tribe. Today, 10 more surrounding villages in this wooded part of West Bengal, that is, 12 villages in all, are part of what has become a network of art. Mr. Mandal wants to name the entire project — of empowering villagers through art — Khwaabgaon.

“Every weekend we have drawing and handicraft classes held by graduates of the art college, and every month we have a workshop on indigenous art, terracotta, dokra, patachitra, and so on. Recently, we had a workshop on 3D painting conducted by an artist from America. The classes and workshops are joined by people from all the 12 villages,” Mr. Mandal said.

Apart from Lalbazar and Konedoba, the villages connected to the art project now include Gangadharpur, Uransol, Radhanagar, Keudi, Savaytan, Jorakhali, Arjundahar, Suyabansha, Darkhuli and Khaira Suli.

“This region is my canvas now and its people and trees are my paint and brush. The Khwaabgaon project has no help from the government or corporate sector — it runs entirely on crowdfunding. As an artist, I am doing whatever I can to bring about development in these villages, something the government should have done. You can call this a silent protest, a political statement on my part,” Mr. Mandal said.

Mike Faist credits Zendaya for igniting his interest in photography, leading to ‘The Bikeriders’

By in Photography

Mike Faist credits Zendaya for igniting his interest in photography, leading to ‘The Bikeriders’

Mike Faist, the rising star known for his roles in “West Side Story” and “Challengers,” recently opened up about his experience working on the upcoming film “The Bikeriders” directed by Jeff Nichols.

Faist was drawn to the project for several reasons, including the opportunity to work close to his hometown in Ohio and to play the role of renowned photographer Danny Lyon.

Faist’s interest in photography was sparked by his “Challengers” co-star Zendaya, who encouraged him to explore the art form. This newfound passion proved to be serendipitous when Nichols offered him the role of Lyon, a photojournalist documenting a Chicago-area motorcycle club in the 1960s. Faist spent time with Lyon, learning about his life and work, and even documenting the “Bikeriders” set with his own camera.

The actor emphasized to the Hollywood Reporter the importance of maintaining a life outside of work, echoing Bryan Cranston’s sentiment about the need for fresh experiences to fuel creativity. Faist stated that acting should never feel like a job, and he only takes on projects that genuinely spark his interest.

Faist also shared an anecdote about working with Steven Spielberg on “West Side Story,” where he learned the value of “I don’t know.” He recalled a moment when Spielberg was unsure how to shoot a scene and confided in Faist that he hadn’t figured it out yet. This experience taught Faist the importance of staying open to possibilities and allowing answers to reveal themselves organically.

Overall, Faist’s insights offer a glimpse into his thoughtful approach to acting and his commitment to personal growth. He values authenticity, collaboration, and the pursuit of projects that resonate with him on a deeper level.

‘It was strange – a girl without a hijab at an ancient religious ceremony’: Mohammad Nazari’s best phone picture

By in Photography

‘It was strange – a girl without a hijab at an ancient religious ceremony’: Mohammad Nazari’s best phone picture
image

Iranian photographer Mohammad Nazari was in a bus station when he took this shot. “I was just leaving a religious ceremony in Zanjan, which is near the capital of Tehran, when I happened upon this scene completely by chance,” he says. “The glass of the bus station separated these two young girls – one with her hand outstretched and placed on the glass, the other turning to look at her. The presence of a girl without a hijab in a crowd at an ancient religious ceremony created an interesting contrast. The feeling I get from this photo is very strange.”

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Nazari took the photograph on a mobile phone not out of choice but out of necessity. “My country is facing very high inflation, and cameras are very expensive, so it’s practically impossible for independent photographers like me to buy one,” he says. He instead relies on mobile phones, adding that because this model didn’t have a good enough zoom function, he had to get in close to his subects. He later applied some minor edits to the contrast and saturation.

While Nazari describes his image as falling within the social documentary genre, it predates the 2022 protests over compulsory hijabs sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. “I would like others to see this photograph not just as political,” Nazari says, “but as art, too.”

Eunice community mourns beloved sports photographer Tom Dodge

By in Photography

Eunice community mourns beloved sports photographer Tom Dodge

EUNICE — Eunice, La-Blue Jay Field, located on Magnolia road , is where the magic happened for sports reporter Tom Dodge. In the sports community, people say he captured pictures of high school sports that are powerful, creating memories that will live on for the people of Eunice.

This past Father’s Day, the community said goodbye after the photographer passed away at the age of 67

“He took some great pictures; he had a habit of getting the right shot,” said St. Edmund High School football coach James Shiver.

On this field, Tom Dodge captured most of these pictures of athletes—snapshots of them in the midst of their greatest moments.

“You know, he would get the shot where they made the basket or the shot that matters the most,” said Shiver.

A dear friend and mentee goes back to the sidelines, remembering Dodge.

“For football, he would be all over the place and be on the sidelines with us. You never had a sporting event where he wasn’t on the sideline with the camera on his neck. You know, it was just something that was expected,” said Shiver.

Not until this Wednesday afternoon, at a 7-on-7 tournament, when coaches, players, and friends noted his absence.

“This is where Tom and I would be up and down the sideline; yep, he would be right here with his clipboard,” said Dwight Jodon.

Jodon, a family friend, says they bonded over an interest in photography. Jodon took pictures as a hobby, while Dodge worked at the Daily World and Eunice News; he worked for the newspaper for almost 30 years.

” Our conversations were just more than photography and sports; I could talk to Tom about everything,” said Jodon.

Jodon says Dodge loved more than just capturing sports.

“He loved the players and their families and just sharing pictures with them, sharing memories; it was a lot more than writing a newspaper article,” said Jodon.

It was more about filling the blank pages of a newspaper and capturing moments of people and the sport they loved.

Shiver says Dodge’s work will be missed.

” You might not miss it today, but we will miss it when the season starts,” said Shiver.

Funeral arrangements for Tom can be found clicking this link.

Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest announces 2024 winners

By in Photography

Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest announces 2024 winners

The Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition recently held their 22nd annual event. The judging of the contest was conducted in May, and the exhibition portion of the event is now open through July 1.

The judges this year were: Lester Duncan, Mark Freeman, Jim Goodwin, Eddie Lambert, Richard Siggins and Ken Wright. These judges spent all day looking and judging 552 photographs taken by 87 photographers. Of those 87 photographers, 33 were new to the event.

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