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July 15, 2010
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Photo by Brooke Hall
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Wild Nothing and Future Islands
The world is changing so quickly that your perception of it is already outdated. The kids today are growing accustomed to an array of devices that they will use to create and ingest digital content at such a rate that the lines between the virtual and the tangible will become increasingly blurred. Social Networking, which allows us to interact with other real people, will make mediums like television and radio seem archaic and primitive.
The first community that makes a conscious decision to come together, share resources and use the internet for the betterment of the whole, will lead the way in the new millennium. The Internet is not just changing the way we communicate with one another, it’s changing the very nature of how we interact with the world. It’s challenging us to think in ways we never have before. The Internet is a major contributing factor in the next phase of human evolution.
Recently, the Washington Post ran an article about the burgeoning art scene in Baltimore. The article made few bold statements and didn’t come to any enlightening conclusions about the creative community in our fair city. The overall message was that the art scene itself was what was impressive and that “So far, no art stars have emerged from the Baltimore scene.” That’s because most young artists don’t have the resources or connections to go and hire a publicist or an agent or a professional ass-kisser to stroke their ego every time they get a bad review during their media blitz and national promotional campaign.
I tend to think that the majority of the artists in this city don’t want to have to sell a piece of themselves to half a dozen middle men to be considered successful by strangers. This might seem unreasonable to those who are used to the 20th century mindset, but I think what’s coming is the opportunity for more people to create meaningful things (art) to sell to a small group of people (niche) while the institution of mega-celebrity will continue to crumble beneath the growing number of distribution channels found in new media.
Seth Godin made a bold statement in recent blog post of his that I tend to believe because he hasn’t been sued yet. He had this to say about the New York Times Best Seller’s List; “It doesn’t cost much to scam it and it’s pretty straightforward to buy your way onto the list (I know authors who have done this and consultants who sell this service.)”
The point is this: Who needs big ol’ conglomerates telling you what’s good, when you can ask your friends and your friends’ friends? Ideally, the Internet will be utilized to strengthen communication on a local level and connect neighbors.
I hope that the Internet will assist us in creating the only near-sustainable equilibrium for humans and the earth. Think: Tribes, localism and eco-farms. Two steps back can be progress.
This isn’t an audition for American Idol, people. This is What Weekly.
The Big Picture
In the great big picture above; no, it’s not a cigarette advertisement enticing America’s youth into pimping out their lungs in the hopes of fitting in and looking cool, it’s just a random group of people who happen to be attractive while enjoying themselves. Imagine that.
Watch this YouTube Video to see Shodekeh in action, then you can buy tickets to see Baltimore’s own human beatbox accompany the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Seriously not to be missed.
Submit your event to charmcity@whatweekly.com.
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Future Islands at The Metro Gallery
Photo by Brooke Hall
The Metro Gallery was standing room only for the Opening of ‘Wild Nothing,’ a photography exhibition that conjures nostalgia for summers past and encapsulates the mythos our culture connects to the warmest season. The exhibition features work by Alyssa Robb, Monique Crabb, Jordan Bernier, Andrew Laumann, Katie Rose, Beth Hoeckel, Lesser Gonzalez, William Cashion, Elena Johnston, Natasha Tylea, Dan Franz and Abe Sanders.
Wild Nothing ends August 16.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Photo by Brooke Hall
I may be going out on a limb here, but I’m going to venture to guess that more than a few people were drawn to the Metro Gallery last Saturday to catch a rare acoustic performance by Future Islands who were joined onstage by drummer Denny Bowen of Double Dagger. Bowen also played on the band’s newest release ‘In the Evening Air.’
Microphones and cameras filled the air in an effort to capture what was truly a transcendent performance. This could very well have been the largest crowd I’ve personally witnessed at the Metro Gallery. There’s something subtle in this music that resonates perfectly with our experience. Any one song could, at the very least, spark your curiosity if not convert you into a life long fan. Future Islands is a great addition to the soundtrack of your life.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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A white guy, a Rastafarian, a biker and an easily distracted woman walk into a bar…
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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www.lot201.com
Original apparel designs by Julie Bent.
Call Julie for an appointment: 410.929.1183.
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Photo by Brooke Hall
As you can see by this photo and the ones that proceeded it, the Metro Gallery officially surpassed Disneyland as the happiest place on earth last Saturday night. You had a long run Disney, but I think the world just woke to realize that talking rats aren’t adorable as much as they are creepy.
Arne Eliasson, Claire Cote, Sarah Friedman and Kendra Eaves.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Congratulations, my friend, you’ve won this week’s prestigious and highly coveted, ‘It appears as though you were on a mission to pick up the first girl that you saw, throw her over your shoulder and get it on with her caveman style someplace secluded where you could let loose the beast within and since you accomplished the first two parts of this mission we’re going go ahead and assume that you followed through and accomplished the third’ award. Good job my friend, she looks just as excited as you do.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Since 1995, The Creative Alliance has promoted Baltimore as a dynamic center of art in all genres. With members ranging from artists and educators to neighbors and supports, the Creative Alliance cultivates community through collaboration.
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Mobtown Studio’s Microshow with Yukon
Welcome to Mat Leffler-Schulman‘s world. This is the view from the console at Mobtown Studios, though it’s not unusual to see Mat capturing live performances in music venues, warehouse spaces and wherever else musicians come together. In the few years since opening, Mobtown has made a strong case for being the favorite recording studio for local musicians. This probably has a lot to do with the great attitude of its owners, the professionalism in their work ethic and the space they’ve created which is particularly conducive to the creative process.
Recently Mobtown Studios has been hosting Microshows. Basically they work like this; a band comes in and performs, spectators fill whatever space is left, the whole session is recorded and the music is given away for free on the Mobtown website.
This formula may sound simple, but as a recipe for a live show, it’s incredibly potent. It was Mat’s wife and partner, Emily Leffler-Schulman, who first imagined the concept, which only goes to prove that behind every great man there’s a great woman who’s willing to put up with him.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Yukon was in studio for the Microshow while we were visiting. If you’ve never heard Yukon try imagining that the band Tool was originally a jazz trio in the 1960′s who were influenced by Pink Floyd and then caught in a temporal disturbance during a live performance that transported them through space-time. They then found themselves on the International Space Station in the year 2056 where they were forced to perform and write music while orbiting the earth. In an attempt to travel back through time back to the 1960′s, they missed their mark and ended up in 2010 where they brought their futuristic/post-rock/mind warping/jazz, but not at all jazz/brain music, to Baltimore.
At least, that’s how I hear it.
Nick Podgursky is not only a phenomenal drummer and singer, he’s also a great guitar player as well. The talent in this band is staggering.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Yukon‘s current line-up lends itself to a sleek, polished sound in which any dissonance is intentional and well-placed. Bass player Brad Smith holds down the low end and adds soul to a sound that at any time could easily veer of into the geekier outskirts of math-rock though Yukon avoids this fate. Instead the end result is music that is nothing less than epic.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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There was a muted tension in the room before the show. Many of those in attendance had never been in a recording studio during a session and weren’t sure what to expect. For the musicians who participate in the Microshows, the studio is one of the most intimate venues possible. Not only are they scrutinizing themselves more than usual as their music is being captured by the exacting array of microphones, their audience was literally at their feet watching every nuance, misstep and facial tick.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Since moving to Baltimore from DC and starting Mobtown Studios in 2006, Mat and Emily Leffler-Schulman have somehow managed to position themselves at the epicenter of one of the most innovative and exciting music scenes in the country. Their discography reads like a wish list for an audiophile anthropologist trying to track the inception of a burgeoning 21st century culture that ventured out to claim an identity of its own. Many of the most important albums being recorded in Baltimore today are being recorded at Mobtown.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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This felt more like a campfire sing along rather than a live performance by a full band though Nick Podgursky was the only one singing. The feeling at the Mircroshow is not unlike being in on a secret. There’s a sense of exclusivity that arises when the band starts playing and you’re one of only twenty or so people who can even physically fit in the space to experience the show.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Books, Live Music, Art Gallery and more!
Same block as Windup Space, across from Joe Squared. Plenty of room inside for your bike; FREE street parking for your car (we’ll plug your meter before 6, after that it’s free anyway) – come on over…
30 West North Ave.
Baltimore, MD, 21201
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Even though guitarist Sam Garrett‘s fingers flit along the fret board with all the agility and grace of four tiny ballet dancers, no guitar player, not even Sam, can avoid the occasional broken string.
Photo by Brooke Hall.
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Instant Gratification at Gallery 788
This past weekend was the third installment of the Multimedia show ‘Instant Gratification’, at Gallery 788 in Pigtown. The event was organized by Philip Laubner, Lauren Barnhart and Erica Hinson Denny all of whom are exhibiting their photography in Gallery 788 during the month of July. This third show grew into a two day event featuring 30 artists.
“Lauren, Erica and I are all really grateful for all of the wonderful artists who agree’d to participate in Instant Gratification and to Gallery 788 for letting us put on the show, we love this town!”
-Philip Laubner
Seeing Alison Chase Radcliffe sing is at times like watching a medium conjure a spirit from another era or realm, a soulful spirit at that. Alison describes herself as a “Maker of Art, Music and Oddments.” Here we see Alison and her multi-instrumentalist husband Allen Holmes surrounded by Oddments and conducting a musical seance for the opening act at Instant Gratification.
Photo and caption by Philip Laubner.
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The man is Matt Muirhead. The contraption is the stage where chin puppet theater comes to life. The performers slide underneath the frame and microphones and a camera are perched above to capture the action.
Photo by James Hodges.
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Chin puppets aren’t just people in the witness protection program trying to be creative and Instant Gratification wasn’t all laughs and light heartedness. Matt Muirhead‘s Participatory Puppet Theatre’s first guest was J Gavin Heck. Gavin told a cautionary tale of what can happen to you if you cross the wrong racist on the bus. I haven’t seen that much emotion wrenched from a guest since mid-ninties Barbara Walter’s interviews. I cried.
Photo and caption by Philip Laubner.
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Above is a live projection of Matt Muirhead‘s Participatory Puppet Theatre while below we can see the audience at Gallery 788 enjoying Matt and Karolyn Seidl’s acapella-chin-puppet-band ‘Seeing Bunnies’. Instant Gratification was their world premier and a hit a that. You probably can tell much of it was over our heads.
Photo and caption by Philip Laubner.
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Kowboy Kigazz takes the show to the people; here we see Kowboy entertaining
Alison Chase Radcliffe on the side walk outside of Gallery 788. His work is engaging,
exciting and powerful. I had the privledge of following, or trying to follow him, as he made the whole gallery his stage. Kowboy’s real name is ‘Mark Sanders’, a Baltimore native and an award winning writer with over 26 years of experience. Sander’s is also a production manager, creative director and a graphic designer with a list of accomplishments too long to list here. He’s a great performer so everyone should go see him, or Kowboy, or whatever incarnation he takes!
Photo and caption by Philip Laubner.
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The Baltimore Love Project is a city wide mural project initiated by the Baltimore muralist Michael Owen. Our mission is to express love by connecting people and communities across Baltimore city with love themed murals. BLP will be painting the same image of four silhouetted hands spelling out the word love on 20 walls across Baltimore.
www.baltimoreloveproject.com
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Sometimes when you produce a show you have no alternative but to take risks. Ruben Brown helped produce Instant Gratification’s DVD installation. I was introduced to him because of his video and photography experience though he offered to do stand up as well. When I asked about his style he replied, “oh, just stream-of-consciousness about all the bad things that can happen to you.” Thankfully, the risk paid off To say that he was merely funny would be an understatement. He was phenomenal.
Photo and caption by Philip Laubner.
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Lauren Barnhart: Exhibiting photographer at Gallery 788 and organizer of Instant Gratification. Face paint by Dayna Harris Smith.
Photo by James Hodges.
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Get a Grip on Yourself
Q: How do you make a really, really independent (and scary) movie that is audience-worthy and marketable? A: Create a great story and tell it well.
I’m planning my movie with an absolute minimum of equipment and logistical complication. It’s not just a budget thing – I want this movie to have material and logistic limitations because it will force creative story solutions in a mother-of-invention sort of way. That doesn’t mean I don’t like cool stuff (must have Stedicam). This is like a Dogma movie, but without being dogmatic. Aside from a camera and a microphone, the two things you gotta have to make a movie are, 1) C-stands, and, 2) Gaffer’s tape (at least, that’s what I would pick). This brings us to the Way of the Grip.
Grips are cool. They have lots of gadgets. (Note: Grips are fun on weekends.) If you don’t already know, the Key Grip is the boss of the Grips. The Grips on a film set are in charge of mounting and moving the camera, whether it’s flying, floating, rolling, on a dolly, crane, or standing still. They are engineers, the rigging technicians who also shape and control light with all manner of ingenious equipment. (Not to be confused with the Gaffer, in charge of lighting, the actual lights, and electricity.)
Most of the trucks you see at a movie location are filled with grip and electric stuff (we haven’t done our budget yet, but I think we will be able to afford a grip/electric golf cart).
Your typical movie requires serious equipment, and that’s when you go to Serious Grip & Electric – which is the name of Stewart Stack’s company (check out Serious History at www.seriousgrip.com). Founded in 1983 by a consortium of the world’s greatest minds, Serious Grip & Electric continues to serve the motion picture arts in the Baltimore/ Washington . . .
So but anyway here’s how I met Stewart Stack. I was fresh out of college and flat broke when I came limping into Baltimore and looked at the want ads in the Sun Paper. There was a casting ad for a movie called Polyester. I sent in a Polaroid and got a meeting with Pat Moran (that’s another story). Obviously I can’t act, but I am perfect intern material, so I end up driving Devine (the star) around, guarding the location (sleeping on the floor in a suburban house), getting coffee and other stuff during pre-production. During shooting I did a lot of different jobs too, and actually I did get to act. I played a dead accident victim, hanging out of a smashed-up van. Vince Peranio covered me in pig blood & guts. I didn’t have any lines, but hey, it’s a visual medium.
But the best thing was that Stewart, the Key Grip on Polyester, trained me in the Way of the Grip. The Way of the Grip is a sacred code, sort of a mixture of Abstract Expressionist, Ronin, Third Baseman, and Plumber. And after Polyester he even paid me to work on film shoots. Later when I moved to L.A., I gripped my way through grad film school. The pinnacle of my grip career: I was Key Grip on a B-movie shot at a sketchy drive-in theater in the desert outside of L.A. Ultimately, I broke the sacred code of the Way of the Grip by going over to Production. But I have always been a person of low character.
– david warfield
David Warfield’s Confessions of a Mad Filmmaker: Get a Grip on Yourself
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David Warfield, Confessions of a Mad Filmmaker
A What Weekly Column
“And so here we have a unique opportunity to track the production of a truly independent film from the moment of conception (the script is not yet completed) to the first public screening, and beyond. ”
We’re not talking about EPK filler here, we’re talking about life, and it’s bound to get messy.”
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The Ian Hesford Photo Contest
This week’s winner is….
Christina Carbone!!!!
Photo by Christina Carbone
The winner of this week’s Ian Hesford Photo Contest is Christina Carbone for her photo of Malibu Ian Hesford. Since Christina is married we’ve decided not to offer her the date with Ian (out of respect for her husband). But we would certainly allow her to transfer the Grand Prize- A DATE WITH IAN HESFORD!- to a friend. We will allow this transfer on one condition: The friend’s name must be Lauren.
If by any chance Christina’s friend Lauren is unable to claim the date with Ian, the contest will remain active until some lucky lady wins the Grand Prize – A DATE WITH IAN HESFORD!
And if I can offer any incentive to get your cameras out ladies, let me just point a little something out about Ian that you may have missed. Look a little closer at the photo. Is that not the most massive package you’ve ever seen? No wonder he’s got that smug look on his face, our boy Ian is hung like a Clydesdale.
Alrighty then, get out there and find Ian for your chance to win this week’s Ian Hesford Massive Package, I mean Photo Contest for a chance to win A DATE WITH IAN HESFORD!
Good luck!
Photo by Christina Carbone.
Submit your Ian Hesford photo to charmcity@whatweekly.com. Or just post it to our Facebook.
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VIDEO: The New THRUSHES Video
“Crystals” from the album “Night Falls” on Birdnote Records, 2010
Thrushes
Directed by Guy Werner
Shot & produced by Kevin Blackistone, Rob Hatch, Guy Werner
Edited by Guy Werner & Bennii Denrich
Best viewed in 720p
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VIDEO: Future Islands Live
Future Islands performs Swept Inside live on KXLU 88.9 Los Angeles.
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VIDEO: Future Islands
Future Islands
The Happiness of Being Twice
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VIDEO: Yukon
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Saturday, July 17
ArtScape
36th Annual Pow Wow at Maryland State Fairgrounds 10:30 am
Native American Food & craft Vendors Native American Dancing & drumming
Over $15,000 in prize money for dance competition.
Super Art Fight 7 at The Metro Gallery 7 pm
MAIN EVENT: SUPER ART FIGHT CHAMPION Jamie Baldwin defends against Nick “Ghostfreehood” Borkowicz/Michael Bracco vs. Bryan “Silent But Violent” Prindiville!/
Jamie “Angry Zen Master” Noguchi vs. Chris “Impact” Impink
Kelsey Wailes vs. Chelsea “Grose Misconduct” Grose.
Plus, your Super Art Fight Hosts Ross Nover & Marty Day, and SAF DJ extraordinaire – DJ Sheephead!
Musical Act For the Evening:
Goodbye New Plans
Adryelle and Melissa Moran at Cyclops 8 pm
Put Cyclops on your list of things to do Artscape weekend, when the fabulous Baltimore singer-songwriter-pianist Adryelle makes her Cyclops debut alongside fellow songwriter Melissa Moran.
Adryelle got her start playing piano at the age of 6, adding guitar at the age of 9, and songwriting by age 12. She describes her music as “piano-driven with dark edges.”
Moran’s music is heavily influenced by that of Regina Spektor. Both Adryelle and Moran are also students at Towson University.
For more details, directions and events click here.
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Ongoing
Between Earth and Sky, Paintings by: Judith Bair & Georgeanne Gaffney at Gallery 1448
Judith Bair explains her newest work: “The constant cycle of energy, the patterns of existence that are like the pulse of blood, the human condition—these are the themes in my latest work.” In the year 2000, missing the four seasons, Georgeanne Gaffney relocated back east from California to Northern New York State. The dramatic landscape of the Adirondacks has had a profound impact on her subject matter and palette. Continuing to experiment with materials, she has developed a method of mixed media, painting on wood panels using saturated colors. Ends July 25.
Sondheim Artscape Prize: 2010 Finalists at The BMA
In conjunction with Artscape, Baltimore’s premier arts festival organized by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, the BMA presents a special exhibition of works by the finalists for the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize. This year’s finalists are: Leah Cooper, Ryan Hackett, Matthew Janson, Nate Larson, Christopher LaVoie, Matthew Porterfield, and Karen Yasinsky. Through Aug 1.
RE: FURNISHED at Nudashank
An all sculpture show of works that play on home decor, household objects, furniture, and function. Seth Crawford, Georgia Dickie, Mitch Magee, Nathan Manuel and Nick Van Woert. Ends Jul 31.
You and Me Living Vol.2: The Land
Gallery Four brings San Francisco based artist John Chiara to Baltimore for a residency to create new works for an exhibition with Baltimore artists Christine Bailey, James Rieck, and Jacqueline Schlossman. (opening reception 8:30-11 p.m. July 10). Ends Aug. 28th.
Double Exposure at Gallery 788
This show features several Baltimore’s most talented and innovative photographers. Through July 25.
For more details, directions and events click here.
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