The underground art blog of Central Maine
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Cassidy Cupero: "Being youthful, its easy to be bold, so absolutely take advantage of it..."
Member Profiles is a new feature where we talk with a new member and learn more about their artwork, their interests, and their opinions on how the art scene in Bangor and beyond can be better.
RR: Tell me about yourself and your artwork.
Cassidy Cupero: I'm Cassidy and 17, I don't believe in grudges or lack of representation. I build my life only around the most influential people I can find with the most vast tastes and hobbies. I love owls and anything vintage and I probably don't belong in central Maine, but for some reason I live here.
As for my artwork, I pretty much only do photography but every now and again a pen and paper flows okay. I am actually not even that advanced, I hardly know what the "widgets" on my Nikon 55mm does... I never had the opportunity to get into photography class while I was in high school but I had some training from a friend and read some books on it.
My portfolio isn't that big, but that's mostly because I only take pictures of what I really, really love. I could never take someone's senior pictures unless they wanted something real original. My least favorite thing to take pictures of is landscapes. They drive me crazy.
RR: Where do you want to take your photography
skills? What would you love to photograph? Any projects in mind?
Cassidy: I would like to take pictures of models and maybe do some advertisements for local handmade stuff and have it get published or appreciated somewhere, but without having any real training. I want to skip taking wedding, senior, family pictures and still do really good for myself.
If I could say I had a project in mind, it would have to be doing a shoot with my friend Zamora on a nice murky day. In the bigger scheme of projects in mind, I want to do an activist type of shoot but definitely still need to think on that one.
RR: Why do you think it's important for youth to express themselves creatively?
Cassidy:Because people doubt youth. Youth are told you're not in "the real world," but you are and you're not held back from anything. So when you're creative, its like you're showing that you're bigger than all that, and that you can't be stopped, not even a little. Youth is always shut down and not taken seriously but if you can prove yourself in outstanding ways that you're a hoot then you're untouchable in my opinion. Being youthful, its easy to be bold, so absolutely take advantage of it. When someone under 20 says, "No," its stands out a lot more than someone 40 saying, "Yes."
RR: Do you think there are enough opportunities for that?
Cassidy: No, absolutely not. I don't feel like youth are supported a bit. Every time in my community when it came time to speak out youth was shut down before they could mutter to one another that they were uncomfortable. The art programs in my schools were hardly supported and when we asked to do more about it, the answers were always delayed. There is hardly anything for people out of high school and not yet in college to do also. It's really hard to find ways to get involved or ways to be noticed when opportunities are weak.
RR: What could be better about Orono/Bangor area, for young people?
Cassidy: More gatherings! I just moved from Asheville, North Carolina and every Friday night there was a huge drumming circle from 4 till 8 or something, everyone went to it at least once. There would be people hula hooping, people selling jewelery and miscellaneous items, upwards of 50 people playing drums, restaurants would see more business and it was just all in all a really good time. I would love to see something like that happen around here, just something simple and free once a week that helped out everyone and was easy and fun!
It's really hard to be a teenager in Maine sometimes because honestly it gets pretty boring if you don't have any money. Since Orono is a college town I would expect more from them, even like some stupid parade just to bring people out of there houses every once in a while! I hate that everything is decided by your age, I can't go to a club on a Friday night with friends because I'm not old enough, its almost embarrassing. It would be cool to have a community art show too, and more music too-- make it a charity event-- anything just get us out of our houses and doing something fun. ✦
Images (from the top): Cassidy Cupero (self portrait), "Down," "Kate #5
RR: Tell me about yourself and your artwork.Cassidy Cupero: I'm Cassidy and 17, I don't believe in grudges or lack of representation. I build my life only around the most influential people I can find with the most vast tastes and hobbies. I love owls and anything vintage and I probably don't belong in central Maine, but for some reason I live here.
As for my artwork, I pretty much only do photography but every now and again a pen and paper flows okay. I am actually not even that advanced, I hardly know what the "widgets" on my Nikon 55mm does... I never had the opportunity to get into photography class while I was in high school but I had some training from a friend and read some books on it.
My portfolio isn't that big, but that's mostly because I only take pictures of what I really, really love. I could never take someone's senior pictures unless they wanted something real original. My least favorite thing to take pictures of is landscapes. They drive me crazy.
RR: Where do you want to take your photography
skills? What would you love to photograph? Any projects in mind?Cassidy: I would like to take pictures of models and maybe do some advertisements for local handmade stuff and have it get published or appreciated somewhere, but without having any real training. I want to skip taking wedding, senior, family pictures and still do really good for myself.
If I could say I had a project in mind, it would have to be doing a shoot with my friend Zamora on a nice murky day. In the bigger scheme of projects in mind, I want to do an activist type of shoot but definitely still need to think on that one.
RR: Why do you think it's important for youth to express themselves creatively?
Cassidy:Because people doubt youth. Youth are told you're not in "the real world," but you are and you're not held back from anything. So when you're creative, its like you're showing that you're bigger than all that, and that you can't be stopped, not even a little. Youth is always shut down and not taken seriously but if you can prove yourself in outstanding ways that you're a hoot then you're untouchable in my opinion. Being youthful, its easy to be bold, so absolutely take advantage of it. When someone under 20 says, "No," its stands out a lot more than someone 40 saying, "Yes."
RR: Do you think there are enough opportunities for that?Cassidy: No, absolutely not. I don't feel like youth are supported a bit. Every time in my community when it came time to speak out youth was shut down before they could mutter to one another that they were uncomfortable. The art programs in my schools were hardly supported and when we asked to do more about it, the answers were always delayed. There is hardly anything for people out of high school and not yet in college to do also. It's really hard to find ways to get involved or ways to be noticed when opportunities are weak.
RR: What could be better about Orono/Bangor area, for young people?
Cassidy: More gatherings! I just moved from Asheville, North Carolina and every Friday night there was a huge drumming circle from 4 till 8 or something, everyone went to it at least once. There would be people hula hooping, people selling jewelery and miscellaneous items, upwards of 50 people playing drums, restaurants would see more business and it was just all in all a really good time. I would love to see something like that happen around here, just something simple and free once a week that helped out everyone and was easy and fun!
It's really hard to be a teenager in Maine sometimes because honestly it gets pretty boring if you don't have any money. Since Orono is a college town I would expect more from them, even like some stupid parade just to bring people out of there houses every once in a while! I hate that everything is decided by your age, I can't go to a club on a Friday night with friends because I'm not old enough, its almost embarrassing. It would be cool to have a community art show too, and more music too-- make it a charity event-- anything just get us out of our houses and doing something fun. ✦
Images (from the top): Cassidy Cupero (self portrait), "Down," "Kate #5
Friday, May 6, 2011
Interview with Meaghan LaSala: "The movement for Media Justice is becoming a playground where progressive movements converge & forge alliances..."
Meaghan LaSala is an Americorps Vista outreach coordinator with WERU Community Radio. She's also the host of the monthly WERU show Bangor Area Commons, covering a wide range of arts, cultural, and political issues and events from the Bangor area, with live guests and local call-ins. Media Collective organizer Martin Chartrand and I met Meaghan when we had the opportunity to talk about Bangor Media Collective on her show last December.
These days, she is also working an another project in conjunction with the station-- a grassroots media conference at Unity College this September. The conference aims to bring together media groups, artists and activists from all over Maine to meet, learn and strategize.
Here, Meaghan explains what the conference is, how it can help you improve your media effectiveness whether you're an activist or an artist, and how the conference is part of the larger struggle for media justice.
If you would like to find out more about the conference or get involved, you can contact Meaghan by email at meaghan@weru.org. There will be a meeting for those interested in organizing the conference May 20 at WERU in Orland-- perhaps we'll see you there!
RR: Please tell me about the media conference you're organizing.
Meaghan: I’m working with WERU-FM Community Radio to host the first ever Maine Grassroots Media Conference at Unity College on September 10th. The conference will bring together community media projects, journalists, grassroots organizations, artists and anyone interested in building strong, vibrant independent media in Maine. There will be opportunities to share skills and stories, network, and increase awareness of grassroots media resources.
RR: Organizing this conference has been a part of your work with WERU Community Radio. Where did the genesis for the conference come from?
Meaghan: I joined the WERU family at a critical time for independent media. I began working with the station last August, and since then public funding for community radio has come under attack. I saw this as just one aspect of a continuing trend towards media consolidation and privatization.
At the same time, the national movement for Media Justice is becoming a playground where progressive movements converge and forge new alliances beyond single issues. I see that WERU is a hub for our community, where neighbors of all stripes and interests work together to create collective access to the airwaves. I think a movement for Media Justice in Maine, a movement to bring underserved voices to the forefront of public dialogues, could create a similar cohesiveness across our state.
RR: What are some of the most exciting events/workshops planned for this conference?
Meaghan: I think the most exciting thing about the conference is the spectrum of skills and topics we will be covering. Whether you have years of media experience, or are excited to learn the basics, there will be opportunities for all to learn how to share their perspectives more effectively.
Personally, I’m excited to learn tools for investigative reporting. I’m most excited to learn about the work that others are doing in our corner of the world.
RR: What has the process been like pulling this together?
Meaghan: It’s been great collaborating with John Zavodny from Unity College. Unity College has been very supportive in providing a space for this event, and John is helping to get the word out about the conference in the academic community. We are now looking for presenters and for volunteer support in organizing the conference. The next organizers’ meeting is May 20th. Please let me know if you would like to involved!
RR: How can activists and artists in Maine benefit from a grassroots media conference?
Meaghan: Activists can learn how to create media for themselves, which is the best way to frame your own story. They can learn how to get better press coverage. They can learn how to do better research and community building within their own movements. Artists can learn new methods, new ways to share their work and network with other artists and creative organizations.
RR: What to you is the most rewarding thing about doing organizing around media in central Maine? What is the most challenging?
Meaghan: I’m helping the WERU do outreach in Greater Bangor, now that it is broadcasting on its new signal there, 99.9FM. I like doing this work because I get to build relationships with all kinds of people, and it pushes me to fully understand the issues that my community is facing.
One of the challenges that we face as a station is the distance that people need to travel, because our listening area is so rural. It has been exciting coming up with creative solutions to this problem, like brainstorming with Main Street Music Studios about producing content for WERU in their downtown Bangor studios, and training Bangor area teachers to teach audio production right in the classroom. ✦
These days, she is also working an another project in conjunction with the station-- a grassroots media conference at Unity College this September. The conference aims to bring together media groups, artists and activists from all over Maine to meet, learn and strategize.
Here, Meaghan explains what the conference is, how it can help you improve your media effectiveness whether you're an activist or an artist, and how the conference is part of the larger struggle for media justice.
If you would like to find out more about the conference or get involved, you can contact Meaghan by email at meaghan@weru.org. There will be a meeting for those interested in organizing the conference May 20 at WERU in Orland-- perhaps we'll see you there!
RR: Please tell me about the media conference you're organizing.
Meaghan: I’m working with WERU-FM Community Radio to host the first ever Maine Grassroots Media Conference at Unity College on September 10th. The conference will bring together community media projects, journalists, grassroots organizations, artists and anyone interested in building strong, vibrant independent media in Maine. There will be opportunities to share skills and stories, network, and increase awareness of grassroots media resources.
RR: Organizing this conference has been a part of your work with WERU Community Radio. Where did the genesis for the conference come from?
Meaghan: I joined the WERU family at a critical time for independent media. I began working with the station last August, and since then public funding for community radio has come under attack. I saw this as just one aspect of a continuing trend towards media consolidation and privatization.
At the same time, the national movement for Media Justice is becoming a playground where progressive movements converge and forge new alliances beyond single issues. I see that WERU is a hub for our community, where neighbors of all stripes and interests work together to create collective access to the airwaves. I think a movement for Media Justice in Maine, a movement to bring underserved voices to the forefront of public dialogues, could create a similar cohesiveness across our state.
RR: What are some of the most exciting events/workshops planned for this conference?
Meaghan: I think the most exciting thing about the conference is the spectrum of skills and topics we will be covering. Whether you have years of media experience, or are excited to learn the basics, there will be opportunities for all to learn how to share their perspectives more effectively.
Personally, I’m excited to learn tools for investigative reporting. I’m most excited to learn about the work that others are doing in our corner of the world.
RR: What has the process been like pulling this together?
Meaghan: It’s been great collaborating with John Zavodny from Unity College. Unity College has been very supportive in providing a space for this event, and John is helping to get the word out about the conference in the academic community. We are now looking for presenters and for volunteer support in organizing the conference. The next organizers’ meeting is May 20th. Please let me know if you would like to involved!
RR: How can activists and artists in Maine benefit from a grassroots media conference?
Meaghan: Activists can learn how to create media for themselves, which is the best way to frame your own story. They can learn how to get better press coverage. They can learn how to do better research and community building within their own movements. Artists can learn new methods, new ways to share their work and network with other artists and creative organizations.
RR: What to you is the most rewarding thing about doing organizing around media in central Maine? What is the most challenging?
Meaghan: I’m helping the WERU do outreach in Greater Bangor, now that it is broadcasting on its new signal there, 99.9FM. I like doing this work because I get to build relationships with all kinds of people, and it pushes me to fully understand the issues that my community is facing.
One of the challenges that we face as a station is the distance that people need to travel, because our listening area is so rural. It has been exciting coming up with creative solutions to this problem, like brainstorming with Main Street Music Studios about producing content for WERU in their downtown Bangor studios, and training Bangor area teachers to teach audio production right in the classroom. ✦
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Concert with Arborea, Noel Walsh, Joe Gates and BreadRose
Saturday, April 16 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
VFW Hall · 64 Water Street, Old Town ME
Join us for a magical night with Maine folk duo Arborea! BreadRose's folk, noise and spoken word, Joe Gates on fretless guitar, and Noel Walsh will serenade you with rich sounds to open the evening. Then Arborea will sweep you away.
"Maine folk duo Arborea creates timeless music, haunted by deep shadows. Their songs are bathed in shimmering harmonics, spectral slide, and positively spooky banjo. The songs also evoke a kind of mysterious quality, in which you are never quite sure what the songs are about, but they seem to touch a place in your soul that instinctively understands." -Dirty Linen Magazine
"Magic you can visit, again and again."-Phil McMullen, Terrascope
$5 at the door. The end (or is it the beginning?) of the world never sounded so beautiful.
Listen now at http://www.myspace.com/arborea2.
"Maine folk duo Arborea creates timeless music, haunted by deep shadows. Their songs are bathed in shimmering harmonics, spectral slide, and positively spooky banjo. The songs also evoke a kind of mysterious quality, in which you are never quite sure what the songs are about, but they seem to touch a place in your soul that instinctively understands." -Dirty Linen Magazine
"Magic you can visit, again and again."-Phil McMullen, Terrascope
$5 at the door. The end (or is it the beginning?) of the world never sounded so beautiful.
Listen now at http://www.myspace.com/arb
Bangor Media Collective and The Maine Edge to hold monthly contest
The Bangor Media Collective is collaborating with The Maine Edge on a monthly photography contest.
May's theme is Maine in Spring. The subject of the photos should capture the season in a way that uniquely reflects on the state. The winner will be published in the May 18 issue of The Maine Edge.
Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to submit photos via e-mail to bangorcommunitymedia@gmail.com with "Photo Contest" as the subject line.
Deadline for the May contest is May 1. Include your name, home town, website if you have one, and a brief caption if desired (no more than 50 words).
By Katy England
Monday, March 28, 2011
Statement on Dismantling of Maine's Labor History Mural
The removal of Maine's labor history mural from the Maine Department of Labor has brought national attention to Maine and ignited protests from artists, labor supporters and many others who are simply concerned about what they see as a Governor's attempt to rewrite history to suit his tastes and encourage an amorphously-defined pro-business atmosphere.Numerous arts organizations and businesses have come out against the removal of the mural, among them the Union of Maine Visual Artists, Maine College of Art, Susan Maasch Fine Art and Aucocisco Galleries, as well as hundreds of individual artists. They join many labor supporters in opposing the removal of the mural, which was commissioned by the Department of Labor in large part with federal monies and created by artist Judy Taylor. In an interesting twist, the US Department of Labor has now asked that the state return the federal monies used to help fund the mural.
Bangor Media Collective prepared a statement on the removal, which circulated via Facebook and email. A copy of the statement was sent to each member of the Portland City Council when the Collective learned that the city of Portland was slated to vote on whether to accept the mural. I am delighted to report that, likely encouraged by the voices of disapproval from thousands of Mainers as well as personal convictions, the Council chose not to put this item on the agenda:
You can keep updated on the unfolding situation by visiting the Saving the "History of Maine Labor" Mural blog.Councilor Dory Waxman said she does not think the city should get involved with the mural.
"That was not the intention of the Portland City Council," Waxman said. "I think I can safely say that on behalf of all the councilors."
Waxman also noted that there are rules for state-commissioned art, and those rules need to be explored.
"I really question whether it is the governor's right to remove (the mural)," Waxman said.
Portland Press Herald, March 29 2011 (link)
Statement on Dismantling of Maine's Labor History Mural
Bangor Media Collective is a group of over forty artists, performers, promoters and supportive citizens in the greater Bangor area. We believe that the arts serves a vital humanitarian purpose in our lives. Art has the opportunity to affirm life, expand possibilities, encourage compassion, and change hearts. As such, art is never neutral. To claim that art in the public or governmental sphere "should" be neutral is to engage in a particularly insidious form of partisanship.
It is with this understanding that we strongly condemn the intention of Maine's Governor Paul LePage to remove the 36-foot mural depicting Maine's labor history from the Maine Department of Labor building. Just as art cannot be neutral, neither can government. In fact, we do not want a government that pretends neutrality, but rather a government that supports the right of working families to provide for themselves. The mural, which depicts historical movements and moments in labor history, provides a historical and artistic backdrop for the rights of working families today. If the mural presents a bias, it is precisely the type of bias that we wish to encourage in our legislators, businesspeople, and fellow citizens.
We urge Governor LePage and staff to restore the mural, and Portland City Council, legislators, business owners, non-profit organizations, and all parties involved in the proposed dismantling and move of the artwork to reject their roles in the removal of this artwork and to take steps to ensure that the artwork stays in place, as a symbol of our dignity as workers and human beings.
Photo by Suzanne Anderson.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Interview with Bangor Bassists 4 Bassists: "Every time I leave I've picked up a few pointers..."
Bangor's chapter of Bassists 4 Bassists meets monthly at Main Street Music Studios on Main Street in Bangor. The second Tuesday of every month from 8 to 10 pm the front room of the studio becomes a relaxed forum for jamming, talking about technique and discussing equipment. Brad O'Brien, who helped found the group and recruited many of its members, was unable to make it the night I stopped in, but his name came up more than a few times.
The meeting began with the three participants (there are sometimes as many as six or seven in attendance, but the count varies) talking equipment, plugging in and quietly playing. A guy passes through from one of the rooms in the back of the building. "Can you mod MXR pedals?" he asks Ken, a veteran bass player who performs with a couple of area bands. The guy rattles off some specs. Ken nods. "Yeah, that's something I'd consider. Give me a call." This is clearly the place to go for bass questions of all kinds.
To connect with Bassists 4 Bassists, visit their Facebook page, or come down to Main Street Music Studios on the second Tuesday of the month.
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