Sad Mag loves Vancouver photographer Angela Fama and The Acorn Restaurant–we featured them both in our Vanimaux issue–so we were thrilled to discover that artist and eatery are teaming up to help celebrate Main Street’s Car Free Day, this Sunday, June 16th from noon to 7pm.
Fama will park herself and her mobile studio at the Acorn’s storefront, where she will be capturing portraits of willing participants. Select photographs from the day’s session will be included in an exhibition at the Museum of Vancouver as part of the Capture Photography Festival throughout October.
Fama was chosen, along with three other local photographers (Lincoln Clarkes, John Goldsmith and Brian Howell), to present work in conversation with legendary Vancouver post-war street photographer, Foncie Pulice, who is the subject of a full-scale exhibition on view at MOV from June 6 – January 5, 2014.
As part of The Acorn’s ongoing commitment to supporting art and artists in Vancouver, the collaboration with Angela Fama will extend to The Acorn Artist Series, where upon the restaurant will print 1000 complimentary postcard prints for customers during the month of October in conjunction with the Capture Photography Festival.
The Acorn will be open from 12pm onward for Car-Free Day, offering light snacks and refreshments.
Angela Fama is a Vancouver-based photographer who has exhibited at the National Gallery in Ottawa and the Elliot Louis Gallery in Vancouver. Her work delves into the recesses of the forgotten or ignored, often revealing unique perspectives on history through it’s temporal placement in the present day.
This spring, Sad Mag mailed disposable cameras to various Canadian electro-pop bands so we could see what they see and wander where they wander. Maya Postepski, drummer of Austra and one half of goth duo TRST, was one of the lucky participants in Sad Mag’s Disposable Camera Project.
Get a sneak peek–before Saturday’s Mad Mad World Party–of the various objects, subjects and locales on Maya’s radar, and read her thoughts on music, feminism and feeling like a rock star.
Maya Postepski
ARIEL FOURNIER: Maya, you toured with Vancouver artist and musician Grimes, who holds strong opinions about stereotypes in music. What did you think about Grimes’ open letter about sexism in the music industry? Did you identify with any of her points in particular?
MAYA POSTEPSKI: Touring with Grimes was awesome, I think what she’s doing is relevant and interesting. Her open letter was brave and refreshing. So many female artists or public figures are afraid to even say they’re Feminists—I found her letter very intelligent and compassionate, and powerful. I liked how she specifically explained how being a feminist does not make one a ‘man hater’ and how she went into details about her family, her father and brothers. Being a feminist does not make one a man hater. I am in line with that and I think the word Feminist has way too many negative connotations, which is a such a shame. Being a feminist, in my mind, means I’m looking for women and men to gain equality
AF: What was it that grabbed you about The Organ’s music before you went on tour with them?
MP: I liked the sound, the aesthetic, [and] the nostalgia in Katie’s performance of the vocals. I loved how sad and romantic the songs were. I also loved how greatly they’re crafted—the pop structures in each track are impressive and sophisticated. Each song is barely over three minutes long and hits you where it hurts. Wicked songwriting and awesome musicianship.
AF: How influential was The Organ for you?
MP: They took me on my first real tour. That’s a huge deal—I felt like a real rock star, like my dreams came true, like they saved me from all the horrible thoughts I had of failure as an artist. I felt like I was finally real, like I mattered, and that was very empowering. As a fan I was also very inspired because I finally found a band that I looked up toward, that I could relate to on some distant level, and that I believed was writing music for people like me: young, gay, and confused.
AF: Maya, we talked about how Vancouver used to be less associated with an innovative music scene in your mind. Did Vancouver seem like a more interesting place to you when you were a teenager or when you joined up with The Organ’s tour? Do you feel now that that has changed?
MP: I don’t know Vancouver intimately enough to comment that deeply but I think it’s been a city that people in Canada consider to be kind of sophisticated or fancy, bourgeoisie. I guess it’s quite expensive and getting really developed with condos and the nouveau riche, as is Toronto. With money comes innovation, so there you go. I don’t think any of that affects the art scene though. In fact, I think it draws artists away because artists are generally not wealthy so they leave and go to cheaper cities like Berlin or Montreal. I might do that soon as well, heh.
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More photos from the Disposable Camera Project will be on display at The Gam Gallery on May 18th. Come hang out with us at the Mad Mad World Party and peruse photographs by HUMANS (Robbie Slade), MODE MODERNE, AUSTRA and CITY OF GLASS; Lauren Zbarsky, Alex Waber, Brandon Gaukel and Matty Jeronimo.
{cover photo of Maya c/o Hannah Marshall}
“Sad Mag’s Disposable Camera Project is like a behind the scenes from the folks who are in the scenes you wanna get behind.” –Katie Stewart, Sad Mag’s Creative Director.
Vancouver Notables is the ongoing interview series where “No Fun City” shows off. More like burlesque than a talent show, Vancouver Notables wants you doing what you do best, but with sequins on your nipples. Tell us who you are, what you’re doing that’s of note and why, oh why, are you rocking that boat?
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Sad Mag’s newest treasure, photographer Rommy Ghaly, is a New York born, local guy, who moved to Vancouver from Berlin. He takes photos of people on the streets, in the bars and often times when they’re unaware. He’s contributed to Scout Magazine, ION Magazine, and Discorder Magazine and hopes to create a bit more awareness of the Vancouver art and music scenes through his photography.
Rommy shot the gorgeous Cinema piece for our next issue, Mad Mad World. He also interviewed photographers Michael de Courcy and Ian Ruhter –and turned the camera on them for a change. Amidst all that, Sad Mag managed to corner Rommy and ask him about his own photographic endeavors, his entrée to the Vancouver art scene, and what it means to seek community.
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Who are you?
I’m Rommy. I was born and raised in NY, left in 1996, and have spent my time living all over North America and Europe. I work in the video game industry and pursue photography on the side.
What is your artistic background and how did you become interested in photography specifically?
I’ve never studied art nor photography. I picked up a 35mm camera (Nikon FM2) in November 2011. Since then, I’ve amassed a collection of old film cameras (I have sixteen by my last count) and have spent all my free time tackling film photography obsessively over the past year and a half. My style is documentary, capturing street candids, the Vancouver night scene, and the rapidly-changing character of the city as it grows beyond its adolescence.
photo c/o Katie StewartYou’ve recently moved to Vancity. What prompted the pilgrimage?
I’d been living in Berlin after losing my job and was recruited by a company to come work in Vancouver (my day job is in the video game industry).
How long have you been here now?
I’ve been in Vancouver since January 1st, 2011 (just over two years).
What was it like breaking into the art scene here?
I’m just getting my feet wet. I have a tough time considering myself an artist, but I’d like to think I’m actively involved in trying to capture the art community with my photography. Doing that has really helped me to meet creative people in the scene here, so it’s going well, I suppose. But it’s not easy. People have their friends and their peers. It’s a bit closed.
How did you get involved with Sad Mag and what are you contributing to the next issue?
I pursued Katie Stewart following the last issue. It was a beautiful bit of work. Sad Mag is one of Vancouver’s gems in this grassroots arts scene. It has deep connections with the artists and goes way further into try to understand and document the scene than a lot of the rags and blogs in this city that frankly don’t have a fucking clue what’s going on.
People often accuse Vancouver of being “No Fun City.” Do you agree or disagree? What for you makes Vancouver unique?
I found it tough at first. But now that I’ve made my friends and found the creative people that make this city awesome, I’ve learned to redirect my anger at City Hall and its ridiculously prohibitive policies surrounding things like alcohol, street art, noise, and condos. Vancouver’s art community is one of the most tight-knit and talented communities I’ve had the pleasure of seeing first-hand, and I’ve lived many places. In the end, that’s why the creative community sticks around and will continue to do so in the face of great adversity.
Favourite local Vancity spot?
I’m really digging the programming at The Cobalt, the beer at Alibi Room, and the “kick your feet up and get drunk” nature of Pat’s Pub and LanaLou’s, not to mention the wealth of after-parties.
Where are you as you answer these questions?
Sitting at work, listening to Röyksopp.
Last album you listened to?
Junior by Röyksopp.
What are you most excited about right now?
Figuring out the big summer plans, collaborating with friends, and determining how to help take this city from sterile small town to bustling cultural hub.
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On Saturday–THIS SATURDAY!–May 18th, Sad Mag presents a dance party with your favorites 80s, new wave and electro-pop covers. Vancouver music legends (or soon-to-be legends) will be singing their hearts out to songs by The Talking Heads, New Order, Cut/Copy, The Organ, The Knife, Humans and many more. Come check us out!
