Hi Folks! Cairo's annual EXPO 90 festival is starting THIS THURSDAY, November 15th, with a group photography show titled "The End", and "Wrastle", an interactive performance by Max & Graham.
Here are short interviews with a few of the photographers to get you prepped for the big night!
1. In a sentence, please introduce yourself.
My name is Andrew Nedimyer and I hide behind a beard.
2. What forms of photography do you most prefer? (Digital, film,
digitally altered, etc)
I prefer to shoot film. Primarily 35mm on a variety of cameras.
My go-to is my Contax T3.
3. Where have you spent most of your life? How has this place
affected your art and your work?
I grew up in Orlando Florida, and moved to Seattle 5 years ago.
Seattle is full of creative types and it's easy to find inspiration here. I
think the friends I've made here have made the most impact on anything creative
I do.
4. How does the theme "The End: 2012" resonate with
you? What does it conjure?
I imagined the end of the world being a physical place, it makes
me think of the cover of the book, "Where the Sidewalk Ends".
5. Do you plan to prepare for the demise of civilization in any
way?
I'll probably just order a pepperoni pizza and sit at home
watching Wayne’s World.
6. What is the last song you would listen to before the end of
the world?
Asleep by the Smiths or Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-lot.
1. In a sentence, please introduce yourself.
I'm Serrah Russell, an artist and curator living in Seattle and working with instant film, found photography, and digital imagery.
2. What forms of photography do you most prefer? (Digital, film, digitally altered, etc)
I prefer instant film and typically use Fuji Instax and Fuji FP100C and shoot on a Instax Camera and a vintage Polaroid Land Camera 100 that was a complete steal for $3.99 at the Dearborn Goodwill. The piece I have included in this show, "This is not the end. This is only the beginning" is actually an archival print from a digital scan of an original Polaroid. I really like the immediacy of instant film as well as the way it helps me to be more considerate and decisive about my shots.
3. Where have you spent most of your life? How has this place affected your art and your work?
All of the life that I can remember has been spent here in the Pacific Northwest. I truly feel like I live in a dream, this city is so full of community, creativity, and surrounded by so much natural beauty. Everyday I wake up and look out at Elliott Bay from our balcony and am beyond grateful that I get to live here.
The PNW has affected my work in a strong way that is quietly revealing itself more and more these days. Nature merges with city in such a specific and intricate way here and it adds a depth to each individual's narrative within their place. I feel like much of my recent collage work, particularly the work I put together for the Northwest art subscription program LxWxH addresses the emotion and story of people and their emotional experience within their dwelling or their surrounding.
I'm fairly in love with Seattle and honestly, I think I have been for quite some time but am only now beginning to realize just how much. Being in love with a place, its people and their potential has influenced me to really invest and put down roots. I'll certainly be here for a while.
4. How does the theme "The End: 2012" resonate with you? What does it conjure?
The End conjures up thoughts of science fiction ala Kurt Vonnegut, ideas of time travel, hope for endless possibilities. I really enjoy the idea of an imminent ending of the world, because it elicits many questions and theories as well as a deeper understanding of our present. I believe that nothing ends but rather transitions into a beginning. So The End has a positive light to me, as if it is a conduit into a new place. I believe in the eternality of actions as they continue to affect the future so nothing is really over.
5. Do you plan to prepare for the demise of civilization in any way?
I don't have a current plan though recently I have been beginning and ending my day with thoughts of thankfulness for all the beautiful and lovely things of this world, so maybe my plan is to just live as well as I can until the world stops. However, if a zombie apocalypse became a reality, I think my husband has some specific plans for survival that he formed based on watching the television series Walking Dead. I believe they involve us creating a commune with all the people we know who have specific skills that can help us survive. We have a gardener, computer engineer, artist, and cook, so I think we really just need some medicinal help like a nurse or doctor to complete the whole package.
6. What is the last song you would listen to before the end of the world?
If I'm leaving this world, I'm going out with Bob Dylan so I think I would have to say either The Times They Are A-Changin' or Wedding Song. In Wedding Song I'm particularly thinking of this line:
"It's never been my duty to remake the world at large,
nor is it my intention to sound a battle charge
'Cause I love you more than all of that with a love that doesn't bend
and if there is eternity I'd love you there again."
1. In a sentence, please introduce yourself.
Aquarius, vegetarian, jogger, lover, dreamer.
2. What forms of photography do you most prefer? (Digital, film,
digitally altered, etc)
Poetic beautiful imagery.
3. Where have you spent most of your life? How has this place
affected your art and your work?
U.S.A. It has inspired me to search for endless beauty in
such a tacky place.
4. How does the theme "The End: 2012" resonate with
you? What does it conjure?
Ridiculous superstition bunch of nonsense the
fundamentalists love to preach about.
5. Do you plan to prepare for the demise of civilization in any
way?
Some may argue turning on the radio dial is proof that
civilization has already died.
6. What is the last song you would listen to before the end of
the world?
Judge Dread 'End of the World' followed by the Pet Shop
Boys 'The End of the World' no irony just great songs.
More interviews to come, so stay tuned!
