Stills from a tech rehearsal for “Caught in the .Net”, a project born out of a residency at Mignolo Arts Center in Metuchen, NJ. October 2022.
A selection of stills from “gap junction”, an original piece choreographed by Catherine Messina. Performed by Ashley Cassetta, Emmy Wildermuth, Rebecca Neish, Stephanie Shin and Catherine Messina during Spring for Spring Dance Festival, Night One, in Metuchen, NJ, in June, 2022. That’s a lot of commas.
Selected stills from a day of documentation at the Drake House in Plainfield, NJ. Cyril, an Eagle Scout candidate, brought a team of peers in to help research and archive a collection of antique apothecary bottles donated to the Historical Society of Plainfield.
Favorite frames from “Variations on Want”, an original piece by mignolo dance, performed by Hayley Clark during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June 2022
Stills from the last night of “Caught in the .Net”, an interdisciplinary arts residency at Mignolo Arts Center in Metuchen, NJ.
A selection of stills from “Conjoined”, a piece by mignolo dance. Performed at Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June 2022
On a windy mid-November night in a Metuchen parking deck, mignolo dance performed their original piece, “Manifested Destiny”. It was a triumph the production took place at all, occurring in the middle of the pandemic when event regulations were in constant flux. Guests could either watch from their cars, parked in an amphitheater formation, or from spaced-out front-row seats. From the mignolo arts website:
“Manifested Destiny is an evening-length work choreographed by sisters Charly & Eriel Santagado. The piece explores American culture through the lens of great American literature across recent history. From Walt Whitman to Claudia Rankine, from Langston Hughes to John Steinbeck to Amy Tan, Manifested Destiny calls upon the work of 13 American writers with a wide range of backgrounds and styles. Over the course of the evening, the perspectives of these authors are examined chronologically through precise, language-inspired choreography that highlights how they clash and coincide. The piece opens and closes with a movement translation of To Elsie, William Carlos Williams' harrowing poem about the plight of America.”
The piece is available for rent HERE
A selection of photos from “gap junction”, an original piece choreographed by Catherine Messina. Performed by Ashley Cassetta, Emmy Wildermuth, Reebecca Neish, Stephanie Shin, and Catherine Messina on Day 2 of Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ.
Yu.S.Artistry performed their original piece, ‘Inner Light’, at the Queens Theater on October 24th, 2021. Rich in color and selective with light, the piece seemed to explore what it is that drives an individual, bringing tangibility to inner motivations to better illustrate our interactions with our own passionate pursuits. While this is just my own interpretation, I was left thinking about how the “inner light” of a creative type could serve as both something to be cherished and nurtured, and something to be quarried and exploited, often times by two sides of the same individual. There’s a delicate balance that needs to be struck by anyone hoping to bring ideas to fruition—you have to be your own boss, as well as your sole employee, and both entities have to stay happy.
In the presence of outside voices and opinions, it becomes harder for any individual to keep focus on their own inner light. We’re challenged time and time again to rethink and reinvent, all while maintaining some semblance of inner balance through the emotional obstacle course of existence. How we respond to these inner and outer forces shapes who we are as individuals and artists.
Learn more about Yu.S.Artistry’s work HERE
A selection of stills from Julia Foti’s original dance piece, performed during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June, 2022.
Mandancing has been one of my favorite bands around for years now. There are some artists that just seem to tap into a state of raw passion, and few have that power like Steve Kelly. I’d also like to give a shoutout to Ben Petty for perfecting the wistful side-stare.
Basement shows were essentially my introduction to the independent music scene back around 2012. Every venue has its own vibe, but the energy is always similar—a bunch of people, from a bunch of places, all cramming into the dusty, sometimes dirt-floored basement of a 1920’s two story house in New Brunswick, all hoping to hear their favorite local artists do their thing before they “make it”. I’ve seen some incredible performances and met some amazing people in those dark cellars. I’ve squished myself between air ducts to get decent views, I’ve mushed tissues in my ears when I forgot to bring earplugs, and I’ve learned to open beer bottles with MacGyver-like methodology.
Packed in the crowd, held up more by your neighbors’ shoulders than your own feet, basking in the decibels pumped out by antique wiring begging for rest, you’re a part of something greater. A shared frequency—a shared purpose—to appreciate the expression of others. To empathize. To drink PBR’s and Miller Lite. To be a member of a community with a common love of art and music, and a common respect for each other. I’ve even played some of my favorite shows in basements.
Fun fact: On the Curry side of my family, both of my grandparents grew up in the city of New Brunswick. Nanny and Pop-pop lived on opposite ends of the College Ave campus at Rutgers, in the very houses that now host streams of students semester by semester. I’ve attended and performed in the basements of houses on the childhood streets of my grandparents—wondering if the loved ones that made me possible ever wandered through the room decades before, maybe visiting neighbors. There’s something to be said for legacy here, but I’d rather just feel it than try to put it to words.
Favorite frames from “Exhaust Me”, an original piece by Jessica Michal, performed by Claire Coolidge, Sarah Liebau, Ying-Yu Lin, Jessica Michal, and Christina Szumlozl during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June, 2022
‘Soldier Island’ is an upcoming feature-length film by mignolo arts. Shot over the course of a month and a half at three locations, this is the by far the most ambitious project I’ve been fortunate to be a part of to date. The film is a translation and modern interpretation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, visually inspired by the 1940’s motion picture of the same name. The majority of these shots were taken on the same day, toward the end of filming, at Sandy Hook Beach, NJ.
This was my first time working with Kris Khunachak, an incredible multimedia artist who lent an essential hand to ‘Soldier Island’ and filmed some of the most beautiful takes I’ve ever seen. It was also thanks to his involvement that I was able to spend this particular day shooting stills, so thanks Kris!!
Some of my favorite shots from “Vibrations (Act 1)”, an original piece by NewBrese Dance Project, performed by Rachel Calabrese and Sawyer Newsome during Spring for Spring Dance Festival, June 2022
On September 29th, my friends in stillhungry played their EP release show at the Saint in Asbury Park. It was an amazing night of some of the most heartfelt, honest music I’ve heard in a good long while.
It’s amazing to have become a part of an art community so strong. I met Matteo (front and center) about six years ago, most likely in a dusty, crowded basement in New Brunswick. I was just starting to find out about the underground music scene, and just starting to get excited about good ol’ Cold Weather Company’s birth. To see all those friends I met back then perpetually growing as artists and people is something special. Check out stillhungry’s music!!
Favorite frames from “String Theory”, an original piece choreographed by Dawn Schultz and performed by Allison Angeles, Jasmine Blanco, Masiyah Blue, Dominique Burns, Samantha Caban, Ashanty Gil, Hope McCarthy, and Na’Khaya Rogers during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June, 2022
‘Visitor Parking’ is an original piece by mignolo arts exploring the intricacies of the human mind. These shots were taken during a tech rehearsal for an early October performance in Edison, NJ. This spatial setup is a condensed iteration of the piece, specifically designed for the space in which it takes place. The full performance will take place in its expansive entirety this December at Gardenship Art in Kearny, NJ. Tickets for the event can be found HERE.
More on the piece from mignolo:
“Visitor Parking is a live, immersive, site specific multimedia piece rooted in contemporary dance that explores a variety of mental health problems in effort to advocate for the recognition and de-stigmatization of mental health related conditions. The piece calls upon mignolo’s developing “translation” movement vocabulary accompanied by poetry, original music, set and costume design. Join a cast of eight dancers on a sometimes tangled, sometimes illuminating journey through the complexities of the mind.”
‘Grammar of Space’ is an original piece by mignolo arts that explores our interactions with each other, the world around us, and the patterns and intersections that result from our decision to move. While it is difficult to make out in these photos, the piece takes place within a grid of squares that serves to give formal structure to the logical growth of movement throughout the piece. This performance took place in Rahway, NJ in June 2021 as part of an event hosted by Reframe Dance Theater.
Favorite frames from “Estia/reimagined”, an original piece by Lydia Perakis, performed during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in June 2022
This was my first time attending a dance-oriented independent venue show, and I didn’t quite know what to expect. Spitball V is a quarterly show for works-in-progress written by local students and artists of all mediums. While dance dominated, the night also included interpretive poetry and music.
The room was respectful, kind, and appreciative to the artists opening a window into their creative processes. It reminded me a bit of a refined basement show (hi, music scenes)—very indie, full of passion, and everyone attending is there for the art.
I’ve never really photographed dance before, and I found this introduction inspiring. There’s something amazing about trying, through the lens, to connect to someone tapping into their creative passion. You have to move with them, anticipate their breathing, their pauses, their expressions. It’s like you become a part of the performance. I wish it made me a better dancer, but I’ll settle for some new photography experience. That’s cool too.
10-15-19
Stills from “serendipitous”, an original piece by Stephanie Shin, joined in performance by Emily Aslin during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June 2022
One of my favorite days of the trip out west was this random adventure in Ridgway, Colorado (I thought they misspelled their town name, too). I had never heard of Skijoring—a winter sport consisting of a skier tethered to a horseback rider, navigating flags and ramps, competing for the fastest time—but clearly I was in the minority, because it seemed this event was the place to be that Saturday morning in January. I definitely didn’t think I’d find myself being introduced to an old-fashioned European sport in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, but it definitely happened, complete with an American flag suspended from a helicopter!
After the festivities and the local beer tents, we headed to Ouray, CO (nicknamed “Little Switzerland,” which seemed appropriate given our day of pseudo-foreign sport-viewing) for some honey-drenched pizza. Since I’ve yet to visit Switzerland, I guess by the time I do, it’ll be “Big Ouray” to me? Is that how it works?
Favorite shots from “Late Bloomer” and “Etude”, by Erin Landers. Performed during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June, 2022
Cold Weather Company had the pleasure of playing with our friends in The Lunar Year and Josh Miller back in October. It was one hell of a show, and I can’t wait to do it again.
Favorite frames from “Graveled Grooves”, a piece choreographed by Jamie Drye and performed by Marion Helfenstein, Chieh Hsiung, and Denzyll Green during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in June 2022
After playing a fun set with CWC at the Coffee Music Festival in NYC on October 12, 2019, I was lucky enough to be able to stick around to photograph a bunch of musical friends, new and old. Just as fun was the copious amount of coffee sampling I did, as well as the coffee-inspired cocktails. It was a day of excessive caffeine consumption, which is saying something considering my normal three cups a day.
Some favorite stills from “Finding”, an original piece by Nathan Forster, head of Reframe Dance Theater, and performed during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in June, 2022
Photos taken during Mumford and Sons' concert at Portsmouth Pavilion during their Sigh No More Tour (August 9th, 2012).
2021 Update: I can’t believe this was nearly a decade ago. Cold Weather Company wouldn’t be a thought for another year and a half. At the time, I was in my first band, The Gentleman Finn (formerly known as the Gentlemen of Jersey Folk). It’s not hard to see where the inspiration for such a name came from, considering Mumford and Sons was my favorite band at the time, and their touring company is famously known as “The Gentlemen of the Road”. To be honest, I’m not sure if the inspiration was direct when we first named the band, but this isn’t a post about us anyway. It seems nearly inevitable, though, that my own story would interweave with a band that affected me so much at such a formative time.
This particular show felt more like a pilgrimage—I had bought the tickets months in advance, and my sister and I traveled across three states to see these guys play. I had recently gotten my first DSLR camera (a Nikon D5100), and I was determined to be able to photograph the show. This was long before I was privy to press passes and camera restrictions, so I can’t thank the kind woman at the check-in counter enough for feeling too bad to confiscate it (thanks, visible anxiety!). The show blew our minds, and the city of Portsmouth, VA (the Commodore Theater, especially, where we ate dinner and watched the Dark Knight Rises for a total of $24) was pretty darn cool too.
Might as well make this post extra extra long, I suppose. Flash forward to 2015, when Cold Weather Company was invited to play the afterparty for the Gentlemen of the Road stopover show in Seaside Park, NJ. When we got to meet some of the Mumford fellas after our set, I just wished I could reach through time and smile at the version of myself who stood in the crowd clearing fog off his lens for the whole show, hoping to one day be on both sides of the lens.
A selection of stills from “The Honky-tonk”, an original piece by Megan Chu, performed during Spring for Spring Dance Festival in Metuchen, NJ in June 2022
Taken during the band's show at New Jersey's Historic Blairstown Theater on February 27, 2013.
