The Land and Sea Project

I recently finished documenting a one year project conducted by Earthand Gleaners Society, entitled LAND AND SEA. Lead artists Sharon Kallis and Rebecca Graham, together with numerous local knowledge holders, lead a series of workshops and conversation circles investigating coastal traditions around net making and fish leather. Subjects covered included spinning nettle and flax, weaving nets, salmon skin tanning, stitching, and beading. Several walking tours of the Vancouver shoreline were given by First Nations facilitators, describing the deep history and traditions of this place. A final exhibition was mounted at the Roundhouse Community Centre in September 2018, which included the building of a coracle, an ancient boat design used by many cultures around the world.

Filming Nicola Hodges at Trillium North Park in Vancouver – photo Sharon Kallis

Spinning Flax at Trillium North Park in Vancouver

Rebecca Graham and Sharon Kallis launch the coracle in the pond at Carb Park, Vancouver

The resulting work is a 15 part series of short videos, each covering one facet of the project. These can be viewed on Earthand Gleaners Youtube channel.

 

Elements Film Festival

My short film, Upsetting the Apple Cart: Building the Weaving Wagon, will be screening as part of Elements Film Festival in Vancouver British Columbia on April 15, 2018.

“The Elements Film Festival features dozens of nature, wildlife and conservation themed films by filmmakers all over the world. April 14-15, 2018 at The TELUS World of Science on beautiful False Creek, Vancouver. All daytime programming is INCLUDED with Science World admission. TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 15 for evening programs and Festival Launch Party.”

https://www.elementsfilmfest.org

Clown Parade

I just completed my first music video for my friend, the great David Gowman, and his Legion of Flying Monkeys Horn Orchestra. I shot the annual event he stages every year on the winter solstice for two years running, and also recorded the band playing the related song. I used a Sony A7s II camera, which allows shooting in very low light, and has a built in stabilizer, which helps greatly with hand-held moving shots.  The fabulous Belva Stone played the role of the unsuspecting target for transformation.

Soil to Sky

This is a short film I just completed for EartHand Gleaner’s Society.

Planet in Focus 17th Annual Environmental Film Festival

My Short film “The Urban Cloth Project” will be screening at the Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival in Toronto on October 22nd, 2016 at Innis Town Hall at the University of Toronto. It will precede the feature “Frightened – The Real Price of Shipping” by Denis Delestrac. I’m very happy to be attending the festival, which runs from October 18th to 23rd.

New Urbanism Film Festival

My short film “The Urban Cloth Project” will be screening at the New Urbanism Film Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday October 8th at 2:00pm in a program of shorts called “Growing Community”  at the ACME Theatre.

All Bodies Dance Project: Trace

I recently completed another short teaser with the fantastic Vancouver-based dance company, All Bodies Dance Project, for their upcoming performance entitled “Trace”. It features choreography by Cherylann Buckman, Sarah Lapp and Harmanie Taylor, Diana McKenzie, and Adam Grant Warren and is directed by Naomi Brand. Performances May 18, 19, 20, 2016 at the Roundhouse Performance Centre in Vancouver.

Stanley Park Ecology Society: Creative Upcycling Project

This film was commissioned by The Stanley Park Ecology Society to document the first part of their Creative Upcycling Project in Stanley Park, in Vancouver, Canada. Biologist Erica Forssman, shows volunteers how to remove invasive plants, such as Himalayan Blackberry and English Ivy from Blowdown sites, where sunlight has given these plants an advantage over native species. Environmental Artist, Sharon Kallis then helps to repurpose the removed material, that would otherwise be considered waste. With help from SPES Stewardship Coordinator, Sam Cousins, volunteers weave blackberry wattle fences and install ivy Bio-netting  to restore the eroded banks of North Creek, an environmentally sensitive site in the park.

Buzzscaping

Here is a new short film I made about a community bee project.

BUZZSCAPING: BUILDING A POLLINATOR HOUSE IN STRATHCONA is a collaboration between eartHand Gleaners Society and The Environmental Youth Alliance. Funded by Artstarts in Schools and Vancouver Park Board’s Neighbourhood Matching Fund, the project brought together artists, bee experts, local volunteers, and students from Lord Strathcona School to creat a Pollinator House for local bees.

Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival

My short film: THE WEAVER’S CIRCLE is playing at the KUALA LUMPUR ECO FILM FESTIVAL this coming weekend.

The screening is at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 19th, 2014 at the Black Box. Many thanks to the organisers and volunteers who make this festival happen. For information about the festival, check this link: http://www.ecofilmfest.my/