We Remember Philip Seymour Hoffman

By Dale Angell

We are all shocked by the passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman. There are certain actors who have an ability to connect so well with the audience that we feel we know them, almost like family. Hoffman was such a person. His personality shone threw the odd ball characters he loved to play. He could make even the most disturbing character somehow "lovable" or at least strangely funny. In Charlie Wilson's War, he tended to steal every scene he appeared in. Just his presence made the viewer smile.

Hoffman won an Academy Award in 2005 for his role in Capote, in which he played the exotic writer Truman Capote. He also received three Academy Award nominations as best supporting actor, for The Master in 2013, Doubt in 2009 and his great performance in Charlie Wilson's War in 2008.

Hoffman had an early career in lesser rolls but suddenly burst out when he was tapped to play in films better suited to his unique style. He played in major films, but his forte was independent films where he breathed life into odd and sometimes disturbing characters in films like Happiness, in which he played an obscene phone caller. His award winning role in Capote showed his understanding of the truly odd, none odder that Truman Capote.

It was well known that Hoffman struggled with addiction, and his death is said to be from a heroin overdose. While his death is tragic, it is also one more example of the failure of the "war on drugs" in America. Hoffman was not a criminal, not a thug. He was a wonderful human and artist. Who did drugs. Passing laws against this had no impact on his death at all except perhaps to make it even more likely. No DEA agent was there to stop him, no law to keep him from living the way he wanted to. The only help we as a society can even hope to offer is to always be there for addicts who seek help, and ensure a predictable clean supply of the drugs people will find and buy whether or not "we" want them to. Janis died when she injected a "hot shot" of heroin. As a society we would never accept such an unstable deadly "product" on the market, but by pretending we can simply outlaw drugs, we create the underground, violent, criminal and deadly market in drugs. It's too soon to say how Hoffman died, and way to soon to say why, but its a tragic loss to us all. It breaks my heart.

At least we have the films. And so he lives on as do all the actors we have come to love who have passed away. It's tragic we will never have a new film from Hoffman, but he now joins the immortal legends of the cinema. May he rest in peace.

Teton Canyon, Yellowstone And More...

By Don Henderson

Photographer, Don Henderson, has been pursuing his passion for photography for over 25 years. He first became interested in photography while taking a Geology of the National Parks Class in college. They say that everyone has a teacher who makes an impact on them that will last a lifetime. That truly happened for Don. “I’ll never forget this one particular teacher, his name is Ray Ressler. He said on the first day of class that this is a lab course, and normally that means you will spend time in the lab once a week looking at rocks, but this class is different, you will be required to go on 3 weekend field trips to National Parks. Don purchased an olympus camera and a lens to take on these trips. “On the first trip when we exited the tunnel and I saw Yosemite National Park for the first time, my life was changed forever. I wanted to learn to capture what I was seeing and share it with others”. That began my pursuit of light and images!

When he is not busy working, he spends much of his free time with his family in Idaho and Wyoming chasing light and searching for images. In addition to to landscape and nature photography, Don also enjoys photographing concerts and sporting events. You can see more of Don’s work here.

Click on each image to see the enlarged version.

One day while I was out exploring Teton Canyon I came across this small stream with these granite rocks covered with lichen. The colors and the patterns on the rocks were really great so I used a long exposure to soften the water and bring more attention to the lichen covered rock.

This is an image of Castle Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. During the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms often roll through the park, creating dramatic skies and interesting light. Although this area is known for its unique colors, I find it a great place to create Black and White images.

Steam rises above the surface of Grand Prismatic Spring and reflects the deep blues and greens from the water below. In the foreground you can see footprints from Bison who have walked across the Bacteria Mat and left their marks. I visit this spring often as the colors are constantly shifting and there is always something new to see. Grand Prismatic Spring is located in the Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park and is one of the largest hot springs in the world.

I made this picture on a spring trip to Antelope Canyon just outside of Page, AZ. The canyons are on a Native American Reservation and a guide is required to take you in. I was lucky to be one of only a couple of people in the canyon on this particular day which made photographing very easy. I was even luckier that the other person in the canyon was a Navajo flute player. The sounds echoing through the canyon were truly amazing. A great soundtrack to my day!

I made this picture of alpenglow on the Grand Tetons from Teton Canyon in Alta, WY, seconds before the sun dipped out of site behind the Big Hole mountains on the West side of Teton Valley. This valley is one of my favorite places to explore and photograph year round.

On a hiking trip with some friends along the Carrizo Gorge Railway in the Anza Borrego Desert, we came across this section of track which had been overtaken by the shifting sand dunes. I thought it created a surreal scene and shows the power of mother nature who always reclaims what is hers.

We came across this mother Polar Bear and her cub just before sunrise during a trip to Churchill Manitoba. We were in a tundra buggy and had just left Tundra Buggy Lodge, where we had spent the night. We were heading out to capture first light and hopefully see some polar bears. We came across these two bears, and I thought the expression was beautiful. Polar Bears are majestic and so incredibly fragile at the same time. A species I hope we can find a way to save.

I have always enjoyed photographing water. There are so many subtle details to be found if you just spend some time looking for them. Sometimes I will add water as a part of a bigger landscape image, other times I look for more abstract images by getting myself closer to the ground and focusing in on the water itself. This image was made along the shores of the Yellowstone River on a warm summer day. 

RAW: Natural Born Artists:
What It’s About And What’s Next For The Chicago Chapter

By Amber Topping

Kara Coraci, Director of the Chicago location of “RAW: natural born artists” took the time recently to talk to REAP about the vision of RAW as a global independent arts organization, how artists working from numerous genres can participate, as well as the upcoming Chicago event on January 30th. 

First of all, for anyone who isn’t familiar, can you explain what “RAW: Natural Born Artists” is?

Natural born artists is an independent arts organization, for artists, by artists. We're an international community made up of creative individuals across the globe. Our mission is to provide independent artists within the first 10 years of their career with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity.

We welcome all genres of art including independent film, fashion, music, visual art, performing art, hairstylists, makeup artists and more. We encourage the creative success of the many visionaries and storytellers of our generation. RAW currently operates in nearly 60 cities across the United States, Australia, Canada and, now London!

With RAW located in over 60 locations worldwide. Have you heard of any plans to expand even further?

Absolutely!  RAW initially focused on countries the English in their main language.  This made the marketing transferable from the U.S.  Intentions are to open up in every major city possible within time.  Paris will be launching this year.

What type of creative artists does RAW choose to feature, and/or spotlight?

A typical show has performers, musicians, fashion designers, visual artists, photographers, accessories designers, MUAs, and hair stylists.  But there’s really not one answer for this… it’s really dependent on who the Director chooses to feature.  I’ve had everything from live body painters to Fashion Designers that make clothing for dogs.  I’ve had burlesque, hoop dancers, belly dancers and dance troupes to name a few.

How does the hand selection of various creatives in visual art, film, music, fashion, photography makeup and more, work?

Once an artist learns of the RAW organization they can submit a profile to the RAW website here: www.rawartists.org/register They create a bio, upload photos and videos and then Directors hand select who they think would be a good fit for their shows.

You work with the Chicago location. How did you, yourself, become involved with Chicago RAW?

I’ll make this a longer story then it needs to be just because I think it’s a fun story but right before RAW, I had been doing some contract work for Red Frog Events in Chicago.  We were having an event planning contest and had to come up with a cool event concept we wanted to bring to life.  Without ever hearing about RAW, I had basically described the RAW concept but named it “Museum Mayhem.”  It was supposed to be an evening of performers, musicians and artists.  About a month after this, I saw a job posting for RAW and could not believe that an event I had dreamed of really existed.  I put together a quirky but professional Cover Letter hoping it would catch their attention and signed it “Cheers & Beers.”  Shortly after that I got a call back and before I knew it, I was flying out to L.A. for training!  It was an incredible experience meeting my fellow directors from all over the world and the staff at HQ and the brains behind it all, Heidi Luerra.

What should someone expect to find typically at a RAW event?

When describing a showcase I always say it’s a hybrid of a variety show and an indoor festival.  About 30 Artists, photographers and accessories designers will have stations showing off and selling their work to guests.  During this time, a DJ is spinning music, performances and musicians play one right after the other and a fashion show finishes off the night!

When one attends a RAW event in Chicago, would they find something similar in a different location? In other words, does the RAW vision stay the same no matter what city it is in?

Absolutely! The basic RAW format you can find from city to city whether you’re in Chicago or Sydney, Australia.  Each show is unique depending on what type of art thrives in that city.  For instance, NY might have a bigger focus on Fashion then let’s say Phoenix.

There is an upcoming event on January 30th for Chicago RAW. What can you tell me about this particular event?

Well, for one it is the fourth season for RAW Chicago.  The Chicago location is one of the longest running locations.  We’re also very excited to be at a new location, Bottom Lounge.  This particular showcase is going to be doubled in size of artists from past the past showcases.

Can you tell me a little more about this new venue for Chicago Raw?

Bottom Lounge is on the West Side of Chicago and is extremely accommodating to RAW’s needs.

Can you pick an artist from the event to talk about briefly?

Emily Sfirit – A fiery, young fashion designer best known for her designs with e.kaye collection, mother of two and from the suburbs of Illinois.  She has been featured in both Chicago and Milwaukee showcases and has plans to be featured in RAW Los Angeles in 2014.  She was also one of the top 3 RAW Fashion Designers of 2013!  E.kaye collection is especially proud of a design she collaborated with on with artist, Jacob Blum. She took an 8x5 original painting and created a wearable gown using only the canvas given, and “ALL of the canvas given. The result is one hundred percent unique and one hundred percent inspired.” – quote Emily Sfirit

Each event does a film screening. Is it shown sporadically throughout the event? Or is there just going to be one showing? Should attendees expect to arrive early?

Films primarily go first and from time to time slide shows or graphics are shown in between acts.  Attendees wanting to see featured films should arrive early.

How often do these events happen, whether in Chicago, or in any city?

The showcases are every other month and Chicago RAW looks forward to RAWkin’ out again on March 27th when we present RAW Mosaic.

For more information on Chicago RAW and the upcoming event head on over to: www.rawartists.org/chicago

To find the location closest to you check out their site www.RAWartists.org

Homepage Photo credit: Ronald Leon Hale