Corinne Beardsley: The Companion
The Companion is a crude life-size foam puppet Corinne Beardsley performed with in her Brooklyn apartment during isolation in the first few months of Covid 2020. Through observational humor and parodying the theater of influence, The Companion was “thriving in uncertain times”.
Michael C. Pitt: Meeting the Challenge
The Dreamers, Boardwalk Empire, I Origins, Seven Psychopaths, The Village… it’s quite the lineup of movie titles. Michael C. Pitt knows how to pick
From the Editor-In-Chief: Where We Go, Nobody Knows
Editor-in-Chief Shana Beth Mason releases a statement on behalf of the team at FRONTRUNNER following the U.S. presidential election.
Gatlin: The Two Sides of a Woman in Love
Formerly just-a-girl-with-her-guitar-esque singer-songwriter, Gatlin, also known as Gatlin Thornton, has dropped all of her filters in an upcoming double single release that nakedly presents all
A Night Out With Salvala and Maya Rajan
A freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness night out with musician Salvala and music video director Maya Rajan in New York City.
ART
Earthlings: Corinne Beardsley and Sludge Thunder
Guest writer Bianca Giaever meets New York-based artists, Corinne Beardsley and Sludge Thunder, at their most recent exhibition, Earthlings.
Catherine Sullivan: Breaking Through and Forward
In a wide-ranging interview, celebrated artist/filmmaker Catherine Sullivan expounds on reanimating contested “fantasy” spaces on camera, being Mike Kelley’s student, and why a box of Kleenex matters.
Meet The Curators of the North Carolina Museum of Art
FRONTRUNNER is pleased to present a triple interview with the curators of the contemporary arts program at The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA).
A One On One With Leasho Johnson
Can you address your past without tearing apart at the seams? We ask Leasho Johnson if that process is creative, cathartic, or calamitous.
Muna Malik: A Fluid Migration
Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary artist Muna Malik talks about her first show in the UK, the agonizing weight of worry and dread felt in the studio, and the brilliance of commanding a window seat on every flight.
Walking The Line and Beyond: Julian Opie
FRONTRUNNER is proud to present a discussion with one of the pioneers of the New British Sculpture movement, internationally-renowned artist Julian Opie.
COLLEGE FEATURES
Live from Clark with Thousand Horsepower Cigarette
Will Ripke and Nick Delugos of Thousand Horsepower Cigarette had been writing music in the comfort of their Clark University dorm…
Colonel Starr’s Relentless Storytelling
From Concord, Massachusetts, Colonel Starr is stirring up the music scene in the city through their raw storytelling.
Discovering the Folk Punk Sound of Lou Mace
Lou Mace exemplifies the best of Allston: angsty, queer and relentlessly creative. Since moving to Allston 4 years ago, he’s been opening up about mental health, relationships and support systems through his raw and humorous music.
Sarah Lawrence got lucky with exciting new band Lucky Number
From the second they stepped on stage, these freshmen were magnetic. “We are Lucky Number. Are you ready to get lucky tonight?” they shouted, and we were.
“It’s Art And I Can Do Whatever I Want”: Grady Fortier Takes Us Into the Music and Madness of Life As An Artist
20 year-old Grady Fortier, a Manhattanville University resident who hails from Washington, is a filmmaker, photographer, actor, and dancer, but most notably he is a musician.
Meet Chandra: Honoring the classics, shaping her singular sound
Her neo-soul vocals are buttery smooth, captivating the Columbia University community. Chandra’s music is both catchy and enveloping, bringing her unique background to a classic genre while creating a beautifully cohesive sound.
Sarah Lawrence’s House Band Moves Out
The House Band started as a fixture of Sarah Lawrence College Music Festivals, but within the past year has played as far as Swarthmore. With graduation on the horizon for many of its members, The House Band may have to take up residence on the road.
Harmonie Lirenman Weaves Detailed Melodies in New York City
From majoring in vocals at Laguardia High School to studying Ethnomusicology and Urban Studies at Barnard College, Lirenman engages with music through a lens of reciprocity and intent
Paloma López Takes The Stage at The New School’s Sunday Sessions
New York City-based singer-songwriter Paloma López blends genres in Brooklyn dive bars. Her first foray into sharing original music took place earlier this year at
From Sarah Lawrence College across the USA, indie pop group Whitworth leaves friendship and joy in its wake.
The band has one full album and a bunch of singles out, and has done two tours around America with their Sarah Lawrence friends as crew.
Good News! College Campus Happenstance
Good News! is a Tufts campus band consisting of Lucas Cohen, Jonah Kreitner, Cole Menchel, and Jack Wish. In some ways, it is the perfect example of college campus happenstance coming together to form a cohesive sound.
Gabriela McBride: Inhabiting the Sound
New York City based singer-songwriter Gabriela McBride’s lyrics exist in the liminal space between the dreamlike and the deeply grounded. McBride studies history and music at Columbia University, where she continues to play, write, and perform.
FILM
Emanuela Tomassetti on Why We Must Remember
In this hard hitting documentary, the people of Latin America recall years of political repression and “random disappearances” done by right-wing dictatorships in various countries during the 70s and 80s.
Sweet Revenge: June Squibb and Josh Margolin on ‘Thelma’
At 93, she landed her first feature leading role and is nowhere near done. June Squibb and director Josh Margolin introduce us to ‘Thelma.’
Behind The Camera With Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen steps behind the camera for his second directorial outing for a bold, unflinching Western called The Dead Don’t Hurt.
Yali Topol Margalith: The FRONTRUNNER Interview
People may recognise her for being Topol’s granddaughter, but Yali Topol Margalith is, in fact, much more than her grandfather’s legacy.
Jeffrey Schwarz Tackles the AIDS Crisis in Commitment To Life
Mastering the art of documentary filmmaking takes a lot of falling down and getting back up. Yet, director Jeffrey Schwarz has made a name for himself in the genre for shedding light onto untold histories.
Ready For A Close-Up With Paul Rhys
Our Film Editor speaks with Welsh actor Paul Rhys on his triple-film run with featured roles in Saltburn, Napoleon and Men Up.
MUSIC
Blending Grit and Grace in Americana With Leah Tash
Leah Tash, a New York-artist born and raised, blends together country, blues, folk, and rock and roll, and emerges as a contemporary Americana artist.
From High School Gigs to Viral Hits. Meet The Beaches
With their infectious blend of pop, rock, alternative rock and new-wave, The Beaches have been playing together for over a decade.
Akira Galaxy: Destined for Dream Pop
Destined to become a celestial dream pop artist by her birth name, Akira Galaxy transcends the boundaries of conventional soundscapes.
The Band Down Under: Ocean Alley
Life can be a monotonous cycle of bleak days and nights. Ocean Alley brings people down to Earth, connecting with what makes them feel alive.
The Moss: Music From the Heart
Bred in Hawaii and based in Utah, The Moss blends their island roots with an alternative rock groove to form their distinctive sound.
Getting to Know IRONTOM
Brimming with irony and peculiarity, California-native band, IRONTOM, pays homage to the strange side of life.
CULTURE
Adam Abdalla and the Art of Doing It All
Adam Abdalla is the president of New York-based consultancy Cultural Counsel. He is a globally-recognised advisor, public relations and global branding specialist.
Meet MAXXI Foundation President Giovanna Melandri
The MAXXI – National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome is the first national museum dedicated to contemporary arts and architecture in Italy.
Silva Cunningham: The Sketchbooks of Growing Up
Silva Cunningham created a youth culture magazine called Plates Of Meat one year ago. In her words, “The entire thing is about the process of growing up and figuring itself out”.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Abruzzo Project by Nicolas Gentile
Nicolas Gentile, a young Italian pastry chef, tells us about his greatest dream: creating the Gentile County, which recalls the places, characters, and stories of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
Jazmyn W: A Rising Comedic Force
Leaving a six-figure corporate job for the world of standup comedy is brave. But, if your name is Jazmyn W, that gambit has already paid off.
An Interview with Curator Taras Matla
Taras W. Matla is the Associate Director of the University of Maryland (UMD) Art Gallery. He’s worked for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Trust.
DESIGN
Maria Cristina Didero and the Golden Age of Design: Design Miami/ 2022
The art and design storm that looms over Miami for the first full weekend in December wrapped up, ushering out a big crowd and millions of dollars with it. Under her guidance, curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero’s Design Miami/ fairs had an overarching theme of The Golden Age.
Fin Simonetti’s Magical Thinking
Fin Simonetti works in sculpture and stained glass. She received her BFA from the Ontario College of Art and Design and has exhibited internationally at Matthew Brown (Los Angeles), Cooper Cole (Toronto), and MoMA PS1.
Where Design Meets High Fashion: Carl Gerges
As an architect, photographer, composer, and member of the giant Lebanese rock band Mashrou’ Leila, Carl Gerges can be deemed a true multi-hyphenate. His latest venture tests the waters of high fashion.
Eco-Sustainable Techno-Poetry: Daan Roosegaarde
Daan Roosegaarde’s projects are aimed at the future and the sustainability of the individual. Thanks to technology, every work Roosegaarde creates is visual and immersive poetry.
Calen Knauf’s Case for Specialization
Industrial designer Calen Knauf won the Rising Star Award at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2017 and has collaborated with companies including Stüssy and Tetra.
Careful Curation with Éditions 8888
Born in Montréal, a city notorious for its counterculture, Éditions 8888 nestles itself between the disciplines of postmodernism, brutalism, punk, sci-fi … we could go
FORUM HIGHLIGHTS
Profile of the Week: Tessa Krieg
Tessa Krieg is an artist, curator and researcher. After graduating from the Pratt Institute in 2020, she now works in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Her practice explores
Profile of the Week: Blake Buttram
Bay area native, Blake Buttram, is a self-taught artist exploring many different creative outlets, making him a true jack of all trades. He paints to
Finding Peace and Beauty with Farida Bustani
The seaside town resort of El Gouna, near Hurghada is a picturesque town built along the Red Sea shore. It has distinct architectural styles, adjoining
Jodie Niss On Inspiring Creativity During the Pandemic
Jodie Niss is an artist and esteemed art teacher based in Brooklyn, New York. She first started teaching in 2006, and has recently set up
Ziyang Wu: Cutting Through The Noise
Born and raised in Xuzhou (Jiangsu Province, China), Ziyang Wu is a contemporary artist teaching at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
The Art of Life and Death with Vern Rattapoom
Thai artist Rattapoom Piwpantamit (Vern) moved from a small village in Thailand to the city (Bangkok) to pursue his art career. He talks of heart-wrenching
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Ben Lee Ritchie Handler, Nicodim Gallery Global Director, Actress/Model/DJ by night
What was your experience with Covid and how it affected the art scene? I got a lot less tan, I stayed inside a lot more
Finnoula Hughes, Activist
How are you feeling today? This is my first year out as trans at Pride so I’m just feeling independent and incredible Did you get
Brian Schorr, College Professor
What inspired this look today? Is this how you normally dress or is this just for Gay Pride? Gay pride is like “our” Halloween. It’s
Victoria Johnson, Assistant Art Director
Are you visiting New York? Yes, from London How would you compare the vibe here in NYC to London? It’s quite similar. City life and
Sierra Cortner, Social Media Marketing
So, I’m guessing purple is your favorite color? What significance does the color purple have to you? It’s not my favorite color but I recently
Dana Nehdaran, Painter
What’s something you consider “cool” and how would you classify what cool is? Someone who’s outgoing, laid back, and a smooth talker Would you call