Visual Interiority with Aleksandr Biruk
Aleksandr Biruk knows no boundaries when it comes to his work. Experimental and very open-minded, he pushes common conceptions of contemporary art into different creative outlets like music, spirituality, psychology, relationships, poetry, and sexuality.
Keeping It Real with Giacomo Faenza
As I’ve gotten older, it has become increasingly more important for me to understand the methods, processes, and systems of organization involved in bringing something
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.
Horror Calling with Zelda Adams
For Zelda Adams, horror is a calling. Born the day before Halloween and into a curiously infamous last name, Zelda makes horror movies with her family under the name Wonder Wheel Productions and has already attracted a cult-following from horror fans all around.
I Have No Mouth: Hampshire College screamo then and now
Jay Sugden wails like banshee during I Have No Mouth’s set at QueerCore Fest
ART
Susan Freda: Rewiring the Sculpture
Eclectic and usually in the form of a dress, Susan Freda explores all types of media and how they can transform into beautiful works. Freda explores media like painting, metal, glass, crochet, knitting, and jewelry to create sculptures in the form of dresses, which are stationary and not wearable.
Mixing Art And Sound: Dylan Morris
Experimental and visually explosive, a variety of mediums map out Dylan Morris’ interests as a painter. His images pack a punch with the colors, textures, and patterns that he plays with. Morris combines different materials – visual narratives – like worn books and unwanted scraps of paper, sources from the corner store aisles.
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”.
Documenting Cityscapes with Erin Yueying Wang
As an atmospheric night-wanderer, Erin (Yueying) Wang shoots with deep attentiveness of city-life in conjunction with nature. Wang looks closely for a story each city wants to tell.
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.
A Q&A With David Rimanelli
From our Inaugural Fall 2019 print issue, FRONTRUNNER is proud to present a special conversation with the elusive, celebrated art critic and theorist David Rimanelli.
Tearing The Veil, Part II. with Johan Grimonprez
It’s not every day that an artist interview veers into animal intelligence, eco-activism, and Carl Sagan. My first discussion with the Belgian artist/filmmaker was meant to be straightforward. It was anything but.
COLLEGE FEATURES
Carrying the Groove with Pack Light
George Washington University’s premier funk-rock band, Pack Light, may suggest minimalism in their name, but their sound is anything but.
CU Girls Who Film – An Undergraduate Filmmaking Group that Emphasizes Community over Authorship
Filmmaking is a collaborative art form, but egos run wild with ambition to be seen as an “auteur.” That’s why in 2023, a small
Nisrine’s Voice in Translation: Orchid’s frontwoman on finding her voice
Far away in a small, small town just north of Charlotte, a Davidson College student band called Orchid has just played their final performance of the year with the founding lineup…
Home Remedies light up the stage in Washington, DC
Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile. They have a way of connecting with the audience that makes you feel like you’re a part of something special…things are looking really promising for the music community at GW.
Saint Clementine is a harmonic disagreement that just makes sense
In a short time, Saint Clementine has won the hearts of local Boston bands with sonic dissonance that is simultaneously mysterious and captivating.
A Conversation With Dogs Downstate: Emerging Voices in the Indie Rock Scene
Live from University of Rhode Island: Dogs Downstate gives us the backstory on how this group from Providence, RI came to be.
The New Post-Rock Project of Video Days
On the verge of releasing their second album, the band Video Days has matured as artists and as a collective on the Allston scene.
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.
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.
FILM
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Student: 10 Famous Directors and their Early Works
Student films are often overlooked as amateur, receiving little to no attention, even within the film community, but these short films often allow young directors to showcase their abilities before they have the financing for feature-length projects.
Unveiling JFK: The Ruth Paine Perspective
Explore JFK’s assassination through Ruth Paine’s lens in ‘The Assassination & Mrs. Paine.’ FRONTRUNNER discusses truth amid disinformation.
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.
FRONTRUNNER Meets Cinematographer Magdalena Górka
FRONTRUNNER meets cinematographer Magdalena Górka, whose credits include ‘The Fablemans’, ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ and ‘Doom Patrol’.
“The Most Overhyped Human Emotion”: Signe Baumane on My Love Affair With Marriage
Signe Baumane calls romantic love, “the most overhyped human emotion.” Her latest film, My Love Affair With Marriage, also concerns itself with love, but takes
Alexander Abaturov on Paradise
Every summer, the front pages of newspapers around the world are filled with images of wildfires. Burning through millions of acres of land a year,
Ken August Meyer on Angel Applicant
After being diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease, filmmaker Ken August Meyer found himself reexamining the works of 20th century Swiss-German artist Paul
MUSIC
Sounds and Faces of the Emerging Music Festival
At 5:20 pm on a Saturday afternoon, I arrive at The Emerging Music Festival, a free concert in New York City’s Bryant Park showcasing small, distinctive, and innovative artists in front of a few hundred New Yorkers on picnic blankets.
Farinas: A beachy, laid back vibe and infectiously soulful voice
Farinas, a rising star in the hip-hop R&B world known for his beachy, laid back vibes and infectiously soulful voice does a little bit of everything.
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
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.
The Sound of Summer: Sun Room
Bursting with energy, ready to soak up the summer and leave the worries of “real life” behind. This is what listening to Sun Room is like.
Discussing the End of the Earth with The Sherlocks
British rock is not going anywhere but up, and The Sherlocks are here to show you why. With anthemic alt-rock choruses, they are a festival
Belters Only: It Was Inevitable
Belters Only, whose name needs no explanation, is Bissett and RobbieG. From the same club in Dublin, they’ve both been in the house music scene for over a decade.
CULTURE
Love The Mamas & the Papas? Take a Listen to These Artists.
Their infectious melodies meandered through stories of gentle California sunshine, while being a part of the movement of social and political counterculture.
Love Bob Dylan? Take a Listen to These Singer-Songwriters.
Bob Dylan is often called the greatest songwriter in history. Whether or not that is an evaluation that can be made, there is no question regarding the influence of his music on the hearts and minds of generations, into the counterculture movements of the 60s, and the craft of song for songwriters everywhere.
From Joni Mitchell’s Art Auctions to Bandcamp: Musicians & Their Visual Art
Countless musicians, like her, create visual art, and some even find ways to incorporate it into their brand’s merchandise.
Tomberlin at the Murmrr Theatre
The Murmrr Theater seats about 700, but Sarah Beth Tomberlin (known by the mononym Tomberlin) and her band stand in the middle of the pit, and only about 150 of us encircle her in folding chairs.
These Bands Are Using Songbooks, Scores, and Zines to Reach Fans in A Digital Music Age
When most of Gen-Z grew up discovering music on streaming platforms, ipods, or computers, the magic of holding a cassette, record, or CD of our favorite album is lost on much of our generation.
Rosie Elliott on Choreographing For Queer the Ballet’s “Dream of a Common Language” and Cultivating a More Inclusive Dance Culture
Rosie founded REmove Collective which aims to “remove the gender binary from ballet” and create more inclusive educational spaces in dance for individuals of all gender identities
DESIGN
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.
Maria Cristina Didero and the Golden Age of Design: Design Miami
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.
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
EVENT INTERVIEWS
Deepcut Discussion with Porter Hobbs
Background: Deepcut Discussion is a series by Fiona Rae for FRONTRUNNER, dedicated to interviewing young artists and creatives through a playful investigative lens. In each
Robin Hauck, Founder and Editor of Misstropolis
What is your relationship to art? I’m a writer and an advocate. I have an art journal based in Boston called Misstropolis and I write
Angel Luo, Fashion Designer
Tell us about your approach to fashion design. I just graduated from Uni, so my design taste skews more abstract. I tend to like more
Lisa E. Smith, Director at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
What kind of artwork does Tanya Bonakdar Gallery spotlight? We represent about 40 contemporary artists working in all different kinds of mediums. We have some
Premda Wunderle, Creative Director
Tell us about your look today. I have a mix of some vintage pieces and some Ralph Lauren pieces that I’m wearing. The shoes are
AV Marc, Art/Design/Fashion Collector
Tell us about your outfit today. What inspires you to get dressed every day? Today, it’s a mix of vintage and modern pieces. I just