Welcome to the VELFILM blog!
My name is Vadim Elkind and I am a freelance filmmaker and photographer living in Denver. This blog contains the latest news and information about my media projects, photography, travel stories and other creative pursuits.
Become a fan of VELFILM Productions on Facebook:
Tag Archives: Art
Project Hello Exhibit at Red Line Gallery (6.25.11)
I was going to post this earlier, but things got pretty busy last week and I didn’t get a chance to do it. As I always say – better late than never! So, here are some photos from Project Hello art exhibit at Red Line Gallery last Saturday.
My friend Gemma, who was one of the exhibiting artists there, asked me to take some photos of her installation pieces before they were either sold or given away, which I happily agreed to. I find her artwork very eclectic and meditative, ranging from Native American-inspired dream catchers and spiritual art with cosmic themes to meticulously hand-drawn geometric designs and fractal-like patterns that boggle my mind. To see more of Gemma’s work and influences, be sure to check out her website.
The rest of Project Hello exhibit was just as interesting and diverse, featuring photography, paintings, fashion, jewelry designs, toys and other media. I love the concept of the show, which was to bring together Denver artists of all kinds. While I have always said that I’m more of a traditionalist and not a huge fan of some of the modern/abstract art that is out there, I really enjoy attending all kinds of art-related events, because they seem like a great opportunity to meet other creative people and experience a different view of the world. And, more often than not, it’s just plain fun!
Posted in Art, Photography
Also tagged exhibit, gallery, Photography, Project Hello, Red Line
Leave a comment
Breaking Batter – Denver Art Event II
On Saturday, I came down to the Colorado Arts Center in Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District to check out an art show called Breaking Batter (because they had all-you-can-eat waffles at the event, and you know me – I can’t pass up free food)! Coupled with wine, beer, a DJ, live body painting and other shenanigans, it was a pretty fun show. Some of my buddy Greth Ligon’s artwork was on display, as well.
Because I didn’t feel like hauling a DSLR around, I just brought my little Canon SD780IS point-and-shoot camera. Sure, it’s grainy as hell in low-light and doesn’t shoot a particularly high-quality video. But, it’s so small and convenient that, in a pinch, I’m happy to use it for personal videos where bringing a larger camera would be a hassle. I really do love that little thing!
See the embedded video below, or check out the 720p HD version on Vimeo. Warning: some of the content may be slightly NSFW!
The Art of Greth Ligon
The idea of doing a video project spotlighting Denver’s art scene and showcasing the work of talented local artists, musicians and other creative people with unique vision has been floating around in my head for a while. I finally took a first step in that direction with this video, which will, hopefully, be the first in a series.
I met Greth Ligon last fall at the Sizzle and Bang Gallery showing during First Friday Art Walk. Looking at his artwork, I could tell right away that there was something special about it, even though much of it was quite dark and even disturbing. But, it kept drawing me in.
Greth and I started talking and I learned that he is also a big film buff and a music composer. We shared a common appreciation of old-school horror movies, film scores and the work of brilliant filmmakers like David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock and Roman Polanski. After looking through Greth’s website, I was blown away – especially, by his music. Inspired by such legends as Danny Elfman, Ennio Morricone and Bernard Herrmann, yet possessing its own, distinct and unique style, it provided a perfect accompaniment for his dark and imaginative visuals. This is when I came up with the idea of shooting a short documentary about Greth and his influences.
Much of Greth’s work is very diverse, which is also what makes it interesting. There are certainly elements of urban exploration and dark beauty of decay in his visual art, but many of his paintings and photo collages also invoke a sense of nightmarish dreamscapes and, at times – even some subtle social commentary. Abandoned buildings, strange faces, monsters, weird creatures and dark landscapes that seem to rise from the depths of the subconscious – all these elements make Greth’s art stand out, in my opinion.
To see more of Greth’s work, visit grethligon.com. If you like what you see, be sure to support him by purchasing his books and his artwork!
Technical details: the video was shot on a Canon EOS 7D with Canon EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 lens, all in natural light. In fact, not counting some home videos and test footage, this was the first complete video project I have shot with that camera, and I’m very pleased with the results.
If you would like to watch the video below in HD, check it out on Vimeo. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts and opinions below!
ARTCRANK Bicycle-Themed Poster Art Showcase Opening
Read the article and view the slideshow on Examiner.com
There is a number of cool events taking place in Denver this Labor Day weekend. One of them is ARTCRANK, a bicycle-themed poster art showcase, which opened at the Lisa Kowalski gallery on Saturday. Local art, music, food, bikes and, of couse – PBR. Any event that contains those elements will definitely have my full appreciation. How about you?
ARTCRANK also served as kind of a pre-kickoff party for the Bicycle Film Festival, which will take place next weekend in Denver. Sadly, I will not be able to attend it due to some previously-made plans, but it is sure to be a blast. Perhaps, next year.
Check out the slideshow below for some of the photos from Denver’s ARTCRANK opening. Remember, you can always maximize the slideshow and view it full-screen, if you prefer, or go directly to Flickr to view individual photos.
Would you like me to shoot your upcoming arts or entertainment event? Contact me!
Posted in Art, Events, Photography
Also tagged ARTCRANK, bicycle, bikes, Photography, posters
Leave a comment
Wreck the Halls at Bender’s Tavern (12/12/09)
View the article and photo slideshows from Wreck the Halls at Bender’s Tavern on Examiner.com (part 1) (part 2)
On Saturday night, I decided to stop by Bender’s Tavern to check out Wreck the Halls, a holiday art event featuring live music by Kill City Bombers, Warhawk and special guests, as well as live painting by Denver’s young artists and a release party for Indie Six 2010 calendar. The girls of Indie Six were there also, wearing some stunningly beautiful body paint (and little else :))
Here are some photos from the event:
»»» Click here to read the rest of this post »»»
Posted in Nightlife, Photography
Also tagged Bender's Tavern, body painting, Indie Six, Kill City Bombers, live music, Photography, Warhawk
Leave a comment
365: "Dream of Arcadia" by Thomas Cole
This is probably my favorite painting at the Denver Art Museum. Thomas Cole was a 19th century Romantic painter, known for his imaginative and often dream-like landscapes. He is also considered the founder of the famous Hudson River School of art.
Crazyness
Last month was nuts. I need a break.
Posted in Personal, Photography
Also tagged crazyness, first fridays, life, Personal, Photography
5 Comments
First Friday
Last week, Stephanie and I went to First Friday art walk in the Santa Fe Art District. As usual, the Russian Ark and Reed Photo Art galleries had some amazing pieces, which I’ve come to expect. I also discovered the work of a talented artist, Steward Codington Anrews, which is a mixture of western landscapes and surreal elements, with a sprinkle of tongue-in-cheek humor thrown in for flavor. A kind of David Lynch meets C.S. Lewis meets Stephen King meets Salvador Dali melting pot of ideas. Amidst countless uninspired and sloppy so-called “modern art” pieces that looked like they were painted by a wet dog who accidentally stepped into a tub of acrylics and then rolled around on a white canvas, it was refreshing to see something created with real imagination and skill. SCA is now definitely now on my “to watch out for” list of local artists, along with Peter Illig and Sarah Haney. Great stuff. I talked with Stewart briefly and took his card before we left.
Overheard an amusing little tidbit of conversation between a twenty-something guy and a girl in a small group of friends. Girl: “Oh, you play guitar?” Guy: “No, Guitar Hero.”
The rest of the galleries were a mix of the mediocre and occasionally mildly interesting works. We had some wine, cheese and crackers, walked around and made fun of the bad art. The most entertaining thing, by far (as always) was the fire-breathing alligator car and the fire pit party. First Fridays are always great people-watching opportunities, which is often more interesting than the actual art on display :)
