Spring 2010 Season Comes to a Close...

The spring 2010 season at The Sanctuary for Independent Media that began on Monday, February 22 with the first of 16 shows ended Wednesday, June 30.

The diverse films, talks, showcases and music events included a talk by bestselling "Blackwater" investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill; music from emerging Afropop star Bassekou Kouyate and his band from Mali; a multimedia presentation by author Scott Christianson on Harriet Tubman's heroic 1860 slave rescue in Troy; filmmaker Alex Rivera screening his acclaimed sci-fi adventure "Sleep Dealer"; the weekend Bike!Bike! Northeast celebration of bicycle culture; and much, much more.

--- FRI • JUN 11 • 7 PM Live From Lock One

The spring season finale, with another installment of a series featuring some of the most creative blues musicians on the local live music scene: Thomasina Winslow, MotherJudge, and JV & the Cutters. The performance will be recorded with a studio audience and streamed live.

Admission is by donation ($10 suggested, $5 student/low income) unless otherwise noted.

The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a telecommunications production facility dedicated to community media arts. Located in an historic former church, the Sanctuary hosts screening, production and performance facilities, training in media production, and a meeting space for artists, activists and independent media makers of all kinds.

We are committed to lowering the barriers to access for events at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. For people who are hard of hearing or deaf, blind or low-vision, or whose physical limitations can interfere with a satisfying experience, let us know two weeks in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.

The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a program of NY Media Alliance, made possible by volunteer labor, thousands of small (and large) individual donations, and invaluable support from: New York State Council on the Arts (Electronic Media & Film and Presenting programs), Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Experimental Television Center’s Media Arts Technical Assistance Fund (supported in part by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts), Kate Cashel Fund of the Community Foundation of the Capitol Region, Media Justice Fund, Theatre Development Fund, The Transmission Project’s Digital Arts Service Corps, Troy Bike Rescue, NY Bicycling Coalition, BirthNet, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, Troy Area Labor Council, Rock Hill Bakehouse, Arts Department at RPI, Capital District Community Loan Fund, TAP Inc, Ali Baba Restaurant, Franklin Square Inn and Suites, Brown’s Brewing, One Day Signs.

PAST EVENTS:

--- MON • FEB 22 • 7 PM “Day Night Day Night” w/ filmmaker Julia Loktev

A 19-year-old girl prepares to become a suicide bomber in Times Square. Inspired in part by a Russian newspaper story about a Chechen in Moscow, the film could take place anywhere. Co-sponsored by the Arts Department at Rensselaer.

--- SAT • MAR 13 • 8 PM “The Age of Stupid”

Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? Directed by Franny Armstrong (“McLibel”). Co-sponsored by the Honest Weight Food Co-op.

--- FRI • MAR 19 • 7 PM Warrior Woman of Peace: Mama Charlotte Hill O’Neal

Four decades after leaving this country for exile in Tanzania, Mama Charlotte Hill O’Neal returns to share the inspirational story of how she and her husband’s past as Black Panthers affects their work among the urban and village youth of East Africa and America.

--- WED • MAR 24 • 7 PM Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba

A virtuoso picker and musical visionary from Mali who blurs the lines between West African and American roots music. Bassekou’s work with banjo maverick Bela Fleck just won a Grammy award. His new release is "I Speak Fula," on Sub Pop Records. ($10 admission.)

--- SAT • MAR 27 • 8 PM Taina Asili y La Banda Rebelde w/ DJ Trumastr

Celebrating their debut album "War Cry," Taina Asili y La Banda Rebelde play a soulful infusion of Afro-Caribbean, reggae, rock, hip hop and flamenco, with local and international guest dancers, singers and percussionists! ($10 admission.)

--- WED • APR 7 • 7 PM “Sleep Dealer” w/ filmmaker Alex Rivera

A dystopian fable of globalization disguised as a sci-fi adventure. Set on the US-Mexico border, Rivera’s highly stylized, emotional and surreal narrative follows a migrant worker in the near future. Co-sponsored by iEAR Presents!

--- SUN • APR 11 • 7 PM “A Chat With Glendora” w/ filmmaker Victoria Kereszi

A portrait of Glendora Folsom Buell—a physicist, philosopher, and self-made television personality, still making weekly public access TV programs at age 81—and her search for God, Justice, and Happiness.

--- FRI • APR 16 • 7 PM Independent journalist Jeremy Scahill

Author of the international best-seller "Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army," Jeremy Scahill is a frequent contributor to The Nation magazine and a correspondent for Democracy Now!

--- SAT & SUN • APR 24-25 • 11-6 PM Bike!Bike! Northeast

Bicycle organizers from not-so-far-off lands will converge on our post-industrial town for a meeting of the minds on all things bicycle culture. Discussions, skillshares, and bicycle fun. Information at www.TroyBikeRescue.org

--- SAT • APR 24 • 7 PM Veer

"Veer" is a look at bicycle culture in Portland, Oregon.  Screening followed by a Bike!Bike! party with live music.

--- THUR • APR 29 • 7 PM “My Suicide” w/ director David Lee Miller

A dark romantic comedy that speaks candidly about the reality of contemporary teenage life and the effects of suicide in every town in America. At 5:30 PM, potluck to meet and greet the filmmakers; plus “Daddyless,” an installation by Chelsea and Victoria Kereszi.

--- SAT • MAY 8 • 8 PM “World War 3 Illustrated” 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration

Celebrate 30 years of cutting-edge art with multimedia presentations, puppetry, performance and music by members of the World War 3 Illustrated collective, creators of America’s longest-running political comic book (now featured in our Underground Gallery).

--- SAT • MAY 15 • 8 PM “Addicted To Plastic”

No ecosystem or segment of human activity has escaped the shrink-wrapped grasp of plastic. This film probes what happens to all the plastic in water bottles, packaging, and hundreds of other everyday uses. Co-sponsored by the Honest Weight Food Co-op.

--- SAT • JUN 5 • 7 PM NY Shout Out: Youth Media Showcase

Community media centers throughout NY State are empowering young people to take back the media. Come see the best of their work and join us for a “meet the youth media makers” potluck at 6 PM! Co-sponsored by YouthFX and Grand Street Community Arts.