Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on May 30, 2013.

A debut screening of a documentary film, titled A Matter of Art, was held at Natasha’s Café on the evening of May 13^th.  Produced and directed by Parv Sethi, the film highlights twelve Floyd artists and includes footage of performances.    

The behind-the-scenes interviews, featured in the film, give insight into the artistic process and the lifestyle of the artists.  They were conducted by writer/poet Mara Robbins, who is seen on the film performing a spoken word poem, also titled A Matter of Art.

Sethi, a Radford University professor, spoke to an audience of attendees about moving to the area from Chicago a couple of decades ago and discovering the Friday Night Jamboree with his children, which is when the seed for the documentary project took root. 

He was impressed with what the artists of Floyd were producing, and he thought, “I would love to know more.  Why is that people come to live in this little place and what keeps them here, what are their challenges, failures and successes?”

After seeing one of Robbins’ spoken word performances – which Sethi referred to as a “force of nature” – he struck up a conversation that led to their collaboration.

Themes in the film include art as social activism, therapeutic healing and community building, as well as art for the sake of beauty and practicality.   The artists included in the documentary are potter Jayn Avery, painter Lora Giessler, dancer Leia Jones, musician and Heart of the Child music education director Kari Kovick, musician and luthier Michael Kovick, actor and children’s theater director Rose McCutchan, musician Matt Memitt, crafter and massage therapist Elisha Reygle, painter and dancer Emily Williamson, and musicians Keema Waterfield and John Wilson. 

The DVD of the about 3 hours  has a menu that allows viewers to select artists and special features.  Slide shows of Sethi’s striking photos of the artists are also included in the DVD and were on display at the screening, creating an art within art focus.   

What’s up next?  “I just received word that the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, would like to have a screening in June,” Sethi reported the day after the Floyd screening.    

Post Notes:  A theatrical trailer of the film can be viewed HERE. The DVD is available locally at the Harvest Moon, Black Water Loft and the Floyd Country Store.  For more information contact Sethi at Parvphoto@yahoo.com.