January 30, 2012
Banff Film Festival Poster
The evening began well, driving through snow to Lake Placid. In a winter where snow has been scarce, it was a pleasure to take it slow and watch the white dust softly blanket the roadside. My destination was the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, hereafter referred to as the LPCA.

I was hoping to catch the Banff Film Festival and check out the Social Faceworking art exhibit all in one shot. Since I had not reserved in advance, how madcap of me, I had to wait until showtime to see if they'd be a seat left for me and the handful of other risk-takers who'd also gambled their way to the sold-out event. While I waited I took in the art.

Social Faceworking is an amazing, if somewhat overwhelming, exhibit of 19 very different artists working in very different styles. It opened January 13 but because the LPCA was drawing such a crowd it was like a second opening event. According to the program, artist Nip Rogers is the mastermind behind the concept of Social Faceworking which evolved as a result of social networking. Rogers began a "Portraits of Other Artists" project in which he created portraits of the artists he had met through social networking. His show gives us a chance to view both his portrait of the artist as well as the artist's original work.

The folks crowding around the art stations this evening were, by nature of the film festival, here for adventure and this exhibit did not disappoint. It was a wall of adventure that moved you hungrily along—from the huge Native American portrait, smiling and showing teeth you could count, to the effervescent "Mechanical Snake," the vibrant red of "The Saints" helmets, and the touching Sleeping Angel and Fallen Angel (which were among my personal favorites). I also found Peter Seward's paintings particularly poignant and nostalgic, conjuring up childhood memories and the phrase, "in my grandfather's house". The program that accompanies the show is a fun read too! We get entertaining snippets of the artist's portrait in print. For example, Nip Rogers bio begins, "I was born in...a hospital! I currently live in...a house with whoever will take me in."

Viewing art exhibit Social Faceworking

That was the meaty appetizer to this evening's main event. This was my first trip to the Banff Film Festival in Lake Placid but evidently the 13th time the Festival has come to town. Many of the folks in the audience were veteran Banff film goers. The Banff Mountain Film Festival boasts that it is the largest and most prestigious mountain festival in the world. The World Tour showcases award-winning films and audience favorites from approximately 300 films entered from over 35 countries with stops planned at 390 locations in every continent. The series was introduced as "mountain adventure films that are character-driven narratives."

We were treated to seven of those films: On Assignment: Jimmy Chin; Kadoma; C.A.R.C.A.; Hanuman Airlines; Ski Bums Never Die; Chasing Water; and Reel Rock: Origins—Obe & Ashima. The stunning, world-class photography and cinematography were matched with brilliant soundtracks. The length of films varied from 4 minutes to 42 minutes, almost all of them left you wanting more. The juxtaposition of a very humorous short (C.A.R.C.A.) after the human drama of Kadoma was brilliant. "Kadoma" was the nickname given to a legendary South African kayaker whose last expedition is chronicled here. We were right there in the raging rapids of the Congo with his team of expert kayakers. We scaled Everest and experienced that "poof" feeling of what it was like to paraglide down in Hanuman Airlines, and we shared the dream of a 9-year-old female rock climber in Reel Rock.

pre-show crowd in lobby of LPCA
I had the feeling a good number of audience members were not mere voyeurs but that many had their own first-hand stories to tell or would certainly like to in the near future. 

Learn more about events like these at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts or come and check out Nip Rogers and his Social Faceworking exhibit yourself. It will be on display until February 11, 2012.

             --Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay. 

Banff Film Festival Poster
Viewing art exhibit Social Faceworking
pre-show crowd in lobby of LPCA

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