Alma Surf Festival
Posted by Nathan Gibbs at 12/3/2007 10:21 PM and is filed under Press,Literature,Movie Review,Artwork Critique,Events 
I was recently invited to participate in what is fast becoming the cultural event for surf culture in all of South America, and perhaps all of the Americas in total. The Alma Surf Magazine based out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a focal point for communicating the surf lifestyle, art and culture from a open and free frame of mind. The Festival is in it's 4th year this year highlighting again a broad range of surf culture.
The festival featured six components of surf lifestyle. The first component was surf related visual arts. Including myself, there was a total of forty-two artists that work was requested to be sent and to be exhibited. Not all artists were in attendance, but some of the guests were myself, Jay Alders, Celine Chat, local Brazilian talents Ciro Bicudo, Claudia Simoes among others. There was a wide range of art. Watercolors, oils, acrylics, installations, mixed media, photo manipulative artwork and many more combinations of them all. See pictures of the event here.
Left to Right: Nathan Paul Gibbs, art from Celine Chat, Ciro Bicudo
The next component that was a main focal point was the surf photography. Some of the leading surf photogs were represented. There was work from David Pu'u, Marcelo Piu, Sean Davey, Jamie Brisick and many other of the greats. The organizers printed huge selections from each of the photographers. Some of the photos were well known but luckily photogs like Sean Davey included some of their little known artistic pieces. Sean Davey included one piece that was especially powerful. It was a bird photographed with such detail and visual intensity that it's eye seemed to pierce my soul. In addition Sean showed me pictures of a series where he captures the foam splashing upon the shore with high detail. He was probably the most well rounded of the artists there at the event. Sean's surfing archives include such notables as Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Jamie O' Brien and Pancho Sullivan at the best locations including Hawaii, Australia, Tasmania, Teaupoo, King Island and many more. He has had 100 or so cover shots, photographic awards
and many other accomplishments.
Sean Davey in Sao Paulo, one of his works
If paintings and photography wasn't enough, Romeu Andreatta Filho, owner and publisher of Alma Surf Magazine and producer/promoter of the event has amassed an enormous collection of surf literature. Even my book The Betrayal of Man. I estimated that there was over 220 books relating to surf history, surf culture, photography, fiction, articles and just about everything else you can find on the subject of surf. You can find a complete list here. I enjoyed reading articles by Jim Kempton (former editor of Surfer, now with Billabong) and discussion some of the history of the business with Rick Irons, publisher of Surfer Magazine and Bob Mignogna industry insider and media expert. They had so many stories about the industry, professional surfers, and companies that would have made a book of their own worthy of reading. Destiny Irons, whom I loved chatting with during the down times of the trip wrote her own review of the event here.
Rick Irons, Jim Kempton explore the literature exhibit
If live action was your cup of Acai, then there was plenty of that in the film festival. Keiko Beatie was the film curator. She put together a well rounded selection of films. Not to mention acting as a tour guide, friend and sometimes mother to us all during the trip. Without Keiko it would definitely would not have been so smooth. Some were Chasing the Lotus (Gregory Schell), Trilogy (Taylor Steele), Carving ( Roberto Vezzone), The Lost Wave (Sam George), and Bra Boys (Sunny Abberton). Probably my favorite was Carving. It was inspiring, creative, and took an unusual look at enviro-surf concepts. Roberto is from Sao Paulo and he took us around showing us the city and culture. It was a great experience.
After speaking with Sunny, I was impressed with the story behind the movie. I had known about the Abberton brothers but not the interesting story behind them. To to top it off the story of how he landed the movie was almost as good. With Russell Crowe in narration and the future of this movie produced to the big screen, many people will know about the Bra Boys. I can't wait for the L.A. premiere...Check out an interview with Sunny. Look for major premiers coming soon. Sunny and his wife Gina were classic people.
Bra Boys movie poster, Sonny Abberton explaining the concept at the Sao Paulo screening
What would a surf culture exhibit be without surf boards? There were innovative shapes with concaves, futuristic tails, unknown rails, and graphics that would make Rick Griffin drop his pants. The "art" shapes I called them, were not really functional in the traditional aspect, but definitely got the mind racing on how and where you could put the shapes to good use. They were all insane, with one shaper really catching my eye Gustavo Kronig. He is based out of Rio. I enjoyed discussing the Brazillian surf culture over breakfast. He had good insight into the shaping industry and how it impacts and is impacted by the local economy.
Left to Right: Boards, can this be ridden?, Kronig model
Finally, after all of this, each night we had killer music. Four groups were in attendance. Matt Costa and some of his boys from southern California (Huntington Beach), G-Love aka. Garrett, A.L.O. or Animal Liberation Orchestra and Donovan Frankenreiter and is partner in the band Matt Grundy. I had seen three of the four in concert before. G-Love I saw way back on the HORDE tour and have been listening to him for years. Matt and Donovan are new favorites within the last few years. Seeing musicians play in a foreign country was a different experience, not to mention being back stage and discussing some of their music with them wasn't too bad either.
Live TV show recording with all the musicians in Rio. Good music.
Matt Costa's performance was soulful if not riveting. The tunes surrounded me like a school of bait fish. Whiskey and Wine and Desire's Only Fling are always my favorites. Desire's Only Fling gives me the feelings I get when I am working on a painting. Superb just superb. Not to mention spending time with Matt proved to me he was not just a good musician, but quite an introspective fellow.
Matt Costa, mystifying
After being a fan of G-Love for years I was excited to hear he was on the bill for the festival. He has always amazed me with his ability to free-verse the flow as good as anyone. The harmonica play combined with a urban slant makes a combination that resembles a musical Mojito cocktail. Speaking with Garrett I came to understand how his attitude toward life resembles his free flowing music. He was ready to party, have a good time and was not above being down with hanging out.
G-Love, bringing it down south of the border
Donovan I had always been a bit skeptical of. I had seen him live, but I always got the impression that music was a secondary skill to his surfing. How wrong I was. Between the jams we had and the live shows in front of the crowds, it may be the surfing that takes a back seat to the music. His witty comments, fun loving attitude and personal connection he made with people on the trip definitely backs up his presentation of character. Donovan really had the crowds riled up in Sao Paulo and Rio, and was somewhat of a micro-star. I had no idea he was as popular as Renaldo...well not quite. Matt Grundy was picking apart the strings like a cheetah on a gazelle. I was so impressed I offered him some of my milk and ice cream but he didn't take it...
Left to Right: Matt Grundy and Donovan
I had not experienced the musical feast that is A.L.O. prior to this trip. Thankfully for me and them, they made one more fan of their music. Zach's vocals were some of the best I have heard in a while. Steve Adams (bass/vocals), Dan Lebowitz (guitars/ percussion/vocals) and David Brogan (drums/vocals) were all very well rounded. They had a tight playing style that was whimsical yet driven. Being involved with all these guys, ALO, Matt Costa, Grundy, Donovan, and G-Love playing Bongos was a special experience. Even though I have little musical talent, it was an insanely ritualistic time.
A.L.O. musical feast...
The staff and locals were amazing. They treated us like kings and queens. Romeu, Adriano, Adelia, Daniella, and everyone else create and run a first class event. Romeu also brought in kids from Sao Paulo to show them that creativity can take you from poverty. Introducing many of them for the first time to the different aspects of art. I was trying to get momentum going to have an event like this in the states...anyone interested?
In summary, when you get painters, authors, filmmakers, musicians, and other creative minds in one place, special things happen. If there were more events such as this I could only imagine what wonderful things would be born from it. There are not many places to meet collectively as creative minds and come together. Although, I can think of one, in fact it was the one that brought most of us together in Brazil in the first place. The surf.
Left to Right: One of Nathan Paul Gibbs's interviews, Nathan and Romeu event creator, children touring the event
See more pictures of the event here.
I got preselected to show some work at this years festival. Stoked to be a part of it.... nice write up on the event.
Reply to this