Author: Kevin Bourne

I sat at my desk under incandescent lights, staring at my mac, an external monitor, a Windows tablet, and an Android phone with dread. “At least I get to play with all of these gadgets,” I consoled myself but the thought was interrupted by a group of people dressed in jeans and t-shirts across the airy, industrial-like room, laughing while in good conversation. I was working as a UX designer in the better kind of corporate. The kind where you could wear what you wanted, set your own hours (within reason), get handfuls of candy on the daily, be frequently…

Our next submission is an editorial photo series by Colombian photographer, Bita Cuartas, called White Light. “I’m a fashion photographer based in Medellin, Colombia. I have worked in photography and the arts for about eight years. My greatest talents are my ability to work with different kinds of people, my honesty and seriousness. I like to combine different elements and create different ways to see common objects to create my style.” -Bita Cuartas If you like what you see below check out more of Bita’s work on Facebook and her website. Credits Title: Light White Photographer: Bita Cuartas / LVJ…

Our co-founder, Joe Mebrahtu, recently had the opportunity to chat with MUCH and E! personality, and OVO affiliate, Tyrone “T-Rex” Edwards right before he accepted the Mandela Legacy Award from the Mandela family at the Black History Month gala in Ottawa. We asked him about what has led to his success and his advice for up and coming creators. Joe Mebrahtu: What has been the key motivator that has helped you succeed?  Tyrone Edwards: A key motivator has been rejection. People telling me,”No” countless times has driven me to be the best that I can be. I’ve heard people tell…

I apologize, but I feel the need to kick game right now. This is for anybody striving to live that life where you wake up doing what you really love to do, so if that’s how you identify yourself, read up. I’ve always looked at those “Support your friends like you support the celebrities you don’t know” posts as the realest thing anyone could post. Especially being a person who chose to pursue what I’m passionate about as opposed to conforming to the norm of society. However, my mentality in regards to that has changed tonight entirely. I’ve realized that…

Name: Jodianne Beckford, Jo for short Home Base: Toronto, ON Biggest accomplishment so far: I would have to say starting my E-Project and being featured in KROWD Magazine’s Issue #5! I’ve been able to meet so many amazing and inspiring people. The E-Project has inspired me to never give up on my dreams, to be a better photographer, and entrepreneur. What creativity means to me: Freedom, trust and vulnerable- those three words resonate with me deeply when I think of my creativity. I’m able to freely express myself by showing the world how I see things. The people I shoot…

As the famous writer, Edgar Allan Poe said, “Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” I could not agree more after having the privilege to attend a day of VerseFest; a six-day event that welcomed poets from across Canada and the world to come share their pieces. On Saturday, March 19, I witnessed the talent of four young ladies at the Fire and Ice women’s poetry showcase which was held in Ottawa at the Knox Presbyterian Church. Among those four young poets was Amy Iliza who put her nervousness aside and shared with us her deepest secrets at…

Art and creativity are vital to our identity as cultural beings. We’re able to identify the ethos of eras by examining people’s inspirations in art and creativity. Art and creativity will always be influential in shaping the thoughts, opinions and behaviours of people in society. Entrepreneurship is equally vital to our advancement as a society and cultural shifts often occur when the collision between creativity and business is executed masterfully. There’s a sense of freedom in pursuing a creative career, and most creatives dream of the day where their creative passion can become their “work”. In order for that to…

Last weekend, Gwen Madiba, Nelson Mandela Legacy Ambassador for North America, hosted a star-studded Black History Month gala in Ottawa in partnership with the Mandela family. The event had been rescheduled from an earlier date due to unforeseen circumstances. Honorees included MUCH and E! personality, Tyrone ‘T-Rex’ Edwards, Dr. Ralph Dartey, TV personality Sabine Daniel, and Mitchell Kurylowicz who at only 18 years old was honoured for raising over $600,000 for the construction of a boys’ school in Kenya. Madiba expressed that it’s not only important to honour members of the Black community but people of other races who have…

So you want to hold your very first art exhibition? Congratulations, you just took a step into a creative and fulfilling world. However, it does have some challenges and you’ll need a good plan and organization to pull it off. When I held my first solo art exhibition in 2015, “A Voice for the Voiceless”, I was so nervous I couldn’t even think straight. Don’t worry. This is a normal feeling. Breathe. Don’t panic. The most important thing when organizing an exhibition is the theme. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to have a bunch of your artwork you’d like to exhibit.…

This week the Liberal Government presented its first budget since being elected by Canadians. Among all the spending are a few treats for the arts community. Caoimhe Morgan-Feir and Leah Sandals of Canadian Art magazine wrote an overview of what the budget means for artists and arts organizations. Here’s a brief excerpt. The federal budget released today offers $40 million in new funding to the Canada Council (on top of its previous $180 million allotment) in the upcoming year. “Culture is synonymous with creation. It also creates a collective wealth that goes beyond economic benefits and statistics,” Finance Minister Bill…

Our editor, Kevin Bourne, recently wrote an article for Apt613 about Ottawa street photographers. Below you’ll find an excerpt of his article. Street photography is a genre in transition. It can be traced back to Eugene Atget, recognized as the father of the genre, in mid-19th century Paris. Used as a way to capture design, his subjects were mainly buildings, streetscapes and gardens. Street photography would later undergo another change as the main subject became people. Traditionally it’s about capturing candid moments of people going about their everyday lives in urban settings- crossing the street, kissing, running for a bus.…

Breaking into the fashion and entertainment industries can be exciting and daunting at the same time. Most aspiring actors and models are often inundated with misinformation and wonder where to begin. Here are a few things to know about these industries before getting started. 1. Understand The Market You’re In It’s important to know your market as each season represents new opportunity. In the fashion world, there are men’s and unisex fashion weeks. In film and television, there are film festivals, awards season, pilot season and episodic season. Many of these represent great opportunities to network and get your brand…