NAAG is an art, writing and music studio on the northside of Lethbridge. Members include: Andy Davies, Chad Patterson, Stephanie Milder and Mike Maguire (visual artists), as well as Evan Van Reekum, Brittany, Kirsten & Ryan of the punk band, Fist City.
It is also home to the SCUM:naag-a-zine: Connor Mackinnon, Sean Gillespie, Nick Hill and Karla Carcamo.
We have gigs/ art openings/ happenings about every 6-8 weeks. -and licorice for all.
Lethbridge is currently on the verge of a cinema resurgence. Yes, these last couple of years we have seen the Paramount close as well as Lethbridge Centre Cinema but that doesn't mean that cinema in Lethbridge is dead. For example, every year the Lethbridge Public Library holds two amazing film festivals: The International Film Festival (March) and the Banff Mountain Film Festival (January). The Lethbridge Public Library also hosts the film series organized by the University of Lethbridge New Media department every year. The University of Lethbridge has a very active Film Club on campus that holds numerous film screenings throughout the year. Les Francophone have a not-for-profit organization called Cinemagine that puts on French films with English subtitles all across Alberta. Even the Southern Alberta Art Gallery plays a part in building Lethbridge's cinema culture with the recurring SAAG CINEMA series. And let us not forget the Movie Mill, which although sometimes acts like snail mail in getting films into town, it does manage to get in winners: BLACK SWAN this year and Werner Herzog's highly anticipated BAD LIEUTENANT: Port of Call New Orleans last year, or was it two years ago? So really, who said Film was dead? Film is not dead, and the NAAG is joining the cinephile party.
We've done our trial screenings and really the space couldn't be a better spot for a cozy screening. There are chairs, sofas and a great white wall for a projected image to enthrall your imagination. Thursday, March 10th at 8 pm we will be having our first official screening. NAAG Cinema is proud to present: Dario Argento's SUSPERIA!
Admission is a measly $2.00 and you can bring your own BOOZE (if you so wish). Imagine that!
For our one year anniversary we (the NAAG studio's artists) decided to spruce up the place. We also put on a party that featured Shotgun Jimmie, Jay Baird, Forest Tate Fraser and Zoo Company. Check out our youtube video to get a glance of the fruits of our labor.
Speaking of taking a glance, why don't we take a trip down memory lane? During the past year we have been named; as well as been given a meaning. Beyond meaning behind the name, the community has given us a meaning that has come with a purpose. The NAAG heard the cry of a much needed alternative venue space that wasn't tied to a bar. We would like to think that we've softened that cry. A giant force behind this task was one of the members of Fist City (the band that calls the NAAG studio space), Evan Van Reekum.
During the past year the NAAG has seen musicians come and go. The following is just a sampling of the bands that have gone through the space.
Of course not all video footage has been from NAAG performances but we hope to change that in the near future. More about future endeavors in the next post. Until next time, keep fit and have fun.
