Wednesday, October 29, 2014

JCherry interviews photographer Robert Marsala live on VOICE of the CITY, Tuesdays from 8-9PM on WESU 88.1FM, Wednesdays from 7-8PM on CygnusRadio


Back in the 80s while on a country ride with his wife Robert Marsala was attracted to an old building and pulled over. He always travels with a camera and just began shooting. Ever since then he's been on an exploration of structures that once bustled with life, but have been left behind as the world changes. "It took me. I am along for this ride," he chuckled as he explained his passion for this type of photography. It is no easy task to enter abandoned structures and Robert takes his work seriously. With an understanding of the chemical hazards, he dresses with protective gear, and remains alert to signs that a structure may not be safe. Marsala's photographs capture an eerie beauty that speaks of a past not that far behind us. Once active factories sit abandoned with spilled chemicals, chipping paint, and moldy walls. Asylums tall and empty with cavernous hallways, now peppered with graffiti, are transformed into art. The photographs are both historical reminders of our past and reminders that life continuously changes. That nature will consume what people leave behind and make it her own.


Visit Robert Marsala's Website 
For Robert's Blog


Marsala uses a digital camera with an infrared chip, "Visible light is what we all capture with cell phones, any type of camera, even film based cameras. Infrared photography has been around a lot of years. With the advent of digital chips, manufactures were able develop chips that are sensitive to the light that falls beyond the visible spectrum,"he explained. There are filters that you can remove which allow the photographer to capture any wave length of light that they desire. "I have a dedicated camera that shoots in the infrared spectrum," he explained. There is an element of surprise when shooting in infrared. The naked eye cannot see in the infrared spectrum, "I have an idea of what will be rendered when I go to process the images, but I will say more often than not there is something in addition to it, that I am always surprised by." For example there may not be a cloud in the sky that you can see with your naked eye, but on the infrared spectrum the sky is full of billowing little clouds. "Time wears on everything, and without intervention, nature slowly reclaims man-made structures and returns them to a state of disorder," Robert Marsala from his book of photography, In a Different Light, Photographs of Abandonment. There will be an opening reception for Marsala's work this Sunday at Gallery 53 in Meriden. For more information about the show CLICK HERE


To listen to the full interview tune into CygnusRadio tonight from 7-8PM by CLICKING HERE

Visit WESU 88.1FM anytime to listen to the show on our archives. CLICK HERE



Live and local… this ain't no commercial radio! 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tonight on VOICE of the CITY

Airing on WESU 88.1FM on Tuesdays from 8-9PM, and Wednesdays from 7-8PM on CygnusRadio Live with photograph Robert C. Marsala, followed by the 'Street Report' from downtown Middletown. Live and local... This ain't no commercial radio! 




Follow the link to learn more about photographer Robert C. Marsala. 
http://featuredemagazine.com/2014/09/01/robert-marsala-in-a-different-light

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Portland Music Harvest Festival

On Sunday, October 5, at YMCA Camp Ingersoll from 12-6PM, it’s the first annual Portland Music Harvest Festival. Featuring five local bands, The Alex, Randomizer, The Terry Rand Band, JCherry & The Strawberries, gigglejuice and SuperTrance. There will be vendors and food by Higher Grounds Coffee House. The festival is being produced by; Portland residents Jennifer Shafer Wood and her husband Timothy Sparks also known as JCherry Presents.

Wood and Sparks live in the rural section of Portland. One day while hiking they came across the amphitheater being constructed at YMCA Camp Ingersoll. “I was happily surprised last year when we saw the camp building an amphitheater! I immediately reached out to the YMCA and connected with the camp director Tony Sharillo about having a local music festival on the campgrounds. We are thrilled to be able to bring the a collection of great local music to Portland!” explained Wood. Wood and Sparks produce, The Annual Middletown Music Festival that takes place the second Sunday in August and is now heading into its forth consecutive year. They also produce VOICE of the CITY a live radio show featuring local arts and music, airing on WESU 88.1FM on Tuesday nights from 8-9PM. 

This is a family friendly event and is alcohol and tobacco free. There is plenty of space to lounge and picnic on the beautiful campgrounds. There is $10 suggested donation. With each donation you can enter the drawing and win free CDs from the performing artists.