DISPATCH Oshawa, Brooklyn, Calgary
Assignments this week: photos, audio, and whats next.
Note: Despite glaring realities, its been one of the best weeks of my life. Meaningful work, time spent in service, with friends and family. Strangers too!
1. the place from my grandma’s dreams, Par Nair
website: https://parnair.format.com/about
instagram: @parnair
Par Nair is a phenomenal artist. I stumbled across her work about a year and a half ago. In 2024, bul-bul press* decided to curate a Scarborough guide with Ajeev Bhatia and plazaPOPS.
One of the stops was the Clark Centre for the Arts. Nair’s work was, by pure happenstance, part of the space. I wasn’t the only one who was gobsmacked by the quality and clarity.
When I saw Nair had a residency at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, which culminating in a show, I knew it was necessary to go.
More to follow but here is a sneak peek in pixels:
2. Rad Brown Dads ke saath
website + newsletter: radbrowndads.com
instagram: @radbrowndads
Ahmed Ali Akbar is one of my favourite writers and journalists. I’ve been a fan for many years.
Months ago, I sent him a note. We began corresponding and have been in touch ever since.
We finally met up this week. I had photography assignments for an upcoming story by him on menswear, textiles, and fashion. We had the best time.
Akbar is working on independent-journalism and meaningful stories. If you’re able to, become a paid subscriber to his work.
Some non-spoiler photos:
If you haven’t subscribed to his newsletter (halal truckers, brown rappers, Rad Brown Dads returns), several weeks back was now is a good time.
I even had a chance to take up room in his weekly newsletter:
3. Back with the The Sprawl: Sprawlcast Edition
website + newsletter: https://www.sprawlcalgary.com
instagram: @jklaszus
Jeremy Klaszus and his work with The Sprawl in Calgary, Alberta has been something I’ve long admired.
During the lead up to the municipal elections at the end of October, we had one of the most meaningful collaborations in our careers as journalists. Since then, we’ve stayed in touch about how to keep working together. One idea has been the audio-driven project called Sprawlcast.
I had a long day jumping back into audio editing with Klaszus’s incredible work on the latest city budget.
I’ll tell you more about it when it drops: https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/sprawlcast
4. Heat Pumps, $$$, books and more.
There is a line-up of stories following this weekly newsletter. Interviews with authors, longer pieces about journalism and municipal affairs, even a story about heat pumps(?).
I am also working myself up to asking readers for money to support stories. (O_O)
Take care,
Asad
*bul-bul press is a press and publishing project I work on when I’m not journalism-ing.
Find me on instagram, email is asad[at]bul-bul[dot]press. More about solastalgic here.