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NICHOLAS SCHROEDER

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Unmasking African relics

Flesh and spirit collide at the Museum of African Culture
An evocative, transportive exhibit of icons, artifacts, and spirit masks from some of the many, many cultures and “kingdoms” of West Africa, what is now Cameroon and Nigeria.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | February 26, 2014

The tequila odyssey

An epic journey to 13 Portland bars
Each of the city’s drinking establishments has its roots in some primordial myth.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | February 20, 2014

True effin' artistry

Admiring Mousa, a man of many names
Mousa is the new recording alias of Vince Nez, a/k/a Aleric Nez, the name by which he released a nimble, unpredictable record in late 2010.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | February 20, 2014

The state of sea salt

Local waters impart superior texture and flavor
A surfeit of salt manufacturers have cropped up in the state over the last few years.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | February 12, 2014

Not your auntie's doom

Sylvia melds ancient fury with new energy
Sure, it may be Latin for “forest of trees,” but Sylvia more readily conjures some wiseacre aunt, not a burly group of veteran musicians trying to carve new notches in well-trod forms of heavy metal.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | February 06, 2014

Join the Labor party

Post-Le Tigre, JD Samson gets vulnerable
Months after the release of the electrifying, politicized dance album Labor, artist and musician JD Samson brings her post-punk dance project MEN back to SPACE Gallery this week.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | February 06, 2014

Creative genius(es)

Parsing the Chomsky-Foucault debate
Held in the Netherlands in 1971, the discussion is seen as a touchstone in philosophy circles, spanning human nature, creativity, politics, and more.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | January 23, 2014

Heavy songs for slaying foes

Wax Tablet
Deporter Records, Pigboat, Sunrunner, Oscar Romero, and more.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | January 16, 2014

Road ahead still pretty long

Wax Tablet
Wax Tablet

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | January 10, 2014

Five humanities

Exploring Pollack's latest group show
An inspired collection of contemporary Portland artists features all month at Ed Pollack’s Fine Arts gallery, and to the willing, their collective energies could slice through the cruelties of the season.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | January 10, 2014

Peering into the stocking

Wax Tablet
In this time of thankfulness for what’s behind us and wishcasting for the months ahead, we thought twice of the major strides made in 2013 by the Dirigimus Cooperative, the avant-garde punk and noise label based in Portland.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | December 26, 2013

Some wild assemblies in store for Maine art

Turning on the news
Nearly three years have passed since protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square sparked the Egyptian Revolution, enough time for a generation of the region’s art to frame the insurgence in its incipient stages and aftermath.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | December 26, 2013

A year in crucial changes for common people

Time’s up for the little guy
As 2013 prepares for an exit, I looked at just a few of the developments that were perhaps underreported, and could present game-changing significance to the everyday worker, citizen, and Mainer.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | December 19, 2013

Singular artists and significant works in 2013

A year of making do
The year in Maine art seemed to amplify the work of the visionary, the aesthetic pioneer, and the tirelessly laboring maker.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | December 19, 2013

Coal futures

Punk band's second album is out-of-control good.
Those with shattered faith will find a redeemer in The Border , the thunderous second album of rage, regret, and reprobation by the Coalsack in Crux.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | December 12, 2013

Steven Laxton’s photos of Salvadoran circus performers ring false

Distorted lens
We should be prepared for some twists and turns at the pretty yet ultimately depressing show at PhoPa Gallery.

By: NICHOLAS SCHROEDER | November 27, 2013

Animal Collective on families, memories, and Phish

Doing it live
Anticipating their December 2 show at the State Theatre (originally scheduled for July 11), the Phoenix spoke with Animal Collective’s Brian Weitz, a/k/a Geologist, whose noisy production is a driving force on the group’s 2012 record, Centipede Hz.