By Meghan Richter
BROCKTON (June 11, 2016) —Rain or shine, the show must go on!
That was definitely the case at this year’s South Shore Indie Music Festival. This event was nuanced, and included live music, crafting and a beautiful natural setting. When the rain washed performers, viewers, and vendors alike into the museum, the day was far from ruined. Within the galleries of Fuller Craft, there were six gorgeous exhibitions — including the ongoing “Traditions and Innovations: Fuller Craft Museum Collects” — for festival-goers to meander through loftily, while listening to talented local artists play edgy and original music.
“The Faces of Politics: In/Tolerance” (running until August 21) reflected some of the social and political themes also raised by some of the musical guests. “Paper and Blade: Modern Paper Cutting” (on view through July 31) was a particularly striking gallery to enter. Upon doing so, one is overwhelmed by color and specificity of detail in each piece. This exploration of the limitless potential of such a simple material as paper speaks to the grassroots nature of the event, and local music scene as a whole. The layered and colorful nature of Charles Clary’s relief piece, “Flam-a-Pleural Effusion Movement #3” was a marvelous musing of the day’s events, which included hands-on craft activities for adults and children.
Aside from the exhibits within the museum, artist Duken Delpe installed a large interactive sculpture onsite. His works typically use recycled materials to create a sort of collage-type sculpture. With the theme of the event this year being sustainability, special attention was brought to how art sustains us. Festival-goers experienced this theme in a very visceral manner with an entire day of exposure to visual and performance arts, as well as films, crafts and guest speakers who shared information about lessening our environmental impact — but the truth of the matter is that art sustains us in our every day life as well.
This day featured some of the region’s best live bands, including Hayley Thompson-King, Grace Morrison and Ada. One band in particular stood out among a range of unique, independent musicians. Dark Matter, a power duo that has been performing together for four years, continues to water its roots in breakdancing with energetic live performance. Vocalist Destiny Claymore describes Dark Matter as “a human experience.” Their music exhibits strength and confidence to meet a world of social distress. Their in-your-face hip hop fused with organic, acoustic instruments strives to reveal through lyrics, your deepest, darkest secrets. “We’ll say it for you,” said Mad S., Claymore’s partner.
To them, and to many independent musicians, art is everything. Paralleling the theme of Fuller Craft, Mad S. said, “art keeps us alive.” Dark Matter often plays around the Greater Boston Area, and had a show on June 29 at Jamaica Plain’s Midway Cafe, and will be playing Ralph’s Diner in Worcester, Mass. on August 20 for the stART Festival Preview Show.