The Backpod group looks into the work keeping dental hygiene a important way of life for the natives. Meet the “Dental Brigade.”

To be continued…

Twilight Frequencies: Among the many people you’ve met participating in Backpod, who are some that have stood out the most, and why?

Michael Peters: The passion of the students who fuel the efforts of Global Brigades really stands out.  The student groups plan and fundraise for months prior to the trip, and many times they must sacrifice their own break time from school to attend.  While peers are off “spring-breaking it” – these students are making a difference.

…and they are dedicated!  Several of the groups who were in Honduras with us have already made it back for a return trip to work another brigade.

Twilight Frequencies: What stood out the most in your quest?

Michael Peters: It was the opportunity to witness how much of a positive impact these students and this organization were having on the local people.  They had such a respect for the local culture.

Michael Peters, Photo by Kari Foster

Twilight Frequencies: Where did the mission come from?

Michael Peters: The foundation of the project was always art. Kari and I have always had a strong connection and art was how that connection always seemed to manifest.  We had worked/played together on several video art projects; short films, photography, even local commercials – but wanted to find something that was not “just” visually appealing…but really had something to say.

While I was in Tennessee and Kari was in New York, we continued to have a dialogue about our next short film.  We were focusing on our usual artsy avant-garde type film, but the motivation wasn’t there.

From Left, Kari, Michael, and Eva. Photo by Theresa Taverno

During this time our friend Jonathan Caleb Meador was traveling extensively throughout Central and South America.  He would regale stories of working with the locals on their farmland in exchange for room and board.  Staying no more than a few weeks at a time, he would soon pack his belongings and travel by any means necessary to the next location, even if it meant hitchhiking.  There was something so simplistic and sustainable, yet productive and inspiring about this idea.  As his stories reached state side, Kari and I found our phone conversations to slowly start focusing only on travel adventure and unknowingly began to birth the brainchild we now know as Backpod.

We began to push around the idea of traveling with a purpose.

We wanted to create something that had a purpose not only for us as adventurers, but an idea that could encourage a global mindset in our audience and ourselves.  As we began to press further into this realm, the idea started to lend itself more towards a non-profit sector project.  In a leap of faith, we contacted non-profits in various Central American countries to pitch this idea of traveling to them and exposing their work by creating short documentation in the form of online video publishing in exchange for room and board.  When Global Brigades said yes…we started reaching out to more people, such as sponsors, donors, and media…

We received quite a positive response from many people and Backpod came to life. We are still surprised and grateful to be able to have this project and experience happening.

Twilight Frequencies: Focusing in on Non-Profits there must be a ton of different pieces of information you have obtained about some of their general goals or missions within Central America. Give us an example of an organization you really felt compelled by.

Michael Peters: Global Brigades is an organization that really stood out.  If you haven’t heard of their work, you will soon.  It is a secular organization that empowers students and professional volunteers to provide communities in developing nations with sustainable solutions that improve quality of life while respecting local culture. GB’s vision is to become the largest student-led social movement on the planet.

What struck us is the idea that students are taking the initiative and making this lasting impact.  Global Brigades is really a well-rounded organization thanks in large part to ambitious students with fields concentrating in medical outreach to water purification development even to assisting in local micro enterprise growth. It really had the all-around package.

To Be Continued…

In this video the crew discusses their adventure travels through the annoyances of airports and the folks surrounding them.

Twilight Frequencies: What was it like preparing for your trip to Honduras?  If you can recall the initial feeling you had, what types of things were you expecting to see or learn? Were you scared? Had you been out of the United States before this trip?

Michael Peters: It was strange, because like many trips, none of us really believed it was going to happen until we officially booked the plane ticket.  But as we learned the trip was a go, absolute complete excitement filled my body!  And I’m confident in saying that feeling was mutual for the other members.  I had been abroad before as had the other members, but for this time was different.  This trip had a mission, a mission we all had personal investment in, and I’m not speaking financially.  If anything, the only apprehension I had was the fear of failure.  I yearned so bad for this endeavor to be a success, because ultimately it was not just for us, it was for the organization we were working alongside and the lives they were touching.

This week we’ll get to know a member from the group Backpod. Michael Peters is one of  three exceptionally talented artist to dedicate his creative life by using his artistic expression as a tool for the greater good. This video will give us a brief introduction into the cast of Backpod, plus through out the week I will ask Michael Peters some questions about his experiences with backpod, and art itself.

Twilight Frequencies: Besides you, who else participates in Backpod, how did you link up with them?

Michael Peters: The Backpod team is made up of myself, Kari Foster, and Eva Nudd. While working in New York, Kari crossed paths with Eva. Eva was able to bring a international relations writing background into the work, rather than the art background of Kari and I – which is just what we needed!  TEAM BACKPOD was born!

I think each of us bring a unique, yet relative perspective to the table.  Eva is originally from Slovak Republic with a Masters Degree in International Relations specializing in Human Rights and International Law.  Kari has a degree in Journalism concentration in Public Relations with a background in graphic/web design.  Myself with a BFA in film and photography.

All very different, but each one makes up such a vital piece to the puzzle.  Holding us together – our endless curiosity, and willingness to fall on our face a few times!

To be continued…

School of Seven Bells will release a new album, Disconnect From Desire, on July 13th 2010. Their sophomore album, a follow up to their debut Alpinisms, will be released under Ghostly International here in the US. The first single, ‘Windstorm‘ is available now as a release with a remix from A Place To Bury Strangers and a second track ‘Crescent Gold’.

An art show consisting of 100 records. Sonny Smith of Sonny & The Sunsets based 100 records on the fantasy of creating fictional records with fictional covers and band names. Sonny recorded real music for the pieces, which were done by over 90 different artist. The music was put into a jukebox built by Sonny and friends. Each record on the wall has a number which corresponds with its song on the jukebox. What a great idea, and fun topic to explore.

“Producer Storm Taylor presents the Knoxville-area premiere at The Shed, Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson.

June 4, 2010, 6:00 PM
$15 each.
100 seats, first-come, first-serve. All proceeds go to the White family.

**You will not receive a ticket in the mail; your name will be on a guest list, and you will receive an armband at the door.**

“Shoot-outs, robberies, gas-huffing , drug dealing, pill popping, murders, and tap dancing – what do these all have in common? These are just a few of the parts of being a member of the Wild and Wonderful White Family. The legendary family is as known for their wild, excessive criminal ways as they are for their famous mountain dancing members, including Jesco White, the star of director Julien Nitzberg’s cult classic documentary Dancing Outlaw.

Exploring both the comic and tragic sides of life on the other side of the law, this stylish, fast-paced family portrait exposes the powerful forces of corruption, poverty, and West Virginia’s environmentally and culturally devastating coal mining culture that helped shape the White family, a dying breed of outlaws preserving a dying form of dance.” — Genna Terranova, Senior Programmer, Tribeca Film.”

5-18 London, England – The Lexington
05-19 London, England – Electric Ballroom *
05-21 Berlin, Germany – Magnet *
05-22 Hamburg, Germany - Molotow *
05-23 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg *
05-25 Brussels, Germany - Orangerie *
05-26 Paris, France – La Maroquinerie *
05-27 Toulouse, France – Cafe Rex *
05-28 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound Festival
05-29 Aveiro, Portugal - Teatro Averiense Festival
06-08 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg ^
06-10 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo
06-26 Somerset, England – Glastonbury Festival
06-27-28 London, England – Hyde Park
07-02 Glasgow, Scotland – King Tut’s
07-04 Rotterdam, Netherlands - Zuiderpark Metropolis
07-08 Liege, Belgium – Les Ardentes Festival
07-13 Bristol, England – Thekla
07-15 Leeds, England - Brudenell
07-16 London, England - Latitutde Festival
07-18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
07-19 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room %
07-20 Denver, CO – Hi Dive %
07-22 Boise, ID - Neurolux %
07-23 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge %
07-24 Seattle, WA – Capitol Hill Block Party
07-25 Vancouver, British Columbia – Media Club %
07-28 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall %
07-29 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour %#
08-01 Phoenix, AZ – The Rhythm Room %
08-03 Dallas, TX – The Loft at the Palladium #
08-04 Austin, TX - Emo’s Outside %#
08-06 Atlanta, GA – The Earl %#
08-07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle %#
08-08 Washington, DC – The Black Cat %*
08-09 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
09-03 Stradbally, Ireland – Electric Picnic Festival
09-10 Salisbury, England – End of the Road Festival
09-11 Isle of Wight, England - Bestival

* with the New Pornographers
^ with the War on Drugs
% with Beach Fossils
# with CURFEW