Visions of the Future NFT with Saatchi Art by Chris Suspect

Espadín © Chris Suspect 2022

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m part of Visions of the Future, a jury-curated NFT photography auction and exhibition by Saatchi Art NFTs. It opens September 22 online and in person at The Other Art Fair in Los Angeles, Ca.

The concept is to offer a one-of-a-kind—physical and digital—art experience. Each auction winner will receive a framed limited-edition print in addition to ownership of the photography NFT. Two other editions of the print may be redeemed through January 2023 by any subsequent holders of tokens bought on the secondary market.

From over 700 submissions, Saatchi Art's panel of expert jurors selected new works by 50+ fine art photographers from over 20 countries worldwide. Reimaging a future beyond traditional artistic boundaries, the collection of art explores what the future could look like through both utopian and dystopian lenses.

My work/NFT entitled Espadín is a photograph taken in an agave field in Oaxaca, Mexico. It considers the role of climate change, climate change anxiety, our place on Earth, and our responsibilities to our planet in crisis.

While there are at least 30 different types of agaves that can make mezcal, the smokey spirit similar in nature to tequila, Espadín is the only variety that can be cultivated reliably for mass production. In the past 20 years, Oaxaca has become well known internationally for its famed liquor and as a result much of the agricultural land has been bought up and converted for mezcal production by foreigners interested in capitalizing on its potential.

This photograph is part of a larger series entitled "I'll be Your Mirror" that considers the role of humanity's future in environments that have been impacted by human intervention.

Join me on Twitter September 15 at 2pm EST/11 am PST to meet some of the participating artists and learn more about the project.

Top Ten Music Photos for August 2022 by Chris Suspect

Death Valley Girls at Mortimers in Minneapolis, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

August is typically one of the slower months for shows in the summer, but this one was jam packed with action. For the first week, I was in Minneapolis where I got to see Death Valley Girls play a midwest rock and roll dive called Mortimers. They killed it and the crowd was great.

Audience for Death Valley Girls at Mortimers in Minneapolis, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

Later in the month I got to witness the return of NYC’s CumGirl8 at DC9 in Washington, DC. They put on a wild show and their onstage antics at the end of their sets are pretty out of control.

CumGirl8 at DC9 in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

CumGirl8 at DC9 in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Next up was Damages, a local 3 piece hardcore band from Maryland who tore it up on a Sunday evening at a bar off Rhode Island Ave. in DC called The Public Option. This is a really cool space owned by the same folks that run The Pug and Brookland’s Finest. Hopefully there will be more shows there.

Damages at The Public Option in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Damages at The Public Option in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Hell House in Takoma Park hosts legendary metal shows often with crazy side shows from amateur wrestling to fire dancing and even BDSM demonstrations. This was just one of those nights featuring Ixias, grind core from Baltimore, MD, and entertainment from Nymph the Enchantress.

BDSM demonstration by Nymph the Enchantress at Hell House, Takoma Park, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

Ixias at Hell House, Takoma Park, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

A relatively new DC band PsyOps played The Runaway. They have an awesome raw, hardcore sound and are really good live. They are a must see!

PsyOps at The Runaway in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Topping off the end of the month was Suzi Moon at Slash Run. She is an absolutely cool punk rock and roller. This was a last minute show on the way to playing with The Damned in Cincinnati, OH.

Suzi Moon at Slash Run in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Top Ten Music Photos for July 2022 by Chris Suspect

Ethan Spalding and the 422 Band at DC9, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Just when I thought June couldn't have been topped, July came around the corner and kicked its ass. Top Ten Music Shots for July! Featuring - Ethan Spalding and the 422 Band, Tim Cappello, Loud Zombie, Thelma and the Sleaze, Menstrual Tramps, Los Saicos experience, No Mas, Total Maniac, Electric Grandmother and Aertex.

Menstrual Tramps at Slash Run, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Thelma and the Sleaze at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Audience during set by No Mas at The Pie Shop, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Electric Grandmother at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Los Saicos Experience at The Runaway , DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Aertex at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Queen Cookie of Loud Zombie at a warehouse party in Brentwood, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

Tim Cappello at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Total Maniac at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Interview with Abbey Road Studios by Chris Suspect

Katie Alice Greer from The Priests in Washington, DC, 3.1.2015 © Chris Suspect 2022

Abbey Road Studios’ website has featured an interview with me and 21 of my photos from 11 years of music photography. This year I was honored to win the award for their Zeitgeist category for their first annual Music Photography Awards.

This category tasked photographers with capturing the image that defined music in 2021. The picture that makes you stop. Makes you think. Makes you feel. A visual statement of music the year that will be remembered for generations to come.

You can read the interview and view the photos on their website here.