Looking Forward to 2019!

As I write this newsletter, I’m reflecting on the incredible visit in Papua New Guinea last month.  My husband, George, joined me on a magical trip to spend time with some of our dearest friends in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.  Walidini Resort and the M/V FeBrina hosted us to celebrate the completion and release of the film they have intimately been a part of.  It was time to laugh, remember – and just blow some bubbles in this pristine bay and out at the Witu Islands.

PNGUW_Witu_1685
George on a newly discovered reef in the Witu Islands – named Michele’s Point!

What was an absolute delight was to show the film to guests at the resort, then on board FeBrina. A new audience now hearing the story of Caroline and Margaret for the first time. As we watched, the staff and crew were busy making sure all the guests were happy and while this was going on, many crew members kept trying to get little peeks of what was shown on the screen.  It was the following day that I learned from Josie Waiai, the crew came to have their own personal viewing of Headhunt Revisited and the comments relayed touched me and reminded me why I produced this film.

“It was an eye opening film to everyone about our country and the different cultures. Caroline captured many different stories of people and places in Melanesia. Breathtaking artwork she captured on her journey and are very admirable. What it taught us is to look at the present and future and to know the past. These two brave women took great risk each day to discover and capture our unique cultures in paintings . And today you are our Caroline with a good heart and strong.  You capture your portraits of our culture in a different way – through photography.”

Taupaurapi
“Taupaurapi” circa 1928 by Caroline Mytinger

From Isako Feka in Port Moresby:  Isako has been a dear friend and provided help during lectures, events and at the premiere in the capital city. She now has her own bamboo USB with the film. At a recent gathering of lady friends, Isako got back to me with comments.

One of the ladies, whose family roots come from Western Province and includes the Fly River Territory, said that she never knew how her people dressed 100 years ago. The painting of “Taupaurapi” and the historic footage was very important in addition to her surprise and approval of the journey Caroline and Margaret achieved. Isako added, “You would be my Oscar  winner for doing all this research and producing this movie for the Melanesian people to appreciate their cultural heritage.”

My personal dream is to have the film available to many more in the communities of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

But now is the time to make the film available to YOU!  As I said in the last newsletter, we were preparing the SHOP page on the website.  It’s ready for orders via PayPal, which has an option to use a credit card.  If you live in Australia, you won’t have to pay for long distance shipping. We have a limited supply of each of the formats with friend/supporter, Lynne Ainsworth.  More lovely items will be added for your shopping pleasure in the near future. 

All profits from sales of products goes directly to Mytinger Project, LLC to pay existing debt and future costs of screenings and other events.  If you are interested in hosting a screening, just contact me at screenings@headhuntrevisited.org or michele@westmorlandimages.com.

Requests for screenings and film products in an institutional/educational facility will be directed to Documentary Educational Resources.

 

A Time To Be Thankful

How can I express my excitement and gratitude for the three screenings last month!  It has been extremely rewarding to bring the film out in public venues. In the last newsletter I mentioned that SIFF, here in my home town of Seattle, is generating more conversation about the story. There have been so many positive comments, but I would like share what a fellow photographer, Art Wolfe, had to say. Many of you are most likely familiar with Art’s incredible photography, probably some of the most published in the world. Art’s body of work spans the world of nature to fascinating culture. His creativity in Human Canvas is one of my personal favorites. See for yourself at www.artwolfe.com

Photographer Art Wolfe on Location

“The documentary film Headhunt Revisited: With Brush, Canvas, and Camera is the story of two women:  the first was Caroline Mytinger, a gifted artist and explorer from the early part of the last century, and the second is Michele Westmorland, a modern photographer and great documentarian who discovered Caroline’s story and brought her and her artwork back from anonymity. A society portraitist, Mytinger traveled to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in 1926 to paint the region’s indigenous peoples.

With a gift of one of Mytinger’s books from the 1940s, Westmorland was propelled on a journey following the artist’s years in Melanesia. She has chronicled this amazing story by effectively marrying historical and contemporary photos with modern day interviews and footage. Westmorland’s intrepidness matches that of her subject to bring to life an important, long-forgotten story, and her work as a photographer and filmmaker is impressive and emotionally fulfilling.”                          – Art Wolfe

Equally as important to have my peers in the photo industry, are two testimonials that touched my heart. These came from Papua New Guinean women who now reside in the United States. Thank you, Wendy Urbin and Brenda Tia, for sharing the love of PNG. My hope is to spread the word about just how incredible all of Melanesia is.

WendyNancyMW

“It was an honor to have met you at this very special occasion. I am very blessed and thankful that it worked out for my husband and I to attend. Yes, I have also been emotional and touched by your love for the people of Melanesia which speaks a lot in this historical film that you’ve spearheaded. I greatly appreciate you reaching out to me and this is such a very special and memorable time that I will never forget!  Tenkyu tru, susa lewa!”

  —Wendy Urbin

Also pictured here is Nancy Board.  She’s been a fan and supporter of the project since its inception.                                                                                                           

BrendaMonterey

“I wanted to say many thanks for the movie. It introduces Papua New Guinea, my home country, and Melanesia as a part of the world that other people never knew about.  When I first arrived in the United States, people didn’t know where PNG is located and would ask where it is. I replied that is north of Australia and when in school or at my workplace, I would show them on the world map. Headhunt Revisited is a fantastic and educational film. It brought tears to my eyes when thinking of the lifestyles in my country of origin and now here in the States. We all take things for granted while my people back home come into a global world.  Art and culture is important to any society and should be kept going and appreciated.”                                                                          — Brenda Tia

The Explorers Club in New York City was my next location.  Headquarters for the prestigious organization is an 8-story brownstone filled with important artefacts and documentation going back to 1904. I carried the EC Flag #46 on the expedition to film the project.  I loved the engagement from the audience, with so many wonderful remarks and questions after the screening. One of the most memorable moments was meeting Robert Rose of Raw Travel TV.  I became engaged with his style of programing, which is not just about adrenaline rushes or posh resorts – it’s about culture and people being treated with respect. We have communicated over the past 2 years so but meeting him in person was a treat. Robert is just as real and caring as he is on his show. You can read Robert’s comments by clicking on his blog post HERE.

IMG_9733 (1)

Nancy Rosenthal is an Executive Producer of HHR, a member of Explorers Club and the founder of New York Wild Film Festival.  I highly recommend you checking out the website for the dates and screenings of some amazing films that will be featured in February, 2019.

Beautiful Monterey was the most recent location of my screenings. I had the chance to go back into the Monterey Museum of Art to photograph additional content from Caroline’s scrapbooks, and to have lunch with the new owner of her chalet on Via Gayuba. Rosemary Kennett is determined to keep the history of this home alive and documented. To sit and have lunch in the very garden Caroline tended to during her 40 years of residence was very charming. Thank you, Rosemary, for taking interest in the history of one of Monterey’s stellar artists.

Fitzgerald_CarolineHouse

James E. Fitzgerald (1899-1971), The Studio September 1933, watercolor on paper, 17 x 22 1/4 in., reproduced with permission of The James Fitzgerald Legacy, Monhegan Museum of Art & History.  Caroline bought the home from Fitzgerald in 1942.

Rosemary_1           MontereyHouse_1

Rosemary Kennett enjoying the history and beauty of her new home.

Scrapbooks_MMA

Now that I’m home by my very own cozy fireplace, know that I’m thankful at this time of year for meeting so many wonderful new fans of Headhunt Revisited!  May you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving this season.  If you, or an organization you are affiliated with, is interested in screening Headhunt Revisited: With Brush, Canvas and Camera, please email me at screenings@headhuntrevisited.org or michele@westmorlandimages.com

Octoberfest for HHR!

I’m extremely busy preparing for upcoming screenings during the month of October. It’s a very exciting time but before I list the locations, please read the testimonial below from Cris Kennedy of the National Film and Sound Archives in Canberra, Australia. He kindly wrote this after the film was presented at the Arc Cinema on July 27th. I wish to thank everyone responsible for putting this event together.

We screened HEADHUNT REVISITED to a very enthusiastic crowd at the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra, Australia, in July of 2018. The audience response was very strong – both to the ethnographic and historical content, but also to the warmth of spirit in Michele Westmorland’s filmmaking. Canberra is a town of academics and of people who have worked or have family ties in the pacific countries Westmorland’s camera visits and the story of these independent young American women surviving on their artistic skills across the Pacific frontier touched many.

Canberra2_Small

Here in the United States, there are 3 locations that will be my extreme pleasure to attend and give a Q&A following the screening.

Seattle, WA
On October 10th, it will be my great pleasure to have the documentary film screened here in my home – the Seattle area. The evening will begin with a small reception hosted by David Hohimer of Hohimer Wealth Management Group at 6:30 PM followed by the film debut at 7:00 PM. You can purchase your ticket through SIFF ticketing and map the location by following this link: SIFF-HeadhuntRevisited. The film center is a state-of-the-art 90 seat jewel box cinema that will provide the best in projection and sound.

OPS_FilmCenter_Thumbnail_1600x900

New York City
October 18th at the Explorers Club Headquarters, 46 East 70th Street in New York. The evening begins with a reception at 6:00 PM, the screening at 7:00 PM followed by a Q&A. I’ve been a Fellow National since 1995 of this prestigious organization and it will be my honor to screen my film at the historic headquarters. It was Flag #46 that was proudly carried on the expedition. It’s been a long but incredible journey to tell this story, so please join me in the beautiful headquarters! For information and tickets, just follow this link: Screening_ExplorersClub

Mytinger Project, LLC
14128 - 11th Drive SE
Mill Creek, WA  98012

Monterey, CA
Monterey is the beautiful city where Caroline lived the last 40 years of her life. I’m pleased to be able to share the film with the community. The day is sponsored by the Monterey Museum of Art with a Filmmaker Talk on October 24th from 2:00 – 3:00 PM at La Mirada Educational Center and the screening at the MIIS Irvine Auditorium beginning at 6:30 PM. For information and ticketing, follow these links.
MMA_Talk at La Mirada
MMA_FilmScreening

100828_0368

MMA is where I began the research. One of the most remarkable items in their collection is the mural that was displayed above Caroline’s picture window in her quaint chalet in Monterey.

Interested in hosting a screening for your friends or organization? Email me at screenings@headhuntrevisited.org

The documentary, Headhunt Revisited, follows Caroline Mytinger’s unprecedented journey to paint the diverse culture of Melanesia in 1926. Over 80 years later Caroline’s story inspires new generations of artists and non-artists alike about the importance of documenting culture and tradition.

 

Wishing The Best!

CONGRATULATIONS to Sandy Jeglum.  I don’t know how to put this all in words that express both my excitement for Sandy, and sadness that she is leaving Seattle. The great news is that it’s not forever – it’s for an amazing new journey she will be taking!  As you all know, Sandy has worked with me for some 15 years starting in the production work and managing my photo business. When the film began its journey in post-production, this is where I watched her passion and talent blossom in documentary film production. As Producer and Editor of not only Headhunt Revisited, but her involvement in other admirable films, I am thrilled to announce her acceptance to UWE Bristol (University of the West of England). This prestigious Masters degree program has been co-designed by UWE academics and producers, directors and production managers from documentary and factual units within the BBC. Although I feel like my right hand is missing, I can’t wait to hear of her success in the program and her future in film.  I have no doubt Sandy will reach her goals. Please share my joy and well wishes to Sandy for her new journey ahead.

StoryBoardEnd
Sandy and Michele at the moment we took down the storyboard down after post-production was finished.
Sandy_VisaCroppedSmall
Sandy applied for her visa!

During the month of July, there were two events that shared the story of Caroline, Margaret, Jeffry and the power of art to communicate. The most heartwarming was the gift of 5 of Caroline’s Solomon Island paintings to the museum in Honiara. The presentation was at a function held by the MACFEST organizers and the presenters were U.S. Ambassador Catherine Ebert-Gray and Consular Agent, Keithie Saunders.

MACFESTSmall
Dennis Marita, Ambassador Ebert-Gray, Keithie Saunders and Julie Fakai’a receiving the reproduction of Caroline’s painting “Bush and Saltwater” circa 1928 in Malaita, SI

The event took place on Solomon Island’s Independence Day. The press representatives were there to cover the event, leading journalist Charles Kadamana, followed by an article in the Solomon Star News. The handover was well received by Assistant Curator, Julie Fakai’a and Dennis Marita, Director of Culture. Dennis gave a brief speech to thank the U.S. Embassy and the Mytinger Project for “dedicating these very special prints to the gallery – to preserve the cultural era they were painted in and also to educate the young viewers of today”.

On July 27th, a screening was held at the National Film and Sound Archives in Canberra, Australia.  My sincere thanks to Lynne Ainsworth for making the arrangements with NFSA and the introduction before the screening. I also wish to thank Cris Kennedy, Manager of Education and Engagement and Charrisa Wright, Assistant Technical Officer, who made it possible for the film to be shown at the Arc Theatre in all its glory with full surround sound and projection. Rae Smart, Producer/Australia from Noosa, made the drive to be in attendance. Here was the catch!  I had to be available for a Q&A Skype call at 3:00 AM. Let’s say I did not sleep that night but was happy to be a part of the event.

Canberra3_Small
Lynne Ainsworth giving opening remarks.

 

Canberra2_Small
Cris Kennedy from NFSA

 

Canberra1_Small
 Q&A Skype

Do you know you can stream the film for 48 hours for only $5.95?  Documentary Educational Resources provides it for home viewing HERE.  You can also purchase your personal DVD through their website.

                                                                                                     Michele

PS:  If you or anyone you know are interested in assisting with text editing for newsletter and social media and help spreading the word, let me know.  I don’t work so well with my left hand.

 

 

Film Screening at MACFEST!

Headhunt Revisited: With Brush, Canvas and Camera is proud to announce the screening of this documentary film at MACFEST!  The first two weeks of July will be of celebration and honor for the countries that make up one of the most beautiful and diverse parts of the world!

Andrew Nihopara, Chair of MACFEST

“Helo olgeta frens and wantoks from Melanesia and the rest of the World. It is an honour, as Chair of the Melanesian Arts Festival National Organising Committee  Andrew Nihopara, Chair of MACFEST.

(MACFNOC) for the 6th Melanesian Arts & Cultural Festival (MACFEST) to warmly welcome you to our shores for a unique experience in sharing and discovering of our diverse Melanesian cultures. Solomon Islands is very proud and profoundly honoured to be hosting this prestigious event from the 1st to 10th July 2018, and we hope that you will be part of this exciting event. The theme of the 6th MACFEST “Past Recollections; Future Connections”, reinforces the significance of this festival as a time to reminisce on our history and cultures, whilst at the same time connecting ourselves as one people in diversity for a brighter connected future.”                               Andrew Nihopara

Attending this festival is our own Jeffry Feeger, who appears in the film and continues to be an advocate for contemporary art in Melanesia.  

“As I said in the film,  a culture, especially contemporary culture, is always fleeting. It’s always running away from you, escaping you.  At MACFEST, we will spend the time to reflect on our traditions through art and through music. From this, we will move forward to inspire creativity in a globally changing world.”  

“Budding Musicians” by Jeffry Feeger, 2013
“Smoke Spello” by Caroline Mytinger, circa 1929

I’m sad that I will not be able to attend this incredible event. The countries that make up Melanesia are Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia. They will be represented in dance, song and art. I just can’t imagine how wonderful the experience will be for all the attendees. Check out the Schedule of Events HERE. So many activities, so much fun and so many diverse people!

In the meantime, remember the film is now available through Documentary Educational Resources (DER) by DVD or Streaming services!  

Announcing the Release of Headhunt Revisited!

Now Available on DVD or Streaming through DER for home use or educational purposes.

This is the announcement everybody has been waiting for. Headhunt Revisited: With Brush, Canvas and Camera is now available through Documentary Educational Resources (DER), a leading educational distributor, that is celebrating 50 years of service to cross-cultural filmmaking. DER served as a production partner and fiscal sponsor throughout our production. We are appreciative of all the support and look forward to continuing our strong relationship to bring Headhunt Revisited to a wider audience.

Caroline Sneak Peek

For all our Kickstarter supporters, we thank you for your patience. We will be sending your digital download or DVD of the film as soon as we can. In the meantime, watch the teaser clip above to see a sneak peek of the beginning when Caroline embarks on her adventure.

This announcement is made even more heartfelt since I just returned from Papua New Guinea, where I met with amazing business leaders and friends who share my enthusiasm for getting Headhunt Revisited into the local community. I’m looking forward to bringing this all together with their help. Of course, there was the Visionary Wild cultural photography tour that followed. It makes me so proud to share my stories of Caroline along with many friends and their generosity to allow us in their homes in some of the most remote locations of PNG! I’ve only been to the Lake Murray area of the Fly River once before and it’s special. Caroline was in the region in 1929 where she and Margaret were “stowaways” on the famous Sugarcane Expedition led by Dr. Elmer Walker Brandes.

Photo from Caroline and Margaret’s scrapbooks of the expedition vessel, Vanapa.

Look for more exciting announcements in the near future! If you want to make a donation, know that even with a completed film, the expenses for distribution are still ahead of us. Your charitable contribution through DER would be much appreciated.

 

With the Visionary Wild team: Alet Snel, Mareille Rijnberk, Michele, Elaine Heron, Polly Crongreyer, Lori Seller and Upovia Village of the Pari Tribe, Lake Murray.

Spring Is In The Air!

As we approach our beautiful spring days of April in the Pacific Northwest, there is an opportunity to see Headhunt Revisited at the CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival!  The Pickford Film Center in the quaint City of Bellingham is surrounded by all the beauty Washington State has to offer. Snow-capped mountains, waterfront looking towards Bellingham Bay and plenty of fresh scent of flowers blooming.

Our screening will be held on Sunday, April 15th, 1:30 PM at the Pickford Film Center, 1318 Bay Street. I will also conduct a Q&A immediately following the film screening.  You can purchase your tickets here: Headhunt Revisited Screening. Don’t forget to check out the other fabulous films to be shown during the festival!  You’ll find many compelling films to see made by women and for women.

Photo by Jake Holt Photography

You may be interested to know that traveling to Bellingham can include a detour through the tulip fields! April is the annual Tulip Festival and it’s a sight not to miss.  This could make for a lovely getaway to see all the fantastic scenery in the Pacific Northwest. For our friends just on the other side of the border, it’s easy for you too!

Skagit Valley Tulip Fields

We’ve also had some nice press through the efforts of Ryan Davis of Smarthouse Creative. Thank you, Ryan! Here are the links to some recent articles.

                                                                              Patch

                                                                    Filmed In Seattle

Watch for future announcements regarding the release of the film through Documentary Educational Resources! I have been receiving lots of requests for DVDs, streaming outlets, and possible screenings. All are currently in production stages and we’re excited to get this film out to more of you – our supporters.

 

Film Festival Announcement!

We’re thrilled to announce that Headhunt Revisited: With Brush, Canvas and Camera has been selected for the CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival, which will be held at Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, WA April 12-15, 2018. CASCADIA was founded in 2015 to promote Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Pacific Northwest as a destination for filmmakers and film enthusiasts, to present an annual film festival showcasing exceptional films by women directors, and to provide educational opportunities relating to the viewing, making and distribution of films. CASCADIA’s annual film festival is dedicated to exclusively showcasing the work of women directors.

A 2017 study conducted by the Media, Diversity & Social Change Initiative at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Communications and Journalism School showed that of the 1000 top grossing films from 2007 to 2016, only 4% were directed by women, and that “there was no meaningful change in the prevalence of female directors across the top films from 2007 to 2016.” “The impact of film empowers women, supports local and global ideas and creates opportunities for community members, as well as filmmakers, to participate in the collaboration that is film,” explains CASCADIA’s Executive Director Cheryl Crooks. “CASCADIA is part of a larger movement to allow women’s voices to be heard.”

We’re proud to be one of the films selected to showcase the voices of women, and this year, we’re sharing the festival with Cheryl Boone Isaacs, immediate Past President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS or the Academy). Boone Isaacs will be the Special Honored Guest Speaker at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018 in the Whatcom Museum’s Rotunda Room in the Old City Hall, 121 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA. Her address will be free and open to the public with a ticketed Happy Hour Reception to precede at 5:30 p.m. Boone Isaacs is the Academy’s first African-American and third female president of the 90-year organization, having served since being elected in July 2013. She is a film marketing and public relations executive and has represented the public relations branch of the Academy best known for the Academy Awards (The Oscars). As she told ABC News upon announcing in May 2017 that she’d be stepping down as Academy President, the global film community is “one that is becoming more inclusive and diverse with each passing day” and that the 2017 Oscars were “proof that art has no borders, no single language and does not belong to a single faith. The power of art is that it transcends all these things.”

 

Solomon Islands

          A Tribute to Stephen Parr

“What made Stephen tick was collecting. He was so skilled at obtaining that kind of stuff because he was relentless. He would literally haunt people until he got what he wanted.” –Robert Chehoski, Stephen’s friend and colleague

Photos, like the ones above from scrapbooks, can be difficult to find. Now imagine trying to locate film footage. Stephen Parr and Oddball Films of San Francisco founded and ran a very important archive of historic footage. I was saddened to hear of his passing last October when I called recently to tell him about the successes we have been having with Headhunt Revisited.
I met him at his archives along with the team in their Mission District facilities when we were on the search and selecting some very rare historic footage for the film. Stephen was passionate about all types of film collections and it was an honor to be allowed to stroll through the racks of canisters. He was quiet but gracious and very happy that a film was being made about a forgotten female artist – who had so much connection to Monterey and San Francisco. A total of 81 seconds was licensed through Oddball Films, which in terms of available content, was significant. RIP, Stephen and may you be conversing with Caroline and Margaret about their amazing journey.

                                  You can read and hear an interview about Stephen by following the link HERE

We hope that wherever you live in the Pacific Northwest, you will be able to join us at the CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival.  It’s also tulip time in Skagit Valley so nothing could make a more enjoyable weekend than to travel to this beautiful area of Washington State!  More announcements about screening times to come.

Women’s Stories – Past and Present

Happy New Year! We hope you had a restful and pleasant holiday season, and that you were able to share it with friends and loved ones. We have so much in store for 2018 that we’re excited to share, but we wanted to start the year off with something near and dear to our hearts, and to the heart of Headhunt Revisited. This weekend marks the second Women’s March – a moment in history that makes us really stop and consider the role women have played throughout history, and the important stories that still remain untold. This little glimpse of Caroline’s life is a reminder of just how important it is that we continue to honor the legacy of talented women and ensure their contributions to society are not forgotten.

Caroline Raymond Mytinger at approximately age 23
Caroline Raymond Mytinger at approximately age 23, Cleveland, Ohio Courtesy of the Stoughton Family

Caroline and Margaret’s legacy today is one of connection with family and the past. At the very end of 2017, we had the pleasure of sharing Headhunt Revisited with some of Caroline’s living relatives. Carol Stoughton, one of Caroline’s cousins, gathered her family together to view the film over the holidays, and learn a little bit more about Caroline’s life and experiences. It is humbling to hear about all of the ways Headhunt Revisited has given families in the places Caroline and Margaret visited the opportunity to reconnect. We were honored to be able to bring the story of Caroline back to her own family, who took the time to share their impressions of the film with us.

STOUGHTON FAMILY TESTIMONIAL FOR HEADHUNT REVISITED
December, 2017

“What a great vicarious experience my husband and I have had since 2004! That year I happened by chance to open a thin folder of letters in my father’s vast collection of letters from several generations of my family.

The letters piqued my interest to learn more about the amazing life of my cousin, Caroline. An internet search discovered the Headhunt Revisited website of Michele Westmorland, a modern day adventurer, a professional underwater photographer. She had worked near Papua New Guinea, learned about and became enthralled by Caroline’s story and has dedicated the years since to researching Caroline’s life, organizing a voyage in 2005 to retrace Caroline’s journey, and poured her resources into this documentary. She has produced an award winning film that beautifully weaves together Caroline’s adventures. Michele’s photography on her many trips back to the South Seas to help the indigenous communities celebrate their rich cultural heritage, and then to introduce a young male artist, Jeffry, who is painting his fellow citizens in their current dress and activities. Here is a true story, “stranger than fiction.” Here is a wonderful display of Caroline’s realistic portraits in vibrant colors. What a joy it has been to follow Michele’s tough but successful quest and admire how she did it with such grace and benign intent for the inhabitants of Melanesia! And oh what a cousin, that Caroline! “

Mytinger_MMA_26
The above illustration was of Caroline modeling for a renowned artist creating an ad for Amolin. She was approximately 18 years of age and attending the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Caroline’s achievements are impressive feats even in the 21st Century, let alone for the time period in which she lived. Fortunately for us, Caroline was an avid writer, and through her books and the letters she wrote to friends and relatives, we’ve been able to learn so much about a truly remarkable woman. With all of her bravery, charisma, and talent, it’s easy to forget the fact that Caroline faced challenges that continue to resonate with women today. In one letter penned by Caroline to her aunt, she touched on an issue that many women still grapple with. Caroline had a low sense of self-esteem, and described herself (not without her trademark sense of humor) as tall and thin with “large feet and orange tresses that hang around most of the time and make me look like a beastly flamboyant poodle”. In addition to being highly critical of her own appearance, Caroline was also highly critical of her art.

1917.400_w
“The Blue Feather” by William J. Edmondson courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Caroline Mytinger as the model.

It’s shocking to think that someone as talented as Caroline would struggle with the same insecurities that many of us continue to face today. Although she criticized her own appearance and skills, Caroline was a Gibson Girl model and a highly talented artist. She pursued her passions with determination and, in her own words, the “inclination to work like a trench digger”. Despite all of her insecurity, Caroline pushed through to accomplish something very few women did in her day, and did it with compassion, an open mind, and cultural sensitivity.

In light of current events, uncovering Caroline’s letter to her aunt is a timely reminder of the incredible support women can give to one another, and the achievements we can reach together when we work to uplift, celebrate, and support one another. We’re so proud to have the opportunity to celebrate Caroline Mytinger’s work, and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store for 2018!

It’s A Wonderful Year!

Like the classic Christmas movie with Jimmy Stewart It’s a Wonderful Life, team Headhunt Revisited can proudly say that we knew it would be OUR year. It’s YOUR year too because all of our supporters who have stayed by our sides can now share the success in the roll-out of the film.

The Headhunt Revisited team is proud to announce the acceptance into FIFO, the International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival in Tahiti! Established in 2004 on a founding idea from Wallès Kotra, at the time regional director of RFO Polynésie, FIFO immediately gained a high level of public interest. It rapidly attracted directors from Oceania and from all over the world, who recognized this event as an opportunity to take a look at the region. The two key elements to its immediate success: authenticity and diversity.

The month of December has a lot to celebrate – in different religious ways, through different forms of expression, and especially with art. Our celebrity artist, Jeffry Feeger, who appears in the documentary film, is one of the most highly regarded and talented members of the contemporary art community in Papua New Guinea.

In November, Jeffry Feeger and other talented creative individuals were proud to gather together in an exhibition in Port Moresby, sponsored by Sogno Restaurant.Jeffry also created a written work of art titled The Spirit Within.   

“Stone age to Phone age, we are in the grip of a massive cultural shock. The foreign commercial world, its products and tools of communication penetrate our once impenetrable geography. Traditional knowledge and balance with nature erode away under the weight of an insatiable capitalist approach to development. […] In the midst of rapid cultural development, we can learn the wisdom inherent in the values of our ancestors and their subtle connection with nature. As caretakers of the land, it has been the abuse of our power that has severed our connection to it and to each other. Only as wise stewards of our land are we poised to reawaken the spirit within.”

Midnight Browsing #1

Jeffry describes this painting in the collection as:  With the popularity of social media in PNG, mobile phones have become the extensions of ourselves. In the middle of the night we end up scrolling through a barrage of social awareness.You can read the entire poem and see more of his portraiture by following the link to Jeffry Feeger Art.

This time next year, for those followers who are avid scuba divers, the MV FeBrina and Walindi Plantation (and yours truly!) will be in the wonderful waters of Kimbe Bay to celebrate the finish and success of the film. It will be scheduled for the first 2 weeks of December and the list of participants is growing. If you want to join us — and the very vessel and crew that we filmed the expedition with — let me know. I will be working in the next few weeks to establish the exact dates and price. There will be a little dollar reward for you and our hosts are identifying some of the proceeds for the project.

As 2017 draws to a close, the team of Headhunt Revisited looks forward to a bright new year, and a new chapter in the journey we share with Caroline Mytinger and Margaret Warner. We’re grateful for the opportunities we’ve had this year to share this story with our supporters — those who have been with us from the beginning, and those we’ve met along the way. We’re excited to bring Headhunt Revisited to new communities and audiences in the new year, but most of all, we’re excited to continue this journey with you! From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you a holiday season filled with joy and love, and a new year of adventure ahead!