“Everyone has a sidecar, some are just more obvious than others.”

All of us have psychological and physiological qualities that shape our perception and experience of the world we live in. While these qualities do not define us, we carry them with us like a motorcycle carrying a sidecar.

Sidecars is an extraordinary short film by Ben Stamper that explores this idea by documenting an unusual friendship between two extraordinary people. Charming and cheeky, Justin is a teenager who has autism and wants to be a “famous illustrator” when he grows up. Lyndsley is Justin’s art student who has the patience and optimism of a saint. She also has her own “sidecar,” which is a rare rheumatalogical condition called Polymyositis. Sidecars is an intimate portrait of two friends seeking identity outside of their diagnoses, while learning from each other how to transform their struggle into beautiful works of art that strengthen and inspire.

Click on the sidecar above to see the trailer, and to visit the Sidecars website.

We are very happy to announce that Sidecars will be screened at the 2008 Rhode Island Film Festival (one of the most important festivals in the industry). The screening is at 7:00pm on Thursday, August 7th at the Andrews Theatre in the Columbus Theatre Arts Center (one of New England’s most beautiful theatres), located at 270 Broadway, Providence, RI. The festival runs from August 3rd through August 10th with 320 different films being screened.

To visit the Rhode Island Film Festival website and purchase tickets for the screening of Sidecars, click here. You can also call call 401-861-4445 or 401-490-6735. Single tickets are $10.50.

“My mother never saved anything except nursing school textbooks, but something made her keep that one box of my toddler clothes. Strawberry Shortcake shoes, crocheted dresses, purple printed bell bottom corduroys. Sometimes something possesses you to want to relive your childhood (the good parts) through your children, and dress them in something you can save for their kids…”

So begins the announcement of Vesper’s new line of hand-made cloth goods on Etsy (a very hip online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade.) Sounds Familyre isn’t just about music, we’ve got some super talented clothiers too! Many of you are already familiar with the wonder of Mamma-Made (take a look at their new summer line here), but did you know that the beauty, power, humor and grace so evident in the blessed vocal-cords of Vesper extended to her work with needle and thread? These people are so darn creative! Do yourself a favor: click here to go to Vesper’s Etsy shop and see her extraordinary handmade clothing and handbags, as well as Ben’s one-of-a-kind handpainted T-shirts! New stuff is always being added, so come back often, and BUY.

In the meantime, check out some of the pictures from her shop below–cool cool!

(Artwork by Anita Santiago)

Release Date: Sept.9, 2008

‘Kicking Bird’

Click here for free download of ‘Kicking Bird’, and to stream ‘Horsetail’, also from TEN STONES.