Revisiting the artistic revolution taking place in a small town in North Carolina
We noticed back in March that visionary artist and entrepreneur, Tyler 'Ty Bru' Brueilly was in the midst of carrying the entire small town on his back in attempts to usher the community into a more contemporary era of art and entertainment, in particular with his Mightier Than The Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival, which is the city's very first Film Festival of any kind.In February and fresh off his second annual aforementioned film festival, we were able to speak with him at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood following his premiere of 'Shucks' and he didn't show any hesitation with the love and passion he has for, Asheboro, North Carolina.
'I was born there, and I've spent over thirty years there and I've always been frustrated with the lack of options in our scene since a kid and it's not really had any breakthrough in that matter. I'm not saying it needs to be Hollywood by any means, but it's in desperate need to have constant and consistent options for art and entertainment lovers.' Brueilly states.
Brueilly has really been focusing on using the 20 year milestone of founding Mightier Than The Sword Records as a catalyst to provide a four day festival in May at the historic Sunset Theatre as well as monthly events and meetings within likeminded individuals in the area in hopes to cultivate this 'artistic revolution' he has been spearheading.
'In 2025, we've been holding monthly 'First Friday Fashion & Photography' and 'Third Thursday Thinktanks' and in May, we added 'Mighty Mondays' each focusing on our community by aligning the many facets of art and entertainment I have extensive experiences in, with the deep hope that it inspires others to stay right here in Asheboro and fight for places, spaces and stages to showcase their creations, that's a bar right there though.'
TIME BUSINESS NEWS
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Travel + Leisure
7 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
This Less-traveled South American Country Is a Natural Paradise—and a Photographer's Dream
Of all the natural splendors photographer Ike Edeani witnessed in Guyana—dinosaur-like reptiles, murderous-sounding monkeys, needle-nosed anteaters—the sight that stayed with him the longest was that of a single white flower. From left: 'It only blooms at dusk,' said Edeani of the Victoria amazonica flower he photographed near Karanambu Lodge, in central Guyana. 'I shot this lit by a flashlight from the boat.'; 'This is a close-up of two lily pads. They're amazing to look at, with their texture and their tiny holes.'. 'We were on a boat on a massive pond, surrounded by lily pads,' Edeani said. 'As soon as the sun dipped, the lily buds slowly started to open. They're called Victoria amazonica, and they only bloom at dusk. By nightfall, they were fully open. It was pretty incredible. It felt like being on another planet.' Left: 'I saw this grasshopper outside my room at the Caiman House. It was 5 a.m. and the light was very soft.'. Right: 'This was my room at Karanambu Lodge. It was fairly rustic, with brick walls and a thatched roof. At night, I had to charge my batteries in the office.'. Edeani, who was born in Nigeria and lives in Brooklyn, does not consider himself an outdoorsy person. He has previously photographed Tim Cook, André Leon Talley, Adrien Brody, and Lena Waithe; for Travel + Leisure, he shot a feature on city life in Lagos. But when the opportunity arose to photograph Guyana—a country he knew little about—he embraced the adventure. 'I love to put myself in situations that are uncomfortable or different,' he said. 'Or places that I haven't been.' 'We were on the Rupununi River when one of the guides pointed out this red howler monkey. They were able to spot things that I couldn't see.'. A jungle-cloaked country on the northeastern coast of South America, Guyana is short on paved roads, modern airstrips, and reliable electricity—not to mention luxury resorts and Michelin-worthy restaurants. Whatever comforts it may lack, however, the country more than makes up for in unspoiled natural beauty. About 60 percent of its landmass is covered with virgin rainforest, which is home to more than 820 species of birds, 320 documented species of reptiles and amphibians—some of which are unique to the region—and some 228 species of mammals, including the jaguar, Guyana's national animal. Left: 'This was also at the Bourda Market. She was washing vegetables, and I was drawn to the colors.' Right: 'A chef gave us a tour of the Bourda Market, in Georgetown.' The wiri-wiri peppers reminded Edeani of cherries. There are also more than 8,000 species of plants, with botanists discovering new varieties every year. Kaieteur Falls, in central Guyana, is the world's tallest single-drop waterfall at 741 feet, roughly five times higher than Niagara Falls. 'You have to be incredibly still to see them,' Edeani said of the cock-of-the-rock, spotted near the Atta Rainforest Lodge, where he spent one night. 'This bird is special to Guyana.'. While tourist infrastructure is in its infancy, what does exist is often owned and operated by members of Guyana's protected Indigenous communities. That was a key selling point for Ker & Downey, a tour operator best known for luxury safaris in Africa. 'Your tourism dollars aren't just trickling down; they're going straight to the community and supporting the local people,' said Elizabeth Frels, the company's director of product management and development. Other considerations weighed in Guyana's favor, too: English is the official language; it's in the same time zone as the East Coast; and there are direct flights to Georgetown, the Caribbean-inflected capital, from New York and other American cities. ' We were on the savanna near Karanambu Lodge. The guy on the horse is a vaquero, or cowboy. His job was to spot anteaters and try to gently guide them in our direction.'. So about three years ago, Ker & Downey began organizing adventure tours to Guyana's rainforests, savannas, and mountains. The was a flurry of inquiries, but expectations needed to be set. Accommodations are bare-bones. Ground vehicles can be shoddy. Connecting flights are on antiquated prop planes. Bugs are ever-present. And it's often sweltering. 'This is not for people looking for super-high-end luxury hotels and VIP treatment,' Frels said. 'This is for people who really want to get to the heart of a destination and have authentic interactions with local people.' 'The Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is near the Atta Rainforest Lodge and rises a hundred feet above the forest floor. It was pretty scary; it was swaying the whole time.'. Suitably forewarned, Edeani packed his Sony Alpha 7R V mirrorless camera and three lenses and, accompanied by a Ker & Downey travel expert and Indigenous guides, spent a week in Guyana last August, when the heat index regularly hit triple digits. 'These skeletons were on display at the Caiman House,' a wildlife-research station along the banks of the Rupununi River that has a guest lodge. 'They study caimans there,' Edeani said. 'There's a turtle nursery, too.'. He spent four days exploring the rainforests and rivers of central Guyana before returning to the capital. Some of his photos took a split-second to capture, like the black caiman that poked its head out of the water to gobble up a passing bird. Others, like the water lily, took a couple of hours to get right—plus the time it took to paddle back to the lodge in total darkness. 'I came away from this trip being pretty amazed by nature,' Edeani said. 'The fact that there are creatures and organisms operating at so many different scales that are somehow able to coexist. That was really profound, actually.' 'Every evening, these herons returned to the same nests along the Rupununi River.'. A version of this story first appeared in the July 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Guyana in Focus. "
News24
12 hours ago
- News24
Snap, giggle, win: 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards want your funniest shots
The 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards invites photographers worldwide, regardless of camera brand, to submit funny wildlife photos or videos by 30 June 2025. Highlights include humour-filled photos like a 'wig'-wearing Rhino, a kissing gorilla mom, and laughing blue-spotted mudskippers. There are multiple categories for mammals, birds, reptiles, and more, and young photographers under 16 can enter in their own category. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards are back, bringing loads of giggles and humour as wildlife gets captured engaging in amusing and unexpected activities. From playful antics to surprising expressions, this competition never fails to put a smile on one's face. Once again, the competition is open, inviting photographers from around the globe – seasoned professionals and amateurs alike – to showcase their funniest wildlife photos for prizes and bragging rights. With the closing date set for 30 June 2025, aspiring entrants from across the world are encouraged to participate, free of charge, using any camera brand. 'The competition is open to all camera brand users. We don't mind what equipment you use, as long as it features wildlife and it's funny,' the organisers said. Participants can submit up to 10 entries, which include four portfolio entries, six additional entries across various categories, and up to two videos. Top 5 entrants White-tailed eagle This photo, captured in Japan, shows a White-tailed eagle attempting to hide a fish from another approaching eagle. Photographer Annette Kirby perfectly timed the eagle's humorous expression. Annette Kirby/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Rhino living A One-Horned Rhino was caught mid-meal in a body of water. After diving underwater and resurfacing, it appeared to be sporting a 'wig' made of its dinner indulgence. Mansion of a nest Highlighting South African wildlife, a Common myna in the Kruger National Park was photographed constructing a massive nest – a marvel big enough for an entire family. Mom's love Captured in Rwanda, an affectionate gorilla mom is seen showering her infant with tender kisses. Polar plunge Taken during an Antarctic expedition, this shot features a group of gentoo penguins casually waiting their turn to dive into the ocean. Martin Schmid/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Laugh like there's no tomorrow Two cheerful blue-spotted mudskippers are captured seemingly laughing out loud, probably over a shared meme. Emma Parker/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Categories For those interested in entering, here are the categories Alex Walker's Serian Mammals Category: Submit your funniest photos of wildlife mammals. Spectrum Photo Birds Category: Amusing bird photos belong here. ThinkTANK Reptiles, Amphibians, and Insects Category: This one's for the reptilian, amphibian, and insect kind. Fish and Other Aquatic Species Category: A category for all things aquatic. Amazing Internet Portfolio Category: Submit a collection of funny photos (up to four). Bonus points are awarded for connected themes, such as a sequence of events or related subjects, e.g., 'Four Owlet Pics.' Nikon Junior Category (Under 16): A space dedicated to young talents under 16 years. Nikon Young Photographer Category (Under 25): For budding photographers aged 25 and below. Video Clip Category You can submit up to two video clips, each no longer than 15 seconds, with a maximum resolution of 1080p HD at 30fps and a file size of up to 150MB. Lower resolutions are also acceptable. No music, captions, or added effects are allowed. You'll automatically enter the People's Choice Category if you make it as a Nikon Comedy Wildlife Finalist (to be announced in October 2025). This allows the public to vote for their favourite photo, with the winner to be declared in January 2026.
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Time Business News
Revisiting the artistic revolution taking place in a small town in North Carolina
We noticed back in March that visionary artist and entrepreneur, Tyler 'Ty Bru' Brueilly was in the midst of carrying the entire small town on his back in attempts to usher the community into a more contemporary era of art and entertainment, in particular with his Mightier Than The Sword Awards at Sunset Film Festival, which is the city's very first Film Festival of any February and fresh off his second annual aforementioned film festival, we were able to speak with him at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood following his premiere of 'Shucks' and he didn't show any hesitation with the love and passion he has for, Asheboro, North Carolina. 'I was born there, and I've spent over thirty years there and I've always been frustrated with the lack of options in our scene since a kid and it's not really had any breakthrough in that matter. I'm not saying it needs to be Hollywood by any means, but it's in desperate need to have constant and consistent options for art and entertainment lovers.' Brueilly states. Brueilly has really been focusing on using the 20 year milestone of founding Mightier Than The Sword Records as a catalyst to provide a four day festival in May at the historic Sunset Theatre as well as monthly events and meetings within likeminded individuals in the area in hopes to cultivate this 'artistic revolution' he has been spearheading. 'In 2025, we've been holding monthly 'First Friday Fashion & Photography' and 'Third Thursday Thinktanks' and in May, we added 'Mighty Mondays' each focusing on our community by aligning the many facets of art and entertainment I have extensive experiences in, with the deep hope that it inspires others to stay right here in Asheboro and fight for places, spaces and stages to showcase their creations, that's a bar right there though.' TIME BUSINESS NEWS
