Shuma and Bill Crandall to show Belarusian mentality to Americans

Shuma headed by Rusia are going to Washington. Their performance will take place on March 22 in the Washington art-center Monserrat House during the presentation of the photo-book of American photographer Bill Crandall "The Waiting Room". The book is composed of a series of documentary pictures taken by Bill Crandall during his trips to Belarus since 2000. In Rusia's opinion, the book, as well as Shuma's music, will give the foreigners proper impression about the contemporary Belarus.

Rusia: "I think that Belarus is a country of adequate and cool people, who simply have such a dramatic historical period now that they cannot realize themselves by 100%, and this includes creativity as well. We are not collective farmers or "hosts of plough and scythe" - this was long ago. I think if we combine our interesting music with Bill Crandall's pictures it will be really cool".

The idea to combine Bill Crandall's photos and the music of "Shuma" belongs to Andrei Krauchanka - ex-participant of the Belarusian band Why Not, who lives in the United States now. According to Andrei, Shuma's music "grounds on the deep Belarusian roots, but at the same time it is capable of overcoming any territorial borders". For their performance, Shuma have prepared 5 songs and a small presentation of photos, taken during ethnographical expeditions. Apart from Shuma, the presentation will be visited by Belarusian artist Zoya Lutsevich.

Photo: www.budzma.org