In his home-studio on Siesta Key, the artist Viktor Mitic is laying the finishing touches on his latest work, a 12’ by 27’ painting of the D-Day invasion. He’s drawn the figures and the forms, he’s laying in the pinks and blues and greens and when he’s finished, he will hang it, load his gun and then shoot it full of holes.

But Mitic isn’t destroying, he’s creating.

Mitic has made a name for himself through his unconventional artistic processes. Before discovering his latest bullet-riddled aesthetic, Mitic created abstract work by painting in the pouring acid rain of Toronto, where he still lives part of the year, splitting his time between the Great North and Siesta Key. The rain lent his work a chaotic look and created organic spindly splotches not easily replicated, but a bout with pneumonia dampened his enthusiasm and he moved on.

It was the year 2000, he said, when he saw a slew of videos showing villagers and soldiers shooting apart religious frescoes and works of art in temples and churches. One particular instance stuck with him, a BBC report on Afghani militants destroying a 1,000 year-old statue of Buddha, and he knew what he wanted to do.

“I wanted to recreate a similar feeling, to put that feeling on canvas if possible,” said Mitic. “The first thing you feel is shock – that this shouldn’t be done. But if you carefully examine it, it looks very aesthetically pleasing.”

With his acrylics and canvas, Mitic began with religious iconography, recreating famous portraits of Jesus, Mary and even DaVinci’s Last Supper before trotting them out to the range for a heavy dose of high-velocity lead. Outlining the work with bullet holes and punctuating focal points with his rounds, the result is undoubtedly intriguing and, at times, haunting. Subjects’ eyes are a common target.

A recent installation piece inspired by the rash of school shootings rocking the country led to the creation of Incident – a classic yellow school bus shot up inside and out and looking like something from a nightmare battlefield – which toured the country including a high-profile stop in Washington D.C.

Since he began, Mitic has perfected his aim and expanded his subject matter to include topics like Americana and pop culture, in addition to world figures and Eastern Art. Marylin Monroe, Ronald McDonald and Tiger Woods have all found themselves at the receiving end of Mitic’s treatment, as well as John Lennon and JFK. For the latter subjects, Mitic said he used the same type weapon as their respective assassins.

It’s been a learning process for Mitic, who said he’s expended over 2 million rounds so far. Sometimes his aim is off and he has to begin again. But he’s enjoyed the experimentation, as different guns, bullets and distances create different effects on the canvas (some punch clean holes and other leave shiny lead splats), each with their own aesthetic advantage.

Oddly enough, Mitic does not own a gun, instead renting at the range. He insists he is not anti-gun and does not aim to deliver a political message through his work. However, the ease with which he accesses multitudes of firearms and ammunition is it’s own meta-commentary, he said.

“100 years ago, it was almost impossible for an artist to do something like this – it would be cost-prohibitive, “said Mitic. “But at this point and time, there’s an abundance of these things.”

His purpose as an artist is something much grander, if not so distinct or concrete. Mitic is the classic artist, revealing and magnifying, not preaching. The work confronts but does not tell and leaves the viewer to figure what it is they just saw and what it means to them.

“My work is often an unconscious reaction to our time,” said Mitic. “The artist should, depending on their situation, not limit themselves to a political stance. I present the viewer with images and situations, but not politics or causes.” 

Tom Murray was well-known within Sarasota's film community for documentaries exploring the real-life challenges of being a homosexual. Now his final story is set to screen at the Fabulous Independent Film Festival, which will premiere the late director's last work as the centerpiece film on Saturday. Murray’s Queerituality, a documentary interviewing members of the LGBT community about their own spirituality, screens Saturday evening at Burns Court Cinema.

“Tom Murray was a very kind and inquisitive man,” said Magida Diouri, Fabulous IFF founder. “He loved making documentaries and I have presented every one of his films over the years.  It is an honor to be able to present his last film. “

Diouri, who ran the Gay and Lesbian Film Celebration before founding the Fabulous IFF, showcased many of Murray's prior works, including Tell, a documentary about the impact of the military's don't-ask-don't-tell policy, and Almost Myself, a documentary about exploring the lives of transgender individuals and the diversity within that community. During his lifetime, Murray's work was shown through national distribution, including broadcasts on Logo TV.

He has explored the subject of spirituality and homosexuality before. The documentary Fish Can't Fly is among the director's most acclaimed work. The full-length film explored the lived of people of faith who survived traumas inflicted upon homosexuals by the "ex-gay" movement.

Murray died in 2010 of a fatal heart attack while he was still finishing Queerituality. Diouri, who had showcased previous Murray films in at Fabulous IFF and before that at the Gay and Lesbian Film Celebration, had spoken with Murray about the film prior to his death. “He was just doing the finishing touches,” she recalls. “Then two later he passed away.”

Since then, she has spoken regularly with Murray’s partner about the film. The footage needed a solid editor to make a final cut, and in the last few months a satisfactory product came together. Gaylon Emerzian, of Trillium Productions in Chicago, put together the version that will screen at the festival and is credited as a producer as well.

Diouri said the movie itself is fascinating, especially in the wake of societal changes since Murray’s death. “The subject matter is also so very timely, especially in the political climate the world is experiencing right now.,” she said. He was seeking answers on spirituality, religion and he patiently went about to find them.  I also really enjoy how things tend to fall into place without much prompting. A simple question started the process."

The Fabulous IFF kicks off tonight with a 7:30pm screening of Blackburn, starring Mo'Nique and Isaiah Washington, followd by a cocktail party at MADE at 9:30pm and a dance party at Throb at 11pm. Queerituality will host its world premiere Saturday at 8pm at Burns Court Cinema. The festival wraps Sunday night with a reception at Caragiulos at 9:30pm. 

Check out our coverage of the festival at SRQ Backlot, SRQ's dedicated film blog.

SRQ Backlot

Moved From: A very small town in the very northeast corner of Iowa.  Elgin, Iowa to be exact. My Profession There: Vice President of Collections/Partner in Outsourcing Firm. Friday Nights There: Bonfires in the backyard with the neighbors.

Why I Moved: To start a new life adventure in a warmer climate. Now I Am: Helping my Husband and Brother with a new venture.  They just purchased Sarasota Wind and Water Adventures, which is an amazing company that rents out all sorts of pleasure water crafts and teaches water skiing. Friday Nights Now: Every other Friday is spent with a new group of friends eating together, laughing, singing and reading the Bible.

First Impressions: Everyone is so nice and they gather you in like family! Biggest Potential Community Mistake:  Making the fire department respond to every fender bender accident/911 call, even if there are no injuries.  It seems like a huge waste of money, not to mention the wear and tear on the vehicles. My Vision: To make others feel as welcomed and included as I have felt since moving here. 

The law firm of Blalock Walters, P.A. is pleased to announce that Michael D. Magidson, a principal with the Firm, has become certified as an expert in Health Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education.  He is now one of only 127 Board-certified health lawyers in Florida, out of over 98,000 Florida lawyers.  Blalock Walters is now one of the few law firms in Florida with 3 or more Board-certified health lawyers.  Nearly half of Blalock Walters’ 22 attorneys are now Board-certified across 7 practice areas. 

Blalock Walters

Quantum Materials Corporation today announced the purchase of five diverse sets of patent families from Bayer Technology Services GmbH, the global technological backbone and major innovation driver for Bayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany. The patents acquired provide broad intellectual property protection for advances Quantum Materials has achieved in economical high-volume quantum dot (QD) manufacturing.  The patent families were acquired through a cash purchase agreement and financial details will remain private. 

Quantum Materials Corp

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight has been selected to attend Leadership Florida, a statewide community of leaders actively engaged in understanding this state. The mission of Leadership Florida is to enhance and recharge the leadership skills of its carefully chosen members and to educate and inspire them to work across their strengths and diversities for a better Florida.  

www.SarasotaSheriff.org

Announcing the panelists for the Elected Mayor symposium. Join SRQ | The Magazine and panelists, Del D. Borgsdorf, Grants Committee Co-Chair, The Community Foundation at The Venice Golf and Country Club, Mollie Cardamone, Founder, Cardamone Consulting and Former Mayor of Sarasota, Peter Fanning, President, Main Street Connection, MSC Managing Member Digital Wi-Fi Solutions, DWS, Chris Gallagher, Chair-Elect, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and Wayne H. Poston, Mayor and Police Commissioner of the City of Bradenton, to deconstruct the why, the who, and the what now on this issue. This panel discussion is on Thursday, September 25, 2014, from 7:30-9am at The Francis. Symposium tickets are $35/person and include breakfast buffet.  

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