Chandra Melting Tallow

October 23 2022

Oki my name is Chandra Melting Tallow, I’m a Niitsitapi interdisciplinary visual artist, musician (Mourning Coup). My mom and dad are both from Siksika Nation and I also have German and British ancestry. I’ve been actively making all kinds of work since 2008 including noise, experimental film, performance art, sound art, textile installation, illustration, I’ve scored films, published a collection of both short stories and poetry, and acted in a Red Cross public service announcement when I was 18 years old.

This month I’m going to be sharing some film photos that I haven’t shared publicly before. Enjoyyyyy

October 24 2022

2018 down the street from Powerhouse in Victoria, Lekwungen territory.

Image credit: @mourningcoup

A hand reaches up to touch a blooming rose, overcast skies, and a backyard garden in the background. There are some cool looking rings on the fingers of the hand, one with an eyeball on it, one with a turquoise stone in it. The hand touches the flower tenuously and with care.⁠ The light in this photograph seems particularily analog, and has a film feel to it.⁠

October 25 2022

This was taken in 2012 in my old apartment in Victoria, I briefly lived there for 6 months working at the university. This was right around the time I recorded Master in the apartment in one five minute take.

I don’t know how I never managed to get a noise complaint.⁠

A gigantic white fringe hangs on the wall in a sound studio. The white fringe covers the entire wall, it seems like it is 6' tall and 9' across or so. Along the floor of the studio is a series of keyboards, and mixers, and on the floor, an array of cords. ⁠The left side of the image is more blown out, and there are light speckles on the right end of the image, dancing in the shadows on the wall. I think there is a window letting light in to the left of the frame.

Two white, gauzy curtains close 1/3 of the window on either side of a gorgeous central window, which looks out to an overcast sky, with a tree outside of it. A sparse mattress lays in the centre of the room, with earth toned blankets on it. On the window sill there is a framed black and white photograph, sitting in the centre, with carefully placed objects on either side of it. The light falls softly onto the mattress.

October 26 2022

My old studio apartment in Victoria in 2012. I personally couldn’t stand having no furniture but at the time it was very intentional and I loved it. ⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

October 27 2022

In 2012 I went to Istanbul for a month and a half to participate in a performance art festival and workshop. I didn’t bring enough money so I ended up couch surfing and going on public transit to sightsee while I lugged around a giant copy of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. I didn’t have a cell or know how to work the pay phones there and when I asked for help, no one I asked knew how either so making plans was a delicate operation. I met a lot of really amazing people that I still talk to today :’)
Image credit: @mourningcoup

On the edge of the film photograph, there is a light flare which streaks vertically down the right side of the image. The rest of the image is oversaturated with light. Chandra stands in the centre of the image, beside some spraypainted street art, with eye ball flowers that are growing out of the sidewalk onto the building behind her.

October 28 2022

Istanbul 2012 cont.
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

A film photograph, with either side of the image featuring slightly blown out lights, so that on the left it is a yellow vertical streak, and on the right side, an orangey red vertical streak appears. In the centre of the image there is a dark landscape, with the horizon line at the midpoint of the photo. In the sky there are swarms of birds flying. It looks like this is taken at an oceanside, but the photo is so dark that I am not certain. Either way it is haunting, and beautiful.⁠

October 29 2022

In 2009 I attended a field school program to study Film and Art History in India. This was taken during our month long stay in New Delhi at the the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

A busy street in New Dehli is shown. In the centre of the image is a cow, laying down on the road, and two Indian men in casual, yet traditional dress, walking beside the cow. Behind the cow there are bikes, peoole, and businesses living life as per usual. The light is slightly overexposed, with an abundance of light and earth tones, with pops of red on a bicycle, an awning, and someones's shirt.

A left hand, presumably Chandra's hand, extends out toward the wall. Her longish fingernails are painted with a shiny silver irridescent nailpolish, and there is a silver ring on her ring finger. ⁠There is a soft circle of light around the hand, and a vertical streak of fuscia red light appears on the right edge of the photograph, hovering in the muted darkness.⁠

October 30 2022

I took this photo in Victoria in 2012, I miss this dress, I regret getting rid of it everyday. ⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

October 31 2022

My very dear friend Gabe Hill in 2016 in Oakland. I stayed with her during my first and only tour I’ve ever done opening for the band Underpass. ⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

A van, decked out with earth toned curtains, a cushioned area, and low light sets the stage for a single seated figure, seated comfortably and casually, in an intimate setting.⁠

Alex smiles and looks at the camera. There are 3 other people in the photograph. They are on the beach, it is windy, there are blue skies, and a nice windy looking beach area. ⁠
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November 1 2022

This was taken in March 2016 in San Diego right before I went on tour with Underpass. Feat. legend Alex Miranda and the backs of Dan Lyon, Nevada Nieves, and Nikki’s heads.⁠
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Image description:⁠ Alex smiles and looks at the camera. There are 3 other people in the photograph. They are on the beach, it is windy, there are blue skies, and a nice windy looking beach area. ⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

November 2 2022

During the Underpass tour we happened to be in the Bay Area at the same time as the band Tough Customer so I went and followed them around for a day, I’m pretty sure this was taken in Lakeside Park but I can’t totally remember. Katayoon asked for a makeover and here she is removing the make up I did for her

A sunny afternoon. There are four figures in this photo. the central figure is removing make up from her face. The people in this photo are young, fashionable, and casually spread out over some grass in the park.⁠

November 3 2022

Alex Miranda again with Nevada Nieves in San Diego 2016. We spent a week there while Underpass practiced for tour in Ocean Beach and that’s where I learned what a Açai Bowl is.

Alex and Nevada are standing and crouching respectively, along a green grassy backdrop with palm trees and a hazy blue sky. ⁠

Five white shirts spread on a kitchen and livingroom floor with the words "mourning coup" silkscreened across them. ⁠

November 4 2022

The first and only time I made merch while I was housesitting in 2015, I think there are only 12 of these shirts in existence. ⁠

November 5 2022

The elusive Morgan Cook of Gary Cassettes in her beautiful shed that we used to spend hours talking together in, 2015.⁠

A beautiful photograph with an abundance of light browns, beiges, and some dark tones. A cozy looking shed, the door open, a vintage bedsheet curtain up, second hand / thrift store / vintage chairs, side tables, and simple shelves up in the shed to make it cozy and nice. Candles are everywhere. In the doorway stands Morgan, in a long overcoat, lighting a cigarette. ⁠

A turquoise wall of a diner, with pictures on it. The back of a man in a grey cowboy button up shirt (probably with pearl button snaps), with his coat hung up on the chair he is sitting at. He looks like he is quietly eating his breakfast, or lunch, enjoying his own company. ⁠

November 6 2022

Idk I just liked his vibe, Port Coquitlam 2014⁠

November 7 2022

In 2015 I was in a Halloween cover band with Luna Nuhić (Other Jesus, Champion Lawn Mower), Kaitlin McMillan (Tough Customer, Divorcer), and Marita Michaelis (Underpass, Divorcer). We performed at Red Gate and I dressed as Takashi Mizutani from Les Rallizes Denudes. I got so carried away during our cover of Cool that I threw my wig into the crowd. It was one of my only experiences being in a band and I would do it again in a hot minute pls dm me if you want to do a Halloween cover band thx

Four members of Stream Pylon are in this photo. There is a sparse practice room, with on person on drums, two on guitar, and Chandra on vocals. All the bodies in this photo look female, but I hesitate to gender anyone. Chandra is scowling into the camera, unimpressed. The guitar player behind them kicks up their leg and has their hands on their head.⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

The backdrop is a deep green garden space with a lush grassy patch and massive flower bushes at the centre, that span out from there, extending to the top of the photograph. I want to say that there are 3 different kinds of rhododendrons in this photo, but I do not know for sure. ⁠
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The main figure has an oversized black Alice Cooper tshirt that has been turned into a crop top, with the arms cut off. Her black jeans are visible at the bottom of the photograph, with her backpack hanging off one shoulder, and her other arm holding her jacket. Chloe's dark hair is cut into a blunt bob, and she has a tattoo on her right shoulder. Her back is to us, and it looks like she is unaware of the photo being taken. If she is aware of the photo being taken, she is at ease. ⁠

November 8 2022

One of my best friends Chloe during her Alice Cooper hyperfixation in 2015⁠

November 9 2022

A better look at the makeover I gave the multi talented Jack of All Trades Katayoon Yousefbigloo in 2015 in Oakland in the park.

There is a rich green tapestry of grass and cushy moss behind the central and only figure in this image. Katayoon lays back in the grass, with white sunglasses, and red lipstick that goes out 1" past the edge of where her lips lie on either side of her face. This might be referencing the Joker or maybe it's just avant guarde make up? In either case, she looks relaxed and is laying comfortably on the grass with her white tshirt and worn in denim jacket, her arms folded casually on her stomache.⁠

November 10 2022

My first solo exhibition in 2013 at Whippersnapper Gallery in Toronto named Baby Blue, just like my album. ⁠

This photograph is taken outside of the Whippersnapper Gallery, looking in. Chandra's work is seen through the giant wall to ceiling windows in the front of the gallery, and the open door. There is a large fabric sculpture hanging inside the gallery that fills the entire inside space up. The outside of the Whippersnapper is painted black, while the inside walls of the gallery are white, and Chandra's sculpture is pale beige with some lighter tones in it. I would say that the sculpture inside reminds me of light beige curtains with floral roses on it, that have been cut vertically so that the whole things is a giant fringe, which has then been pinned up against and through itself to give movement to the sculpture. From the photograph itself, this amount of detail is hard to decipher, so I am using my whimsy and observational skills to deduce what may or may not be happening inside this installation space. It invites you and you want to go in. ⁠
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November 11 2022

Baby Blue installation WIP, feat hydrangeas and live pomegranates. 2013, Toronto. ⁠

An over exposed photograph, featuring a detailed shot of hydrangeas and pomegranates on a white backdrop. You get the sense it is a part of something more that is outside the frame. A part of me wishes to zoom out to see the whole installation.⁠

A palm of a hand with an eye tattooed in the centre of the palm fills 2/3 of the image on the left side of the photograph. There are 9 lines coming off the bottom of the eye, to form a triangle, the 5th line at the centre being the longest line. It looks like the tattoo is about 1" x 1". Behind the hand there is a white cherry blossom tree in bloom, or maybe it is a dogwood variety. The feeling is etheric and open. You want to believe. ⁠

November 12 2022

I got this tattoo for my 26 birthday of the Mourning Coup symbol, everyone told me it would fade but it didn’t! My only tattoo. I love cherry blossoms.

November 13 2022

Lucky Supermarket in Mohkinstsis in 2015. I used to go to this grocery store in the North East when I was a teenager with my friends and buy chips and pop

An overcast, primarily grey, white, and beige colored photograph with the red, clear letters of LUCKY SUPERMARKET across the middle of the photograph. Lucky Supermarket appears to be not well populated with customers, as the parking lot is mostly empty, with one figure standing in the parking lot in a blue workwear overalls, with a reflective X on their back, and two reflective stripes on the bottom of the cuffs of the overall. ⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

a grey overcast photo image to reveal a scene from Mubai, old cars, landscape with shipping containers or some dividing wall up half way through the frame with a person standing small in front of it.⁠

November 14 2022

I took this in 2009 in Mumbai, I found this roll of film at the bottom of a box five years ago and had no idea what was on it and it turned out to be more photos from when I did my art history field school program. ⁠

November 15 2022

Morgan Cook smoking cigs and gardening, very good. 2016 Powerhouse.⁠

a stark contrast photo with a blonde haired girl in the front and centre of the image, gardening in pots and planters, whilst smoking cigarrettes. ⁠

a purpley blue overtone to this photo shows three female bodied people playing music in a warehouse type setting. Two synthesizers, with Chandra on vocals, crouched down on the floor, mixing effects on her music pad. ⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

November 16 2022

This isn’t a film photo but it’s fun to share. In 2015 I performed with Mourning Coup as a band with Bara Hladik and Claire Newton (Cave Girl) and this was taken at the Fingers Crossed studio in Vancouver 🤗⁠

November 17 2022

Bara Hladik in 2014 at Peoples Pigeon Park, back when we would wander around all day smoking blunts and drinking too much coffee.⁠

⁠a closeup shot of a pale skinned girl, warmly dressed in a scarf, fur rimmed hat, wooly sweater and jacket, smoking a coffee on an afternoon wander with Chandra.⁠
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Image credit: @mourningcoup

bright light falls through a 1" open window and onto the wall to the right of it. There is an Underpass poster on the wall, and a painting of a moon or a moody circle beside it.⁠

November 18 2022

My old apartment in 2015 Feat. @underpassband poster. ⁠

bright light falls through a 1″ open window and onto the wall to the right of it. There is an Underpass poster on the wall, and a painting of a moon or a moody circle beside it.⁠

November 19 2022

My beautiful friend Aileen Bryant who passed away in 2019. Brilliant musician and brilliant mind. ⁠