Cans, Culture, & Community

The Filmmaker’s Log

Log Entry 332

Babe Walls Festival #3
Fort Yates, ND. 2022

This shoot with Babe Walls marked my third time working with them—and every time, I leave more inspired than when I showed up. It’s long shoot days but their mission pulled me in from the start, and the community they've built that keeps me coming back.

This was their third annual festival, where the vibe was pure collaboration. No egos. Just artists showing up to make incredible work and lift each other up and man do I love it!

Female artist with a long braid down her back sprays a wall with spray paint for the creation of a mural.
Artists covered in paint sit next to each other on boxes of spray paint enjoying the sun. One hugs a super cute dog.

A BabeWalls festival is just a laid-back long weekend where you’re just out making art with your friends—I’ll never say no to that.

Danielle SeeWalker had a huge role in organizing this year’s festival, and hearing about how much it meant to bring the event to her home really stuck with me. This shoot was a mix of storytelling and celebration I won’t forget.

When I work with Babe Walls it is always just me, my camera, and a whole lot of amazing murals going up fast. I’m always in awe of how much these artists accomplish in such a short time—and how open they are in sharing their stories and their culture.

four artists rest on some cardboard boxes after a day of mural work. Talking with each other and facing away from the camera.

Production Highlights:

  • 20+ Interviews in under 3 days - trying not to fry in the summer sun, working around mural progress, and making time to capture all the B-Roll Magic.

  • Capturing powerful moments and learning about the Lakota culture & traditions

  • Working alongside these inspirational, incredible ladies and non binary artists for the third year running.

From Babe Walls, about our project —

“Erin is a true professional & really does her research when it comes to her documentary projects. We were lucky to work with her.”

— Romelle

Female artist in a denim hat paints a mural in front of her with her back to the camera. Framed by green and Sunburnt Studios.

Babe Walls Festival ‘20 & ‘21.

Check out our two previous videos with Babe Walls! We filmed with them back in 2020 in Westminster, CO. and 2021 in Arvada, CO.

These shoots are always a bit of chaos—but the fun kind. The kind that leaves you dancing with energy and ready to go make something else. That’s what Babe Walls does best: it inspires.

2022

2021

Would I do it all again? Without a doubt.

Embrace the chaos. That’s the good stuff.