2025 HOLD FAST Roundup!
CRAIG FRANCIS POWER 2025 HOLD FAST FESTIVAL REVIEW
“Hold Fast and Eastern Edge Gallery continue to play such vital roles in our community and beyond”
The 2025 Festival Report comprises of HOLD FAST 2025 Roundup! a review by Riddle Fence’s Craig Francis Power, and is accompanied by documentation from official festival photographer Shireen Merchant.
Click here to read the Riddle Fence review.
Craig Francis Power (he/him) is a visual artist and the award-winning author of three novels. Total Party Kill, his first collection of poetry forthcoming from Breakwater Books in Fall 2024, is an exploration of addiction and sobriety through the vernacular, imagery, and lore of Dungeons & Dragons, the Fantasy-themed table-top role-playing game. He lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland (Ktaqmkuk) with his partner, daughter, dog, and cat.
Shireen Merchant is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Originally from Pakistan, she moved to Canada to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. Her practice explores themes of self-identity, South Asian culture, resettlement, and the meaning of home, using a range of media to express layered personal and cultural narratives.
In addition to her artistic work, Shireen is the Program Manager at Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios. It was in this creative environment that her interest in photography took root, particularly in documenting the diverse work of the ten resident artists. With a focus on product and event photography, Shireen has developed a distinct visual storytelling style that highlights the vibrancy of contemporary craft.
Thank you to everyone whose performances, installations, volunteering, and participation made this year’s HOLD FAST an unforgettable experience for our community!
