Angelina Burcar | 2025 Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipient

Angelina Burcar accepting her award at the recent Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipient Ceremony in August 2025.

Last month, The Sunset project was honored to announce Angelina Burcar of Alpena, Michigan, as one of five Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipients for 2025!

Angelina is a self-taught musician and photographer specializing in music media and marketing, with a deep passion for elevating Alpena’s underground music scene.

We recently sat down with Angelina to discuss her unique story, why she applied for this year's grant cycle, and what she hopes to utilize her funding for. Check it out!

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Hi Angelina, can you introduce yourself quickly to those who may not know you already?

My name is Angelina Burcar, but I am known to most as Angel. I am a self-taught musician and photographer in Alpena, Michigan, and my creative pursuit is music media and marketing.

How would you describe your creative interest to someone unfamiliar with it?

Music media and marketing is a short way to say that I work with musicians through photography, short-form videography, designing flyers, as well as assisting in social media management. As a musician, I know that these are important when it comes to sharing information about shows, song releases, and upcoming projects. Being able to catch an audience's attention visually means that there’s a higher chance of people interacting with the music and the musicians. Alpena’s music scene is outstanding, but underground. It could be a noteworthy talking point around town, just with more outreach, and I’d love to share it!

What initially inspired your interest in this space?

I have always loved taking photos, but the entire reason I began to pursue photography was because of my partner, Ben, who is the lead singer and guitarist in our band. We have been playing music together since we met in middle school, and we reconnected as adults. I watched him perform and had the urge to capture the passion and talent I was witnessing. He was also the reason I started to play bass after a hiatus of a few years. I had been taking photos and making flyers for the band for a while before I was asked about playing bass for a last-minute show in Ypsilanti. I had about two weeks to learn their entire discography, and I never looked back.

Another inspiration is my best friend, Lindsay of Lindsay Jane Art. She is always encouraging and supporting me. Having a friend who is also a creative has been beyond helpful. We often use our talents in different areas to better each other's artistic endeavors; I take photos of her events, she takes photos of my shows. I assist her with social media, and she assists me with physical media. Nothing beats having someone always ready to boost you up. Love you, Linds!

What's one of your most memorable experiences or milestones from your creative journey?

The biggest milestone for me was the shift from asking people if I could take their photos or make flyers to being asked. I have been doing free photoshoots to build my portfolio for about a year now, and having people reach out for photoshoots makes me realize that my dedication to photography is not going to waste; I can really pursue this as a career.

Angelina, her family, and friends pose for a photo together at the recent Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant Recipient Ceremony in August 2025.

How have challenges or setbacks helped shape your creative process?

My biggest setback at the moment is that I edit everything on my phone using mobile or free versions of desktop editing software, which are very limited compared to what the full desktop version provides. Emulating a simple editing technique takes more time and steps. These apps tend to crash frequently, overheat my phone, and drain my battery. I could be creating at a higher quality and more efficiently if I had the equipment.

However, these challenges have not stopped me. Perseverance and figuring out how to use my skills to the best of my ability have been a core part of the learning process for me. It has shown me that this is not just a hobby - this is something I am dedicated to, regardless of setbacks.

How do you envision your creative interest evolving over the next year?

I have recently begun collaborating with the Thunder Bay Folk Society, both as a musician and by creating media for them. I have plans to create a zine and blog based on the Alpena music scene in collaboration with the non-profit. I’ll be able to meet a lot of local musicians, artists, and go to more events, hopefully helping me network. The Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant is going to advance my artistic endeavors past what was previously possible. Now, I know I’ll be able to deliver premium media for not only the organization, but also optimistically future clients.

How do you plan to utilize your grant funding to further your creative interest, journey, and process?

I am hoping to use the Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant to fund the purchase of a laptop to edit on. I was very fortunate to have been gifted my camera a few years ago, but since all editing is done through my phone, I have a difficult time with the quality of my art and the time it takes to edit. Having a laptop where I could use the full versions of editing software would change so much for me. Not only would it mean I could meet industry standards, but it would also boost my confidence, quieting my imposter syndrome.

Do you have any advice to share with someone looking to pursue their own creative interests?

Never stop experimenting. When you experiment, there’s less pressure for perfection. Let yourself make mistakes or try an art style you wouldn’t normally gravitate towards. I would have never taken some of my favorite photos if I had just stuck with my past shooting and editing style. It keeps passion for the craft alive!

Are there any social media profiles, websites, or other resources where our readers can follow your journey and support your work?

My band's Instagram is @mercier.music and Mercíer on Facebook

(with the acute accent on the letter i)

My photography page is on Instagram as @angeltakesphotographs

Is there anything else you'd like to share about The Sunset Project, or your experience in the Sawyer J. Boyd Creatives Grant program thus far?

Last year, one of my photos was an honorable mention for the FOCUS45 Amateur Photography Contest. I tend to undermine my work, and I had only submitted a photo to push myself out of my comfort zone, not expecting anything to come of it. When I saw that the public had chosen my photo as one of seven winners out of a pool of over 50 submissions with around 500 voters, I couldn’t believe it. I finally saw that my art was notable to others, and I have been much more adventurous because of that experience.

Thank you to the Sunset Project for everything the organization provides for artists in the community. Receiving this grant will change so much for me, and I am beyond grateful!