by Sandy | May 30, 2009 | Art, Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Museums
“Unbounded: New Art for a New Century”
The Newark Museum has grouped together 50 works of the last 15 years by artists that represent creativity from all parts of the world. Painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and jewelry are examples of “global” art for modern times.
Included are sculptor Martin Puryear, ceramic artist Diego Romero, painter Kwesi Owusu-Ankomah, sculptor Lu Wen Xia, photographer Lorna Simpson, Tibetan artist Gonkar Gyatso, mixed media artist Senzeni Marasela and many more.
According to the program curators, the exhibit is “A dynamic thematic display highlighting the universal concerns and ideas that inspire artistic creativity, creating unexpected connections or groupings that transcend traditional divisions based on geography, genre or media.“
The Newark Museum – Until 8/16/09
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
Images:
Martin Puryear – Painted and unpainted pine, found wheelbarrow, 2006
Kwesi Owusu-Ankomah – “Off My Back”1995, Acrylic on canvas
by Sandy | May 27, 2009 | Art, Artist, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Exhibits, Museums
The High Museum in Atlanta has borrowed 4 of French Impressionist artist Claude Monet’s paintings, from MoMA in NYC, for a special presentation beginning June 4 – August 23, 2009.
“Monet Water Lilies” features some of the work Monet, 1840- 1926, created while in the midst of his beloved garden and water lily ponds in Giverny, France:
“Water Lilies” 1920, “The Japanese Footbridge” 1922, “Agapanthus” 1918 and the huge 42 foot wide triptych “Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond”
Monet Water Lilies * 6/4 thru 8/23/09
The High Museum, 1280 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309
Images: “Water Lilies”, 1908, Monet in his garden, 1922
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by Sandy | May 22, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Culture
I love the Travel Channel – they work really hard to create something different in the tried and true travel/ pretty pictures genre. I happened to run across a “sports” show called, “Dhani Travels the Globe”. Dhani (pronounced DaHani) Jones, linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, is the host of this program devoted to exploring “the way sports helps to define a culture”. His intent is to get to know people around the world by learning the games they play.
He has visited Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Thailand, Spain, Russia and Ireland. We watch as Dhani gamely tries his best to keep up with the locals in their favorite sports. He is a nice guy and a good sport.
“Dhani Travels the Globe”
The Travel Channel – check local listings
Dhani has a blog – http://dhani-blog.travelchannel.com/
*Travel Channel photos: Dhani surfing and Scuba diving in Australia and Dhani in Thailand trying out Muay Thai
by Sandy | May 17, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Film, Movies
There has been a lot of bad news in the last few months. In reaction, there seems to be a collective sphincter tightening around the country, whether it’s for real or imaginary reasons. Life is one long running, continuous advent calendar. Each day, you lift a flap and there is that day’s “gift”. Another disaster, another tale of horror – yech!
However, there is a silver lining to all this. “Out of chaos there is opportunity”. People are going to the movies this year in droves – escapist, romantic comedies, 3D!, doesn’t matter. Hollywood is having a great recession. DVDs are also experiencing an uptick. Swine flu outbreaks and lost jobs = “lets rent a movie!”. I get it.
I try to combat all the toxic images/stories that bombard me all day by finding something to smile about. A movie works for me too. I enjoy light fluffy, Fred and Ginger movies – “The Gay Divorcee”, “Swing Time”, “Top Hat”. (These little musical romances supported the spirits of the folks who lived thru the depression we labeled “Great”.)
Other favorites, “Some Like It Hot” 1959– Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and “Singin’ In the Rain” 1952– Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds. Everyone remembers the Gene Kelly singing/splashing in the rain scene, but my favorite is Donald O’Connor tap dancing his way up a wall. Saw this movie the first time at Radio City Music Hall when I was a kid and I couldn’t believe it. I was delighted, couldn’t figure out how he did it, etc. I was impressed then, and I still am. Love it. (Interesting that they take place in the same time period– 20’s to 30’s.)
Of course you can find more current funny movies/ DVDs (Monty Python!) out there. Regardless of what you choose to watch – the intent is to raise the mood so that hopefully the glass looks half full, instead of half empty.
Hooray for Hollywood!
by Sandy | May 13, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, music
The song “Because of You”, number #1 pop single of 1951, was my introduction to Tony Bennett. My mother loved that song and when my mom loved a song, she would play it over and over. (I occasionally shock myself when I hear something on the radio or in a movie and I start to hum/sing along to a song from the 40’s or 50’s and not remember why I know it. Its like I heard them in my crib and the words and melodies of Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, and a few Broadway show tunes, are in my bones)
But, back to Mr. Bennett, I received a DVD of his called “Duets: An American Classic“awhile back and I listened to it again. He sings with assorted pop stars like John Legend, Elton John, Christina Aguilera (He sings “Because of you” with K.D. Lang, “Smile” with Barbra Streisand, “For Once in My Life” with Stevie Wonder)
Fun to see these youngsters work at holding their own
with this octogenarian – who btw, just seems to be having a great time
with it all. I enjoyed it.
“BECAUSE OF YOU” (Written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson for the movie “I Was An American Spy”)
Because of you there’s a song in my heart
Because of you my romance had its start
Because of you the sun will shine
The moon and stars will say you’re mine
Forever and never to part…
by Sandy | May 9, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Culture, Directors, Film, Movies
Director Spike is known for his movies – “Malcom X”, “The 25th Day” , “The Insider” and “Miracle of St. Anna” .
He makes good movies and sometimes great ones, but he also makes documentaries. He takes a risk and will veer from the fictional format that he’s conquered, to much acclaim, ever since his first films, “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Do The Right Thing”. When he tackles real events, the results are supreme.
“When the Levees Broke: Requiem in Four Acts”, originally HBO and now in DVD, was moving to watch because he let the people of New Orleans tell their stories about what happened in September 2005 when water and wind ravaged their city. Not out to ridicule or embarrass (like some recent “documentaries”), no need to fictionalize the tragedy- it is raw, angry, direct, sad.
Mr. Lee’s 1998 documentary – “4 Little Girls” also on DVD, is about the bombing of the 16th street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 and the little girls that died in the blast– he allows rage and grief to be expressed in a straight forward way. He also gives some insight into to what the racial climate was like before the tragedy and how the people of Birmingham dealt with the aftermath.
Spike’s films are often terrific. His documentaries have been terrific and powerful, always.
I’m looking forward to see his latest:
* The coming of age musical “Passing Strange”. I saw it on Broadway and was thoroughly charmed and entertained by “Stew”, who wrote the book, lyrics and music along with Heidi Rodewald.
* “Kobe Doin’ Work” about Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant
