by Sandy | Oct 22, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, dvd
“Precious Ramotswe“ is Botswana‘s only female private investigator – the main character of the HBO series, now on DVD. Directed by the late Anthony Minghella, “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency “, was produced for the BBC in 2008 and then shown in the U.S. in 2009. It is based on the popular book series by Alexander McCall Smith.
“Precious” is played by Grammy winner Jill Scott. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose and Idris Elba from “The Wire” are also part of the great cast. As in the books, our bush tea drinking, lady sleuth tracks down wayward husbands, missing children and solves village mysteries all the while keeping to the traditions of her culture and maintaining the standards of both Queen Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela (she admires both).
There are 3 DVDs in the set and I enjoyed them all.“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency“ has charm and heart. Great fun.
BTW: I noticed a few years back that Ms Ramotswe and the author’s name were listed week after week on the SF & Bay area California paper back bestseller list. I discovered that the Botswana detective has a worldwide cult following.
Books in the series:
* 1998 .The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
* 2000 .Tears Of The Giraffe
* 2001 .Morality for Beautiful Girls
* 2002 .The Kalahari Typing School for Men
* 2004 .The Full Cupboard of Life
* 2004 .In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
* 2006 .Blue Shoes and Happiness
* 2007 .The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
by Bob Martin | Oct 18, 2009 | Art, Arts, Entertainment and Music, Creativity, Culture, Exhibits, Galleries, Museums
There are great history lessons contained with in the biography of an artist and the work that he or she produces. The first major 
exhibit of the works of the Armenian born Painter Arshile Gorky will be at the Grand Opening Cafesjian Center for the Arts from Nov. 8th to January 31 2010.
“The stuff of thought is the seed of the artist. Dreams from the bristles of the artists brush. As the eye functions as the brain’s sentry, I communicate my innermost perceptions through the art, my worldview.” – Arshile Gorky – “Abstract Expressionism”, by Barbara Hess
Gorky and his family fled the Armenian Genocide in 1915 when he was thought to be about 10 years old and eventually was able to migrate to the United States in 1920. His paintings tell me a lot about his life, what he he knew and what he wanted to find out his own life.
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by Sandy | Oct 14, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Writers
Blonde Faith, is the final book of the popular series, written by Walter Mosley.
We were introduced to Easy Rawlins in Devil in a Blue Dress, 1990. (This was also made into a great 1995 movie with Denzel as “Easy” and Don Cheadle as his explosively, lethal buddy “Mouse”.)
“Easy” becomes a reluctant private investigator in 50’s L.A. and the 10 books span a 20 year journey. What makes the perspective so interesting and different is that in addition to solving “who dunnits” (or, who didn’t) we get a chance to follow the black detective as he maneuvers gingerly thru life making a living, forming relationships, etc. in an often hostile environment. Very entertaining!
Easy Rawlins mysteries
Devil in a Blue Dress (1990)
A Red Death (1991)
White Butterfly (1992)
Black Betty (1994)
A Little Yellow Dog (1996)
Gone Fishin’ (1997)
Bad Boy Brawly Brown (2002)
Six Easy Pieces (2003)
Little Scarlet (2004)
Cinnamon Kiss (2005)
Blonde Faith (2007)
by Sandy | Oct 8, 2009 | Art, Artist, Blogroll, Culture, Museums
Modernist Uruguayan painter Joaquín Torres-García (1874—1949) “one of the most influential artists of the early 20th century to have emerged from Latin America” will have is work presented at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston until 11/29/09.
“Joaquin Torres-Garcia: Paintings in Houston Collection”
Until November 29, 2009
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, MFAH
by Sandy | Oct 7, 2009 | Arts, Entertainment and Music, Blogroll, Books, Culture, Museums
An article by Fred Kaplan, “1959: Sex, Jazz, and Datsuns” featured in the June 8, 2009 of New York Magazine determines that 1959 was an important year for music, politics, world dynamics, social issues, and the arts. The 60’s might have gotten more press, but, 1959 was the year of change, innovation, out of the box thinking.
The magazine piece is based on Kaplan’s book, “1959: The Year Everything Changed”. He presents his examples of some of the greatest happenings of this special year and they include:
*Actor turned director John Cassavetes was perhaps the first “Indie” filmmaker with his partly improvised script for his movie “Shadows”.
*Completion of the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, changed the NYC sky line on the upper East Side.
*The first micro chip introduced by Texas Instruments.
*The release of the Miles Davis album (they were albums then) “Kinda Blue” (considered by many to be best jazz recording ever).
*Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro invited to NYC and staying at the St Teresa Hotel in Harlem.
*The emergence of Malcolm X and his conversations on race and politics.
Where were you in 1959?
“1959: The Year Everything Changed”, by Fred Kaplan
by Bob Martin | Oct 4, 2009 | Art, Education, Events, Exhibits, Galleries, sculptor
Part of the High School Exhibit "Face Forward" @ TCA
Had a great time at the reception of the “Faces” exhibit at the Tempe Center for the Arts, meeting some of the artists like Bailey Doogan, Linda Brandon and John Tuomisto-Bell. Another treat was watching the high school students, whose work was on display as part of the Face Forward multimedia exhibit in the TCA lobby, meet and mingle with the professional artists and guests.
Both of these shows were curated by Michelle Dock who deserves a special acknowledgement for her vision and support for young artists.
