 |
Dylan and his light bulb, from the 1967 documentary Don't Look Back
|
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
To anyone google searching: "bob dylan light bulb"
I made this for you.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Grayed Jade
I dreamt that I found a clothing store with a section devoted to clothes inspired by costumes from the preeminent Vampire romance movie, Let the Right One In. The movie was artfully shot, psychologically twisted and had a balanced amount of heartclutching horror and adorableness. The girl on the right, Eli, wore a lot of grayed jade--one of the pantone people's 'in' colors for spring. I'm probably a little too stoked on this color, which you can see in the kaleidoscoped nail polish and soon-to-be scarf.
.JPG)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Two Oh Oh Thirteen
I'm really happy with my completion of several New Years resolutions from 2012. I interned at the Guardian, woo! I got a position at Volta Press (but didn't really follow through since it was such a small place and I was disappointed to find they didn't actually set type but used polymer plates instead). I read a bunch of the epics, (Ulysses will carry over into my 2013 list though). Didn't take Japanese, but applied for the JET program, and hey, that's a big step! And...I did paint a landscape, but I think it was worth it:
So here goes 2013:
1. Do at least one freelance piece a month.
2. Do at least one serious painting a month.
3. Finish Ulysses.
4. READ THE NEWS ... daily.
5. Start tagging.
6. Take either Japanese or Art.
7. More figure drawing.
8. Make a website.
I have really positive feelings about this year. I have a new job, plenty of free time, and just scored a spot in a really cool artist co-op in the center of San Francisco. Also, I just got a really sick camera from my whole family this Christmas!! I can't wait to go to shows and start stocking images for paintings. I'm still learning how to use it but here are some shots from the break:
The Christmas Cactus
Lights at the Mission Inn in Riverside
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
"I didn't even die. They didn't even kill me."
- Benny Parrish from Bombay Beach
I watched two really good documentaries with my family this holiday season. Both of which were about exceptional people and, coincidentally, had really great soundtracks.
Bombay Beach (2011)
Just looking at this photo makes me happy. Its of one of the staged scenes from Bombay Beach, in which Benny, the adorable ADHD and Bipolar diagnosed boy, tells about his family's stay in prison.
The musical documentary follows three different stories of families living by the Salton Sea in Bombay Beach, California. The film includes the requisite interviews and raw footage of people going about their lives to make it a documentary, but it also uses the same people as actors in dance/dream sequences set to music. In this case mostly Bob Dylan and Beirut -- two of my favorites : )
What makes this neo-realistic film work, and not seem contrived for artistic recognition, is that's its actually pretty spontaneous. The film was by a music video director, Amla Ha'rel, who has worked with Beirut in the past, and is now exploring the documentary genre while still using bits of what she already knows.
This happy coincidence is a treat for film analystists.They could really have a heyday with the movie's juxtaposition of the real and the scripted. (Which my brother did).
All comments about authenticity in film aside: to me, the effect of this juxtaposition was very cerebral. Though it mostly feels like a view into these stereotyped "white-trash" lives, I kept on getting pulled out of that view as the characters started to responded to the camera and begin performing. This caused me to constantly switch between two versions of the story, one more factual and the other emotional and spiritual.
I think a lot of people have judgements about places like Bombay Beach. That yeah, they are white trash, or jeez that's a really shitty place to live, or... I don't know, that its somehow a different type of human from the film's target audience?
The documentary gives you every way to relate to the people though and I think having the ability to connect with these people through music and as performers trying to share something with you makes it that much more sincere.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Jiro Ono is a 85 year old sushi artist. His restaurant in the Roppongi district in Tokyo received the highest rating possible (3 stars) from the very selective Michelin Guide, something unheard of for such a small space.
He is considered a sushi master and the film explores the discipline and devotion it takes to accomplish that.
I think the most valuable thing I learned, is that which is contained in the title. There is one segment in which Jiro tells how he would dream of sushi every night. He explains that always imagining new and better possibilities allows you to improve constantly and beyond defined limits.
His approach to his work was intensely serious, he basically forced his sons to follow his footsteps and train in the restaurant, but there was also a bit of fun in it, mostly in his very personal relationship with the sushi. This was reflected wonderfully in the music, a few songs by Max Richter (known in film for his score for Waltz With Bashir) and bunch of Phillip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi).
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the tuna auction. I wish I could find a clip for this, but I guess you'll have to watch the movie. Its interesting for the bit on fish being low in Japan because of the growing popularity and mass production of sushi, but mostly I like the symphonic effect of staccato Japanese from the crier at the auction mixed with some awesome African drumming music.
The rest of the documentary falls together well and makes very clear the message that if you work hard and love what you do, you will be successful. Or, from a different perspective, it teaches you how to be successful doing what you love.
I watched two really good documentaries with my family this holiday season. Both of which were about exceptional people and, coincidentally, had really great soundtracks.
Bombay Beach (2011)
Just looking at this photo makes me happy. Its of one of the staged scenes from Bombay Beach, in which Benny, the adorable ADHD and Bipolar diagnosed boy, tells about his family's stay in prison.
The musical documentary follows three different stories of families living by the Salton Sea in Bombay Beach, California. The film includes the requisite interviews and raw footage of people going about their lives to make it a documentary, but it also uses the same people as actors in dance/dream sequences set to music. In this case mostly Bob Dylan and Beirut -- two of my favorites : )
What makes this neo-realistic film work, and not seem contrived for artistic recognition, is that's its actually pretty spontaneous. The film was by a music video director, Amla Ha'rel, who has worked with Beirut in the past, and is now exploring the documentary genre while still using bits of what she already knows.
This happy coincidence is a treat for film analystists.They could really have a heyday with the movie's juxtaposition of the real and the scripted. (Which my brother did).
All comments about authenticity in film aside: to me, the effect of this juxtaposition was very cerebral. Though it mostly feels like a view into these stereotyped "white-trash" lives, I kept on getting pulled out of that view as the characters started to responded to the camera and begin performing. This caused me to constantly switch between two versions of the story, one more factual and the other emotional and spiritual.
I think a lot of people have judgements about places like Bombay Beach. That yeah, they are white trash, or jeez that's a really shitty place to live, or... I don't know, that its somehow a different type of human from the film's target audience?
The documentary gives you every way to relate to the people though and I think having the ability to connect with these people through music and as performers trying to share something with you makes it that much more sincere.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Jiro Ono is a 85 year old sushi artist. His restaurant in the Roppongi district in Tokyo received the highest rating possible (3 stars) from the very selective Michelin Guide, something unheard of for such a small space.
He is considered a sushi master and the film explores the discipline and devotion it takes to accomplish that.
I think the most valuable thing I learned, is that which is contained in the title. There is one segment in which Jiro tells how he would dream of sushi every night. He explains that always imagining new and better possibilities allows you to improve constantly and beyond defined limits.
His approach to his work was intensely serious, he basically forced his sons to follow his footsteps and train in the restaurant, but there was also a bit of fun in it, mostly in his very personal relationship with the sushi. This was reflected wonderfully in the music, a few songs by Max Richter (known in film for his score for Waltz With Bashir) and bunch of Phillip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi).
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the tuna auction. I wish I could find a clip for this, but I guess you'll have to watch the movie. Its interesting for the bit on fish being low in Japan because of the growing popularity and mass production of sushi, but mostly I like the symphonic effect of staccato Japanese from the crier at the auction mixed with some awesome African drumming music.
The rest of the documentary falls together well and makes very clear the message that if you work hard and love what you do, you will be successful. Or, from a different perspective, it teaches you how to be successful doing what you love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)