I just stumbled across this NY Times article about the "Ouroboros: The History of the Universe" installation off in a far away place where I am unable to visit. It's only as far as New York, but it might as well be as far as the stars. Its message comforts me and brings to light some extremely interesting and admirable concepts. Reading this article made me experience a deep sense of longing for an opportunity to create something like this. A girl can dream... It looks stunning.
(love the Mad Hatter's sash of thread spools)
Speaking of dreaming, my favorite part of Alice in Wonderland was when Alice says (quoting her father), "I've sometimes believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." 1.) I love to think about impossible bizarre things. 2.) I love breakfast.
Ok, that's a cheesy title for this post. I'm feeling lazy and not really wanting to write much, but I am very excited that I found out about Tim Burton directing Alice in Wonderlandstarring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter:
While browsing the tube (yep, the tube) the other night, I came across the movie Penelope (Mark Palansky, 2006) starring Christina Ricci. I was intrigued because the description told me it was about a girl born with a pig face, and I like Christina Ricci. Freak type things = interesting things. So, I watched.
It was the most delightful romance movie I've seen in...I can't remember how long. The colors in the movie are rich and whimsical, and the sets are pretty amazing too (especially Penelope's room). The visual effects are fun, and Penelope has a crazy royal purple coat with random colorful funky buttons going down the front (this was a special bonus treat for me).
The moral, as a child at the end says, is "it's not the power of the curse, it's the power you give the curse." I love this! It's so true and applies to everything. You don't have to be anxious or angry or any of those feelings if you don't want to fuel them.
That brings me to another wonderful movie I just saw recently (and have since watched twice): The Brothers Bloom.
(Sorry for the crappy formatting)
It coincidentally has a main character named Penelope too (Rachel Weisz). She says, she "owns it" and that's why she's convincing when she accepts changing "roles." This is so true, and I keep thinking about "owning it" when I go to my first selling of my wares on Saturday. This is also one of those movies that comments on itself commenting on itself commenting on itself....the ultimate goal in making any kind of art-- self reflexivity or whatever "po-mo" term you want to give it.
I love it when you watch movies or read books that are so crazily serendipitously in line with what you've been thinking about. It feels quite nice. Here's one of the funniest parts if you want to "spoil" it a bit for yourself: Collecting Hobbies. I enjoy this-- being a bit of a dabbler myself, but unfortunately (or fortunately?), not to the extent of Penelope.
I already got super excited about this once, but I'm excited all over again after checking out the website for The Fantastic Mr. Fox in stop motion film-form. It's based on Roald Dahl's book (all of which I adored as a kid). I wish I could sit in a theater!! Maybe by next week when it comes out, I'll have some graceful lucky hand make it possible. In the meantime, I don't mind geeking out over the website and watching the little "Featurettes" that show glimpses of the process-- including hand painting, sewing, and sculpting all of the lovely lovely puppets! Their teeny tiny little clothes sure tickle my fancy.
I have a strong affinity for the macabre. I have written about my love of Wunderkammern, or Cabinets of Curiosity, and that saga continues on (I'm very intent on making my creations in that realm happen, and they are slowly materializing).
(this is a nest of cube-shaped eggs I've been working on. It is supposed to be rotated the other direction and still needs a shelf for the nest...work in progress.)
It seems that macabre things might even be somewhat trendy right now...maybe just because 'tis the season (Halloween)? This great article is about adding some macabre items to your home to spice it up a bit. I think my issue with "trendiness" is that I like to be surrounded by things I don't often see elsewhere, and it's not just that I want to be "different." Once a trend takes wave, your previously unique, exciting things start to take on a dulled quality. Anyone else with me here? I guess that's what keeps the wheels turning...we can't get too comfortable with a particular style, motif, etc. if we want to continue experimenting and making things "new."
(From NY Times article)
Anyway, macabre is great in my book. And, also speaking of wonderful macabre things, Dan Phillips, the "trash architect" from my film made a wonderful example of a beautifully macabre house, the Bone House. Copies of the documentary will be available soon here.
(brilliant Dan, adding a cattle bone window latch)
While I, as many, have mixed feelings about Mr. Moore, I do think that his films hold merit even if they aren't "objective" enough (which I think is the overwhelming complaint toward the man). No documentary is or could ever be objective, so I've got his back there. I know he has a history of obscuring stories in ways that are not very agreeable at times, but he's a documentary-er (I like that better than documentarian, I think...because it kind of sounds like diarrhea...sorry, tangent. I'm weird. So are you.). I still can't come to a firm stance on him. On one hand, he's made it to the tippy tippy top and I agree mostly with his agendas and using your fame to push whatever the hell you want to. On the other hand though, you do hold some responsibility to be a bit honest. But, then again, who else in a political position is ever honest? That's my rant for today. Conclusion: I look forward to seeing it.
On a related note (Michael Moore's new film screened there): Here's an article--"Angry Documentarians are the rage at the Kansas International Film Festival" It talks briefly about the increasing number of documentary films at film festivals, and how people are getting fed up and making documentaries about their woes. It also says there is a higher ratio of documentaries to narrative films (hi!) and most are being made by women (hi again!).
So, I know this movie came out 8 years ago, but I was just thinking about it. I think it's worth a post. Waking Life (Richard Linklater) is a great make-you-really-think-in-a-really-great-feeling-way kind of movie. Maybe that doesn't make much sense, but here's an excerpt. I'd say it's one of my favorite movies-- great animation (the first time I really saw a movie with rotoscoping) and super interesting...if you're into philosophical meanderings.
(The part from the image above is with Ethan Hawke and the girl that stars with him in the film, After Sunset-- also a pretty good one.)
One of my favorite quotes from the film comes from that excerpt I just mentioned:
"Tell you what, go up three more streets, take a right, go two more blocks, drop this guy off on the next corner. - Where's that? - I don't know either, but it's somewhere, and it's gonna determine the course of the rest of your life."
Every moment determines the next. That's why, even though I do it and can't help it sometimes, worrying is silly and really pretty worthless. Care to discuss?
Dan Phillips, one of the 2 people featured in my graduate thesis film, Better Bones and Gardens, is on the home page of the NY Times! He is truly an amazing, inspiring, brilliant man, and I'm incredibly delighted to see him there... "One Man's Trash..." (photo from NY Times) Don't forget to check out the amazing slideshow of his work. The cattle bone chair is so impressive and creative.
I was also browsing around trying to find out how to learn how to make stop motion armatures, entire puppets, etc. when I found this: Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox is going to be a stop motion movie with awesome puppets and the voices of George Clooney, Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, and Owen Wilson.
So, these things got me thinking more about stop motion. I love it-- it brings together film, sewing, knitting, clay, and swirls many of my interests into one. First step-- get back on my feet (literally-- I'm still bed-ridden with back issues). Second step-- stay positive (cheesy, but true). Third step-- get a camera...this may be a long way off, but I want it to happen none-the-less. Fourth step-- fiddle around with stop motion and keep making things! Make make make!
I've been admiring this guy's work for some time now. Amazingly creative, inventive, and inspirational; check it out. I think you'll agree! ("Western Spaghetti" is my favorite) EatPES
(Photo from NY Times)
(love the Mad Hatter's sash of thread spools)
(this is a nest of cube-shaped eggs I've been working on. It is supposed to be rotated the other direction and still needs a shelf for the nest...work in progress.)
(From NY Times article)
(brilliant Dan, adding a cattle bone window latch)
(The part from the image above is with Ethan Hawke and the girl that stars with him in the film, After Sunset-- also a pretty good one.)Every moment determines the next. That's why, even though I do it and can't
(photo from NY Times)
1.) Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye (by Rudolf Arnheim
2.) Trust the Process: An Artist's Guide to Letting Go
