Great video by Tara Mateik.
See more of his bright, smart, compelling work here.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Dartmouth's Next President, First Asian-American to Lead an Ivy-League
I am incredibly pleased with Dartmouth's choice of Dr. Jim Yong Kim as the next president of the college. His life work is inspiring and his presence luminous. Read NYTimes article about it here.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Ward Shelley, Living in a See-Saw Named Stability
Right now at the Lawrimore Project in Seattle, artists Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder are living in a weighty architectural sculpture for their piece "Stability."
The see-saw hangs from its middle in a large, empty, gallery space and tips up and down as its human inhabitants move about their temporary living quarters. The two artists speak of how they have learned to cooperate in this great short feature on NPR's All Things Considered: Listen here. Or watch an NPR video feature on it here.
The see-saw hangs from its middle in a large, empty, gallery space and tips up and down as its human inhabitants move about their temporary living quarters. The two artists speak of how they have learned to cooperate in this great short feature on NPR's All Things Considered: Listen here. Or watch an NPR video feature on it here.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Lesbians on Ecstasy Video
Brilliant video in its simultaneous comedy and earnest love, and right right song. Lezzies on X are a gay, electronic group based out of Montreal.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Witch playing at 3 am, Lamar Pedestrian Bridge
Tonight, metal band Witch (Kyle Thomas, J Mascis, Antoine Guerlain and others), are playing at 3 am on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge. They are the SHIT.
J Mascis is performing with Dinosaur Jr. at other times and Kyle is performing as King Tuff but this is their one show as Witch during SXSW 2009.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
CocoRosie and their insulated world
I watched two interviews with CocoRosie and was struck by their disconnected behavior, as if somehow in their connection to each other and their art-music, they are unable/disinterested in connecting with the rest of the world. As a being who is interested in connecting to as many others in the world as possible, and doing so intentionally, I was disappointed to feel this disconnect from them. I love many of their songs, but did not love this. Watch them here, in order:
The second:
They speak of their desire to insulate themselves from the world, create a private space, to make their music from. And this "artists as isolationists" belief is a thread that runs through all time and into the current moment. But I disagree with it heavily now. I do not see it as responsible to create art out of that space. I see it as intentional obliviousness. Willful ignorance of the scope of events going on in the world today. To me, artists, musicians, cultural creators, have an obligation to inform themselves of the contemporary world and history, of philosophy and realities, and then make their new works to further the dialogue or illuminate a problem, or even the best, solve one!
Art, music, culture, is our gift to the world and if we use it only to distance ourselves, or mock the present world as is, we are mis-using our gifts. We are taking advantage of capitalism to support our selfishness. We are feeding our egos.
A very bright article in the New York Times today, by Holland Cotter, has inspired me to think with optimism on how the art world can become. How this economic upheaval can create a whole new way of thinking and making. It's beyond inspiring. Read his absolutely articulate, wise article, "The Boom Is Over. Long Live The Art!" here.
They speak of their desire to insulate themselves from the world, create a private space, to make their music from. And this "artists as isolationists" belief is a thread that runs through all time and into the current moment. But I disagree with it heavily now. I do not see it as responsible to create art out of that space. I see it as intentional obliviousness. Willful ignorance of the scope of events going on in the world today. To me, artists, musicians, cultural creators, have an obligation to inform themselves of the contemporary world and history, of philosophy and realities, and then make their new works to further the dialogue or illuminate a problem, or even the best, solve one!
Art, music, culture, is our gift to the world and if we use it only to distance ourselves, or mock the present world as is, we are mis-using our gifts. We are taking advantage of capitalism to support our selfishness. We are feeding our egos.
A very bright article in the New York Times today, by Holland Cotter, has inspired me to think with optimism on how the art world can become. How this economic upheaval can create a whole new way of thinking and making. It's beyond inspiring. Read his absolutely articulate, wise article, "The Boom Is Over. Long Live The Art!" here.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
New Video, Anthony Hegarty
As usual, Anthony Hegarty, of Anthony & the Johnsons, has a smoke-filled haunt of a beautiful voice. Worthwhile, albeit a bit cheesy, video to watch below:
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