In December of 1973, the New York Times film critic Howard Thompson, known for his pithy critiques, reviewed a rather strange-looking French animated film called “Fantastic Planet.” In his review, he says this of Fantastic Planet: “The story itself is a sci-fi honey, with tiny earthlings ‘from a destroyed planet’ dominated as pets or outcasts … Continue reading “Fantastic Planet,” A Strange and Mostly Unknown Film
I recently walked past a broken full-length mirror on the sidewalk in my Bushwick neighborhood, but the image it made was so compelling I had to go back and study it. The patterns of the broken glass and the refracted light captivated me so completely that I couldn’t move. There is something about the individual … Continue reading Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian: Infinite Possibility
It’s day three of my 30-day series dedicated to brave and brilliant female poets.Today’s poet is Akiko Yosano, who was born in December 1878 near Osaka, Japan. Yosano was her pen name, and she was born Shō Hō, but changed her name after she had begun to write about more controversial topics, such as pacifism, feminism … Continue reading Akiko Yosano, In Praise of May
This is the first installment of my month-long series showcasing a wonderful piece of poetry by a female poet. I hope to do this for thirty straight days. For the first poet, I’ve chosen Sojourner Truth and her incredibly powerful poem, Ain’t I A Woman. I can’t think of a better person more suited to … Continue reading Sojourner Truth, Ain’t I A Woman?
To many people, including myself, Björk is a mystical, cosmic non-human entity from the future who allures us into her realm with colors and sounds and images and warmth and light and darkness that she’s pulled out of her little mystical pocket like a forgotten receipt. “Oh that? I was wondering where that went!” I imagine … Continue reading MoMA’s Most Ambitious Project Yet: Ruin Björk For Everyone
It was raining and I was wearing heeled ankle boots. For some reason, my umbrella was leaking heavy, nonrhythmic drops on my head every few feet. I couldn’t see where the drops were coming from because it was dark and I was too busy half-running, half-walking down Broadway. Oh well, wet hair be damned. I had to hurry, … Continue reading Chilly Gonzales: Piano Concerto No. 1
It was 30 years ago today that the world lost a great voice for free expression, political activism and positive movement. I was only four years old when he passed, but I already knew him well because of my musically-inclined mother. I grew up in a home filled with music, free-thought and higher philosophical pursuits … Continue reading Celebrating Bob Marley
On Saturday, the NYC organization Books Through Bars, a non-profit that raises money to send books to incarcerated people in prisons, along with Justseeds, a social and political artist’s cooperative, will be presenting VOICES FROM OUTSIDE, An Art Exhibit and Benefit Auction. The event, designed to raise money for postage to send books to prisoners, will include … Continue reading Books Through Bars
Sometimes, I’m not so smart. Let me explain. Most of the time, I’m a very nice, friendly sort of person who is empathetic and patient. I say please and thank you. I’m easy to laughter. I’ll start a conversation with nearly anyone, I make eye contact and smile at people, I hold doors open and … Continue reading Leave the Ugly Moments in the Umbrella Stand
Hardly anyone believed that the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, directed by the internationally known (infamously) anonymous British street artist and prankster Banksy – known for his monkey mask, political subjects, humor and extreme secrecy – was an actual documentary. The film, about a filmmaker cum successful street artist, Thierry Guetta or “Mr. Brainwash,” didn’t seem real to most people, not only because … Continue reading Banksy Documentary, ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop,’ Checks Out
When I first walked into The Museum of Modern Art’s new exhibition Looking at Music 3.0, the third installment of its kind exploring the relationship between art and music, I wasn’t sure if I was in a museum – or a club. It’s kind of dark, there’s loud music playing, there’s too many stylish people standing around talking … Continue reading Remix Culture at MoMA
Need a reminder of warmer seasons to come? The internationally acclaimed New York artist Will Ryman, in concert with the Paul Kasmin Gallery, is here to provide some well-earned respite for cold-weary New Yorkers. His outdoor larger-than-life sculpture installation, The Roses, brings sunshine, greenery and whimsical, happiness-inducing rose blossoms to Park Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. … Continue reading Everything’s Coming Up Roses
Amateurs may know him as Cary Grant. He’s charming, good looking and well, perfect. He was also one of the most charismatic leading men Hollywood as ever seen. Unfortunately, some people have never even seen him on the big screen. What a shame. I remember the first time I saw Cary Grant in a movie. I was just … Continue reading My favorite leading man: Archibald Leach
The Brooklynite Gallery, known for their modern take on old-fashioned artistic enterprise, showcasing new artists and street-inspired art, is now celebrating it’s first year in business. The world-renowned artist Ben Frost (of Ben Frost is Dead fame) is showcasing his latest series “Plague Landscapes,” at the Brooklynite Gallery until July 18, 2009. Street artist SPECTER, now showing his work at … Continue reading The Brooklynite Gallery Sets Up Shop…Again.
Harry Allen – The Future of Modern Design – By Jamie Sward Modern designers are known for being innovative, creative and ahead of the curve. New York-based designer, Harry Allen is all of that and more. The founder and president of Harry Allen Design, Allen received his Masters in Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute. … Continue reading Guest Blogger Jamie Sward Delights Us with Modern Design
Most people have never heard of the Rubin Museum of Art, but it really is a wonderful gem. While it primarily focuses on the arts of the Himalayas, with textual, historical paintings, sculptures and information, this modern building has beautiful event space and hosts tons of events and live programs (like Steve Martin’s sold-out concert in May showcasing his … Continue reading The Rubin Museum of Art
This year, help celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of one of our most beautiful New York City landmarks: the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Guggenheim Museum. Can you believe it’s been 50 years already? How time flies! Why, I remember when they were drawing up the plans! Oh, the fun times we had. President Eisenhower was down for Nixon and … Continue reading The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Guggenheim Museum
The etymology of the word graffiti is of Italian origins, stemming from the word graffiato, meaning to scratch or scribble. In the early 20th century, graffiti was relegated to scratches on the wall, Yossarian Lives! or some other political message. In the 60’s and 70’s, graffiti emerged from the underground mostly as a public nuisance, … Continue reading Street Art Retrospective at The Helenbeck Gallery
On The Pavement - A Place for Books and Culture 