Today I am going free form. You know I love art, spreading information, and sharing my thoughts from my composition books with you about art and life. But, the weeks are rolling by so fast and I need to catch my breath! So, I feel it is time for another inspiration grab bag. I want to share with you what is moving and influencing me at the moment.
Stay cool...
Yours,
Megan
First I will start off with some films I have seen recently.
Be With Me by Eric Khoo. This film is so lovely in every way. I highly recommend it.
3 Iron by Kim Ki-duk. I just watched this. Things are not always as they seem. Another lovely film.
Days of Wine and Roses. This was originally shown to me by my 11th grade psychology teacher as a grim portrait of alcoholism. This film is perfect in many ways, and Jack Lemmon was truly one of the best. Don't just go by the trailer, if you haven't seen this before it is a classic not to be missed.
I wish I could have found a clip or trailer for this 1962 film David and Lisa directed by Frank Perry. I fell in love with both David and Lisa and the stark setting of their story. This is another must see!
A friend sent this video to me, featuring the dance scene from Jean-Luc Godard's film Bande a part ( band of outsiders) set to the music ( not original to the film) of Nouvelle Vague. After I saw it, I had to buy the song, and I am currently watching Bande a part. The film makes me long for a rainy fall and winter, sweaters and pea coats. A lovely black and white world.
Books:
In the last two or three weeks I have read After the Quake, After Dark, and Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.
I was recommended his work by a fellow painter, and when I visited the author's website I knew right away I would be a fan. His books are amazing worlds filled with magic, wise words and dreams. These books and characters will stay with me for a long time, and I plan to seek out all of Murakami's other books as well. I highly recommend them. I just finished reading/listening to Kafka on the Shore, in a new format called a "playaway." A preloaded Mp3 player that I checked out from my local library, it was amazing in itself. Just supply your own headphones and a AAA battery and you are good to go. Light weight and easy. The reading of this book was superb, the characters really came to life.
Another friend of mine sent this clip out as a myspace bulletin the other night and I was really taken with it. The guy in the clip is Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses (thanks Sarah and imdb for the additional information). Tim is a real character and perhaps some sort of genius.
Just to infuse a little "I don't take myself that seriously" pop goodness into the mix, I will leave you with MIA's song Paper Planes.. Very catchy.. of course I love it because of the riff from The Clash's song Straight to Hell.
These artists, these film makers, musicians and writers, they make me sing and soar outside of myself and I am grateful and inspired.
Thanks for the vacation. I hope you enjoyed it too.
Next week back to the serious world of ART!
we seem to be experiencing a bit of cosmic connection...first the overlapping "jack of all trades" post and today the music(film) feeding the soul. I really appreciated the journal entry you posted a few days ago...thanks for being open and honest and for writing about everything so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteHi, thank so much for adding me to your blogrol, i feel honoured. I was very inmpressed by the way you wrote about the everyday life of you as an artist. I printed it to remind me of keeping sight of the whole of being abn artist. Not just the details, wich are immensly important and make you loose sight of the rest wich is equaly as important if you want to get a head...Thank so much!
ReplyDeleteMuch needed for me this week too - thanks. My head is in turmoil, but films and books are always my retreat too, and I've watched some great ones this week aswell.
ReplyDeleteI think taking breaks should be prescribed often - our creative minds need time to file away all the stuff it accumulates. Thats my excuse anyway!!! :)
great mix of multimedia treats for us today, Megan! I particularly love the dance scene from Bande a part, set to a different music track. oh, and have you not seen the documentary, The Cruise, yet? that's what the clip is from of the guy you describe as 'a real character and perhaps some sort of genius'. Here's what imdb says about it: Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses. He talks fast, is in love with the city, and dispenses historical facts, architectural analysis, and philosophical musings in equal measures.
ReplyDeleteYay Megan!
ReplyDeleteLove all your picks. Thanks for reminding me not to be too serious :) I spend way too much time trying to figure out what's coming next, and forget too often to take time to get some inspiration and revisit the things I like to do. Watching movies, reading books, and music.
Like I mentioned before, I love the MIA song! Hopefully fall will come sooner than soon..
Very interesting indeed!
ReplyDeleteHaruki Murakami sounds like a wonderful read. His website is very unique and the music engaging... makes you want to jump right in.
Hey everyone..
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments, glad some of you are enjoying the selections.
I just added a new one to the mix...
3 Iron by Kim Ki-duk. Lovely. Magic. Ghosts..
Mrs Nakata, have you seen the entrances stone? I can't find it anywhere..
ReplyDeleteWithout it I would have never found the likes of Zbigniew Preisner, the wonderdul smell of walnut oil.. and so much more.
Shall we do the Madison?