You guys. I am reading a disturbing book at the moment and feeling a lot of feelings. So is Amelie Segarra in this amazing performance En Puntas. Certainly, it is the point of art to provoke feelings, and to illicit a kind of visceral reaction. But with our level on inundation, how often does that really happen? Rarely. Even for me. And I'm ripe for the picking. I'm basically standing, waving my arms up and down and begging for you to manipulate my emotions!
Which is why it's so nice to see something that actually blows my hair back... or in this case, makes me gasp and clutch at my throat. No reaction I thought I would have from what I assumed was nothing more than a visual statement. OH NO, my friends. That is a sore underestimation.
Watch for yourself Spanish artist Javier Perez's beautiful, arresting video. And his others.
For the past few days I've been editing footage of the beautiful memorial services for sweet Muzzy. Sharing the grief and joyful remembrances of my dear friends' mother/grandmother has been an honor. The Damante/Shaw family has been such an important part of my life, my faith, and my belief in myself.
And so I feel like it's appropriate to share this wonderful video of Vinessa Shaw discussing overcoming her obstacles around belief in herself for ICAPeace. Founded by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter & Patrick Duffy, the organization uses artistic influence for the purposes of peace and applies principles of Buddhism to art.
Other fun videos include Steven Sater & Wayne Shorter talking about how awesome women are.
In addition to always being amazed by Vinessa's beauty, humble nature, determination, etc, I'm glad that this video reminded me how fierce her fur suit was in Eyes Wide Shut. Get it, girl!
I think about place and belonging a lot. I often feel out of place. Or caught, maybe is a better word, between two (or more!) places. Not part of this, not wholly a part of that. And I suppose time and timing is another big component of the idea of "place" especially as it pertains to belonging.
Perhaps my London near-miss of a life was all to do with timing. I wonder what it would be like if I went back now, or a year from now. And while I think living in London in 1927 might be a bit out of the realm of possibility, it's nice to daydream about-- especially if this footage of the Big Smoke from British film pioneer Claude Friese-Greene is any indication.
The captions are almost as lovely as the footage. And in case you love the song as much as I do, it's "Parasol" by British indie-rock collective, Jonquil.
