Little Bit of Rain

Karen Dalton & Fred Neil

I can't get enough of this song.

Feist & Irina Werning

I'm on the Feist e-mail list and got this new video in my inbox today.  Gotta love her.  Heres what they had to say:

A montage of photos and video clips from Irina Werning's celebrated photo essay Back to the Future, the video for "Bittersweet Melodies" is directed by Holle Singer and produced by Jannie McInnes. Few of us ever get the opportunity to revisit, let alone re-inhabit our pasts, yet, with astonishing accuracy the Argentinean photographer recreates old snapshots, juxtaposing the subject of the present with that of the past. These trips into the present perfect tense are achieved with incredible attention to detail, as Werner works tirelessly to recapture the same lighting, effects, angles, poses and locations. “I love old photos” Werning says. “But I love even more to recreate them. When I fall in love with a picture I don’t stop until I have them in front of me dressed like this doing that thing they were doing. I’m always amazed that they do it.” The photo essay, which first appeared in the Sunday Times Magazine, earned Werning the 2011 Magnum Foundation’s Emerging Photographer Grant.

Where Can I Hear 5000 Bicycle Bells Blowing in the Breeze?

I love public art.  

Art that is accessible to everyone at any time and in a different context than inside the gallery or museum really knocks my socks off.  It exposes art to people who may otherwise never experience or contemplate it.  It has the ability to use nature and space as a tool or material.  And its often subtle while at the same time being unforgettable. Ronald van der Meijs makes installations that include everything I love about public art.  

This is one half of a two-part installation. Heres a rather straightforward description from his website:

The installation 'Nature' is a site specific composition from 5000 chrome bicycle bells that are swaying in the wind of the polder in a natural way, as a reed. Causing them to call each other in a rather subtle manner and cause a soft twinkling noise. This is entirely dependent on the amount and wind direction around the Art Fort. The location and composition of the starting point is the center of an old gun on the embankment base of the fort. The ruin is caused by the German occupation in World War II by the cast-iron cannon and protection dome to inflate and reuse their own weaponry. 

I think I'd like to take a stroll along that lovely (headstone?) path.

Dont Forget the Muse: Suze Rotolo

Of course Bob Dylan is a very talented man. Obviously.  But she must have been some woman.  Or their love must have been something fierce because she inspired great songs. Ahem, Dont Think Twice, its Alright and Tomorrow is a Long Time.  And she gets even more respect from me because I bet she had one hell of a time emotionally supporting Bob Dylan at home, while also trying to be an artist herself.  I'm pretty intrigued by the sources for great works of art.  I can only imagine all the love stories behind the songs or paintings.  And Bob Dylan gives her credit for introducing him to some of the poets and artists who influenced his songwriting.  Well done. 

  

Her name was Suze Rotolo and heres a heartbreaker she inspired before they were even 21 years old.

Music Video Day!

Lately its felt like life is full of films and videos.  I think thats because:

1. The Portland International Film Festival is going on right now, 2. Some friends of mine were just at Sundance and 3. All this soggy weather is keeping me inside watching old Italian cinema.  Throughout all of this, I've seen some great music videos.  I do love music videos and I'm a sucker for things that are beautiful and dramatic.  Heres a couple of cool ones I saw today. 

From MIA's Bad Girls video.  She always does something tough and visually new.  I saw her in concert once and it was totally from a different world than the one Im used to seeing everyday.

These are from a Sigur Ros song called, Glosoli .  It was made back in 2005 but somehow I missed it until today.  It's dramatic and dreamy and since the band and this video are from Iceland, its packed with beautiful scenery.  In this video, children wander through a rural, blue world.  Halfway through, they wake up to a yellow day and run full speed up a hill that ends in an enormous cliff.  Much to our joy, they fly off into an open sky. !!! I was so excited for them! 

And heres a fantastic Fleet Foxes video from last year.  I know stop-motion animation is everywhere, but as an illustrator, I will never ever get sick of it.  This ones a long epic full of beasts and fantasy. Woo-eee!

The Shrine / An Argument from Sean Pecknold on Vimeo.

Patti Smith

"I stand naked when I draw. God holds my hand and we sing together."

-Robert Mapplethorpe according to Patti Smith

I just finished Patti Smith's book, 'Just Kids' and this photo really stuck with me. Her hands, white feather, black sweater... too good.

Le Loup

I helped out on this music video several months ago and had an amazing time building tools, constructing headgear and herding bunnies. The bands called Le Loup, and my friends, Erin and Wyatt did Art Direction and all the Filming & Photography. Ive got some links to their websites up here. Enjoy!


Le Loup "Forgive Me" from Monte Lomax on Vimeo.

In the Redwoods anything is possible...

Im so lucky to be friends with Team G, who recently finished this incredible music video! The song is called 'Sing Along' by Mum, a band from Iceland. They shot it near the redwood forest and most of the actors are locals. Here it is!

Múm "Sing Along" from Team G on Vimeo.