Author: Matthew Westphal

Novelist Shirley Hazzard, 85

“Rare was the happy marriage or simple romance in a Hazzard book. From early stories such as ‘A Place in the Country’ to the novel Bay of Noon” – as well as her most famous nooks, The Transit of Venus and The Great Fire – “she wrote of strained and cold relationships and the inevitable search for outside comfort. True passion was often forbidden.”

After The Oakland Fire, Brooklyn Artists Keep Up Their Alternative Events And Spaces – And Keep An Eye Out For The Cops

“The authorities have said the deadly fire at the Oakland warehouse, known as the Ghost Ship, trapped partygoers in a jury-rigged warren of art studios and living spaces. The loss has been deeply felt in Brooklyn. But while the deaths have stirred new introspection and prompted vows to be safer, the risky venues will persist, viewed by users as essential to emerging artists as radio was to rock ‘n’ roll.”

Creating The Dance Moves Of ‘La La Land’

“For [director Damien] Chazelle, it took time to find the right choreographer. ‘We needed someone who was comfortable with modern dance forms and popular dancing, but also either came from or had experience in the ballet world,’ he said. He also wanted someone who appreciated Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers … ‘We needed someone who had experience with cameras,’ he continued, ‘and who had experience with nonprofessional dancers. Mandy Moore wound up being that one person.'”

Top Posts From AJBlogs 12.13.16

Winter is Coming: What the Culture Sector Needs to Worry About Now
I. Predicting the Unpredictable  If nothing else the recent election cycle has taught us to be very skeptical of those who say they can predict the future. … read more
AJBlog: Field Notes Published 2016-12-13

Wine and Cheese?
In my last post I wrote about connecting with middle class communities. … Perhaps it’s the proximity of the Holidays, but this very quickly led me to an old concern of mine that is highly class based. Why is our industry so closely tied to wine and cheese? … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2016-12-13

Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur at Joe’s Pub: Is it World Music?
Watching Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur at Joe’s Pub a few months ago got me thinking about how I used to have a fairly pat answer when folks asked me “what is World Music?” … read more
AJBlog: OtherWorldly Published 2016-12-13

 

 

Back Before Valentino, One Of Cinema’s First Heartthrobs Was Asian-American

Back Before Valentino, One Of Cinema’s First Heartthrobs Was Asian-American
“America’s teenage girls and swooning housewives fell for his charms, but French intellectuals like the novelist Colette and Polish-born filmmaker Jean Epstein sang his praises too. … If People magazine had existed during the late 1910s, [Sessue] Hayakawa would have undoubtedly been declared the ‘Sexiest Man Alive.'”

Only Marina Abramović Could Have A 70th Birthday Party Like This

“Facilitators in white lab coats’ – art students who told me they found the gig through Craigslist and similar services – were stationed about the atrium, applying swatches of gold leaf to participants’ mouths. … The decoration was meant to recall both Orthodox Christian icons and the Ayurvedic practice of feeding gold and honey to infants. It was messy and got in the men’s beards and made everyone look like they had just swallowed a Klimt.”