Artwork: by @l.e.t._les.enfants.terrible, Stay Weird
From one of my fave street artists L.E.T. (@l.e.t._les.enfants.terrible), a great stencil work: Stay Weird.
Paterson
Strange how a year ago I wrote a post about today being William Shakespeare’s birthday and 400 years since he passed away. I also happened to mention a wonderful film by Jim Jarmusch, Only Lovers Left Alive, because Jarmusch featured the character Christopher Marlowe played by John Hurt as the writer of Shakespeare’s plays. And he was a vampire!
Kind of full circle, I’ve just watched another Jarmusch film (I’m a huge fan!), Paterson. What’s marvellous is that it’s a film about a poet, so on Shakespeare’s birthday, I think it’s timely to mention it.
Quiet, nuanced and understated, it spoke to me. Set in the New Jersey city of Paterson, the poet played by Adam Driver has the same name as his hometown, and goes about his days, earning a living as a bus driver, but writing poems whenever he can. The city was also home to one of Paterson’s favourite poets, William Carlos Williams, and where Allen Ginsburg was born. Such intertwined connections run throughout the film, which follows the arc of the days of the week, and at its heart, is a meditation on creativity, process, how the mundane can inspire, how small acts weave a wondrous tapestry of a life deeply felt, observed and interpreted. And the importance of love, reflected most in the relationship between Paterson and his wife played by Golshifteh Farahani. The support, understanding, tenderness and passion between the two beautifully underpinned the story. And when a pivotal act causes Paterson to question his ambition, serendipity and destiny comes into play.
two great reads: 'the book thief' and 'eleanor & park'
Re-reading a book after a time-lapse is like diving into a familiar yet irrevocably altered world. And it's all about changing perspectives and never stepping into the same river twice (thanks Heraclitus) or in this case, book.
I'm re-reading two books at present, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief and Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park. Despite winning the Printz Award for excellence in YA literature, I don't relate to Zusak's book as YA. It's a cross-over, one of these layered, generous, enlightening stories set in World War II, and while I'm not going to debate the whole pigeon-holing of how books are marketed, this is the kind of book I love, because it defies a narrow categorisation based on a potential audience. Kind of like 'To Kill A Mockingbird' which today would probably have been stuck in the YA genre despite its universal appeal.
Back to the book—the first time I read it I was hesitant about the voice of Death. It was a jarring note in a story I otherwise loved. Reaping souls between this world and the next, disconnected yet participatory, observing with an altered perception of sensation; it felt a little contrived despite the malleable inventiveness of Zusak's language. Happily, this time round, it hooked me in from the start. And what a great start! From the Prologue:
“It's just a small story really, about amongst other things:
a girl
some words
an accordionist
some fanatical Germans
a Jewish fist-fighter
and quite a lot of thievery
I saw the book thief three times.”
A love of words and books, the precariousness of life, the treachery of death, the ethical dilemmas and threat of living under fascism, fighting for what you love and learning to see through difference to appreciate our shared humanity - this and much more could be added to the list above. Not quite a “small” story!
Eleanor & Park won my heart from the first read.
I had a book crush. Still do. Rainbow Rowell's story of first love grabbed me from page one and didn't let go. A story of two quirky, passionate individuals, each with their own baggage, who despite a rocky start, truly see each other and make the leap across differences to share something special. It's love—real, big, scary, complicated, simple, vulnerable, strong and the not-going-away-despite-crap-happening kind of love. It's a love story—not simply a “first love” story—with all the bite, humour, sweetness, resolve and ache that makes this book a go-to read when I want to be reminded of what the heart is capable of.
hula: owena
Artwork: mural by Sean Yoko, Owena, 2017
A new mural using glowing paint that comes “alive” at night from Sean Yoro aka Hula, Owena (land):
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper"—W.B. Yeats
Magic, fireflies and night—beautiful.
Four Tet remix 'a violent noise' the xx
Great surprise to find this pop up on my SoundCloud feed, Four Tet's remix of the xx's a violent noise.
It's fantastic—check it out.
north shore flat
From the crew at Backwash and Finisterre, a short film that has a singular vibe—just go for it.
the perfect love letter
For all romantics—here's a re-enactmant of James Lee Byars's performance, The Perfect Love Letter I Write I Love You Backwards In The Air. First performed by Byars in various locations in 1974, this performance was sponsored by Peter Lund Gallery and Nasjonalmuseet in 2016.
be like the moon
Photo: Richard Bellia
Tumultuous times right now, so it was great to read this. Henry Rollins, the poet:
"Be like the moon... The moon has been around a long time and has never tried to rip anyone off. The moon does not care who you want to touch or what color you are. The moon treats everyone the same... Be like the moon. When others insult or belittle in an attempt to elevate themselves, the moon sits passively and watches, never lowering itself to anything that weak. The moon is beautiful and bright... The moon never shoves clouds out of its way so it can be seen. The moon needs not fame or money to be powerful. The moon never asks you to go to war to defend it. Be like the moon." (@_nitch)
Power of love
This is for everyone, words I've quoted before from Jimi Hendrix, always vital and especially with America in mind:
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
Also:
“Stay Free” (more wise words from Jimi).
everything awaited me
Great quote from Patti Smith encapsulating the beginning of an incredible career (@_nitch):
"No one expected me. Everything awaited me."
A Million Waves
Just discovered this—a short documentary, A Million Waves, about 19 year-old Kadiatu Kamara, KK, the only female surfer from Sierra Leone and the crucial role surfing has in her life. Quietly powerful, it is life affirming, hopeful, exploring how surfing has given her a way to cope with personal tragedy, and a sense of who she is, who she wants to be.
The documentary was created by Daniel Ali and Louis Leeson.
Democracy
Recently I was reading Neil Gaiman's journal to check out his New Year's message and found this, an incredibly moving version of Leonard Cohen's song, Democracy.
Neil recorded the lyrics, Amanda Palmer featured on the piano, the paintings were created by David Mack and given life through the animation of Olga Nunes.
It hooks into the heart.
Given the political climate in the US and the passing of Leonard, it's timely. Neil and Amanda gave the video to PEN America in support of PEN's continued mission to defend free expression.
johanna
A short film by Ian Derry about Finnish free diver, Johanna Nordblad. After a leg injury, she turned to cold water treatment to heal, only to discover so much more.
Truly inspirational.
small stories: still unseen
Artwork: wall mural by SETH, Italy
dreams
as new-grown leaves
shoots spindling
from my eyes
of you
yet to be known
still unseen
© Angela Jooste
Love Conquers All
Artwork: SETH, Love Conquers All (Omnia vincit amor)
And to end the year—a beautiful image from the artist, SETH (@seth_globepainter, Julien Malland, www.seth.fr), a work he's titled Love Conquers All (Omnia vincit amor).
The best way to bring in the New Year.
Woody Gooch
Artwork: Photograph by Woody Gooch (@woodygphoto)
I love great surf photography, and probably one of my fave photographers is Woody Gooch. He has a wonderful sense of scale, with a great appreciation of how the natural world can overwhelm with its power and beauty. I could imagine this particular image blown up wall size. Total immersion...
Check out his work at www.woodygooch.com or on IG (@woodygphoto).
Christmas
It's amazing how quickly the year's end has come. And what a year!!! I came across this image by Ami Vitale (@amivitale)—sweet, hopeful and full of the spirit of connection, care and love that you hope for at Christmas. Magic.
Peace, love and joy to all.
Whale Dreamings
Artwork: by Lora Zombie
You just happen to be walking in a field when, looking up, a whale is swimming in the sky...
Sometimes life flips, topsy-turvy, and you experience a wondrous moment. Thanks Lora Zombie (@lorazombie) for this surreal image!
Mick Fanning under the Northern Lights
A beautiful sight. Mick Fanning's recent adventure—a midnight surf under the Northern Lights. Spectacular.
Blue Glass
I have a thing about blue glass—I love it.
It’s not surprising that when I saw the blue glass sculptures at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, I was absolutely enthralled. They're situated in front of a window looking out to the water. It was so memorable, I included a reference in one of my art stories, Ann Hamilton's myein. I was reminded again today, as they featured on my IG feed.
The twenty-three poured glass sculptures were created by artist by Egidio Costantini and based on sketches by Picasso in 1964.
Seen filtered against the light, they're exquisite and mesmerising.