Agnès Varda Makes the Academy Shortlist
- story Chioma Nnadi
Sadly, we missed the play dates for Agnès Varda’s latest movie, The Beaches of Agnès, when the film came to town this summer. The French director made her first feature in the early ’50s, and at the ripe old age of 81 still manages to produce films that stand up to cult classics like Cléo de 5 à 7. For The Beaches of Agnès, Varda turns the camera on herself for an autobiographical sweep of her own insane existence, through stories of her childhood in occupied France, her marriage to filmmaker Jacques Demy and those heady Rive Gauche days, the only lady in a band full of Gauloise-puffing New Wave directors. The documentary was just be added to the Academy shortlist and we’re sincerely hoping she gets a twirl on the Oscar podium, and dyes that amazing bowl cut platinum blond to match the statuette.
AC Bros, Crack Box Ltd Ed Prints Now Available!
- story Peter Macia
How many million jokes could we make about what Animal Collective fans would be willing to do to get their hands on one of the brand spanking new, limited to 150 Crack Box screenprinted posters? Several million. But we won’t because we actually really want one too. One the best things about the Crack Box is the mindspiral Jon Vermilyea’s art induces before the needle even drops, so to have it in a format that allows us to literally roll it around our heads as if they were giant nugs in the AC cosmic spliff is a glorious thing. The only problem is that they will probably be gone by the time this post is done. Can’t hurt to try though. Here’s what the box set’s creative director, Rob Carmichael, wrote about the poster’s production:
Screenprinted in four colors to match the outer slipcase of the Animal Crack Box. Limited edition of 150 prints on high quality, all-cotton Coventry Rag 335 gsm paper. The printed area measures 18 x 35″; the full sheet measures 20 x 37″. Copies are signed and numbered by Jon Vermilyea and SEEN. Suitable for framing (PLEASE don’t simply tack this to your wall!).
And here’s where to buy it: BUY IT!
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posted on Nov 19, 2009 in ART+CULTURE NEWS tags Animal Collective, Crackbox, Jon Vermilyea, Rob Carmichael, Seen Studios
Justin Maxon, “In God We Trust”
- story THE FADER
In conjunction with our annual photo issue, we are publishing photo essays of long term, in-progress, personal work by contributing FADER photographers about the people and changing landscape of America. More photos from Justin Maxon’s “In God We Trust,” along with his personal statement about the project, are after the jump.
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Dominic Nahr, “In This Forgotten City”
- story THE FADER
- photo Dominic Nahr
In conjunction with our annual photo issue, we are publishing photo essays of long term, in-progress, personal work by contributing FADER photographers about the people and changing landscape of America. More photos from Dominic Nahr’s “In This Forgotten City,” along with his personal statement about the project, are after the jump.
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Video: No Mas x James Blagden Present the LSD No-No
- story Peter Macia
DISCLAIMER: We don’t know what it’s like to be on drugs, but if we did, we would find this new animation No Mas and James Blagden made of Dock Ellis’ legendary 1970 no-hitter while on acid EXTREMELY EFFING FUNNY. But as it is that we don’t know what it’s like to experience illegal substances, it is merely a compelling tale of athletic prowess and hippie culture. Rest in peace, Dock, you were one-of-a-kind. (via A Silent Flute)
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posted on Nov 13, 2009 in ART+CULTURE VIDEO tags acid, baseball, Dock Ellis, James Blagden, LSD, No Mas, no-hitter
Brendan Fowler Plays Drums for Five Hours Straight
We can’t think of anything we’d be interested in doing for five hours straight on a Sunday, so big ups to our friend Brendan Fowler for taking on this ambitious task as part of Performa 09 (whose massive/awesome schedule is located here). Of course, there is context: he’ll be performing at RENTAL Gallery, where he’s exhibiting his remarkable solo show of gianormous object-based silkscreens—photographs in cracked plexiglass and giant wood frames—and the drums will act as a sort of soundtrack and an experience unto itself, like Brendan is in fact the installation. If you’re a fan of his awesome, motivational music as BARR, you should definitely roll through because he’s focusing more on visual art right now. Also, do you think his hands will bleed? We hope not, we feel protective of them.
Matt Eich, “Carry Me Ohio”
- story THE FADER
- photo Matt Eich
In conjunction with our annual photo issue, we are publishing photo essays of long term, in-progress, personal work by contributing FADER photographers about the people and changing landscape of America. More photos from Matt Eich’s “Carry Me Ohio,” along with his personal statement about the project are after the jump.
American Jacket
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
Probably the weirdest part about the music industry tumbling all at once is the alternative methods of promotion that have sprung up in the wake. Not that it’s a new thing for bands to appear on animated shows, but as far as we know, this is the first time that six—SIX!—songs from a single band will be integrated into a show’s story. Normally we’d be like, That SUCKS! How are they going to defile the sanctity of such carefully crafted visual programming?!? (We’re not being sarcastic either, at the right time TV is great). But this situation has two things going for it, one is that the show is American Dad, which we’ve never actually seen more than five minutes of (sorry, millionaire Seth MacFarlane!), and two, the special guests are My Morning Jacket, which means that we’ll hopefully get some out of control guitar solos or at least a drawing of Jim James in crazy sasquatch boots.
Cold Cave Soundtrack a Radio Shack Commercial
- story Matthew Schnipper
Merry Christmas + Death in June = Bluetooth? Tear into it!
Usain Bolt Adopts Baby Cheetah
Now that the New York City Marathon has ended we can all go back to doing what we do normally: obsess over Usain Bolt. The Lightning has been taking a break from JA to hang out in Kenya for a few days, where he has “already impressed local children with his football skills, and become an honorary Maasai warrior,” according to the BBC, further proving he is our second most admired jedi knight/sensai/dream date slightly after Barack Obama. But Bolt’s moved up like 18 notches on our list after his recent adoption of A. Baby. Cheetah… as part of a conservation effort focusing on sustaining the environment in Africa via the Long Run, a new campaign he is launching. Appropriately, he christened the cheetah “Lightning Bolt,” and we immediately began singing the Vybz Kartel verse “BOLT / LIGHTNING BOLT,” weirding out our coworkers for the 49th time today. Watch a dubiously edited YouTube of Bolt “beating” a less adorable cheetah in a race after the jump.
