It feels like every newsletter starts the same but just acknowledging here that it’s a really hard time. I hope this escape from the real world gives you comfort.
This month Sarah and I learned how to make risotto, I learned from my neighbor that Pepsi briefly owned the 6th largest naval fleet which they got from the Soviet Union as a form of payment, that Zendaya is playing Shrek’s daughter in Shrek 5 and how chicken sneeze.
Streaming + At The Movies
Love Me: In this sci-fiesque film featuring K-Stew and Steven Yeun, the last objects left on planet earth learn how to be human based on archives of influencer social media accounts. It’s a beautiful- half-animated/half-live action meditation on figuring out who we really are amidst the noise of what we witness other people do online.
The Greatest Night in Pop: This has been out for a WHILE but an incredible documentary about a historical one-night only recording of “We Are The World”with the greatest stars of pop assembled for an all-nighter in 1985. Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick among others under the direction of Quincy Jones are so moved by the experience of witnessing so much talent in the room that at the end of the night they even start signing autographs for each other- Diana Ross crying because she doesn’t want the night to end.
The World’s a Little Blurry: Another streaming doc that follows the rise of young Billie Eillish, still recording with her brother Finneas in his childhood bedroom, and with her parents trying to figure out how to keep her ground as her fame starts to spiral, dealing with her inner darkness as well as her Tourette Syndrome, breakups, getting her driver’s license and trying to keep up with the demands of her job.
Cat Daddies: I never thought I would be recommending this but the cast of characters for this film is rich and brings so much depth to this doc that follows cat daddies. From a homeless man fighting a deathly illness to a truck driver and stunt man, it really shines a light on the power of connection between animals and their owners. Super lovely and moving.
Performances
BrownstoneJazz: Sarah and I had the most magical evening in a historical Bedstuy brownstone that the owner has transformed into an under the radar Jazz venue on weekends for decades. With only 8-10 tables, there is something incredibly special that is created for the audience as we get to learn from and hear the week’s musicians who did a Black History Month focused program.
Arturo O’Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Irish Arts Center: I discovered Arturo a few years back when he was the artist-in-residence at The Greene Space while I was working there and he has an innate ability to draw everyone into his world and music- even me, who to be honest at the time was not particularly interested in it. He is a master pianist and band leader and brings passion and warmth to the stage while also giving back to his community and politicizing his work- never taking the stage from granted. His band is about to have a dedicated space in a housing project in the Bronx for people transitioning out of homelessness and the artists of The Latin Jazz Orchestra will give back to the community as teaching artists. Anyway, I took my family to see his take blending Afro Latin Jazz and Irish Music (re: Irish Arts Center) and it was wild- I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like it again. Themes emerged throughout of both celebration and grief for ancestors.
Safe House at St Ann’s Warehouse: This show isn’t for everyone- the narrative is not linnear and takes you through a music video like collage of experiences out of order, of Grace, a young woman in search of safety. The feel of the show is very much Bjork meets Miranda July meets Tina Satter which took me through a rollercoaster of emotions with good tears coming down my cheeks from the sheer beauty- but don’t expect any handholding or for any of it to make sense. The lighting design, set design and main character, Kate Gilmore, were rare and beautiful.
Visual Art
Marc Dennis at Harper’s: Marc Dennis’ hyper realistic paintings of childhood obsessions or fauna and flora gave me a lot of joy to look at- like adult Lisa Frank paintings.
Camille Henrot: A Number of Things at Hauser & Wirth- I think this might be Camille’s first major exhibit in NYC. The show features her massive bronze sculptures and smaller works all revolving around developmental tools and a child/wild mind versus the system it’s supposed to fit in. It’s both dark, stunning and funny at times.
Todd Webb photos of Georgia O’Keefe: Todd Webb and Georgia O’Keefe became friends and partly at her urging he moved to New Mexico. His photos of her give us so much insight into her life- how she wore scarves to protect her hair from the sun and hats to protect her face. Her Tiger’s milk breakfast concoctions and more importantly how they let each other into their art and lives- a very intimate connection.
Books
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: I am stunned at how funny the writing of this impossibly dark story still is in which we follow an orphaned and newly sober Iranian man who finds meaning in trying to be a martyr and connects with an Iranian artist in a dying performance at The Brooklyn Museum who will change his life.
I hope you’re hanging in there- take care <3
Allie