Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Working Class Will Bury Themselves

We took a break today to eat some homemade pumpkin cheesecake prepared by Brent's superhuman sister-in-law to celebrate the happiest of Halloweens! Brent has a whole lot of family that has migrated down here to Texas so this show is an extra special one since they don't really get to see his work in person a whole lot. Before (and after) the break though we worked steadily, hanging elements to this thing we're building. I don't know how to describe it other than it is a kind of a multi-planed-three dimensional drawing (?) dealing with lines from a piece Brent recently wrote, a piece that deals with a lot of the same ideas of Gravity but presented in a completely new context.

It's pretty exciting and I really can't explain the intensity of the words Brent has started writing. I was so blown away by the new writings that I even forced him into a conversation about how he writes. He pretty much seems to start in the middle of an idea and then works his way around the idea until a sentence is formed, does that make any sense? It's a way he makes most of his art too, devising a meaningful truth he wants to convey and then using whatever he has around to, literally, build upon this center. It's completely mind boggling how he does it...even moreso how he is able to do it and still manage to incorporate a picture of a dog in a spacesuit! Puppy cosmonaut? Now that is one perfect Halloween costume!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Texas Never Whispers

















In my last post extolling the wonders of Diverseworks I completely forgot to mention what city it lies on the outskirts of! Houston! Houston, Texas! I have only driven through the top of Texas once or twice so this is my first real immersion into what this enormous state is all about...and, being that some of my favorite people are from Texas, I am eager to explore it in all it's glory! So far I have had some tacos, some BBQ, seen two grown woman in chunky glasses and couture sweatsuits get huffy at the craft store and come across some pretty beautiful buildings (in addition to some not so beautiful ones). There seems to be a lot of culture blooming here in all kinds of forms making it an odd mix of just about everything, a city that one would have to be in for a long time to even begin to discover the vast sprawl & offerings of the place but, for now, a starting point of discovery is all of the events we're a part of here this coming month- oil, ribs, film & art! Stay awesome Texas!

Texas loves putting Texas on Everything














So Diverseworks Art Space is probably the coolest art space I have ever been to. Located in an old factory warehouse on the outskirts of the city this arts organization is made up of a gigantic theater for performances, a huge gallery (which will be our home for the next week), a new screening space and countless other curated surfaces showcasing everything from a graffiti exhibit of local tags to a cigarette vending machine turned art vending machine ( for $5- which I think is actually less than  pack of smokes- a little piece of art pops out; hand felted miniatures, glass blown hair pins, tiny paintings!). I am really excited to be allowed to be a part of this place for a bit. And I am also super excited that the entire Diverseworks staff took a breather last week to have a special screening of Gravity- leaving many teary eyed and someone to even gasp aloud "What!?!" during an unexpected plot twist! What a great welcome from such a great place!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Animaniac

Well, Gravity didn't win big at Ottawa but the film that did win sounds awesome! Hopefully we'll get to see it when we head up to Canada for the Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema where we will be performing Gravity live, on November 18th, for the first time outside of the US. The band for this show will even include Alan Scalpone & Mike McGinley of The Bitter Tears! Mike also stars as Leonard in the film so this is a special screening for sure! Here you can see Mike from a film shoot we did at the beginning of this year (oh my goodness! we were still filming at the beginning of this year, that is just crazy! I deserve a nap after this realization!) from when we were struggling with some frozen ground issues!


In other animation news, Brent will also be on hand at the SF Internatinal Animation Festival for a discussion of Gravity on November 14th! Should be an awesome time, too bad I can't make it out to this one, the line up looks amazing...!

Over Perfectly Tilled Fields

Yesterday was mostly spent waiting for another truck to arrive...this time to take away a pallete of cardboard to Texas for us to begin working on the project down there! It was pretty unfortunate that all day yesterday those that own the adjacent farmland thought it would be the best day to work the fields so every five minutes Brent or I would run to the door anticipating the truck but were met with the distant cry of crop overturning & tractors! Ok..now to pack the foley kit as unsuspiciously as possible for plane travel to Houston...slide whistle? Check. Mason jar? Check. Bucket of nails? Check. Hmf!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Anima


One of the reasons I was disappointed to not go to the Ottawa Animation Festival was because I was really interested in what animators would say about the film. Animators can often instantly recognize the amount of work that went into the production of Gravity, unlike non-animators who can sometimes barely wrap their heads around how we made the animated people talk! It's always sort of nice to hear from those who comprehend that I was outside for hours in the cold moving frame by frame! 

But, with an animator crowd, I guess one must expect those that are into the future of animation- the CGI lovers and the 3D hopefuls which might not necessarily be into a pretty old school animating technique. I do have one thing to say in defense of the film and advances in animation- the fact that we used digital cameras for pixelation in this way is sort of an achievement I think. It makes the in camera, in scene editing so much quicker that it is almost a progressive use of technology. So, despite the lack of wire frames & computerized texture, Gravity is sort of a new way to look at technological advances in digital animation! 

Also, one person who wrote about seeing the film is covering the festival over on his blog! His coverage is great! But, I might be biased since he liked Gravity...hehe! O, and one more thing, I did a post about Brent and his use of animation a long time ago which I thought, given the animating audience the festival is attracting, people might be interested in- link here!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Maple Leaf Dreams

Well...we didn't make it up to Canada for the Ottawa International Animation Festival. I am completely and utterly bummed...the cardboard we were waiting on arrived about a week later than expected which didn't help me justify a half of a day in the car just for a few hours of fun! And I bet it would have been fun! At least I can read about the festival over here and remotely imagine, as Brent eeriely pointed out last night as the Canadian premier of the film was rolling, an audience of people in a distant place watching me on screen...I am glad the thought of people watching me never occurred to me before, it's downright creepy! If anyone attending the fest reads this, tell me how it's going! And send me some syrup!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Houston, We Are Doing Just Fine

Heading to Houston way sooner than I want to admit...! Brent has been making these giant drawings, slowly sprawling out into a relatives neighboring (pink interior-ed?) barn (which the relative isn't too happy about), for his upcoming Houston show. A recent article about the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, found here, features a great quote from the co-executive director of Diverse Works, Diane Barber, about the first time she saw Brent perform:

"I’d never seen anything like it. Not only was the film intriguing and unusual, but the intensity of Brent’s delivery made for a magical experience. I was riveted and when he finished I thought to myself, 'This guy is a creative genius,' " Barber recalls. "Since then, I’ve gotten to know Brent a little bit and I still think he’s a genius, but I also think he’s a little crazy, but in a good way.

Crazy for sure but, like my mom said, "The people you think are sane you just don't know well enough!"

Illadelphia

Yesterday I spent my time running around Philadelphia while Brent lectured at the Tyler School of Art (brought there by the artistic genius that is Karyn Olivier).  I was able to stop into the infamous Mutter Museum (which, as reported in the "news", was recently inhabited by the likes of a set of famous Pennsylvanian animators) and even witness the destruction of a church- which I thought was particularly fitting given the issues & themes of Gravity! I was very close to living in Philly at some point, the DIY culture and general heart of the art community, and the regular community as well, is really great with collectives like Space 1026 and Art in the Age churning out wonderful, quality stuff with minimal attitude!


It's kind of strange that we haven't screened the film in Philly yet? Or even PA for that matter? (We had some interest early on from the intrigueing group  Puppet Uprising "Dedicated to the Art of the Puppet Underground" but in the end it didn't seem the venue would work out for our screening needs...which is kind of a bummer!) Maybe we'll set something up for next year in the city of brotherly love & cheesesteaks! Never forget the cheesesteaks!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Howe are Things?

Howe Gelb likes puns a lot, he justifies his love of puns with "I'm of the age." I love puns and, not being of pun bearing age, I have no shame! The more and more live shows of Gravity we perform the more a coherent band has started to emerge. Brendan Canty (who I have already professed my love for) on percussion & sometimes keyboard, Drew Henkels on theramin/pump organ/guitar/etc., John Swartz on cello and Howe Gelb on the keys (and innards) of the piano are the basis of the group we've amassed so far. I decided to make a post about each person in the band so we can all get to know eachother a bit!

I'll admit it, I had never heard of Howe Gelb until I met Brent. It seems that people's knowledge of Howe's existence ranges from "Who?" to "The rock legend?" I can't imagine what it must feel like to be him, eeriely eyed up in recognition but just not every single day. The first time I met Howe he dumped a bag of batteries into a pristine grand piano to get some dirt into the sound. I watched an entire staff of the arts center that that grand piano belonged to gasp all at once. Then they sort of sighed in acceptance, realizing that Howe had made the right decision.

 I don't know who took this photo but I love it.

Howe, and his music, are hard to get to know...he has made over forty albums (solo and with various incarnations, including Giant Sand) but with each one is an off kilter progressive-ness that doesn't belong to any particular era or genre that leaves you feeling that these sounds (and person) are a pleasing social misfit that you can learn to love, a beautiful outcast for your sonic pleasure. The one thing that is consistent in all of his music is his writing. Howe, even in conversation, chooses his words and his sounds unlike anyone I have ever met- a linguistic dream! Maybe being a native Pennsylvanian transplanted to Arizona and then whisked around Europe with his musical endeavors has made him hear words the way he does but I have a strong feeling it is something that is inherent in his being...not to mention his inherent cool-ness that makes me feel like I will never, ever pull off puns in the way this handsome, talented cowboy can!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Cleaning Up the Barn to the tune of Burning Down the House

Whenever we are running around installing shows, screening the film, performing live etc. we always sort of vacate the barn in a flurry leaving a beautiful disaster in our wake to come home to! Today in attempts to stave off anymore ruin due to a suddenly leaky barn (I cannot tell for the life of me where the water is coming from? It's reached the point where I think our local Paranormal Investigator team might show up and start an inquiry!) and to try and get things somewhat in order, I decided to clean the basement.

Here is a pic of a drawing I discovered down there (you can see it hanging near the tractor) that is made on some sort of trash picked cubicle board which I find funny- someone's re-purposed workplace in our own depicting a haven of a home also in our home- this particular cubicle board was brought to us by our friend Jerry awhile back on his way to our dumpster but stopping just short to end up on our porch (hearty congrats to Jerry & family on their new adorable baby by the way)! Ok..I am dusty. No, just plain dirty. Showertime!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Is It Even Raining Outside?

What a cold, rainy day here in PA! The perfect day for trying to catch the mole that has taken residence under the stove (I have restricted his path using a series of boards! But, o,  how to coerce him into a box?) and look for antique pictures of teeth (don't ask).


In other news...Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then will be screening as part of the San Francisco International Animation Festival in mid-November! Someone over at the San Fran Film Society that has seen the film had these words to say about it, "From the unlikeliest of true stories comes this staggering, emotional achievement by Brent Green." I think that is a pretty hefty statement but, judging by the lack of a single dry eye at the most recent live-show (including myself, on stage) in Arizona, I think the author of that statement might be onto something...? Brent will be at the screening on November 14th for a Q&A, hope everyone who missed the Pacific Film Archives showing can make it out to this one!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Purse Digger

Cleaning out my purse after a Gravity trip is like a weird little time capsule! Here you see a flyer for last weekends ASU live show, the cover of a dvd given to us by a Phoenix based animator and then a mark of the end of our trip- paint samples, the beginning of every new project! This purse dig even includes a remnant from a previous trip in the form of a PFA ticket stub! Wowza! So much time so little to do, strike that, reverse it....anyway, why didn't this purse purge result in me finding any Gravity related candy? I'd also settle for regular candy you know...

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Drew's First Cactus

The ASU Season art opening was pretty rad! A combination of great local art and those hungry for it made the evening a nice, creatively encouraging place to be!  Despite the many obstacles of this particular Gravity live show (including our cellist John missing his flight and the sound nightmare of a hall the performance was taking place in) it turned out wonderfully! I must admit that we had the best crew of support ever through the (endless) sound check & set up from Michael who lent us tons of much needed equipment, to the quality sound engineering of Catherine & Mike (who both steered me to the best coffee in Arizona) to the last minute stand-in cellist Ambur! Not to mention the consistently wonderful, proactive staff at ASU!

And of course Brendan and Drew (pictured here with a cactus which he was totally psyched about seeing during his first desert visit) were their normal, awesome, musical-genius selves! Channeling the energetic vibe of the audience led to a show that was a bit more rocking than our previous ones, making it a new experience for us all...an experience I don't think we could have shared with a better group of people!

The Best of Both Worlds

We're here in sunny Arizona preparing for the live show tomorrow where I just came across this (belated) review of the Gravity art show from when it was in New York! I think one of the really interesting parts of this film has been the distinction people make about Gravity in regards to film and art...it never occurred to me how different the art world and film worlds were until now, or even that there were such things for that matter!


Sometimes I feel like the art world is a bit hesitant to sort of herald something they haven't seen before as opposed to the film world which seems hungry for something new. Film is so hungry for something new that most festivals won't program things unless they are a premier, a syndrome that Jem Cohen briefly mentions in this brilliant article about the accountability of those consuming film to those who make it in our digitized world. The art world on the other hand seems to want some kind of art historical reference or a large following before they are willing to really start clapping- everyone wants that new painting to be influenced by that old one with a trusted audience! I feel like both models make it hard for a larger audience to be able to have access to new film and art. Both models also make it hard (as Jem also points out) for those making the film and art to make a living.

I have no idea if I am imagining these art and film world distinctions- it could just be the jet lag and the Arizona heat talking- but it does seem like there is a sort of a staleness in art and film lately each restricting viewership in their own way. Ok, ok I'll stop film/art ranting now! To the sunscreen and the Art opening/Film screening! (And maybe the Nap?)

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Carbo-Unloading

Ah yes, another rumbling truck approaching the barn! This one has come loaded with cardboard for a show that will be taking place at Diverse Works in Houston Texas this Fall. Yes, I am aware that we are starting now. Cough. Cough. But, my new found skills at jigsawing that I picked up at the Arizona Gravity install (thanks to the urgings of a fire marshall who called for a lot of cuts) will hopefully help Brent out a lot and aid in getting this show out if his head and into reality at a fast pace!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Painted Deserts

As I mentioned before, we're gearing up for the Ottawa International Animation Festival at the end of this month! I'm slightly intimidated by the features we're sharing the bill with- including this one which is apparently part of a gigantic Japanese franchise that made roughly $56.5 million dollars (!) last winter and the new work from the delightful Chomet (Triplets of Belleville) but I don't really see this as a competition so much as a venue to see new animated work. And a nice excuse to go to Canada! I've only been there once and it was magical I can't imagine how magical it's gonna be during an animation fantasyland! We'll be there for a Q&A on the 22nd and for filmaker festivities on the following day!



Here is somemore info about the Gravity live show taking place on Saturday in Phoenix! The link also includes a slideshow of the installation we did down there including a lot of shots of me looking haggard, various people wielding various power tools, large piles of building materials fresh off the truck and a lot of shots of Brent talking to a bunch of strangers! Actually, I think we made a lot of friends in Phoenix so they weren't all strangers! Hope we get to see everybody again this weekend!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

And That's The Way It Is

Filled with half-true facts, some odd journalistic photos of the install and a narrator claiming to be the ASU Walter Cronkite, here is somebody's homework! Based on the Gravity show in Arizona! 



(Stares perplexidly at videos end, shakes it off.) Also, speaking of Arizona...we're headed down there this upcoming week! On October 8th is the "official" opening of the museum show, Brent is hosting an animation workshop on the 9th & 10th and we're doing a version of the live show on the 9th! Whew! Also, I've been informed that the heat has not broken as previsously promised (unpacks recently packed away shorts, packs away recently unpacked sweaters). If you're in the Phoenix area or are visiting the Phoenix area e-mail me for more info on these events!