Barack Obama or Marilyn Monroe?

Too much?

I have to say, this image is integrated in very nicely but I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of nibbling on my oatmeal in the morning while the world's most powerful leader stares down at me. That being said, they integrated him in beautifully! The room is fantastic.

I found this on DESIGN SPONGE! Visit this blog, it's wonderful!




Would you rather dine with Marilyn Monroe or Barack Obama staring down at you?

So It Begins - Swine Flu Art

Mike Simi, Self Portrait (green), Archival inkjet Print, 24' x 36'  

I found this artist on www.artsjournal.com,  a blog I read every day.  This piece is highly amusing to me.  Simi does a wonderful job of addressing the graveness of the Swine Flu situation while simultaneously demonstrating a) the reaction of the media and b) media saturation in any dire global situation. 

Apart from the Swine Flu context Self Portrait (green), is a beautiful composition of bright, playful colors portrayed in little puffs which are huddles together happily protecting the subjects facial orifices.  The vibrant concoction of balls is contradicted by the somber expression of the wearer.  The duality is simple and profound.  Millions of things can be read into it yet it can also be taken at face value and enjoyed.   

  

Artist's Website: www.mikesimi.com

Blog Source: http://artsjournal.com

After finding this piece I did a quick Google search for more Swine Flu Art.  My search was not completely in vain, I found an interesting video of pig sketches which become the portrait of The Mexican President, Felipe Calderon.  

View the video here:  www.ireport.com

Notte Sento - Short Film

View Notte Sento Here: http://vimeo.com/2078991

In honor of our departure for the Jeonju International Film Festival tomorrow I thought I would make a quick post of this short film composed of still shots. This sweet piece is based in a city very close to my heart, Rome. When I watched it I got tingles as the young woman entered the train station in Rome, the first foreign place to which I have ever been - it is a special place to me. Our experiences continue to be similar in that we were both whisked away by men who briskly introduce the main sites of Roma. Sadly the likeness of experiences end here - my whisk man was a cab driver and I was a scuzzy American straight off the plane. . . .

I hope you enjoy this. It put a smile on my face and from the previews of our line-up this weekend Notte Sento might be the most smiley film I am seeing this week.

This was also reviewed on Brevity 5.

Review 1 - Nutcracker Gone Indian in the Underworld - La Bayadere

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending La Bayadere at The Seoul Arts Center. I went in with mid-level expectations that were not truly defied until the final act of the performance. The premise of the story is a love square with a death of one of the lovers. The first two acts were a Nutcracker like performance - everyone sits on stage and takes turns dancing.
Despite my lack of interest and longing for a candy-cane in mid-April I was impressed by the number of men on stage. Other than that the first two acts were not very interesting.

The third act blew away my expectations. One of the lovers is killed by another lover at a wedding. The third act is about the living lover taking a long hit of opium and then visiting the underworld to reconcile with his dead lover.

The lighting is what made this act. At first I was a disgruntled audience viewer wondering why my eyes were playing tricks one me. Too much chocolate cake at intermission? Once I realized that the lighting was an intentional affect I stopped rubbing my eyes and stared in awe at the stage. A gray film-like blanket of light played tricks on my eyes that created a piercing red glow underneath the dancers' movements. This reminded me of the final act in Swan Lake which I later read was inspired by the third act of La Bayadere - go figure.

Image Credit: The Korea Times