A R T
Time Traveler Hilma af Klint
Serendipity led me to attend the Guggenheim's exhibition Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future last year. Klint's abilities left me in awe to the extent that it felt indescribable to those who didn’t get to see in person. Luckily, a Hilma af Klint documentary came out this month. It’s not on big-name screening services but, I found a list of theaters from Zeitgeist Films that were intending on screening Beyond the Visible - Hilma af Klint, and for now, offer online showings. I chose to purchase my ticket from Cinema 21, a small theater located in Portland, OR. You can stream it here. The documentary is directed by Halina Dyrschka and shines a light on the concepts behind Klint’s work and her life trajectory while confronting the male-dominated art world.
L O C A L
Remember This?
Lately, I’ve been driving through the city, taking in the scenery I’ve grown accustomed to overlooking. This month, Robert Wyland’s mural Whaling Wall was unveiled after being covered by large scale advertisements sense 2005. I found it funny that although the last time I saw the artwork was 15 years ago, it was engaged in my mind so well, that I didn’t notice it was ever gone. I encourage those who are able, to take a look. Read PaperCity’s reporting on Whaling Wall for further information on the mural’s history.
M U S I C
Aries Energy
Aries are known for their radical ideas and call to action. I’ve always felt it was special that Al Green and Marvin Gaye were Aries because their music ignites such energy and intent. This month Bill Whether passed away and rightfully so, he finds himself on my roster of influential Aries too. I thought about who else can be added and created a playlist.
Although Thundercat had to cancel his tour, that didn’t stop the release of his newest album It Is What It Is. James Lawson’s album review from Stereoboard describes Thundercat’s intent more sufficiently than I can, as music reviews are not my forte. Lawson writes; “Throughout, the LP is punctuated by unexpected bursts of humour. It soon becomes clear that rather than investigating grief in isolation, Bruner has written about living with grief as an omnipresent but secondary character. This is achieved with a level of candor that manages to take the Thundercat alter ego, as over-the-top and cartoonish as it is, and portray it delicately, honestly and believably”. Thundercat’s music exists in various realms but, if I had to narrow it down for those unfamiliar, I’d define his work as funk, soul, jazz, and electronic-influenced.
After seven years, The Strokes released their most recent album The New Abnormal. This comes at an opportune moment. I’ve been reminiscing on the last time I felt unrestrained with what I do, it was in middle school when I was obsessively teaching myself how to play songs from Is This It, Room on Fire, and First Impressions Of Earth.
P L A C E S
New York & New Orleans
A year ago I spent the first week of April in New Orleans and the last two weeks of April in New York City for work, it was my first time there. I’ve always loved New Orleans and although it took time and reflection to admit it, I love New York too. These cities have been affected by so much throughout history and now COVID-19 takes its jab. I look on at these images I took fondly in the hopes to revisit one day.
Carmo will be my first stop in New Orleans, the restaurant that fed me so well, and offered sweet hospitality after a long mishap filled road trip. Somehow, I’m eager to go on another time-warped, 17-mile walk, through Manhattan and Brooklyn to find solace in dollar slices and Italian restaurants like Fiore at the end of my day.