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Entries tagged with 'MoMA'
Posted Jul. 22, 2008,
Premiere Brazil Takes on New York
By Phil Smrek
A sidebar of Festival do Rio, Premiere Brazil opened this past weekend at MoMA and runs through the July 28th. The sixth annual contemporary film festival features the world premiere of director Lirio Ferreira’s The Man Who Bottled Clouds, an intimate look at the life and work of Humberto Teixeira, the legendary songwriter, lawyer and congressman who wrote many Brazilian classics including “Asa Branca (White Wing)” and introduced a steadily industrialized country to the folk like sounds of Baiao -- the accordion-based music of north eastern Brazil. In writing over 400 songs, his music has been recorded by a myriad of talent from Forro in the Dark to Pink Martini. The film beautifully captures his life in Rio during the 1940’s via archived footage and insightful interviews with of a host of personalities and features musical performances by Gilberto Gil and David Byrne. Another highlight of the festival is Estomago (A Gastronomic Story), directed by Marcos Jorge, an allegorical fable which looks at ambition and survival through the lead characters’ alternative mode to moving ahead: cooking. His potent mixing of food, sex and betrayal makes for a nimble and smart tale. “We’re talking about low gastronomy not haute cuisine. It’s the first Brazilian film to play on this theme,” says director Jorge. Eight other equally stellar entries complete this year’s line up. Lest we forget, it was the Festival do Rio that introduced City of God and Central Station to American audiences.
On the eve of the opening night I met up with MoMA film curator Jytte Jensen and Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival director Ilda Santiago. Between sips of caipirinhas, I asked the two about Brazilian film and this year's festival.
Phil Smrek: Now that Premiere Brazil is in its sixth year, what’s its effect been on US audiences?
Ilda Santiago: There’s a loyal audience coming to see this program every year so that in and of itself illustrates the potential for Brazilian films in the US market. Also, by bringing a delegation of Brazilian producers, directors and actors to New York each year we’re building relationships and opportunities not only for these films but for future projects.
Posted Jun. 4, 2008,
Eight Items or Less... Donna Summer, Boy Bands and Introducing the Uroclub
By Gary Pini
1. Donna Summer performed several songs from her new album, Crayons, last night at New York club Mansion. Backed by a live band, her set also featured early hits like "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff" but the songs from her first studio LP in 17 years were equally catchy and bode well for her revived career. Summer still holds the record for having three consecutive double albums reach #1.
2. While at Mansion we noticed that the club has a "library" stocked totally with books from DUMBO-based powerHouse Books.
3. According to Rolling Stone, boy bands are back. With record companies taking note of the sold-out New Kids on the Block arena tour, watch out for a new generation of acts including: ' V Factory, NLT and Varsity Fan Club.
4. Coney Island Lager debuts three new beers tonight at The Gate in Brooklyn (321 Fifth Ave. at 3rd St.). The "side-show" monikered beverages are: Albino Python White, Sword Swallower Steel Hop and Human Blockhead Tough-as-Nails Lager.
5. Picture yourself on the fairway at your favorite country club when nature calls. No need to run into the bushes. Just reach for your trusty Uroclub.
6. For $250 you can hit the after party of MoMA's annual Party in the Garden featuring M.I.A. (live) and LCD Soundsystem DJ's James Murphy and Pat Mahoney. (Tuesday, June 10, 9 p.m. to midnight, 4 W. 54 St.)
Posted Apr. 28, 2008,
Eight Items or Less: We Wish We Were at Coachella, We Miss Ben Widdicombe and We Hope Studio B Gets Their Act Together!
By Gary Pini
1. Great shots from Coachella here. I'm from Barcelona (pictured above) are appearing on Thursday, May 1, at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple in Ft. Greene with Thao Nguyen. It's only $10 and this is an amazing venue.
2. Ben Widdicombe has left the Daily News. Today was his last column and he will now pursue his "ambition of becoming the world's first plus-size hand model."
3. The NYC Building Department issued a stop-work order on the second floor of Brooklyn club/venue Studio B. If you have tickets for their Friday night roof-top concert, call first.
4. MoMA's "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" exhibition opens next week. In the meantime, listen to this great UK band: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
5. Turn your handwriting into a font here.
6. "A violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun." It is "an adoring and insightful take on modern America" with a "pungent script" that "sets a new standard for what is possible in the arts." What movie could possibly be this good? Actually it's a video game, Grand Theft Auto IV, and the quotes are from a review in today's New York Times. btw: 70,000,000 copies of the first three have already been sold.
Posted Sep. 7, 2007,
Fabian Basabe's Epic Evening
By Fabian Basabe
Let me start off by saying I was nursing an epic hangover all day!! EPIC.
So, after the ADAM show yesterday I went to the "Artrageous" party hosted by Vanity Fair at Bloomingdales. it was an amazing set-up and for a fantastic cause. If I were as talented and artist as some of those whose works were being auctioned, I would paint you a picture, but I just cannot. Think fun, bright lights, beautiful models in balloon fashions, art installations and pretty people. So that's all I needed, but I loved seeing Chris Benz (more on him next week), VF's Darryl Brantley and Bob Collacello.
OK, let’s take a second and talk about this New York City taxi strike!!! I paid 40 dollars to go ten blocks!! Something about crossing zones... what is this, DC? When I was there last for the Presidential Inauguration, I learned the hard way that you can literally take a 30 minute cab ride for six dollars if you stay in one zone, but if you take a cab two blocks and happen to cross a zone it will cost you 27 dollars!!
I miss my Hummer... cabs are bullsh*#t!
Posted May. 24, 2007,
Summer of (Art) Love
By PAPERMAG Editors
Here's a report from our special correspondent Gary Pini...
Art freaks from around the world will be heading to Europe this summer to celebrate the rare confluence of four major events: the Venice Biennale, documenta 12, Art Basel 38 and skulptur projekte munster 07. The 52nd edition of the Biennale has the theme "Think with the Senses - Feel with the Mind. Art in the Present Tense" and was curated by Robert Storr -- the first time by an American. Storr was formerly in the department of painting and sculpture at MoMA. Seventy-seven countries will participate and it will feature a show dedicated to African contemporary art. Documenta, which is only held every five years, takes place in Kassel, Germany. This year's version is under the artistic direction of Rodger M. Buergel and is curated by Ruth Noack. You can find more info about all four shows including dates, hours and prices at their jointly sponsored website www.grandtour2007.com.