Kristin Scott Thomas and Sergi López in Leaving 2009

In Partir, Thomas plays a wife, mother who falls in love with a contractor hired by her husband to construct a new physiotherapy office at their home so she can start up her practice again.  Sounds sticky, right?  It gets stickier as she tries to give up her lover on orders of her husband, just to go right back to her passionate affair.  As she attempts leaving her husband, he does his best to make life miserable for the two lovers…  and possibly succeeds.  You be the judge of the outcome.  Ultimately, I felt that her character handles the situation like a person who has thrown all logic out the window.  Her husband’s reaction is a form of angry denial, her son is the most understanding/accepting while her daughter wants nothing to do with her.  Oh the web we weave.

The outcome is strikingly reminiscent of one of my favorite classic Truffaut films, La Peau Douce (The Soft Skin 1964).  La Peau Douce has a similar plot of an extramarital affair, however the roles are reversed.  In this film the husband, father falls desperately in love with a young flight attendant, and his wife is unaccepting of the situation.  In both films the wives play the role of the emotionally illogical.  I won’t go into further details on either film, as I truly wish not to spoil either startling outcome.  You will just have to take my word for it that each is worth a serious watch.

Françoise Dorléac and Jean Desailly in La Peau Douce 1964

wonder, 2007

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A big thank you to everyone who came out Sunday evening to the Art Auction/Fundraiser for our friend Natalie Hardcastle.  There is no right combination of words to express our gratitude for your support and contributions in effort to raise money for Natalie and her family.  The generosity of art, cash, in-kind donations, attendees, those who purchased work and moral supporters was overwhelming.  Almost every art piece found a new home.  It was because of all of you that we raised over $18,000 to help payoff Natalie’s medical expenses.

The list of contributors is still growing and we are most grateful for your help.  This was truly a beautiful experience and we hope that everyone will continue to support and aid those in need in whatever manor you are able.  Way to rally, all!

Natalie Hardcastle and Bob Nugent

Natalie recently underwent brain surgery to remove a golf ball sized tumor, just 4 short months after she gave birth to her second son. Natalie is a talented artist, advocate for the arts, former art student of Sonoma State University and one of the most kind-hearted people you will ever meet.  100% of the money raised will go to pay off medical expenses that are not covered by Nat’s insurance. If there are any additional funds remaining they will be donated to the UCSF Medical Foundation for research.  Please come and support Natalie and her family.

Contributing artists include John Fraser, Judy Pfaff, Tim McDowell, Heather Patterson, William Smith, Sami Lange, Kiki Smith, Mark Perlman, Kurt Kemp, Jennifer Sturgill, Brett Grunig, Michael Gregory, Eric Oldmixon, Wendy Anne Crittenden, Erik Neff, Marianela de la hoz, Rob Keller, Chester Arnold, Michael Schwager, Ed Aiona, Jennifer Clark, Alison Harris, Hung Liu, Nancy Youdelman, Michael Manzavrakos, Frank Ryan, Anne Siems, Heather Wilcoxon, Suzanne Stryk, Gregory Raymond Halili, Aaron Fink, John Nava, Robert McCauley, Marlene McCauley, Tom Foolery, Bob and Janet Voruz, Matt Mullins, Kerry Vander Meer, Andrew Meiress, Halle Seipman, Ashley Heber, Gordon Powell, Era and Don Farnsworth, Monika Steiner, Kristine Branscomb-Fitzgerald, Bob Nugent, Lynda Nugent, Kara Maria, Enrique Chagoya, Robert Hudson, Andy Saftel, Judith Williams, Donn Brannon, Shane Weare, Tony Guaraldi-Brown, Kenna Moser, James Porter, Pam Longobardi, Steven Sorman, Dan Gualdoni, Jeanette Pasin-Sloan and the list grows…….

bated breath, 2010, Wendy Anne Crittenden

Many quality small artworks will be auctioned off, 12”x12” or smaller and nothing over $300, with bids starting much lower than that.  100% of the money raised will go towards medical expenses that are not covered by Natalie’s insurance, who recently underwent extensive surgery to remove a brain tumor shortly after having her second child.  As you can imagine, this was not a simple or inexpensive surgery.  Any additional  funds remaining will be donated to the UCSF Medical Foundation for research.

All donations will be tax deductible: both art donated and purchased.  So please join in on the fun January 16th, buy some art, and help support Natalie and her family.  Below is my own contribution to the event, bated breath.  See you there!

bated breath, 2010

Top of the list is Tron: Legacy. Do I really need to explain myself here?  Big fan of the original, big fan of Jeff Bridges.  Tagline:  “A virtual-world worker looks to take down the Master Control Program.”  Opening day is December 16th.

Jeff Bridges in TRON: Legacy

Next up, the Black Swan. Looks creepy, looks good.  Tagline:  “Nina is a featured dancer in the New York City Ballet who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company.”  Directed by Darren Aronofsky (director of Pi and The Wrestler) and starring Natalie Portman.  Playing now.

Natalie Portman in the Black Swan

True Grit. Starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, directed by Joel & Ethan Coen.  This is a remake of the 1969 John Wayne classic.  Tagline: “A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father’s murderer.”  Starts playing December 22nd.

Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld in the Coen Brothers' True Grit

Biutiful. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of 21 Grams and Babel) and starring Javier Bardem.  Plot summary: “This is a story of a man in free fall. On the road to redemption, darkness lights his way. Connected with the afterlife, Uxbal is a tragic hero and father of two who’s sensing the danger of death. He struggles with a tainted reality and a fate that works against him in order to forgive, for love, and forever.”  Javier always brings it.  Always.  In theaters December 29th.

Javier Bardem in Biutiful

The Fighter. Directed by David O. Russell (director of I Heart Huckabees) and starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams.  Plot:  “A look at the early years of boxer ‘Irish’ Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.”  I usually can’t stand films about actual people/events, but the trailer looks hopeful…  plus, how can you go wrong with a cast like this?  It’s all about the performance.  In theaters now.

Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter

Blue Valentine. Hoping this fits into my simple plot, great acting/execution category, but could go horribly sentimental, vomit-like wrong.  My fingers are crossed for the former.  Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, directed by Derek Cianfrance.  Story:  “The film centers on a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods.”  Starts playing December 31st.

Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in Blue Valentine

I was quickly losing hope in finding something of interest out there in the theaters, I searched for a glimmer of good stuff… and there it was, hidden, but staring me in the face.  Welcome to the Riley’s (2010).  What a great little film, I’m not even sure it’s out in theaters anymore, but if you can find it, you should see it.  Some of my favorite films to watch have a simple plot with masterful execution, this fits that category.  From what I can determine, this is the first big film by director Jake Scott, the writing is by Ken Hixon (writer of Inventing the Abbotts and City by the Sea).

James Gandolfini and Kristen Stewart in Welcome to the Riley’s (2010) 

Welcome to the Riley’s stars James Gandolfini as Doug, whose wife has been housebound since the death of their teenage daughter years ago.  His only happiness seems to come from the time spent with his mistress, a waitress at the local waffle house. It is a happiness that comes to an abrupt and unfortunate halt.  Though mourning, Doug soon finds himself in New Orleans on a business trip, and in an attempt to avoid his business associates, he finds himself thrown in the presence of a young stripper/prostitute — too young — a teenager posing as an adult.  Understandably, he feels the need to take care of and protect her, as she conjures memories of his deceased child.  Unhappy back at home and finally feeling purposeful in New Orleans, he decides to stay, a move that has an unexpected effect on his housebound wife.  This film has the potential to be cheesy, but absolutely avoids the cheese factor due to it’s great writing and execution.  There’s also a small cameo of Ally Sheedy, who plays Doug’s sister-in-law.  Nice.

Actor Mads Mikkelsen in After the Wedding

When Jacob meets the potential donor, Jorgen, his understanding of the situation has changed as Jorgen strings him along for an indefinite stay in Denmark, dangling the money just out of Jacob’s reach.  Jorgen invites Jacob to his daughter’s wedding, where a revelation sets everything in motion for the floodgates of Jacob’s past to abruptly open.  Each of the main protagonists endures emotionally painful ups and downs and a series of unexpected revelations that upends all.  The acting is supremely executed and this film is absolutely the opposite of every “wedding” film in existence.  The wedding is such a small piece of the film, however, it is a profoundly significant turning point of Jacob’s life path.  This film has it’s place in my top 5 viewed this year, a must see.

A little taste of my own contribution. From Left to Right: Seasoned Greetings, Magically Delicious, Happy Birthday and Life. Four more designs will be present...

Next on the list is the Bazaar Bizarre.  I have two friends selling their handmande jewelry wares in this event: the talented and lovely Taryn McCabe with her TOMgirl leather jewelry and Shen Cruces with her Shendoe ceramic jewelry.  This event is located at the Fort Mason Center (Herbst Pavilion), San Francisco, and is happening Saturday 12/11 from 12pm-5pm and Sunday 12/12 from 12pm-6pm, with a special cocktail & crafts party Saturday night from 7pm-10pm.  Admission is free for the daytime hours, $10 for the special Saturday night event.  Here is a list of links to all of the specially picked artists and crafters for this event, take a looksy!  I personally have fallen in love with the Sweet Meats vendor.

Top: Handmade leather necklace by TOMgirl -- Bottom: Handmade ceramic necklace by Shendoe

Now let us take a gander at Inky Oxnard’s Holiday Frenzy! happening in West Oakland Saturday 12/11 from 11am-5pm.  There will be screenprints at ridiculously low prices, lovingly printed t-shirts, framed pieces, a few pieces on wood from Super Furry Animals, landscapes, Squirrel Plates, stickers, books, paintings on canvas, wood, and cardboard — gifts to fit every budget.  The artists involved are Michael Wertz, Isabel Samaras, Dave Warnke, Jim Winters, and Lloyd Dangle.  These prints are awesome!  Get yourself there, people!

Inky Oxnard’s Holiday Frenzy!

Now for those of you up in the North Bay, specifically Santa Rosa, we have a Thursday night event, 12/9:  Xmas Card Collective – Show & Sale located at Gallery 300.  The artists involved will be Todd Barricklow, Molly Perez, Tony Spears, Mr. Salazar, William Smith and the lovely Jacqueline Smith.  This is an event that you can purchase unique xmas cards, have some bites and drinks and enjoy the company of some of my favorite people.  Seriously guys, these are my people, you can’t not have fun at this event…

Xmas Card Collective: Show & Sale

Lastly, for those who aren’t venturing outdoors for their last-minute shopping, try whitefuzzyball.com, an untraditional-traditional line of Santa hats designed and crafted by one of my elf friends.  These are very luxurious and very well made — just what’s needed this holiday season.  So many events, so little time.  Plan accordingly, people, but get your booties out there and have yourselves a grand time!

One of the sweet untraditional-traditional Santa hats at whitefuzzyball.com

The Messenger: Directed by Oren Moverman.  I had heard so much praise about this film on NPR that I wasworried I was going to hate it upon watching it.  Holy crap, I loved it.

Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster, The Messenger, 2009

Harrelson is the supporting cast here, but such a huge presence.  He works alongside new actor Ben Foster, who I have only really seen in Six Feet Under.  Harrelson is Foster’s superior officer, their task is to deliver the news of fallen soldiers to the next of kin.  Both characters are complex, each is working out their own burdens.  My one complaint is the presence of Jena Malone, I really can’t stand this actress.  She plays the same character every film, and that character is the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard for me.  Lucky for me/us her role is small.  All in all it’s a great film, tough subject matter.

Defendor: Wow.  I mean, WOW.  I heart this film so much.  I really only discovered it because there was a trailer

Woody Harrelson, Defendor, 2009

for it on my Zombieland DVD.  Did I miss out on this trailer when it was in theater because I don’t subscribe to TV/cable?  I haven’t heard any of my peers talk about it, so I feel like the answer to that question is no.  No you did not miss it that way, Wendy.  I digress.  First time director Peter Stebbings also wrote this little gem.  Harrelson plays a slow-witted Arthur Poppington, who decides he needs to do his part in keeping the riff raff of of the streets by donning his superhero alias, the Defendor.  He can’t fly, but he can throw a jar of angry wasps at your feet.  I believe this was marketed as a comedy, and while it has funny moments, I find it a more serious drama than comedy, a wonderful character study of a guy trying to make it on the streets, fulfilling his superhero potential, who meets a girl (Kat Dennings) trying to make it on the streets.  A must see.

Transsiberian: Directed and co-written by Brad Anderson, who also directed that great haunting film The Machinist.  This is an action film, which is why I first hesitated to view it.  I just don’t watch much action, it doesn’t really get me going.  But hey, Harrelson was in it, Ben Kingsley (whom I adore) and the lovely Emily Mortimer.  Simple plot, really, American husband and wife are traveling on the Transsiberian railway and are unwittingly

Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer, Transsiberian, 2008

befriended by smugglers…  Kingsley is a cop.  Action ensues.  What I love about Harrelson in this film was how straight laced, naive and nerdy he was, in that normal kind of way.  Mortimer is a reformed wild one, which is pretty contradictory to most, maybe even all, roles she plays.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio:  Ahh, this has been on my to-watch list for so long, and the whole time it was there I had no idea Julianne Moore and Harrelson were in it.  I just knew the plot and held off on viewing it because it seemed like it would be a hit or a miss.  It’s a hit.  And surprisingly based on life, which I usually cannot

Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, 2005

stand viewing such things as the plots are usually too cropped to really create decent viewing experience.  Moore is a housewife in the 50′s, married to an alcoholic Harrelson, and they produce a whole lot of children.  So many that she takes up the art of prize winning to help support the costs of raising the family, contests were seemingly a dime a dozen back in those days.  The characters are beautifully played by all, a nice little treat of a film. Directed and co-written by Jane Anderson.

So, reader, I do believe I have left you with an ample amount of homework, wouldn’t you say?  Enjoy.

Piranha 3D (2010), Jaws (1975), Piranha (1978)

I have fond memories of the 1978 original Piranha.  I mean, it may have come out the year I was born, but I still viewed many times in my youth.  I just don’t understand the need to remake it, such as the remake of Romero’s Dawn of the Dead…  why touch a classic?  So I decided to watch the trailer, which transformed my thoughts this order:  Jaws?  Piranha?  Jaws, Piranha and Tremors?

So the question remains for myself:  To see or not to see…  I feel obligated to see it, despite how campy it looks, I mean, it looks lame campy as opposed to fun campy.  My fingers are crossed for a reaction of pleasantly surprised, not horridly disappointed.  My fingers are crossed for your same reaction, I wish you luck.  I feel like viewers will need it.

William T. Wiley, Mr. Unatural Eyes the Ape Run Ledge, 1975

And while you are in that section of the museum, mosey on back to see the permanent collection.  The first Odd Nerdrum painting I have ever seen in person will be waiting for you.  I regret not writing the title down to the piece, for your viewing reference, so you will just have to be pleasantly surprised when you see it with your own eyes.  I also urge you to find your way over to Mel Ramos’ Superman, 1961-2, it may be one of my all time favorite paintings.  I always make a point to see it when I go.  A photo just doesn’t do it justice.  And there are plenty of other works to see, you just have to get up and go see them.

My absolute favorite piece in the exhibit was Édouard Manet’s Portrait of Georges Clemenceau, 1879–80.  This piece floors me with excitement as he left evidence of his procedure in painting, the black  jacket of Georges is scraped away enough to reveal the outline the sitter’s side.  Traces of the under painting revealing itself to create the illusion of form.  It’s not just his right side, it’s his hand, his head, his left shoulder, his bowtie…  traces of his thought process, really, as if he were drawing and erasing, drawing and erasing.  I urge you to attend just for this piece.

Édouard Manet, Portrait of Georges Clemenceau, 1879–80

However, I understand you may want to view the whole shebang of a show, and I don’t blame you.  This is probably the first and only time all of these pieces will grace our soil, and I am grateful to be present for it.  The main buzz about the show is centered around James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother (a.k.a. Whistler’s Mother), 1871 and Gustave Caillebotte’s Les Raboteurs (The Floor Scrapers), 1876, mighty fine pieces to view.

My critique is in the arrangement of the exhibition.  There are some very high-profile pieces in the exhibition and the flow of the exhibition is unfortunate, to say the least.  In too many areas viewers get stuck, as there is no flow due to the people taking in the high-profile pieces.  In fact, my experience was that viewers were quite pushy and rude, especially if they were participating in the audio tour.  Hey, if you are hooked up to a headset, does that make you immune to social politeness and tact?   No it doesn’t.  Be mindful of your actions is all I have to say.  In fact, here is my big tip to all planning to go:  do not attend on the weekend, and do not attend when the museum first opens for the day, you will encounter long ticket lines and elbows in the exhibition space.  Instead, try a weekday and arrive around 2pm.

James Abbott McNeill Whistler's Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother (a.k.a. Whistler's Mother), 1871

Anyhoo, this show is a must see.  Brave the potential masses.  You have until September 6, 2010 to view it.  There is a sequel to this exhibition. titled Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Beyond:  Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musee d’Orday.  The sequel will run from September 25, 2010-January 18, 2011.  I suggest you attend both.

Gustave Caillebotte's Les Raboteurs (The Floor Scrapers), 1876

big boy, Wendy Anne Crittenden, 30" x 30" C-print mounted on aluminum, 2009

The gala will have a live and silent art auction featuring work from many celebrated Bay Area visual artists, live DJs, good food and good drinks.  Your attendance and support will help Intersection raise the critical funds it needs to support their many performances, exhibitions, jazz, education and artists’ resource programs and to help them continue to provide a space for artists, youth, and the community.

General Admission is $60 or 2 for $100. Tickets can be purchased here.  Preview of the art can be found here, my eye is on the Julie Chang.  Hope to see your smiling faces June 12th at 7pm!

Robert Gober's Prison Window, 1992

Other pieces to note are Bruce Connor’s film Three Screen Ray, 2006, the museum’s fabulous photography collection that includes contemporary and historic pieces, and Robert Rauschenberg’s Erased de Koonig, 1953.  Connor’s piece is a three-channel, black and white video projection, set to Ray Charles’ 1959 hit song What’d I Say.  Images of naked ladies dancing, animated electricity and much more.

Bruce Connor's Three Screen Ray, 2006

In celebration of the museum’s 75th anniversary, SFMOMA has pulled out all of the stops, or rather all of their pieces, to celebrate the occassion.  The series of exhibitions and events “illustrate the stories of the artists, collectors, cultural visionaries, and community leaders who founded, built, and have animated the museum. A suite of exhibitions highlights the unique strengths of SFMOMA’s collection and moments when the museum broke new ground, expanding the conventional wisdom of what an art museum should present and collect. Related programs and events continue throughout the year.” [SFMOMA]

Join the museum for it’s special 75th Birthday Bash celebration on May 14, 2010.

Robert Rauschenberg's Erased de Kooning, 1953

Julie Chang, Example of Scrolls

Mad props to Mark Johnson, Sharon Bliss and Victor De La Rosa for this show.  My absolute favorite pieces were the hanging scrolls by artist Julie Chang. Chang’s scrolls, if you have never had the pleasure of encountering one yet, are absolutely worth seeking out on your next art venture.  I am head over heels for these babies!  They hang high from the ceiling and are printed on both sides.  Each side has a different design involving images extracted from our current culture — such as six shooters, the thank you from a chinese take out bag or the silhouettes of oil pumps — and recontextualized in patterns that far surpass the expectations of the consumerist masses.  The extracted images are either quickly recognized or incorporated so well as design that one must unlock them from the whole as if it were a puzzle.  Oh what I would give right now to own such a piece.

Though all of the work in the show is worthy of praise, I can only highlight a few at the moment, especially since I saw it way back on opening day.  My mind is a bit foggy on details.  Apologies, apologies.  However, I encourage you, reader, to meander through all the artists’ links provided at the end of this post.

I can’t not mention the whimsical installation titled Interstellar Media Stars by Ernest Jolly –  pinwheels with a glow from behind.  The first my attention was brought to this piece occurred when a slight breeze touched my skin…

Ernest Jolly, Interstellar Media Stars, 2009

…accompanied by a soundtrack of subtle tit-tit-tit-tit-tits.  A rotating fan, hidden from our view, passed behind the pinwheels, giving each a turn of spinning delight as the glow from behind sucked me in like a moth to a flame.

Once I pull my foggy memory away from whimsical delight, I fondly head over to Anthony Ryan‘s installation consisting of  prints of circular patterns with correlating wood blocks; an insight into Ryan’s exploration of Milton Bradley’s early childhood learning and the patterns of agricultural crop watering circles.  The aspect of this piece that most resonates with me is the crop circles, having grown up in the mountains outside of Bakersfield — just a hop, skip and a jump away from agricultural heartland.  If your mind is drawing a blank, imagine yourself in the window seat of a passenger airplane, eyes glassing over the circles spotting the expansive terrain below….

The other artists involved, and worth checking out, are Victor De La Rosa, Jennifer Ferre, Dustin Fosnot, Taraneh Hemami, Andrea Higgins, Mung Lar Lam, Katie Lewis, Victoria May, Ali Naschke-Messing, Francesca Pastine, Jeremy Chase Sanders, Lisa Solomon, Jina Valentine.

Clare Szdlowski, Grain Mills, 2009

Happy to report that I, along with friend Holly Williams, attended the Cream from the Top exhibition and artist talk with Kenneth Baker this past Saturday.  It is my personal opinion that Clare Szydlowski’s work, gum bichromate photographs of large abandoned grain mills, is the most exciting work of the show.  I suppose I am biased having graduated with her from SFSU…  nah.  The work is stunning, especially hung on a long curved wall as one enters the main space.   Her grain mills are ghosts of our past; empty vessels that have become visual white noise to those who live near them, but whose presence has been revived in these prints.

The work of Esther Traugot was just as captivating.  A graduate of Mills College, Esther crochets coozies, or skins will you, around objects of nature:  seeds, pods and large branches.  Such tedious and intricate work creates a sense of preciousness in these everyday items we easily overlook and under appreciate in these modern times.

Other artists in the exhibition include Torreya Cummings, California College of the Arts; Alicia Escott, California College of the Arts; Crystal Haueter, University of California, Davis; Klea McKenna, California College of the Arts; Josh Short, University of California, Davis; and Annie Vought, Mills College.