Ravels in Review and GOODBYE

Click "Se Flimklippet" to see another video I made, that you can make too! The ModernaMuseet, or Modern Museum, in Stockholm has a fun program that lets you create videos on your keyboard, and then they are posted at the museum during an upcoming exhibition.

I said another video earlier because, as you might have seen, this week was the premiere of another Ravels In Motion production, of a recent visit to Chelsea to see painter Anne Neely's latest works. I think they're well-worth seeing if you have the chance. (Both my videos and her works.

For more great art, check out Melissa Meyer's dancing paintings and some intersting examples of what can be done in clay. If you feel a little tired of life during these dreary March days, see Doug Aitken's Sleepwalkers film and read about how it was installed at MoMA.

In addition to the good times, we've also had some disappointing times here during our ravels, and this week proved to be full of them. Not only was favorite author Milan Kundera shown to be a communist sell out and Shakespeare unattractive, but Alessandro Twombly showed some works recently that are distrubingly similar to his father's, painter Cy Twombly.

All these disaapointments in one week were too much for me! So goodbye, dear reader, and farewell!

I'm going to go drown my sorrows in the Costa Rican surf and chilly cervecas. (Because if you have to drown your sorrows, Costa Rica is the place to do it, no?) But fear not for I shall return to you in good time, specifically, April 6. Adios!

2 Disappointing Endings and More

In our literary ravels, we've discussed post-Communist Czech writer Milan Kundera and his wonderful novels and we've even talked a little bit about William Shakespeare. Recently, some disappointing findings have come to light.

1. Milan Kundera was accused of betraying his countryman and according to this recent, fascinating article, it seems that the case against him is strong. As in, indisputable.


2. Shakespeare was proved to be quite a looker, but is now maybe going back to being plain, old Shakespeare. Too bad.

And in some news ala Art Ravels, Alessandro Twombly's most recent paintings look a lot like his father's, the more famous painter Cy Twombly. See the photos, you decide (just like Fox news, except I'm both better looking and informed).

For 'edification' or a laugh, read MSN's 'How to Talk about Art' in case you were reading this blog and were unsure about how to leave a comment. Then laugh at its ridiculous advice, and say whatever the hell you are thinking.

I do have a great video coming, but due to unfortunate/stupid/annoying embeding problems, you'll have to hold on the edge of your seat in the meantime.

Ravels in Review Friday

We've hop-skipped-and-jumped around this week, leaping off cultural juggernauts to cultural lows with some harmless light entertainment in between. I expected this week to be more about the art fairs New York had last weekend, but I was underwhelmed by a lot of what I saw and there'll be no dearth of opinions elsewhere, I'm sure.

Peak: Shakespeare, who's apparently a babe
Trough: Paying for ersatz art of yourself. No one has yet risen to my bait of 'why, in this post-Warhol age, the things I mentioned are not art?' Hint: I do believe there is a reason why.
Middling organisms of cultural evolution: Noel Coward singing and my guilty pleasure reads, art heist books. Suggestions welcome.

Shakespeare, that Beautiful Bard

You think I have a twisted point of view? Because I called the bard a looker?



Perhaps I was unduly influenced by his sonnets to the Dark Lady, you know:


'My Shakespeare's eyes are nothing like the sun; / Coral is far more red than his lips' red; / If snow be white, why then his chest be dun; / If hairs be wires, black wires no longer grow on his head.'



We've all seen the engravings of the balding, scruffy poet...but only recently has a new portrait of the bard emerged and been authenticated.

Voila!

Ooo la la, my aren't we the handsome lad? Aged 46 at the time it was painted, here Shakespeare still has a youthful bloom to his cheek. Not to mention some fine duds. The Guardian reveals:

"New research revealed yesterday contends that the only portrait of
Shakespeare painted in his lifetime has been found. Debates about the real image of Shakespeare often get mired in complicated, art historical detail, but
Professor Stanley Wells, one of the world's leading Shakespeare experts,
announced in London he was 90% certain the portrait is that of the
playwright.

Also, the story of the painting - known as the Cobbe portrait - once again raises questions about Shakespeare's sexuality. Was he more than just good friends with the man who commissioned the painting, his patron the Earl of Southampton?"