Finding Vivian Maier.

 

Last week I had the opportunity to go see the documentary film, Finding Vivian Maier, about a street photographer who spent the majority of her life in and around Chicago.

Vivian's story and artwork are unique because she was virtually unknown until a box of her negatives was purchased, after her death, by Chicago resident John Maloof for a book-writing project. Not quite suited for his needs, they were set aside until he eventually began scanning the negatives and created a blog posting the images. Maier's work is stunning.

The more he investigated this artist, the more he learned about her whereabouts, career as a nanny on Chicago's North Shore, and most importantly, her pursuit of photography. Literally thousands of negatives were uncovered in a storage unit, along with other memorabilia that filled the space floor to ceiling, wall to wall. There were also boxes filled with undeveloped rolls of film.

The film follows the pursuit of Maloof to uncover what he could about Vivian Maier. What unfolds is a series of interesting interviews, interspersed with image after image of Chicago and New York streets and residents, self portraits and even short "home movies" of herself and the children she helped raise. But regardless of all the clues left behind, you're still stuck asking questions and wishing there were more details. Vivian Maier was fascinating.

Without wanting to give too much away, I'll just say it's been over a week since I saw this documentary, and I find myself thinking about it daily. Wondering about this strange, complicated woman and going back again and again to look at her beautiful, tortured, stark and emotional images. If you have any interest in Chicago, photography, and eccentric artists, this is a must-see film.

*All images from website. 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

I seriously want to plan a trip to Japan around eating at this restaurant. I want to meet Jiro. What a fascinating, simple, disciplined, thoughtful, stoic man.

I want to walk in that subway. I want to breath in that restaurant. I want to watch him assemble the sushi. I want to bite into that tuna. I want to taste those damn eggs! (The egg apprentice made over 200 pans before one was accepted – then he cried). 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi was an interesting look into the life's work (literally, he started at age 10 and was still at it in 2011 at age 85) of a culinary master. The 10-seat restaurant, set underground in the subway, creates a custom 20-piece sushi menu every day for lunch and dinner. There is at least a month's wait to get a reservation, and the meal will cost around $300. I think I'd like to save up, reserve my spot, and fly around the world for dinner.

H2O | Reapa.

H2O is one of my favorite taggers to spot, and they seem to be popping up all over the place lately. Have I ever mentioned that I am obsessed with street art? Graffiti? Whatever you want to call it, I just love it and I love starting to recognize the work of certain individuals around town.

I love imagining how they pick their spot, choose their paint, carry materials to the destination. What time of day is it? How fast do these things go up? Are they working alone or with a group? How do they get up there? Over there? I love seeing a really detailed train car, and I love how they suddenly appear along the expressway randomly one morning and are just as quickly painted over with beige paint by some city worker. So quickly, usually, that I have no chance to snap a picture of them. Then it always makes me a little depressed that all their effort is just erased.

This one has been up (on the Ohio feeder ramp) for a couple of days now and the traffic was so terrible this morning I was actually able to grab it with my cell phone. This pic is crappy but click here to see more work by H2O/Reapa. It's so bright and detailed. I hate it that there's not more information out there about these people, but perhaps that's why it's so fascinating to me too.

This Gaper's Block article (from 2007) tends to come up when I do a search. If you find any of this interesting at all, something else you might like is this Chicago Street Art Flickr Group, or this blog.

If you want to take it a step further, and see a really crazy documentary on/by the UK's Banksy and this really random "film maker", rent Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Tomorrow!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I like it low-key and stress-free, which to me means, dinner is ready when it's ready, and the day need just unfold. I was going to keep it just us, because I know it's hard for people not to follow a plan, and I can't really fit more than 6 people around my dining room-in-my-living room table. I also didn't want to worry about a perfectly set table and decorations, or feel a need to wear anything but sweat pants all day.

Then today I decided, Screw that, and invited Pannland to join us whenever they feel like it, and the Swan's to come by for dessert. I'll probably have to eat standing up at the kitchen counter, and it's bound to be stuffy and chaotic in my tiny little house, but isn't all the togetherness also the point of the holiday? Spending time with family and friends? My favorites have always been more hodgepodge and less Martha Stewart anyway.

So, besides stuffing myself with Chex Mix and Heavenly Onions, another highlight of the weekend is when we lay around watching Home for the Holidays. I have no idea how this tradition got started, but my Mom, brother and I still die laughing every year when the cat pukes, the dad plays the organ, and Robert Downey Jr. pimps Holly Hunter in the hot rod.

Finally, I'd like to share the recipe I can't live without, and only eat one day of the year:

HEAVENLY ONIONS

Ingredients:
4 large onions (2 yellow, 2 sweet/vidalia)
4 Tbs butter
1# grated Swiss cheese
1/2 Tbs pepper
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
3-4 tsp soy sauce
french bread - sliced and buttered

1. Saute onions. (I will do this in a large pan on the stove, but the original recipe uses the microwave at 90% power, and goes 5 times for 5 minutes – stirring in between).
2. Mix the sauteed onions and all the rest in a large bowl and pour it into a large, flat baking dish.
3. Place buttered french bread on top.
4. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes.

I seriously can't wait until tomorrow.

Blown Away.

I just got home from This Is It. All I have to say is WOW. I had heard it was awesome, but I wasn't prepared to be so moved. Sometimes when I see performances, I can't stop smiling, and I want to cry at the same time. I basically felt like that through the whole film.

I'm utterly devastated for the dancers, musicians, singers, art directors, set designers, producers, and literally everyone involved in the making of this unrealized "come back" "farewell" concert and tour. The hours of practice, deliberation, planning, tweaking, sweating, joy and pain are incomprehensible to me. The one consolation is the time each of them got to spend so intimately with arguably the most incredible performer of all time.

His talent is timeless. His unmeasurable knowledge of music and dancing, creativity, and just timing in general – WOW. One of my favorite parts was when someone said, Well how will you know when to start when you can't see the screen behind you? and he simply replied, I'll feel it. What a legend.

Blown away. That is it.

Waltz with Bashir.

I have no idea what influenced or prompted me to add Waltz with Bashir to my queue, but there it was on the TV waiting to be played. Oddly, I'm not really a fan of animation. I do enjoy it when I see it I guess, but it's never what I go to. This film was pretty beautiful.

I don't know why it's described as "black and white" because it's mostly in color. What's also great is, if you don't mind cheating, you can play it in English (I think the original language is Hebrew?) and there's no issue that the lips aren't moving with the voice. Subject matter was an interesting personal exploration, the true-life journey of the director, Ari Folman, as he attempted to retrieve memories suppressed from his time spent in military service during the Lebanon War in the mid-80s.




Also I should note that it was illustrated by David Polonsky, and that it won and was nominated for a lot of awards.

Parrots.

I actually saw one of these birds on my way into work the other morning. Unfortunately it was laying dead on the side of the highway. But it got me thinking of the documentary, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. Have you seen it? Apparently there have been flocks of these birds also living in New York and even Chicago, but I'd never seen one until now.

What struck me most about the movie is how much I love to encounter someone who sets my mind reeling at the passions and life purpose certain people possess. I didn't get too caught up in the controversy of whether or not Mark Bittner should or should not have befriended these birds, because I was jaw-dropped with his whole person. I could have a pretty long conversation on the state of his jean jacket alone.

The birds are pretty. That green is one of my all time favorites. But the story of the man* was the story for me. And then the woman, too, who was just as obsessed with filming him loving the birds as he was with the birds. And the surprise twist of an ending.

*He has since moved on in life from the relationship with the flock, but it's still something you can enjoy watching in the film.

This image was on sites all over the worldwide, and I can't figure out who to credit, so I'm going with Mark Bennett.

Miso + Ghostpatrol.

Automatism led me to Daydream Lily, which led me to this really interesting documentary about two street/professional artists in Melbourne, Ghostpatrol and Miso. I am fascinated by them. The 30-minute, 3-part film, miso + ghostpatrol, an ABC2 documentary is available for viewing on YouTube. Take a look at the Ghostpartrol website, the City of Reubens website and Miso's Flickr too, for more images and information.



I'm becoming more and more enamored with art that is given away to the public and love when I discover it in and around Chicago and on my travels as this free expression that (to me) beautifies without permission. The evolution of these two artists to full-time professionals with collaborative, unique, packed gallery shows is also quite inspiring because they have found success doing simply what they love and must do, seemingly regardless of the recognition they receive.

I feel I may be naive, but I find it surprising that there hasn't been more attention paid to these artists. The third video of the series had only just over 500 views at the time of my watching it. Perhaps there is another posting of it somewhere with a lot more hits? But I love that people who draw command the attention to have a documentary made about them in the first place. For me, drawing is a really beautiful and intimate art form, quiet and personal, just like these artists' soft-spoken voices.

This sweet pool photo was taken by one of my oldest friends, Tom Akira Nakasone. The home in Palm Springs was designed by architect E. Stewart Williams. So I guess I'm thinking about swimming even though I've decided to skip practice and watch Ben Buttons.

I know. I have been warned. I'll probably love it.

Two stories from India.

I finally saw Slumdog Millionaire last week and I loved it. I was nervous because it got so much hype and I had recently heard someone say it wasn't that great. What's funny and amazing considering all the exposure and the obvious title, I still had no clue what it was all about. What a great story. How unexpected.


What's strange is that I had seen the documentary Born Into Brothels a few weeks prior. This is a nice eye-opener and great reference for the next time you're feeling sorry for yourself or think you're having a bad day. It's also quite beautiful to see these children smiling despite some pretty terrible conditions, and the lovely photographs they take. Photographer Zana Briski lived and worked in India, where she met a group of kids in the red light district of Calcutta and supplied them with cameras and photography classes. These are some of their photos.


Kids with Cameras, and Born Into Brothels (winner of the Academy Award for best documentary feature) were both results of her hard work and dedication. You can see more of their photographs here. I thought this was an interesting film, one that's stuck with me and I have continued to think about since. It's available on Netflix to Watch Instantly (my favorite thing!).

Photographs taken by Zana Brinski and the children Suchitra, Gour, Kochi and Kochi again.

Asako Narahashi.

Even Cleveland has been posting a lot of different water themed items lately, which naturally I love. I really like the shots by Asako Narahashi for the project Half Awake and Half Asleep in the Water. Also worth about 1 minute of your time is the surf video she posts under Holding On. So cool.

Out of Africa.

A while ago, my weekend "to do" list included watching Out of Africa. This movie is from 1985, and it was nominated for and won a bunch of Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Music. I vaguely remember all the hype of it from back then, but since I was only in Junior High at the time, it passed way above my radar as a "must see".

My recent watch was maybe my second start to finish viewing. I did see it a couple of years ago, and then also stopped on it clicking through channels to catch a little bit here and there. It is a very long movie, so it's somewhat of a commitment if you decide to take it all in, but I highly recommend it. After seeing it again all the way through, I think it's one of my favorites. Without giving it too much thought, I might even put it on my list of Top 5, and definitely Top 10.

It is so beautiful to look at. The colors of the landscapes really get me, the expanses of space and movement of herds. There is a scene when Merle is combing through coffee beans on her farm that I just want to step into. The home and farm are amazing. I love all the details.


I love the bravery and strength of Merle Streep's character. The time period. The clothing. And while it is a love story, it's almost more a love story with Africa. I know I place a lot of emphasis on the look of a movie, so that has a lot to do with my appreciation of this one. Also, the movie's pace is slow, and I like how it grabs me and eases me through the story – a true story and an adventure.

Anyway, if you're looking for a lovely film to fill about 3 hours of a weekend or evening, I recommend it. Then tell me what you think.

What's the coincidence?

I watched Empire of the Sun this weekend. Around the same time (high school) I remember liking this movie I was also into The Last Emperor. I would sometimes confuse the two. So while I was watching Empire of the Sun, I decided to see if The Last Emperor was available to view instantly. I had originally searched Emperor of the Sun, that's how much I still confuse these two movies (no idea why).


It wasn't available to watch online, but then next to it on the page was Others We Recommend and listed first was Empire of the Sun. Huh.

Then later I bought a Dawn Landes album on iTunes and up comes this listed in You May Also Like: Walking on a Dream by Empire of the Sun. The album cover is designed using all the rich color and imagery (golds and reds) similar to that in the movie The Last Emperor.

Now this morning, as I do most mornings, I go to Habitually Chic and here's her title, Valentino: The Last Emperor.

Coincidences?

Both images are movie stills, top is Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun, bottom is from The Last Emperor.

Surfwise.

Surfwise, directed by Doug Pray, is an interesting look inside the life and philosophies of Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, a Standford-educated doctor who rejected a "traditional" life in favor of traveling the world surfing with his wife and family of 9 kids living in a 24-foot camper. The perspective changes from present day interviews to flashbacks of stills and home movies as you hear their story. At times, it seems like Doc has a lot of insight, and his approach to life progressive.

I was surprised at the crossover between some of the notions described in 2012 and the way he lived and raised his children. He believes in the importance of family, self-sufficiency, promoting good health, feeling a part of the universe, and rejecting the modern world's excess, which he describes as spinning out of control. But you also see the other side of this radical lifestyle, and the negative effects of this upbringing as the children became adults and eventually left the "nest".

One thing is evident: this is a man who tried something different with the life he was given, something he was compelled to explore. In some ways it worked out as a blissful existance with the one thing that mattered most – his family – but it came at a price. At any rate, this is an exceptional group of people with an interesting story. Take a look at this documentary if any of this peaks your interests.

Swimming Pool.

Those images the other day by Jordi Gual made me think of the movie Swimming Pool. I remember when it made the rounds on cable getting stuck watching whenever I found it. I think I liked it after seeing it a bunch of times. I remember the ending was odd and I didn't get it at first.

It is nice and slow, and the setting is a quiet French villa, which is just beautiful and fun to look at. It's like the perfect little escape for the main character, Sarah, until her publisher's daughter shows up unexpectedly. They have a really odd relationship. Also, there is a scene where Sarah eats yogurt, and I remember finding everything about it repulsive. If you are looking to watch an interesting little mystery, check this out. I think I'm going to put it in my Netflix queue to revisit again.