art is the new religion

slow hand throwdown

It's another post about the Pointer Sisters, y'all!

Jenny threw down the gauntlet in the comments to my "he's so shy" post.  Says Jenny:

"These may be fightin' words Krissy, but I'm pretty sure I prefer Conway Twitty's version of "Slow Hand" to the Pointer Sisters. But it's kind of a toss up."

Ah, leave it to Jjjjjenny to bring up Conway Twitty.  (I love you, Jenny!)  So let's have them duke it out.

Iiiiiiin this corner, Conway Twitty's version from 1982 which hit the top of the country charts.  Here's a live version that appears to be from a country awards show.  Note the underwhelmed reaction from the crowd, and watch carefully at the very end for an awesome hand gesture combo: golf-swing-of-the-mic, thumbs-up, point-to-the-sky.

I bet Conway smelled strongly of aftershave with undercurrents of cigarettes, polyester and hairspray.  May he rest in peace.

And in this corner, The Pointer Sisters' version from 1981 which only hit #2 on the pop charts.  Coincidentally, I actually sang this version of the song at karaoke on Friday night with Lisa and Lilia.  Unfortunately we didn't achieve the Sisters' sultry-sway choreography, but Lisa made a great Anita Pointer.  I think I played the part of the Pointer in the sad hat and two-toned tights. 

And now let's tally the score:
-1 Twitty: His hand, be it slow or fast, is just not something I want to think about.
-1 Pointers: The official music video is a snoooozer.
+1 Pointers: They were first to make the song a hit.
-1 Twitty: His countrified version's a little too upbeat.  Pointers got the tempo right.
+3 Pointers: They took a song written by two men and turned it into a feminist anthem.
-1 Twitty: Back off, Conway, you don't know what I need.
+3 Twitty: His name was Conway. Twitty.  Not even his real name, he took it as a stage name, possibly even stealing it from an actual Conway Twitty.  But I digress.

OK you know which version I prefer.  Jenny, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.  Everyone else: which version is your favorite?  Help us settle the score in the comments.

Pointers are the new religion:

• My post about "He's So Shy"
• My post about "Automatic" and the Sesame Street pinball countdown song

man on wire

Philippe Petit is my hero.

©2008 Jean-Louis Blondeau / Polaris Images

On August 7, 1974 he stepped out onto a tightrope he and his friends had illegally stretched between the tops of the two twin towers of the World Trade Center, then the highest buildings in the world, and he danced across this wire, wirewalked, for 45 minutes, a quarter of a mile above the ground, without a net, while pedestrians and police watched in awe.

Man On Wire is a documentary of Petit's unthinkable obsession, from the birth of it - the very first inspiration to "conquer" the towers - through the plotting, planning, detailing, practicing, recruiting, cajoling, problem solving, sneaking, daring, dreaming, all the way to the final mad dance of it.

You have to see this film.

Even though you know what the climax of the film will be, director James Marsh does a tremendous job of creating suspense and wonder about everything that leads up to "the coup."  He draws out the details to make the unbelievable feat more real, but it's easy to forget you're watching a documentary.  Petit and his cohorts had the foresight to film and photograph themselves plotting and planning, so the documentary switches back and forth from present day recollection to real footage of the group's scheming.  My brain kept trying to convince me the footage of the young Petit and his cohorts was skillful reenactments by actors, that this whole film was merely a fairy tale.  As the footage switched from 70's planning to modern-day interviews, I had to focus in on inimitable details of the players' faces - moles, irises, teeth - to remind myself that they weren't actors, this film wasn't cast and scripted, this really happened.  These people, over 30 years ago, really did this.

They broke into the twin towers and strung a wire across the tops of the buildings, so their friend could dance across it.

You have to see this film.  It should blow your mind, and hopefully make it really hard to ever again say, I can't do this, impossible, it can't be done.

"It's impossible, that's sure. So let's start working."

there is always music

I haven't gone to many show over the past six months, but there are several concerts coming up that I don't want to miss.

11/1: Shudder To Think in LA
11/2: Shudder To Think at the Fillmore in SF

I met Craig back around '97 or '98 in Austin.  Shudder To Think played Emo's on a Wednesday so cover was a criminal two bucks.  We ended up standing next to each other at the bar, waiting for our drinks, started talking, and have been friends ever since.  I have waited a decade to see one of my favorite bands of all time again. (Also, this video - not my favorite David Wain production):

11/22: My Brightest Diamond with Clare & the Reasons at Swedish American Hall in SF
11/30: Azure Ray in LA
12/11: Wildbirds & Peacedrums at Bottom of the Hill in SF 

It's been years since Azure Ray has toured; in the meantime Maria and Orenda went their own ways to release solo records.  This is a one off show, not yet part of a larger tour.  I miss those Azure Ray harmonies.  Also, slip dresses and scooters:

I've seen My Brightest Diamond, the brainchild of Shara Worden, twice now and both shows were full productions: she definitely brings the theatre.  But beyond her wit, fanciful outfits, immaculate hairdos, and absolute shredding on guitar, her voice is the star of her show.  Can't wait to hear it in the delicate, old-wood acoustics of the Swedish American Hall.

Owing to Shara's impeccable taste, I'm already checking out the artist she's bringing with her on tour: Clare & the Reasons.

Under The Water

Shara was the one who tipped me off to Wildbirds & Peacedrums, whose debut record Heartcore tops my Best of 2008 list so far.  Mariam Wallentin's voice is a universe unto itself, a true original.  This show will be a revelation, I guarantee it.  Get your tickets now!

Related reading:

• My post about My Brightest Diamond
• My post about Wildbirds & Peacedrums

he's so shy

It's no secret how much I love the Pointer Sisters.  I woke up with "He's So Shy" in my head this morning.  It really has a beautiful melody, and the synth solo in the bridge is solid.

Warning: Nothing much happens in this video.  But you can still listen to the song.

It would make me really happy if I could be a Pointer Sister for just one day.  If anyone wants to stand around in the lobby of a large building with me and re-enact this video, let me know.

• Read my post about the Pointer Sisters' "Automatic" and the Sesame Street pinball countdown song

here's some dogs

The latest edition of Tiny Showcase comes out today, so I clicked over to the site to see if I could catch it right when it went up.  Instead of the new edition, I caught last week's edition which I had somehow missed!  It's by San Francisco's own Jay Howell, it was printed by Providence letterpress artist Dan Wood and it's awesome.  Too bad the limited run is already sold out. 

It's called "Here's Some Dogs":

I'm sad I was unable to purchase one of these.  I need some cheering up:

I'll conclude this post with two inspirational quotes from the artist Jay Howell:

"Take a stand against the jerks from hell. They are out there and they want you to feel bad just because they do. You will not be taken down, YOU are from Tuff Town and they are from the lame village across the river. We launch rocks at them for a reason."

"All I'm saying is that it's so important to be yourself. That's all you have to offer so just be honest. It's really scary to put yourself out there knowing that everybody is going to come down on you because they think they know where you're coming from and what you've been through. That's never, ever true. Personality is art."

Support local artists this weekend in San Francisco

All this week I've been writing about buying local and buying directly from artists and makers.  So I'm excited to tell my blog readers in San Francisco about some of this weekend's opportunities to do just that.

The Capsule Design Festival is back this Sunday in my gorgeous neighborhood of Hayes Valley:

Capsule Design Festival
Sunday, October 19, 2008
11:00 am ‘til 6:00 pm
Hayes Valley Park
Octavia and Hayes Streets, San Francisco, CA 94102

Sunday's event will feature 160 clothing, jewelry, children's, lifestyle and accessory designers so you're bound to find something you love.  Check out the complete list of designers.  This video shows an aerial view from the event they held this past spring.

SF Open Studios continues this weekend.  Weekend 3 concentrates in the following neighborhoods:  Bernal Heights, Castro, Duboce, Eureka Valley, Glen Park, Mission, Noe Valley, Portola.  I'm planning on stopping by Art Explosion Studios in the Mission, which offers a chance to see well over 100 artists across three locations which are within walking distance of each other.

Also on Sunday is the 20th Annual Festival on the Hill in my old 'hood, Bernal Heights.  Reason I mention this is because a band I heard last Sunday at Indie Mart, Blue Rabbit, is playing the festival at 12:45pm. Blue Rabbit is fronted by three women, with Heather penning the songs and Sarah and Arami cooking up some gorgeous lead harmonies.  Their playfulness and beautiful blending of voices remind me a little bit of Tilly and the Wall, but the addition of a cello player adds a moodiness to the music.  A very fun band to see live.

good times are coming

I've been chronicling my experience at the Indie Mart at Thee Parkside last Sunday.  Buy local, buy handmade -- it's the best possible way to shop.

One of the last booths I perused at Indie Mart was Kate Durkin's.  She makes adorable cloth purses and pillows adorned with birds, bees, bicycles and other simple and natural motifs.  A very versatile visual artist, she's also created some wonderful murals and even painted an entire room at the Hotel Des Arts in San Francisco.

I brought home this optimistic and very affordable little piece of art by Kate, which fits wonderfully in my art collection.

Visit Kate Durkin's blog and Etsy shop for more good stuff like this. 

Indie Mart, Part 2: Feathery Doo-Dads and Such

I ended up buying several things at the Indie Mart at Thee Parkside on Sunday.  Buy local, buy handmade -- it's the best possible way to shop.

After I got some money from the ATM and a beer from the bar, I headed outside to where the alley was blocked off and most of the designers had set up their booths.  The the first person I ran into was Jen from Nooworks.  She had a slew of her stylish t-shirts, dresses and accessories with her.  Her t-shirts come in great colors and bold designs, and they're so soft and comfortable that you can take them home already feeling like you've being wearing them for years.

 

From Velvet Surrender I bought one of those feathery, Kenley-esque, of-the-moment doo-dads that I will somehow have to figure out how to wear.  Those ladies of VS were very nice and were selling their creations for way too cheap, so get a bargain while you can. 

I'd been looking for an everyday necklace and Ofina made exactly what I had in mind, so I picked up two very simple and pretty necklaces at a great price.  Then while I was sitting and catching up with my friend Sheryl whose jewelry line is called Rock Candy, I saw someone try on this bracelet and then put it back because it was too small for her wrist.  So, of course the only thing I could do was buy it myself, because who else could she sell such a small bracelet to?

I believe in buying from local and DIY designers because it's a good thing to do, to support people who are pursuing their creativity.  But there are a lot of upsides as the customer.  You can hear the story behind the design or the business, you get to wear something unique, and when you do buy directly from the designer you often get a heavy discount.  When you buy one of these creations from a retail store, designers usually only take home around 50% of the purchase price because the store has to make money, too.  But when you purchase directly from the artist, they often price their stuff somewhere between retail and wholesale prices, so you get a nice discount and they actually make a little more cash in hand.

So when you buy stuff at your local craft fair or sample sale, everybody wins!

Looks like it's raining

I went to Indie Mart at Thee Parkside on Sunday afternoon so I could rock and shop (meaning, hear some live music while buying stuff handmade by local designers).

The first thing I did was walk inside the bar so I could withdraw shopping and imbibing money from the ATM.  As soon as I stepped inside, I was enveloped in this KISS hit from the mid-80's:

Sure, this technicolor, practically bare-faced version of KISS might be an embarrassment to old school fans, but after all this time, the song sounds totally fresh to me.

When watching this video, don't miss:

• Paul's fingerless neon green tassled gloves
• The sheer size of Peter Criss Eric Carr's* drum kit
• The set has a volcano that spews pyrotechnics in the background and TV sets are strewn about.  It is unclear why.
• Sequins
• Reaching-over-the-top-of-the-guitar-neck noodling
• Paul's repertoire of dance moves: above the head jazz hands, rope-pull, tracing an imaginary tear down the face, high jump into a split kneel, fingers-as-windshield-wipers
• A short list of where tears can fall: onto your clavicle, down your cheek, into your coffee (watch out!), down your guitar neck, over your kneecap, onto the top of your foot
• Neon pink tassled gloves!
• Seriously, the sheer size of that drum kit.  There are drums in his kit that he couldn't possibly even reach from where he's sitting.
• Paul's Tarzan-style swing across the stage reminds me of DLR's harnessed swing across the stage in Van Halen's "Panama" video, which came out the previous year
• So, why is she crying?  Is it because the colorful ghost of Paul Stanley haunts her in her sepia-toned attic?

Listening to this song makes me want to do that shoulder-y, shuffle-y, Jagger-y dance Paul's doing.

 

• "Tears Are Falling" appears on Smashes, Thrashes & Hits which is only $5.99 from Amazon MP3.

* My factchecker was away in Shanghai when I wrote this post - sincere apologies to my paying customers!

art for the weekend

We're coming up on the second weekend of the 33rd Annual SF Open Studios:

"For over 30 years, San Francisco Open Studios has provided the public with an opportunity to see artists in their workspaces. As the largest and first open studios program in the country, San Francisco Open Studios showcases artists without judgment and invites art lovers to make friends and start or build their art collections."

Each weekend presents opportunities to see artists in different neighborhoods.  This weekend I'll get to stroll around my neighborhood to meet some of the artists who live near me.

Weekend 2: October 11 & 12, 11am-6pm
Buena Vista, Diamond Heights, Fort Mason, Haight, Hayes Valley, Marina, Mount Davidson, Pacific Heights, Richmond, Sunset, Twin Peaks, West Portal (see the full map)

 

I love SF Open Studios.  It's a terrific excuse to wander around the city and meet some neighbors, and a great way to explore a neighborhood you don't know very well.  It's also fascinating to see the space where an artist works, and discover some of the creations that are being made inside buildings you may pass by every day.  Many of the artists make a bit of a party out of it, serving wine and snacks and offering up conversation about what they've been working on.  And if you fall in love with a work of art, you can buy it directly from the creator.  There's nothing better than that.

Speaking of buying art directly from the artist, I'm kicking off my art-filled weekend tonight by going to see a new exhibition by Annie Galvin (aka Wexford Girl) called 49 Reasons Why.

Two of Annie's paintings hang in my bathroom and serve as a constant reminder of life's mysteries:

(Read the story behind these paintings.)

Artists do important work.  They strive to know themselves, tap into their inspiration and persevere against the odds to turn the vision in their heads and hearts into tangible works we can enjoy.  We should support them and celebrate them, and this weekend in San Francisco gives us plenty of opportunity.  So get out and enjoy some art!