Henry Darger's Realms of the Unreal

When it comes to real outsiders doing outsider art this strange old man is the new "classic" example. Henry Darger lived alone in a small room in Chicago for over forty years, but in this room he crafted his own universe out of trash from the streets. This world he pieced together was it an escape from reality, or his anchor to the real world? Using several hundred drawings and watercolor paintings he tells the "Story of the Vivian Girls." This 15,000 page tale is about a long war and the Vivian Girls are a fighting force of sweet looking children. This manuscript and the art that goes with it were not made for others to see. Henry taught himself several different artistic tricks to make what he saw in his mind, but never showed this effort to anyone. Only after his death when his landlord cleaned out the room did anyone even realize that he was an artist. A great documentary was made in 2004. "The Realms of the Unreal" it shows all the hardship he went through, losing both parents and being institutionalized before his sixteenth birthday. Then getting a life long job in a church gave him a chance to take care of himself and live in his own home. Living as a recluse he spent his time stenciling, drawing, and putting together the collages that make his art so different from what was seen before. Now for a short time you can see this world for yourself on display at the American Museum of Folk Art in Midtown for under ten dollars. (till the 6th of Sept.) Try to check out the DVD of "The Realms of the Unreal" or watch it on netflix (you can stream it over you computer) before you take in this man's madness.

District 9

This summer is so full of Science Fiction one can't throw a rock and not hit a new Sci-Fi movie. District 9 is a big crazy hyped up alien flick. But if you like your alien's with guns and explosions then believe the hype. A ship hangs over Johannesburg in South Africa. Know one knows what it wants...or why it's there..so lets cut it open and find out. Inside a race of "prawns" are found. The species is brought down to the surface as refugees. They are not to smart but could be dangerous. It seem like they are stuck here so deal, but the people of Johannesburg don't want this to make that bet with the alien's in there back yard. Lets move them out of the city to "District 10." Not a easy task to clear this slum. Lets give a job like this to an unsuspecting boob. Wikus (Sharlto Copley) an MNU field operative is that boob. The film opens as a mock-doc, (documentary-style) but when the twist happens director Neill Blomkamp changes the style to be more like an action movie. This film makes you think of racism in many ways. The way the earth treats these things is unethical. The differences between the "prawns" and us are shown but what about the similarities. This is a big shot them up that has everything, puppetry, CGI, weired alien weapon's, goo everywhere and a good story. A must see if you like alien action movies.

Dinosaur Jr August 16th, 09

A hot day for some free rock. This Sunday, Summer Stage had one of their free events. Get to these early or be kept waiting outside for the gates to reopen. Be sure to check you're skateboards at the door. Dinosaur Jr is one of the most influential alternative rock bands. They play hard riffs and make a big sound, that's why we call them "Power Trios." These boys from Amherst Mass. have used reverb, and space noise for years. Its easy to see the connection from Neil Young, to Dino. Jr., to Sonic Youth and so on. This reunion of the original 1984 group has been going strong with lots of northeast shows left on this tour. Also look out for the Pixies this fall.
Set list:
tarpit
want you to know
been there
in a jar
lou
wagon
pieces
plans
out there
over it
feel pain
freak
don't wanna go
heaven
chunks

Hercules and Love Affair August 15th, 09

Hercules and Love Affair played on Saturday night in a small venue in Brooklyn. This Dance ensemble was formed by Andrew Butler a DJ from Denver. Spinning from the tender age of 15 he has influences in deep house and electric bands like Kraftwerk. His close associate Kim Ann Foxman and friend Antony Hegarty add Abba like vocals to the rolling grooves. This time they played The Music Hall Of Williamsburg, different from seeing them fronting for the B-52's the day after Halloween at Hammerstein Ballroom. The single "Blind" was the highlight of the show. Both shows had "Vogue" like dancers on stage to shock and amaze you. There self-titled album charted in the top 40 in several countries, coming to this country first as an import.

Animal Collective August 14, 09

This Baltimore trio's freak show in Prospect Park on Friday was uplifting and refreshing in a trippy way. This "Collective" has dived in head first into psychedelia, folk, and noise rock experimentation. This sonic experience has brought them through their eighth album. Being the last weekend of shows in the park, the young people seemed pleased at the promoter's choice of ambient Indie Pop. First Black Dice warmed up the crowed on an all ready hot day. Then Avey Tare, Panda Bear, The Geologist came out on a creative stage with tiki heads, and puppet background with moving waves and killer sharks. The great stage props where done by sister and friends. Live you see the many diverse styles this fee flowing group has to offer. Playing "My Girls" early in the set and then saving "Guys Eyes" for the second song in the three part encore, they covered lots of ground in almost two hours. Strange and fun at the same time, only this from Animal Collective.

De La Soul August 13, 09

De La Soul demoted the stage at the Nokia on Thursday night, and you should have been there. Not only did Brooklyn's own Buckshot put forth some mad rhymes but the trio from Long Island put on one hell of a show. They where celebrating 21 years of Hip Hop making it clear that they are some of the best rappers in history. Its true there classic album 3 Feet High and Rising came out 20 years ago but that's not all they played. When 3 Feet High and Rising came out some proclaimed it was the future of hip-hop, in some ways they were right. Labeled hippie for there peace and love approach they were one of the alternatives to hardcore rap. Puttin' it down by bringing out "Buddy," "Eye Know" and "Jenifa Taught Me," they more then impressed. Even the T-shirts looked like 1989 with daisy's on them. Keeping to their Jazz influence they had a kick ass 10-piece band behind them. Then to make your night they did a tribute to RUN DMC playing "Rock Box" with DMC himself on stage. The main point was that if you feel Hip Hop in you soul your are Hip Hop, you don't have to look or prove that you belong, you are one of us if you feel the beat.

Cold Souls With Paul Giamatti

This summer has had some fine science fiction films. When people think "Science Fiction" outer space comes to mind, like "Star Track" or "Moon." These space movies are fun and most of the time full of special effects. Then there is the other kind of science fiction, the thinking man's sci-fi. Films set on earth and with little camera tricks instead of computer animation or explosions. Some down play the science part like "Benjamin Button." Some tell delightful little stories that make people raise their eyebrows. “Synecdoche, New York," “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Being John Malkovich,’’ come to mind. Cold souls is one of these existential Sci-fi movies, even down to the mention of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. Paul Giamatti plays himself, an actor racked with anxiety over not only a role, but life in general. Of all places he finds what he thinks is his salvation in the New Yorker. Seems you can store you soul and get loose from all the over powering emotions. Will this be his answer? At the same time that we see Paul's problems in New York there is a deeper story. Like every commodity there is a black market, a Russian company muling souls in to the us bought off poor workers or down in out artist. Director Sophie Barthes’s debut feature, she makes this souls -in here and out there- experience very abstract and fuzzy. Well done as a thought provoking film, and funny at times. (Jersey...Who would let them ship their soul to Jersey?) That this was set up by the Sundance Lab, a workshop for promising filmmakers and playwrights is cool. Keep a eye out for more from this collective of artist.