Beautiful, bountiful Baroda Wall for County+USC Medical Center

Visual arts
It’s fanciful and fun. It’s generous, grand, and gorgeous. It may bring a welcome distraction–solace or even levity–to a public space where the less fortunate among us traverse weighty health issues with perhaps troubling or stressful emotions. This gift to our city by philanthropist David Bohnett got a lovely launch party this week on the ...

The new American intolerance: Gish Film Theater shorn of name 2

Film
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ed. note: With a heavy heart, we publish words submitted by Mike Kaplan, a friend of artsmeme whose peerless collection of dance movie posters now hangs at the National Dance Museum in Saratoga Springs. Mike, the producer of ‘The Whales of August’ (1987) starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish, is at the forefront of controversy ...

Transcending ‘correctness’: Lillian Gish

Film
I’ve never been in style, so I can never go out of style. – Lillian Gish

Peter Selz, remembered by friend/colleague Jack Rutberg

Visual arts
ed. note: we are pleased to share words written by gallerist jack rutberg who shares memories of his special friendship with peter selz, just passed away. I am saddened to relay the news that our dear friend Peter Selz passed away this morning. The impact that Peter made, and will continue to make, on the ...

It’s a pah-tay! Rennie Harris FUNKEDIFIED @ the Ford 2

Dance
fabulous photo by Julieta Cervantes for the New York Times shows Joshua Culbreath and Puremovement in “Funkedified” Let’s face it. The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is the best place in town to get up get down get funky get loose. That’s because … hey, you’re outdoors! You’re not boxed in by walls. You’re not cramped ...

Fred & Ginger (& Mark) do ‘The Continental’ 1

Dance · Film
mark sandrich, fred astaire do the continental, but not cheek to cheekphoto: MARC WANAMAKER/BISON ARCHIVES The wonderful shot of director Mark Sandrich and Fred Astaire palling around at RKO Studios comes courtesy of artsmeme friend Marc Wanamaker. Thank you, Marc! The director and dancer are collaborating on a crazy-long, Art Deco-drenched, epic dance sequence for ...

Tiny us a-tremble at ‘Titanic Live’

Film · Music
Us small! Titanic big! It’s a big show! In the second-ever such concert/film screening in the United States, the blockbuster film Titanic will be shown on a vast LED outdoor screen with James Horner’s epic score performed live by the New West Symphony.  The special event will take place on the campus of California Lutheran ...

Jonah Bokaer brings dance beauty & meaning to Musee d’Orsay

Dance · Visual arts
This piece of choreography by Jonah Bokaer, who grew up speaking French in Tunisia, merits your time; it is simply beautiful. It was curated by Donatien Grau, Head of Contemporary Programs at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris for the Musee’s “Un Ouevre, Un Regard” series. Bokaer’s vivification of Louis Ernest Barrias’ sculpture, “Nubians,” is emblematic of ...

Review: a Bowl-ful of Playboy jazz

Music · Reviews
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angelique kidjo, photo credit: matthew imaging The Playboy Jazz mold was set a long time ago. Saturday openers are for socializing and getting the crowd up and moving. Sunday is where the bulk of the serious jazz ensembles and features will be heard. That framework continued unabated, at the 41st anniversary edition of the Playboy ...

Love for Yvonne & a bright future for Westside Ballet 1

Dance
It was an evening of beaming smiles, prodigious effort, community love, and some real artistry last Saturday at the Broad Stage, as the Westside Ballet staged a impressive Gala fundraising event. Visiting “etoiles,” stars from companies as esteemed as New York City Ballet, Smuin Ballet, The Joffrey, and Miami City Ballet, studded the program, bringing ...