Isabel Emrich’s refracting beauty, in solo show 1
Gallery openings can be uncomfortable affairs, with too many bodies jammed into small, unventilated spaces. Painter Isabel Emrich’s “Progressions” opening last weekend at Skidmore Contemporary Art at Bergamot Station was no exception, but the work itself provided a visual oasis from the oppressive heat and humidity. It’s her second one-woman show at Skidmore — always ...
The art of the jazz song: Tadd Dameron for Sarah Vaughan 3
Ed. note: Guest writer Mark Miller deconstructs a jazz standard, “If You Could See Me Now,” for our appreciation. Music: Tadd Dameron Lyrics: Carl Sigman Jazz panist Tadd Dameron was known for his lyricism, an ironic attribute for an important bebop musician. Widely recognized as the bop era’s definitive arranger/composer, Dameron concocted this distinctive ballad ...
Marsha Hunt’s nobility, talent and patriotism on view in documentary
Jul
6
2018
In 1935, 17-year-old aspiring actress Marsha Hunt signed with Paramount Pictures and went on to a flourishing career at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. She made 54 films in 17 years, notably Pride and Prejudice (1940) and Raw Deal (1948). Then she was blacklisted. After that rude life-and-career interruption, she championed humanitarian causes as one of Hollywood’s first celebrity activists. A documentary, ...
‘arts·meme nation’ fetes the nation’s holiday 3
Jul
4
2018
A July 2 gathering of creative Angelenos was first and foremost a super-fun ‘blog party.’ But lurking at the periphery was uncertainty. In an unsettling situation for our country, truths assumed to be self evident are revealed to not be universally held. Those values have been shaken give the incursions — philosophical, commercial, even life-threatening — ...
REVIEW: Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein enchant at Segerstrom 5
I never saw Judy Garland in performance. I was fifteen in 1969 when she last played in Copenhagen. Now I wish I had gone. But Saturday night, I got a frisson of that Garland feeling, when in a first, I attended Liza Minnelli’s show at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The legendary singer delivered a ...
The look of jazz: Warhol-designed album covers
Before he became the king of pop art, Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol moved to New York to make it. Warhol wanted to be part of the elite strata inhabited by Gore Vidal, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams and other sanctioned artists. He didn’t have what it took to be admitted to those circles but he did ...
‘Bolshoi Ballet Summer Series’ leads off with Polunin/Zakharova ‘Giselle’
‘Bolshoi Ballet Summer Series’, coming to movie theaters nationwide soon presents Ballet’s ‘Big-Three’ full-evening classical works on subsequent Mondays in July. The series, presented by Fathom Events, includes July 9, Giselle, cast, Svetlana Zakharova, Sergei Polunin July 16, Romeo and Juliet July 23, Swan Lake All performances were captured live from the Bolshoi Theatre stage ...
L.A. visits the wilds of Africa. Not!
Jun
25
2018
All those cities calling themselves urban jungles simply do not have a clue. They are just pretending. We’ve got the real deal — Tarzan’s jungle! That’s what the Los Angeles County Arboretum is telling us. And on June 30, they are throwing a party steeped in jungle love. That’s ‘cuz Baldwin Lake, part of the ...
A clown’s artifacts live on: Jerry Lewis
Our friends at Julien’s Auctions will auction more property from the Estate of Jerry Lewis now through July 9. The on-line auction includes over 300 lots of personal and career memorabilia ranging from awards, clothes, art, movie ephemera and much more. Collectors will have the opportunity to bid on a wide range of items including ...
A difficult word in its strongest use @ Filmforum screening
Jun
25
2018
Continuing its screening series 1968: Visions of Possibilities, Los Angeles Filmforum presents No Vietnamese Ever Called Me N****r, a movie with a ruthless title.Directed by labor organizer and New York Times typesetter David Weiss, this film spotlights African-American responses to the Vietnam War through street interviews captured during the April 15, 1967 march of the ...