my new favorite TV show: Simon Schama's Power of Art

i've watched a couple of episodes
from the BBC series of Simon Schama's Power of Art
Bernini and Rembrandt episodes
on our blessed public television channel PBS

"Art is the enemy of the routine, the mechanical and the humdrum. It stops us in our tracks with a high voltage jolt of disturbance; it reminds us of what humanity can do beyond the daily grind. It takes us places we had never dreamed of going; it makes us look again at what we had taken for granted."
~ Simon Schama

the first minutes of Bernini's "Ecstasy of St. Theresa" Episode



the episodes analyze a central piece by a given artist
and around this narrative, Simon unfolds their life story

Simon Schama wrote and narrates the series, his style is fresh
and even funny at times... as when he refers to Bernini
as... "...that bastard!", a relaxed and unique style
that makes every twist and turn of the narrative
a bit dramatic, it is almost like a watching a soup-opera
where the casts are Popes, painters, sculptures, all while learning
a lot about art history, and world history, too.
I learn a lot about Amsterdam on Rembrandt's episode
these two episodes... highly recommended!

Episodes
1. Caravaggio - David with the Head of Goliath
2. Bernini - Ecstasy of Saint Theresa
3. Rembrandt - The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis
4. David - The Death of Marat
5. Turner - The Slave Ship
6. Van Gogh - Wheatfield with Crows
7. Picasso - Guernica
8. Rothko - Black on Maroon

you can view them all online here

but just like movies on the big screen
TV series are meant to be watched, well, on your TV
upcoming episodes in KPBS, San Diego
May 27, 2010 11:00PM
June 3, 2010 11:00PM
thank you PBS!

veggie soup, slowdive & 40 days

not much writing now
only cooking soups
of vegetables now...
this past Sunday
made a mix of all pictured here
chopped all (except the can)
and cooked for 12 minutes
in a pressure cooker, pretty good!



and listening to old songs
this one from 1993
slowdive's album Souvlaki
40 days, don't even remember
why i used to listen to this song so much
but i still like it...



Fourty days and I miss you
I'm so high that I've lost my mind
It's the summer I'm thinking of
Fourty days and I'm blown away
If I saw something new
I guess I wouldn't worry
If I saw something new
I guess I wouldn't care
You said you're always sleeping
But if so, I'll be leaving
It's just that I'm always falling
And it makes me feel bad, yeah
If I saw something new
I guess I wouldn't worry
If I saw something new
I guess I wouldn't care
Just to try and watch you
Said I love the way that you smile, don't
Makes me try and watch you
I said I love the way that you smile, don't
Smile whenever I watch you
I said I love the way that you smile, don't
Smile whenever I watch you
I said I love the way that you smile, don't

saturday: cat power & rosemary eggs

a bit overcast this morning
so i make for breakfast scrambled eggs with
chopped yellow onion, tomatoes,
sweet yellow pepper, and fresh rosemary



color is good in the morning

and then the sun starts to come in
inviting one out



so i leave you with a cat power song
Bathysphere, from her album
What Would the Community Think



walk out this weekend!
there's life

Beethoven, Buddha, and my mom

i've been a bit disconnected from the blog, the internet, etc.
my mom is visiting!
shortly after her arrival, we went to the Copley Symphony Hall
for a Beethoven Festival Piano concert
the program was Beethoven's
Coriolan Overture, Op.62, the Piano Concertos No. 1 and No. 2
it was a lovely evening indeed
although the pianist Yefim Bronfman was replaced by Orli Shaham
she did a good job, but i was looking forward to listen to Yefim
as he has great reviews
also was sad to miss mister Smorgthere
as we planned to meet him at the concert...
hopefully i can meet him soon!


my mom at Copley's, me on the reflection
it's an ugly picture,
but hey! photography is forbidden at Copley's!

and to close this little post
the Buddhist thought of the day:

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
~Buddha...