In my endless Stumbling, I’ve come across some really great, artistic things; some of the things I have found have led to posts on this blog. I’ll be adding more, but check this out for now.
10 Must See Art documentaries.
http://www.artdesignschools.com/careers/ten-must-see-art-documentaries/
I have seen half of these and I would love to see the rest.
I like Art and documentaries, what more could I ask for?
There are a lot of great artists referenced in this list and in those documentaries, I definitely recommend looking into it.
In the future I will probably post about a couple of the listed items.
Enjoy!
Courtesy of Crackerfarm
Crackerfarm is the group which photographs and produces videos of the Avett Brothers. The folks at Crackerfarm really know what they are doing; they have created some of the best videos I have ever seen.
The thing about photography, and video, is that you can capture such intense and personal moments. The personal moments that Crackerfarm has captured, in the lives of the Avetts alone, is totally mind blowing.
If you ask me, not that anyone did, being able to make somebody feel something with a photograph is Art. Really powerful Art.
Every picture tells a story and Crackerfarm has million of ’em.
They are also working on an Avett Brothers documentary which is an ongoing project.
Courtesy of Crackerfarm
Click on the raccoon to check out Crackerfarm’s website and some of their amazing stuff.
Part 2 of the screening tonight.
7PM.
McEwen 209.
Video Capstones will be screened.
Documentaries and Fiction pieces.
Be sure to check it out.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=205926462780632
Anyone who knows me can probably say pretty confidently that I don’t have too much sense when it comes to fashion. These days I’ve shaved my prep time down to 15 minutes in the morning, including a shower.
Although I am not fashion forward, I can appreciate those who really love fashion and how much effort really goes into being fashionable at the end. I’ve seen Project Runway, I know that making clothes isn’t as simple as it seems. I also know that looking good takes work. I understand the concept, it’s just not something I embrace.
In the interest of trying to become educated, in the quickest way possible, I googled “fashion.” The first website fashion.net made my computers do funny things, I will not be visiting it again, the rest seemed to be normal. Most of the top 25 searches were stores or magazines with a lot of fashion references. I know that sometimes my roommate looks at Urban Outfitters’ website for tips with clothing. Sometimes I ask her if I look presentable.
I ask all of you potential readers out there: where do you get your fashion tips? How is it that you know what’s appropriate to wear?
Let me know, I’m actually curious.
Photo courtesy of Martin Scoville
Seth is by far my favorite Avett. Not to sound stalkerish or anything, I just love him.
Both of the Avetts has individual Art projects that they have worked on and they are fabulous. Don’t take my word for it, check them out for yourself.
Timothy Seth Avett as Darling (Seth’s solo project) is beautiful, if you ask me. It really captures one of the core foundations of Art: emotion. This music, like many of the Avett Brothers tunes, is some of the most emotional I have ever heard in my life.
Emotion and passion, like I’ve mentioned before make Art what it is. Pouring out part of yourself in what you make is a very strong statement. It tells people you do what you want, no matter what, it’s what keeps people coming back for more.
Lots of Seth’s songs are about love. Some might argue that love is the strongest muse out there. I can’t say I know whether that is right or wrong but I can say I love love love the passion Seth has. He’s made some of the most powerful Art I’ve been exposed to.
Tonight. 7PM. McEwen 209.
There will be refreshments of sorts.
More importantly there will be clips of student work that has been done throughout this semester.
Like this video. Done by Tim Franklin, Erica Wrobel and Christina Pihl.
Scott is an artist. Not only is he a phenomenal musician, which, I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, but he makes other Art as well.
Of the two, I think Scott has definitely earned the title of the rowdy brother. Don’t get me wrong, both brothers know how to get down on stage and put on a show, but older brother Scott has a little bit of a reckless thing going on, I think that’s why he gets so much attention from the ladies (although he is married, with children).
In addition to the stage show, Scott is a painter and a print maker. Some people say that Art is one of those things you can’t control and when I take certain things into consideration, like the Avett Brothers, I totally believe that.
I’ve done my fair share of waiting outside empty venues for the Avett Brothers to arrive and the doors to finally open. Of the eleven times that I have seen this band, Ithaca NY has been some of the most pleasurable of my experiences.
Once, walking around the Ithaca Commons, a stones throw from the State Theater, Scott Avett approached a good friend of mine. “Do you know where I might be able to buy a sketchbook?” he asked. This was just a couple of hours before show time.
While I’m sure this has a lot to do with adjusting to life on the road and having to accommodate for missing items it was really refreshing to see an artist so intent to create something.
Scott owns a gallery in North Carolina which displays his work and has also been featured in Envoy Gallery in NYC.
Some of Scott’s Artwork has been featured on album covers and band merch. I have a few items I will never part with myself.
While music is Art, I also have to believe that often times one inspires the other. I am glad to have witness some of both made by the wonderful Scott Avett.
The Avetts are worth the wait. This is a scene setter story I wrote after waiting on line for one of the best Avett Brothers shows I have ever seen.
You’re dancing around to keep warm. Doors don’t open for another hour. The sun is sinking and you’re losing what natural light is left and any warmth that might come with it. You shift your weight to one side and give the venue staff the deepest death scare you can muster; it’s not much because your face is frozen.
This is what it was like to stand on line outside the Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY last Sunday night. This is what it’s like when you’re part of the Avett Nation. The Avett Nation is a loyal group of humans who follow the Avett Brothers and everything they stand for.
The Avett Brothers are a band. But not just a band; they are a family, they are a movement, a machine. If you’re asking why, then you haven’t seen them live, it’s nearly indescribable.
(Note: I’ll do my best a little later on to tell you about it.)
If you joined the Nation before the Avetts signed with Rick Rubin, chances are you’ve already seen a show. Maybe you haven’t seen them in a venue quite like The Smith. Since the production of their album I and Love and You, venue size has increased noticeably.
The Smith Opera House does not stand out on the block. It looks rather ordinary nestled in between a record shop and a pub. A brick building with glass doors, not run down or extravagant, just there. The record shop is closed; no one gives it another glance. The pub becomes a sanctuary; warmth after hours of the bitter cold. No one strays for too long though, for the diehard fans, the end of the line is unacceptable.
The line is a monster in itself. Fans wrapped in blankets, sitting in canvas camp chairs, eating out of take out containers all make their place in line like a little home. Without someone to hold their spot, they’re not going anywhere.
The sea of people that are standing outside make The Smith look more like a soup kitchen than an opera house. The age range is from four to 64. No cultural or economic trend is visible among them. There is every body type, facial structure, hair color and clothing style. Everyone looks the same, cold.
It’s easy to pick out who has been there the longest. Not just because they’re at the front of the line, they are by far the most frozen. They are a section the group that calls themselves “Team Avett.” Members of Team Avett are easy to spot once you’re in a venue or right before the doors open: a few minutes before doors open, they remove their jackets, each one dons a red and white baseball tee with their respective number. It seems like they have a private connection with each other but they do their time in line with everyone else.
Members of Team Avett joke about huddling like penguins. This sparks a discussion on March of the Penguins and Morgan Freeman; anything to keep their minds off the cold. It is the last hour, the home stretch. The line leaders have been taking turns warming up in their cars for the last forty minutes, some of the late comers whisper about them losing their spots but would never dare inching closer.
The line has been told: No leaning on the glass, don’t touch the outside décor and no photography. All will be searched. The monster prepares, becomes much less unruly. Preparation is key for a good spot up front. A good spot up front is always worth another hour when you’re waiting in line for The Avett Brothers.
I love the Avett Brothers. Honestly they were an obsession. I can say that now and put it in the past tense, I feel like those who knew how obsessed I was couldn’t believe me, but it’s true.
Listenership, show size and everything which comes along with signing on with producer Rick Rubin has sort of changed my outlook on the Avetts. Don’t get me wrong, this band deserved to make it big more then any other, in my opinion, it’s just that the dynamic has changed.
These last few posts I think are helping me make a point and I just haven’t made it 100 percent clear yet.
ART IS ABOUT PASSION.
The Avett Brothers music is some of the most passionate I’ve ever heard. The emotional response that these artists (because music is Art!) can evoke, from most people, is so intense it has brought me to tears on multiple occasions.
This post is the beginning in a series so I guess for now a little background might help. The Avett Brothers is a band from North Carolina. Scott (banjo) and Seth Avett(guitar) are brothers, obviously, and are joined by Bob Crawford (bass) and Joe Kwon (cello). If you ask me, it is really hard to label this music, I call it folk rock. I’ve heard it called folk, bluegrass, rock, alternative and rockabilly. Listen for yourself and decide.
Over the last decade the Avetts have been part of numerous projects and gained a massive following. I know of at least one band on the SUNY Fredonia campus that was started because of the Avett Brothers, I bet there are more out there.
In subsequent posts I’ll talk more about these guys, the passion they have and the passion they inspire.
Art N Heart 