|
Still Crazy After All These Years |
|
Apr 16, 2007 at 12:00 AM |
|
Mon. April 16 We saw Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" when we were in our teens and we were genuinely shocked. (We'd yet to read Anthony Burgess's novel on whi ch it's based.) There was the futuristic mix of sex and sadism, characters who reveled in pure evil - "ultra-violence" - and reprehensible thought control processes by the government. As the leader of the Droogs, the London street gang, Malcolm McDowell's Alex was cunning, chilling and, yet, sometimes likeable. There was a strain of sarcastic humor that ran through the film. "Singin' In the Rain" played as Alex and his mates pummeled an innocent victim. Beethoven's Ninth accompanied Alex's "rehabilitation." Coming out in 1971, not long after Charles Manson and his gang made their mark, it carried an especially potent punch. This "future" was not far from what we were experiencing. Our guess is that all these years later, "A Clockwork Orange," will still stir you, make you uncomfortable, and mesmerize you. It's a film you'll want to discuss, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre is giving you that opportunity to do just that Monday April 16, as part of its "Science on Screen" series. Marc Hasuer, Harvard College Professor, will be there following the 7 p.m. screening to talk about the film. Hasuer's work deals with language evolution, conceptual representation, social cooperation, communication and morality. He's the author five books. Tickets are $9.50.
290 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-734-2500 coolidge.org
|
|
|
Not the Art of War, Art Inspired by War |
|
Apr 15, 2007 at 12:00 AM |
|
Sun. April 15 We've heard this sentiment many times from artists: The most difficult times bre ed the best art. Think of the punk rock explosion in the late '70s and post-punk movement of the '80s. A post-Watergate hangover, a country-wide malaise, Reaganism's trickle down theory, Iran-Contra, union-busting, the gap between the ultra rich and the poor widening. Oh and the formulaic nature of mainstream arena rock. Donald Shambroom's exhibit has nothing to do with punk rock per se, but everything to do with our current circumstances overseas. His "Recruits: Emergency" Exhibition" of clay, wood and sign-paint sculptures address the horrors of war. For past several years, his public art project "Fatalities" has appeared in storefronts throughout Boston. He calls them "modest ciphers of the sudden termination of life in war." The exhibit closes today, Sunday April 15,at the Pierre Menard Gallery. There's a discussion of "Art and War" today from 3-5 p.m. Partaking in this is Shambroom, actor Kermit Dunkelberg, poet Kevin Bowen and photographer Chip Troiano. The exhibit is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free.
10 Arrow St., Cambridge, 617-868-2033 pierremenardgallery.com
|
|
|
Patriotic Fare in Brookline |
|
Apr 15, 2007 at 12:00 AM |
|
Sun. April 15 Not to get all heavy, but have you been considering the meaning of the word "patriot" these days? The right-wing co-opted it years ago - Vietnam War era, I believe - and have clung to it ever since as in: If you're not with us and our programs, you're not patriotic. Others have different ideas of patriotism: Like supporting the ideals of the country, not the policies of the particular people in power. Maybe some of this is up for debate at the Fireplace Sunday April 15 at 3 p.m. The Brookline restaurant has "A Patriot's Day Salute" with The Siege of Boston (1774-1776) discussed by Abigail and John Adams. (Well, they're dead. We mean actors playing them.) A young Abigail also debunks "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." (We understand our childhood history books were a bit off on this, too.) These discussions paired with Ipswich Ale and dishes from Thomas Jefferson's White House. What's that? We rang up head chef Toby Hill. He told us: "Petite Wellfleet oyster pie, the White House's fried chicken recipe with baby chicken, sweet potato pudding and cream spinach. Blancmange with almonds and rosemary licorace honey for dessert. It'll cost you $30.
1634 Beacon St., Brookline, 617-975-1900 fireplacerest.com
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2007 at 12:00 AM |
|
Sat. April 14 Designer Jay Strongwater has nothing to do with Chief Jay Strongbow - it's just that we never thought we'd get to namecheck one of our favorite wrestlers from the '70s in a JSink column in 2007, so we're doing it. Gratuitous or not, here we c ome!That done, we can tell you Strongwater is superstar in his squared circle of choice: Jewelry design. Strongwater, who studied at the Rhode Island School of Design (birthplace of Talking Heads!), started making jewelry while in college. He was becoming so successful, that he left shcool do design jewels for Oscar de La Renta's runway collection. In 1994, he founded Jewels for the Home, where he made jewel-encrusted picture frames. Customers include Sir Elton John, Tom Hanks, Cate Blanchette, Whoopi Goldberg and Halle Berry. Each season he brings out a new line of boxes, candlesticks, mirrors, floral frames or what-have-you that dazzle his admirers and make them reach for their credit cards. (In photo, a crystal peacock - every home needs one!) Strongwater says his pieces "add surprise" and as well as adding to "the sense of delight you get when you happen upon a beautiful flower in a garden." His latest collection is called King of the Jungle and has many designs exclusive to Neiman Marcus, which is where he will be Saturday April 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. signing autographs and schmoozing.
5 Copley Place, 617-585-6000 neimanmarcus.com
|
|
|
Le Bon Vent: Kicking Out the Jams, spanning a couple of centuries |
|
Apr 14, 2007 at 12:00 AM |
|
Sat. April 14 Jeremiah McLane was born in New Hampshire in 1957, but when he was three his family moved to the rural part of France, where they lived two years. But that’s no t how McLane came to study, love and play the music from France and the French music transported overseas to Quebec, New England and Louisiana. That came much later. "I went back to France as a junior high school student in 1974," the Vermont-based accordionist and keyboardist says, "and that’s where I ended up learning the language. There was a folk revival going on when I was there, too. At that point, I was studying classical and jazz. I didn’t become immersed in traditional music until much later. In the late ‘70s, I spent a lot of time transitioning from jazz to traditional Celtic music - my family is Scottish – and I was into that scene, It wasn’t until somewhere in ‘80s that I made the connection to the folk music of France."It has remained McLane’s passion since. He applied to the Vermont Arts Council for a grant in 2000 and spent a year writing music, after having done research in France. In 2003, he and four other musicians came together to form the group, Le Bon Vent (The Good Wind). They will be bringing their eclectic mix of music to the Springstep Center in Medford April 14th at 8 p.m. They’re calling their presentation "From the French Courts to the Cajun Kitchen." |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
