Thursday, December 31, 2009

unlimited potential

Every moment we are blessed with unlimited potential. Take for instance my new york fast thumb which in the flash of a non osecond , mistakenly yet very directly hit the delete button thus erasing my spontaneous gratitude message to all the people whose lives touched mine this year and helped move my life forward.
Ha ha well here I am again back at the drawing board. My prayer to these people was sincerely in my heart and breath so I am confident that although they will not be able to read that particular spontaneous collection of words, they will definitely feel my love. It is true that love transcends all boundaries. And dear reader whoever and wherever you may be , please take a moment to expand the peace and love in your heart and determine to reach for your unlimited grace, unlimited compassion, and walk with the brightness of hope.

Last minute musings of 2009 are in the following photographs.

Time you are my friend and I walk, dance, jog, have dialogue with others, and live in concert with you wisely and carefully. Thank you 2009 for being a breakout year, healing year, and a year of creating new friendships, renewing old friendships, and challenging me with the blossoming and growth of already existing friendships. My pledge of last year continues. Live love laugh and be happy.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Bright Star : A stitch in time for now and then.


Jane Campion and her team do an amazing job inviting us, the audience, into a realm not long ago lived . Watching this film in the intimate theater at Cinema Village we immediately enter the private moments of a timeless family's courtship with the sensitive soul John Keats.
The film Bright Star, takes us back to a time before diamonds and pre-nups, cellphones and texting. Fannie and John have a pure love in real time.
The joy of watching this tight knit family nurture their relationships through the arts of respect and proper boundaries brings hope to civilization as we know it. It appears that this courtship is mutually enriching for everyone.
The gorgeous canvas of cinematography and acting is harvest for storytelling. Imagine a calm Christmas dinner , the family fireplace close by, and simple entertainment; Keats reciting a poem upon request of the hostess, then her young boy playing the violin.
My favorite scenes were the subtle freeze frames : Toots walking in the foreground while Fanny and John steal kisses.
This sunshine moment is juxtaposed with a more serious tone which is the sufferings of love and what love can endure. Time and distance, sensing lovers' presence and absense. When they are together their instincts become alive again , apart they suffer the pangs of distance. Abbie Cornish goes to the core of this character and gives a timpanic ending to this film . It is refreshing to see new faces on the screen. The classic Wuthering Heights will have a friend on its shelf. But don't wait for the dvd , this must be seen on "the big screen."

Friday, December 4, 2009

I silently coached myself to stay calm and not get overly excited while seated during the questions and answer here at Barnes and Noble.

Well, forget that! It's Twyla Tharp for heaven's sake! The goddess, an American Icon, in the ranks with Joni, Ella, Nina, Martha Graham, Oprah, Meryl, Margaret Mead, Dorothy Day, Ruth Gordon, Dorothy Fields, Thelma Shoonmaker, Ida B. Wells.

Twyla blessed this decade with a celebration of the transformative Billy Joel in her masterpiece "Movin' Out," which played at the Richard Rogers Theater. I coined her and her dancers, "The Olympics of Dance." I mean, no show has ever touched the standard and bar that was set from that show. If anyone knows of any contenders please let me know! When I saw the show (with one of my favorite theater goers), magic was about. First off, someone cancelled their first row seats at the box office, so we got up close and personal with that amazing cast! When I left the theater, I suspected that no show will ever touch that.
Billy Joel has a place in my artistic time line. Summer of 1986 the people I worked for had a cassette of, "The Bridge," in their Honda Accord with sunroof. I would listen to that while I drove to SUNY Purchase to take my jazz dance classes. The woman I worked for back then has since passed away. I took a shine to, "Code of Silence," and "You May Be Right," from another album. I now have these songs in my repertoire...
Twyla fielded many questions. I would rather perform on a stage, sing a song, a monologue, a scene from a play or a film, recite a poem than have to publicly ask a single question to someone I admire so much. I mean , if we flash back to my apartment 6:30 pm, I was looking around for art work to give to her. I thought I could bring the photo of me and my friend Leda posing as Nadia Comenici, as we played in my basement, which was one of my dance studios/ slumber party, turn-table hang outs, but I didn't bring it. Instead, I took a picture with my camera phone of a whale bone blue, violet Alaskan Sky with the shadow of a Goddess arms in triumphant pose super imposed on it in hopes to share with her. But I forgot about the nature photo, as I was so far from her sitting in the audience and in one moment, I furiously raised my arm because in such a crowded room there was some wiggle room to chicken out, but hand held high, she got to me. Hence we had a vocal encounter from across the room: she at the podium and me near the door. She in Texas and me in Maine.
She gave me great, concise advice. While walking home, I fantacized about how she pushes her talent to the limits and what it would be like to be directed by her. I wanted to ask her to work with me on a monologue I am writing. I can dream, right? I am very inspired in spite of the surge of nerves from this event. I am grateful to have "met" Twyla and appreciate the example she sets of consistency and accomplishment.

Time to keep working and show some proof. Big Apple, you just got sweeter. What I would give to be in a studio with Twyla for one hour. This is my sentiment right now.

Okay, how about a series of hours?

The Collaborative Habit










Aspiring Lights



note to self : must subscribe to Time Out New York. I must also keep dreaming, for there may be chance for another meeting with "the goddess," while I get my cardio on.

Yesterday and close to midnight, I wrote the following. I must say, I was definately living off some very excited fumes...

Alberta Spruce got a new pot for its roots today, while taking it's place on the wonderful window seat on the North sill.



While glancing through my Assistant's copy of Time Out New York over Thanksgiving weekend, I spied: Twyla Tharp signs her new book, The Collaborative Habit, December 2nd, Barnes and Noble, 66th St Lincoln Center, 7:30 pm. I made note of the possibility of going.

Today after giving two massages at my health club shift, I had a seemless transition into the evening; a sense of ease. Could this really be? No rushing? What a novelty! I figured I would get there early, bring my journal and The Creative Habit which Asta, an edgy playwright, had gifted me in 2007. Time to get that signed too!