Harvest, Great Artists, Marking the Path of Now, Life In and Out of the theater

My how fast this year spins and spirals. The above city street photo was taken near second street on the lower east side.

Recently I read an old interview with Umberto Eco. He wrote a group of essays in the style of political commentary and collected them in a book "Turning Back the Clock". He describes media populism. He was asked if he cares if people read his novels 100 years from now? He responded with a deadpan " If somebody writes a book and doesn't care for the survival of that book, he's an imbecile."

Did that make you laugh? I love that kind of humor and truth. It's very direct , and very Italian.

In a different article, prodigious writer Nuruddin Farah , was quoted saying "We must pay attention to how societies treat women. Only when a society treats its women and children well can it thrive. " Mainly he was speaking of Africa. But this is a true statement all around for every civilization. His book "Knots" sounds like an intriguing , yet eye opening read.

My senior thesis in college was derived from the question in a 1970's art history essay entitled "Why are There No Great Women Artists?". This essay posed why throughout history were there a disproportionate number of women to men artists in shows and museum exhibits? I focused on Leonor Fini's career and paris in the 1930s. Part Italian, part Argentinian , Fini was a fascinating woman . She wrote back to me once as I was writing my thesis. I wanted to meet her after I graduated college, but moving to New York was more practical than going to Paris.

I still have the postcard she sent. It was one of her paintings. She gave me a hand- written note on the back of the postcard. The day I finished my letter to her, there was thunder and lightning. I knew then she would respond and receive my letter. It was really an affirmation to me when I got her letter. It was after New Year's on a winter's day. Seeing her handwritten note addressed to me, I was both moved and felt so connected to her. I am so grateful for this marker on my path into the arts. Although I never did meet her, she was a role model to me, and a brave artist who represented a voice of her time.

When I moved to New York , my first job was at a theater in Times Square. This theater has the motto : "Ye Shall Know The Truth and The Truth Shall Set You Free" inscribed on it.

Now that I am reminiscing , I wanted to say that last year around this time I had the honor of performing in a staged reading of Wesley Brown's play : Life During Wartime. I have to get the footage of this so I can upload it to my blog. His play will be on the classics shelf in years to come. To me, this playwright is of the caliber of Tennessee Williams.

Now it's time to greet the present, and acknowledge this gift of time.

Datura takes time to bloom, thank you southwest for enduring this plant and making her strong enough to bloom in northeast too

the a word

Yep, you guessed it, Audition. Yesterday I filled my calendar with auditions. Today I went to one. Then afterwards I went with a friend to see live theater, Love Loss and What I Wore.

Experiencing Frustration

Is it me or does Google play games when you get your password right but they redirect you to try again? UGG, and not the boot.

Okay , so I have a question for gardening. Why does the farmers almanac publish the moon sign differently than what is on the internet. For instance, the internet site for moon phases says today the moon is in Scorpio, and the almanac says the moon is in Virgo?

Which source is true?

I am eager to transplant some herbs and other lovely roots.

I have photos of some blooming plants that I would like to share. Will create a photo gallery of the gorgeous growth from the generous sun , earth, moon and people who have sent love to my garden. I am so grateful for the lessons Mother Earth is sharing during the noble seasons of the northeast. The soaring planets above have faith in us humble humans. Bob Marley song please!

It is all so much more splendid to view with the naked eye and unfettered soul.

And , this actor's musings are many. So many that it is difficult to categorize them or jot them down without care. This is an attempt to honor past and present musings.

The draw of the film, Brighton Rock , the 2011 remake of Graham Greene's pulp fiction was Helen Mirren . Period. Yet discovering many new faces in the ensemble cast amidst this dark setting was refreshing. The film depicts the turbulence of youth and the rough and tumble measures of mob life circa 1960s , England. Staying on top is quite Shakespearean, think Richard the Third. I couldn't help but think of Martin Scorsese's The Departed , and it's brilliant editing by Thelma Schoonmaker. I thought , why another film with these characters? Such is the intrigue of great film making. The downward spiral of the main character Pinkie, played by Sam Riley, makes the other characters wonder if he is totally heartless. This guy is no Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson whose character in the Departed had a sense of humor. Nope this pastie face Pinkie, doesn't crack a smile, not once. He meets ingenue , Rose, played to a tee with a clumsy innocence by Andrea Riseborough. Up to the point Pinkie manipulates himself into Roses's life , her life appears to be loveless. She is starving for love, yet she embodies the pink blush of hope . They portray these young characters with understated moxie and this characteristic makes them watchable and real. You find out that somewhere in their not so distant youth they were exposed to things far from innocent. This backstory makes Rose's search for love , or desire to believe in love more remarkable. Nanzo Anozie gives us a surprising side and twist to the story and to his character as he plays off Helen Mirren's Ida. John Hurt and Helen Mirren are majestic in their stature as ordinary citizens of Brighton. Ordinary in a Graham Greene way.

According to a film critic back in 1947 published in Halliwell's Film Guide the 92 minute original film, "It proceeds with the efficiency , the precision and the anxiety to please of a circular saw." Dilys Powell. Well, I know we speak the same language as the British, but was that a compliment or a diss? Is Pwell saying the original film is clever or it has no imagination?

On September 27, 2011 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas New York City I found the film to be true to the subject matter : the tone was dark and violent, the cinematography brilliant, and the no frills acting superb, the soundtrack non- invasive and non manipulative. It looks like the director, Rowan Joffe planned and executed an adept course leaving room for the actors to be. The transitions in editing were sharp and spot on. Next time I will bring my broom corn to see if they can make popcorn with it. Just kidding.

More to share, and share I must from this city of edge and art. But first, How is your Harvest Season rolling along?

Oh yeah, a terrific film inspired by another Graham Greene novel is 'The Comedians', with the indomitable Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Alec Guinness, and Peter Ustinav. Political and Domestic Intrigue.

Help I am glued to my seat.

September 1, 2011

Sunrise ,Sunset and the energy of the hours in between. And then there is the night. Let's face it life has many hours for mystery. Alas, today is a new day new month and the sun has risen. Today I give thanks for life : the sanctity of, the potential of, and the glory of.

Stay tuned for my recap of "Irene" and the strange allies one makes during times of preparation.

Today I leave you with this simple exploration. We live in a society where images are collected used for advertising and all the tones that promise desires ranging from humor, sex, innocence, romance, health, prosperity, fear, youth, travel, longevity, and the list goes on. How many images have you collected that speak authentically to you? peel the onion and see your truth and not just some other person's superimposed image or perspective of what makes them feel good. How would you feel if you carried an image of peace on the bottom of your feet? I want to know what is your inner image of peace today? A meditation for you from me.

Sit down in a comfortable chair and feel your feet. If you close your eyes what does peace feel like? Take your time don't rush, stay with your breath. Let your shoulders lift up toward your ears on your inhalation and pause them there. Exhale and now let your shoulders drop back down to their normal resting place on your ribs. Be grateful for this breath, bless it with love. Do not grasp onto any feelings or thoughts of judgement. Just see what color peace looks like to you. What does it taste like? Feel your fingertips and gently grasp the texture of peace. Does it have sound? Keep your breath free and easy for a little while and explore . When you are ready open your eyes and write down any discoveries or make your own manifestation to live with this image.

Google Jerry Garcia singing "Eyes of the World" . Make your own film, write your own song, paint your own painting, hug your people with peace in mind.

Moon in Scorpio is Good for transplanting

After viewing how amazingly well the amaranth is doing that Drew adopted from me, and seeing how stunning this single plant is shooting up to the heavens while filling out in a natural chi gong wood element way , (unfolding naturally on the horizontal plane), I took her cue and bought some bamboo to guide my broom corn, amaranth, and tomato. Also above , shamrocks taking new shape in their new space on mother earth. Refreshed after summer rain.

On the acting front, one of my fellow favorite actresses and I went to see Mother's Eve's Garden of Sisterhood . Witty , daring ,fun and tasteful I might add.

Keep growing , keep nurturing, reaching for the sky.

Gardening, healing, and summer love

Gardening in New York City is like reclaiming the character of the land of the island. To celebrate the diversity of this land I have plants indigenous to South America, Africa, England, the Native Americas, to name a few.

My brief leave from blogging is due to my newfound passion and my recent move. Moving has brought so much excitement to my life and the gardening has put me in the path of many passers by in the neighborhood. I have received gifts of plants from other gardeners and have given away some plants that grew as early as February indoors with the Northern Light of my former apartment. For instance Oxalis regnelli, Iron Cross, and Triangularis are now in soil adjacent to a playground. They are also at Video Cafe with some Scottish Moss. Moss is such a wonderful sign of life.

Now as summer hits a strong rhythm I appreciate the longevity of the various gardens both big and small.

One summer night after a very special acting class, I walked with a very inspiring and talented actress to the Hudson River along 20th Street. The Golden Sun was making his way and beaming as we made our way to Chelsea Piers. There, a truly wild landscape, that felt very private emerged. Imagine that! There were youth dance groups rehearsing and drilling their routines, dog walkers, cool skateboarders, gorgeous golden retrievers, and the sweet smell of the river. It was such a magical summer night. I really appreciated the open and honest dialogue that my colleague and I shared.

The heart governs the summer season bringing a perfect time for healing . As I unpack boxes , at an adagio musing pace, in other words a pace that defies gravity , I am making my way through saved articles for harvesting. Allow me to share two.

For actors and independent video makers, you may want to read an article from a recent Backstage feature entitled "Do It Yourself." This features practical info from actors getting their work out there. It is a down to earth business savvy interview .

The other article I downloaded from Middleway Press from a book entitled "On Being Human". Which reminds me that the second copy I bought of this book I promised to a woman in New Orleans. Another note in my to do list. Must get my assistant to get this out. This book has a refreshing style of its own.

Three very worldly men are having a discussion on how to master the art of living and question the true nature of health. The three men improvise a brilliant discussion on stress as the spice of life. The excerpt I was reading speaks of a Dr. Selye's contribution to this idea. They speak of stress as the fuel of life, a transformational perspective indeed.

How are you dealing with the heat of summer? Sweating can demand a recovery. After a good sweat from walking in the city to and from afternoon appointments, I applied the wisdom given to me by an acupuncturist. She shared a natural way to reinvigorate electrolytes into the body. She said to eat a kiwi fruit whole with a little sea salt.

Heat Waves are so extreme!