Dance: Britney Spears - Oops!…I Did It Again

Choreographer: Lia Kim X Yechan

via 1M Dance Studio

Cosplay is an Art: KATSUCON 2023

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Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Balenciaga Winter 2023

Creative Director: Demna Gvasalia

 

via Balenciaga

Woke

Pardon the Interruption

"Woke" has become a political trigger word recently. Many conservatives who use the word "woke" have even stumbled to define its meaning, such as conservative writer Bethany Mandel in a now viral interview with Briahna Joy Gray. 

Google search the term "wokeness" and you'll get a definition from Oxford Languages, "the quality of being alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination." Liberals and progressives have been using the word to address the need for more social equity and equality and raise awareness of racism.

It's a term that has now been hijacked and repurposed by conservatives to call attention to all that is perceived wrong with society and culture, whether it's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), LGBTQ+ issues, library books, feminism, immigration, climate change, etc., etc., etc. Woke has now become a word to express opposition and grievances by the privileged. Many have used woke as a threat to conservative family values.  

Best explained by Adam Serwer, "Most of the utility of woke as a political epithet is tied to its ambiguity; it often allows its users to condemn something without making the grounds of their objection uncomfortably explicit." 

But as conservative columnist Johnny Luk noted in an opinion piece, "wokeness can also shut down good causes... No systemic problem can be solved without both sides listening. How can we give permission to people to engage in debate without slapping them down for having a different view?"

John Darkow, Feb 17, 2023

Source:

https://theweek.com/political-satire/1021115/too-woke

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/6/24/what-is-woke-culture-and-why-has-it-become-so-toxic

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/bethany-mandel-woke-interview-definition/673454/

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/woke-conservatives/story?id=93051138

Jimmy Giuffre

Music Appreciation

Jimmy Giuffre was an American jazz musician who made a significant contribution to the development of cool jazz and free interplay between the musicians. 

Born on April 26, 1921, in Dallas, Texas, Giuffre began playing the clarinet at a young age and later switched to the tenor saxophone. He graduated from Dallas Technical High School and North Texas State Teachers College (University of North Texas College of Music). 

In the early 1940s, he started his professional music career playing with local bands in Dallas. He then moved to Los Angeles, California and joined the Woody Herman Orchestra. When in Herman's band, he wrote Four Brothers in 1947. The song is a jazz standard in AABA format. 

In 1951, he became a member of Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All Stars. Giuffre collaborated with jazz musician and All Star member Milton "Shorty" Rogers to write charts. One of their charts named Big Boy was an instant hit in Los Angeles.

In the 1950s, Giuffre began to explore new directions in jazz. He formed a trio with pianist Jim Hall and bassist Ralph Peña, which became known for their innovative approach to cool jazz. They had a minor hit in 1957 called The Train and the River. 

Throughout the 1960s, Giuffre continued to experiment with new approaches to jazz, incorporating elements of free jazz and avant-garde music.

In the 1970s, he was hired by New York University to head its jazz ensemble and teach private lessons in saxophone and music composition. 

He suffered from Parkinson's disease and later died of pneumonia on April 24, 2008. 

Lighthouse All Stars - Big Boy (1951)

The Train and the River (1958)

Four Brothers

Sources:

Wikipedia

Al Pacino

Acting Appreciation

Born in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on April 25, 1940, Al Pacino is one of the most iconic actors of our time with a career spanning over five decades. He's been nominated for countless awards, and has won an Oscar, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.

He was raised in the South Bronx with his grandparents who were Italian emigrants from Corleone. In his teenage years, Pacino left home after an argument between him an his mother about his enrollment in a High School of Performing Arts. To finance his acting studies, Pacino took on low-paying jobs. 

Pacino got into occasional fights and was considered somewhat of a troublemaker at school. Despite facing a difficult upbringing and dropping out of school at age 17, Pacino was determined to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He attended numerous auditions and eventually landed his first role in a one-act play called Hello Out There!, in 1963.

Pacino was cast in several Off-Broadway productions, but it was his Broadway debut in the play Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, which earned him a Tony Award nomination and launched his acting career.

Pacino's breakthrough role came in 1972 when he starred in The Godfather as Michael Corleone, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He then starred in the crime drama Serpico, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. 

In 1975, he played Sonny Wortzik, a man who robs a bank in order to pay for his lover's sex change operation in Dog Day Afternoon. He then starred in a legal comedy-drama ...And Justice for All, which he was again nominated for an Academy Award for Best Leading Actor.

In 1983, he then played Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who rises to power in the drug trade in Miami, in Scarface. The film has since become a cult classic, and Pacino's catchphrase "Say hello to my little friend!" is one of the most iconic lines in cinema history.

In Scent of a Woman, Pacino played Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, a blind retired Army officer who hires a young prep school student (Chris O'Donnell) to be his aide for a weekend trip to New York City. An iconic moment in the film was Pacino's tango with the young Gabrielle Anwar. His performance as the cantankerous yet vulnerable Slade earned him his first and only Academy Award.

He then starred in numerous roles playing gangsters, detectives, a football coach, a film director, a lawyer, a writer, and even the devil. Al Pacino has had an incredible career. He has become a cinematic icon, and his influence on the industry cannot be overstated.

The Godfather (1972)

... And Justice for All (1979)

Scarface (1983)

Scent of a Woman (1992)

Argentina (2016)

Sources: 

Wikipedia 

Body Art: Anne Claire Fleer - Female Empowerment

Artist: Anne Claire Fleer (@artbyanneclairefleer) 

Model: Margherita Barbieri (@alwaysmargi)

via Anne Claire Fleer 

Album Cover: Ramones - Ramones

Album Cover 

Album: Ramones - Ramones

Released: April 23, 1976

Photography: Roberta Bayley

Art Direction: Toni Wadler

Models: Johnny, Tommy, Joey, and Dee Dee Ramone

"Once in a Lifetime"

Greenhouse Effect. Global Warming. Climate Change. Regional Weather Patterns. Call it whatever. One thing is for sure, something is happening to the earth and solutions, whether globally or regionally, have to implemented, and fast. Put aside politics and look at the issue as an inquisitive six year old. The "once in a lifetime" explanation, no longer works for something that is occurring more often. 

by Joan Chan (Just Comics)

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Dior Autumn/Winter 2023/2024

Creative Director: Maria Grazia Chiuri

 

via Christian Dior

Why We Need Smokers, Drinkers and "Fuckers"

I came across an interesting essay by American novelist Bob Shacochis, published in the August 1994 edition of PLAYBOY, that argued for the need of drinkers, smokers, and adulterers, "If Charles Darwin was correct, smokers, drinkers and libertines are doing the species a favor, accelerating the biological quest for perfection." 

Perhaps satirical, Shacochis implied how easy it was to live on the edge "drinking, smoking, and screwing" before the "priggish, middle-aged nation of naggers and health harpies" of the 80s and 90s. 

Reflecting on this, I would agree with Shacochis that, although drinking and smoking was not unusual and far from vice, sex became serious, and rightly so. AIDS was a new thing and people feared having sex -- protected or unprotected. And if they did have sex, they wouldn't talk about it as openly as perhaps today.

He acknowledged the futility of defending smokers, drinkers, and "fuckers." But added, "... who wants to live in a world without them, without their libidinous hunger, without their exalted obsessions? They take the joy and sometimes the pain of living to the very edge and shot back instructions, dire caveats, titillating weather reports."

 

PLAYBOY, August 1994, Volume 41, Number 8

Fernando Botero

Art Appreciation 

A while back -- like over 10 years ago -- I blogged about world-renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero, which you can read HERE. At that time, I was getting my feet wet in writing about artists and their work, and I feel I did an injustice of not giving more information about the artist. So, here we go. 

Fernando Botero was born in Medellín, Colombia on April 19, 1932. He is widely recognized for his signature style of creating larger-than-life figures with exaggerated proportions. 

Growing up, Botero was highly influenced by the Baroque style of the colonial churches and the city life of Medellín. At the age of 16, he had his first illustrations published in one of Medellín's important newspapers. The money earned from his illustrations helped pay for his primary education in Antioquia. 

In 1952, Botero moved to Bogotá. A few months later, he held his first exhibition at the Leo Matiz gallery. Around that time, he studied at the Academia de Bellas Artes in Madrid and was influenced by the works of artists such as Francisco Goya and Diego Velázquez, whose paintings showcased an intricate understanding of the human form. 

Botero developed his recognizable style, which he called "Boterismo," which exaggerates the proportions of his subjects to create a unique and highly recognizable visual language. These inflated subjects are recognized throughout the world. His gigantic sculptures can be found worldwide from Champs-Élysées in Paris, New York, London, and Madrid. 

Card Players, 1991

Broadgate Venus, 1989, London

The Hand, 1994, Madrid

Woman in the Kitchen, 1981

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/fernando-botero-paintings/card-players-1991

https://web.archive.org/web/20091027103119/http://www.dinero.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?idArt=15098

"The World's Worst Lover"

Fortunately, I have never been told I was the worst lover. 

The worst thing said was by an old girlfriend who commented how bad sex was but acknowledged it was our first time. Which was a true response. Our sex life was amazing; unfortunately, she was mentally unstable. Brings to mind when Trump once speculated about Lindsay Lohan, "deeply troubled" women are "great in bed." There's an ounce of truth in that, I think.

Alden Erikson, PLAYBOY (November 1995)

Body Art: Roustan - Chinese Dragon Body Painting

Artist: Paul Roustan

Model: Wen Li

via Roustan 

Pole Dance: Rachael in the Sky - Atlantic Pole Championships

 

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Cosplay is an Art: KATSUCON 2023

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Gottardo Piazzoni

Art Appreciation 

Swiss-born American landscape painter, Gottardo Fidele Piazzoni was best known for his California landscape paintings, many of which featured the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay area. 

Born on April 14, 1872 in Intragna, Ticino, Switzerland, Piazzoni immigrated to the United States in 1894 at the age of 15. After training with Tonalist painter Arthur Frank Mathews at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art, Piazzoni trained at the Académie Julian in Paris. 

After three years, he returned to California and begun his career as an art teacher. He shared a studio with fellow painter Xavier Martínez and was good friends with Impressionist Granville Redmond. 

Piazzoni's paintings are characterized by their attention to detail and accurate representation of the natural landscape. He was known for his ability to capture the mood and atmosphere of the California landscape, particularly the foggy, misty conditions of the Bay Area. His use of light and color was also notable, as he often used a limited palette of blues and grays to convey the moody atmosphere of the coast.

Piazzoni's work was popular during his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after by collectors today. His best-known public works is said to be the 14 murals that was originally displayed at the San Francisco Public Library headquarters -- 10 of the murals are now displayed at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum. 

His paintings can be found in many museums and private collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and the Crocker Art Museum.

The Sea (1931)

The Land (1932)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/THE-NEW-DE-YOUNG-Controversy-over-Piazzoni-2659444.php

whf c. ai (45%)

Kasey Chase

Acting Appreciation

When I write these blog entries, I do my due diligence in researching the person who is the subject. With this particular entry, the more I got to know the subject and the story the more heartbroken I became. 

Desire Robart (aka Kacey Chase) was born on April 13, 1991 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She graduated from Elma High School in Elma, Washington in 2009. Soon after graduation, she moved to California and entered the adult film industry. 

Her young, sweet natured, petite 5'4" frame, with a cute pout, and the girl-next-door vibe was sought-after by the industry to play that school girl and teenager daughter role. 

She performed in many adult films in a four year time span. Most of her work was girl-on-girl scenes, and later in her career, she opted for more glamour-based and solo productions.   

She retired from porn and is said to have worked as a horse keeper and enrolled in the culinary arts program at Schoolcraft College.

On June 13, 2018, she married her baby's daddy, Shane Cholewa. Soon after their marriage, Shane had unexpected surgeries on his legs. 

Then a couple of months after that, Desire fell into a coma. She passed away on November 20, 2018 at the age of 27. It is suspected she may have overdosed.

A year later, on September 16, 2019, her husband, Shane Cholewa, passed away at the age of 26.

Sources:

https://mikesouth.com/porn-deaths/ex-adult-performer-kacey-chase-has-passed-away-30936/

https://www.pornhub.com/pornstar/kasey-chase

https://pornstardeaths.com/kacey-chase/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3655946/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

http://en.girlstop.info/models.php?name=Kasey-Chase

https://babesrater.com/person/6442/kasey-chase

https://www.pornpics.com/pornstars/kasey-chase/

http://promo.foxes.com/pics/Kasey-Chase_-_Redhead-inserts-Dildo-in-Anus-n-Pussy?PA=2576081

https://www.bcfhshores.com/tributes/Shane-Cholewa

https://www.facebook.com/roundpizzasquarebox/

Imogen Cunningham

Photography Appreciation

Born in Portland, Oregon on April 12, 1883, Imogen Cunningham was a pioneering American photographer known for her black and white portraits, botanical studies, and nudes. 

From an early age, she showed interest in photography. She bought her first camera via mail order from the American School of Art in Scranton, Pennsylvania at the age of 8. 

In 1903, Cunningham studied at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she developed her technical skills and began experimenting with different photographic styles. 

After graduating, she worked for photographer Edward S. Curtis in his Seattle studio, and was instrumental in helping Curtis document American Indian tribes for his book, The North American Indian.

She became a sought-after photographer after gaining recognition for her portraitures and pictorial works. In 1913, her photographs were exhibited at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. 

In 1917, Cunningham moved to San Francisco, where she became involved in the city's thriving artistic community. She gained a reputation for her innovative and experimental work that included portraits of famous artists and intellects like Frida Kahlo and Ansel Adams. 

Cunningham began focusing more on botanical photography in the 1920s. She produced a series of stunning images that showcased her mastery of light, composition, and texture. One of her iconic works was Magnolia Blossom. In 1933, Cunningham founded the California Horticultural Society in which her images were used as studies. 

Later in the decade, she turned her attention to street photography and industrial landscapes. In 1945, she was invited by Ansel Adams to accept a position as a faculty member for the art photography department at the California School of Fine Arts. 

Despite her success, Cunningham faced many obstacles as a female photographer in a male-dominated field. Yet, she continued to produce innovative and groundbreaking work throughout her long and prolific career.

One of the most cherished moments was when she was interviewed by Johnny Carson on the The Tonight Show in 1976. A delightful exchange between Carson and Cunningham about her assignment from Vanity Fair was received with laughter and applause from the audience: 

Carson - "[Vanity Fair] sent you on an assignment to take pictures of Ugly Men."

Cunningham - "And I did Cary Grant."

Carson - "Did you consider him an ugly man?"

Cunningham - "No. He convinced me that he wasn't."

Magnolia Blossom, Tower of Jewels (1925)

Frida Kahlo Rivera, San Francisco, 1931

Stan, San Francisco, 1959

Helene Mayer, Canyon de Chelly 3, 1939

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.imogencunningham.com/

https://samblog.seattleartmuseum.org/2020/04/magnolia-blossom-tower-of-jewels/

http://www.photographywest.com/pages/cunningham_trust.htm

https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/cunningham/index.html

https://www.imogencunningham.com/artworks/categories/52-nudes/

Paul Henry

Art Appreciation

Paul Henry was an Irish painter who was widely regarded as one of the most important Irish landscape artists of the early 20th Century. Born in Belfast on April 11, 1876, Henry spent his youth in County Down in Northern Ireland. 

At the age of 6, Henry began drawing regularly, while studying at Methodist College in Belfast. At the age of 15, he moved to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution.  He studied art at Belfast School of Art, then the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin before going to Paris in 1898 to study at the Académie Julian and at Whistler's Académie Carmen, where he was influenced by the French Impressionist movement. 

While in Paris, he met artist Grace Mitchell. They would marry in 1903 and return to Ireland in 1910. After living on Achill Island for about nine years, they moved to Dublin. There he became one of the founders of the Society of Dublin Painters. A few years later, he separated from his wife and married his second wife, artist Mabel Young.

Henry's paintings were heavily influenced by the landscapes of Ireland. His style was characterized by a bold use of color and a distinctive use of light. The use of color was affected by his red-green color blindness. 

Henry's paintings were highly regarded during his lifetime, and he exhibited regularly in Ireland and the UK. He was also awarded a number of prestigious prizes, including the Gold Medal at the Paris Salon in 1931.

The Potato Digger (1915)

A Sunny Day, Connemara (1940)

On Achill Sound (c. 1942)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-henry/the-potato-digger-1915

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/fine-art-antiques/worthless-paul-henry-paintings-sell-for-143k-each-to-irish-and-us-bidders-1.4669475

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/44-fitzwilliam-square-works-from-the-estate-of-the-late-patrick-kelly/paul-henry-r-h-a-r-u-a-on-achill-sound

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/irish-impressionist-paul-henry-paintings-storage-unit-180978528/

Anzhela - Open Space

Model/Artist: Anzhela Markelova

Videographer/Artist: Casual Causal

Music: Dream Sequence by Kendall Miles

via Casual Causal

Paulina Porizkova

Modeling Appreciation

I must have been 11 or 12-years old when I learned about Paulina Porizkova. My older "brothers" talked about her and I remember watching her in the 1987 film, Anna. Of course, my little self fell in love. 

Born on April 9, 1965 in Czechoslovakia, the 5'10" model and actress Paulina Porizkova is best known for her iconic modeling career, and contributions to the fashion industry. In 1984, she became the first Central European woman, and youngest, to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. 

Her interest in modeling started at age 13 after her friend, who wanted to be a makeup artist, sent photographs to modeling agencies in Paris. Paulina was invited to Copenhagen to meet American modeling agent, John Casablancas. In an Instagram post, she recalled him asking her, "want to go to Paris?" And to Paris she did go.

Her first cover was for French magazine 20 Ans at the age of 15. She would then appear in Vogue [Germany] [UK] and other fashion publications before posing for Sports Illustrated in 1984. 

She then appeared in The Cars music video for Drive, a year later. There she met Ric Ocasek, the lead singer, and both were married on August 23, 1989. 

During the 1980s and 1990s, she has been featured in advertising campaigns for Chanel, Versace, Hermes, Christian Dior, Oscar De La Renta, Mikimoto, Perry Ellis, Laura Biagiotti, Anne Klein, Ellen Tracy, Barneys New York, Ann Taylor, Guerlain, and Revlon and appeared on the runway for Calvin Klein. She graced the covers of numerous publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, Self, and Glamour. 

In 1988, at the age of 22, Paulina was awarded the highest-paying modeling contract with Estée Lauder. After her contract ended in 1995, she received another multimillion-dollar contract with Escada. 

In addition to her successful modeling career, Paulina also made her mark in the world of entertainment. She appeared in several films, including Her Alibi and Anna, and was a judge on America’s Next Top Model for several seasons.

She remains a legendary figure in the fashion world, inspiring future generations with her talent, dedication, and advocacy for women’s rights and body positivity, as expressed in a recent Los Angeles Magazine issue where she bares it all.

by Jill Greenberg for Los Angeles Magazine (September 2021)

by Walter Iooss, Jr. for Sports Illustrated (c. 1982)

by Petra Hult (c.1978)

Sources: 

Wikipedia

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcEXpsAjwaI/

https://people.com/style/paulina-porizkova-poses-nude-calls-out-objectification-of-women/

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/04/14/paulina-porizkova-young/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/15/style/paulina-porizkova.html

https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/paulina-porizkova-throwback-thursday-si-swimsuit

whf c. ai (35%)

Cosplay is an Art: Emerald City Comic Con 2023

via Justin Cosplay

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Versace Fall Winter 2023

Creative Director: Donatella Versace

 

via Versace

Phil Leeds

Acting Appreciation

Born on April 6, 1916, in New York City, Phil Leeds was an American actor best known for his work in film and TV. Raised in the Bronx, he was a peanut vendor near Yankee Stadium and Manhattan's Polo Grounds. After serving in the military during WWII, he began his career as a stand-up comedian. 

Leeds transitioned to acting in the 1950s and appeared in several sitcoms such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Car 54, Where Are You?, The Patty Duke Show, Three's Company, Night Court, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Ally McBeal. He also appeared in several films in memorable roles such as the emergency room ghost in Ghost (1990).

Interestingly, Leeds was blacklisted during the McCarthy era -- a period where left-wing individuals were politically repressed and persecuted. When he appeared and questioned by the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee, Leeds pleaded the fifth.  

He passed away on August 16, 1998 at the age of 82. He was such a beloved character actor that an episode of Ally McBeal featured footage of Leeds prior appearances on the show. 

Friends (1996)

Suddenly Susan (1998)

Source:

Wikipedia 

Jules Louis Dupré

Art Appreciation

Jules Louis Dupré was a French painter known for his significant contributions to the Barbizon school, a naturalist art movement. His landscaping paintings are recognized for its vibrant and realistic depictions.  

Born on April 5, 1811 in Nantes, France, Dupré showed an interest in painting at a young age. He spent his childhood in L'Isle-Adam, a small town beside the river Oise, near Paris. He started as an apprentice decorator of porcelain in his father's china works. He would then work in a porcelain factory with his uncle, Arsène Gillet. 

With no formal training, Dupré started his artistic career, which led him to the countryside around Limoges, in west-central France, in 1827. A couple of years later, he settled in Paris. 

His first exhibition was at the Salon in 1831, and three years later was awarded a second-class medal. From then on he would gain recognition and acknowledgements for his contributions to the arts. 

The Old Oak (1870)

Barks Fleeing Before the Storm (1875)

The Windmill (c. late 1850s)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/barks-fleeing-before-the-storm-digital-remastered-edition-jules-louis-dupre.html

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-windmill-jules-dupr%C3%A9-french-1811-1889/IgFek8rMh26Qrw

https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1253.html

Travel + Leisure: Marina & Alberto

This is a magnificent photo of Ronda in Spain by photo travelers Marina and Alberto (@viajaentusofa).

 

View this post on Instagram

Body Paint: Zap

Model: Zap

Painters: Julia Vlascova (movies), Kristian Elizarova (photos)

via Zap and John

Dance: Adina Howard - T-Shirt & Panties

Choreography: Adison Briana

via Floorplay by Adison Briana 

That Little Red Head Girl Likes You, Charlie Brown

I've always thought I was a bit like Charlie Brown. I so wanted to be Linus, but I more Charlie Brown throughout my childhood and adolescence. 

For me, Charles Schulz' comic captures the best ever April Fools joke made by Lucy. 

I feel for you Charlie Brown. 

by Charles Schulz