Tela Digital TV Show and “Think BIG, Think small-scale” short-film by Guest Columnist Frandu Almeida

Hello The Art Reference readers,

Last year I had the opportunity to write about the short-film “Think BIG, Think small-scale” I edited and was magistrously directed by Barbara Tavares.

In 2010, the film won two awards in Internation Film Festivals in Argentina and Uruguay and it has been participating in several International Festivals around the world. Check for more info on the film’s website: www.ogigantedopapelao.blogspot.com

The today’s post is about a Brazilian competition we entered: TELA DIGITAL TV SHOW. It’s a TV contest that screens Brazilian short-films. All candidates are compiting for the BEST AUDIENCE AWARD, the votes are collected on the TELA DIGITAL’s website. A total of 60k prize will be distributed to the best films.

I would like to ask for YOUR VOTE today! It’s easy and only requires a registration. Please follow the instructions below:

-Access the website: http://www.teladigital.org.br/teladigital/index.php?page=videos&section=view&vid_id=20698

- On the upper right side of the Page, click on “CRIAR CONTA” (meaning create your account)

- Fill out the information, especially your email address;

- Following you will receive a validation email. Validate your email. (check on your spam box, in case you don’t receive it);

- Click on the link on the email. This will validate your email.

- On the TELA DIGITAL’s webpage, search for the movie “O Gigante do Papelão” or click on the link: http://www.teladigital.org.br/teladigital/index.php?page=videos&section=view&vid_id=20698&type=featured

- Below the video, you will find 5 stars. Click on how many stars correspond to your vote.

- Voila! You have voted on the film and helped us a lot.

You can watch the film with English subtitle on the link bellow, after watch please go back the TELA DIGITAL’s website and VOTE!!

Link: http://vimeo.com/21133248

Password: gigante

Thank you very much for your time. We appreciate it. If you have any questions or comment I’ll be glad to hear it.

If you want to check my previous post check it at: http://theartreference.blogspot.com/2010/07/think-big-think-smal-scale-movie-by.html

Frandu Almeida

Director, editor and writer

frandu@bodhgayafilms.com

www.bodhgayafilms.com

The artist Sergio Cezar and Barbara Tavares at LABRFF 

(Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival)

Barbara is documentarist and producer with more than 6 years in the film industry working on production, distribution and film festivals. She loves film and this media mission of bringing optimist and stories into people's lives.
She lived in Los Angeles for the past 2 years, she just got back to her home country, Brazil, to open her own production company, Bodhgaya Films.

Bodhgaya Films is a production company located in Rio de Janeiro but works all over the globe. Produces documentaries, fiction films, institutional films, making of's, music videos and more.

 

Frandu Almeida, Sergio Cezar & Barbara Tavares

*This post was written by the Guest Columnist Frandu Almeida director of Bodhgaya Films.

Art in the Streets - MOCA Museum - Tuca Cassino´s Suggestion

Moca Museum

Art in the Streets is the first major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art that takes place at MOCA (link). The exhibition will trace the development of graffiti and street art from the 1970s to the global movement it has become today, concentrating on important cities as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and Sao Paulo.


"The exhibition will feature paintings, mixed media sculptures, and interactive installations by 50 of the most dynamic artists and will emphasize Los Angeles's role in the evolution of graffiti and street art, with special sections dedicated to seminal local movements such as cholo graffiti and Dogtown skateboard culture. A comprehensive timeline illustrated with artwork, photos, video, and ephemera will provide a historical context for the work."
Check out some videos:
Painters Painting




Artists Lee Quinones, Abel, Cern, FUTURA, Loomit, Push, RISK and Sano document the creation of their monumental artwork Birds Of A Feather (2011).

Created for Art in the Streets at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, April 17–August 8, 2011. Video produced by MOCA in collaboration with TEAM G.

Brazilian Os Gemeos Comes Alive


Musician Andrew Black playing the drums inside of Os Gemeos’ installation at Art in The Streets.
Martha Cooper as Art in The Streets Comes Together


VNA x Martha Cooper at MOCA from Charlie Inman on Vimeo.

Charlie Inman and Very Nearly Always made this short piece on photographer Martha Cooper, shot during the install of Art in The Streets. In it, she speaks on her history of documenting the graffiti artists featured in the exhibition.

Kenny Scharf painting at Art in The Streets. Photo by Gregory Bojorquez

Photographer Gregory Bojorquez was on site for seven weeks at the Geffen Contemporary while Art in The Streets came to life. While there, he documented the beauty and hard work brought to the show by artists from around the globe. Enjoy this set of photos capturing the creative process of Barry McGee, SWOON, Os Gemeos, ROA, Invader, Kenny Scharf, and more.
Here are some awesome pictures from the backstage:

Chaz running in a backstreet near Whittier Blvd in East Los Angeles, 1974, photo by Gusmano Cesaretti.

Wild Style mural by Zephyr, Revolt, Sharp. front row: Doze, Frosty Freeze, Ken Swift; middle row: Patti Astor, Fred Brathwaite, Lady Pink; back row: Lil Crazy Legs, Revolt and Sharp; directed by Charlie Ahearn, photo by Martha Cooper.

1983

Os Gemeos

Captured by MOCAs Security Cams




I hope you like this tip and enjoy the exhibition !


* This post was Tuca Cassino's suggestion. Tuca Cassino is an Art Teacher in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro: 10 Steps for Foreigners Visiting the Marvelous City by Lacey McDaniel

First of all I would like to remove all romantic notions of a clean crisp berry smell, that the air freshener Febreeze Carnaval would have you believe Carnaval embodies. Instead, please picture people on top of everyone sweating, beer cans all over the street leaving their scent in the air, wafting breezes of body odor and piss lingering the air, as a more realistic perception of the Brazilian Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, not sure if Febreeze would like to bottle that up.


For all foreigners visiting Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, we would like to say, thank you and welcome, but most importantly, please wear sunscreen and be ready for a fun ride of random street dancing, drinking, and kissing. Here are 10 simple tips one should know before embarking to a street bloco (street party):

1) Don’t drink too much, because the Johnny-on-the-Spots are really gross and it is illegal to pee on the street. If it is an emergency, I strongly advise you to put out 2-4 reais to use a "civilized" bathroom at a bar or restaurant. It will still be gross, but not quite as bad;
 


2) Accessories and costumes are very cheap and ubiquitous, so please join in the fun (there is nothing worse than a party pooper);



3) Don’t take your passport to a street party (please, I have to mention this) to avoid it falling out or being pick pocketed; 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

4) Go to the popular street parties downtown and in Botafogo, but be ready for a lot of bodies to rub up against you (and not in a good way); 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

6) Girls, this tip is mainly slanted toward you. Don’t make eye contact with the boy that keeps checking you out unless you are prepared for the attempted kiss or hookup to follow, and I have a boyfriend won’t deter a smitten Brazilian guy on a mission to conquest your lips. (Demonstrated in the pic to your right)

7) Boys, if you are interested in kissing randomly, as written above, please pay attention to the Brazilian girls’ subtle hints if they are willing. Sometimes “no” doesn’t really mean “no” here, unfortunately for the foreign girls that are trying to be nice and infer “no” it really means “try harder”, just keep that in mind.

8) Try not to get sprayed with the water guns and please don’t perpetuate this annoying act. You never know if it is water, cachaca, beer, pee or a combination of the aforementioned being shot at you.

9) Learn the Carnaval songs and sing along. It’s more fun and you look less awkward.

10) Have fun and smile, you’re at Carnaval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


If you follow these simple tips to the “T”, Carnaval is bound to be a good time for you and your friends.
 
 

Project 5am the yellow book - by Jason Haye

The Yellow Book

On occasion we have an idea that is so clear and simple and elegant hat we are astonished, as if a rare and precious meteor fragment just landed at our feet. We pick it up and examine it closely. And we ask ourselves, where could this have come from. Looking back to the blue sky we marvel. But we can never figure out what to do with the idea. Some meteors become doorstops or paperweights. The same is true for these special thoughts. We marvel at their novelty for a while and then tend to forget them. But ideas, like a seed crystal, need to be nurtured so the can grow and influence us. An idea with beautiful symmetry must be planted deep in the mind with long and considerate reflection. Then it can be the seed crystal of thought that will grow, reflecting internal beauty and geometry.
- The Structure of Delight


New Project 5am album.... The Yellow Book


"Leaves sail to fall
Green dismembered, Brown reformed
Wiser and stronger"


LINK


* This post was written by Guest Columnist Jason Haye

Project 5AM - Guest Columnist Jason Haye

Five AM by Allen Ginsberg

Elan that lifts me above the clouds
into pure space, timeless, yea eternal
Breath transmuted into words
Transmuted back to breath
in one hundred two hundred years
nearly Immortal, Sappho's 26 centuries
of cadenced breathing -- beyond time, clocks, empires, bodies, cars,
chariots, rocket ships skyscrapers, Nation empires
brass walls, polished marble, Inca Artwork
of the mind -- but where's it come from?
Inspiration? The muses drawing breath for you? God?
Nah, don't believe it, you'll get entangled in Heaven or Hell --
Guilt power, that makes the heart beat wake all night
flooding mind with space, echoing through future cities, Megalopolis or
Cretan village, Zeus' birth cave Lassithi Plains -- Otsego County
farmhouse, Kansas front porch?
Buddha's a help, promises ordinary mind no nirvana --
coffee, alcohol, cocaine, mushrooms, marijuana, laughing gas?
Nope, too heavy for this lightness lifts the brain into blue sky
at May dawn when birds start singing on East 12th street --
Where does it come from, where does it go forever?

.........................................................


This poem inspired the PROJECT 5AM created by Jason Haye. Project 5am is about capturing and following the essence of being in the moment. It is a site which falls on various levels. It can be viewed as a celebration of creativity or as a 2 year old diary of exploring a moment of enlightenment. The cryptic aspect of the site reflects the Allen Ginsberg poem 5am that it was inspired from and the mystic of the people, stories and philosophies that I have encountered on my journey.


5am...
A moment that can happen at any time.
when everything falls into place,
clarity is at it’s clearest,
confusion transforms into oneness
and when fate…
Welcomes you with open arms.





*This post was written by Jason Haye from England.
Thanks Jason for the tip!

"Think BIG, Think smal-scale" - The Movie - by Guest Columnist Francisco Almeida

Hey all from The Art Reference,

First of all I'd like to thanks Marcela Lanna for sharing this important board to spread my message.

My post will unveil a short documentary I`ve edited along with Life as Cinema Crew. Have you guys heard about Doc Challenge? It's a international competition where all the worldwide teams have the same challenge: one theme and one deadline - 5 days. Meaning: a lots of work.

The result is the short documentary called “Think BIG, Think small-scale”, a film about Sergio Cezar’s art and its power of transformation. Sergio is also known as “Cardboard Architect”. He uses micro-trash to recreate facades, slums and whole cities. His work is an invitation for recycling the way we look at things.

More information can be found on the blog of the film here!

Please follow and share it with your friends. Feel free to contact us if you would like to schedule screenings, workshops, Q&A or buy the DVD.

Below check it out a little teaser of the documentary released on May 26th at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Cheers,

Frandu Almeida

Teaser "O Gigante do Papelão" - Tampa from Barbara Tavares on Vimeo.


* This post was written by the Guest Columnist Frandu Almeida.

On the Lookout - By Guest Columnist Bernardo Souto

George R. R. Martin is one of those rare best-selling authors that no one has heard about. Ok, “no one” might be a slight exaggeration; after all, he has already sold close to 10 million books around the world over his sparse literary career.

If you have not read his books, you will be inclined to do so....and fairly soon. HBO recently greenlit the production of his A Song of Ice and Fire saga into a full blown TV Series. It should premiere within the first quarter of 2011 if production does not derail from schedule.

Paltry sneak-peak:

Why should I watch the show, one may ask? Well, if you are into the Fantasy genre, similar to Lord of the Rings, you are set. It has dragons! If you are into political intrigue and a fair dose of backstabbing, you are set. It has Kings! If you are into visceral grizzly depictions of the hardship of daily life –akin to Rome, The Sopranos, The Wire –, you are...well...set. Add to that a pinch of incest, wanton violence, moral dilemmas, power hungry despots and now you have the big picture. Oh, and it has midgets!!! One, to be more precise; and he is very often the main character.

HBO is putting together a world-renowned team behind the project, which should be called A Game of Thrones, named after the first book in the series. So far they have got award-winning director Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) looking after the first episode. Part of the huge cast will include Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, Troy), Peter Dinklage (In Bruges, Narnia) and Lena Headey (300, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles).

Each book in the series spans around 1000 pages. So far we have four of them, with three more to come. That makes for a lot of content for the small screen. Let’s hope for another quality show from that prestigious network. Winter is coming.

 
 

 * This post was written by Guest Columnist
    Bernardo Souto

New Film and Photography Guest Columnist Alex Ingram

Hello my name is Alex, creator of the blog, Tux & Tie.
When I got an e-mail from Marcela asking me to become a guest blogger for The Art Reference I was incredibly enthusiastic! It is amazing to see that my blog has viewers worldwide and I appreciate each and every one of you that takes the time to check out my site! I have been asked to contribute a weekly posting for The Art Reference and I thought what better to display then the new weekly video project I have just started documenting my internship at TrailerPark and ArtMachine in Hollywood, CA.

If you are a fan of the American film industry I am sure you know that nearly everything we produce in entertainment comes straight out of Hollywood. I am currently working for a company that handles a great deal of L.A.'s movie trailers, photography, design etc. This video gives a look at what I see on my day to day of the internship.

Check it out, leave feedback, and I hope to respond to any questions and comments.

Ciao!

Alex

                        http://vimeo.com/12895990 from Alex Ingram on Vimeo.

* This post was written by our new film and photography Guest Columnist Alex Ingram.

Welcome Alex!!

Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros - by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

If you like whimsical, upbeat music then I have a band for you. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros is a comprised of ten members out of Los Angeles, California with a truly authentic sound of folk, country, and alternative rock mixed with trumpets, accordions, and tambourines. Live, their lead singer Alex Ebert promenades around the stage shaking his tambourine and slips off his shirt to reveal a skinny white chest beneath with a red scarf tied in a circle around his neck. The concert is high energy and interactive. During the last song of the night at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, MO, Alex went out into the middle of adoring fans and requested that everyone sit down. To avail, everyone managed to sit, everyone on top of everyone, as it was packed, and he proceeded to serenade the crowd. The group is fun, talented, and eclectic. If they are ever in your area, please take the time to see them. You won’t be disappointed.

Access the official website here!

                                      

* This post was written by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel.

NPR's Project Song: Moby & Kelli Scarr - by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

               

NPR's Project Song is the topic of today's post. The project challenges its competetors to complete a song in just two days. Normally this is a task that leaves artist working until the last moment, until Moby & Kelli Scarr. With in a day, they had already fully completed the challenge: "Gone to Sleep" was created. On the second day they composed two more versions of the same song entirely superpassing all expectations.

        

To see all three versions of the song "Gone to Sleep" by Moby & Kelli Scarr, you can access the full story at NPR's official site along with previous Project Songs.

ViSuAl KeI in JaPaNeSe RoCk! - by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

When one thinks of Japan, Rock normally doesn’t spring to mind; however there is a very lively rock scene in most of the major cities. From Fukuoka in the South, to the streets of Tokyo and up to Akita, one can see its cultural manifestations in the younger generation’s fashion sense and attitude. Some of its fashion influences, among many, are: gothic & punk lolita, gangaro, glam rocker, yanki, Osharei Kei, and (my personal favorite) Visual Kei.

Since the 1980s Japanese rock has been developing and evolving into its own hybrid sound. The three showcased bands (Plastic Tree, Penicillin, and X Japan) are only the tip of the iceberg among the Japanese rock repertoire and are perfect examples of the androgenic Visual Kei.

Plastic Tree or PuraTori (プラトリ)

                      

The group is known for its radical lyrics and the Visual Kei outfits put together in their videos and live performances. Since 1993, Ryūtarō Arimura has been the band’s lead vocalist. His soft and melodic voice contrasts the group’s heavier instrumental sound.

Penicillin

The group formed in 1992 and has been going strong ever since. They are most well known for their lead vocalist, Hakuei, one of Japan’s most famous male models. Hakuei is currently modeling with Black Peace Now, but considers music to be his number one priority, according to one of his recent interviews while posing in France. He beautiful face is the personification of the Visual Kei that has spawned from Japanese rock over the years. He uses make up to draw attention to his delicate androgenic facial features, while his fashion is constantly transforming.

X Japan- エックス ジャパン

Last, but not least, X Japan is one of the most famous and quintessential Japanese Visual Kei influencers in the history of Japanese rock music. However, don’t be fooled by their tough exterior. X Japan’s lyrics are mainly about love and getting one’s heartbroken. With a song list of: “Forever Love,” “Dry Your Tears with Love,” and “Crucify My Love,” I would hardly consider them menacing--but their music is beautifully endearing and classic.

Please enjoy the bands and their flamboyant outfits.

* This post was written by Guest Columnist Lacey McDaniel

Japanese Street Style: Fairy-Kei - by Guest Columnist Ana

If you’re around 20-ish or even 30-ish … and missing youth and the 1980´s cartoons, such as Popples, My Little Pony and Vintage Barbie, remember listening to Cyndi Lauper on the radio while the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” hit reached the top #5 parade? Well,now you can revive all those special moments and even find stores in Tokyo to get dress in pink, purple, yellow and mint again!

Tavuchi, a Japanese fashion enthusiastic, opened her own store – called - SPANK! In 2004, starting the Fairy-Kei movement – which she don’t want credit for – selling used itens and her own creations based on the Disco and 1980´s culture, arguing that there wasn’t anywhere she could find clothing tasteful enough for her fashion needs.

Fairy-Kei is nowadays a popular style - thanks to Tavuchi and her brand – which mixes cute icons from the 80´s, toys, bright colors, head-eating bows and lots and lots of accessories.

There’s lots and lots of stores dedicated to this fashion, especially in Harajuku, they look like children’s store, but dedicated to youngsters and – Of course - adults. Another dedicated brands: SBY Happy Room and 6% DOKI DOKI.

You can check nice links here:

Tavuchi: That´s Her! Tavuchi (click!)

Lots of Pics : http://spankgirls.tumblr.com/
Official Website SPANK!: http://www.spankworld.jp/
Official Website 6% DOKI DOKI: http://www.dokidoki6.com
SBY Store: http://www.lacarmina.com/blogpics/091001_fk1.jpg


* This post was written by Guest Columnist Ana, 23 years, Fashion Designer who ABSOLUTELY loves japanese street fashion and it´s a Brazilian Lolita, living in Brasília for a while... Check out Ana´s blog here!