AV Automation

One of the first people we met when we moved into our new South Austin home was Aaron Reilly.  He was in our little cul de sac  setting up a TV system for a neighbor.  Aaron came over and recommended an Audio Visual system that included our wall mounted TV, stereo system, and wall mounted speakers with one remote...I repeat...only one remote.  For people like me and Abe this was a godsend.  He is the best!!!!!  I called him today to ask him about hooking up my computer to the system for music.  And he came through as always.  Patient, providing alternatives with various costs.  He is  so knowledgeable, intelligent, consumer friendly and real.  Check out his website.

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E.A.S.T. Day #2

The morning started at East 381/2 St where we saw Cut It Up Mosaics.  Across the street a glass blower.  Then more mosaics by Aly Winningham on 16th Street whom I've been following since last December.  This year at the Armadillo Fare I will definitely purchase a mosaic of hers.  She is spectacularly talented.  Then we went to studio 1011 in a beautifully designed home with more light than you could imagine.  We particularly liked the work of Jeanne Philquist and Terrell Powell.  Lunch at Blue Dahlia and then hung out with Liz for a while as she continued to show her photos and chat with friends.  This has been a truly wonderful week-end for the lovers and likers of artists.

E.A.S.T. and Liz is Eastward Bound

We began our first journey through E.A.S.T with a stop at Pine Street Station where we saw Liz and her photos and many more talented artists in the space managed by Reji Thomas.  I just love this crawl through artists' studios.  We visited a number of galleries and homes and I cannot say enough about Austin talent and Austin viewers.

Our Liz is bound to East Austin  12/1.  And I am happy for her.  She'll share a house with 3 other women and chickens.  The East is where she should be.  So creative, unpretentious, filled with artistic people, hard working, diverse.  Just like we raised her in Brooklyn. 

Today I met a jewelry maker at E.A.S.T who told me I did a good job when I said I was Liz's mama.  What could be better than that ever?????

THE SKIN I LIVE IN

While this has received some mixed reviews The Chronicle recommended it with 4 stars. Both Abe and I agree.  This is an unusual film well cast with Antonio Banderas and the exquisite Elena Anaya.  Pedro Almodovar pushes the card in this film about revenge, gender, beauty, mother/son relationships and the extremes that humans go to to pursue their obsessions.  This is a beautifully shot film that is visually enticing and rewarding.  Abe thought it was a dream, not a film.  It had Almodovar's signature all over it.  I recommend for sure.

E.A.S.T.

Check out this  recommended short list of which artists to see at the East Austin Studio Tour this week-end and for 9 days more. First photographer listed is Liz Moskowitz.

Bite-sized E.A.S.T lists for shutterbugs, thrill-seekers, furniture fanatics, jewelers and 3D buffs - 2011-Nov-09- CultureMap Austin

Second audition today for CAFE AT THE END OF TIME.  We'll see.  Tonight I'm back to class with Marco.

SELAH / Lecture at UT

Have you ever been in the presence of someone that makes you feel if the world had more people like this you'd think the world is a good place?  A person you so admire for taking the journey he took and then  shared it with you that you want to kiss and hug him and say "thank-you" a million times?  Well today our lecturer was just that man.  David Bamberger, 83y.o. (and so cute) the land owner and steward of the largest habitat restoration  in Texas called SELAH, a Hebrew word meaning stop, look, reflect.  5500 acres of the "worst property in Texas" as his land reviewer told him in 1969 when he bought the land.  And today through his low cost and no cost conservation practices he showed us slides of the most beautiful Hill Country land.  Lush with grasses, waterways, creeks, lakes, animals of all sorts and centers to teach other people how to love our earth, plant the right natural habitat seeds, vegetation, trees,and  grass.    I loved listening to this warm, funny and smart man who has worked with young Texas A&M graduates who love this earth as much as he does.  No politics here (we all know Aggies are conservative).  But regardless of politics being with people who care about our planet is inspiring and up-lifting and the very best way to show concern for the human predicament.   Amen!

CARAVAGGIO/Austin Film Society

We're back to Essential Cinemas and tonight's film written and directed by Derek Jarman (1986) was visually beautiful (like many beautiful paintings), unique, and so well acted by Tilda Swinton, Nigel Terry and Sean Bean.  I knew so little of this Italian artist and even less of his incredibly tumultuous life.  Chale's notes share a history of an artist pushing life to the edges sexually, behaviorally, socially and psychologically.  I am always attracted to figures who express their art radically and live their lives unusually.  I imagine it feeds a yearning to be closer to the wild side of life.  That's what I love about films.  They allow you to safely learn more of the human condition and experience lives of people you would never ever meet.