Welcome to the first ever weekly newsletter from ArtWalk!
“5 Cool Things” {listed below}
The creative arts has always been the thing that ignites the fire inside me. When someone brings up what movie or tv show they have been loving, or the book they just read that they could not put down, or the latest album release that has them singing in the shower. I get giddy. I want to hear what other people are feeding off of in the creative world, and I want to share back with them what kind of art has had me feeling passionate, and triggered my emotional peaks in the privacy of my own home, or sometimes embarrassingly in public. I start talking, and sometimes I cannot shut myself up. Sharing amazing creative work is at the forefront of my social skills. I’m not great at parties, unless someone wants to discuss the latest Tarantino film, and the debate that follows over why my present whiskey drinking company thinks the gore was unnecessary, and why I must defend the filmmaker’s choice. Did you love or hate Kanye’s new album? Let’s talk about it.
My intent in starting this newsletter is simple in nature. The purpose is to open up a world of creativity to people in a concise, weekly format. I want to offer up different sides of the creative world that perhaps, you may not have known of. Some of the items listed will be new, some will be old. “A discovery of riches” so to speak in the worlds of film/tv, music, art, writing/books, and photography. Your weekly “one stop shop” for all things art!
This newsletter will evolve in the coming years, and things will be added to it. However, I will always keep the basis of the idea of it, the clear, clean format of “5 Cool Things” intact. Barring any crazy life happenings, it will be sent out on a weekly basis. And I truly hope you begin to explore different creative worlds for yourself, and also start spreading around the art that has made an impact on your own life.
Please share this newsletter with those you love, and even those you hate, because the world needs more art, and the more it’s supported, the more of it will be made, the better it will be, and the more options you will have to discover new, bold work. So without further ado…
“5 Cool Things” - ENJOY!
-Aaron
5 COOL THINGS
1) FILM/TELEVISION
BO BURNHAM - INSIDE (Netflix)
In my humble opinion, Bo Burnham’s INSIDE is one of the most important pieces of art to come out of the “pandemic art” scene. I don’t know if that term is an actual thing, but I’m going to coin it. While many of us suffered in our own ways in the past year and a half, some were brave enough to work through their struggles, and showcase a major piece of themselves through their art. Bo Burnham did just that. A comedian who had not performed on stage in over five years, due to his own stated anxiety issues, Burnham delivers one of the most authentic, hilarious, and entertaining pieces of work that a “one-man show” could possibly offer.
Filmed entirely by himself in a one-room location in his own home over several months in 2020, Burnham constructed a flowing series of comedic songs with tangible inner turmoil in a way that had my full attention the entire show. Definitely worth the watch if you’re stuck scrolling through all of those Netflix options.
2) MUSIC
CHET FAKER / (NICK MURPHY)
The Australian singer-songwriter Nick Murphy, who goes by the stage name Chet Faker interchangeably over the years, always seems to put my mood into a state of ease. Subtle piano chord structures meshed with light, intimate vocals give Nick the style that influenced him from growing up listening to his *mother’s Motown albums, and father’s “chilled-out Ibiza CD’s” (*per wikipedia). When creating music under the Chet Faker moniker (created from the inspiration of Chet Baker) he takes more of a modern day vibey beats approach. This is how I discovered Nick, probably like most of you who have already discovered him. The first song to put him on the map globally was his cover of Blackstreet’s No Diggity, a smooth and creamy take on the hip-hop hit from the 90’s. But Nick offers so much more in his original compositions and that is where I find myself melting into the couch, with a slow head bob that is forced upon you from the musical goddesses. Nick dropped the Chet Faker moniker for a few years, and performed under his actual name, but has recently released the new single Low as Chet just this past year, so, he’s back folks. That being said, the music created under the Nick Murphy name is just as engaging and worth listening to.
The song Gold is Chet Faker’s classic hit, which should be listened to in the form of his somehow visually unique, yet simple one-take shot (sort of) music video. I think sometimes we try to do too much as creatives, and overwhelm the process, which just makes the damn thing muddy. This video is a clear example of how not to F*%^ it up. ‘Keep it simple stupid’ so they say. And I can’t look away.
3) ART
YOSHITOMO NARA
If you live in Los Angeles, or will be visiting soon, I would advise you to check out the LACMA exhibition of Yoshitomo Nara’s work (on display through Jan. 2nd, 2022). More information can be found here at LACMA’s website: https://www.lacma.org/art/exhibition/yoshitomo-nara
Yoshitomo Nara is a Japanese artist who is most well known for his work painting wide-eyed, often times menacing looking, young children. It is noted that Yoshitomo used artistic influence from western music, and their album covers. Music was something that he would always have playing while he worked. However, Yoshitomo used it to flavor his work, instead of decide it. He also works with sculpture, and forms them in a style, which makes you want to reach out to play, and interact with the objects. At least I do.
I will rarely ever give a critique on the artists I feature here. That is something for you to do for yourself. Critique is such a harsh word too. I really hate it. My advice is to allow the work to affect you, or not. Let it speak to you, and start a conversation. It’s up to you if you would like to engage. I just want to bring light to new and old worlds, for those that have yet to experience them. Looking into Nara’s work has definitely made my soul richer. And at the end of the day, I believe that is what good art is supposed to do.
Here is the Spotify playlist that was curated for the LACMA exhibition: *“This Exhibition Soundtrack, created to accompany Yoshitomo Nara’s work My Drawing Room (2008), the artist selected songs that reflect his love of 1960s and ʼ70s singer-songwriters, who he began listening to as an adolescent and whose work greatly influenced his own.” - (*LACMA exhibition website)
4) BOOKS/WRITING
CHARLES BUKOWSKI
If you don’t know him, that’s okay, don’t beat yourself up too much. Just grab a whiskey, put some upbeat Coltrane on the record player, and sit down with Bukowski’s collection of poetry for a night of edgy, profane, sexist wording. Regardless of your feelings toward the man himself, Bukowski was an artist who left a legacy, and I just can’t get enough of him.
The boldness that he delivers in his work is something every artist should aspire to. It is a ferocity of emotionality with soft, sweet cleverness baked into the center. It is like leaving yourself out for the wolves to draw in on, as you are naked in the snow; that’s how it sometimes feels to expose your art to the world. But there is a charismatic, courageous showing of force when artists do so. A come and get it mentality. It’s exhilarating, not only for the artist, but most importantly for the audience too. That’s great art. The kind of blunt force trauma that knocks you upside the head, even when you were staring right at it the whole time, and you ask for another. That’s Bukowski.
You can start anywhere you like with his work, but Bukowski’s poetry is peanut butter in chocolate for me. Here’s a taste:
5) PHOTOGRAPHY
VIVIAN MAIER
Maybe one of the most intriguing, and saddest stories in the art of street photography belongs to Vivian Maier. A nanny, who only received recognition for her work after her death. It is said that Vivian took over 150,000 photographs, many of which were discovered in storage. Many of her negatives were never developed during her lifetime. She moved about from New York to Chicago, working from family to family, sometimes going homeless for stints. A recluse of sorts, Maier chose to express herself through photography. The outcome is special.
I highly recommend going to the website www.vivianmaier.com
It has so much information on Maier, and portfolio’s of her work. It is definitely worth peaking into her world, and the history that she provided our world.
If you enjoyed reading through the ARTWALK Newsletter, I ask that you please subscribe, and also share this newsletter with those that you have a feeling may get something out of it. I hope to grow this newsletter, along with you, and hope you come along for the ride.
-Aaron