Life on the Small Screen I couldn't agree more with Miles David Moore (and the emphasis is surely on more more more) about missing the experience of going to a movie theater and comparing it to a two-week vacation. The small screen at home just isn't the same as the big screen in the dark cinema. That said, Moore still makes us feel we have experienced the full breadth of theater in his full-spectrum reviews of 7500 and The Truth. While I'm not partial to small spaces like the cockpit of a jet under terrorist seige, I might give 7500 a try because of this reviewer's thoughtful comments. The Truth sounds more suited to my tastes and goodness knows we Americans are struggling these days with a deluge of books on that theme of relative truth. Good choice, MDM.
Thank you for overcoming your justified misery about missing the movie theater.
A Pause for Praise 2020 has been the most challenging year in my life. Each and every day seems to be the same as the day before and I can't seem to tell the difference between one day from the next. There was a time that I would be so excited on Thursday knowing that TGIF was coming around again and I would be able to see friends and enjoy each other's company. Those days seems to have disappeared. The one thing that my mind and soul seems to be aware of is when Scene4 Magazine is coming out. . .
Usually on the day before the notice comes out I am already tingling about the wonderful magazine. There aren't many magazines that grab me the way Scene4 does. The articles are well thought out and brilliantly written to grab my attention. This month's article about Quarantine Love grabbed my attention because I feel exactly the same way and the time period is allowing me to learn to so many new things through practice and reading. I loved the article on Meth and Tattoos because of previous work in the field and it's well written in a very user friendly way. The Native American poetry also meant a lot to me too. Last but not least, the photographs by Jon Rendell continue to take my breath away. Fog on Hobsons Bay was spectacular although I am still holding on to the visuals from the July issue of the beautiful pelicans that he managed to photograph. Overall, Scene4 brings me so much joy and I wanted to take a pause and say Thank You to Scene4 and all the wonderful creative people that come together to make it so incredible.
On Patrick Nagel Just to let you know that there is a new Patrick Nagel discussion group, where fans, collectors and anyone else
interested in Patrick Nagel's life and work can explore and converse. You can ask, buy, sell and discuss anything and everything about Patrick Nagel, and meet others who enjoy his work as much as you do -- and there are always more people becoming more interested in Nagel every day. Rob Frankel Patrick Nagel Discussion Group Patrick Nagel: it's in the eyes (at Scene4)
Fog on Hobsons Bay Love these aqueous studies of the waterscape just at our front door. Keep up the good work as in this challenging time we need your insightful 'artistic vision' more than ever. Anne of Avec Pleasure Jon Rendell's Photography:Fog On Hobsons Bay
A Wonder This is brilliant, beautifully written, and populated with wonderful photos. I wish I had seen 15% of the films you cite. You've seen so many it's a wonder that you've had time to write poems, including the interesting one with which you end the piece. Kudos. Gary Miles David Moore's Review:A Fine Madness
Hat's Off to Steiny This is a fine essay about a fine poet. My hat is off to Steiny for her clear presentation and appreciation of Don Krieger's work and deep thinking. Gregory Luce Karren Alenier's Column:Discovery—Poetry from a Brain Expert
Who Made New York? This is such a deceptively hilarious little play, seemingly tossed off by the playwright, backward in time. My only question is: who is John Brawl? Brazilian anagram for the playwright? Lou Laird Altenir Silva's play:Who Made New York?
True Comfort Zone Every time Claudine (Jones) speaks, she takes me into her home. It's as if I'm walking through the front door and she shows me around. Her anecdotes and reminiscences, laughter and tears are part of our
conversation even if I truly don't speak. Even though I do, talk to her every time she speaks. We've been talking and speaking for years and I look forward to our monthly conversations. Ann Marie Cuzca Claudine Jones' column:Comfort Zone
On Hitchcock Thanks to Miles David Moore for an absorbing and insightful look at this great director's work. He is such a major influence on today's movies but no one comes close to his clean and precise and harrowing filmmaking. Well, maybe, Chostopher Nolan does. Dean Sprigett Miles David Moore's article:Hitchcock- Master of Claustrophobia
Portrait of a Lady On Fire What a wonderful film review (Renate Stendhal - April 2020). It readily brings this exquisite film back to mind, touching upon all major themes in it -- and then generously expanding our understanding of it by bringing to light the director's references, to other movies, to painters, writers and historical figures. Particularly relevant and valuable is Stendhal's underlining at several points the distinction between the female gaze vs its all too familiar patriarchal equivalent, and her apt comparison to such rarely mentioned movies as Rivette's "La Belle Noiseuse". If anything, I wish she expanded further on that... . Ultimately and happily, as full and enrapturing as this movie experience was, Stendhal's detailed explication of it
does not detract, but rather enriches one's recollection and understanding -- which is an accomplishment and a rare gift for a film review! Philip Gerstein Renate Stendhal's article:Portrait of a Lady On Fire
From Gaudi to Kandinsky What an arc of architecture this is and so complemented by the rest of the issue (February 2020). If everything is wiped away by climate change, the visions and minds of these two great artists will bring it all back. Kind of over hopeful, huh? Kudos to Stendhal, Wolfe and Renaud. Lou Laird Renate Stendhal's article:Art and the City Ross Wolfe's article:Kandinsky and Architecture
Some Joy This issue (February 2020) is simply amazing and congratulations on continuing to always do an outstanding job every month. The photographic work of Jon Rendell in this issue blows my mind. He certainly has an eye to see what's really going on out there. The black swan's photo is beautiful and the way he captures the smoke from the fires in Melbourne takes my breath away. Thank you so much and also great thanks to all the other writers and artists because I love their work just as much. Whenever I see the new Scene4 Magazine I start to smile before I start to look at it. Thank you for adding joy to my life. Mikael Wagner February 2020 Issue
Making Sense of It All "Human beings are the only creatures on earth with the potential to make themselves the only creatures on earth." As usual, Michael Bettencourt has that marvelous writing skill to merge cynicism and optimism into a stand-still overview of the human condition. I only wish that he were there every day. But Scene4 is a monthly. It's a long wait for good writing. Tom Pierman Michael Bettencourt's column:Making Sense of Non-Sense
SS. Burrus There is so much spirtuality in
SS. Burrus' painting, so much rich and mysterious feeling. Thank you for publishing this retrospective of her work, especially of her last artworks. Sophi Dietrich The Art of SS. Burrus:Eye to Eye
Impossible Bird What is so delightful about this display is that it is not a fantasy. It is real, and your photographs are wonderful, there really are black swans. Moreso, the portrait of the swan, up close and personal, is a breath-taker, especially when it is presented on the cover juxtaposed eye-to-eye with Kenneth Branagh as Shakespeare. Happy for you that you are back in Australia and I gather that you are too. More, please, more. Charla Tintari Jon Rendell's photography:The Impossible Bird
How Anorectic Can A Homily Be? Hilarious as this is, it also churns my anxiety (which doesn't need much churning these days). A one long sentence that flashes through dangling its invitation to be read again and again. Very clever! But what happens is that my "future" brain matter collides with my "past" brain matter and raises so many questions, such as: Who the hell is Clementine? and How did your good doctor ever get a Ph.D.? Louis Laird, Ph.E. Arthur Danin Adler's column:A Brief Anorectic Homily On Time
Lives of the Lens
There's no doubt about it, Penn was brilliant and so is Freson. I met Penn once in New York and always followed his work especially his photojournalism. I believe and still do that he edited his shots in the camera, in his eye, in his mind and didn't rely on darkroom wizardry to capture and produce the image. How far we've come from Penn's vivid and nuanced portraits to what passes for photography today: filmless, paperless and mindless. Today, the camera shoots the photo, not the photographer. Hans Ivganz Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's article:Lives Intertwined by the Lens
Banjerd Lekkong
Yes, a very world class artist. Janine Yasovant writes about him with compassion and trust. She lets him speak and he speaks with the passion and strength that he creates in his sculptures. He should be in the art headlines everywhere, but then we would lose him to New York and Paris and Thailand cannot afford to lose him. Bravo and thank you for this inspiring view of a great artist. Timo Sunchai Janine Yasovant's article:Banjerd Lekkong
Votes for Women I think of Gertrude Stein's Tender Button, "Mildred's Umbrella," which one may posit has something to do with the Suffrage Movement(s). "A cause and no curve..." Perhaps sons, grandsons, et.al. should come along for this ride, too! A thank
you to Karren Alenier for her report on this exhibition. Teri Rife Karren Alenier's column:Votes for Women
Journal Regrets Whatever the reasons, Patrick Walsh echoes those of us who cannot reconcile our innermost thoughts and memories with the everyday life we lead. Journals are important, I agree, but they are also destructive and deadening in that they stalk our living memory, which continues to change, and make it blurred and forgetful. Who are journals for anyway? Certainly not the journal keeper. Andrew Mendelsen Patrick Walsh's column: The Journal I Never Kept
From Satie to Monk and Back This is a very hip analysis. Thank you Gregory Luce. You give us a slant that spurs a thousand angles. The one that tickles me the most is what if Monk came first and Satie after. Would he lap up the great Thelonius? No doubt in my mind as his great protege Maurice Ravel drank up the jazz of his time. Monk still cuts through the noise and leaves space for Satie to follow. Michael Aptrow Gregory Luce's article:The piano ain't got no wrong notes
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