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Current Letters
West Side Story
The problem is that Spielberg is so mundane. Yes, he became a respected craftsman of money-making movies for the masses and
yes, he is a successful/extremely profitable producer/director and yes, he gave us "woke" entertainment in his version of West Side Story. What he didn't give
us was Bernstein and Robbins. Either he doesn't understand what Bernstien/Robbins were creating (forget Sondheim, he was irrelevant to the beauty of this work), or Steven was
listening to and chasing the box-office bucks. As a director, he is without vision and adverse to taking risks. Mundane, yes, a Hollywood power broker, yes, a master filmmaker, no!
Lou Laird
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's comparison-review of the two film versions of West Side Story is a marvel. Verdino-Süllwold not only knows her theater and film; she also knows the neighborhoods where the two films were shot, and this gives her evaluation of the films an authenticity lacking in other reviews. Verdino-Süllwold's articles are a prime example of why Scene4 is one of the best arts magazines today.
Miles David Moore
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's Review:
A Tale of Two West Side Stories
Me and Marie
Thank you for your article regarding Marie Laurencin and her relationship with Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso. I truly
believe she is an artistic force that has been virtually ignored. Why? I do not know. I have spent years researching her and have gotten used to the blank stares that greet me when
her name is mentioned. She designed costumes for the Ballet Russe, collaborated with both Andre Grolt and Pierre Poiret producing home decor and had an entire museum in Japan
dedicated to her work. Coco Chanel commissioned a portrait, but hated it Was she shunned because she was a lesbian? Hmmm. I prefer to believe she is a diamond, hidden from view.
Your article has cracked the door into her life and I say thank you!
Kerrie White Loya
Karren Alenier's article: The Muse
For All Seasons - A Book
Your reverence for the printed word is inspiring and the instance with the Thai reader is not only touching
but as you say: "There was nothing embarrassing about this personal moment." Yet, I don't know why, but your conclusion about "holographic?" books in the
future scares me. Digital has destroyed so much of the deep treasure and pleasure of reading on paper with ink that I fear this new possibility will just finish the dumbing-down
and vaporizing of the reading experience.
Tori Blenheim
Arthur Danin Adler's column: For All Seasons - A Book
Philip Gerstein's Exhibit at AMP gallery
Very much enjoyed seeing your work and reading your statement. You are right: these glass bead paintings need to be seen in person. The texturing in the trio with the gray
blue is stunning. It adds so much to see them as they contrast internally and dialogue with each other. Your words about knowing when to stop, when a painting becomes
"self-sufficient," how I wish I had thought of those words, a perfect description and answer to those who say they never know when to stop. Bravo! I'm glad I made the
trip.
Karen Klein
Philip Gerstein's article: Sometimes There Is Bliss
The Span of Black Ladders
Although I personally know Brian George, I want to make this letter to him public, in celebration of his skill as Essayist and of the pleasure this essay has given me.
My very dear Brian!
I seem to learn a lot from you -- or perhaps more accurately, my reading of your work opens up the deeper reservoirs that have been waiting for a long
span, desiring of just such an opening... . I had postponed reading your de Chirico "channeling". I liked the beginning so much, I knew I could not do justice to the
whole until I came to it with a clearer head and better formed desire. It had to happen at the right time. And tonight was finally one of those chances, and I took it, gratefully!
"Though the signs were mixed, your naked mothers once threw caution to the wind", to quote just one paradoxically pungent line of your Essay. I just truly and unabashedly
enjoyed it, the thought behind each segment, the 'cloak' in which it was wrapped, the rapture of which it was but a reverberation... . Both you and de Chirico came alive,
became fiction -- yes, there was this awareness of both, often at the same time -- one looking for the other, the other having found more than he had looked for... . I thank
you for this chance, as I have for several of your other essays I had the privilege to read and re-read.
Philip Gerstein
Brian George's article: The Span of Black Ladders
Many thanks for your enthusiastic and big-hearted response! This is exactly the type of feedback I hope to get.
Positive feedback of any type is good, of course, but it means much more when someone is clearly connecting with the work on an intuitive level and a piece "opens up deeper
reservoirs," as you say.
Brian George
Whispered Footsteps
You've resurrected me with your lovely memoir or rather a collection of memories. I, too, have a long immigrant history and it's importance to me and to
this country is priceless. Thank you for taking us on this journey into the past with your beautiful writing. I look forward with tears and joy for the next journey.
Thelma Martinet
How America has changed. Everyone here is an immigrant or the descendant of an immigrant yet the grief at our
borders and on our streets ignores that as the dominant group fights to keep its claim as to who and what is an American. Thank you for reminding us who we are and who we were.
Margo Schnee
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's article: Whispered Footsteps Part One
Howard Beale et al
Les Marcott writes with perception and gusto. His quick portayal of the decline of professional news journalism is disturbing and disheartening. As he says: "But the
problem is that when everyone's a journalist, no one's a journalist." Very reminiscent of Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom where they go round and round fighting so-called
citizen-jounalism. Mr. Marcott, Chayefsky and Lumet not only created a prophet they gave us a portrait of the future which is now, today.
Ben Arksley
Les Marcott's column: That's The Way It Is
Vladimir and Estragon
With machine guns instead of Pozzo and Lucky. Altenir Silva is having fun with classics again. Well done!
George Vecsey
Altenir Silva's play: The War
Mervyn Taylor
Reviews of poetry by poets are essential. Alenier's commentaries are energetic
understandings of a poet's texts and intent. This is a dimension we value in Karren's writing.
Grace Cavalieri
I enjoyed Karren Alenier's review of this new book of poetry. I like how she uses both the Trinidadian poet's words and the words he doesn't use to convey his heartfelt
regard for human life.
Susan Absher
Karren Alenier's column: News Of The Living
Orphans Indeed
Another
excellent review by Scene4's exceptional M. D. Moore. As Arthur always says: it's the writing. In this case, add perception. But I have to take a bit of umbrage with Mr. Moore for
leaving out of his profile of Frank the 10-hour film (mini-series), Godless. For me, it is Scott Frank's most brilliant writer-director stint of his current brilliant career
as a writer and director.
Lou Laird
Miles David Moore's review: Orphans of the Storm
Those Moments of Magic
There are moments, when the essence of an object
Is captured perfectly and with grace.
There are moments, when a highlighted shape formed by nature is
elegantly held
by light.
Then there are moments of magic when a trained eye
Such as Jon Rendell's when the next level of beauty
Is reached through the juxtaposition of several seperate
Shots to create a Moment of Magical association. Bravo.
Anne McGravie Wright
Jon Rendell's photography: Nature vs Man-Made
Itutu
The extensive use of heroin in jazz
during the 1940's-50's has been analyzed by many people, to no reader's great satisfaction–and least not to this reader. In this piece, Brian George offers a
truly creative point of entry from which to consider the phenomenon. I'm very grateful for his effort.
Stephen Provizer
Brian George's article: Itutu
Tempus Edax Rerum
That's all that art is isn't it, impressions? And those impressions remain, if the art remains or is an
irreducible memory. I concur: step into the painting, dive into the music, forget about time and place and all the biographical philandering that scholars never seem to get enough
of. Absorb the impression. I love Monet and Debussy and so many sensitives from the time. Nice thoughts.
Betel
Arthur Danin Adler's column: A Brief Toast For This New Year's Eve
The Road to Freedom
This is a fine article and Ms Verdino-Süllwold's
writing is excellent as always. My only complaint is not with the author, rather with the magazine. This important subject warrants a complete issue devoted to it from South to
North. But I'm grateful for this issue.
Roald Gary
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's article: The Road to Freedom
By The Shores Of The Potomac
A splendid review, especially made rich by poems and visuals. Anytime we have a poet writing journalism, we are all the better for it!
Grace Cavalieri
Karren Alenier's column: By Broad Potomac's Shore
Babe Ruth Is Not Just a Candy Bar
Now you got me, Mr. Silva. This second play in your trilogy is wonderful (and I don't use that word very often, PR maven that I am). Its humor is straight out of Camus
right into Robin Williams. I'd love to watch you write, it must be fun. I can't wait for the third one!
Lou Laird
Altenir Silva's play: 2. Babe Ruth & Jack
Kandinsky
I have to admit that I knew little about Kandinsky other than his paintings and their influence on other
painters. Obviously there was so much more about him. Though he attained an international reputation from his art work, the rest of his amazing life and achievements seems to have
been suppressed because of the times he lived in, other than scholars and academics who followed him and honored him. He was an unsung genius! I truly appreciate what Ms Renaud has
done with her Kandinsky Anew series, especially this latest article which is so relevant today, so contemporary. I can understand why she has liked him so much for the past 30
years. I'm "woke" to him. Thank you for that.
Robert Gittelmann
Lissa Tyler Renaud's article: Towards International Unity:
Kandinsky's Inclusive Arts Aesthetic
The Boogeyman
I only
wonder what happens if you marry one, or your boss is one, or you find out that all the time it's your mother under the bed. Mr. Marcott asks: "Did you really think the
Boogeyman would get you if you didn't eat your breakfast cereal?" I did, and that's why I skip breakfast for brunch.
Andy Clayton
Les Marcott's column: The Boogeyman
Widsanupong Noonan
His work looks beautiful especially the beautiful way it is presented on the pages. I especially love
the portrait of the King's back with the sweat marks. I don't think his work is too "provincial", too Thai. Good paintings and good sculpture are universal in
their appeal.
Somchai Thanarat
Janine Yasovant's article: Everything is an Illusion
Prior Letters
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