I remember for my sister's 10th birthday , my mom took a bunch of her friends and I to the Country Dinner Playhouse to see Carousel. The score was beautiful and the carousel itself was only shown at the beginning of the musical. At the time I was only sixteen with the lack of experience with men and relationships and clueless about the moral of this play. The score was beautiful although the storyline was very sad and It sounded like the story of my life.
The story takes place in a New England fishing village.The musical starts off with a young millworker who gets on a carousel with her friend and meets a barker on a carousel, falls in love quickly and marries him. The night she meets him , Julie Jordan and her friend Carrie Pipperidge talk about Mr. Snow who Carrie is seeing, an ambitious fisherman.On the other hand, Billy Bigelow the carousel barker is a drifter who lacks money and ambition and falls for the innocent Julie Jordon. He fits the description of an abusive man, whose a smooth talker, cocky, and charming. It is revealed shortly into the story that he hits her, but she takes it and says that it was his frustration over not being able to find work. She stands by him anyway despite the treatment, but that was the 19th century, but if it was the 21st century she had the option of leaving him. Julie gets pregnant with his child shortly thereafter and they are staying at her cousin Nettie's spa and hardly have a dime to support the both of them. In order to make money to support Julie and the child their expecting he takes the easy way out and gets involved in a robbery that goes wrong and ends tragically. She raises the daughter Louise on her own and the girl becomes troubled herself and Billy takes a day back on earth to redeem himself.Billy talks to his daughter and tries to give her a star that he stole, but she refuses it. Julie steps out, takes the star, and she feels Billy's presence and he sings "If I loved you" to her. She still loved him 15 years after his passing. He comes back an extra day for her graduation and sings along "You'll Never Walk Alone" with the rest of the company.
I've been with several Billy Bigelows in my life and I can see how they can prey on innocent women. They are very bold and slick in order to get women. They come across as the Alpha males who can be very dominating with their charm to draw women in. Women who come across as vulnerable, pretty, and innocent are easy targets. Even though they may lack education they are smart on picking up the subtle cues. I've done research on abusive men and they are very charming at times and ugly other times and that's the cycle that keep their partners hooked and that's what Julie Jordon was hooked on with Billy. Whenever the men I was with put me down with words I thought that was out of love and caring which the opposite was true. Julie Jordon came into it with lack of experience and no self esteem at the time. I was looking back and reading about this musical as I was thinking about those classic Rogers and Hammerstein musicals that I was exposed to growing up and this was the one I could relate to the most since I been there although I was not physically beaten. Billy Bigelow was an inappropriate man in society who was not a hero to anyone and targeted an innocent girl like Julie Jordon who had a lot of potential and a future ahead of her. If I was to rewrite this play I would have showed Julie moving on remarrying a nice man since she was young enough to do so and have a good life. The musical covered issues like domestic violence which was taboo in the '40's and '50's. In my opinion I would not let young children see this until their older and understand the messages in the musical.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Book Review: The Last Report on the Miracles of Little No Horse
Happy weekend everyone and I'm finally done with this book! This book was givin to me about 8 years ago and I finally had the chance to read it all the way through, determined to finish it. It's written by Louise Erdrich and I was very unfamiliar with her work. It was so well written that I had to actually think through the book being a genuine literary piece.
It takes place on a fictional Ojibwe Indian reservation called Little No Horse. It's about a woman who lives as a priest Father Damian posted at the reservation. At the end of her life after serving there for over half a century (as the priest imposter), she is interviewed by a younger priest in regards to a nun who is being considered for sainthood. She's in a dilema of either revealing her identity and confessing or keeping it a secret.
The book has many twists and turns going back and forth from the past to the present. It's an interesting read although very slow. Some parts were hard to follow and I always had to return to the front of the book to the family tree in order to follow the characters and their relations to whom. It explores the conflicts between Catholicism and the Indian religion. The differences between good and evil. The nun who was being investigated was the polar opposite of the Father Damien character. She was more abusive to people and her actions could not qualify her for sainthood. After being a nun she then becomes a woman called Agnes who lives with a companion, then taken hostage in a bank robbery and shortly thereafter is transformed into Father Damien after a great flood. When she's both nun and Agnes she's passionate about the piano and Chopin. That's where my previous post comes in. There were some humorous parts too with Agnes giving the town children chicken eggs in the nude, the Indian couple Mary and Nanapush having the Moose pull their boat in order to kill him. It was a good read although I recommend taking your time to read it due to lots of background and description of the lead and the people on the reservation. I can't say I loved the book but the story was interesting with all the different stories and characters woven together.
It takes place on a fictional Ojibwe Indian reservation called Little No Horse. It's about a woman who lives as a priest Father Damian posted at the reservation. At the end of her life after serving there for over half a century (as the priest imposter), she is interviewed by a younger priest in regards to a nun who is being considered for sainthood. She's in a dilema of either revealing her identity and confessing or keeping it a secret.
The book has many twists and turns going back and forth from the past to the present. It's an interesting read although very slow. Some parts were hard to follow and I always had to return to the front of the book to the family tree in order to follow the characters and their relations to whom. It explores the conflicts between Catholicism and the Indian religion. The differences between good and evil. The nun who was being investigated was the polar opposite of the Father Damien character. She was more abusive to people and her actions could not qualify her for sainthood. After being a nun she then becomes a woman called Agnes who lives with a companion, then taken hostage in a bank robbery and shortly thereafter is transformed into Father Damien after a great flood. When she's both nun and Agnes she's passionate about the piano and Chopin. That's where my previous post comes in. There were some humorous parts too with Agnes giving the town children chicken eggs in the nude, the Indian couple Mary and Nanapush having the Moose pull their boat in order to kill him. It was a good read although I recommend taking your time to read it due to lots of background and description of the lead and the people on the reservation. I can't say I loved the book but the story was interesting with all the different stories and characters woven together.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Can't do Handstands
It's another beautiful day , I love September, it's not too hot or cold. I finally made it into Yoga today as my practice is improving. I started late May into June doing Core Power Yoga studio in the Highlands area in Denver. I have a regular gym membership that offers Yoga but I found that too intimidating , impersonal and fast. The idea for me was to learn Yoga and be ready to do the classes in the gym but I ended up being hooked and joined Core Power. Doing it at an actual Yoga studio has a better feel than at the gym where you see and hear other people on the machines in the background. They're incredible how they tell us to set our intention for our practice and come by and correct our postures. At the gym the instructors don't seem to care.
Towards the end of class they were having us try to do a handstand even if it was against a wall. I did not even come close, but that's okay I haven't practiced long enough to be able to do that. Some of the other students are good but what I love about it is how I could do this at my own pace and modify if I have to. I'm glad I can find something I was able to stick with I practice about 2-3 times a week, but I always feel like a million dollars when I'm done. I used to think I had to be so good to practice Yoga in a class but not necessarily there are many other beginners in my classes. The studio is a great getaway for me for an hour and the instructors are warm and friendly with a homey atmosphere that makes it the more spiritual.
Towards the end of class they were having us try to do a handstand even if it was against a wall. I did not even come close, but that's okay I haven't practiced long enough to be able to do that. Some of the other students are good but what I love about it is how I could do this at my own pace and modify if I have to. I'm glad I can find something I was able to stick with I practice about 2-3 times a week, but I always feel like a million dollars when I'm done. I used to think I had to be so good to practice Yoga in a class but not necessarily there are many other beginners in my classes. The studio is a great getaway for me for an hour and the instructors are warm and friendly with a homey atmosphere that makes it the more spiritual.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Day in the Life of an Artist: Part II
After a busy weekend, Mondays are like my Sundays although today was somewhat productive. I'm getting consistent about journaling my artwork as my new project is progressing. I did not walk out of the house except to take the dog out and I will again this evening as it cools down slightly. I did some more on my Calla lilies in the blue vase. I'm pretty far along and I just need to touch up next painting session. The hardest part of the small yet simple painting is the flowers and the vase. Althought to a regular eye the Calla Lilies would be just white with the bright yellow thing in the middle. There are other colors and shadows to capture too. The vase is blue and it's interesting to paint but their's many other colors going on in it. Painting glass is fun although not easy because of with the detail of reflections involved. Plus, I always have the urge to want to hold a paintbrush like a pencil, my instructors always urged me to hold it lightly with my two fingers and thumb, that's something I have to work on still.
This is what I mean about how I spread paint. It's a 12x15 pallette.
I don't know how I did it on a smaller pallette. Whatever paint is left I put wax paper over it and put in the freezer.
I was considering taking my place in the art world further by looking into internships in Galleries to gain connections and get my foot in the door. The problem is I'm not a college student or a college grad. I see with the economy in bad shape, that adults are doing internships for career changes. My mom even did some student teaching in her 40's when she did a career change, so it's not too late.
I realized years later that I was not as passionate about Fashion Marketing than I was about art. Heck, I was not even motivated to get an internship although it was required to get my degree. I put my eggs in one basket for one position and tried really hard to get it and got rejected anyway which was weird. I know it's not like volunteering where they take you on the spot. I love fashion and the industry still and my motivation at the time was to make money. I was in my 20's and did not really know who I was at the time. I worked it for over 13 years although I was on the retail end of it on the selling floor. I have a few dresses in my closet that I want to paint so that I can incorporate my love for fashion into my future pieces.
I thought being an artist was a trivial thing and that anything worthwhile is not supposed to be pleasurable. I thought that being an artist would not be as glamorous and being in the fashion industry. On days that I paint, I like the idea that I don't have to get all dressed up to paint and do it in my pajamas if I wanted to. That works for me! I can still dress up for art openings though. In reality, there is no such thing as a glamorous career dressed up or not.
It's a good time for me to produce and learn although the classes and workshops will be continuous as a go through this journey as an artist. I will have plenty of pieces once the economy turns around. I have a friend who's an art agent so that's a start.
This is what I mean about how I spread paint. It's a 12x15 pallette.
I was considering taking my place in the art world further by looking into internships in Galleries to gain connections and get my foot in the door. The problem is I'm not a college student or a college grad. I see with the economy in bad shape, that adults are doing internships for career changes. My mom even did some student teaching in her 40's when she did a career change, so it's not too late.
I realized years later that I was not as passionate about Fashion Marketing than I was about art. Heck, I was not even motivated to get an internship although it was required to get my degree. I put my eggs in one basket for one position and tried really hard to get it and got rejected anyway which was weird. I know it's not like volunteering where they take you on the spot. I love fashion and the industry still and my motivation at the time was to make money. I was in my 20's and did not really know who I was at the time. I worked it for over 13 years although I was on the retail end of it on the selling floor. I have a few dresses in my closet that I want to paint so that I can incorporate my love for fashion into my future pieces.
I thought being an artist was a trivial thing and that anything worthwhile is not supposed to be pleasurable. I thought that being an artist would not be as glamorous and being in the fashion industry. On days that I paint, I like the idea that I don't have to get all dressed up to paint and do it in my pajamas if I wanted to. That works for me! I can still dress up for art openings though. In reality, there is no such thing as a glamorous career dressed up or not.
It's a good time for me to produce and learn although the classes and workshops will be continuous as a go through this journey as an artist. I will have plenty of pieces once the economy turns around. I have a friend who's an art agent so that's a start.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Book Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett (May contain spoilers!)
I had to refresh my memory on this one yet I finished this book last spring. It was a book written about the maids in the south in the early 1960's. It takes place in Jackson, Mississippi and the three main characters are; Aibileen Clark an older maid who's been raising white children, her friend Minny Jackson who has such a bad reputation and money problems gets hired by an eccentric women outcast of the town, and the other is Eugenie "Skeeter" Phelan a college graduate who moves back to town. Their stories are told individually then weaved together throughout the book.
Skeeter could possibly stir things up in Jackson by interviewing the maids in order to publish an article about their treatment to land a job in New York. She had to do it secret to avoid being seen with the African-American maids in the still segregated South. Despite the maids working with the families for many years the relationships between the maids and their families were impersonal. It was a different world and stereotypical for the Southern White Women, playing afternoon bridge, and Junior League membership. They would have typically one maid in the household doing everything around their houses including looking after their children. The children grew fond of the maids, especially Skeeter who wandered why her maid disappeared.
It's a great read and page turner exploring all the characters that I sympathized with except for the head of the Junior League who was still set in the old ways and resistant for change. In the point of view of the African American maids, spoken in their dialect throughout the book, the reader can see the lifestyle they lead and how they live. They were religious and involved in their church which kept their spirits up. The relationship between Minny and her employer symbolized 2 outsiders coming together. Her employer was somewhat reclusive, and was never accepted into the white women's clubs, and Minny could not get employment in most households, so they had eachother. Skeeter was a woman coming of age at the time right before the ever changing '60's by being friendly with the Help which was controversial at the time. She risked her friends and social club involvement to talk to those women. This was a well crafted book for someone like me who never knew what went on in the Southern households or about the servants and their lives. I recommend that book to anyone who's into Southern history. All three of the main characters are good people working hard to make a difference in the human condition and treatment.
Skeeter could possibly stir things up in Jackson by interviewing the maids in order to publish an article about their treatment to land a job in New York. She had to do it secret to avoid being seen with the African-American maids in the still segregated South. Despite the maids working with the families for many years the relationships between the maids and their families were impersonal. It was a different world and stereotypical for the Southern White Women, playing afternoon bridge, and Junior League membership. They would have typically one maid in the household doing everything around their houses including looking after their children. The children grew fond of the maids, especially Skeeter who wandered why her maid disappeared.
It's a great read and page turner exploring all the characters that I sympathized with except for the head of the Junior League who was still set in the old ways and resistant for change. In the point of view of the African American maids, spoken in their dialect throughout the book, the reader can see the lifestyle they lead and how they live. They were religious and involved in their church which kept their spirits up. The relationship between Minny and her employer symbolized 2 outsiders coming together. Her employer was somewhat reclusive, and was never accepted into the white women's clubs, and Minny could not get employment in most households, so they had eachother. Skeeter was a woman coming of age at the time right before the ever changing '60's by being friendly with the Help which was controversial at the time. She risked her friends and social club involvement to talk to those women. This was a well crafted book for someone like me who never knew what went on in the Southern households or about the servants and their lives. I recommend that book to anyone who's into Southern history. All three of the main characters are good people working hard to make a difference in the human condition and treatment.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Day in the Life of an Artist: Part I
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| After the image is taken on the camera it's transferred onto Adobe Photoshop to be traced. |
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| The traced image being fitted onto the canvas |
I'm at the intermediate level now so it made my selection of classes broader so it's hard to decide what to take. Since the school is uncredited I can drop into a class anytime or monitor it for a day to see if that's what I want.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Day at Meininger Art Supply
I just had a somewhat lazy day off and did not get out of the house until 2:30 pm after laboring at my day job on Labor Day weekend. Meininger is having a big art sale through the 26th of this month so I'm taking advantage of it. I picked up a few tubes of paint that could be expensive, most of them were 40 % off. I almost bought a tube of Cadmium Yellow but $54, sheesh! I have little left of that color and I will use up all I can. I may have to check out Hobby Lobby or Michaels if it's any cheaper. I got a pack of 2 more 18x24 canvases although I will use a 12x12 for my next project. I'm pretty well stocked up with smaller canvases but I want to go bigger, so after I get paid next I will pick up more bigger canvases as long as there 50% off.
I also picked up a copy of Southwest Art magazine as my inspiration, that will go on my Christmas wish list, when I subscribed it was a monthly treat. I have what I need including graphite paper to transfer my trace to the canvas. I will be trying a transparent white for highlights, I bought it in the smaller tube to give it a try. I had to buy bigger pallette paper, 12x15 because the smaller size does not work for me the way I spread paint when I mix it.
I work late tomorrow and it's already Thursday, where has this week gone? I want to try to get Yoga in tomorrow and a few other things done before going to work. I may have to start this on Friday as I'm anxious to pick up that paint brush.
I also picked up a copy of Southwest Art magazine as my inspiration, that will go on my Christmas wish list, when I subscribed it was a monthly treat. I have what I need including graphite paper to transfer my trace to the canvas. I will be trying a transparent white for highlights, I bought it in the smaller tube to give it a try. I had to buy bigger pallette paper, 12x15 because the smaller size does not work for me the way I spread paint when I mix it.
I work late tomorrow and it's already Thursday, where has this week gone? I want to try to get Yoga in tomorrow and a few other things done before going to work. I may have to start this on Friday as I'm anxious to pick up that paint brush.
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