Martín Ramírez

MediaFebruary 21, 2007
Martín Ramírez by Brooke Davis Anderson
Published by: Marquand Books, in association with the American Folk Art Museum

A Mexican immigrant who fell on hard times during the Depression, Martín Ramírez spent his last 32 years in Californian mental institutions before dying at DeWitt State Hospital in 1963. While hospitalized, he drew on scraps of paper, which he often pasted together to form larger works, repeating variations on favorite subjects such as riders on horseback, trains in tunnels, Madonnas confronting the viewer, and detailed surrealist landscapes. In the early '50s, Tarmo Pasto, a professor of psychology and art at Sacramento State College, met Ramírez and immediately recognized his talent. Pasto encouraged the self-taught artist and arranged acclaimed exhibitions — in 1968, Pasto sold nearly 300 of Ramírez's works to dealer Phyllis Kind and artists Jim Nutt and Gladys Nilsson, after Nutt discovered the drawings while teaching at Sacramento State. Over time, Kind brought Ramírez to the attention of the art world, showing his drawings at her galleries in Chicago and New York. This scholarly book, which accompanies a remarkable traveling exhibition, examines the artist's work, his family history, his artistic development in seclusion, the myths about his life, his cultural identity, and the debate over whether he should be recognized as an outsider or modern artist.
-PL

Martín Ramírez is on view at the American Folk Art Museum in New York through April 29 and opens at the Milwaukee Art Museum on October 6.

Rendez-Vous with French Cinema

Aside from the fact that I am a francophile I truly believe all romance languages are one, so..... I present to you a French Film Festival.

FILM: Festival
Rendez-Vous with French Cinema
when:Wed 2.28 - Sun 3.11 (schedule)
where:Walter Reade Theater (70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212.496.3809) map
price:$12
links:Event Info

Gallic film has undergone such a rejuvenation over the last five years that Lincoln Center's Rendez-Vous with French Cinema has ripened into one of New York's elite showcases. This year's program proves no exception, opening with La Vie en Rose, director Olivier Dahan's portrait of the ever-fascinating Édith Piaf, which set tongues a-flapping this month at the Berlin Film Festival. Gérard Depardieu sheds his romantic-comedy veneers in The Singer. Francis Veber, who helmed 2001's The Closet, returns to the festival with The Valet, his comment on the cult of celebrity, European-style. Other selections not to be missed: The Untouchable and Blame It on Fidel. (LR)

The City Is Their Canvas

It seems like we have a weekly country theme and this week's turn is all things Brazil!

Hot off the Gen Art presses:

If you can't jet set to South America, head over to the Ruas de Sao Paulo: A Survey of Brazilian Street Art

Beginning on February 17th, you can check out Ruas de Sao Paulo, a landmark exhibition of street and mural art from eight contemporary Brazilian artists at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery in New York. (This is the first time most of these artists are showing in the United States—many of them have never left Brazil.)

The exhibition was inspired by Jonathan LeVine's visit to the art-filled streets of Sao Paulo, where he met Baixo and Mariana Ribeiro, owners of Choque Cultural Gallery. The group had a lot of "good conversations about life, music, art and artists," and as a result, decided to collaborate on Ruas de Sao Paulo."It was easy to choose a group that synthesized the true energy of Brazilian street art for this exhibition," explains Baxio."South America is so rich with popular art, which is recognized by common people, but despised by the scholar. Street art explores this social issue. These artists choose to touch anyone rather than to be understood by a few people."

The raw, uninhibited graffiti scene captured by Ruas de Sao Paulo might bring you back to pre-Giuliani New York, when urban artists transformed the city into a reflection of contemporary political and social issues. (Remnants of this movement can still be seen on your way to Queens on the 7 train.) Our favorite artist in the show, Fefe, creates monsters from letters cut out of street posters.

The Ribeiros hope that New York will embrace this new generation of contemporary art that is brewing in Sao Paulo. As Baxio explains: "The public aspects of graffiti art puts the artists in contact with everyday people, who are their simplest critics—it's very important for the artists to have that dialogue." We couldn't agree more. Go to the exhibition and let us know what you think.

-Barbara Roan

Forro in the Dark

Album Review

February 1, 2007
Forro in the Dark

Bonfires of São João

Nublu

Forro is a jumpy, accordion-driven, polka-like style that emerged in the hills of northeastern Brazil, so there's something appealingly incongruous about revamping the genre into a soundtrack for urban scenesters. The New York six-piece Forro in the Dark, led by singer/percussionist Mauro Refosco, leave the accordion out and open the sound up a bit (it's usually played by trios, not sextets). They write good songs, too, which helps. "Que Que Tu Fez" sounds like a wedding dance in progress; opener "Indios dos Norte" jumps up to get down like prime Balkan gypsy music. Guest vocal spots by David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto, and Miho Hatori make sense on an album with such world appeal, but they're mere icing on the party cake.

Happy Valentine's Day Single People

I couldnt resist sharing the article my friend Karen, the publisher of notsalmon.com sent out today. Enjoy!

EVEN GOD IS SINGLE SO STOP GIVING ME A HARD TIME!

If you're single this Valentines Day, you are not alone.

Singlehood rates are going up, marriage rates going down.

But one thing that remains forever the same: folks who do choose to remain single seem to get constantly bombarded with the same three questions:

1.WHY aren't you married?

2. Why aren't YOU married?
(and the very, very popular...)

3. Why AREN'T you married?

(... give or take another 999,999,997 more such questions!)

Unfortunately, I can’t fix you up with any cute guys or girls to help you avoid these questions in the future. However, I can fix you up with some good snappy comebacks to fling at anyone who dares to question your single status.

So, next time somebody dares to ask you that “Why aren't you married?” question, pause, smile sagaciously (I love that word; it means “wisely”), and offer up one of the following. Or, just review them for your own personal satisfaction.

1. In the beginning, there were no elliptical trainers or low-fat/high-fiber muffins, and so people lived to only about 40-something. Maximum. Meaning, the pressure was on to get married before age 25. However, today, thanks to medical advances, we can all hope to live to 80. Easy. Meaning? Even if we marry at age 40, that's still 35, 45, even 55 years to be with a mate. Plenty of time to be married. What's the hurry?

2. Married people are not necessarily better catches simply because they were caught. I mean, have you taken a look at some of the married people out there? Seriously. Even Frankenstein got married. Obviously married people are not superior people.

3. Meanwhile, look at some of our cool single role models: Catwoman: Single. Buddha: Single. The Lone Ranger: Single. Actually, virtually all superhero types are single: Superman, Wonder Woman, Dudley Do-Right. And then there’s The Ultimate Superhero: God—also single.

4. Plus, when you think about it, there’s no such thing as a Stepford Single Woman.

5. Why limit myself to being dissatisfied by one relationship when I can be dissatisfied by an infinite variety?

6. It’s interesting how our culture has the expression “happily married,” but no expression “happily single.” And those words are 100% certified by the US Census Bureau. Statistics show that although married men are reported to be happier than single men (surprise, surprise!)—single women are reported to be happier than married women (also a big surprise, surprise!). Meaning? This only furthers the irony that single women are branded as "unhappy” and “lonely” and “loser-esque"—when single women are just boldly holding out for the right situation, rather than getting married just to get married.

7. It's easy to become married. Millions of people do it every year. If you want to pressure me to become something, hey, why not pick something a little more challenging—like an astrophysicist.
8. True love is rare. That's why it's called "love" and not "really like" or "settling." And why we don't say: "I’m settling for you, honey" over candlelit dinners. True love is worth waiting for…and that’s what I’m doing.

Want more snappy comebacks about choosing to be single? Click here...

"Dance Brazil"

This amazing show should not be missed by anyone in the NY area

February 13th- 18th!

And, with Beleza Pura you can save 20% on admission tickets: just call the ticket office below and tell them you are "DanceBrazil Benefactors."

2 PREMIERES

Ritual choreographed by Jelon Vieira and music by the acclaimed Ramiro Musotto ­ Brazil’s highly regarded contemporary composer-producer and one of the most recorded percussionists; a new solo by guest artist Ronald K. Brown Artistic Director of Evidance and performed by the stunning dancer Carlos dos Santos Jr.: and the new version of Desafio.

TO ORDER TICKETS Call JoyceCharge 212-242-0800

Warm up at Cinema Village - Unconscious

What is one to do on a cold afternoon? Well warm up with a Spanish movie of course.

Now playing at the Cinema Village

222 East 12th Street

New York, NY 10003

212-924-3363

UNCONSCIOUS - Rated (R)2004 - Spain - Spanish (with English subtitles) - 100 minutes -Directed by Joaquín Oristrell

Barcelona, 1913. Alma is perhaps one of the most modern women of her day.Her husband, Dr. Leon Pardo, is a psychiatrist. This summer, he visited Vienna and became a follower of the revolutionary Dr. Sigmund Freud and his advanced theories about hysteria and sexuality. It all starts the afternoon Alma comes home and finds her husband in tears, about to disappear from her life and everyone else's. Giving no more explanation than a few incoherent mumbles, Leon runs off, leaving Alma alone and about to give birth. Salvador is Alma's brother-in-law and a psychiatrist as well. He is much more conservative man than Leon, is deeply in love with Alma. The only clue they have is a manuscript about hysteria and female sexuality based on four patients: An actress with a persecution complex; a psychotic woman who tried to murder her husband; a woman with a serious crisis concerning her sexual identity; a stranger who has discovered a terrible secret about her past. Following those signs, Alma and Salvador start a Sherlock Holmes kind of adventure, where hypnosis, love, danger, and every imaginable taboo are all intertwined.

An Andalusian Culinary Affair

The cuisine of Andalucia is as bold and exciting as the land herself. Thus, the Andalusian Culinary Affair is the true cause for celebration. From February 7-20, you have a rare opporunity to sample Andalusian cuisine at some of Manhattan's finest restauruants.

Be sure to visit any of these outstanding restaurants during the Andalusian Culinary Affair.

Alcala 342 East 46th St. / 1st Ave. (212) 370-1866
Artisana l2 Park Avenue / 32nd St. (212) 725-8585
Bolo 23 East 22nd St. / Park Ave. (212) 228 2200
Olive's 201 Park Ave. South / 17th St. (212) 353-8345
Picholine 35 West 64th St. / CPW (212) 724-8585
Pintxos 510 Greenwich St. / Spring St. (212) 343-9923
Sala 35 West 19th St. / 5th Ave. (212) 229 2300
Solera 216 East 53rd St. / 3rd Ave. (212) 644-1166
Suba 109 Ludlow St. / Delancey St. (212) 982-5714
Tia Pol 205 10th Ave. / 23rd St. (212) 675-8805
Toledo 6 East 36th St. / 5th Ave. (212) 696-5036
wd~50 50 Clinton St. / So of Houston (212) 477-2900

2007 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Has Arrived

This year has been our first official foray at Fashion Week, Instead of a blow by blow of each an every fabulous pre-party, show, party, after-party, and after-after-party (you get the picture), we will give our fellow Casa Naranja members a condescended report upon returning from the final show and fiesta. But we absolutely must share a small tidbit....

Diane Von Furstenberg is unveiling a Latin themed Fall collection (yes -- Fall -- plan ahead girls!!). "La Movida!" ("Look ahead…and don’t turn back…") is energetic, upbeat, and truly captures the sophisticated and fun Latina vibe that we are all about. While the collection did include some skirts with blouses and jackets, the majority of the 44 pieces were dresses, most of them short. She showed shift dresses, little black dresses, boldly patterned dresses, printed dresses, cocktail dresses, dresses and cardigans, dresses and coats, flapper dresses, flamenco dance dresses and more. La Movida was a stunning testament to the versatility and vitality of the dress.

Brindemos!

Just discovered the perfect date to accompany all of the upcoming Flamenco events, no it isn't Joaquin Cortes but another Spanish import.

Rojo Mojo 2005 Shiraz 'Spanish Red Wine' ($12 for 1.5 liters)
A "superfresh" Shiraz or Syrah, hailing from Spain's La Mancha region.

It's got a great, happy, fruity flavor -- with raspberry dominating -- and nice hints of pepper. It also has a nice, smooth finish, Not much unlike my last encounter with Joaquin! Ole!

Juan Luis Guerra premieres new video for "La llave de mi corazon,"

Juan Luis needs no introduction and his work is beyond being described with mere adjectives.