Published December 17, 2009 by Graham
Becky Stark– the divine dame behind Lavender Diamond– is writing, directing and starring in a new series for Aaron Rose’s online entertainment portal WKE. Aesthetically parallel to the world of Stark’s L.A. Ladies Choir, or at least awash in the same rose-scented perfume, Califunya is described as:
a new “peace comedy” variety show from WKE parodying a high school play that is parodying a kids show from the 60s as performed by grown-ups — with all the expected exclamation points muted!
Sign me up! The all too brief first episode, which is sponsored by roses (because “they’re so beautiful”), gets into some deep ontological musings on the nature of time and space in the span of one minute and thirty-seven seconds. It also features the talents of Mia Doi Todd and Ariana Delawari, with musical accompaniment by Decemberist Colin Meloy. Stay tuned for an upcoming guest appearance by Miranda July!
Published October 20, 2009 by Graham
Leaping lizards! There are so many rad artists– luminaries, really– involved in the latest gallery show at L.A.’s primo promenade, Space 15 Twenty, I don’t even know where to start. Curated by Family founder David Kramer, Main Street is an exhibition of fresh video and animation from Miranda July, Jacob Ciocci, and Andrew Jeffrey Wright, to name just three. The exhibition, which opens Saturday, October 24th at 7pm, will also be released as a DVD designed by Grammy nominee Brian Roettinger. Always a perfectionist, Kramer tells us how he plans to transcend the confines of a gallery screening: “We’re building a giant box/cinema in the middle of the gallery with benches for viewing!”
The videos range from the psychedelically patterned color abstractions of Andrew Jeffrey Wright and Kris Moyes, to the documentary-style mountain biking travelogue of Andrew Sutherland. Miranda July’s meditation on tribal drumming, and Peter Sutherland’s re-enactment of a dream where teenagers wreak havoc on NYC, their minds controlled by a diabolical, smoking stone. Jacob Ciocci of Paper Rad defaces youtube videos of bedroom freak dancers with his brightly distinctive animations, while Melanie Bonajo records a deadpan conversation between two women with household items tied to their every limb. Lori D.’s cartoons focus on leering men, while Lucky Dragons focus on flower gardens.
Opening night features:
Dunes (Live show)
DJs: Rob Barber (High Places) and Brian Roettinger
Check it out this weekend if you’re in L.A., and keep your eyes peeled for more info on the DVD!
Published August 26, 2009 by Graham
Spike has been hard at work on a top secret robot-related short film. When Dallas and I visited the set, the first person we bumped into was Family owner David Kramer (more on Kramer in Lance Bang’s doc Family Portrait), furiously memorizing a verse of lyrics inscribed on his palm in a parking lot beneath the freeway. Kramer, a non-musician who had joined the project only one day earlier, was preparing to play the lead singer in a fake band called The Lost Trees, alongside the members of Moonrats.
Miranda July showed up and the four of us made our way through the vast maze of a fantastically decaying abandoned building to the room where Spike was setting up The Lost Trees’ big show. Waiting for the shoot to begin in earnest, Dallas and I decided to explore the building’s musty labyrinthine corridors. Scattered remnants left over from other Hollywood productions blurred unsettlingly with authentic artifacts from the location’s functional former life as a ballroom hall/radio station.
After conquering the rooftop with its epic vistas and then descending to the depths of the building’s eerily Saw-esque basement, we returned to the set and found “The Rec Center” now occupied by a couple of radical robots adrift in a roaring sea of extras feigning their fandom for The Lost Trees. Check out the photos above to see David Kramer embracing his inner rock star, Spike and Miranda talking shop, weird finds from our backstage explorations, and Lance Bangs shooting documentary footage in his trademark visor.
Keep an eye out for the short’s premiere in November and the unveiling of Spike’s new robotic stars!
Published May 11, 2009 by Dallas
What can we say, Miranda July is one of our favorite people. So many great ideas. Her films, her performances, her hijinx (be sure to check the “comments” section), and one of our personal favorites the classic promo website for her book “No One Belongs Here More Than You”. And as if all of this wasn’t enough she’s been selected to exhibit at the 2009 Venice Biennale alongside a pretty heavy list of talent. Amazing. The show runs June 7 through November 22nd and Miranda was awesome enough to let us have a sneak peek. Behold!
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