Apologies for the extremely late non-post today. I had absolutely no time for anything else but to get the final edit prepped for the birthing of the latest film made by our Beautiful Losers/Sister Corita film crew about the small down-on-it’s-luck town-but-on-the-rebound Braddock, Pennsylvania (you may have already seen Levi’s “We Are All Workers” ad campaign posted up in your town). Details on the IFC September premiere coming soon!
So as I was saying, sorry for not having the power of blogging today fortunately for me Arnold Schwarzenegger is filled with the power of the Dark Side as some of the Governor’s most memorable, and foul-mouthed, movie quotes are cleverly edited into James Earl Jones’ iconic Darth Vader scenes from the original Star Wars.
“An earlier casting of Star Wars IV: A New Hope saw Arnold Schwarzenegger put a juvenile, jealous and rather perverted spin on Darth Vader’s explosive personality. George Lucas had second thoughts and cast James Earl Jones instead. Enjoy these exclusive clips from the “lost tapes” archives of Skywalker Ranch.
If you know me, you know that I’m not just a huge fan of Sister Corita’s amazingly bold art. You would also know that I was fortunate enough to re-team with our Beautiful Losers crew early last year to edit a short film about Corita’s illustrious and inspirational life with Become a Microscope: 90 Statements on Sister Corita. We were able to help raise the Corita awareness by showing people just how influential Corita was as an artist, nun and as a person. And now this weekend even more people will be able to get their hands on Corita’s work, literally, as the Corita Art Silkscreen Mash-Up goes down at Blue Rooster Art in Los Feliz.
Featuring the use of elements from Corita’s silkscreens for the first time ever and sponsored in part by some very good peeps at the Corita Art Center, Fresh Pressed and Gelato Bar among others, this afternoon of art making in my hood is one that I’m so sad to miss but truly hope you can make it to go create yourself!
From the ever loving Sasha Carrera at the Corita Art Center:
“The Corita Art Center and Blue Rooster Art Supplies in Los Feliz are offering a first time ever MASH UP of elements Corita used in her own mid-1960s pop prints. Best known for her innovative and provocative juxtaposition of images and words, Corita combined day-glo colors with spiritual statements, pop song lyrics with shapes from traffic signs and food packaging. On July 24th, we’re offering fans and friends the chance to recombine these elements in their own unique ways.
The resurgence in Corita’s life and work (she died in 1986) suggests that her anti-war stance, her pop aesthetic, her iconoclastic methodology and her new age spirituality have tapped a chord that’s resonating in the world today. Participants will be able to silkscreen their own tee shirts, tote bags, posters and canvases. Proceeds will benefit the Corita Art Center of the Immaculate Heart Community, Corita’s former religious order.
So what are you waiting for? Get with the Action! For more information please visit www.corita.org or call Sasha Carrera 323-466-2157 ext 1021, sasha@corita.org.”
Corita Art Silkscreen Mash-Up
Saturday, July 24th, 2-5pm
Blue Rooster Art
1718 Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027
Our close collaborator, inspiring curator and dear friend Aaron Rose relaunches his dream art and design school in New York City this July and August with the return of the Make Something!! workshops. Originally spawned from a joint venture between our film Beautiful Losers and the generous contributions of Nike Sportswear, this latest incarnation of the D.I.Y. workshops aimed at teens features world renowned artists (Os Gemeos, Todd James, Ari Marcopoulos and Jeff Canham amongst others) as well as creatives from Converse, Nike and Brand Jordan working with students to create in a variety of mediums in Lower Manhattan.
The workshops culminate with a celebration of the students’ artwork created during the classes with a parade at the world famous Rucker Park in conjunction with the World Basketball Festival Celebration Event in August.
Register and sign up for the month long workshop events here or here. Class schedule, teachers, details and more can be found at Makesomethingschool.com as well as from head teacher Aaron Rose below.
“Not sure if everyone knows, but for the last three years we’ve been doing D.I.Y. creativity workshops for teens under the banner of Make Something!! This summer we’re partnering with Nike, Jordan and Converse to open a five-week long “pop-up” school house in NYC filled with amazing classes taught by fantastic artists, designers, musicians and all around champs in their fields. I thought I’d put the word out as I’m pretty excited about it.
Just as a teaser we’re offering classes like this: Documentary photo with Ari Marcopoulos, puppet-making with Todd James, sign-painting with Jeff Canham, Costume design with Cassette Playa, a mural workshop with Os Gemeos…plus shoe and garment design with Nike/Converse/Jordan designers and many, many more!
Check out our website for info and dates as they develop.
Classes are filling up quick, but if anyone is New York-based and has kids who want to attend (ages 13-18), email us at <info@makesomethingschool.com> and we’ll try to fit them in.
The video below shows a master at work installing his California contribution in Oakland and is sweetly bookended with a tandem bike ride with Barry’s and the late great Margaret Kilgallen’s daughter Asha (who was last seen on film in our Beautiful Losers as a toddler).
Go see Barry’s art if you’re in the Bay (installation at the Oakland Museum)…
Early last year we followed up our documentary Beautiful Losers with a short film just as inspiring and heartfelt about Sister Corita Kent-a revolutionary nun who shared her unique vision of creating art with her friends and students in 1960’s Los Angeles. During a time when the Catholic church was none to pleased with these new and off-beat ideas, Sister Corita excelled. The film, titled Become a Microscope-90 Statements on Sister Corita, was created in association with the Corita Art Center in honor of what would have been Sister Corita’s 90th birthday.
Crafted by most of our Beautiful Losers crew, the film was deftly directed by Aaron Rose; produced by do-it-all-man Jon Barlow; features a hauntingly beautiful original score by Money Mark and Becky Stark; great graphic design by our great pal Keith Scharwath; stellar sonics by sound designer extraordinaire Eddie Kim; Corita’s work come to life through a small After Effects army including Alex Dervin, Max Erdenberger, Miguel Bautista and a ton of other skilled individuals; and edited by yours truly-me (Lenny Mesina).
Graphic design created by Keith Scharwath. See more of Keith’s “90 statements” here.
Corita’s art also received the After Effects treatment courtesy of Alex Dervin, Miguel Bautista and many, many more.
We were also very fortunate to have access to an archive of material made about Sister Corita including films by Haskell Wexler, Baylis Glascock, Cal Bernstein and Alex Singer.
Now our favorite Silver Lake based Beautiful Losers graphic designer who looks exactly like Paul Rudd has teamed up with Poolga to create (free!) digital wallpapers for your favorite Apple and Palm Pre devices.
“A few months ago I was invited by my friend JC to create a few wallpapers for Poolga, a site dedicated to providing quality original artwork for iPads and iPhones.
It became the perfect opportunity to point out the similarities between all the boards (planks, slates etc.) in my life. Head over to Poolga for the free download and never forget to be thankful for the board under your feet (or fingers).”
A belated R.I.P. goes out to the mad man of film, Dennis Hopper who unfortunately passed away on Saturday after a long bout with prostate cancer. Whether he was onscreen as a motorcycle riding hippie (Easy Rider), a burned out soldier in Vietnam (Apocalypse Now), a gas-huffing psycopath (Blue Velvet), or a protective dad enjoying his last Chesterfield (True Romance), it was near impossible to not pay attention to Mr. Hopper.
Hopper enjoyed life to the fullest as a self described “compulsive creator”, occupying time as an actor, writer, director and accomplished photographer. Dennis Hopper was a true artist in every sense of the word (read the LA Times piece on Hopper’s photography here).
Below is a video of the legend in 2008 as he lightheartedly recounts his days with fellow Ferris Gallery artists from the art doc Cool School during a panel discussion with artists from our own doc Beautiful Losers. (A few months after the following presentation we were fortunate enough to be bestowed the CineVegas Documentary Jury Award from Mr. Hopper himself at an afternoon awards luncheon in Las Vegas.)
Thanks to the incredible Mr. Lim for the Vimeo reminder.
![[Post to Twitter]](http://chumpchampion.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
