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
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.
Sister Corita was a highly influential and inspirational art teacher and nun who created controversial pop art in Los Angeles during the 60’s. Earlier this year I edited a short film directed by Aaron Rose with a score by Money Mark to commemorate what would have been Corita’s 90th birthday. Today the art of Sister Corita will be on display and for sale at Landis Gifts & Stationery in Hollywood’s Larchmont Village. A percentage of sales all day will benefit the Corita Art Center.
Films about an inspirational pop art nun (including ours), a Karaoke dance party, Muppets and more Muppets, and of course art openings highlight this weekends highlights.
Pocket wallet pioneers Poketo take over Royal/T’s this summer with their storefront pop-up shop. Tonight they transform the joint into a Karaoke Dance Party with our fun Fluxer friends Jonathan and Meg Wells on an esteemed panel of judges.
Poketo Karaoke Dance Party at Royal/T Friday July 10th, 8 PM - 1 AM
Royal/T
8910 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232
Free, RSVP at rsvp@poketo.com
The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax has Muppets on the mind once again as they bring back last year’s sold out showings of Jim Henson’s mind-blowing collection of shorts, crazy commercials, and other rarities including the not-be-to-be-missed Oscar winning Time Piece. Bonus: midnight screening of Henson’s feature film The Dark Crystal!
Printed Matter
Opening reception: Saturday July 11th, 6:30-10pm GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025
Show runs from July 11 through August 5, 2009
Desert Sexy
Opening reception: Saturday July 11th, 6-8pm
The Constant Gallery
2673 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034
Show runs from July 11 through August 15, 2009
Girls go wild as the Honor Fraser Gallery opens Bitch is the New Black, an all women art show featuring “fourteen Los Angeles-based women who are all emerging or established artists from roughly the same generation and are bright lights on the local scene.”
Bitch is the New Black
Opening reception: Saturday July 11th, 6-8pm
Honor Fraser Gallery
2622 S La Cienega Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90034
Show runs from July 11 through August 29, 2009
And finally end your weekend inspired as our short film (Become a Microscope: 90 Statements on Sister Corita) about the life and art of Sister Corita Kent will be screening at the Silent Movie Theater Sunday night alongside two other films by Corita’s friends, Mary’s Day (1964) by Baylis Glascock, and Survival With Style (1966) by Cal Bernstein, Alex Singer and Haskell Wexler. Both of these rare films will be screened from their original 16mm prints, and Mary’s Day will feature a live score by special musical guests!
Sorry for the late post today, I was a bit busy rejoining the human race again. The last few days have just about been the hardest I’ve ever pushed myself finishing a film, and I’d def do it all over again. Working with the dedicated members of our Corita film crew in finishing the edit, finalizing the animations, listening to the sound mix, coloring the film, and conforming the entire thing to be ready for last night’s Flux screening tallied me a new personal work record: work-90 hours, sleep-6, from Sunday up until the show on Wednesday. But with a drive to finish fueled by the work of Sister Corita and with the payoff of how well our film was received, I have to say it was all so worth it. Big thanks to Jonathan and Meg Wells for organizing another fun Flux screening and to all who came out and checked out our film, Become a Microscope-90 Statements on Sister Corita! Many more screenings to come soon!
On top of our film showing alongside a multitude of amazing music videos and short films, the LA Ladies Choir headed by Becky Stark performed as well. The lovelies were captivating with their two songs in this their second performance.
And here’s another film that screened last night, a supremely crafted short directed by Ace Norton and his new ’stache that left me sonically blown away:
Whoa…another sleepless day/night/day as we put the finishing touches on our film, Become A Microscope-90 Statments on Sister Corita. Making it’s Los Angeles premiere at the Hammer Museum as part of Flux’s first show of the year, the day has finally come to let friend, family, and strangers take a look at just what has been keeping us all so busy and inspired (also special encore musical performance by Becky Stark and the Ladies Choir!)
So tonight, I hope you all…
and…
as our film will leave your eyes, ears, and brains…
with…
lenny
Become A Microscope - 90 Statements on Sister Corita
A film by Aaron Rose
Produced by Jon Barlow, Edited by Lenny Mesina, Original Score by Money Mark and Becky Stark.
Flux Screening Series
February 25, 2008
8:00 pm screening, 10:00 pm after-party
Hammer Museum
Billy Wilder Theater
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.443.7000
Clear your schedule for this Wednesday cause the year’s first Flux Screening Seriesat the Hammer is coming and our Sister Corita film will be making it’s Los Angeles premiere! If you missed the CSUN screening and art opening (a must see!), this is your chance to check out what we’ve been giving our all to. Also part of 2009’s inaugral program will be two new music video from the N.A.S.A. crew, this time featuring Kanye West, Santogold, Lykee Li, Sizzla, Amanda Blank, with art by The Date Farmers, directed by Logan and Three Legged Legs. The short film project PSST! 3 and a new short by homey Ace Norton will also be included in the program.
Make sure to RSVP and arrive early as the two theaters are always over flowing and people are unfortunately turned away once filled. But if you can’t get in, there’s always the courtyard reception primed for drinks, djs, and drinks.
Become A Microscope
90 Statements on Sister Corita
A Film by Aaron Rose
Produced by Jon Barlow, Edited by Lenny Mesina, Original Score by Money Mark and Becky Stark.
Synopsis:
Sister Corita (1918-1986) was a teacher, political activist and possibly one of the most innovative and unusual pop artists of the 1960’s. She was also a Catholic nun. Become A Microscope is a 20-minute art/documentary film celebrating the life, work, and teachings of this incredible artist. The film was shot on location on the campus of Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles, the same place where most of the film’s story happened. It serves as a living, breathing document of the inspiration she spread to so many people throughout her life…and as the title suggests, the importance of looking at the world “small pieces at a time”. Through the use of interviews with those who knew her, we tell Corita’s story in an abstract way. Using archival images from the Corita archive along with visual effects created specifically for the project by some of the most talented animators working today, we have created a colorful visual montage. The film reveals itself as a living, moving, graphic and musical artwork.
Become A Microscope is produced by Blacklake Productions, in conjunction with The Directors Bureau, with special cooperation from The Corita Art Center and the Art/Film Departments of Cal State University Northridge.
Saturday, February 14th, 2009 from 1-4pm
(Exhibition runs through April 4, 2009)
With D.I.Y. silk-screen gift stations and musical performance by the Ladies choir with special guests @ 3pm
Corita Kent was one of America’s most celebrated serigraph artists, creating works that won her international acclaim from the 1950s until her death in 1986. As art professor at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, her hallmark mixture of captivating images and provocative texts delivered messages of hope and joy to a troubled world.
Passion For The Possible is a retrospective exhibition of Corita’s works from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. It will be presented in a visually stunning installation comprised of original serigraphs, sculpture, photography, wall murals and ephemera related to her life and career.
A series of creative workshops based on Corita’s teachings will be held on selected Saturdays for the duration of the exhibit.
This exhibition is guest curated by Aaron Rose (Beautiful Losers) and is co-organized by the Corita Art Center in Los Angeles (www.corita.org), home of the largest collection of Corita’s serigraphs in the world.
Film screenings
Friday, February 13th, 2009 starting at 8pm
We Have No Art (26min)
filmed in 1967 at the Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles
A Film by Baylis Glascock
Mary’s Day 1964 (12min)
filmed in 1964 at the Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles
A Film by Baylis Glascock
So as we’re finishing up the Sister Corita film for Friday’s premiere, wouldn’t you know it but other people have caught the same Corita fever we’ve got. Ralph Caplan, who was a friend of Sister Corita in the 60’s and AIGA senior writer, just last week wrote this nice article about his introduction to Corita and their subsequent meetings in New York and Los Angles. A quick read. (Thanks to Gelatobabyhead!)
And since I haven’t had much time for anything else except finishing the film (and not sleeping), I just now found out who won what Grammy this past Sunday. And although the Grammys may not be as relevant as they used to be, I was happy to hear that Adele (whose “Chasing Pavements” music video was the lone video I edited last year) won 2 Grammys as a virtual unknown artist. I finished the cut, which was directed by the talented Matt Cullen of Motion Theory, almost exactly a year ago today when pretty much the entire world-myself included-knew nothing about this young English soul singer. Needless to say, the newly minted “Best New Artist” and “Best Female Pop Performer” has come a long way since then. Check Adele chasing pavements here:
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