Artistry Part II

art·ist·ry ( P ) (ärt-str) n.
Artistic ability: a sculptor of great artistry.
Artistic quality or craft: the artistry of a poem.

So I did one of these posts before talking about some rockin' great artists (writers, sculptors, poets, rock artists) and I feel it is time to rediscover what I love about art.

Art is something that makes life worth living. It brings out the joy in people's daily grind. Without some form of artwork, be it a film or a poem or a painting, life would be eat, work and sleep. That's about it. We wouldn't learn anything in our schools but science and math and that just plain sucks. Who in their right mind can think of their favorite professor and say "Had to have been my freshman math prof." and not cringe at that thought. It's the arts that bring the best out of us. So here are a few more of my favorites. Most of these are new to the list, but some are old standards. So here tis. Artistry Part II! (This one has been in reserve for a while, so I'm finally providing the goods.

Tom Robbins (novelist)- Thanks to Prof. Jack Seydow, I have had my eyes opened to the greatness that is Mr. Robbins. His style of writing is nothing short of insanity. It's more poetic than it is straight prose. Something about his word choice strikes a chord in my head, my heart and my entire being that makes me love it more than anything (maybe not Kurt, but it's a different love affair.) His book, Jitterbug Perfume, is the only one I have read so far, but I plan on getting my hands on whatever else I can find. His interesting characters and narritive structure sucks you in like a vortex and doesn't let go till it spits you out on the other side. Here is one of my favorite passages.
"Of our nine planets, Saturn is the one that looks like fun. Of our tres, the palm is obviously the stand-up comedian. Among the fowl, the jester's cap is worn by the duck. Of our fruits and vegetables, the tomato could play Falstaff, the banana a more slapstick role. As Hamlet-or Macbeth-the beet is cast. In largely vegetarian India, the beet is rarely eaten because its color is suggestive of blood. Out, damned mangel-wurzel..."

Robert Rauschenberg (painter)- When I went up to NYC a few weeks back, I visited the MET for the first time and saw their special exhibit on this man. It was really interesting, powerfully weird stuff. And Lord knows I like my stuff weird. His art was a mix medium that had a weird aura to it. As later described by my sister, a lot of it has to do with anal sex, but what in art doesn't mean sex, penetration, pahllic symbols blah blah blah. Regardless, it was awesome stuff to see. Here are a few pieces that struck me as wicked cool. This one wasn't there, but thats really cool. Here is another part of the car. Just cool stuff. I don't know much about painters and paintings, but anyone who can find art in random stuff and mix it all up into one bigger picture, that takes some talent.

Jean Pierre Jeunet (director)- The finest French auetur if there ever was. His films have an air about them that suck you into a dream world of greatness that no other director can do. He is France's Terry Gilliam, but his films seem to be more about reality then the skewed visions of Gilliam's mind that sometimes shine through. The only blemish on his career of course is Alien:Ressurection (yes he did that) but even in that film, you can see him trying to make his mark. His greatest acheivment is, of course, Amelie. The beauty of the film alone is like a painting in itself. A starker beautiful image of his work can be found in A Very Long Engagement. Even in it's darker story of lost love during the slaughter of World War I in France, the love story beats through with awesome intensity and beauty. Check those out and Delicatessen which is just as brilliant as the last two, and sometimes I like it the best. Just do it for yourself if you are at all interested in film.

King Crimson- Everyone knows I've been addicted to the 70's avant garde movement lately listening to a lot of later Bowie, early Talking Heads and Brian Eno. No single band, however, has had this many talents stem from it for this style of music. This band managed to outdo themselves forever on their first album. And yes, it's the first song on that album. "21st Century Schizoid Man" is a rediculous effort in prog rock that moves with such intensity that by the end, it sounds like the band didn't really know how to end the song except in a fury of sound from all instruments. Their career greatness didn't end there. Yes, some albums seem a little less awesome with a lot of jammy stuff from a few of their early albums, but this is a band that within the years of 69-74 released seven albums. That takes a lot of work. Each member from both phases (they stopped recording until the 80's as Crimson after Red in late 74) is amazing. Robert Fripp at the helm with his "frippertronics" guitar stylings, Bill Bruford on the skins with the ability to find a hole in a sogn and fill it with furious beats, the bassists from both eras, First John Wetton who was a little more subdued then the later bass work of Tony Levin. However, each of them are fitfully brilliant and fast players. Lastly was second era guitarist Andrew Belew who made his guitar howl like a wolf on the prowl. All these members had side proj's, AND worked on the albums of the other aformentioned 70's genius above! Talk about hard working genius! They love the music. Check out In The Court of the Crimson King, Red, and Discipline for the best work of their early and later career.

That's all I got.