Scene & Heard vol. 2

All eyes on Minneapolis. For resources to support the Minneapolis immigrant community, check out Stand with Minnesota.

Here are a few glimmers of hope and inspiration that carried me through January:

001

The vibrant & communal new album, Sui Generis, from indie musician Timothy Maverick, is as innovative as it is euphoric. Songs like “Just like You” & “The Canvas” flex his skills as a songwriter, producer, and visionary. I have a feeling Timothy Maverick is gonna be everywhere.

002

I stumbled across the Mary Oliver poem “I Worried,” with a final stanza that hits like a revelation.

003

This year is all about precision and excellence. Right now, I’m fascinated by artists devoted to mastery. Hayao Miyazaki’s ability to arrive at the heart of the matter is unparalleled. The Boy and the Heron was a stunning meditation on devotion, legacy, and time. It all makes sense when you learn the original Japanese title is How Do You Live?

004

Something about the song “Slow Hand” by The Pointer Sisters keeps me crawling back. It’s a seductive and braggadocious testament to “a man with a slow hand.” After all, the best kind of love isn’t in a rush.

005

BOOKS I READ:

I really enjoyed this one: it was a comprehensive, engaging, and thorough introduction to 20th-century black art practices.

Right after I finished Giovanni’s Room, Substack recommended to me a beautifully crafted analysis by Z.T. Corley, “On Women in ‘Giovanni’s Room.”

The title, A Complicated Passion, highlights Varda’s journey from a still photographer to a cinematic titan. What this book lacks in worldbuilding, it makes up for as a portrait of an audacious director’s life and career.

The story follows the lives of Bengali immigrants, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, through the eyes of their son, Gogol Ganguli. I found the latter half of the novel the most enthralling, as Gogol navigates the perils of young adulthood. The Namesake was vivid and engaging, and the subject of Mira Nair’s 2006 film of the same name.

006

Jerome Lagarrigue’s Battle for Area X, on view until March 1st, is part of the special exhibition Giants: Art for the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.

Images do little to capture the painting’s striking details, bringing to life the ferocity of social unrest. The vibrant shades of red and orange form the molten heat of flames, with charcoal blacks bursting into fat plumes of smoke.

007

Barefoot in the Park, a 1967 romantic comedy directed by Gene Saks, stars the inimitable Robert Redford and the riotous Jane Fonda.

It’s a charming little love story about a pair of opposites-attract newlyweds navigating their first marital home. This was my first film starring a young Jane Fonda; I was astounded by how breezily she wields impeccable comedic timing with a coquettish wit. It’s clear Sabrina Carpenter’s been taking notes.

008

On writing days, I’ve found myself gravitating toward Daniel Lopatin’s Marty Supreme Soundtrack. It’s easy to listen to the album in full, as the synth-heavy pop songs glide over lush strings, twinkling flutes, and pulsing bass. The 80’s are back and better than ever, baby.

009

A relatable new short film from a talented duo: director Jada Henry and cinematographer Aerin Fortes.

The film trails “three twenty-something New Yorkers navigating personal, professional, and creative stagnation in search of their purpose.” With striking close-ups, original music, and an inventive premise, Demo121 is a must-watch.

010

Happy HBO Sundays to all who observe - Industry is finally back. It’s by far my favorite show right now, and proof that the zeitgeist can handle stories centering complex black women.

Season 4 is already off to a wild start, with Harper Stern (Myha’la) up to her usual impetuous power plays. Yasmin Kara-Hanani aka Lady Muck (Marisa Abela) adjusts to the constraints of married life, while Henry Muck (Kit Harington) makes like Stella and gets his groove back.

With 4 more episodes to go and a host of storylines left to be uncovered, I’m sure showrunners Mickey Down and Conrad Kay have a lot more tricks up their sleeves.