Cay Denise

This zine was inspired by a Netflix series...a South Korean series about the afterlife titled 'Heavenly Ever After'.  The first episode (of the 12 total) sets up the background of the main character and her immediate 'family' -- all whom she will eventually meet in the afterlife.   The series has so many twists and turns in the storyline as well as explores some of those questions I think we all have asked or will about whether 'life' goes on after we physically die and whether we'll meet our beloveds in the afterlife if there is one. One of the interesting plot twists is that a woman in her 80s loses her paralyzed husband of about the same age.  He chooses in Heaven, to take the form of the youthful male -- at about 30 -- that he was before becoming completely paralyzed for the rest of his earthly life in an accident.  The woman, his loving wife and dedicated caretaker, chooses to stay her age (80s) when she ascends to Heaven because of something he says ab...

As I continue easing into more activity, I've watched some additional movies and am sharing the following reviews: *A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum (with Phil Silvers and Michael Crawford) - This movie is a musical comedy from a few decades ago.  It is light-hearted though I didn't laugh much.  That said, there are a couple of nice musical numbers in it.  I won't be watching it again though. *Beasts of the Southern Wild - The young actress does a very good job.  That said, this movie is disturbing because of the poverty and filth the 'bathtub community' live in and the skills they have to teach their young to survive.  Finding joy is loving the land they live upon by using others junk to set up inadequate housing; find sustenance from fish they hand-catch in contaminated waters; and, drink alcohol to excess for entertainment and connecting with other community friends.  I didn't like the movie.  But it does speak to those who are or choo...

Having one hand out of commission for a few weeks has put the squeeze on the pace of my art-making. In the meantime, I've been watching lots of movies and streaming programs,  So, here are some reviews in case any of these shows are on your 'to watch' list: * The Portable Door (wtih Sam Neill) - This is an adventure fantasy that is quirky, quite mysterious and odd at the beginning, and entertaining.  The Jim Henson Company, run by Jim Henson's daughter, was involved in making some of the characters in this film. * The Triplets of Belleville (animated) - It is amazing that this film has so little spoken language in it.  The animation (cartooning) is great in terms of conveying story, place. depth, and emotion.  I loved the opening song by the trio and if you aren't aware, it received two Oscar nominations in 2004 (one for best original song and the other for best animated feature). * The Most Reluctant Convert  - This movie is the story of C.S. Lewis' conversio...

This is a fascinating biopic about Yayoi Kusama's life and work.  She is passionate, driven, assertive, rebellious, bohemian, and mental health-challenged in her constant pursuit of art-making.   From Georgia O'Keefe whom she asked to be her mentor, to Frank Stella who bought one of her pieces for $75 to later sell it for $750K, to Andy Warhol and other male artist contemporaries who used her ideas for their own exhibits/works, she has been an amazing force in contemporary/abstract art.  Now, she is even recognized in her home city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (not so at one time).   The film is an engaging look at the phases of her growth, productivity and fame as an artist.  The link below is to the show's trailer hosted by Rotten Tomatoes.  For any artist, I recommend this film. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kusama_infinity  

I just finished watching this interesting 2018 documentary about a remarkable female artist from the 18th century, Elisabeth Vigee Labrun.   She was the portrait artist for Marie Antoinette, completed over 660 portraits of nobility and others during her lifetime, and is lauded as France's last great portrait artist. Amazingly self-taught, this is one of her multiple paintings of Marie Antoinette.  Beautiful, isn't it?  (The fabric draping and shading are so exquisite!)

There can be no comparison between these movies, even though they are about artists. 'Big Eyes' with Amy Adams was disappointing.  Amy plays an artist is the 1950s who doesn't make her own mark because her husband sells her art as if he was its creator and she goes along with it (for years).  It isn't until she leaves the husband/marriage that she finds some backbone and strength to tell the truth about what happened.     'Loving Vincent' is a truly exquisite movie!  The animation of the numerous paintings made for this movie is amazing, and the paintings themselves are incredible!!  What an accomplishment to have made such an impressive and beautifully crafted movie.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!!

Today, I went to the theater to see 'The Shape of Water'. It is a stunningly beautiful love story with some suspense and action too! The music was great, the story lovely, the sets very appropriate to the time period, and just nearly perfect in every other way as well (especially the poem and final scene). I loved it, if you can't already tell, and highly recommend it!

If you have a chance to see this, do! It is a great movie filled with philosophy about creativity and the value of doing it in old ways, especially for writers and musicians. I also enjoyed the sculptural artist's imaginative work using typewriter parts.

This trailer is for a movie about Iris Apfel, an amazing woman who has led an incredible and artful life!  See it, if you haven't!

This unfinished piece is one of a few UFOs (unfinished objects) in the Season 6 taping of Quilting Arts TV. The purpose for my submission of this piece is to get a recommendation on how to finish it. The manner in which they handle the critique/ recommendation is a mystery. But I received the photo image above in the mail with the returned piece plus a couple of hand-dyed fabrics (one brown and the other...a musty pink). What do you think?

My 'Hundertwasser Wannabe' project, that I don't seem to be able to go any further with, has been selected as one of 10 unfinished projects that will be on a segment of Quilting Arts TV. The intention is to give those of us with pieces that we feel stuck on some professional design and/or construction suggestions so that we can finish them up. In addition, it will also give viewers some perspective with which to look at their own work. I don't know how they're going to do it, but the segment is supposed to air some time in June.