Two recent films made by two very different directors have accomplished something a bit rare for a mainstream Hollywood production: They not only bring to the screen glimpses of American history, they are timely commentary on contemporary American existence. The wizardry of Spielberg and the ridiculously superb performance of Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln” made me [...]
Austin hosted its second International Film Festival Summit December 3 – 5, bringing together film and music festival organizers and industry folks from coast to coast. Staff from Sundance, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and distributors like Warner Brothers rubbed shoulders with directors and programmers of small to large-sized festivals, cross-pollinating and [...]
How can good people appreciate despicable behavior? What can it seriously tell us about the values we hold? These questions are repeatedly addressed and challenged by artists and filmmakers, to be sure, but if you’ve been to see The Comedy, you’ve surely asked them as well. The Comedy isn’t really a comedy, but if you [...]
After visiting James Surls and two outdoor fairs (one local and one commercially organized) in part 1, it was time to hit the big wig affair at the Aspen Ice Garden — the third annual Art Aspen preview party. Organized by the Hamptons Expo Group (which also does ArtHamptons and the new Houston Fine Art [...]
Colorado is where a lot of Texans are (or wish they were) during the summer. It’s a heavenly cool yet rugged place. I too followed the terrible wildfires and the Aurora movie theatre shooting. Like Texas (like everywhere unfortunately), Colorado isn’t immune from natural and moral evils. But Colorado is robust and smart. The towns [...]
If you’ve been paying attention lately, you know Texas has a bit of a water problem. If you’ve been out of the loop, start with the woes in the little town of Robert Lee (12 miles from where I grew up) or if you’re more big-city, how about Houston’s water coming from Dallas’s wastewater (which [...]
Glenn Downing was Texas-born and raised “alongside men with little or no formal education; men who grew up using their hands and got where they were in life by just working themselves to death.” Downing’s pursuit of art led him to UT Austin, Virginia Commonwealth, then to New York where he became an assistant for [...]
Attending the third annual Hill Country Film Festival in the enchanting town of Fredericksburg April 26-29 was a treat. I arrived opening night for the free screening of short films being shown outdoors at the Marktplatz— the historic park in the center of town. Over 120 people were anchored in lawn chairs and spread out [...]
During the 90s, I worked at Hastings. Similar to other major retail entertainment chains (Borders, Blockbuster, Tower, etc.), Hastings sells just about every form of consumable media, and can be found in mid-size cities and suburbs across the country. Going there as a kid (the nearest one being a half hour’s drive) was an important [...]
Let’s talk about Art Fairs for a second. When I say Art Fair, most Glasstire readers probably think of big-convention center events with gallery-booths representing contemporary artists. Usually the work is expensive, but there are cocktails. However, if I was to mention an art fair to an average family of four, I have a hunch [...]
The world lost Thomas Kinkade more than a week ago, an artist whose importance during his life was measured by product placement and marketing prowess. Kinkade’s work always fascinated me, not because his formulaic shuffle of cottages, lighthouses and waterfall gardens appealed to my taste, but because he seemed like a conflicted character. Many remember [...]
