Here’s how it went down: Gail sent me an email with a link to a story about this woman Jane, who spent 22 years finding, purchasing and totally restoring a carousel. It’s an amazing story of commitment, determination and ambition. 5 days ago, I sent the link to Murray, who commented that it was interesting! THEN, he sent me an article written about Jane and her carousel that was published in CAROUSEL April 2009. THEN Murray went to DUMBO where under the Brooklyn Bridge, Jane’s dream and hard work had come true. That was 7 days ago and the opening day of the carousel. He took some FAB FOTOS (look for more on Friday’s blog), sent them to Jane herself and got a reply and then sent them to me and I’m passing a couple on to you today, just two because after all this is just an amuse-bouche.
New York is in GRIDLOCK – The President is here, and LOTS of other presidents and heads of state. There are police everywhere, some streets are blocked entirely, the Waldorf and the Carlyle are full of dignitaries including our own Barack Obama. And yesterday there was a demonstration and parade on the behalf of Palestine Statehood.
It’s been a hot and buggy summer, I mean hot and muggy! Well actually, it was a little buggy too. Murray with his macro lens in hand, gave us some very up close and personal photos of bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets and a veritable bouquet of buds, blooms and blossoms. Through his eyes and the eye of the camera, we saw the hair (?) on the legs of the black wasp, the pollen sacs of a bee and the lacy lines nature etched on the wings of a fly and butterflies.
Recently Murray visited Central Park and got some great shots of a turtle and a water lilly.
I’m back to finding those crazy wild and obscure words that I never heard of and bet you never did either. Working my way through the alphabet, today’s ten words begin with the letter B.
Well, well, and I thought I was SO ORIGINAL with my new little category of interesting tidbits, tasty morsels to whet your appetite for more and lo and behold look what my friend, Gail found online!!! She came across the blog, Vaude_Visuals which used the term Amuse Bouche and features fantastic photography; not only of the New York Clown Theater Festival but is in fact devoted to photographing the eccentric, daring in the world of performing arts. Here is the link to his site: http://vaudevisuals.com/2011/09/flocked-clown-show-audrey-crabtree/
From that site I followed a couple of the links and came to The Brick, a theater and performing art space located in Brooklyn and the place where you can find the Clown Theater Festival of 2011. Their link is below: The festival runs through September 25th, so you still have time to grab some chuckles and belly laughs- after all who doesn’t love a clown?
The posts I thought I was going to do did not get done, quite obviously. And it’s not because I brushed 9/11 aside. Quite the contrary, Sunday night turned out to be the most emotional 9/11 I’ve had since the 9/11.
I went to a memorial service held in the Great Auditorium and within minutes I was in tears. Between the solemnity of the occasion, the bagpipers, the flags, the orchestra, the two choirs and the speakers, not to mention the building, I was a wreck.
And why I didn’t think to bring tissues, I don’t know. The speakers were all great but I have to say I was definitely partial to the Baptist Minister, former Secretary of StateNew Jersey. He was quite the preacher man!
As I promised, I would post any memories sent in to me about 9/11/01, please read Heather’s account of that dreadful day, my generation’s day of infamy.
We had left Maine early on September 10th and were planning to stop in NYC to visit our daughter the next day. We stopped overnight at a hotel in southern Connecticut to allow ourselves a relaxed time the next morning before heading into the city for our lunch date. As we were getting dressed, my cell phone rang and it was our oldest son calling from his then home in Hatboro, PA asking if we were watching TV. We had not been but the moment we turned it on, the only images we saw were the scenes of the first plane and then the second plane smashing into the World Trade Center buildings and the attendant misery as a stunned world watched. Everybody was speechless and most of the hotel guests gathered in the lobby to watch the large TV and perhaps share the comfort of being around others
Needless to say, we did not go into Manhattan that day but rather, several hours later, skirted around and headed south on the NJ Turnpike. We were one of the only cars on that road. The plumes of ash and smoke were clearly visible from the NJ side. The rest stops were deserted and nearly all food outlets within them were shuttered. The northbound traffic consisted of fire trucks and emergency vehicles ONLY. It was a surreal spectacle and a surreal experience.
To this day, whenever we pass along the NJ Turnpike, we look over toward Manhattan, and we remember the tragedy of that horrific day.
I’ve blogged about Capt. Timothy Stackpole, whose memorial bracelet I ‘ve been wearing for 10 years, my recent encounters with a fellow blogger and with Michele, two people who actually knew Captain Stackpole and went to his wake and funeral.And last year I did a blog about 9/11 Then and Now. See link below.
I featured the photo of the empty shoes which so poignantly spoke to the loss of so lives and how the left behind living try to cope when there’s no one there to fill those shoes. That memorial display was in New Jersey and in New York City…
A man remembers his father
photo by Murray Head
Memorial bracelet - 10 Years
And Gail sent me this link to one man’s tribute to the wife he lost in The World Trade Center:
There are myriad memorials honoring the dead of 9/11. I found this display to be particularly poignant. 10 years later, we are reminded that in shoes like these, each one of the 2, 974 victims walked out of their homes never to return again. The empty shoes are a visceral reminder of the loss felt by family and friends who lost a loved one in the tragedy.
It’s Thursday night, well actually early Friday morning and as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches… events, memorials, remembrances, prayer services, concerts, readings, forums, panels, meetings, articles, press releases, books, dedications, stories, songs and gatherings are coming together to honor those who died that day.
So in a way, consider this the Amuse-Bouchedu jour and just a little insight into one of the many ways those who survived have managed to continue to survive, using their loss and grief to find within themselves a way to express the deep emotions roiling inside.
One of Michele's many watercolors in her book
I have a new friend and her name is Michele; Attached below is an article written by another new friend, Richard of the BPlot, a weekly feature in The Coaster, a local Jersey Shore newspaper.
How are you honoring the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center? Where were you that day? Would you share some or all of your memories of that time and place in your life? Please send in whatever comments you wish to make about 9/11 either then or now and I will post all.
Did anyone watch the debate between the Republican wannabee Presidents last night? Apparently Newt Gingrich had something to say about the questions the panel posed. He scolded Harris for “trying to get Republicans to fight with each other.” Yes, why does the evil media want people at a debate to disagree? He believes the questions asked were meant to set one Republican against another and make everyone look bad so you all will re-elect Barack Obama!
That’s just great, what a simple way to get our President re-elected. Just think the of the money the Democratic Party will save, no campaigning necessary.
And why is it that this kind of paranoia, these crazy accusations and distortions always seem to come from the extreme right wing of the Republican Party?
Ever wonder who designs the oftentimes exciting, creative way a movie’s title comes across the screen? The graphics are fabulous, the font so unusual and the clever use of the film’s “logo” (think of the Pink Panther creeping along the screen, popping in and out of the text). Well someone comes up with that and it isn’t the director, screenwriter or producer.
Saul Bass was a great designer, famous for his incredible work in film, corporate identity and logos, as well as graphic design. His posters for films such as The Anatomy of Murder and Vertigo are legendary.
The book pictured below will be published in November 2011 and will sell for around $75.00. However, Amazon.com is offering a pre-order discount of 39% off – $49.84. THINK CHRISTMAS!
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
Amuse-Bouche du Jour – The Man Behind The Screen Title
September 7, 2011 by pbenjay
Ever wonder who designs the oftentimes exciting, creative way a movie’s title comes across the screen? The graphics are fabulous, the font so unusual and the clever use of the film’s “logo” (think of the Pink Panther creeping along the screen, popping in and out of the text). Well someone comes up with that and it isn’t the director, screenwriter or producer.
Saul Bass was a great designer, famous for his incredible work in film, corporate identity and logos, as well as graphic design. His posters for films such as The Anatomy of Murder and Vertigo are legendary.
The book pictured below will be published in November 2011 and will sell for around $75.00. However, Amazon.com is offering a pre-order discount of 39% off – $49.84. THINK CHRISTMAS!
Saul Bass A Life in Film and Design
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Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books | Tagged Amazon, Amuse-bouche, Art, Graphic design, Graphic Designers, Martin Scorsese, Pink Panther, Saul Bass, Vertigo | 1 Comment »