|
Dateline: September 23, 2013 (date column written)
MORE ON MAH. MAH really stands for More Arguments and Harangues. The responses to last week’s article on the deterioration of MAH in the last two years have been gratifying and even wonderful…in a way. Before continuing please go see “Museum Hours” at the Nickelodeon. It captures perfectly what so many in our community believe an art museum has been and should be.
Many, many emails came in fast and wonderfully supportive of returning MAH to being a Museum of Art and History. I won’t include anywhere near the amount of words that were received but hopefully enough to convince somebody or somebodies (plural) to re-think and give us back our Art and History.
This one came in within minutes of BrattonOnline being online…” I was so happy to read your piece about the MAH. I was wondering if it was only me who was not happy with the new direction the museum had taken. There are certainly a lot of people at the Friday evening ‘happenings’, so I thought everyone was happy about the new scene. But I was not. My membership is up for renewal; I’ve been a supporter of our local museum for many years now, but I questioned whether I wanted to renew this year. I miss a real museum!“.
This one from a historian, “I thank you. Your review of MAH’s current (one more pop-up museum and I’m going to explode) life is refreshing and courageous. Bravo ‘.
From a former MAH staff member “As a former staff member at MAH, I have to give you praise and thanks for writing the recent article about the Museum of Art & History. While Nina Simon has provided financial stability for the museum, she has caused the institution to sacrifice professional standards and has indeed created a “circus.” I left because of these reasons and the fact that it was turning into another community center rather than a museum. You nailed it on the head, what many of us insiders (staff, historians, artists) have been thinking since 2010 when Nina started, and I applaud you for your article shedding light on this. I have had many conversations with these same individuals, many long-time Santa Cruzan’s like me, who are extremely disappointed by the tackiness. Not everybody is agreeable with this approach and it doesn’t seem representative of our entire community. The MAH can be participatory, engaging, community-focused and fun without compromising professional and aesthetic standards. Our community deserves better from our local museum! In appreciation”, (name withheld).
From a credentialed arts person, “A lot of people have been appalled by the turn away from museum to events center, but very few are willing to speak out publicly or to stand up for the integrity of the institution. Thank you Bruce”.
From a MAH committee member. “I think M.A.H. is in trouble. Wish I could do something more to save it. Keep up your good work. I am reading and listening”.
There were lots more comments such as, “What Nina has done to our MAH is like turning the Del Mar and Nickelodeon into “Chuck E. Cheeses”. Obviously there’s more coming in on Saving MAH. I started listening to and reacting to negative MAH feedback more than a year ago, and am glad to act as a messenger….send me your opinions, and maybe we can make some progress.
MORE ON HERITAGE TREES. I asked Christopher Krohn (former mayor) to report on the City Council’s ruling on cutting down Dentist Christie’s Canary Island pines. He wrote…
“You Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone”
“The trees are too close to the building” was the refrain heard over and over at the City Council meeting last Tuesday (Sept. 10) in deciding to permit Dr. Bill Christie to chainsaw four 80-foot tall Canary Island Pine trees. It is reputed that these trees were planted between 60-70 years ago by none other than Roy Rydell.
Several people spoke for each side and the city’s climate action plan was brought ups several times. In that plan it discusses the importance of the urban forest. Carbon is sequestered by trees and the taller the tree the more carbon sequestered. So, if we are talking about mitigations, leaving four 80-foot trees up is better as a “sink” for carbon than placing more solar on parking lot roofs, if that is the trade-off, according to a local scientist and consultant. Councilmember Micah Posner was the only one, out of seven, who opposed cutting “all” the trees. He was in favor of leaving one, possibly two of the trees. He was spirited in his defense of keeping a tree.
The other council members seemed to rely on the current flawed city heritage tree ordinance in denying the appeal and granting the permit. They either are not aware of their legislative discretion to work out these matters with property owners, or they would just rather city staff make these decisions. It was almost shocking to hear certain council members say that the current ordinance is a good one, and that it is working. Talk about not seeing the urban forest because there are no longer any trees in the way…the city has allowed over 2000 permits to cut heritage trees and denied only a few over the past decade. This appeal, despite the council’s courteous manner, was a very tough sell. It shouldn’t have been this way though.
These trees, not only offer habitat to various birds, insects and other animals, but also provide cooling for at least 3 other buildings in the area that would otherwise be in direct sunlight (heat). What needs to happen now is for the city to: 1) inventory our trees so we know what we have and how many, 2) renew our heritage tree fund, 3) work with property owners to maintain tall trees so as to unburden the owners and make it a shared community responsibility, because it is, and 4) publicly declare the importance, significance, and outright aesthetic qualities of our trees, and see these living specimens as a tourist draw, source of clean air and helps improve our quality of life. Someone said recently, “When the tall trees are gone downtown, they are gone. No one will plant them again.”
TALK ABOUT SPECIAL EVENTS
#1. POMPEII ON WEDNESDAY. Cinema 9 is showing Pompeii at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 25….here’s all I could find in advance.
NCM Fathom Events, The British Museum and More2Screen are thrilled to present Pompeii from the British Museum, the first ever cinema event from the British Museum – an exclusive private view of the major exhibition Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum. The exhibition explores the homes and lives of the inhabitants of the thriving industrial hub of Pompeii and the small seaside town of Herculaneum nearly 2,000 year ago when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. This extraordinary one night event will take place on Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30pm (local time) in select cinemas nationwide. Don’t miss it! Introduced by British Museum Director Neil McGregor, cinema audiences will be treated to an exclusive view of the exhibition with insights from renowned experts who help bring these fascinating objects to life. With accompanying music, poetry and readings from eyewitness accounts, you will go behind the scenes of the exhibition to discover the stories of these famous Roman cities.
| WATCH THE TRAILER |
#2. OTHELLO ON THURSDAY. The Del Mar is shoing Othello on Thursday September 26 at 7:30.
The National Theatre of London presents a major new production of William Shakespeare’s celebrated play about the destructive power of jealousy. Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester (Henry V at the National Theatre, BBC’s Hustle) takes the title role. Playing opposite him as the duplicitous Iago is fellow Olivier Award-winner Rory Kinnear (The Last of the Haussmans, James Bond: Skyfall), who is reunited with director Nicholas Hytner (Timon of Athens, One Man, Two Guvnors) following their acclaimed collaboration on the National Theatre’s recent production of Hamlet. Running Time: 180 minutes. VIEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Special Guest Introduction! Thursday Shakespeare Santa Cruz artistic director Marco Barricelli will introduce the screening from 7-7:25 p.m.
#3. FASHIONARTS ON SATURDAY. Now in it’s eighth year, this is one of Santa Cruz’s most fun nights. Angelo Grova of Michaelangelo Gallery and his team make it happen this Saturday, Sept. 28 at The Civic. The Trunk Show starts at 5 p.m. if you get VIP tickets quickly, and the stage/runway show is at 7 P.m. This year, they have an exciting trunk show featuring 16 vendors selling beautiful jewelry, apparel, accessories and fashion-related goodies. Open to VIP ticket holders before the show, open to the general public during the show (7-9) and for everyone attending the show, you won’t want to miss the excitement in the Civic parking lot after the show lets out! I wouldn’t miss it and never have!! I’ll be wearing Quail Run’s “Non-smoking” Jacket, a very unique one- of- a- kind creation by Judy Swanson.
APTOS LOCAL ECONOMIES. Lots going on in Aptos….both with the Mega Safeway plans being held up for two years….and the stalled plans for. Stay tuned and involved. Read this…
| MUHAMMAD ALI 1981 WEIRD INTERVIEW. |
Aptos residents are concerned about Safeway Corporation’s proposed mega-store expansion plans at Rancho del Mar Shopping Center.
To learn more, please click here to read our 2 page PDF.
To sign the online petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/reject-the-aptos-safeway-mega-expansion.
To send a message to Zach Friend, Santa Cruz District 2 Supervisor: zach.friend@co.santa-cruz.ca.us
| Tom Noddy sent this great parody of the Nazis doing the Lambeth Walk. |
Please forward this info on to friends and neighbors. Together, we have a voice for the future of Aptos!
Please JOIN Aptos residents in protecting our community.
October 8, 2013 at 7:15 pm (free)
ALE meets monthly the 2nd Tuesday of the month,
at the Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos, CA 95003
PATTON’S PROGRAM. Gary talks about The Santa Cruz City Council dealing with The Heritage Tree ordinance plus medical marijuana. He Talks about Verizon’s Cell Tower versus the neighbors in Carmel Valley. Methyl bromide and the legal issues around its use and a forum about the development of Fort Ord. Read all of above at Gary’s KUSP Land Use scripts http://blogs.kusp.org/landuse Gary Patton, former Santa Cruz County Supervisor, and attorney who represents individuals and community groups on land use and environmental issues. The opinions expressed are Mr. Patton’s. Gary has his own website, “Two Worlds / 365? – www.gapatton.net
VINTAGE DE CINZO. DeCinzo took a look at military recruiting on the UCSC Campus a few years ago…see downwards a few pages…
EAGANS DEEP COVER. Tim Eagan gives us « Common Sense Solutions » for damned near everything…ha !! Scroll below a few pages
MY GRANDSON LEONARDO BOULANGER ON CBS !! Daughter Jennifer (graduate of Davenport Pacific Elementary,Westlake, Santa Cruz High and beyond)sent this video clip of grandson Leonardo Boulanger and dad George Boulanger in a kayak helping clean up Marina Del Rey waters on Coastal Clean-Up Day.
LISA JENSEN LINKS. Lisa writes: “This week at Lisa Jensen Online Express (http://ljo-express.blogspot.com), experience the heyday of Beatlemania with the 17-year-old Liverpool girl who became The Beatles’ personal secretary in Good Ol’ Freda. And visit a spiritual and musical medieval landscape in a new stage production about the trials and travels of 15th Century mystic Margery Kempe.” Lisa has been writing film reviews and columns for Good Times since 1975.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
……In order of perfection……
MUSEUM HOURS. A perfectly wonderful film filmed almost entirely inside Vienna’s Grand Art Museum. There’s a continuing story about bthe guard and his relationship with a woman visitor. It proves what most of us believe an art museum should give us. History, imagination, tradition, controversy, a peaceful place to ponder humanity and our creativity. I rarely if ever do this but go to Rotten Tomatoes and see what other critics say about this masterpiece. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/museum_hours I am not fooling when I say it changes the way you look at the world and art especially after the scene with the docent….see this film and see it quickly, and remember when our MAH would have such an inspiring impact!!
| WOMEN’S SEX ADDICTION. Just go online and check out the huge number of AA type sites for sex addiction. This is one about women’s sex addiction. |
THANKS FOR SHARING. Mark Ruffalo and Gwenyth Paltrow do fine work in this serious comedy. It’s about AA and Tim Robbins as a spoonser all dealing with sex addiction. See that You Tube an inch or two above these words. I didn’t know if they were kidding about there being an AA concept for sex addiction….and I’m still not sure. A good film never the less and another idea for a better title would be…”Much Ado About Rutting“.
SALINGER.I’d forgotten that three (3) crazed killers actually used Salinger’s Catcher in The Rye as justifying their killing. This is one odd movie. It seems to confuse Salinger with God, or somebody more special than just a writer. Like Thomas Pynchon he became a recluse and shied away from the public. The film says that his “newest” material like a few books will be released next year!!! We’ll soon see if he was worth all the spying and guessing. Only see this if Catcher STILL means that much to you. Wait until they do a film on Pynchon, then I’ll get to tell about my meeting him over in Live Oak when he lived here!!!.
POPULAIRE. An almost Jerry Lewis level French film parodying Hollywood cutesy romantic comedies of the ‘50’s. It takes place in Paris 1958 and is all about speed typing. I kept noticing that the french typewriter keys use AZERTY and not QWERTY like ours. Maybe rent it at Thanksgiving when the relatives are here.
STILL PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR US
(from BEST 2 worst)
SHORT TERM 12. I Left the theatre in such awe that I was calling it the best film of the year. Then I saw on Rotten Tomatoes that more than half the other critics said exactly the same thing…this is the best film of the year. Brie Larsen as a supervisor of at risk teenagers in a facility probably near San Diego is perfect in the part. All the acting is perfect, it’s a gut wrenching accurate portrayal of not just the teen agers but everyone involved. Please see this film if you appreciate good films.
BLUE JASMINE. Don’t expect to see much of San Francisco in this one, even though Woody loves “The City”, he didn’t show us much of it onscreen. Cate Blanchett goes beyond acting…she digs deeper into her character than we’ve ever seen onscreen. She is simply brilliant. Alec Baldwin is perfect as a sleek, snaky “Mr. Smarmy” type. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. You’ll fall all over in your praise of Mr. W. Allen and his “on again-off again” directing technique. See this movie just as soon as you possibly can.
PATIENCE STONE. A young Muslim girl is married to an oldformer Jihadist hero who has been totally paralyzed and just lies there through almost the entire film just breathing. She pours her life out to him and he is as patient as a stone. Go see this movie…it’ll tear you apart and you’ll love it.
THERESE. Audrey Tautou is an unhappy wife in this 1920 French setting drama. It’s about women’s place in history, love, tradition, and just plain survival. An excellent movie.
SPECTACULAR NOW.Remember Shailene Woodley? Well, not by name- nobody does, but she was George Clooney’s fantastic teen age daughter in The Descendents. She’s back as anolder teenager in this serious, beautifully directed, thoughtful movie. There’s a bunch of teen- age- angst movies lately and I like them, mostly. We’ve all been there and done that, and this movie will touch all of your rough memories.
DRINKING BUDDIES. This is one of thosevery hip new indie films where,I’ll bet, no one had a script. It looks just about spontaneous and it’s mostly boring about beer and couples making in a very large Chicago brewery. Olivia Wilde is gorgeous to watch and she was one of the producers too. Maybe rent it later, unless you attend AA meetings, in which case forget it entirely.
CLOSED CIRCUIT. This movie is almost like part of PBS’s “Silk” series, and that’s good. Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall act as two London lawyers and there’s a lot about British law problems. The main deal is a terrorist action and who’s secretly involved. You really don’t need to see this one…there are plot holes, and doesn’t it seem like many movies have plot holes recently?? Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 44. R. Tomatoes gave Getaway a 2!!!
RIDDICK. Vin Diesel is back whether you like it or not. He’s created his own, what you might call “acting style’. And like the earlier two Riddick films it’s got cheap special effects, miserable monsters BUT it’s exactly what Riddick fans want. Only see it IF you liked the first two Riddick jobs.
GRANDMASTER. I took about three years of film classes in Asian film from Earl Jackson at UCSC. He taught us a lot about Asian Film. Then he moved to Korea to teach Koreans about film!! Now he lives in Taiwan. He taught us how and why Wong Kar Wai the director of Grandmaster, is a great and exciting film maker. Wong Kar Wai directed Chungking Express, In The Mood For Love, Ashes of Time, and more masterpieces. Grandmaster is a dramatic bio-pic of Ip Man, an iconic martial arts teacher. It’s historical, perfectly photographed, grandly acted, confusing, and disapointing…unless you like any and all of Wong Kar Wai’s films, and I do.
ELYSIUM. Matt Damon , through some Hollywood miracle is becoming a much better actor than anyone thought possible. Jodi Foster is always a magnetic screen attraction except that her “accent” in this sci-fi film gets way out of her control. It’s about the year 2159 and how all the rich and perfect people live on a “2001” type wheel circling in outer space. The poor people who live on a savaged and depleted earth suffer a lot just like Bladerunner stuff. Earthman Matt Damon works hard to save the earth people. IF (that big word again) IF you like sci-fi films this is a fairly good one. An overused plot but effective…but only on a big screen.
THE BUTLER. A very odd film. At moments it’s moving, deep, and influential. But Oprah Winfrey will always be Oprah, and you won’t forget that it’s Oprah being Mrs. Butler. Forest Whitaker has never been my favorite actor and he’s worse in this feel-almost-good flick. Robin Williams playing Eisenhower? John Cusack as Nixon? Alan Rickman as Ronnie Reagan? But Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan is terrific!! And nope, you never get to see who would have played Obama. Wait a couple of weeks and rent it.
THE WORLDS END. This is part of a genre-parody-comedy-trilogy (which I didn’t know or remember) Shaun of the Dead, and Hot Fuzz being the other two movies. These guys (Simon Pegg is one of them) attempt to drink one beer at each of a bunch of pubs. The World’s End is the name of the last pub. Shaun of The Dead parodied zombie films and this one parodys another genre. It’s as if you were watching Mary Poppins and all of a sudden Bruce Willis comes in and shoots everybody. I sure wouldn’t see it twice.
THE FAMILY. Robert DeNiro plays another Mafia made man and Michelle Pfeiffer does her best with this boring, predictable, over used plot. DeNiro informed on the mob and the fuzz moved them to France for protection. Lots of blood, few if any laughs, and it’s still boring. You’ve seen it all before.
AUSTENLAND. I like Jane Austen books, and I’ve liked most of the films made from her books, and I walked out after the first ten minutes of this cheap and ignorant comedy. There is not one second of British humor in it, it’s gross, poorly directed and a complete waste of everybody’s time. It’s about an American Jane Austen fan who saves her money, goes to England and visits the hokey- schlocky Austenland. Don’t even rent it.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE. Each and every Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. I host Universal Grapevine on KZSC 88.1 fm. or on your computer (live only or sometimes old programs are archived… (See next paragraph) and go to WWW.KZSC.ORG. Author, poet, retired Cabrilho College professor Don Young also returns on September 24 to talk about his two new collections. Linda Hoeger- Thompson and Gus Ceballos talk about Companion for Life programs and services after Don Young. On October 1st Peggy Dolgenos co-owner/director of Cruzio will tell us what’s new in the internet world followed by Bruce Van Allen illuminating De-Sal and other pressing issues. Cathy Pickerrell from the Santa Cruz Chamber Players opens the program on October 8, then John Hibble curator of the Aptos History Museum talks about old and new things. Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold returns to co-host the bi annual Pledge Drive on Oct. 22. Do remember, any and all suggestions for future programs are more than welcome so tune in, and keep listening. Email me always at bratton@cruzio.com with program ideas.
UNIVERSAL GRAPEVINE ARCHIVES. In case you missed some of the great people I’ve interviewed in the last 5 years here’s a chronological list of just this year’s podcasts. Click herehttp://kzsc.org/blog/tag/universal-grapevine then tap on “listen here” to hear any or all of them… all over again. The update includes Nikki Silva, Michael Warren, Tom Noddy, Anita Monga, Mark Wainer, Judy Johnson-Darrow, Wendy Mayer-Lochtefeld, Rachel Goodman, George Newell, Tubten Pende, Gina Marie Hayes, Rebecca Ronay-Hazleton, Miriam Ellis, Deb Mc Arthur, The Great Morgani on Street performing, and Paul Whitworth on Krapps Last Tape. Jodi McGraw on Sandhills, Bruce Daniels on area water problems. Mike Pappas on the Olive Connection, Sandy Lydon on County History. Paul Johnston on political organizing, Rick Longinotti on De-Sal. Dan Haifley on Monterey Bay Sanctuary, Dan Harder on Santa Cruz City Museum. Sara Wilbourne on Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre. Brian Spencer on SEE Theatre Co. Paula Kenyon and Karen Massaro on MAH and Big Creek Pottery. Carolyn Burke on Edith Piaf. Peggy Dolgenos on Cruzio. Julie James on Jewel Theatre Company. Then there’s Pat Matejcek on environment, Nancy Abrams and Joel Primack on the Universe plus Nina Simon from MAH, Rob Slawinski, Gary Bascou, Judge Paul Burdick, John Brown Childs, Ellen Kimmel, Don Williams, Kinan Valdez, Ellen Murtha, John Leopold, Karen Kefauver, Chip Lord, Judy Bouley, Rob Sean Wilson, Ann Simonton, Lori Rivera, Sayaka Yabuki, Chris Kinney, Celia and Peter Scott, Chris Krohn, David Swanger, Chelsea Juarez…and that’s just since January 2011. Hear them all!!!
QUOTES. “I always pass on good advice— it’s the only thing one can do”, Oscar Wilde.
“First Left, go along the corridor. You’ll see a door marked Gentlemen, but don’t let that deter you”, F.E.Smith. “If this is the way Queen Elizabeth treats her prisoners, she doesn’t deserve to have any”, Oscar Wilde.
Subscriptions: Click and enter the box in the upper right hand corner of each Column. You’ll get a weekly email notice the instant the column goes online. (Anywhere from Monday afternoon through Thursday or sometimes as late as Friday!) Always free and confidential. Even I don’t know who subscribes!!
Snail Mail: Bratton Online
82 Blackburn Street, Suite 216
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Direct email: Bratton@Cruzio.com
Direct phone: 831 423-2468
All Technical & Web details: Gunilla Leavitt @ gunilla@thegoldenfleece.com
BEST OF VINTAGE STEVEN DeCINZO.
Deep Cover by Tim Eagan.
