Tim Burton MoMA

I am often dumbstruck by human achievements. Depending on the morning, the feeling could be brought upon by a burnt Jesus' face on a pancake, other days it takes a hike up a towering pyramid in Bosnia, stretching it's peak into a cloudless sky. Two weeks ago, that very same emotion was evoked by the superb collection of Tim Burton's art at MoMA.

Combining humor and fright in his 40 years of twisted artistry, his creations made from rubber, film, Polaroid, and paper are displayed in a delightful set-up. Four hundred plus drawings framed above life-sized models are a stunning sight to behold.

The exhibit is organized roughly chronologically, encompassing generations of movie paraphernalia from the rubber heads of Hugh Grant and Sara Jessica Parker from Mars Attacks, to mini models of the infamous Jack Skeleton from Nightmare Before Christmas, to name a few. Not to be missed: the Batman suit worn by Michael Keaton, book proposal full of wicked drawings and stories written by teenage Burton, and the rows of pencil and pen sketches. It sounds so trite to say, but there really isn't anyone that has an imagination like Tim Burton does anymore.

As for the nitty gritty, the price of the postcards are worth the two bucks you pay and they are great keepsakes for the uniqueness of experience. I bought four and framed the little mini-artworks on my walls. I only wish I went on a group tour, as there's no doubt much magic behind the common themes in all his work.

If I won the Superbowl...

I would make this my victory song.

*watch

Jeremy Renner Charms the Brattle Theatre

Actor Jeremy Renner talked, riffed and answered audience questions at the 3rd Annual Boston Film Critics Award last night at Brattle Theater in Cambridge. The crowd -- 500 or so people -- was an mix of film critics, Harvard students, white-haired movie aficionados and even Julia Child's niece Philadelphia Cousins.

Renner, who has acted in 28 Weeks Later, Lords of Dogtown, and Dahmer, (and probably something I've left out) is up for an Oscar for his performance in Hurt Locker. The first thing out of his mouth when asked why director, Katherine Bigelow did not chose well known actors to work in her movie. A simple, courteous, "I don't know."

"The movie creates a lot of tension, you wouldn't expect an actor like Tom Cruise to work in this movie because he has a lot of baggage." said Renner. "I've died in 99% of what I've done as an actor, so you expect I would die in this one too."

Renner talked about his excitement for the movie after the two and a half years of filming and preparing for the role. He said, over the last 18 months, getting picked up by the Venice and Toronto film festival awards has made it easier to swallow. "It's real to me now. There's value to this movie. I can sit here on stage enjoying a scotch."

At one point an audience member asked Renner what his motivation was for playing his character. Renner looked amused by the question. "I'm not going to tell you the answer. I don't know what it's like to have my life on the line. In fact, I faked how it was to have my life on the line."

When answering what is next, Renner said he had finished filming a Boston based movie directed by Ben Affleck called The Town, "Yeah we robbed everything. I liked robbing the North End. I had a townie haircut, it didn't look good on me."

The final audience question: Do you think your going to win the Oscar for best actor? Renner sipped his scotch and sat back, pausing before answering the question. "I have already won my friend. This is victory."

The last few hours of studenthood...

at least for this degree.

A New York Weekend

When I am in New York, I'm guaranteed a smile. Sometimes it's from the owner of a Ray's Pizza joint or the toothless grandma watching fast-walkers or a Brooklyn cutie peeking over his Bulgakov novel.

Somehow the weight of world dissipates when I'm visiting this bright city even on a cold January day.

New York tends to be thought of as the major incubator of creativity, its the driving force of art and architecture, writing, fashion and music. Always taking us in dynamic and innovative directions. New York is our connection with the rest of the world to the art scene.

Looking at any New York event calendar, you will find traveling art exhibits, speakeasies, creative dining, to live performances, and film happenings, it's surprising that so much can go on in one city all the time.

New York offers a chock full of ways to be inspired. And for this reason I am taking a weekend trip to NYC to work in cafes and crank out the last articles in my series.

Good Luck Good Truckin' Tonight

At the end of my trip to Austin, back in September, I met a country western musician named Dale Watson who had been performing at a bar during chicken shit bingo. Watching the band perform, I was mesmerized by Dale's style and soulful music. Striking up a conversation with him, it turned out he was a gentle being who had a curious nature too. After figuring out each other's story, Dale said he would put me and my friend on the guest-list for his performance the next night. Megan and I made a bet that he actually would (me) /wouldn't (she) follow through.

After a day out in the Texan heat, we went to the venue to cool down and listen to some music. Sure enough, our names were on the list. Dale wrapped up the set, greeted us with two Lone Star beers and we talked till the bar closed. We exchanged emails--knowing we would never see each other again.

But providence intervened one day in the form of being at the right place at the right time.

My friend Doug and I were waiting in line to get tickets to see the Noevelle Vague show in Boston. I had previously purchased my ticket and Doug was seeing if he could get one at the box office. No such luck. Doug jokingly said that he would go see this Dale Watson band pointing across the street. My mind had no recognition of the familiar name until I turned and saw it written along the side of a big ruby-red bus. I know that guy! I immediately enlisted Doug to come with me.

I had the script laid out in my muffled head of what I would say. Dale's tour manager told us to wait as Dale was changing. I filled Doug in on how I knew a country western musician. Doug was confused, but of course, laughed at the story. The tour manager signaled us to come in.

Dale greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and excitedly proclaimed, "You remembered I was playing Boston." I will say it was an extremely odd and tense minute while I explained that this was just a coincidence and I was actually seeing the band across the street. Dale didn't seem to mind.

We wrapped up our friendly conversation and I went to go see my show while Dale went to go play his. I told Doug he should go see Dale's show. "I already got a show tonight," Doug replied.

I should clarify right away here that I wasn't interested in this musician or was he in me. It would be pleasurable for me to continue on explaining this stuff with details, but I know my reader's attention spans are short and so is mine in writing this. Any proper storyteller would find huge gaps in my narrative, as I have left dialogue out, not to mention skipping over some pretty vital detail like what the hell is chicken shit bingo. I assure you, if this were a short story I would be lavishing you with details. But it's a blog post. That alone warrants me to keep it short.

I will leave you with this video: