Oct 16 2024
Last week we had an introduction to the Brumberg Sisters, and this week we have another great film by the duo, featuring one of the scariest characters of folklore, Baba-Yaga. While this fairy tale, and others, portray her as a child-hunting witch, there are some different renditions of Baba-Yaga. In Slavic folklore, Baba-Yaga is typically …
Oct 14 2024
William Larson is a name that resonates in the realm of contemporary photography. Born on this day October 14, 1942 in North Tonawanda, New York, Larson is recognized for his pioneering work with conceptual pieces and his innovative use of sequential images to explore themes of time, movement, and change. His profound understanding of the photographic …
Oct 12 2024
The world of illustration has seen many brilliant artists, but few have left as profound an impact as Serge Clerc. Known for his distinctive and captivating style, Clerc’s work is characterized by its intricate detail, vivid colors, and unique fusion of pop culture references with a classic comic book aesthetic. His illustrations not only resonate …
Oct 10 2024
Born on this day October 10, 1959, Kirsty MacColl, a highly regarded singer-songwriter, touched the music world with her unique blend of new wave and folk influences. Her untimely demise left a void in the music industry that can never be filled. Yet, her timeless hits continue to resonate, providing a lasting testament to her …
Oct 09 2024
Meet the Brumberg Sisters, Valentina and Zinaida Brumberg, both Moscow-born artists who worked together as animators, screenwriters, and directors, creating around 50 films in total. Made in 1937, this is their spooky animation of Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Perrault’s version was a cautionary message to children about stranger danger. Soviet Film …
Sep 26 2024
In the history of country music legends, few stars shine as brightly as Marty Robbins. A master storyteller with a voice as smooth as Tennessee whiskey, Robbins changed the landscape of the genre, particularly through his unforgettable Western ballads. Let’s saddle up and ride through the remarkable life and career of this country music icon, …
Sep 23 2024
Remember when the future looked like a utopia of flying cars, robot maids, and meals at the push of a button? If you’re feeling a twinge of nostalgia, you’re not alone. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the beloved animated series that captured our imaginations and shaped our visions of the future …
Sep 18 2024
Here’s a little treat for this Wednesday: a jam ad created for Russian Sugar directed by Yuri Norstein. It was one of a group of Russian Sugar commercials made by Norstein between 1994 and 1995 that used cutouts and drawings for the animations (a bit past the Soviet era but still delightful and created by …
Sep 15 2024
Picture this: a dimly lit studio, filled with layers upon layers of intricately cut paper figures, and a man hunched over his work table, bringing life to these static images one frame at a time. This is the world of Yuri Norstein, often hailed as the greatest animator of all time. Born on this day …
Sep 14 2024
In his essay of the “Cultures of Tiki,” Scott Lukas noted that in modern presentations of Tiki cultures that had little to do with Tiki of the past like the soft surf culture and the former car culture. These are now becoming a part of the Tiki culture. This is particularly true of surf music, …
