the second movie i saw in church last week was during the annual
procession of ghouls at the cathedral of st. john the divine.
the film was dr. caligari’s cabinet of wonder, a seminal
silent movie accompanied with live (but digital) organ music
and a gaggle of ghoulies designed by the superior spookmaster,
ralph lee.

for someone who doesn’t really go to church, i spend a lot of time in churches.
usually i’m just picking up st. jude to have his flame rekindled, or returning
st. teresa with redder roses, (so far this is sounding way more euphemistic
and sacreligious than intended) but sometimes i’m working on site, putting
color in the cheeks of jesus or, say, giving a manicure to the mother of god.

but twice this week, i went to church and wasn’t on the clock, i was watching
movies. cine cappelini, is the inspired and inspiring celebration hosted and
co-directed by kamel boutros and anna mosby colman. anna made a
spectacular meal for all who came in out of the rain to attend. we broke
bread in kamel’s apartment, then went downstairs to the church, where
he works as music director, for the screenings. they had curated a
thematically wondrous menu of film and video, moving us from despair
and loss, through the resilient human spirit into joy and vitality.
this was my ideal evening- artists showing art, sharing food and optimism,
without the confusion of commerce or institutional involvement – a pure and
generous gesture.

more about church movies tomorrow…

We spent an amazing yesterday at the Swedish Massage Institute.
For fifty bucks, you can spend a full day in a workshop learning, giving
and receiving Swedish and Shiatsu massage techniques with a friend,
amidst a beautifully diverse cross-section of New York couplings…

-The glowing, cafe-au-lait-colored Raquell was there with her mom.
-The delicate and Japanese Hirome brought her spongier brother, Hiro.
(He squished her a little during Shiatsu; she choked him a little when
it was her turn.)
-A frizzy-haired blonde girl brought her frizzy-haired silver mom, who
mimed the instructor’s hands as he worked on the first volunteer.
-Diane, in her Phat Farm sweatsuit spoke in Spanish to Armande.
-The sweaterdress lady in pumps spoke in Polish to her dark-haired husband.
-The bald, blue-eyed, GermanEddie came alone and was paired up
with the skinny, GreyingDavid, who wore his pants both too big, and too high.

Everyone laughed when i said that my favorite part was Scout snoring a little
during Swedish (in a way that made us think they had heard it, too).

The massage and T’ai Ch’i master, Bob

today we piled in the astrovan for the infamous redhook happening
that has brought foodies from around the world clamoring to a
community soccer field in brooklyn.

ma and pa type vendors set up grills and coolers around the perimeter
of the field to sell the most amazing and delicious and inexpensive
latino lunches a person could hope for.

each tent represented a different country’s indigenous snacks.

i can’t tell you how good this food was. you must go – tomorrow
or next weekend- because the season ends then. next year
the vendors will have to follow a whole new set of codes, which
could change the funky feel of the place.

and right now, it’s very, very close to heavenly…

i don’t know what to say today. my thoughts are muddled,
and i’m pre-emptively editing. may these images be a visual
mantra for clarity of thought and for the easy realization of ideas.

a raymond pettibone drawing at david zwirner gallery

we spent the weekend driving around upstate new york.

the light is so remarkable there.

there was a clarity to the air, and a golden-ness to the light.
there were several times when my heart raced with how beautiful it was.
it has me thinking about landscape painting.