Admittedly, when I first heard of the Brewery Art Walk I pictured people walking around, imbibing large quantities of beer while perusing art which I didn't think was necessarily a great combo, but certainly a fun idea. I thought for sure this would guarantee I could get any male friends to come as they'll go just about anywhere if there are drinks to be had. It turns out that's not really how it works. There is beer, but that's hardly a main point. By and large, I did not see too many people drinking beer and only once did I see anyone with beer in hand inside an actual studio and she was making me nervous with it, I'm not going to lie. She was definitely there for the beer.
Anyway, what it actually is, based on the little bit of info I managed to gather, is an old Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery (hence the name) which is no longer in use, but has, for some reason become a little community of artists who live and work in the lofts/studios within the complex. I find the whole idea of a bunch of artists living and creating all within a complex that used to be Brewery very, very cool, especially when you're within the space and get a vibe of what it might be like to live there. If I'd had the nerve I might have asked if it's as cool as it sounds, or if it's pretty much like living anywhere else which I honestly can't imagine being the case.
Two weekends a year they open up this little compound of theirs and let the public into their work spaces which are also, essentially their homes, and let us have a look at their art which pretty much ranges through every kind of genre and medium you can think of. There were quite a few pieces I'd have loved to have purchased (but maybe I couldn't realistically afford). At some point though I really want one of these lamps by Peri Shefik:
I've got my eye on the alphabet lamp. Maybe for Christmas...
Then of course, there was some stuff that well... were unlike anything I've seen before. Namely that of Ryan Patterson which was one of the coolest and creepiest lofts we went into. They were serving some kind of alcoholic beverage in test tube as you walked in, and the entire thing was like something out of a scary movie. I half expected one of these dolls to jump out and attack me. Totally creeped me out but it was great. (Sorry for the not so great pic, didn't want to use flash and couldn't get a good angle without a shadow).
I went on Sunday and made the mistake of waiting until around two to get there. There is much to see and getting there that late in the day made it hard to get to everything I wanted to. I imagine I saw about half of the entire thing. It didn't help that I stopped about an hour in to have a late, late lunch as I hadn't had anything to eat, and couldn't concentrate on the art because I was busy trying to suppress my loud stomach grumbling. So, yes, there's food- mainly hot dogs, chili, a few salads and some baked goods. Not a lot of variety or options but will do in a pinch.
I fully intend to go again next year, though earlier and better fed so that I can see more!
Here aresome additional, random pics I took:
I unfortunately did not get the name of this artist...
Can I just talk about how much I love this show? As far as I'm concerned, everything about it is perfection. Every time I watch it the word that repeatedly comes to mind is delicious. Just everything about it is simply delicious.
First off, the actors are not only perfectly cast but are just ridiculously good. They're all amazing. I almost can't stand it. I watched ER, but I don't think I appreciatedJulianna Margulies until now. She's great. And her chemistry with Will? Electric. As for Chris Noth (Peter), I don't even think of him as "Big" (from Sex and the City) anymore- and seriously, that's saying a lot, because what woman from the age of twenty and up doesn't know him from that show? Anyway, moving on. I was positively giddy when I found out Alan Cumming would be joining the show because I've been a fan for a long time, and he didn't disappoint. I love him as Eli Gold. I only wish there were more of him. And Christine Baranski? Please. I could watch an entire episode of just her talking.
The wardrobe is absolute eye-candy, is it not? It makes me want to work at that law firm so that I can be an impeccable dresser too, because I assume it just comes with the job, yes? I would think Alicia's attire would pose some problems as far as keeping it interesting because it seems like it could be a bit limiting, but it's always great! And don't get me started on her make-up!
Last but not least regarding wardrobe: the men. All I have to say is Sweet Jesus, I love them all because they are absolutely gorgeous in their beautiful suits! Cary Grant would be proud.
Lastly, can we talk set design? Because, really, that is the thing, maybe more than anything else, that just makes me squirm in my seat (in a good way) and possibly distracts me from the actual dialogue. I cannot stop staring at the sets! First of all, that law office. If I worked there, I'd be happy to put in over time. In fact, I'd probably need to because I'd be distracted all day just by staring at all the beautiful furniture around me.
And I want to live in Alicia's apartment. I honestly cannot watch a scene that takes place there and focus on dialogue because I am busy just looking at wall colors, and bookshelves, and that kitchen! Lord, I want that kitchen- and it's not even a color scheme I ever thought I was interested in, but it's gorgeous and I want it and until I can afford to redo mine like that, I just I wish Alicia would spend more time in there cooking, or at least hanging out in there talking to her kids or Peter, so I can look at it some more .
But then there's the living room with the gorgeous bookshelves. I'm a sucker for a room with bookshelves. It could be a crappy room with bookshelves and I'd be in love, but a gorgeous room with bookshelves? Well, there are no words. I guess it'd be ok if she wanted to spend more time hanging out there, just drinking some wine or whatnot.
So yeah... all in all I just love this show. I love looking at the show and I want to live in it. Yep, I want to pour myself a glass of wine in Alicia's kitchen, wander over to the living room and then just sit there staring at everything in the room. Maybe have Will come over in one of his gorgeous suits and have some wine with me... while Eli yells at someone-I don't care who- on the phone in the beautiful kitchen.
I've been seriously, seriously broke for some time now. It sucks, make no mistake, but if I opt for the glass half full view of things, I have to say the upside is that it's really forced me to get creative with how I find ways to keep busy, and I've been finding some fun, interesting and free stuff to do. Truth be told, I probably would have preferred not to be broke and have gone on in ignorance, but alas, here I am, and damn it, I'm gonna make the best of it. I guess. To that end, I spend a lot of time scouring websites, blogs and newspapers for stuff to do that's free or practically free. It was through one of these websites that I found a free screening of the movie Conviction, followed by a Q&A with Sam Rockwell. How awesome is that? Not only do I get to watch a free movie, I get to hear from one of the actors after. Not too shabby!
The screening was hosted by Backstage and held at The Linwood Dunn Theaterwhich is on Vine in Hollywood. Never hear of it? Yeah, neither had I. So imagine my surprise when it turns out it's within walking distance of one of my favorite places to visit: Amoeba Records, on Sunset Blvd.. I'd never noticed it there because it's actually not your average movie theater where there are multiple screens, and a concession stand. It's only one theater, with a 280+ people capacity inside what appears to bee an average office building from the outside, which apparently is the Academy of Arts and Sciences (or "the Oscars") Mary Pickford Center of Motion Picture Study. In any case, it's a nice little theater which is in pristine condition and actually still smells brand-spankin' new, which I'm pretty sure it is. Then again, I could be wrong, I really don't have a clue about that. The outside lobby and hallways are lined with large, colorful and quite beautiful Classic Movie posters, as well as a few large Oscar statuettes. Despite having a camera on me, I was not sure if we were allowed to use them inside so I didn't dare take any pictures. I didn't want to get kicked out so quickly upon arriving, as you might imagine.
As for the movie, it's based on a true story about a man (Sam Rockwell) who is sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit and his sister (played by Hilary Swank) who puts herself through law school and pretty much dedicates her life to proving his innocence and setting him free. In addition to Hillary Swank and Sam Rockwell, the cast includes Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Peter Gallagher. With actors of that caliber I imagine it's not necessary for me to say how great the acting is. But if you're thinking it is necessary, perhaps you should go out and rent some movies. I'm just sayin'. The movie is a bit slow at times but I found the story and the acting to be good enough that I didn't get restless. Juliette Lewis has a small amount of screen time but I thought she was amazing. I don't know that she had a big enough role to be able to be nominated for an Academy Award, but she was that good, in my opinion. As were Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell.
After the movie, as I mentioned, there was a Q&A with Sam Rockwell. He was interviewed by someone from Backstage for some time before taking questions from the audience. As a lot of the people there were apparently SAG members, there were a lot of questions about method, craft and representation, and while I'm very much not in the business, I still found a lot of that quite interesting. Also, I might mention, it was a damned well-dressed, good looking crowd. Is it a SAG thing? I don't know.
But back to Sam, he did tell this story which got a laugh (not so much because of the story but because of the answer to the question after) ,about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Fordand how he, Jeremy Renner and one of the other guys from the cast (can't remember who) all auditioned for Casey Affleck's role (Robert Ford) because that's the part they all really wanted. When he didn't get it, he was offered the part of Charley Ford which he really didn't want to do. Apparently, Brad Pitt really wanted him to take the role and kept trying to convince him to do it but Sam kept turning him down. Brad, who wasn't going to take no for answer, apparently showed up at Sam's door out of the blue and unannounced to talk him into it. After hanging out for a little bit at the house, Sam agreed to take the role. When the interviewer asked how Brad had even gotten his address to show up unannounced, Sam just shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and said "He's fuking Brad Pitt!".
He told another story about how a film canister containing sixteen hours of film was destroyed at the airport after being x-rayed despite being sealed with tape saying "Do not X-Ray". As it turned out, the film that was destroyed was of the hardest scenes he and Hilary had in the movie, both physically and mentally. So much so, that one of the actors or crew (he couldn't remember which) remarked that they wouldn't want to have to do that again! To break the news to them, Samuel Goldwyn, the director, asked to speak to Sam and Hilary in Hilary's trailer. After telling them they'd have to shoot it all over again, Hilary, trying to stay positive, according to Sam, (and maybe wishfully thinking) asked Goldwyn, "Are you sure it was the whole thing? How about the middle of the spool? Did they check that? Maybe some of that can be saved?" And then, Sam, (acting as Hilary) making a circle with his finger that indicated the spool was getting smaller and nearer to the center, asked, "or how about just in there? Could any of that have made it?", which got a sympathetic laugh from the audience. None of it was salvageable of course, so it did need to be re-shot, the prospect of which made Sam stress out so much he felt nauseated. In the end he said he felt it was actually a better performance on his part, so it worked out.
After the Q&A, Sam and his girlfriend Leslie Bibb, who'd been sitting in the audience, took off out a side door. Had I known that side entrance only lead to the lobby and that he'd be out there talking to some people and taking pictures, I'd have hauled ass out of the theater. Unfortunately I did not know that, and by the time we got out he was just about wrapping up the conversation and picture taking and seemed in a hurry to get out of there, so just as I was working my way through the remaining crowd, toward him, camera in hand, he took off! Bummer.
Anyway, all in all, it was a very good, free evening!
