PART 2: La piel que habito..."Art is a guarantee of sanity"

(Quote by Louise Bourgeois, 1911-2010)


for Part 1: La piel que habito...click here.


I experienced Almodóvar's latest film, La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I live In) last week and it left me in a pensive mood for days.  I read the synopsis, saw the beautiful trailer, and was lured by the gorgeous publicity shots for months. . .but nothing prepared me for the skillfully gruesome masterpiece.  Almodóvar is a genius.  I'm particularly glad he didn't cast Penelope Cruz for the part of Vera, because Elena Anaya portrays her beautifully.  This film is not for everybody, but if you're already an Almodóvar fan, you'll be in awe for days. FYI: Antonio Banderas is fiercely good. 


I'm most elated with Almodóvar's respectful homage to the French/American artist, Louise Bourgeois, who recently passed away at the age of 98. If you are familiar with her work,  you'll understand the leading female character, Vera, with great richness.  


After you watch the film, I invite you to come back to this post and study how I've grouped the selected images below. . .

Quien me quiera amar,  
amará tambien lo peor de mi, con ardor. 
(Buika, "Por el amor de amar")

Why Have You Run So Far Away? 
(Louise Bourgeois, head with pink fabric,1993)

Arch of Hysteria 
(Louise Bourgeois, 1993)

Image credits (from top to bottom)
1. Elena Anaya as VERA with "healing" mask. Image borrowed from here.  
2. Louise Bourgeois UNTITLED, 2002.  Image borrowed from the Cheim & Read Gallery website.
3. Close-up of VERA borrowed from here.
4. Image of Spanish actor, Jan Cornet, as VICENTE.
5. Louise Bourgeois sculpture: Nature Study, 1984.
6. Louise Bourgeois, The Couple (detail) 2007.  (Gouache on paper, suite of 18, Collection Louise Bourgeois Trust, courtesy Cheim & Read Gallery, New York and Hauser & Wirth Gallery, London. © Louise Bourgeois Trust. Photo: Christopher Burks.)
7. Image of Spanish actor, Jan Cornet, as VICENTE.
8. Louise Bourgeois head with pink fabric: "Why Have You Run So Far Away?" (1999).
9. Close up of VERA. 
10. Louise Bourgeois black head with flowers, credit details unknown.
11. Elena Anaya as VERA in arched position borrowed from here. 
12. Louise Bourgeois sculpture, Arch of Hysteria, 1993. Bronze, polished patina, hanging piece, 83.8 x 101.6 x 58.4 cm., Courtesy Cheim & Read and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Allan Finkelman.


A climactic piece of the story is revealed through a scene where the Spanish singer, Concha Buika, sings the songs, Por el amor de amar (For the love of loving), and Se Me Hizo Facil (I found it easy), which can be found in her latest album, adequately titled, En Mi Piel (In my Skin).  Watch the clip below.

Meet Babas Bohème...our MIRA puppy.

2 weeks ago today, Mark and I picked up our puppy, Babas Bohème, from the MIRA foundation's training center located about 45mins east of Montreal. We will be fostering this cutie for a year. And yes, I know, it will be extremely hard saying goodbye to her after 12 months, but this is our way of giving back. 


MIRA logo below.

  

A few fast facts about the foundation. For more info click HERE.

Founder:  Founded in Quebec, Canada by Éric St-Pierre in 1981.

Mission: Trains and provides dogs (free of charge) for individuals with visual and motor disabilities, and children with disorders such as autism.  

Breed: "Labernese" : half Labrador / half Bernese Mountaing dog.

Our job as foster-parents: Socialize her and teach her basic discipline.  

Professional training is done by MIRA experts.

 

We call her Babas Bohème. 

She was born the 25th of July.

The pics above are of Day 1: (left) The day she left the training center for the first time, she fit inside a medium-sized basket. (right) First steps into our studio. She felt at home instantly!

Babas: (Unofficial name) Spanish for drool. 

Bohème: (Official MIRA name) a. French for bohemian. 

b. A person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others. (According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary). 

She's a big-fluffy puppy full of teething energy! 


We took her apple-picking last week and she loved it.  
She was seduced by a plethora of sweet smells. 
Although, I did find it curious that she didn't try to eat or play with the apples, 
only the grass, leaves, and branches.

Perhaps this explains why she's infatuated with my green babies at home.  
She barks at them and then eats their leaves...hmmm.
I better put a stop to this soon.

Mark and I have been looking for puppy toys, 
but there are very silly things out there . . . 
not good enough for our puppy! 


And so, 
I decided to make her a couple of Charles and Ray Eames inspired birds 
out of old fabrics. 
The solid red bird was created out of an old pair of childhood winter tights. 

The patterned bird was created from a piece of 1970s curtains that once adorned my grandmother's house in Mexico.  I loved these curtains growing up! 

What are they stuffed with, you wonder? With several pairs of Mark's old socks and my old Victoria Secret's bra "stuffers" from those teenage years. (I have no idea why I saved these!)

She plays with them, tries to kill them (should I be encouraging this behavior?), sleeps on them, etc. It's extremely rewarding witnessing such glee!  

NOTE: I do have to stitch them every now and then.  Those baby teeth are fierce!

Sunny LA...

I'm sorry I've been a bit absent lately.  I just got back from a quick Vitamin D-boosting-(sunny) LA trip.  Some of you were probably expecting fabulous photos of Southern California's most alluring city, but I'm sorry to disappoint.  I'm not sure why, but I didn't take many pictures.  Perhaps the endless traffic simply uninspired me.  I missed my Montreal strolls and metro rides.  I really did!. . . BUT, it was wonderful to see family and friends.


Pictures above of Lizbeth: Mark and I had dinner with our friends, Lizbeth and Omar at their cozy loft in downtown LA.  My favorite part of the evening was Liz's slideshow of her shots from their recent Mexico City living.  
I don't have samples of Liz's details (most of Lizbeth's slides have not been digitized, which I love) but If you would like to experience Mexico City through Omar's extensive photo collection, click here.

a nomadic dancer...Paul-André Fortier.

Paul-André Fortier is in Montreal for 30 days performing his piece, Solo 30 x 30. 

CONCEPT:  A site-specific 30 minute routine lasting 30 consecutive days.  

WHEN: September 22 - Octobre 21, 2011 (5:15pm - 5:45pm)

WHERE: Espace Georges-Émile-Lapalme, Place des Arts, Montreal, Quebec.

It's truly inspirational to witness the dedication of this talented man while he performs.  At first, I was not sure why he had chosen this particular site, but after reviewing my pictures, I can appreciate the way in which the existing skylight frames the intentionally outlined stage. 

Enjoy the snapshots I took here and there while trying not to miss the performance too much. My favorite captured shot is of M. Fortier's blurry figure above, because it reveals a sense of spiritual bravery. It reminds me of Alberto Giacometti's breathtaking sculptural figure, Striding Man, featured below.

NOTE: Unfortunately, I was was not able to see the performance all 30 days, but managed to make time for 5 performances. 

Photo Credits: I believe this Giacometti piece is titled "Striding Man" (1960) but I stumbled upon this image without info.  If you know where this piece resides please let me know.
All other pictures featured in this post © Viviana de Loera.

Arcade Fire's BIG Merci Beaucoup to Montreal...

Arcade Fire gave a free open-air thank you concert to its Montreal fans last night in the heart of the city, and it was phenomenal. Apparently there were about 100,000 of us present.  I was amazed by the crowd, they were peacefully rocking throughout the entire concert. (Which was a good thing, because the security at this event was useless.  They did't know how to direct the crowd. FYI Evenko!).  But enough ranting, the band left all of us speechless.  
There was no detail left unturned, the sound was crisp, the stage lights & videos were spell-bounding, the band's outfits were gorgeous (just look at Butler's sweater below).  Win Butler is a dashing fellow and Régine Chassagne is simply adorable.  AND, the beach balls some of you experienced at Coachella this year were also brought to Montreal. Sorry, I don't have a picture of the beach balls, it was a hard picture to take from my view. 


The entire band poured their heart out on that stage last night. It was a wonderful au revoir to the summer of 2011.


By the way, if you are as fascinated about those infamous beach balls as I am, check out this video. Amazing collaboration! 
Parties involved: Chris Milk from Radical Media & Moment Factory (Fabulous company from Montreal) and many others.  Click here.


Photo Credits:  Beach Ball photo from Coachella concert borrowed from here. Win Butler "blue" picture shot  by Bernard Brault for LA PRESSE. Régine and Win Butler images shot by Pierre Obendrauf for THE GAZETTE.  All other shots taken by me.

One Day...Rainy Day

Rainy day in Montreal today. . .

Lone Scherfig did it again.  Her latest film, 'One Day' is perfect for a rainy day. (Photos by Giles Keyte).

After watching the movie, I contemplated, hmm...One day, I will be the person (the artist) I promised my 3 year old self I would be.  What is your one day phrase?  We all have one, right? or two.

 . . .

And then there is the video of the song Low Rising by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova.  It's not a new video, but it's also perfect for a cathartic day.

It's a melancholically sweet day.

The Public, Criticism, Inspiration

I've been meaning to share with you these images from the video installation currently illuminating the Grand Foyer Culturel located inside Montreal's Place des Arts.  I walk by this foyer as often as I can because it puts a smile on my face every time.  When I stumble upon these experiences, I'm reminded of the fact that I live in an incredibly creative city.  How lucky am I?


Created by the Montreal studio: Baillat Cardell & fils in collaboration with artists Capucine Labarthe and Lino
It was featured in FRAME 's online news page last month, click here to read article.

¡Viva México!

Today, the 16th of September, México celebrates 201 years of Independence. . .and with great pride my heart cries out, ¡Viva México!  To celebrate, I share with you my favorite childhood picture.  Here I am, around 3 years old, looking at my best friend, Lorena.  She continues to be an inspirational woman in my life today.  ¡Viva México, Lorena!


Below: Picture taken by a friend, Omar Barcena of the Palacio Nacional located in el Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución), Mexico City.


I love my Mexican flag...absolutely gorgeous!

All about Gaultier...part one

Here are a few pictures from my visits to the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit currently on display in Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts.  I am very grateful that photography was allowed, well, without flash, but my little digital companion did not let me down!

The welcoming "Madonnas" with projected faces are both creepy and captivating.  

'Talking models' are intentionally scattered throughout the different exhibit rooms.  They talk, sing and recite hysterical conversations, all while wearing various couture pieces.

The exhibit highlights a few of Gaultier's notable themes throughout his (still active) career. How does one mind originate all of these styles in a lifetime?. . 
probably with a lot of skilled help. Bravo to those talented seamstresses!! 

All about Gaultier...part two

I tried to take pictures of everything.  I've seen this exhibit three times, and each visit revealed something new. There are simply too many enriching details.