Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple passed away on Wednesday. There are very few lives that his art and genius didn’t touch. This is an old commercial for Apple that I have always loved. Pay attention, this message is so important.
Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Kristina on Pinterest
An Affair To Remember
Source: None via Kristina on Pinterest
L. & W. - The first movie is one of my all-time favorites. Maybe not my absolute favorite, but it’s right up there in the top 10 or 20. It hard to think how old this movie will be when you get around to watching it since it came out when your grandparents were kids. But it’s a classic, timeless love story with two phenomenal actors - Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.
I picked the video clip I did because it starts out with my favorite line from the whole film,
“Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. And we’ve already missed the spring.”
*cue the sobs*
But it’s not just a love story, it’s also extremely funny and well written. There’s a twist at the end that breaks your heart. I never tire of watching it, even though I know the story and most of the dialogue by heart now. They’ve made a lot of love stories since this movie, but very few could improve upon it. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do someday, maybe with a glass of pink champagne!
~ Mom
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
L. & W. - Dedicating today’s song to my oldest friend. I’ve known her since I was 5. Which means we’ve known each other for approximately 27 years now. That’s a really long time. I hope that the two of you get the chance to have friends that you stay close with throughout your life.
Because I moved around so much as a kid, that became sort of impossible for me. I was in a new school almost every year until high school. It was hard having to fit in and make new friends and keeping in touch with the old ones was even tougher. Back then, there was no internet, no email, and certainly no Facebook. We had to rely on calling each other (from our house phones, there were no cell phones either) or writing actual letters. We did pretty good with that for long time, and I only saw her once or twice a year. We thought things would get easier once we got older and we could travel whenever we wanted, but we got busy and it got harder.
I have always had it in my head that she introduced me to this song, but whether that’s actually true, I’m not sure. But I’m at least sure that we listened to it together and always felt a connection to it. It’s sad and beautiful all at the same time.
~ Mom
Revolution- The Beatles
L & W: Ok kids, this is the first one from your Dad. I wanted to start here to set the tone for how I choose a lot of the things I’m going to share with you here. Here we go…
When your mother and I were in college studying art, one of the first things I picked up on was the main reasons why certain types and works of art were held in higher regard than others, why THEY are great and others are not, some are as follows: 1. Its originality. 2. Its historical significance. 3. Public response. (good or bad, or both.) 4. Inherent beauty.
In my opinion, from an artistic standpoint, Revolution by The Beatles is possibly the greatest rock & roll song of the 20th century. (Before either of you were born)
It was purely original. Literally nothing like it had ever been recorded and released in 1968. (Even as a B-side. Its initial release was as a B-side to Hey, Jude) (a “B-side” is the opposite side of a record released with one song on it) It is a supreme example of electric guitar, which had a sound that was purely original, and has been imitated ever since, which knocks on at least 3 of the above mentioned “requirements” for great art. The lyrics were blatantly political, well written, and poignant, in response and in protest to the Vietnam war and the politics surrounding it, which added to its historical significance. The Beatles received astounding response to this song, from some that loved it, and some that hated it. A true mark they were doing something right. Remember kids, if you’re not pissing SOMEBODY off, you’re not doing it right. “The safe road” is aptly named. So, its beauty? Well, simply, it’s a musically right and superb song.
So what The Beatles did, was find a way to make music with sounds that had never been heard, say things that few in a position like theirs would be bold enough to say (at least in 1968), cause simultaneous public and political celebration AND condemnation, make other artists mimic and follow them for decades after, helped to unite a generation that was faltering, and the made it beautiful. In short, they created a masterpiece work of art, that never hit No. 1 on the charts.
Don’t buy it? Take this to one of your (preferably old) Art History professors, they’ll agree.
—Dad
Can’t Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
L. - I’ve been thinking a lot about the music that you liked when you were a toddler lately, because I see your brother really starting to enjoy certain songs. Back when you were his age, about a year and a half old, we still had cable, and MTV still played music videos. I’m not completely positive that you have ever seen a music video. Sad, really. Anyway, when you were his age, you loved this song, and the video that went along with it.
I still think it’s a fantastic song and a really creative video, which is based of an artist’s installation work. (It explains more during the video.) The funny thing about you liking a RHCP song, is that they’ve been around long enough that I was listening to them when I was still a kid. I remember being quite obsessed with their song “Under The Bridge” in about 7th grade (perhaps I’ll post that one later). There aren’t a lot of bands that can span generations like that. I suppose it’s just the same as us and our parents listening to The Rolling Stones. I wonder if you’ll still like this song when you’re an adult. Time will tell.
~ Mom
All My Mistakes by The Avett Brothers
Yesterday, your dad and I tried to decide if we had “a song” as a couple, because if we did, we wanted that to be the first music post in this project. After some discussion, we decided that this was our song. Probably not your traditional type of song, but it’s so true for both of us. I’m sure we won’t post the lyrics to every song we catalog here, but for this first one we’ll make an exception.
Shooting off vicious collections of words
The losers make facts by the things they have heard
And I find myself trying hard to defend them
I made decisions some right and some wrong
And I let some love go I wish wasn’t gone
These things and more I wish I had not done
But I can’t go back
And I don’t want to
‘Cause all my mistakes
They brought me to you
I have some “friends” they don’t know who I am
So I write quotations around the word friends
But I have a couple that have always been there for me
And I missed some fun ‘cause I worked through the dawn
Expecting your praise when I returned home
But I paid the cost ‘cause I got left alone for the songs
But I can’t go back
And I don’t want to
‘Cause all my mistakes
They brought me to you
Enjoy the beauty and rawness of this song. This is what truth and love sound like. And expect a lot more Avett Brothers along the way!
Mom
The Art Guide is a love letter to our children. A manual for enjoying and surviving life the same way we did - with art, music, books, and film as our guides. These things were our first true loves. Before we found each other. Before we had the two of you. The goal of this project is to collect all of these pieces of art and wisdom into one place so that when you are adults we can pass on an art filled time capsule of sorts that will help lead you through all the wonder and heartbreak of life in a way we never could. What books to read before you get married. What songs will comfort you after a break-up. What movies will make you question your beliefs. What painting you have to see in person.
We want to share with you the things that we find beautiful and that inspire us, just like you do.
“Art is not a thing; it is a way.” ~ Elbert Hubbard
