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Richard Foreman founded the Ontological-Hysteric Theatre which begun in Soho, NY 1968, writing, directing and designing over fifty phantasmagorical works. He is motivated by a desire to provide a total theatrical experience by constantly re-awakening the audience and exposing them to the result of text, design and live performance in one shifting, heaving and breathing entity. More specifically, Foreman employs a whirlwind of imaginative nightmarish set, evocative period costume, moody projections, installations and sound-scapes that are at once decadent, retro and glamourous but also brutal, startling, razor-sharp and highly disciplined. 

“… His aim was stripping the theatre bare of everything but the singular and essential impulse to stage the static tension of interpersonal relations in space. The Ontological-Hysteric Theatre seeks to produce works that balance a primitive and minimal style with extremely complex and theatrical themes.”

Here are some images from "Deep Trance Behavior in Potatoland: A Richard Foreman Theater Machine." 2008.

all photos from New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/01/24/theater/20080124_TRANCE_SLIDESHOW_index.html

The Ontological-Hysteric Theatre is not only the home of Richard Foreman, since 1993 it has embraced and supported original work by emerging, independent artists. Under various guises in the past, this evolving program now comes under the name of INCUBATOR. This year previous Ontological-Hysteric Theatre home, St. Mark's Church NY is now the residence of The Incubator Arts project.

Visit ontological.com and incubatorarts.org to find out about current projects.

the meeting of two seas

Skagen hosts a beautiful luminous Nordic light that cloaks the sand dunes of the Danish fishing village. This unusual light provided much inspiration for a group of Scandinavian painters working chiefly towards the end of the 1800s. The Skagen Painters were dedicated to observing nature realistically and creating plenair paintings following the model of the School of Barbizon, on the brink of, the ensuing Impressionist movement. If you walk down to the famous spit it is possible to see the most unusual aspect of this unsupposing village: the meeting of the North Sea with the Baltic in a long line of breaking waves extending out into the sea. It is no suprise then that artists found themselves enamoured with the movement of the sea and the playfulness of the reflections on the water. The paintings featured figures merging successfully into the landscape as well as shadowy interior paintings full of bold contrasting strokes. 

A garden party. 1904. Detail. By Michael Ancher

From the moor north of SKAGEN. 1885. Detail. By Peder Severin Krøyer

The Artist's Wife in the Garden, By Peder Severin Krøyer

SKAGEN Hunters. Composition study. 1885. Detail. By Peder Severin Krøyer

Fischermen Søren Thy and Thomas Svendsen i conversation. 1911. Detail. By Michael Ancher

Playa De Skagen, 1890, Detail. By Peder Severin Krøyer

The Skagen painters congregated in the hotel belonging to Anna Ancher's father where they discussed their ideas and projects.They set up the charming and beautiful Skagen Museum that I visited on a whistle-stop tour of Denmark, which is worth a visit... along with the meeting of the two seas of course.

A stroll on the beach. 1896. Detail. By Michael Ancher

george lassos the moon

handmade bespoke antique lace hanging from swedishinteriordesign.co.uk

About the only Christmas film I watch every year, It's A Wonderful Life, can thaw even the iciest of cynical hearts. Despite its' sentimentality, there is something inviting and endearingly earnest about  Jimmy Stewart's adorable energetic portrayal of George, the unhappy inheritor of his father's Building and Loans Company. George finds himself down on his luck and on the brink of suicide after a series of unfortunate and unforeseen scenarios. Cue the entrance of eccentric angel Clarence who, through a series of stark but morally uplifting vignettes, illustrates the positive effect George's existence has had on those he has helped throughout life. One of the film's most memorable scenes, that inspired the beautiful embroidery above, depicts George claiming he'll lasso Mary the moon:

If that isn't enough to warm your cockles, I'll leave you with the dulcet tones of the lovable indie pin-up, actress and singer Miss Zooey Deschanel in band She & Him: 

men looking swell and behaving badly

Popular culture has heralded the timely arrival of a new cleaner-cut but no less masculine maverick. You'd have to be living on pluto to not have noticed the Mad Men obsession sweeping the globe. An aesthetic delight, the men of Madison avenue look as sharp as their well-travelled tongues. The success of the show is, in part, attributable to the early 60s style it advocates that is so very popular right now. Not only this, these smooth yankees have come about just in time for, or perhaps as a result of, the grooming renaissance gripping hold of the city's achinigly hip, and I'm not talking about the broads. The cool metro inhabitants of New York and London are finding themselves less likely to sport an unkempt face of grizzle than matching a trimmed moustache with their dapper attire. A traditional barber isn't just for the boys of Brick Lane, oh no, the yo-pro's next door in the City are looking smoother than ever too.

So whilst NYC has Williamsburg, East London plays host to Ted's Grooming Room, an old-style establishment that manages to attract men with a growing interest in hair maintenance without compromising their masculinity. Ted's tagline 'For gents who like things trim and proper', and for ladies too I'll say.


http://www.tedsgroomingroom.com/