"Detroit Industry", A Diego Rivera's Fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (2012)

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"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

To look at any of the Mexican masters of art in museums and exhibitions abroad is not only very interesting but it also makes one very proud. The history of the Detroit Institute of Arts and Diego Rivera (as well as the fashion of wondering what Frida Kahlo was doing at that same time) is already part of the mythology of the history of art in Mexico, and possibly in the world. Although Detroit is currently not the best place to visit in the United States (the city is mired in an economic crisis that has left it half-desolate and with extremely high levels of violence and poverty), the DIA, as the museum is known, is still one of the best places to appreciate world-class painting and its collection is truly one of the most beautiful and interesting that I have seen. *
The fresco (mural) "Detroit Industry" was painted by Diego Rivera between 1932 and 1933; we Mexicans know it from our elementary school books (at least those of my school years) and its images are present in tens of illustrations about Mexican muralism. Its main theme is precisely the Detroit industry, which is none other than the automotive and related ones. Apparently it's Diego Rivera's the largest mural outside Mexico.
Just after one enters the museum the receptionists offer detailed information about the highlights of their permanent collection among which, of course, is "The Industry Of Detroit"; you receive a clear explanation of how to get to the room where the mural is, in the central hall of the museum, a privileged space due to its light and spaciousness.

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

After what little I've read of the research that Renato González Mello has done on the esoteric part of Diego Rivera in his works in Mexico City (especially the mural in the central building of the minister of education, "La SEP"), I could look at this fresco in Detroit with a new idea in my head; at some other moment I would have contemplated it only aesthetically as a perhaps direct and propagandistic remnant of social movements of the last century (like socialism, class conflict, etc.) and, though it certainly is very influenced by that, the addition of an esoteric interpretation extends the enjoyment and learning from what is observed.  Then those images of curvy women, of plants and fruits, of earth, roots and seeds, and of course the positions of the characters and the colors used within the overall composition of the painting, acquire another dimension. Obviously I am not an expert and I will not delve deeper, but I can refer you to the latest research on the work of Diego Rivera by Dr. González Mello et al.I share here my photos of the mural.   I hope you enjoy them.

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

Slideshow of photographs of Diego Rivera's fresco "Detroit Industry"







* I've already published in the Blog some photographs of Vincent van Gogh's painting The Diggers.

About "Detroit's destruction" maybe this note by the BBC about Detropia, a documentary, helps to understand the current situation in the city: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19578766 





Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

A Children's Tale Tree (Digital Painting By Gustavo Thomas. 2012)

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A Children's Tale Tree

(Digital Painting. Gustavo Thomas © 2012. All Rights Reserved.)



To tell stories for children, either by writing or playing, you need a fantastic tree full of colour and simplicity. 
There will be time to start writing them ...



Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

Lustful Girl (Digital Work Over Photography. By Gustavo Thomas. 2012)

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Lustful Girl

(Digital Work Over Photography. By Gustavo Thomas © 2012. All Rights Reserved)



Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

The Diva and The Poet (A Poem)

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María Callas and Pier Paolo Pasolini walking near Nápoles, during the filming of Medea . 1970.*

THE DIVA AND THE POET*

Look at them both walking the dusty streets of the mythical Italy!

Smiling, with happy steps,  
living dreams others would soon shatter 
till they saw them both down, dead. 

She sings poems, shows her whole self off while in pain.  
He sings poetry, and dreams of handsome proletarians.

Oh, their feet are big,
as big as their amazed mouths!  

(Gustavo Thomas © 2012)
 





* This photogrpah has been published in several sites on the Net and none gives the author's name; if you know the name of the photographer, please, give it to me to put it as a credit.
 *Original in Spanish. Translation by Tadeo Berjon.

Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

John Butler - Tin Shed's Tales

To contact us Click HERE
One of Australia's most respected singer/songwriters, John Butler returned to his roots, performing a series of solo concerts throughout the country over the past couple of months. Aptly titled Tin Shed Tales, the shows were a rare opportunity to hear the music of this iconic artist, solo and in a raw and intimate setting. Designed and dressed personally by John, his Tin Shed was recreated; decked out with a collection of personal art pieces and old skool skateboards with his vintage guitars hanging from the corrugated shed walls.

Now John Butler gives his fans the opportunity to relive the experience with the release of the Tin Shed Tales Live Recording packaged in a 2 CD set. This CD truly captures John Butler in a completely new light, not only as the skillful musician stripped back and bare but as a humbled and relaxed performer. It's as if he's hanging out with a bunch of close friends as he engages the audience interspersing his music prowess with anecdotes, some of which will make you laugh and move you and others which might well give you food for thought.


The first five shows of the tour; Fremantle, Kalgoorlie, Mandurah, Dunsbourough and Albany - were recorded and the best tracks, accompanied by John's insightful tales, have been selected to form the content of the Tin Shed Tales Double CD.

The 13 track package includes classics like 'Better Than', 'Pickapart' and 'Treat yo Mama', as well as reworkings of April Uprising's hit 'Revolution', a moving rendition of the classic Irish ballad 'Danny Boy' and the brand new song 'Kimberley' amongst others.

The double CD Digipack will be made available from all good retailers and online through iTunes, and
Musictoday.com in the USA


Follow John Butler Trio

Facebook: here
Twitter: here
And on the web site

Watch a clip!

Reading Vt Annual Duck Derby July 1

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The ReadingFriends and Neighbors Community Foundation held its annual Duck Derby onSunday. The river race started with over 480 ducks. Duck # 150 crossed thefinish first and 10 year old Gunnar Waters won himself a brand new TV!




More images at Photos by Nanci Photo Gallery: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/July-2012/Reading-Vt-Duck-Derby/24123997_5nKQmL#!i=1960559914&k=QwFmsjx

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Pomfret's Annual Strawberry Dinner

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On a beautiful Summer Saturday evening, the North PomfretCongregational Church hosted its annual Strawberry Supper. The group has beenholding these suppers for at least 70 years and some say as long as 90 years(the North Pomfret Ladies Circle plans to research the events history thiswinter using old diaries and possibly the Vermont Standard.) Three seatingtimes allow the 300 plus community members, friends and vacationers to enjoy a familystyle volunteer baked dinner of ham, potato salad, baked beans, dinner rolls,deviled eggs and of course Strawberry Shortcake. One of the volunteers and herhusband spent all day Friday baking 500 strawberry shortcake biscuits.

Inaddition to the dinner the Ladies Circle holds a bake sale, a crafts sale and araffle for the Circle’s hand made quilt—winner to be announced at the FallHarvest Supper.



More images at the Vermont Standard Photo Gallery: http://thevermontstandard.smugmug.com/2012-July/Pomfret-Strawberry-Supper/24089395_PhCPF2#!i=1956851138&k=vRvS96c and in the July 12 newspaper on newsstands today.

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What's Up This Weekend...

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Today in Wilder VT 4-5:30 PM

Jed and Dave at the Local Legends 2009

Jed Dickinson and Dave Clark perform and will demonstrate Harmonica playing for children ages 5-12. Location: The Wilder Club and Library 78 Norwich Ave. The event is free, for more info call 802.295.6341. MAP

Today in Hartland VT 4-7 PM

Farmer's Market 153 Rte 5 from 4-7 PM
ERIK BOEDETKER & JOHNNY O perform
Map


SATURDAY in West Windsor 10 AM
The Bower's Covered Bridge Returns Home
Following the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, the Town of West Windsor has been restoring their beloved covered bridge. The ceremony to place the bridge on its concrete abutments, after much delay, will take place this weekend. Photos by Nanci began coverage of this story back in March and hopes to close the story out this weekend.


Bowers Covered Bridge Restoration
For the Vermont StandardImage Gallery
Bible Hill RD Brownsville VT  March 19, 2012
The Vermont Standard Video


Full Length Documentary

For the backstory check out FEMA.gov Bowers





SATURDAY in Taftsville 5-8 PM Fundraiser for Vermont Adaptive Therapeutic Riding Program
Second AnnualBenefit Dinner at Moonrise farmAt Moonrise Farmwe collaborate with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports to provide therapeuticequine activities in Taftsville, VT.  Our mission is to enhance thewellbeing of children and adults with special needs within our communitythrough partnering with a horse and developing personal and social competencies. Benefit monies raised willgo toward scholarships for Vermont Adaptive students and to support our elderlyequine teachers! 5:00 pm- Equine playgroundopening celebration6:00 pm- Social hour, silentauction & great music!6:30 pm – Dinner and dessertfeaturing local products 
Cost:  $60/adult   $30/youth www.vermontadaptive.org   RSVP by July 6^th 802-345-5637




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Just Horsin' Around for a Good Cause

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MoonRise Farm in Taftsville hosted a multi-faceted event onSaturday. It was the farm’s 10^th anniversary, they opened theirEquine Playground and hosted a benefit dinner for scholarships to theirTherapeutic Riding Program specifically for the Vermont Adaptive Riding Program. The dinner featured food donated by local farms andchefs and featured barbequed chicken prepared by Taftsville resident RobertMaynard. Robert is a cowboy from Florida who now lives in Vermont. Hevolunteers and horse trains at MoonRise Farm and brought his special secret “goatsauce” to the barbeque.
More images: http://thevermontstandard.smugmug.com/2012-July/MoonRise-Farm-fund-raiser/24228269_75gtLV#!i=1971397867&k=Z6p8wbj

Vermont Standard Video of the Event:



2^nd Annual Dinner to Benefit Vermont Adaptive’s Therapeutic Riding ProgramMoonRise Farm 10^th Anniversary and Opening of the Equine PlaygroundTaftsville VT July 14, 2012Copyright ©2012 Nancy Nutile-McMenemywww.photosbynanci.comFor The Vermont Standard: http://www.thevermontstandard.com/Image Galleries: http://thevermontstandard.smugmug.com/
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Hartland Farmers' Market

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Even the 90 degree heat couldn’t keep folks away from theHartland Farmer’s Market Friday the 13th. Plenty of local vendors on hand with flavorediced teas and lemonade for folks to quench their thirst while shopping forfresh locally grown produce and homemade breads, spreads and pastries. The Market is open every Friday through October on the lawn in front of the Hartland Library.


More images on the Vermont Standard Gallery page: Hartland Farmers Market. Check out the newspaper too!
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Book Review: The Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's: A Secret History of Jewish Punk by Steven Lee Beeber

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It's an odd bit of nomenclature, the difference in implication in theexpressions "Christian musician" and "Jewish musician." To call someonea Christian musician is taken to mean an artist whose material dealswith religious and spiritual matters. Christian music is a recognizedgenre, even with its own Billboardcharts. However, to call someone a Jewish musicians refers only totheir religious background but says nothing about content of theirsongs. To talk about Jewish musicians, the default assumption issecular music by people who happen to be Jewish.

All of which boils down to this: don't approach Steven Lee Beeber'sbook TheHeebie-Jeebies at CBGB's: A Secret History of Jewish Punkexpecting to learn about an unknown subgenre of punk featuring thelikes of a sped-up, angry version of "Kol Nidre," not that anyone isapt to make that mistake. Beeber even makes his outlookexplicit, examining what it means to be Jewish from a cultural ratherthan religious perspective, on par with being Italian, Irish or Indianrather than Catholic or Hindu. He may trot out anecdotes about barmitzvahs as evidence of Lou Reed's religious heritage, but Beeber ismuch more interested in Jews as an ethnic rather than religious group.And the big surprise is that the history of punk includes a lot of Jewsin crucial roles.

Beeber goes far beyond the mere curiosity "outing" Jewish punks. Sure,you know that Joey Ramone was Jewish, but did you guess that TommyRamone is, too? The author even questions his own motivation whenRichard Hell (né Meyers) asks Beeber his point in writingthe book. Beeber examines the common cultural forces that influencedthis set of people. Some manifestations are overt, such as the Ramones'exhortation to eat Kosher salami. Others are more subtle, such as thestatus of Jews as outsiders in American society and rebellion againstparental desires to assimilate via respectable high-paying professions.

The author trips up when he lacks primary sources. Most notably in thechapters on Lou Reed and the reclusive Jonathan Richman, he strugglesto interpret their inspiration through their lyrics and other pressclippings. In doing so, his analysis gets stretched too thin and hiswriting becomes repetitive. In other instances, he worked around hisinability to interview his subjects by drawing on other sources.Richard Hell was suspicious of Beeber's angle and refused to beinterviewed, but Beeber researched Hell's archival materials at NYU forinsights. Joey Ramone died before Beeber began to work on the book, butthose close to Joey were clearly forthcoming about him.

The book's greatest strength is in examining early punk's obsessionwith Nazi Germany. The Ramone's brought it to the forefront with one oftheir most political songs, "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg." But before that,many in the scene used Nazi iconography in their work or collected itprivately. Beeber teases this out, observing the place of thisgeneration of Jews in history. For many, they were just young enough tohave not been directly affected by the Holocaust but just old enough togrow up around those who were. Drawing on Susan Sontag's work in Notes on "Camp," hetheorizes that the obsession is a manifestation of an ultimatepsychology victory over the Nazis.

Many ethnic groups take justifiable pride in the accomplishments of itsmembers in various fields. But in chronicling the impact of people suchas band managers Danny Fields and Malcolm McLaren, CBGB's founder HillyKristal, Chris Stein of Blondie and Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith Groupas well as lesser lights in the punk spectrum, Beeber assembles acompelling argument. The Jewish experience provided a unique influenceon this group of people, and without this cluster of Jews, punk as weknow it would not exist.

Kickin' It Real Old School

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My blog was dormant for two months because I'm back in school, pursuing a masters in music at Tufts, which has left me with little time to see shows or even blog. My first major paper was on a historic music text in one of Tufts' special collections, A General History of Music by Charles Burney. It was one of the first two comprehensive histories of music published in England. Burney released his first volume in January, 1776 but didn't finish the four-volume series until 1789. His rival Sir John Hawkins released his history 10 months later in its entirety. The rivalry was immediate and has persisted for 200 years. Hawkins's strength was in his coverage of ancient music, but that's about the only advantage he held. Burney's writing style was accessible, and the clear structure of the work made it a useful research tool, whereas Hawkins's style was detached and the work is so disorganized that it is difficult to find a particular subject within the text. While Hawkins intentionally excluded contemporary music, viewing it as worthless, Burney embraced it; it is largely because of his extensive coverage of his contemporaries that he is still cited today. Besides being an antiquarian, Hawkins was also a curmudgeon, while Burney's social skills allowed him to travel in more prestigious circles than his middle class background might have limited him to. The story has the makings of a great screenplay.

As I gingerly leafed through Burney's and Hawkins's books, it occurred to me that I doubt I've ever touched anything that old other than a building. And as I synthesized my research materials, I started to feel kinship with Burney. I have immersed myself in the world of contemporary music but struggle to make sense of music of the distant past, and until now my knowledge of music history has been through self-study and interaction with musicians. I'd like to think that my writing is accessible, but I am humble enough to seriously doubt that anyone will be quoting me 200 years from now.

Concert Review: The English Beat, Johnny D's, Somerville, January 4

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The English Beat are better than you remember. Off the top of yourhead, you can only recall "Mirror in the Bathroom" and their cool logo.But they have more songs that make you go, "Oh, yeah, this isreally good," than you realized. And they can get a party going on acold Tuesday night in January like nobody's business.

"How Can You Stand There?" was the unofficial theme song for the night.It was probably about political apathy, but it applied to the audienceat a more literal level to the few hold-outs in the audience. Most ofthe sold-out crowd at Johnny D's was on their feet and dancing. Evenpeople with seats at tables on the edges of the crowded room were upand moving. Dave Wakeling could taunt someone up front for standingstill with arms folded only because it was a rarity. Even moreimpressive about "How Can You Stand There?" is that it was a new song,not yet recorded, but it fit in so easily with their repertoire of hitsthat the audience never slowed down.

And the major and minor hits kept coming: "Hands Off She's Mine," "IConfess," "Best Friend," "Twist and Crawl," "Save It For Later" (Seewhat I said about more good songs than you remember?) They brought outthe covers that they put their own stamp on, "Tears of a Clown," "Can'tGet Used to Losing You" and "I'll Take You There." Guitarist and singerDave Wakeling is the only original member still with the band; thecurrent keyboard player probably wasn't even born when the RankingRoger was bobbing around in videos in the early days of MTV. But theline-up in tight, ably delivering the material that made the band theepitome of the early '80s ska revival.

No, the evening wasn't perfect. While it was impressive that theyplayed more than two hours, the energy in the room sagged at around the1 hour 45 mark; they could have trimmed a few songs and still kept theaudience more than satisfied. And it's hard to fully endorse a group soclearly trading on nostalgia. But it's also hard to fault a band thatgenerates so much fun.

Why I'm Not Reviewing Ida Maria's New Album

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I loved Ida Maria's debut album, Fortress 'Round My Heart. It's one of my favorite albums of the last five years, so I jumped at the chance to review Katla, her recent follow-up. But my primary outlet for album reviews these days is CD Hotlist, an online publication aimed at people who buy music recordings for libraries. And that's the hitch. Katla is part of a growing trend of albums that are only available as digital downloads, not in physical form. To make a long story short, because of standard end-user license agreements, libraries can't buy digital downloads for their borrowers to use. My colleague D. J. Hoek has written about this issue in greater detail. So there is no point in CD Hotlist running a review of an album that libraries can't buy.I'm hoping the situation will change. In the short run, I hope Ida Maria's label will view Katla as enough of a priority to issue it on CD. In the long run, I hope the copyright laws will change or vendors will change their restrictions so that libraries can collect, preserve and allow access to digital-only recordings. I've got a review of the album ready to go. The short version is that it's awesome.

John Butler - Tin Shed's Tales

To contact us Click HERE
One of Australia's most respected singer/songwriters, John Butler returned to his roots, performing a series of solo concerts throughout the country over the past couple of months. Aptly titled Tin Shed Tales, the shows were a rare opportunity to hear the music of this iconic artist, solo and in a raw and intimate setting. Designed and dressed personally by John, his Tin Shed was recreated; decked out with a collection of personal art pieces and old skool skateboards with his vintage guitars hanging from the corrugated shed walls.

Now John Butler gives his fans the opportunity to relive the experience with the release of the Tin Shed Tales Live Recording packaged in a 2 CD set. This CD truly captures John Butler in a completely new light, not only as the skillful musician stripped back and bare but as a humbled and relaxed performer. It's as if he's hanging out with a bunch of close friends as he engages the audience interspersing his music prowess with anecdotes, some of which will make you laugh and move you and others which might well give you food for thought.


The first five shows of the tour; Fremantle, Kalgoorlie, Mandurah, Dunsbourough and Albany - were recorded and the best tracks, accompanied by John's insightful tales, have been selected to form the content of the Tin Shed Tales Double CD.

The 13 track package includes classics like 'Better Than', 'Pickapart' and 'Treat yo Mama', as well as reworkings of April Uprising's hit 'Revolution', a moving rendition of the classic Irish ballad 'Danny Boy' and the brand new song 'Kimberley' amongst others.

The double CD Digipack will be made available from all good retailers and online through iTunes, and
Musictoday.com in the USA


Follow John Butler Trio

Facebook: here
Twitter: here
And on the web site

Watch a clip!

This Child Behind The Glass Is A Clown (Digital Art Over Photograph By Gustavo Thomas. 2012)

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Este niño detrás del vidrio es un payaso (Arte digital sobre fotografía. Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

All and every one of us change when we're seen through a glass...





Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

"Golem", A street perfomance by Shadowland Theatre at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto (2012)

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Shadowland Theatre at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

Every two years Toronto celebrates the Ashkenaz Festival, and one of its main events is the performance and parade, in the end of the festival, by Shadowland Theatre, on one subject referent to the Ashkenaz culture.

"Golem", by Shadowland Theatre at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

This year the theme was "the golem", that mythical monster of the Renaissance Praga, which once he is alive gets mad and kills everyone who's not a believer, and the only thing could stop his fury is being in love.

"Golem", by Shadowland Theatre at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

Shadowland Theatre works using giant puppets, Klezmer musicians and non professional actors who are volunteers from the Jewish community of Toronto.

Slideshow of photographs from the "Golem" performance in Toronto





Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

"Detroit Industry", A Diego Rivera's Fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (2012)

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"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

To look at any of the Mexican masters of art in museums and exhibitions abroad is not only very interesting but it also makes one very proud. The history of the Detroit Institute of Arts and Diego Rivera (as well as the fashion of wondering what Frida Kahlo was doing at that same time) is already part of the mythology of the history of art in Mexico, and possibly in the world. Although Detroit is currently not the best place to visit in the United States (the city is mired in an economic crisis that has left it half-desolate and with extremely high levels of violence and poverty), the DIA, as the museum is known, is still one of the best places to appreciate world-class painting and its collection is truly one of the most beautiful and interesting that I have seen. *
The fresco (mural) "Detroit Industry" was painted by Diego Rivera between 1932 and 1933; we Mexicans know it from our elementary school books (at least those of my school years) and its images are present in tens of illustrations about Mexican muralism. Its main theme is precisely the Detroit industry, which is none other than the automotive and related ones. Apparently it's Diego Rivera's the largest mural outside Mexico.
Just after one enters the museum the receptionists offer detailed information about the highlights of their permanent collection among which, of course, is "The Industry Of Detroit"; you receive a clear explanation of how to get to the room where the mural is, in the central hall of the museum, a privileged space due to its light and spaciousness.

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

After what little I've read of the research that Renato González Mello has done on the esoteric part of Diego Rivera in his works in Mexico City (especially the mural in the central building of the minister of education, "La SEP"), I could look at this fresco in Detroit with a new idea in my head; at some other moment I would have contemplated it only aesthetically as a perhaps direct and propagandistic remnant of social movements of the last century (like socialism, class conflict, etc.) and, though it certainly is very influenced by that, the addition of an esoteric interpretation extends the enjoyment and learning from what is observed.  Then those images of curvy women, of plants and fruits, of earth, roots and seeds, and of course the positions of the characters and the colors used within the overall composition of the painting, acquire another dimension. Obviously I am not an expert and I will not delve deeper, but I can refer you to the latest research on the work of Diego Rivera by Dr. González Mello et al.I share here my photos of the mural.   I hope you enjoy them.

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

"Detroit Industry" A Diego Rivera's fresco at the Detroit Institute of Arts (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

Slideshow of photographs of Diego Rivera's fresco "Detroit Industry"







* I've already published in the Blog some photographs of Vincent van Gogh's painting The Diggers.

About "Detroit's destruction" maybe this note by the BBC about Detropia, a documentary, helps to understand the current situation in the city: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19578766 





Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

A Children's Tale Tree (Digital Painting By Gustavo Thomas. 2012)

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A Children's Tale Tree

(Digital Painting. Gustavo Thomas © 2012. All Rights Reserved.)



To tell stories for children, either by writing or playing, you need a fantastic tree full of colour and simplicity. 
There will be time to start writing them ...



Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

"A short memory" (Video from my Butoh vlog. 2012)

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"A short memory" (From my Butoh vlog) (Gustavo Thomas © 2012)

This is part of my daily morning training, and nothing else. After walking and working with some postures and inner images, a short choreography emerges, that's what you see in this Butoh vlog.
The music you hear is not what I was listened to when I was in the training, it was added later. 

Butoh Vlog (Sep 13. 2012) Un pequeño recuerdo from Gustavo Thomas on Vimeo.







Texts, photographs and videos in this Blog are all author's property, except when marked. All rights reserved by Gustavo Thomas.If you have any interest in using any text, photograph or video from this Blog, for commercial use or not, please contact Gustavo Thomas at gustavothomastheatre@gmail.com.

Why I'm Not Reviewing Ida Maria's New Album

To contact us Click HERE
I loved Ida Maria's debut album, Fortress 'Round My Heart. It's one of my favorite albums of the last five years, so I jumped at the chance to review Katla, her recent follow-up. But my primary outlet for album reviews these days is CD Hotlist, an online publication aimed at people who buy music recordings for libraries. And that's the hitch. Katla is part of a growing trend of albums that are only available as digital downloads, not in physical form. To make a long story short, because of standard end-user license agreements, libraries can't buy digital downloads for their borrowers to use. My colleague D. J. Hoek has written about this issue in greater detail. So there is no point in CD Hotlist running a review of an album that libraries can't buy.I'm hoping the situation will change. In the short run, I hope Ida Maria's label will view Katla as enough of a priority to issue it on CD. In the long run, I hope the copyright laws will change or vendors will change their restrictions so that libraries can collect, preserve and allow access to digital-only recordings. I've got a review of the album ready to go. The short version is that it's awesome.

Not Courmayeur, Mostly Valle d'Aosta

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And here are all the photos from my Italy trip that were not of Courmayeur itself.


I went for a 'walk' (which turned out to be hiking -- I hate hiking). But it was pretty (pics above and below).


On one afternoon off (there was more than one afternoon off: it was that kind of conference), we went into Aosta itself. Here is the town hall, but there were a lot of nice Roman ruins too.


Arco d'Augusto:


Porta Praetoria and the Torre dei Signori Sancti Ursi:


And a Roman theater:



For the conference dinner, we went to some 'agriturismo' place with a field full of cows with very very loud bells attached to them.


And somewhere behind those clouds and thereabouts is Mont Blanc.


Finally, back in Milan, I stayed one night in a hotel before catching my flight back to the US. It had a garden and pool area crawling with these (kinda cute) little lizards, which did not want me to photograph them.