Spike Jonze interprets Shell Silverstein with I’m Here
Posted by Troy | Filed under Film
I have no idea how this released in March and I just discovered it today.
While I and everyone else was flipping out about Where the Wild Things are this winter, Spike Jonze was busy creating his first ever love-story film.
Of course, leave it to Spike Jonze to do so in the form of a short film about robots.
I honestly just finished watching this film and there is so much I could say… but you’ve really got to just see it for yourself.
It’s based on Shell Silvestein’s magical and timeless story of The Giving Tree, so as you can imagine the film is sad and hopeful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.
If you have a lunch break today, gather everyone around a computer, dim the lights and enjoy this together.
Go watch I’m Here. (then come back and tell me what you think.)
P.S. The soundtrack is… well……….
Tags: Shell Silverstein, short film, Spike Jonze, video
White Jesus Loves You
Posted by Troy | Filed under Faith, Thoughts
Over the last 600 years, Jesus’s skin has grown fairer and fairer.
(I can’t be 100% certain, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have that Michael Jackson thing)
Today it’s pretty rare to see anyone’s vision of Jesus that doesn’t look like he’s originally from Wisconsin.
I’ve always wanted to make a serious mock-umentary (is that an oxymoron?) about Jesus and his humanity.
I’m working on a client project now that has at it’s center a mission to create a dialogue around racism and its effects in order that the conversation (especially the listening) might lead to understanding for some and healing for others.
In the midst of it I’m wondering how “White Jesus” has affected those of non-Caucasian decent.
How has it affected you?
Sufjan Stevens: All Delighted People
Posted by Troy | Filed under Music
Last week Sufjan Stevens dropped this surprise new EP.
The first new music he’s released (besides the instrumental soundtrack to Sufjan’s art film The BQE) in five years.
Five years!
Tags: Music, sufjan stevens
Brandi Carlile Live at Interlochen
Posted by Troy | Filed under Music
Last night we took our 8-yr-old daughter to her first real concert… she is a totally right-brained kid who loves art and music so I knew she’d love it and I had been looking forward to this for a really long time.
Since I’d seen Brandi Carlile last summer I knew she’d be a great first-concert experience for my daughter… and of course I was right.
The evening opened up with a pretty decent performance from The Watson Twins. I’d have to say the highlight of their show was their two covers, “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Just Like Heaven.”
Of course those happen to be two of my all-time-top-ten favorite songs, ones of such magnificence that I’d get emotional even if Rosie O’Donnell was performing them.
The twins did much better than Rosie would though and their Neil-Young-Cripple-Creek-Fairy take on The Cure was pretty dang cool. (check out the not-quite-as-hippie version in my playlist)
But when Brandi took the stage it was like time stopped.
Tags: brandi carlile, concerts, Music, original illustration
Cancer Boy
Posted by Troy | Filed under Cancer, Self Project
When I was 21 I was diagnosed with cancer.
Testicular cancer actually, which was kind of en vogue in 2000. Celebrities like Lance Armstrong (hardly a celebrity before his cancer) and Tom Green (remember Tom Green?) were making national headlines enduring treatments and starting a very important conversation about the risk of testicular cancer among young men.
Turns out it really isn’t so glamorous.
In a lot of cases it is treatable though. If you can catch it early.
Of course since most guys that have this type of cancer are cock-sure college age guys who (like me) are in no hurry to get their balls checked out by the part-time nurse at the free clinic, it quite often goes undetected longer than it should.
My diagnosis and first surgery did kind of add to my celebrity around college. Whereas before I went pretty much undetected, I could now be recognized as “cancer boy.”
Tags: Cancer, original illustration
Odorifous: Susan Isaacs
Posted by Troy | Filed under Books, Odorifous
I grew up in a particular Christian culture where it was considered sin to be angry with God. We also had no framework for Christian living that recognized sin as a part of our lives.
“Just stop sinning!” was the underlying theme. (well, that and “culture is evil”).
I don’t know if Susan Isaacs came up the provocative title for her book Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir
I remember seeing an ad when the book first released and thought, “I must read that book.” It took me a couple years to finally get to it, but I’m glad I did.
The perspective is unavoidably female, which might make the book seem un-relatable for some guys (not everyone is as sensitive as me), but her struggles are universal. She battles self-worth and identity; faith and doubt; relationships and honesty; and ultimately her view of God.
I especially related to Susan’s struggles to find herself in her art. She was always so compelled to fulfill her calling and find real meaning in touching the lives of those that encountered her work along the way.
(and of course she’s totally honest about her desires to be successful too – something I have a hard time with sometimes)
Even though I’d already had plans to read her book, I was especially interested in touching base with her about this interview when I saw that her acting career had landed her on some of my all-time favorite shows like Parks and Rec, Family Ties, My Name is Earl, Quantum Leap (!), Fresh Prince and movies like Planes, Trains and Automobiles (the one John Hughes classic that I unfortunately had to leave out of my recent JH poster series because I ran out of time).
When I saw she was also in one of my favorite eposodes of Seinfeld (the one with Jean-Paul and George taking the reps from Texas out on the town) I flipped.
Honestly though, it has been her writing that moved me the most. She is so honest and has come so far and so many women share her struggles with heartache and frustration and loneliness and impossible expectations that I must insist every woman I know read this book.
Read the rest of this entry »
Lost in the Trees: All Alone in an Empty House
Posted by Troy | Filed under Music
Anytime genres clash I get excited.
Mixing classical music with rock & roll isn’t anything new, but I’ve never heard it done quite like this.
Lost in the Trees new album
The songs are written from that diaphanous place between heartbreak and new life, consistently wavering from despair to hopefulness.
Sadness reigns through most the lyric, but it is the music that reminds us… the future just might be better, or o.k. at least, or even (if you’re lucky)… good.
Tags: Lost in the Trees, Music
Moose Drool Comes to Michigan
Posted by Troy | Filed under Beer
We used to live in a magical place called Montana.
We were obsessed with Big Sky Brews, even though we could only afford it once in a while as a treat. It had been a half-decade since I’d had one of their finely crafted beverages, but we finally started seeing Moose Drool here in Michigan. In fact, we even found our favorite seasonal from Big Sky – Summer Honey!
We’ve already got quite a few amazing micro-brews to choose from right here in northwest lower Michigan, but I’m pretty excited about this new development.
Plus it takes me back… ah Montana…
Check for it in Burritt’s in Traverse City
24 Words of Wisdom for a 17-yr-old Me
Posted by Troy | Filed under Self Project
Kind of hard to believe I’m nearly twice my age. If I could give my 17-year-old self some wisdom, what would it be?
- Be a friend to the weird kids. They have much to teach you.
- Don’t obsess about girls so much.
- Stop pretending you don’t obsess about girls.
- Raise more hell. Right now is your only chance.
- Don’t wait til you’re 21 to start reading.
- Save your sketches and writings.
- Your friends are also struggling with porn and also terrified to talk to anyone about it. Break the ice.
- You’ll never stop sinning. No one will. You’re totally missing the point.
- Your parents are going to be o.k. somehow.
- You are less o.k. than you realize. Get some help (you’re gonna have to be brave though).
- The truth really does set you free.
- You don’t have to be good at drawing to be a good artist.
- God’s will isn’t a mystery. You’re living it.
- Stop and ask directions right away.
- Don’t take your balls for granted.
- Riding the bench is a waste of your time.
- Have a small adventure every day. Have big adventures regularly.
- She’s not The One. Not even close. In fact she doesn’t even really like you that much.
- That Looney Tunes shirt you’re saving will never be back in style, not even in an ironic way.
- Take sports less serious. In fact, take just about everything less serious.
- Hang onto your friends. (spoiler: you actually do this and it is pretty amazing)
- There might actually be folks that don’t attend Calvary Baptist in heaven.
- Being a grown-up is kind of a drag sometimes. Don’t be in such a hurry.
- Don’t let fear get to you. The future is o.k. (and Saved by the Bell reruns are still on. aw yeah!)
This post was inspired by Andrea’s list.
Tags: original illustration, self
Kweller to Kweller
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Found
Check out this rad Ben Kweller 2006-07 Tour Poster by Delicious Design League.
Looks like they still have some in their store.
Tags: Ben Kweller, illustration, poster
