The Nutcracker

When it comes to Tchaicovsky's The Nutcracker, I'm absolutely and entirely blown away. How can one piece of art be so captivatingly creative and classically charming? I had the opportunity to see it this past weekend (a children's version, no doubt), and became absolutely mesmerized. Although I've seen many adaptations of the fairy-tale ballet, it has never had such an effect on me as it did Saturday. Brilliant. Composers must have the mind of a genius! While what is seen on the stage today is far different from its December 1892 premiere, the music remains the same. It belongs to the Romantic Period and contains some of the most memorable melodies. One novelty in Tchaicovsky's original score was the use of the celesta, a new instrument discovered in Paris. Although the original ballet is only about 85 minutes long, and therefore much shorter than either Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty, some modern staged performances have omitted or re-ordered some of the music, or inserted selections elsewhere, thus adding to the (somewhat frequent and frequently) large confusion over the suites.
If you haven't seen The Nutcracker (or if it's been awhile), I suggest you book your tickets soon. And if you're unfamiliar with the plot, here's as quick a synopsis as I can manage: The curtain opens to reveal a Christmas Eve party at the Stahlbaums' house (Clara, her little brother Fritz, her mother, her friends, and her mysterious godfather Herr Drosselmeyer). Drosselmeyer quickly produces a large bag of gifts for the children, but Clara is yet to be presented hers, and she runs to her mother in a fit of tears and disappointment. Her godfather then produces a toy Nutcracker. But the jealous brother breaks it. When the clock strikes midnight, Drosselmeyer repairs the Nutcracker and it comes to life. But Clara awakes to the sound of mice. Although she's still in a dream, the Mouse King leads his mice into battle. Thankfully, the Nutcracker stabs the Mouse King, transforming into a Prince. Clara and the Prince travel to a world where dancing Snowflakes greet them and fairies and queens dance, welcoming Clara and the Prince into their world - a Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Spanish Dancers, Chinese Dancers, Arabian Dancers, Russian Dancers, Reed Flutes and Flowers. After the festivities, Clara awakes under the Christmas tree, holding the Nutcracker toy in her arms. In some versions, she never even wakes up.

Little People, Big World

I've kept my eye on this tiny Street Art Project, and with the recent release of the book Little People in the City: The Street Art of Slinkachu comes even more excitement. These little hand-painted peons are left in London to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, book is only sold in The UK. Bloody Christ!

Paradise Lost

God sitting on his throne sees Satan flying towards this World, then newly created; shows him to the Son who sat at his Right Hand; foretells the Success of Satan in Perverting Mankind; clears his own Justice and Wisdom from all imputation, having created Man Free and Able enough to have withstood his Temper; yet declares his Purpose of Grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own Malice, as did Satan but by Him Seduced. The Son of God renders Praises to his Father for the Manifestation of his Gracious purpose towards Man without the Satisfaction of Divine Justice; Man hath offended the Majesty of God, and therefore must Die, unless someone can be found sufficient to answer his Offense, and Punishment.

Book III Lines 40-55 : Thus with the Year
Seasons Return, but not to me Returns
Day, or the sweet approach of ev'n or morn,
Or Sight of Vernal Bloom or Summer's Rose
Or Flocks or Herds or Human Face Divine;
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds me, from the Cheerful Ways of Men
Cut off, and for the Book of Knowledge Fair
Presented with a Universal Blank ------
Of Nature's Works to me Expunged and Razed
And Wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.
So much the rather thou Celestial Light
Shine inward, and the Mind through all her Powers
Irradiate, there plant eyes all mist from thence
Purge and Disperse that I may see and tell
Of things invisible to Mortal Sight . . . .

Free People

Dreams are Mirrors into our Souls: Round One

I was at a mall. An outside mall with shops and fountains and crowds of people. It was Christmas time. Stuffed animals and clothes and dresses for graduation? I was graduating and needed a new dress. And shoes. I wanted Tory Burch. I saw so many dresses. Tory Burch knock-offs. And the shoes! $4.50 for a pink Asian slipper. EW. My shorts were too short and I saw my ass in the store mirror. I tried on shirts. “Hold it!” I didn’t move. I was being taken hostage in a five-story department store by a black man with a shaved head and a gun. He brought me backstage. Backstage? Where was I? Marielle was trying out for a part in a play. I was with her. Now I remember! They made a mistake. Not me! I’m not trying out! Marielle! It's her! She wants to be in the play. WTF! Which door do I choose? I was in a room of three red doors with yellow signs: A, B, C. I chose A and got shoved out by the black man with the shaved head. The black man with the shaved head and a gun. The black man with the shaved head and a gun from the department store. It was Fantasia the Disney play! I was a princess being chased, lip-syncing, dancing. They cheered for me. I was so confused. I saw Marielle in the crowd. I ran offstage and drove away, looking for a boy in a cabinet with a black cat in a crack den with a couch that sunk and dirty dishes that stunk. He was in a cabinet: whispering, crouching, squatting, shivering, shaking, hiding. He told me he was hiding from death. He grabbed my hand and told me we were hiding from death, in a cabinet: whispering, crouching, squatting, shivering, shaking, hiding from death.

Wall Paper

Wallpaper just so happens to be one of the many things I fancy. I've listed a few of my top favorites. And boy are they something to gawk at! German artist Eno Henze did the first set of mural wallpaper for the Mazalot Gallery. He uses computers to create very organic-looking designs, focusing on generative processes involving both human and machine intelligence. They're all custom-printed in any size: floor to ceiling. I absolutely j'adore the implied textures. The second comes from Shi Yuon. It's a wallpaper that reacts to heat: the flowers bloom as it gets warmer! He's designed a few more heat sensitive creations, mostly pictures and posters. How Tre Chic!

"Eli, N0"

Eli, N0 is a Children's Book by revered graphic-designer and illustrator Katie Kirk, scheduled to release early February. Her latest fascination seems to be vector, patterns and seizure-causing color combos, as seen here. It may be a bit busy, a bit artsy and bit too L.A.M.B (website stash) but apparently that hasn't stopped her (and fans) yet. I'd love to pair up with Kirk someday. Foxy Ladies!

Sufjan Stevens

My latest/current obsession is Sufjan Stevens (pronounced /suːfjɑːn/), an American singer-songwriter musician from Michigan. What started out as a writing career turned for the best (of which he now plays 20 instruments). Stevens first began releasing his music on the Asthmatic Kitty label, a label formed by both him and his stepfather, beginning with his 2000 release A Sun Came. His 2005 Album Illinois hit #1 in the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart. His albums vary in style, from the electronica Enjoy your Rabbit and the lo-fi folk of Seven Swans to the symphonic instrumentation of Christmas-themed Songs. Although he is not considered Religious, Stevens finds peace through performing music involved with Spiritual Themes, including many songs which draw inspiration from Bible Stories. It's Folk Music with the Sophistication of the Symphony Orchestra (clashing gracefully).



Is it good music? Is it good writing? Or is it just silly. His songs are taken from stories he's written. And yes, he's been around a while. His most ambitious undertaking, the "Fifty States Project," is an aim to complete an album about each of the well, fifty states. It's a way to invest time, energy and scrutiny into what it means to be an American. Oregon, New Jersey and California are soon to be added to Illinois (home state) and Michigan (released 2003). Not only is he an awkwardly brilliant little babe, but he just wants to be happy and grow old. I fell in love with him about two years ago, but have recently purchased both State Records in Vinyl (thanks Amoeba). They're delicious. And don't let his name fool you. It's Arabic. He's not.

So as many of you may (or may not) know, I haven't visited this site for quite some time. Whether it was the lack of attention span, the fear of not Graduating on time or simply the sheer disappointment of being a recent twenty-something forced to live at home again, I did not once post or edit a blog. I did not once upload a Facebook Album or Edit my Myspace Page. Okay maybe I changed a song or two. Even though I may now (surprisingly) have an attention span and the fear of Graduation has subsided, I'm still forced to live at home. I'm still disappointed. I'm still in Limbo. I'm still lonely and I'm still confused. I've decided to re-vamp this once "SunDance Only" blog to at least be able to say that all my endless hours of internet perusing have amounted to something. To what? You say. Well, to being able to enjoy things again. To understand that most of the time life won't move at the pace you want it to. That sometimes the only way to envision a life you're seeking, is to literally visually see it. I've always lived in a Fairy Tale world; who says that has to change? Keep checking for Entertainment and tons of Cool and Free Shit. Let your joys be true joys and your pain Champagne (or Vodka Tonic Cran). And always Get Loose B4 the Club.

Winter Craft Swap

What would the Holiday Season be devoid of spreading Winter Cheer? Free People's "Winter Craft Swap" introduces the Art of Giving through handcrafted gifts sent to a special someone across the globe! Here's how it works: Fill out a simple form with your Name, Email and Mailing Address by November 21st, and Free People's team will pair you up. You'll have until New Years to make and send your gifts. Let your imaginations get loose! Get wild! Holler!