Spring is in the Air (pictures by me)

The nice weather got me in the mood to take some photos.  These are pics from the garden behind the art center and the court yard at my apartment.  Enjoy!

The Black Maria Film Festival

In the winter of 1892, Thomas Edison and a few of his friends constructed the "Black Maria" or the world's first motion picture studio. And five years ago in 2004, I saw the Black Maria Film Festival for the first time.  I've gone every year since.  

The Black Maria features independent short films which range from meaningful documentaries to animation to the avant garde.  I've always enjoyed short films ever since I watched them on Nickelodeon as a kid when they used to show them as filler (remember Bambi Meets Godzilla). 

My favorite this year was Nora by Alla Kovgan which won Best of Festival Short subject.  Nora is a narrative/dance film shot in South Africa which is based on the childhood memories of the statuesque dancer Nora Chipaumire who was born in Zimbabwe.  I couldn't find any clips on Youtube but I did find this website http://www.movementrevolutionafrica.com/nora/

Another favorite was Ice Bears Of The Beaufort and the director Arthur C Smith attended to answer questions after the screening.  The film shows the healthy population of polar bears interacting in their natural habitat which is also the same place in Alaska that the government wants to drill for oil.  Hopefully that never happens.

If you want to know more about Black Maria you can check out their website www.blackmariafilmfestival.org