A few months ago, I posted an article on Inspiration Tuesdays about James Brathwaite , a brilliant artist/illustrator from our beloved yet crispy cold Montréal.
Well recently I had the pleasure of receiving email from James, telling me he just finished his latest project titled "I Met The Walrus" -- an animated short about an interview with legendary John Lennon during his May 1969 bed-in at the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, conducted by then 14-year old Jerry Levitan -- producer of said animated short.
Directed by Josh Raskin, the short movie presents the original reel-to-reel interview tape featuring James' illustrations metaphorically telling the story, animated by digital motion graphics talent Alex Kurina.
The teaser is now online at http://www.imetthewalrus.com, and if you ask me, promises a movie worth one or two Oscars in the Kickass Brilliant Animated Short category. You read it here first, folks.
I can't wait to see the whole thing. Hopefully I'll be getting an AdKrispies exclusive email interview with James and crew about the production of the entire thing *wink, wink*, and get to post it later on AdKrispies. Stay tuned.
View the teaser, and visit James Brathwaite's web site The Bathwater.
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Strange but beautiful.
I'm not an art critic -- I usually trust my emotions and not my brains, when I consider art. I cannot explain why some of the things I like, I like. Or if I do, the words won't truly translate what I feel. And this is especially true when I look at the Bathwater collection: The Art of James Brathwaite. Disarming simplicity through naive drawings that tickles your Brain Organ of Oddity Perception (the BOOP.) You know that little twitch in your brain that goes on whenever you look at something paradoxal, weird, or otherwise unreasonable by normal standards? I like that little organ. It's the organ that makes me appreciate circus acts, freak shows or morbid yet artful depictions. When I see these, *boop*. Same thing happens when I mix a balsamic vinegar with olive oil, and dip cheese bread in that. *boop*.
James Brathwaite's art has that effect on me. I look at it. *boop* goes on. I like his semi-narrative, naive illustration style. I like the strange correlations he creates, and trying to figure out the crazy idea behind each illustration. I like art that speaks. And his art really has the gift of gab.
As reported on his site, James is a "semi-hairless ape, who currently lives in his cave in Montreal". His illustrations have been featured in many magazines including Dose, Warrior magazine, Maisonneuve, thefanzine.com and he's currently working on a book of medical inaccuracies -- I like the idea, coming from his style I'm sure it'll be great -- as well as an animated short about John Lennon.
I'm not going to ramble on my moments of booping, as reading this might actually make you go *boop*. But I suggest you experience it yourself.
Leonard Cohen eating a Hot Dog. So true, folks, so true.
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