The Weekly Croissant: Art Hoe Roundup

What I'm watching/reading/listening to this week!

Movie: “Showing Up” directed by Kelly Reichardt

If you are looking for a plot-driven story, this film is not for you! It’s slow, and nothing much happens. However, George and I walked out of The Belcourt (an amazing art house cinema here in Nashville) laughing with a lightness I hadn’t felt in a while. I felt so seen and understood in the absurdity of attempting to make art.

One of my favorite moments was at the main character’s art show. It’s primarily filled with her parents and their strange friends, her peers, and their unruly children, but there’s one important guest from an art gallery in New York. This woman is introduced to our heroine and she immediately says “Hi, thanks for coming. One of my pieces got too close to the fire in the kiln, but I had no control over that.” WOW. Cringe. It’s too relatable.

Podcast: Phoebe Reads a Mystery “Moby Dick”.

I adore this podcast on which Phoebe Judge reads me a classic novel, one chapter at a time. I listened to The Moonstone back in 2020, and I remember how calm the slow language made me feel during the height of pandemic anxiety. So, when my tour van sent me into a spiral a couple of weeks ago (see the last two Croissants), I once again turned to Phoebe. I would get into the van, turn on “Moby Dick” and pass out. It was almost like a Pavlovian response. I could sleep for hours with this book, dreaming about sea voyages and whales and smarmy captains. I also felt that when I would wake up, I hadn’t missed too much plot (lol).

Now I’m about halfway through, and I’m a little afraid to encounter gruesome whale killing. Can someone give me a heads-up as to whether I should continue?

Tv Show: Next In Fashion Season 2

TV competition shows are not all created equal, nor are they a good measure of anybody’s ability to be an artist, but Next in Fashion is so inspiring! These folks are incredibly talented and I love what they come up with. Great fashion inspo, great characters, and great perspectives, I’m loving it. I never watch music competition shows and I imagine many fashion designers would not enjoy this show, but for a mere muggle in this world, I’m learning a lot.

Book: Louise Erdrich “Tales of Burning Love”

HOT TIP: one of my very favorite authors Louise Erdrich has a new novel out called Tales of Burning Love, which sounds amazing. I can’t wait to dive in and will report back. Some favorites of hers that I have read are The Night Watchman, The Roundhouse, The Plague of Doves, The Master Butcher’s Singing Club, and LaRose. As I’m looking through this list, she has written so many books! I can’t even imagine writing one book with the depth that she accomplishes. What a treasure and a legend.

As always, I love to hear what y’all are checking out these days!

With love and croissants,

Rachel