OK, I guess it’s time for me to weigh in on Sunday’s  Oscar ceremonies. My friends R,  A and I could not help but notice that  many of the be-gowned stars had bad hair: it was  either stringy,  in their faces or matted down, in patches.  Watching  from anything-goes Cambridge, even we were shocked. We liked Jennifer Hudson’s red dress and new figure and Oprah’s hair and straightforward presence (if not the boxiness of created by the stiching in her black  bodice). We  were a bit creeped out by Kirk Douglas and relieved when he made it through.  I thought Anne Hathaway was great in Love and Other Drugs, did a great job with her song,  and was a clear winner in the   best  gushiness category.

Which brings me to the point: James Franco. (Full disclosure–which I repeat whenever I get the chance–he is a cousin. Don’ t ask me how–but my mom grew up in Cleveland with Mitzi, his grandmother, and somehow, their  grandparents were related or perhaps two and the same). James’ Oscar appearance has been the topic of much discussion.

As my friend D wrote on Facebook: Can’t help it — after seeing Bob Hope and Billy Crystal, who can take Anne Hathaway and what’s-his-name seriously as Oscar hosts? At least bring back Alex Baldwin.

Feb. 17, 2011
Perhaps I spoke too soon about that neighborliness in tough times thing.

The day after I posted the photo of the snowman on the bench in the Cambridge Common, someone  knocked the bow-tied guy down.

Ice is making it hard to walk, and, now, there’s a layer of dirt on huge mounds of -snow to the point where it’s difficult to see where you’re going.

My friend E and I almost got killed  driving on Route 2 when a car scooted out from behind a drift that must have blocked that  driver’s view.

Six weeks into this,  I’m rarely taking out my car: not only is it it risky to drive, but where on earth will I find a place to park when I get back?

In for the winter?

In my neighborhood, many people still have not dug out their cars;  I have, several times,  but even so, to avoid driving around all night,  I’ve been skipping meetings–or using public transportation when I can.

One of my neighbors decided to brave it–but when she went out to her car, she found it parked in so tightly that even the American Automobile Association couldn’t tow her out.  She left an angry note,  keyed the offending car, then called the police, who said they couldn’t do anything because both her car and the offender’s were illegally parked.

A student at Harvard Law who grew up in LA asked  how anyone can live here for a lifetime. “It’s so depressing!” he said. I told him that some years, we don’t get any snow at all–and that, even this year,  it could be worse: .  he  could be at Cornell Law, in Ithaca, NY or  SUNY Albany, or, worse yet,  Buffalo.  My  (I see now)  obnoxious advice to him? Learn to love skiing and–chill out. Spring will come.”

Feb. 21, 2011
That was then. This is now. Over the weekend, someone bashed in the driver’s side of my parked car…I’m guessing  $700 damage.  And–it’s snowing again!

I say…so much for neighborliness.  Like winter, evidently, it  only lasts so long!

Anita M. Harris

New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the  Harris Communications Group, a marketing communications and public relations firm in Cambridge, MA.

This month, Charles LeDray and Evelyn Rydz at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston,  and Leonardo Drew, at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA, share a common theme–all focus on decay and the passage of time.

DeDray makes small items–men’s clothing, thousands of tiny ceramic pots,  sculptures in stitched fabric, carved bone, and wheel-thrown clay. As ICA materials point out, the smaller-than-life formal suits, embroidered patches, ties, and hats, as well as scaled-down chests of drawers, doors, and unique, thimble-sized vessels–and even facsimiles of used clothing stores complete with dust, make the viewer feel large and encourage thought about the content of the constructions. For example the coat in the photo to the left encompasses all sorts of other clothing–bras, pants, tops–making the point that individuals are composites of their experiences and other people.

My friend E liked the exhibit–because it elicited people no longer with us.  S, who tends to save things, found it interesting.

Nearby, in the galleries housing winners in the ICA’s Annual Foster Prize Exhibit, Evelyn Rydz’s “intricate drawings of beaches, based on her own photographs–focus on objects she finds washed up on coastlines worldwide. ”

According to the ICA, this work explores ” the site where sea meets land”…and shows “characters with long stories to tell.” She “references the journey and transformation that these objects have undergone, illuminating their role as castaways in foreign landscapes.”

At the DeCordova, Drew’s show, “Existed”  highlights  “the cyclical nature of creation, decay, and regeneration through a selection of large-scale sculptures, installations, and works on paper.

Built from rows of stacked cotton and wooden boxes, stuffed with rags, covered with scavenged objects, and caked with rust to suggest degeneration, Drew’s sculptural work is made to resemble the detritus of everyday life.

The artist often ages his found and fabricated materials, employing a process that is physically and conceptually steeped in memory, history, and the passage of time. These disparate materials are often composed within a grid that organizes the chaos into an ordered structure.

 Not exactly the pleasantest of subjects.

And  I suppose it’s good to be able to find beauty in decay–or to make beauty of  it.

In pondering the  decisions to highlight these artists,  I can’t help but conclude that  the curators are  making  statements about the current state of civilization, politics, and art.  All of these artists are highly skilled at what they do. But  I ask, after exploring and commenting on decay and loss, what is left for them (and us?) to do?

Anita M. Harris

Anita M. Harris, a writer and photographer, is president of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.

Kudos to the display team at the new Anthropologie shop in Harvard Square–their store windows are works of art that absolutely drew me into the store–although I really don’t need a thing.

Anthropologie, located at 48 Brattle St, in Cambridge, has taken over the old Design Research building–which has been almost empty for over a year since Crate and Barrel moved out.

 The new store carries an enticing array of clothing, jewelry, shoes, boots, bags and home goods. Most items are a bit ornate for my tastes but definitely worth a visit if only to see the store’s  artistic and  creative arrangements of merchandise.  –Anita M. Harris

New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA. We also publish HarrisCom Blog.

The City of Cambridge has proclaimed tomorrow (September 22, 2010) as “CCTV Day.” Cambridge Community Television–one of the City’s best resources for anyone who wants to learn TV production and computer skills–has asked everyone to spread the word. I’ve taken a number of good courses, there.  CCTV’s announcement follows.
–Anita M. Harris  
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.

CCTV News, September 21, 2010                  Special Announcement! 9/22/10 is CCTV Day!     What is CCTV Day?  The City of Cambridge has declared 9/22/10 (for CCTV’s Channels 9, 10 & 22!) “CCTV Day,” recognizing CCTV as a forum for Cambridge residents since 1988. To commemorate this special declaration and day, CCTV is hosting special programming and events in the evening of Wednesday, September 22. Please spread the word about the following, and tune in for the special programming! 1) Go to Harvard Square, Porter Square or Lechmere and look for our camera crews from 6-7pm. Tell your friends and neighbors, then tune in to Channels 9, 10 & 22 at 8pm to see yourself on TV! 2) Take a tour of our studio from 7-8pm. The first nine Cambridge residents (who have not been members) to stop by will receive a FREE CCTV membership! (Must show proof of Cambridge residency) 3) Tune in at 8pm to Channels 9, 10 & 22 for a LIVE program featuring Cambridge residents who use their CCTV programs for positive contributions to the community. (followed by footage from the squares; see #1).  computerCENTRAL Internships Open   CCTV’s computer lab seeks interns for our fall schedule. Unique   opportunity with great benefits and experience.The following internships are available: Public Access Computer Lab Hours – Sunday 4-5:30pm Provide support for members of the public in a variety of computer uses. Web Media Help – Friday 3pm-6pm Provide CCTV producers basic to advanced web media production help. Details and benefits of interning:     * Work 2-3 hours per week for up to 4 months     * Receive free membership to CCTV     * Take free classes for the duration of the internship     * Production opportunities available     * College credit possible     * Network with the local video production community     * Get valuable teaching experience. If interested in applying, please email your resume, 2 references, and availability to nicole@cctvcambridge.org. See http://www.cctvcambridge.org/computerinterns for more   information.   In This Issue CCTV Day computerCENTRAL Interns Needed This Week in NeighborMedia What’s Next: Aging in Cambridge Panel Discussion Urban Ag-Fair Celebrates Local Products Cambridge Carnival International 2010 is a Big Hit! Free Adult Education and Family Literacy Classes Cambridge Eyesores: For Sale and Now Only $1 Million! ACT Artist Interview: Merline Sylvain-Williams What Will the New Signage Regulations Mean for Cambridge? Want to be a NeighborMedia Correspondent? Click here to learn more!   Register as a User on CCTV’s web site Connect with the community, contribute blog posts, and more! www.cctvcambridge.org   Join our list

Went to see my cousin (James Franco) in Eat, Pray Love with my 89-year-old mom, last night. It was so boring she wanted to leave BEFORE her second? third? cousin Mitzi’s grandson from Cleveland even came on. And he was only the FIRST boyfriend.

I made her stay to see him, at least, and we agreed, James  is VERY cute. (The server in the restaurant next door told us she wanted to KISS him).  When James got dumped, my mom asked me if I wanted to leave. (I didn’t–I wanted to see how they handled the ashram scenes).

At one point, Mom handed me a kleenex because we were supposed to be feeling sorry for the Julia Roberts character, who was really wallowing. I apologized  for making Mom stay. She told me no problem, she was enjoying the scenery (not sure if she meant James Franco or Rome) but, really, how many spaghetti closeups can one 89-year-old enjoy?

Made it through the ashram (which I thought was the best part of both the book and the movie, tho it’s not clear how Julia managed to have a spiritual conversion, her guru being a rather annoying Texan. ), then on to Bali.  Not clear how, in book or movie, Julia managed to have a spiritual converversion, her guru being a toothless medicine man who didn’t have much interesting advice except to go for the Brazilian.

My mom could not understand why she would go for such an old guy if she wanted to have children.  Especially when I pointed out that Julia Roberts is 42–but Mom said the character was supposedly in her 30s. She was very surprised to learn that it was a true story and that Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote the book, ended up marrying the Brazilian. So he could stay in the US.

My mom, who is getting a bit forgetful, told me that if she forgot the title and went to see it again I have her permission to put her in a home.

The upshot: James Franco is hot. Eat first, love the person you see it with, and pray you don’t have to sit through  it again.

–Anita M. Harris

New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA.

Loved Mao’s Last Dancer, a new film based on the true story of ballet dancer Li Cunxin, who, as a child, was pulled from his poor family in the Chinese countryside to train in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution–and through his own quest for freedom  wound up an international star.  

Directed by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Tender Mercies)  the movie was filmed in China, Houston and Australia–and stars  Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Chi Cao, Australian Ballet dancer Chengwu Guo  and Huang Wen Bin, who play Cunxin at different ages. 

Mao’s Last Dancer showcases many beautiful–even breathtaking–ballet sequences from acclaimed Australian choreographer Graeme Murphy and co stars  co-stars Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan and Joan Chen.

The story is so moving that I even teared up at times–despite a bit of clunky acting ( foregivable because the artists are dancers, first, of course).

Mao’s Last Dancer premiered on 13rd September 2009, at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be opening in theaters Oct. 1, 2010.  I’d give it 3 and 3/4 stars–and a great recommendation for anyone who likes dance and US patriotism.

^{–Anita Harris}

^{New Cambridge}