Jerusalem the Emanation of the Giant Albion

William Blake was born exactly two hundred years and one week before me, so I know that today, 28 November 2018, he turned two hundred sixty one years old.  It was in his hand printed books that all his masterly skills as writer, draughtsman, poet, engraver, calligrapher and printer came into play and were put to good use.  The longest, most ambitious, last and, by common agreement, best of the Prophetic Books was Jerusalem The Emanation of The Giant Albion. The book was made over a period of sixteen years (1804-20).  He only printed six copies (1820-27) and those vary greatly from copy to copy.  The only complete copy in color is in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art.  When next in New Haven you may ask to see it, and they’ll bring it to you.  You just have to wash and dry your hands and put on some gloves beforehand. 

Nicolas Roeg's Eureka

Nicolas Roeg’s death the other night (a year and a day after my mother’s) immediately brought to mind Eureka (1983), with his (then)wife Theresa Russell (a fine actress who first appeared in Kazan’s final film) along with Gene Hackman, Rutger Hauer, Jane Lapotaire, Mickey Rourke, Helena Kallianiotes & Joe Pesci, probably because it has so much to do with the moment of death.  It’s not my favorite of Roeg’s films (but I believe it was his favorite of his films and I don’t mean this to be a summary of his fine career) but it’s likely his most ambitious and worth the trouble of watching. RIP.

 Nicolas Roeg 15 August 1928 – 23 November 2018

BATMAN DRACULA 1964

I just read that there was a screening two years ago in Austin Texas of the otherwise suppressed feature collaboration between Jack Smith and Andy Warhol.  According to Smith it contained his best performance and he wasn't pleased that it was never properly shown.  It still isn't, except every once and a great while at some place one isn't likely to ever be.  I'd love to see it.  I'd even make some effort to do so.

You’d think the Warhol Museum would set up a special gallery to show all seven hours of it nonstop on a loop during viewing hours like SF MOMA did for Bruce Conner’s A MOVIE.