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Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am at the Film Forum

Published

1 year ago

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Toni Morrison in TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.
Toni Morrison in TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

As with any jigsaw puzzle you must examine each individual piece to have a comprehensive view of the whole. In the 1 hour 59 minute documentary ‘Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am’ you are face to face with one of the most provocative authors of the last 100 years. Whether by syllabus, the Oprah Winfrey Book Club or personal interest, most have picked up one, if not all of Toni’s novels. Her writing is synonymous with pointed observations recounted in sentences styled as bite-sized truths with the power of a bulldozer.

Production team behind the scenes of TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Front row: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Toni Morrison, Sandra Guzman. Back row: Chad Thompson, Johanna Giebelhaus, Jackie Sanchez, Graham Willoughby, Leon Coltrane, Tommy Walker. Photo courtesy of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Production team behind the scenes of TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Front row: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Toni Morrison, Sandra Guzman. Back row: Chad Thompson, Johanna Giebelhaus, Jackie Sanchez, Graham Willoughby, Leon Coltrane, Tommy Walker. Photo courtesy of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

In this documentary, Toni walks us through her many life experiences that shaped her and her writing. Intermittently she explains in matter of fact tones her impression of race, being an African American/Black author, gender equality, and the power of words. As a child you were taught sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you. Throughout this film you come to realize that words are key. Following Toni’s journey you also realize that she has impacted the lives of many readers and also many authors. There is a clear line drawn in the sand where she is acutely aware of the challenges she has faced, however she is so intensely focused on the things that matter, those challenges appear minuscule. Because it is Toni Morrison and because there is laughter, not based on levity, it is a worthwhile and important documentary to experience.

Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, director of TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, director of TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Both a voyeuristic and introspective delight, the viewer sees themselves in what is a one of a kind human being. New York Said can’t help but to appreciate the many New Yorkers also present in the film and the city of New York itself. Toni Morrison: Pieces I Am directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders will open up at the Film Forum on June 21, 2019.

SYNOPSIS

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am offers an artful and intimate meditation on the life and works of the legendary storyteller and Nobel prize-winner. From her childhood in the steel town of Lorain, Ohio to ‘70s-era book tours with Muhammad Ali, from the front lines with Angela Davis to her own riverfront writing room, Toni Morrison leads an assembly of her peers, critics and colleagues on an exploration of race, America, history and the human condition as seen through the prism of her own literature. Inspired to write because no one took a “little black girl” seriously, Morrison reflects on her lifelong deconstruction of the master narrative. Woven together with a rich collection of art, history, literature and personality, the film includes discussions about her many critically acclaimed works, including novels “The Bluest Eye,” “Sula” and “Song of Solomon,” her role as an editor of iconic African-American literature and her time teaching at Princeton University.

In addition to Ms. Morrison, the film features interviews with Hilton Als, Angela Davis, Fran Lebowitz, Walter Mosley, Sonia Sanchez and Oprah Winfrey, who turned Morrison’s novel “Beloved” into a feature film. Using Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ elegant portrait-style interviews, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am includes original music by Kathryn Bostic, a specially created opening sequence by artist Mickalene Thomas, and evocative works by other contemporary African-American artists including Kara Walker, Rashid Johnson and Kerry James Marshall.

 

Toni Morrison: Pieces I Am directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders will open in New York at Film Forum and Film at Lincoln Center (and Los Angeles) on Friday, June 21 followed by San Francisco, Washington DC, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia and Boston on June 28 and a further expansion in July.

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Rubi Q hails from the imagination of her creator. She writes about art, New York City, and all things creative. Currently she is a contributing staff writer for New York Said.

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Culture

Reflecting and Unpacking Memories with Helixx C. Armageddon

Published

3 weeks ago

on

June 20, 2020

By

Helixx C. Armageddon
Photography by Bob Krasner

 

 

Helixx C. Armageddon is a Performance Artist, Lyricist, Experimental Music Producer, Mother, NYC resident, 1/5 of the Anomolies and a Philosopher.

Visit: The House of Helixx

Special thanks to Gene Frankel Theatre: Intimate, storied rental space for performances & rehearsals, established in 1949.

Show Notes

~~~
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In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Art Critic Jerry Saltz

Published

4 months ago

on

March 24, 2020

By

Portrait of Jerry Saltz by Celeste Sloman.
Portrait of Jerry Saltz by Celeste Sloman

 

 

The long awaited book “How To Be An Artist” by Jerry Saltz is here. Based off of his early Vulture essay by the same name, he wrote the work as a note to his younger self.

In this week’s episode Jerry Saltz, Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine talks with Amon Focus about being radically vulnerable, the importance of deadlines, the Pulitzer Prize and how to look at art. There are a few surprises in this interview but we don’t want to give it all away in the intro.

Just a heads up, during this conversation you may hear a little bit of phone static from time to time, it’s only for a few seconds, it’s nothing crazy, I just wanted to give you a heads up so you’re not wondering what the heck is that sound.

Listen & Enjoy!

 

Keep up to Date with Jerry Saltz

@JerrySaltz – Twitter

@JerrySaltz – Instagram

How to Be An Artist by Jerry Saltz

Want to Buy “How to Be An Artist” by Jerry Saltz?

 

New York 's art critic Jerry Saltz and his forthcoming book, How To Be An Artist (Riverhead Books, 2020).

New York ‘s art critic Jerry Saltz and his forthcoming book, How To Be An Artist (Riverhead Books, 2020).

 

“How to be an Artist” is a note to my younger self.

 

Show Notes

 

Importance of Deadlines

  1. I know they are bad
  2. Make a deadline
  3. Never break a deadline

 

Biggest Lessons thus Far:

  1. Be nice
  2. Energy-Bring it!
  3. Make an enemy of envy
  4. Don’t let rejection define you
  5. You have to listen to get the final lesson…(We can’t tell you everything)

 

New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz as Salvador Dalí, based on a photograph by Philippe Halsman. Photo-Illustration: Joe Darrow for New York Magazine.

New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz as Salvador Dalí, based on a photograph by Philippe Halsman. Photo-Illustration: Joe Darrow for New York Magazine.

 

Jerry Saltz Quotables

 

“…fear is the admission price to the house of creativity, to the house of art.”

“I have no choice but to get on with it.”

“Things only happen when you work.”

“Roberta is the greatest art critic alive.”

“I throw out about 99% of what I do”

“I’ve got to get back to the art world, I’m in agony.”

“I had to go through hell in the trucks to come out somehow perfect, pure, and ready for the stars.”

“I want people to know the me I think I am”

“We are mildly insane.”

“Art – the greatest abstract operating system(s) ever devised by our species.”

“Not all communication is accessible to all people”

“All art is subjective”

“No right way, no wrong way to look at art.”

“Don’t be intimidated by art”

“Deadlines come from Hell via Heaven.”

“You can learn enough from bad art as good.”

~~~
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Celebrating the Legacy of Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box

Published

4 months ago

on

March 3, 2020

By

Uncle VJ Ralph McDaniels

In this episode we Celebrate the Legacy of Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box. With over 35 years in the industry, Ralph sits down and shares his story with us.

Show Notes

  1. South Jamaica, Queens
  2. A South Side Kid
  3. Queens Jazz Musicians 
  4. Crack Era
  5. Chemical Warfare 
  6. War on Drugs
  7. Stop and Frisk
  8. Queens Central Library 
  9. A Cipher in Queens
  10. Sherwin Banfield
  11. Club Encore Mix
  12. Eddie Murphy 
  13. Disco Records
  14. Soul Music 
  15. Blue Ice Night Club
  16. Video Music Box
  17. Baisley Park
  18. 1990 Redman and Biz Markie Springfield Freestyle 
  19. Stretch and Bobbito
  20. Grandmast Vic
  21. Doggtime
  22. DJ Dirty Harry
  23. Lionel ‘Vid Kid’ Martin
  24. Mister Cheeks
  25. Mobb Deep
  26. WuTang – Ice cream 
  27. Shirt King Phade
  28. Jay Z
  29. Kool Red Alert 
  30. Dapper Dan
  31. LL Cool J
  32. Colosseum Mall
  33. FUBU
  34. Daymond John
  35. Karl Kani
  36. Cross Colours
  37. April Walker
  38. Diddy
  39. Hype Williams 
  40. Irv Gotti 
  41. Queens Village
  42. Mic Geronimo – Shit’s Real (It’s Real)
  43. Cash Money Click 
  44. Ja Rule 
  45. Self Destruction 
  46. KRS One Stop the Violence   
  47. Nassau Coliseum
  48. Nelson George
  49. D-Nice
  50. Overcoming Self Destruction – Docuementary
  51. MC Lyte
  52. Big Daddy Kane 
  53. Daddy-O
  54. Drake
  55. Chance the Rapper
  56. Uncle Murder
  57. Just-Ice 
  58. Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M.
  59. Heavy D
  60. Salt-N-Pepa – Get Up Everybody
  61. Lil Wayne 
  62. “Don’t Get in the Way of you Getting the Interview”
  63. Ice-T
  64. Flip Da Script 
  65. Superstar Jay
  66. Funkmaster Flex
  67. Sway in the Morning
  68. Ebro Hot97
  69. DJ Clark Kent
  70. Chris Brown
  71. Cardi B
  72. ICP
  73. Vikki Tobak 
  74. Contact High
  75. Danny Hastings 
  76. It Ain’t Hard to Tell
  77. Nas EPK

 


 

  1. Q-Tip
  2. Belly
  3. Biggie
  4. Tribe Called Quest
  5. Leather Medallion 90s 
  6. Paid in Full
  7. Willie Burger
  8. Cappadonna 
  9. RZA
  10. Adobe After Effects
  11. Chyron 
  12. Grassvalley Wipe
  13. Tats Cru 106 and Park Ave
  14. Socrates Park 
  15. Fred “Bugsy” Buggs
  16. Imhotep Gary Byrd
  17. Hank Spann
  18. Disco fever
  19. Russel Simmons
  20. Davy DMX – One For The Treble (Originals B-Boy Dedication Video)
  21. Fat Boys
  22. Krush Groove
  23. Sheila E.
  24. Naughty by Nature 
  25. Juice (Film)
  26. Beat Street
  27. Breakin’ (Film) 
  28. 2Pac
  29. Ernest R. Dickerson
  30. Spike Lee
  31. Queen Latifah
  32. The Bomb Squad (Producers)
  33. Something for the Radio – Biz Markie
  34. Motown Philly
  35. Who Got the Props – Black Moon
  36. Tha Alkaholiks – Only When I’m Drunk 
  37. Loud Records 
  38. Gin and Juice 
  39. Yo MTV Raps
  40. Luke Ft. 2 Live Crew – I Wanna Rock
  41. New York Hot Track (Video Show)
  42. Who Is Gil Scott-Heron?
  43. Winter in America 
  44. S.O.B.’s
  45. Blue Note
  46. Crazy Sam

~~~
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