Monday Muses: Julie Christie

My father looooves "Doctor Zhivago". When my siblings and I were growing up he would try endlessly (in vein) to get us to sit down and watch the 3 and a half hour epic.  A worthy attempt at bringing some culture to our little lives but perhaps just a tad slow and heavy-handed for a 10 year old to digest? None the less, that was my introduction to today’s muse; Fuzzy flashes of blond hair peeking out of a giant fur hat against a sprawling, frigid backdrop. 

It wasn’t until I attended a special screening of "Darling" at the BFI in London 5 or 6 years ago that my love for Julie Christie solidified. Her Oscar-winning portrayal of the over-the-top social climbing starlet, Diana Scott, coupled with very 1960s costumes and makeup managed to leave a big impression on me.  It even inspired me to cut a fringe for the first time in years. 

Another fun sidetone that endeared me to Ms Christie is the legend that she and Terrence Stamp were the  young couple ('Terry and Julie') immortalized in one of my favorite ever songs, “Waterloo Sunset” by the Kinks (circa 1967).  (ugh...SUCH a good song, you guys.)  She was a bit of a playgirl back in the day and also dated, among others, Warren Beatty and Brian Eno. 

I recently re-watched "Far From the Madding Crowd" which is a gorgeous film (they just remade it with Carey Mulligan but I have yet to see it) as well as "Shampoo" which is 70s-tastic and worth a watch as well (it also stars Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn).

Julie has mostly retired from the spotlight but will pop up occasionally and she's still incredible...

Suggested viewing: "Darling","Doctor Zhivago","Far From the Madding Crowd","Fahrenheit 451","Shampoo" - if you are up for a scare "Don't Look Now"  and if you are up for a cry: "Away from Her" (directed by Sarah Polley who I adore). 

Have a wonderful week! xM

Monday Muses: Tanaquil LeClercq

Last week, unprompted by me, "the Brit" put on a documentary called “Afternoon of a Faun” about the famed ballerina, Tanaquil LeClercq.  As it happens, a few days earlier, I had been reading about Balanchine, founder of the New York City Ballet, who... it turns out... was Tanaquil’s mentor, choreographer and eventual husband.  I don’t know if these things happen to you but subjects tend to spring up on me like that - in the span of a week I’ll hear something mentioned, or read it in passing and then someone else will mention and then I’ll come across it again and…anyway, it’s as if the universe wants me to know about the subject right at that moment.  Anyhow, I’m glad I listened this time because “Tanny’s” is a beautiful, inspiring  and tragic tale and her dancing is honestly some of the most beautiful ballet footage I’ve seen. Talk about a Monday Muse...

Born in Paris to an American mother and a French father, Tanny won a scholarship to the prestigious School of American Ballet in 1941 at the ripe old age of 11.  She was soon taken under the wing of George Balanchine (the father of American Ballet) and quickly progressed through the ranks - eventually becoming a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet in her late teens. By 1952 she and Balanchine were married, she was 23 and he was 48.  Balanchine began to feature Tanny heavily in productions and started to create ballets specifically inspired by her for her to perform.

with George Balanchine 

In the most heartbreaking twists of fate, three weeks after her 27th birthday, while on tour in Europe with the NYCB, Tanny began to complain about not feeling well.  A day or two later she was diagnosed with Polio, quarantined and put into an iron lung for several weeks.  She eventually returned to the states but despite Balanchine's best attempts at rehabilitating his muse, Tanny would never fully recover - She never walked, or danced, again.  Balanchine rather obviously, in my humble opinion, soon turned his attention to a younger up and coming prima ballerina and hastily divorced Tanny.  Though I will point out that he never did remarry and they remained close throughout his life.

Years later she was convinced by a dancer friend to start teaching ballet at his school in Harlem. The hope in her story is that she went on to live a full life even though she was confined to her wheelchair. She died in 2000 at the age of 71. 

I highly recommend watching the documentary if you are a fan of ballet or are curious about her story. It's a reminder that life can change in an instant and so often does. 

Monday Muses: Linda McCartney

For round 2 of Monday Muses I thought I would go with another somewhat unsung hero of the 1960s and 70s, Linda McCartney.

The biggest problem facing muses is that they are, more often than not, overshadowed by the people they inspire.  Particularly true when they are in a couple (just take a look at Linda's current Wikipedia photo for a blatant example of this...wowza).  Having quite literally been a Beatles fan from birth, when I was younger I only vaguely knew of Linda McCartney as “Paul’s vegetarian wife”.  Now I am simply fascinated by the life she lead - including her life before getting together with Paul.  I find it very interesting to think they didn’t even start dating until 1968, in essence, the tail-end of the Beatles.

Linda, then known as Linda Eastman, first made a name for herself as music photographer and allegedly as a bit of a “groupie”.  Whatever the truth, in all honesty, that lore makes her far more interesting.  Over the years she photographed people like: Bob Dylan, Grace Slick, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkel, the Doors, the Who, the Stones. She photographed Eric Clapton for Rolling Stone magazine, and became the first woman to have her work featured on the front cover.   She is a very underrated photographer...

She had one child from her first marriage (which ended shortly after it started) yet she managed to keep her career going and be a single mum.  Then she met Paul, of course, and they started a family and began making music (and embarking on a series of adventurous hair cuts) together.

Linda took a lot of criticism for her musical endeavors but some of the work she and Paul did is my favorite music (see: all of 'RAM').   I don't think she ever put on airs about being a serious / trained musician or vocalist and I've seen several self-deprecating quotes to prove my point. Last year one of my dear friends discovered that I had never heard of Linda McCartney's solo album, Wild Prairie and gave me a copy post haste.  While it was never meant to be officially released it's such a fun little record.  It's sounds like someone having a ridiculously great time making music for themselves.

                           


She has always been a hero to me for her dedication to animal welfare and as a key player in bringing vegetarianism to the mainstream and to people's refrigerators.  She is also responsible for co-raising some pretty incredible children not the least of which is Miss Stella McCartney.  Her daughter Mary is also a successful photographer.

I think the saddest part about her legacy is, of course, that it ended so tragically early. Linda passed away in 1998 after battling breast cancer at only 56 but she has left us with a hell of a lot of great music and hundreds of beautiful photos.

for more info on Linda visit: http://www.lindamccartney.com/

Monday Muses: Liv Ullmann

Mondays are rough... let's just get that truth out of the way, shall we?  I've been thinking of ways to train myself to feel otherwise but it's pretty difficult.  For me doing little things to make the day more enjoyable is the key, really.  Treating yourself to a nice lunch, finding a new-to-you band or playlist to listen to, taking 10 minutes to catch up on your favorite blogs, better yet, taking yourself out for a Monday night movie -  do these things and you'll soon start to see the potential of Mondays, I promise.

More than most any other day, Mondays are in desperate need of some inspiration. With that in mind, I am starting a series of Monday posts to jumpstart our creative brains and fill our eyeballs with inspiring and beautiful images, clips and people.  To start “Monday Muses”, weekly posts featuring talented women who have acted as muse for their equally talented collaborators.  First up, Scandinavian film star, Liv Ullmann.

I've been watching a lot of Swedish films lately - trying (probably in vein) to get any sort of grasp on my ancestral language.  Most recently I watched the Ingmar Bergman film, "Persona" which stars today's muse.  For those of you unfamiliar, Liv Ullmann is a Norwegian actress / director best known for her work with Bergman. They made 10 films together and, though they were never married, they were involved romantically and had a child together.  I’d seen “Scenes from a Marriage” quite a while back which I liked but her performance in “Persona” is really incredible - especially considering she plays an actress who one day suddenly stops talking.  She has such a mesmerizing face that conveys so much to the audience without the need for words.  In the US you don't hear too much about Liv which is why I wanted to devote a post to her.

 

Suggested screenings: PERSONA & SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE - proceed with caution on that last one as the divorce rate in Sweden reportedly doubled the year it was released! ;) Both are strange but beautiful films and Liv is incredible in them.