a
Branko Film
This is part of a series of recordings made at
111 First Street,
Jersey City NJ
From the
Documentary movie: 111 First Street From
Paris to
Jersey City they showed no love
Back in the years 2003-2004,
Documentary Filmmaker Branko, started doing a documentary film on the work of the artists working and living in artists studios, at a four square blocks, semi-abandoned deposit and warehouse, which had been converted to studio spaces in the
1990's, located at 111 First Street,
Jersey City, New Jersey. Branko mentions: "Back in those days, the place was a dump with walls, nobody wanted to rent there, it was not made for human residences" After some months of work on the Documentary, and months before the artists left the building in the year
2005, Branko shelved the project. He needed time to look after his own private life. It had nothing to do with the politics and controversy surrounding the
City of Jersey City, the landlord and the resident artists. Branko mentions: "I make
Documentaries, that I know have a positive social influence, I don't go after who robbed what, who killed whom, etc.; the world is full of that.
I am a
Bible believing
Christian, and just like the
Quakers, Calvinists, Huguenots of the past, who prayed and dedicated their beautiful works to Jehovah, I do likewise. My humble work, is my prayer to the
Lord." This documentary deals exclusively with the art made and/or performed by the artists. Branko says: "Who remembers the building owners or politicians in
1920's Paris, where artists such as
Modigliani,
Chagall, Lipchitz,
Soutine,
Brancusi,
Rivera,
Man Ray, Kisling,
Picasso,
Juan Gris,
Matisse,
Apollinaire,
Braque, and the rest
..., made their art flourish?" "
Nobody" "The same will happen, as the legend of the artists of 111 First Street grows. Their art quality, will make them eternal." "
Working Artists are creating now, what the rest of us normal human beings, will only be able to appreciate, in 20-30 years
." In the history of mankind, this location compares to a few places, where so much artistic talent has been housed at the same place and time. The viewer can enter this wonderful utopia.
http://a2b1.com/
111.html
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MARÍA BENJUMEDA (
Singer/
Cantaora) was born in
Andalusia, Spain, and grew up in
Jerez de la Frontera, land of the legendary wineries and flamenco music.
She studied acting in Paris where she graduated from the
Conservatoire du Xème rrondissement in
1998, and has performed in classic plays such
Electra, El Barbero de
Sevilla, and
School of
Wives.
She moved to
New York where she started to sing and became reacquainted with her flamenco roots.
She has been performing in different tablaos and clubs and with dance companies like
Andrea del Conte Danza
España,
Ballet Español, and Atrevete. She has also performed in
Los Angeles in the
Fountain Theater with
Juan Talavera's
Company and
Tony Triana.
She took acting workshops with
George Dicenzo in NY and
Milton Katselas in LA.
She has appeared in some student films in NY, and starred in
Marc Beneria's
AFI short film
King Returns which was selected at the
Habana Film Festival and at several Festivals all over the
U.S.
- published: 20 Oct 2012
- views: 722