ARTS . Culture Shock

Things That Matter To People Who Matter

So Many Dynamos | Knowledge Is the Beginning | Todaro's Music | HeartWorks


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Published: Jan 23, 2008

So Many Dynamos

Local puppeteer/illustrator/performance artist/activist Beth Nixon is a genius. That's what everyone, without exception, says when they see her calendar, So Many Dynamos: A Calendar of Illustrated Palindromes for 2008. That is, if they can stop snorting and giggling and rolling on the floor. It's outrageous! It's like Shel Silverstein but better, more surreal. Beth's been making palindrome calendars and giving them away as presents for the last few years, and this year West Philadelphia's awesome bookstore Bindlestiff Books decided to print a full-color version. I bought five of them. It may be the cleverest damned thing I have ever seen. Flee to me remote elf!

—Amy Pickard

Singer-songwriter

Knowledge Is the Beginning

Last week, a film called Knowledge Is the Beginning premièred at the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival. What better way to bring in the new year than watching young Jews and Arabs — people traditionally at odds with each other — playing music together? The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the brainchild of Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian writer Edward Said, has performed to great acclaim in Munich, Ramallah and Israel. Makes one truly believe that when humanism trumps politics, peace is still possible.

—Marianne Bernstein

Photographer, filmmaker

Todaro's Music

Hiding just west of the city in Lansdowne is probably the most interesting music store you've never been to. I would never have found it myself if I hadn't been wandering up the street from the (mysteriously closed that day) Lansdowne Diner after heading out for some coffee and fries. Todaro's Music (28 N. Lansdowne Ave.) is practically bursting with instruments you've never heard of or seen in person. Bouzoukis, erhus, lutes, sitars and more hang on the walls next to an eclectic selection of percussion instruments, some beautiful guitars and a little corner of vintage amps. I'd buy it all if I could.

—Jon Hafer

Keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist, the March Hare

HeartWorks

I'm into contemporary art more than ever these days. Artist and curator Christopher Veit, a Media native now living in Los Angeles, credits Philadelphia's Mazzoni Center with saving his life and has decided to give the place and people who helped him get well a fundraiser filled with contemporary art. More than 100 works, donated by his artist and musician friends in Los Angeles, New York, London and Philadelphia, will be included in "HeartWorks." Directors of arts, culture, consulates, media, social service, gay, lesbian and medical organizations, as well as government officials, are joining forces for this unique event in April.

—Roy Wilbur

Actor, Jeffrey