Well, that happened.
I did it. I watched the finale of This Is Us, when it was actually on, and I didn’t cry. Of course, when I read Vulture’s This Is Us Best Cries List, I, you know, got a little emotional.
Mastry
Kerry James Marshall’s retrospective exhibition, Kerry James Marshall: Mastry, opened at MOCA this week. Seeing it for the first time, Thursday night, was all visceral reaction. Blackness and Black people, beautifully depicted. It was regular, normal, every day black. I felt intense joy. I was so proud. Inches away and dwarfed by canvases covered in the blackest of black and the most vibrant of reds and greens and blues, yellows and pinks. It was everything and too much to take in at the same time.
I’m so excited to be able to experience it again. To study the work, to go beyond my initial reaction and impressions. It is, as we are, multi-layered, complex, rich and bold.
If you’re in LA or will be before July 13th, see it.
Kerry James Marshall in conversation with Theaster Gates | NY Times
Feist!
I’d been thinking a lot about Feist recently. “La Sirena” from Monarch, on repeat in my head a few weeks ago. I woke up yesterday, happily surprised to find new music from Feist. “Pleasure” is the title track to her new album, out on April 28th.
More Feist – Including the hard to find Monarch.
Seeing Red
You know how this works. You go in for one thing and then, something just gets ya. I went into MAC just to smell, okay, buy the travel-sized scented Fix+ in Coconut. Ended up walking out with red mascara. It’s the In Extreme Dimension Mascara, from the Work It Out collection, in Heart Rate’s Rising. Red mascara? Really? For someone older than 25? Yep. I’m digging it. If you want to go extra, you can. But, it’s so wearable with just a few coats. Check out the top lashes in this bit of selfie action. I may need to get one or two of the other 11 colors. MAC Select members get 25% off until March 20th.
Coming Soon and Soon-ish
Podcast Politically Reactive returns March 29th.
Man, I’ve missed Hari’s laugh. Okay, and the thoughtful progressive political conversation between comedians W. Kamau Bell, Hari Kondabolu and their guests. It feels like it’s been a long, long time since season one ended right after the election,with no guarantee of S2. Thankfully, they’re going to keep this special thing going. Hopefully, they’ll have ideas and interesting discussions that will help us to continue to stand firm, fight back and get through this thing with 45.
Grace + Frankie S3 premiers March 24th.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are back as Grace + Frankie, still navigating their unexpected chapter as single seniors making new lives for themselves, together, after their husbands come out and declare their decades-long love and affair. Next weekend will, definitely, be spent binge-watching season three. And I can’t be the only one who kinda internally demands lots of June Diane Raphael as Grace’s daughter, Brianna, right? Sorry, she’s just great. (Netflix)
Chewing Gum S2 launches in the US April 4th.
I’m all for another gloriously awkward black girl. The hilarious British comedy, Chewing Gum, is written by and stars Michaela Coel. The show follows the misadventures of Tracy, an endearingly-odd 24 year-old virgin, from a super-religious family, in her pursuit of, you know, getting some, on a housing estate in London. I’ve watched the first season three times since it premiered in the US last October. (Netflix)
Game of Thrones S7 delayed start on July 16th.
I didn’t regularly watch until the end of s5. I’ve seen all of s1. Maybe a few eps of s2, The Red Wedding and the episode where Joffrey dies. I could try to fill in holes before S7 starts in July. But, do I need to? Is it worth it? Am I really missing anything?
Insecure S2 is coming back, July 23rd. I was NOT expecting season 2 so soon. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
This weekend, I might be:
+ washing my hair because I didn’t last week.
+ going to see T2 Trainspotting.
+ cooking up some experiments in vegan-ization.
+ wandering.
What are you up to?
