Emily M. Danforth's Blog, page 73

exhibition-ism:Christopher Boffoli’s miniature sculpture...

exhibition-ism:

Christopher Boffoli’s miniature sculpture series entitled “Big Appetites”

via DesignBoom

I’m thrilled that CAM POST got a mention in an excellent...

I’m thrilled that CAM POST got a mention in an excellent essay over at The Millions—“Not Ready to Gush About It: A Brief Book List for Teen Readers.” The piece is by Carolyn Ross, a high school English teacher in New Jersey, and it’s about teens reading over the summer and the level of coolness of that act (or at least talking about that act). More specifically it’s about the the perceived lack “coolness” of that act. (Which was always all the more reason for this teen to read over the summers.)

From the essay:

“I’m not reading during the summer,” they proclaim.

This is a very curious thing for them to say, because these kids may have entered my classroom in September as non-readers, but by this point in June every last one of them has loved a book.  These kids who scoff at my mere mention of summer reading have caught me before class to report proudly that they have already read thirteen books this year, or to tell me that they already finished the book I loaned them four days ago, and they need a new one.  Each and every student, at one point or another in the year, has neglected to hear me announce the conclusion of independent reading for the day, so engrossed in a world of zombies, or first love, or football, that our existence in the classroom has become secondary.

click-the-image for the full essay, you’ll be happy you did

In his excellent essay on the status of contemporary Gay &...

In his excellent essay on the status of contemporary Gay & Lesbian fiction (from last week’s NY Times), Christopher Bram (Gods and Monsters; Eminent Outlaws: The Gay Writers Who Changed America) references Carol Anshaw’s completely wonderful novel Aquamarine, calling it a “brilliant first novel.” I couldn’t agree more. I teach it in my fiction writing classes all the time because it has such an elegant, smart construction (as a triptych—3 possible versions of a woman’s life—book-ended by two events that work with any of the three versions.) Anyway—for those who haven’t yet read Aquamarine I say buy it and read it at once: it’s a fantastic bit of lesbian fiction (and just fiction) for summer.

Also, read Bram’s essay by clicking-the-pic

exhibition-ism:Fireflies on the Water (2002), by Yayoi...

exhibition-ism:

Fireflies on the Water (2002), by Yayoi Kusama.

Fireflies on the Water isan installation made of 150 lights, mirrors and water.
It offers an out-of-this-world experience from the confines of a modest room paneled with mirrors and adorned with 150 tiny beads of light deliberately suspended throughout the compact space. Upon entering the room, there’s an illusionary effect that gives the impression of infinite space reflected on all sides and in the two inches of water that flows below.

July 12 - September 30, Whitney Museum.

(Previously blogged: Infinity Mirror Room)

Four years ago today, a very dapper crowd pelted us with...

Four years ago today, a very dapper crowd pelted us with tiny-tiny, cocoa-sized marshmallows and then was rewarded with champagne for their efforts. There was also much dancing. And cake. And candy. And sparklers.

I’m swiftly made sentimental by any public declarations of love and commitment (especially when champagne is involved). No surprise, then, that I’m made even more sentimental remembering our own. To love, I say: to love. (And of course: to my wife.)

My good friend, writer Kelly Grey Carlisle, has an incredibly...

My good friend, writer Kelly Grey Carlisle, has an incredibly haunting essay over at The Rumpus. It’s titled “What He Took.” You should sit down now, right now, and give it a read. Kelly is a phenomenally talented writer, and if this knocks the wind out of you then just wait for her full memoir, which she worked on for years and years—painstakingly getting it right.

And what’s more: Kelly is one of the best and kindest people I’ve ever known. Here’s to friends (and swim buddies) like KGC.

click-the-pic for essay

The audio is up for my piece on Rita Mae Brown’s seminal...

The audio is up for my piece on Rita Mae Brown’s seminal lesbian bildungsroman Rubyfruit Jungle. It aired on tonight’s broadcast of NPR’s All Things Considered. (I had acute bronchitis and a fever whilst recording it, but those magic folk over at ATC made all of that disappear.)

click-the-logo to give a listen

I’m currently reading (and very much enjoying) Ellis...

I’m currently reading (and very much enjoying) Ellis Avery’s THE LAST NUDE. Lost Generation Paris; hot, hot (okay, sensual) scenes of woman-loving-woman desire; an intelligent but not overwritten examination of the modern art “scene.” It’s a most excellent novel to check out for pride month; or, you know: any month.

"Incidentally,” she said, “do you happen to know any nice lesbians? I’m looking for..."

““Incidentally,” she said, “do you happen to know any nice lesbians? I’m looking for a roommate. Well, don’t laugh. I’m so disorganized. I simply can’t afford a maid; and really, dykes are wonderful home-makers, they love to do all the work, you never have to bother about brooms and defrosting and sending out the laundry. I had a roommate in Hollywood, she played in Westerns, they called her the Lone Ranger; but I’ll say this for her, she was better than a man around the house. Of course, people couldn’t help but think I must be a bit of a dyke myself. And of course I am. Everyone is: a bit. So what? That never discouraged a man yet, in fact it seems to goad them on. Look at the Lone Ranger, married twice. Usually dykes only get married once, just for the name. It seems to carry such cachet later on to be called Mrs. Something Another.””

-  A little literary queer bliss for Pride Month: Holly Golightly in Capote’s classic novella: Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Oh ennui, ennui, ennui.

Oh ennui, ennui, ennui.