August 2008 - the Parklander

from 1968 is a dark melody. Keith Richards’ savage clash of guitar licks is
topped with a piano, Latin maracas, and congas. Sympathy for the Devil is
devilish poetry pointing out mankind’s murderous instincts. The historic
number has also been released on the three different live albums and two Stones
compilations, as well as Martin Scorsese’s recent Shine A Light.The tune is well
known throughout the world almost 40 years later. Sympathy for the Devil is also
the subject of a 1968 film of the same name by French New Wave director Jean
Luc Godard, to be shown at MOCA on Saturday, August 9.
The United Kingdom blessed the rest of the globe with the Beatles, the
Rolling Stones, and the Who. Besides the heroic figures, British industrialmusic
pioneers emerged in the mid ’70s, bringing confrontational
performance-art into recordings and concerts. English artists, such as Douglas
Gordon, manipulated bootleg footage to shift our understanding of the
relationship between untamed performers and their audience. Scott King and
Kevin Cummins got inventive moving digital prints onto paper.
Besides New York and LA, the merger of art and rock sensibilities has been
reflected in Austin, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Providence.
Recognizable names like Big Black, Iggy Pop, and the Stooges brought
dynamic theatrics to the business. Chicago photographer Melanie Schiff
created memorable portraits of Neil Young. Sculptor Jim Drain captures the
icon’s dynamic and outrageous sensibility. Finally, the World exhibit shows
how rock has become an international phenomenon, seen by some as an
example of American cultural imperialism. Japanese artists, such as Yoshitomo
Nara, possess strong graphic orientations in drawings to evoke a
rebellious spirit and aggression.The Brazilian Tropicália cultural movement of
the ’60s and ’70s features rock-oriented performers to emphasize extravagant
colors and the original use of space in wallpapers and decals.
MOCA will have a handful of delightful and educational presentations
through August. Showing on Saturday, Aug. 9, Godard’s Sympathy for the
Devil documentary looks at the role of the revolutionary in the late 1960s.
Subjects include Women’s Liberation, the May revolt in France, the power of
language and the Rolling Stones in the studio. One week later, visual artist
Rafael Sánchez and actor Jim Fletcher will perform to ZZ Top’s Fandango.The
elaborate pair will incorporate elements of Greek tragedy, surrealist theater,
silent films, and drag shows. On Sunday, August 24, Beatriz Monteavaro,
Federico Nessi and Manny Prieres, all residents of Miami, will make
appearances to discuss their pop culture works. And on Thursday, August 28,
Battle of Bands will host free outdoor concerts at MOCA, showcasing local
musical acts and their original material.
MOCA strives to make modern pieces of ingenuity available to diverse
audiences. They are proud to provide a forum for both local and international
artists. Through galleries, publications, films, lectures, performances and
educational outreach activities, the museum is state-of-the-art in our
community. When it comes to struggling virtuosos, MOCA has some
sympathy and some taste. After all, that’s the nature of their game.
Todd McFliker, a published author, writes about entertainment in South
Florida, reviewing films, CDs, venues, and concerts ranging from local artists
to Sir Paul McCartney and U2. E-mail him at mcfliker@theparklander.com.
“Men in the Cities”
by Robert Longo
“Youth” by Yoshitomo Nara
The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami is located at 770 NE 125th Street. For information, call (305) 893-6211 or visit www.mocanomi.org.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 pm, on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and the last Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Admission is free for MOCA members, North Miami residents and city employees and children under 12. Nonmembers pay $5 to enter, while it’s $3
per person for seniors and students with ID.
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