Happy The Dark Knight Rises day! In celebration of the final installation of the Batman reboot films directed by Christopher Nolan, we’ve shared this soon-to-be-viral photo of an amazing chalk street mural depicting a blazing Batman symbol rising through a seemingly subterreanean Gotham. AWESOME. Sourced from the always wonderful art-in-pictures website Warholian.
Speaking of Summer Movies… If all these visits to the multiplex are pummelling your wallet to death, Hulk-style, perhaps it’s time to start up a movie theatre of your own. There are loads of guides online that share tips on how to start your own backyard cinema, film society or even your own annual summer film festival. One of our favorites was the 1737 Film Festival in Halifax, where a collection of local shorts were projected in a cozy backyard. Once you start watching movies outdoors, we assure you – it’s very hard to go back.
Favorite New Blog Alert: Pizza Breath is a new arts and culture blog made exclusively for pizza lovers. There are pizza parlour reviews, pizza-related GIFs (I see a lot that appear to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-related) and amazing pizza-themed drawings from PIZZA ZINES! Check out this cool pizza monster. I`m in heaven.
Getting to Know“Who`s Emma“: As a relatively new-ish Torontonian, I recently realized there are many amazing zine-related historical nuggets that I was either a) not here for or b) too young to fully appreciate. The punk collective Who`s Emma is one such place. Working out of a Kensington market retail space, the collective ran a non-profit shop selling all sorts of stuff – and the store also operated as a safe space and educational hive for wee up-and-coming punkers, creatives and upstarts. It closed in 2000 but left a documentary film, commemorative zine, thesis project and at least one oral history in its wake. It`s fascinating and inspiring reading, and certainly gives this n00b Torontonian a better idea of the city`s hidden history. If you have any other such documents from interesting, now-defunct DIY and punk spaces in your city, send me an email at assisteditor-at-brokenpencil.com.
Adorable Video Alert: I am also a relatively new convert to Korean pop videos, and this particular stop-motion example is quite a gem, distinguishing itself from its high-gloss counterparts with a decidedly hand-crafted sensibility. It may make your heart grow a size or two. Happy Friday.