Spring is approaching quickly, and as puffers are being traded for loose jackets and umbrellas, there is a plethora of art to supplement our warmer weather. From film to musical theater, here is a collection that will get you sneezing from pollen and opening your umbrellas for spring showers.
Books: Joan Didion, “South and West”
Spring, as a prelude to summer, presents itself as a time of birth and renewal against long winters. Didion, as always, presents herself in a collection of essays with self-respect and dignity that encapsulates that burgeoning motif that Spring carries. The personal essays account her travels in the American Southeast as well as her life in California, exposing the undusted corners of America that prove to be much less alien than we seem to think. Didion humanely connects distinct places with universal truths with such eloquence that the words fly off the page as soon as you read it.
Poetry: Ada Limon, “The Raincoat”
In the play “The Curious Savage” by John Patrick, Mrs. Savage tells Fairy “Take an umbrella, it’s raining” as a way of saying “I love you.” That attitude succinctly describes this intimate and tender poem by poet Ada Limon, where she juxtaposes a doctor’s visit with her mother and a raincoat to expose the covert ways we express love. In “The Raincoat,” Limon explores how we often internalize deep maternal love into a trivial thing.
Film: Eric Rohmer, “A Tale of Springtime”
The first installment in French filmmaker Eric Rohmer’s “Tales of Four Seasons” quadrilogy, “A Tale of Springtime” erupts a vibrant floral aesthetic whose approach to love and desire is simply intoxicating. The philosophical dialogue is carried by two tender performances from Anne Teyssèdre as Jeanne and Florence Darel as Natacha, as they navigate the complexities of romance in the gorgeous French countryside.
Art: Eyvind Earle’s “Silent Meadow “
Silent Meadow by Eyvind Earle depicts a sweeping green landscape whose geometric approach to composition makes for a grandiose viewing experience. Earle, better known for painting the lush backgrounds for Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” utilizes the trees shadows in a surreal way, capturing the massive solemnity of nature.
Theatre: Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, “Spring Awakening”
“Spring Awakening” was a musical smash hit when it debuted on Broadway in 2006 and again when the Deaf West Theatre revived it in 2015. Adapting the 1891 German play of the same name, Sheik and Sater create a landscape that—despite following turn-of-the-century German teens—is imminent in its exploration of adolescent identity and intimacy. The music combines reminiscent alt-rock distorted guitars and romantic harpsichords. Spring Awakening is a timeless tale that’ll hit you in your gut.
Along with warmer weather and a burst of color, the transition from winter to spring often brings about the indescribable feeling that everything will be okay. This month’s playlist combines classic and contemporary songs to highlight the change in both season and in mood. Play these songs in Central Park, at the pier or walking down a sunny side street with your friends.
