“The aesthetic experience is a simple beholding of the object . . . you experience a radiance. You are held in aesthetic arrest.” - Joseph Campbell
Aesthetic Arrest: Mid-Week Libation
Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Sacred Mountain ΑιΩ Marbled Malagouzia (Halkidiki, Greece)
“Our Philosophy: ‘Wine is art, and art is innovation and emotion.’ Join us on a journey of creativity and passion in every bottle!” [Source]
“Sacred Mountain products are crafted with a focus on sustainability and industrial symbiosis, both integral parts of the circular economy, ensuring the smallest possible environmental footprint. This philosophy inspired our first wine, the Marbled Malagouzia ‘ΑιΩ,’ which matured within marble fragments, acquiring a unique mineral aftertaste.” [Source]
Reading: “I”: New and Selected Poems by Toi Derricotte
“How do you gain access to the
power of parts of yourself you
abhor, and make them sing
with beauty, tenderness, and compassion?
This is the record of fifty years
of victories in the reclamation
of a poet’s voice.” — Toi Derricotte
“Toi Derricotte's story is a hero's journey—a poet earning her way home, to her own commanding powers. “I”: New and Selected Poems shows the reader both the closeness of the enemy and the poet's inherent courage, inventiveness, and joy.” [Source]
Read poems by Toi Derricotte at The Academy of American Poets!
Poem Sampler - Toi Derricotte: Selections (via Poetry Foundation)
Listening #1: A Tribute to Roberta Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025)
Check out the gorgeous documentary, American Masters: Roberta Flack (directed by Antonino D'Ambrosio), which you can watch for free via PBS.org!
Remembering Roberta Flack: The Virtuoso - Roberta Flack’s career demands a new way of thinking about the word ‘genius.’ by Ann Powers (via NPR)
What Roberta Flack’s music means to her LGBTQIA+ audiences (via PBS)
Listening #2: Hymns of Bantu by Abel Selaocoe
“Across 12 tracks written for ensembles varying from African percussion to orchestra, solo cello and electric bass, Abel interprets traditional Bantu music alongside compositions by Bach and Marais, highlighting the continuity between musical legacies rather than their differences. ‘The crux of the album is about celebrating those that have come before us, and how we are all connected,’ he says. ‘It’s allowing classical music to again sit in the same space as where I’m from – allowing Bach to sit next to overtones and the world of throat singing.’” [Source]
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe fosters dialogue across time and cultures in a new album (via NPR)
Looking: The Art of Cameron Ugbodu aka “See You”
“When I was growing up, I would have loved to see imagery like this. It gives me a sense of belonging.” - Cameron Ugbodu
“Cameron Ugbodu, aka “See You”, is an autodidact Nigerian-Austrian artist living and working in London. Through their multidisciplinary work, Ugbodu investigates family histories, identity and queerness.” [Source]
Official Site of Cameron Ugbodu / Instagram / Works for Sale (via Artsy)
View works by Cameron Ugbodu from from DADA Gallery’s presentation at Black-Owned Galleries Now! (via Artsy)
Viewing #1: The Last Showgirl (2024) — directed by Gia Coppola & starring Pamela Anderson
“Pamela Anderson delivers a poignant, tour-de-force performance as Shelly, who's spent 30-years headlining in an iconic rhinestone and feathers Vegas revue, Le Razzle Dazzle.” [Source]
‘I stripped away this caricature that I created’: Pamela Anderson on makeup, activism and gardening (via The Guardian)
Viewing #2: The Disappearance of Miss Scott (2025) — documentary about Hazel Scott, directed by Nicole London (PBS American Masters)
“The Disappearance of Miss Scott chronicles Hazel Scott’s meteoric rise as a jazz talent and major Hollywood star before being blacklisted during the Red Scare. Hazel Scott was one of the most revered stars of the early 20th century. Not only was Scott a beloved musical sensation, but she also channeled her talents into Hollywood stardom, becoming the first Black American to host their own television show.” [Source]
Listen to our podcast (from September 2022) on both the music and life of Hazel Scott here!
Hazel Scott, a trailblazing entertainer and activist, was silenced. A PBS doc brings her to light (via LA Times)
Unveiling the Legacy of Hazel Scott: A Conversation with Filmmaker Nicole London (via National Endowment for the Arts)
Tasting: Delicious Greek Meze at Balsamico Restaurant in Ioannina, Greece
“Nestled in the heart of Ioannina, Balsamico is a celebrated Greek restaurant and deli that invites visitors to indulge in the rich culinary heritage of Greece. With its charming atmosphere and welcoming service, this eatery has become a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The menu features an array of traditional Greek dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients that highlight the vibrant flavors of the region.” [Source]
So that’s it for this week! But in the tradition of our Mid-Week Libations, we’d like to end with this week’s words of wisdom, a quotation from the aforementioned pianist and cultural trailblazer, Hazel Scott:
This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Hazel Scott (1920-1981)
Thank you for joining us for Season 3 of Aesthetic Arrest!
Cheers to that!
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