For the second year in a row, I have been involved with Art By Chance, an ultra short film festival that screens short films on digital signs around the world. While these short films will be playing here and there, I organize the official New York screening of the films which includes a unique music element…

Art By Chance is currently seeking musicians to participate in the second annual Art By Chance Screening & Music Scoring party in New York on May 23rd.

Art By Chance is an ultra short film festival that screens short film on digital signs around the world. Part of the idea behind Art By Chance is to bring film to the public in an unexpected way, in an unexpected place, while also acting as an alternative means of short film distribution.

As part of our celebration of this year international festival we are inviting music makers of all kinds to create impromptu scores of the films live.

If interested in performing, please submit a sample of your work to stacey.burgay@anbean.org by April 16th.

For more information on Art By Chance visit us www.artbychance.org

THE 2010 ART  BY CHANCE “TIME” THEMED FILMS WILL BE ARRIVING TO A CITY NEAR YOU MAY - JUNE. If you would like to help bring the world’s largest public art event to your city, email us!

Take 1: Brooklyn Vegan pre-SXSW showcase at The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn) on March 15th

BrooklynVegan.com are throwing a pre-SXSW party on March 15 at the Knitting Factory with some of their favorite bands…all on their way to Austin for the festival: Let’s Wrestle, Casiokids, The Wave Pictures, Banjo or Freakout and WhoMadeWho (DJ only).

Take 2: New Directors, New Films starts March 24th to April 4th.

You really can’t go wrong with NDNF, close your eyes and just point anywhere on their program and you will see something good.

Take 3: Who needs the Salt Lick anyway? There are plenty of good BBQ places here in NYC (Daisy Mays, Blue Smoke, Bone Lick, Rub BBQ)

and then call me in the morning.

So you are so over BAM’s Sounds Like Brooklyn festival, you’re in the mood for something more foreign, new or avant-garde, let me suggest the Unsound Festival that’s happening in venues throughout New York and Brooklyn starting tonight Feb 4th till 14th.

Opening night at Lincoln Center features Vladislav Delay, one of the most innovative musicians working in electronic music today, and Lillevan, the highly-regarded video artist who has worked with Fennesz and Morton Subotnik, continue an ongoing collaboration on a brand-new free-form audio and visual improvisation, creating their performance specifically for the David Rubenstein Atrium. There is also a special screening of Andy Warhol’s Kiss and Blow Job. You know if you want to star at one image on a screen for a very very long time. More information about Unsound Festival can be found at http://unsound.pl/en you can also find Unsound Festival 2010 lineup and music clips at though Last.fm page

Tonight you and I can relive our teenage years, that is if you spent most of your time in Tower Records. I know I did.

No Longer Empty (NLE) is bringing Tower Records back to life with a multimedia installation. “Never Say Goodbye” will include pieces made from sound, light and all the technology that made Tower obsolete. Sounds depressing! The exhibit will be open to the public through February 13th. More details here.

Friday // 7 to 9 p.m. // Broadway and E 4th St // Free

I can’t exactly remember the name of the music teacher but I can almost hear her the story and the music for Peter and The Wolf as I type this. Saturday, January 16, Arts @ Brookflield will put on a performance with the Knickerboxer Chamber Orchestra performing Peter & The Wolf with narration by Neil Gailman. The concert will also feature Broadway tenor Jason Danieley.

Saturday // 7pm /// World Financial Center // FREE

If you can’t make it, may I suggest watching the animated short Peter and the Wolf, Oscar winner 2007 Best Animated Short.

Now all I need to do is find a Muppet movie on Sunday to fully go back in time.

For the holidays someone I know sent everyone (or at least a good chunk of friends in their address book) a mix of their  top songs of 2009. I decided this was probably the best gift I’ve gotten in awhile. I LOVE a good music mix. As it almost always introduces me to someone or some band that I haven’t heard of before.

So here’s my top songs of 2009 (In order of how I find them on my itunes). These songs were listened to over and over and over again. Helped me through the good, the bad and the ugly of 2009.

1. REGINA SPEKTOR “CALCULATION”

2. KAREN O and The Children from the Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack “WORRIED SHOES” (actually this may be one of the best albums of the year - will win it’s golden globe nomination.

3. AVETT BROTHERS “I AND LOVE AND YOU”

4. LADY GAGY “PAPARAZZI”

5. YEAH YEAH YEAHS “HEADS WILL ROLL”

6. HUMAN HIGHWAY “THE SOUND”

7.  ISAN “TROIS GYMNOPEDIES”

8.  THE SMITHS “THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT” (this counts because it was on  a 2009 soundtrack).

9.  ANIMAL COLLECTIVE “MY GIRLS”

I know I said 9 but let’s throw in a 10 just for fun!

10. THE DEAD WEATHER “Treat Me Like Your Mother”

Performa 09, the third edition of the internationally acclaimed biennial of new visual art performance presented by Performa, will be held in New York City from November 1–22, 2009. The three-week festival will showcase new work by more than 80 of the most exciting artists working today, in an innovative program breaking down the boundaries between visual art, music, dance, poetry, fashion, architecture, graphic design, and the culinary arts.

Light Industry will be host to “Untitled Performances” by Emma Hart and Benedict Drew in their first collaborative performance in New York. Juxtaposing and transforming the mechanics of 16mm film, video and sound,

Tuesday November 17th $7 at Light Industry 220 36th Street, 5th Floor - Brooklyn, New York.

For full schedule on Performa 09 and Light Industry click on their respective links

Need to make a note to self to get involved in the next one. Marking my calender now.

A few years back I accompanied a friend to one of these Poprally events. Why haven’t I gone back since? Oh yeah, the last time I wanted to go to a show it was sold out! So I’m getting my ticket early this time!

PopRally presents an exclusive after-hours viewing of the exhibition New Photography 2009: Walead Beshty, Daniel Gordon, Leslie Hewitt, Carter Mull, Sterling Ruby, Sara VanDerBeek. Using digital photo-booth technology, guests can also construct their own take-away photographs using backgrounds newly designed by Gordon, Hewitt, and VanDerBeek. Music is provided by Andrew Kuo. Creative dress is encouraged.