Winter 2009. It’s cold and I am recovering from mono. My roommate suggests that I finally leave the house to go with her to the Harvard Film Archives showing of “Of Light and Lightness – The Films of Marie Menken.” I agreed because she had impeccable taste, but I had no idea of the wonder that awaited me:

Arabesque for Kenneth Anger shook me to the core. It reminded me of my own trip the to Alhambra and of the majesty and beauty of that building. I didn’t have a camera on that trip and lament it to this day.

Lights feels magical, intoxicated, innocent and vulgar. It reminds me of long childhood car rides at night when crossing your eyes presented a new and interesting view of the world. (Watch it silently!)

photo from the film “Notes on Marie Menken”