Always For Pleasure by Les Blank
Co-presented with Blaffer Art Museum
Saturday, September 21, 8:00PM
Location: Aurora Picture Show, 2442 Bartlet
Free with Ticket Registration SOLD OUT (Wait List at the Door)
Immerse yourself in the festivities of one of America's most festive cities, New Orleans. Aurora Picture Show and Blaffer Art Museum present a night of culinary and cinematic exploration through the eyes of film icon, Les Blank and his landmark 1978 film, "Always For Pleasure." Presented on 16mm film, this one-hour cinema verite documentary explores the social traditions of Creole life. And because food, drink, and music always go together in Blank's films, there will be red beans 'n rice, po-boys, hurricanes, brews, and a special performance by the Zydeco Dots.
This film is an intense insider's portrait of New Orleans' street celebrations and unique cultural gumbo: second-line parades, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. It features music from Professor Longhair, the Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Neville Brothers and more. This glorious, soul-satisfying film is among Blank's special masterworks. Les Blank is an internationally renowned independent filmmaker, whose poetic work offers intimate, idiosyncratic glimpses into the lives, culture, and music of passionate people at the periphery of American society.
Between 1960 and his passing this April, Blank made dozens of documentaries celebrating the cultures from around the world, including Cajun, Mexican, Polish, Hawaiian, and Serbian-American music and food traditions, Afro-Cuban drummers, Texas bluesmen, Appalachian fiddlers, flower children, garlic, and gap-toothed women. What he captures is a delight to the eyes, but might appeal foremost to the ear, the heart, and the stomach - cooking, dancing, drinking, and storytelling are the means by which Blank invites the audience into the world of his subjects. And though among the most respected artists in the field, Blank resists easy categorization as someone who is resolutely non-commercial, yet not falling easily into cinema verite, essay, or anthropological film making traditions. Ultimately, each of his films is a celebration.
Aurora and the Blaffer cordially invite you to be a part of this unique cinematic experience for free. Advance ticket registration is required in the online box office. Limited quantities are available. The screening is made possible by a generous grant from the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center's Innovation Grant Program, which is funded in part by the Houston Endowment, Inc. The screening is in conjunction with Blaffer Art Museum's exhibition, Feast: Radical Hospitality in Contemporary Art, and will be accompanied by New Orleans cuisine courtesy of The Cajun Stop and BB's Cafe, as well as brews courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewery. After the film, we will have a musical performance by Zydeco Dots.
The Zydeco Dots, more commonly referred to just as The Dots, originated in 1987. Zydeco music was born in southern Louisiana, but in Houston, the music was still relatively obscure up until the 80s. The Dots, based in Houston, brought Zydeco to venues where the music had never been heard before. Since then, The Zydeco Dots have won numerous awards and have been voted best Zydeco band by the Houston Press.