Wednesday Work: STOP Motion/Stop Animation: The Brothers Quay

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While studying abroad in Rome a few summers back, I had the good fortune to be introduced to the Brothers Quay, both their work and the artists themselves, while participating in a philosophy course dealing with ideas of vision and rationality. (or was it reality, or realization??? hmm, it did begin with an 'r'. The whole experience a blur!)

And I don't know if its the changing weather, a changing mood, or if I am just preparing to nestle down in the studio with my demons for a while (oy! demons!), but I have been obsessed - obsessed!- with all things macabre lately (see also, steampunk): The Brothers Quay fitting the bill quite well.

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Twin brothers born in Norristown, PA, these boys are Philadelphia locals made it big. Both attending The University of the Arts back in the 1960s, moving to England shortly thereafter to study at The Royal College of Art in London.

All you really need to know however, is this: Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Brothers Quay (2010). Netflix it - watch "The Epic of Gilgamesh, or This Unnameable Little Broom" (1985), then watch "The Street of Crocodiles" (1986). Then watch them again. Try to wrap your brain around these TABLETOP realities created from everyday objects, from garbage, from your lunch scraps.

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Their sets are teeny-tiny. Their attention to detail is ENORMOUSly articulate and thorough.

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You want to watch it, own it, be it - NOW.

But...maybe you don't. (I'm heartborken.) In that case, check out these videos on Vimeo, "The Best of Animation/Stop Motion/Puppets" in today's music video scene. The image below is from
N.A.S.A feat Karen O and Ol' Dirty Bastard, the song is "Strange Enough".

Let's go, come out with me, bring your scissors, your glasses, your teeny-tiny working fingers and a video camera, let's make the world a smaller place - one full of much larger possibilities.

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