Music! Perhaps you've heard it once or twice? Our very own Company of Fools Production Assistant Chris Henderson drops the beat and practically gives you his very own mixtape for beating the quarantine blues. Here's what Chris is listening to right now!

1. Distraction Pieces- Scroobious Pip (2011)

Scroobius Pip is a UK native from Essex, England that has been creating innovative slam poetry and redefining British Hip-Hop for the better part of two decades. Pip found mainstream success in 2008 after a collaboration with Dan le Sac, a music producer and former HMV colleague of Pip’s, resulted in the critically acclaimed “Thou Shalt Always Kill.”

To date, Scroobious Pip has released three albums in collaboration with Dan le Sac, two solo albums, and two live performance albums. Scroobious Pip’s second solo album Distraction Pieces is an ode to the turmoil that arises when the self-aware becomes introspective or as Pip puts it: “That’s all the s*** that flies around my head and keeps me sleepless.”

2. The Book of Heavy Metal- Dream Evil (2004)

In 1999 Swedish producer Fredrik Nordström happened upon a chance meeting with a young guitarist by the name of Gus G from the band Firewind while on vacation in Greece. The two took a liking to each other and decided to work together to create a fantasy driven Power Metal band. And thus, Dream Evil was born.

Fredrick and Gus asked a few close friends to join the band, and until the first promotional photos were taken, the band had never been fully met. Dream Evil’s third studio album The Book of Heavy Metal is an adrenaline-fueled ride with searing vocals, galloping guitars, and driving drums that have a voice of their own.

3. Live at Pompeii- Pink Floyd (1972)

Pink Floyd, a band that needs no introduction, released Live at Pompeii in September of 1972. The film’s original cut is a full-length feature comprised of eight tracks and running approximately 60 minutes. The film has had subsequent releases in 1974 as a theatrical cut, 2002 as a DVD, and in 2016 as a 5.1 surround sound DVD and CD pair.

With the natural ambiance of Pompeii helping to elevate the eccentric and energetic performers, Live at Pompeii is rare gem that melds together light and sound to create a unique piece of art that is still unrivaled nearly 50 years later.

4. Appeal to Reason- Rise Against (2008)

Formed in 1999, Rise Against is a Melodic Hardcore Punk band originating from Chicago, Illinois. Rise Against is known mostly for their double time tempos, beautifully melodic guitars, and powerfully crafted lyrics. A few of the subjects that the ensemble tackle includes animal rights, economic injustice, homophobia, and modern warfare.

Rise Against’s 5th studio album Appeal to Reason is a shining example of just how orchestral punk music can sound when melodic guitars and dynamic drums are paired with choruses of harmonic backing vocals. Appeal to Reason is an emotional Tour de Force and a pleasure to listen to start to finish.

5. Stony Hill- Damian Marley (2017)

Son of legendary music and song writer Robert (Bob) Nesta Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley has released four solo albums to date and is the recipient of four Grammy Awards and one nomination. Damian Marley, while favoring a more contemporary Deejay style, has continued to push forward much of the movements that his father birthed decades earlier.

Stony Hill is an hour and fifteen-minute journey that forces one to confront their own shortcomings, examine the social constructs around them, and find a greater empathy and understanding for their fellow man.

As many of you know, part of what I do for Company of Fools and The Sun Valley Museum of Art is to schedule volunteers to help us during our events. Volunteers are what make our community go – round and since we’ve been asked to shelter at home, I thought I would share some of what I’ve been doing to volunteer for our community and to make art in my at-home down time.

1. SEW FACE MASKS

I’m not a great seamstress and my masks definitely look homemade compared to my more talented friends, however, they’re fairly easy to make (I know, I know, everyone says that!) and it makes me feel good to help out! Here’s a video on the efficacy of face masks:

https://khn.org/news/to-curb-coronavirus-whats-behind-the-wearing-of-a-…

If you’re interested in obtaining a “kit” for 25 masks ready to sew, please contact Barbara Knowles at [email protected].

How to Make Face Masks

· A video tutorial https://vimeo.com/400118073/8a7eb657ab
· Pattern for community mask: https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/2020%20PSJH_FACEMASK_COMMUNITY…
· Written Providence Guidelines https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/Instructions%20Community%20Mas…

Adjustable Nose Piece - The Providence pattern has been adapted to include an adjustable nose piece. Please refer to the Written Providence Guidelines to insert our adjustable nose piece after step 6.

· How to maintain a safe environment while making masks https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/2020-%20PSJH_FACEMASK_KIT%20In…

If you’ve tried to sew masks and you’re like who in the hell ever said this was easy to do?? (Dang DIYers! – in fact, I have PTSD from DIYers like Martha Stewart, etc. You should see my melting snowmen cookies. They look like they got in a bar brawl. But, I digress…) Watch this video for a little comic relief. I could TOTALLY relate to it! https://youtu.be/U4c5eo_3-y0

2. KNIT BABY HATS AND MITTENS

A lot of my friends and colleagues are due to have a baby in the next few months. I find knitting relaxing (unless I’m ripping out the pattern for the umpteenth time!) If what people say is true, there will be a baby boom within the next nine months, and maybe you’ll enjoy making this hat and mittens for your friends! Sweet Paprika Designs: First Winter Pattern by Elizabeth Sullivan

My favorite baby hat and mittens pattern can be purchased on Amazon in a book by called Knitting for Baby by by Melanie Falick (Author), Kristin Nicholas (Author), Ross Whitaker (Photographer). (Sorry, I don’t have a link to this!) This book has a lot of fun patterns. I’m addicted to making the baby hat and mittens in this book, and I’ve added snowflakes to the pattern to make it more appropriate for an Idaho snowy winter!

3. MAKE PAPER BOOKS

I took a book making class with the Sun Valley Museum of Art earlier this year from Angela Batchelor (https://angelabatchelorart.weebly.com/) and became completed obsessed with making paper books! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year?!

With the limited supplies I had already at home, I’ve been making these books like a madwoman. Here’s a link to Angela’s Origami Wallet for a Book Cover and PantsAccordion Fold for Inside Book pages.

If all you can find is 12” x 12” paper for the book cover, which can easily be purchased at Jane’s Artifacts for curbside pickup locally (https://www.janesartifacts.com/) or Amazon.com, change pants accordion paper size 8” x 22”. You can also slip a ribbon through the book cover to make a tie for the book.

Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions about any of these projects!

They enjoyment of these project can be improved with certain Broadway musical turned films going on in the background. Of course, you have to have already seen them a million times so you’re not distracted from your project. My favorite musicals turned into films while working on art projects are:

SOUTH PACIFIC Release date: March 19, 1958 (USA) Director: Joshua Logan Languages: English, French Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing

Available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and Direct TV!

SOUND OF MUSIC Release date: March 2, 1965 (New York) Director: Robert Wise Music composed by: Richard Rodgers, Irwin Kostal, Oscar Hammerstein II Setting: Salzburg

Available on Disney+ and to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and more!

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Release date: November 3, 1971 (USA) Director: Norman Jewison Awards: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, MORE Screenplay: Sholem Aleichem, Joseph Stein

Available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and Direct TV!

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Release date: August 15, 1973 (USA) Director: Norman Jewison Awards: BAFTA Award for Best Sound, David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film Producers: Norman Jewison, Robert Stigwood

Available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on VUDU, YouTube, Amazon.com, and iTunes Store.

When times are tough, turn to the Bard!

As many of you know, I’m a dork. A real nerd; especially when it comes to Shakespeare! I have been torturing my entire household for weeks now, returning to some of my favorite Shakespearean classics (and some not-so-classic Shakespearean-influenced shows) to while away the hours in quarantine! To be on the couch watching Shakespeare, or not on the couch but on the floor with a glass of wine – THAT is the question! Here are my favorites, most of which you can find online, on Netflix, or on the YouTubes!

1) Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson!

Don’t let Keanu Reeves in the list of actors turn you off this delightful, sun-drenched version of the Bard’s greatest battle of the sexes! Kenneth and Emma have REAL chemistry in this film, as Beatrice and Benedick should, and Michael Keaton as Dogberry is among one of my favorite Shakespearean-clown performances on film! Funny, witty, wonderful, and filmed in an absolutely GLORIOUS location, this is my favorite go-to Shakespeare comedy on film.

—Available on Netflix

2) Shakespeare In Love with Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow

Yeah, so, yeah – not actually Shakespeare, but it is the very next best thing. Although I enjoy the performances of Joseph Fiennes as Willy Shakes and Gwyneth Paltrow as his muse, it is actually the HUGE list of the very best British character actors in this film that keeps me coming back for more. (Ignore Ben Affleck – booooring), but Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and DAME JUDI DENCH as Queen Elizabeth all make this movie a balm for the soul. And, add Tom Stoppard, and you have a theatrical hat trick of a movie!

—Available on Amazon Prime for $3.99

3) Titus and The Tempest directed by Julie Taymor

Have to be honest, I didn’t LOVE either of these films, but I LOVE how brave, ridiculous, and energetic Julie Taymor is in her approach to the plays. I mean, come on – Helen Mirren as Prospera? My favorite review of Taymor’s The Tempest is this one: “To be completely honest, the whole thing doesn’t quite work. It’s a bit of a mess, although Mirren is fabulous and fans of the play should still certainly see it. It’s a bold revisioning of the play…” and I completely agree. Much the same could be said for Titus, with truly amazing performances by both Anthony Hopkins as Titus and Jessica Lange as Tamora (my favorite of all the Shakespeare villains!). Neither film is going to win any awards for best film adaptations of the Bard, but they are both well worth a watch for Taymor’s shockingly bold directorial hand, and some truly jaw dropping performances of iconic Shakespearean characters (maybe have a few glasses of something before and during…)

—Titus is available for purchase on DVD or BluRay, and The Tempest is available to rent on Amazon Prime for $2.99

4) The King directed by David Michod

What could be better than having a bunch of Shakespearean history plays crammed into a single movie? Well, having Timothee Chalamet play the iconic Henry V with a bowl haircut, that’s what! I LOVE this movie, but for a somewhat odd reason: I like watching it and trying to figure out which lines and scenes come from which Shakespearean title! Essentially, The King is a mash-up of Shakespeare’s “Henriad” plays – Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, and Henry V – with a cast of gazillions of great actors playing some of the best roles in all of Shakespeare! Joel Edgerton as Falstaff? Robert Pattison as the French Dauphin? Bring it on! O, for a muse of fire, friends! Totally worth a watch or two!

—Available on Netflix

5) Forbidden Planet directed by Fred Wilcox

Ok, ok. I know. Forbidden Planet on a list of Shakespeare films? Well, YES, actually! This hilariously campy sci-fi film from the late 1950s is, in fact, inspired by Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest! A ridiculous spacecraft travels to the distant planet Altair IV to discover the fate of a group of scientists sent there decades earlier. When Commander John J. Adams (played by the hilarious Leslie Nielsen) and his crew arrive, they discover only two people: Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter, Altaira (Anne Francis), who was born on the remote planet. Soon, Adams begins to uncover the mystery of what happened on Altair IV, and why Morbius and Altaira are the sole survivors…. This movie is campy, dorky, and sooo bad that it is a true CLASSIC of science fiction film-making. Did I mention Leslie Nielsen is in it??? Genius!

—Forbidden Planet is on Amazon Prime, Apple iTunes, and can even be watched in its entirety on YouTube!