A couple of nights ago I rented the Arnold Schwarzenegger 1977 docu-drama “Pumping Iron” hoping to get some insight into who our Gov’nuh out here in Cali really is. You know, an inside gimps at the man behind the muscles. What I found is that Arnold, even before he hit the big time, was a likable and charismatic person. He appears a bit arrogant and cocky, but you can’t help but to root for him all the same. At the end Arnold defends his title as Mr. Olympia, but whatever, really, it’s the story that gets you there that’s worth watching.

Besides Schwartzenegger, the film focuses on some other big muscle dudes who never went on to be the Governor of California or the Terminator. These guys weren’t the smartest kids out there, but what these feeble souls lacked in brainpower they hoped to God to make up for in muscle power. And who can blame them. Chicks dig muscles, right?

What I got in this movie was more than I bargained for: bad haircuts, great one-liners, a brawny supporting cast of misfits, and a really personable and likable Arnold!

Hey Arnold, tell us the best part about pumping iron:

Nick Cave’s Soundsuits in motion @ the YBCA

Yesterday I got to see a live performance of Nick Cave’s Soundsuits choreographed by Ronald K.Brown. The dance was a blend of African and modern and brought the suits alive. They danced primarily in a gallery adjacent to the room where mannequins and stuffed bears wore some of Cave’s other suits. In the second room, the suits stood still, at attention, a departure from the dancing free spirited suits in the room next door. I tried to get a picture in the other room, but was told “no pictures.” You can see some of Cave’s other work in the video I’ve posted at the end of the post. The dancing suits really lent themselves to movement, while his stationary pieces were really magnificent in their own right.

Unfortunately yesterday was the last live performance with the suits, but the exhibit will be up through July 5th at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and is highly recommended.