January 31 - National Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

Happy National Inspire Your Heart With Art Day! Always observed on January 31st, this day is a day to ponder how art affects your heart. After all, any and all art is valued and appreciated for many reasons.   

Click play and listen to the two-minute episode on why we celebrate Inspire Your Heart With Art Day. Featuring the founder of National Day Calendar®, Marlo Anderson. 

https://thenationaldailyshow.com/jan-31-backwards-day-and-inspire-your-heart-with-art-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jan-31-backwards-day-and-inspire-your-heart-with-art-day

Of the broad spectrum of art created in the world, the pieces that move us to tears or cause us to burst out into joyous laughter remain with us for a lifetime. 

Whether we are touched by music or see into an artist’s soul through their work, art has the power to change us, to inspire our hearts.

The day encourages us to explore the many genres of art and let it inspire us. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Since art comes in so many forms, the number of ways to celebrate are countless. We provide only a snapshot of the ways to participate. We hope it inspires you to celebrate the day in a way that puts art in your heart. 

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  • Visit an art gallery. 
• • Attend a live theatre performance 
• • Read a good book. 
• • Listen to music. 
• • Attend a ballet performance 
• • Start your masterpiece. 
• • Teach someone how to play an instrument. 
• • Attend an art lecture. 
• • Explore a new technique. 
• • See an inspirational film. 
• • Share your art with others. 

Use #InspireYourHeartWithArtDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this national art celebration. 

#InspireYourHeartWithArtDay 

@nichecinema 

    

January 31 - Geoffrey Wright

Happy 61st Birthday, Geoffrey Wright! Born today in 1959, this Australian screenwriter and film director, years later, graduated from the Swinburne Film and Television School with a Diploma of Arts in Film and Television 

  

Afterwards, Wright worked as a movie critic for both the "Melbourne Age" and Radio 3AW prior to making his feature debut with his poignant 1989 Australian short drama film 'Lover Boy'. 

  

Three years later, Wright caused quite a stir in writing and directing the film of which he is best known. 

This was the powerful and controversial 1992 Australian drama/crime film 'Romper Stomper'. It was through this film of which Wright gained cult success. 

  

The film fallows Hando (Russell Crowe) and Davey (Daniel Pollock). Both are the leaders of a racist neo-Nazi skinhead youth gang who spend their nights attacking Vietnamese immigrants in a rough section of blue-collar suburban Melbourne.  

  

On the run after losing badly in a fight against the new Vietnamese owners of their local pub, the pair hook up with teenage junkie Gabe (Jacqueline McKenzie).  

  

She suggests robbing the mansion of her rich and sexually abusive father Martin (Alex Scott). However, the girl's presence begins to drive a wedge between the longtime friends. 

  

Post release, 'Romper Stomper' received mixed reviews, but was a substantial box office hit. On a budget os A$1.8 million, the film eventually grossed $3.3 million. 

  

Wright later won a handful of awards and was even nominated for an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Director. However, he didn't win. This occurred at the 34th Australian Film Awards in mid-October 1992. 

  

Tragically, Australian actor Daniel Pollock, who played Davey, committed suicide before the film's release.  

  

The character of Hando was originally written for Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn. However, Mendelsohn did not look menacing when his head was shaved.  

  

Crowe, however, had shaved his head, gotten into character, and had been persistently contacting Wright to reconsider his casting decision. When Wright decided Mendelsohn didn't have the look, the role went to Crowe. 

  

It was Crowe’s performance in 'Romper Stomper' that convinced Cutis Hanson to cast him as plainclothes Officer Wendell "Bud" White in his 1997 American neo-noir crime/thriler drama film 'L.A. Confidential'. 

  

The Australian crime/political thriller television series Romper Stomper was released on the Australian video streaming service Stan on January 1. 

  

The series was co-written and co-directed by Wright. However, the seres only lasted for one season. 

  

Wright has been active from 1980–present. 

  

#borntodirect  

@AACTAawards 

@StanAustralia 

@Kanopy 

@tubi 

@PremiereUSA 

@theransomnote 

@Amazon 

January 31 - Derek Jarman

Happy Birthday, Derek Jarman! Born today in 1942 as Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman, this English gardener, gay rights activist, diarist, author, stage designer, artist and visionary film director is best known for co-writing and directing the 1986 British drama/history film 'Caravaggio'. 

Jarman passed from HIV/AIDS in London, England, United Kingdom on February 19, 1994. He was 52. Jarman had been active from 1970–1994. 

#borntodirect 

@BFI