Highlights included the beaver, the terrible conflicting sound from the Shumka stage, a fully functioning sound bucket, and quite seamless beginning.
-people need encouraging to get into the wishes.
-ran out of pathway string
Theresa fishing: she needs to start with an empty bucket for it to make sense
Michelle's singing was great/can get crossfaded with Shawn more. Shawn cued but it got missed. Need a flag?
In general Shawn is maybe over subtle, depending where one stands.
Chad: can't hear him well after he is dancing on the pathway. That transition is really working.
Angie- be farther up the wall so people can see you when they arrive on pathway
Sonja reveal worked better today- it will be nice tomorrow when the sound bucket is farther south.
I hoped the bucket for Theresa would be dead centre. And a little bit farther south- directly across from the river water dipping pail.
The streamer fell off!
Angie's reindeer through the pagoda was priceeless. Jason keep more arm integrity in the runs and make sure to begin from up the hill all the way!
The clumps were hot stuff
I liked people holding signs. Maybe do that for the wishing tree sign as well? (Angie)
So we will go back to Angie Chad and Jason fading off until disappearing. Michelle and Kat can wait by tree or out of sight. Sonja is good where she is. Shawn and I will take a solo at the end after Theresa/Sonja interact, Michelle is done, and most people have their water....
thx!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
up and running
Well we got the opening under the belt- 5 more to go!!
It was beautiful weather for the first show, and the first time we actually had all of the elements together at the same time/same place, making it feel almost like seeing a collage.
Gabe's signs are lovely- might need some spacing changes to put in the best places.
The program distribution and test tubes felt a bit clunky- not sure if it is just a matter of organizing or if it is too much to add in for the audience.
Without the program instruction to follow the stream, people are quite shy to travel, so we can try to make sure people know to follow the red string.
The dancing and travelling and timing was all quite nice, especially some of the land-based things we have been working on a lot this week- rocks, pathway, highway/wall, picnic table all worked well. The wishing tree seemed nice- not sure if it needs extra help or not...
We could probably re-insert the contact duet in the grass or a Jason solo if wishes take a long time.
The bridge was a bit formless. The audience gathering spot felt clumpy and it might be nice to spread it out farther by placing the sound pail farther up the bridge. Some people who didn't advance enough did not even see Kat/Michelle. The Works volunteers who were helping with things also did not help enough- Theresa was left without vials to fill and the positioning was wrong. So that needs fixing.
Theresa and Sonja's interaction took a long time to occur and the change afterwards was less obvious than it needs to be.
Theresa could definitely fetch water again. It was missed (she was right)
I am curious about feedback people give us...Shawn figured the diffusion ending was not clear enough or strong enough. Michelle suggests maybe all re-convening at the stone bridge?
The departing dancers could do more dancing- flocking with sparklike solos could work. People responded to the falls initiated by passersby. Maybe it would work to double back?? Or do a fall and stay down long enough to be an ending?
and the hanging pails are lovely but need interactions to be meaningful (like the biker hitting it.)
Also for liability we should place a works person at the other end or a sign to warn people!
It was beautiful weather for the first show, and the first time we actually had all of the elements together at the same time/same place, making it feel almost like seeing a collage.
Gabe's signs are lovely- might need some spacing changes to put in the best places.
The program distribution and test tubes felt a bit clunky- not sure if it is just a matter of organizing or if it is too much to add in for the audience.
Without the program instruction to follow the stream, people are quite shy to travel, so we can try to make sure people know to follow the red string.
The dancing and travelling and timing was all quite nice, especially some of the land-based things we have been working on a lot this week- rocks, pathway, highway/wall, picnic table all worked well. The wishing tree seemed nice- not sure if it needs extra help or not...
We could probably re-insert the contact duet in the grass or a Jason solo if wishes take a long time.
The bridge was a bit formless. The audience gathering spot felt clumpy and it might be nice to spread it out farther by placing the sound pail farther up the bridge. Some people who didn't advance enough did not even see Kat/Michelle. The Works volunteers who were helping with things also did not help enough- Theresa was left without vials to fill and the positioning was wrong. So that needs fixing.
Theresa and Sonja's interaction took a long time to occur and the change afterwards was less obvious than it needs to be.
Theresa could definitely fetch water again. It was missed (she was right)
I am curious about feedback people give us...Shawn figured the diffusion ending was not clear enough or strong enough. Michelle suggests maybe all re-convening at the stone bridge?
The departing dancers could do more dancing- flocking with sparklike solos could work. People responded to the falls initiated by passersby. Maybe it would work to double back?? Or do a fall and stay down long enough to be an ending?
and the hanging pails are lovely but need interactions to be meaningful (like the biker hitting it.)
Also for liability we should place a works person at the other end or a sign to warn people!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Images from rehearsals
 |
| Tree with Wishes |
 |
| Pagoda= beginning gathering spot |
 |
| Katrina's Laundry Rocks |
 |
| Jason's Table Ghost |
 |
| Slow walk with Bucket |
 |
| Successful full collapse |
 |
| The best clump so far |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Butoh Day
It was great to have our first rehearsal with Sonja today. She showed us some butoh walks, and I found that the suspended, imagistic elements of butoh work really well within the space and also with Shawn's soundtrack. (which he personally lugged through the park today and needs a solution for! note to self...) Her perch on the stone bridge with the bucket, and her walk through the bushes was captivating.
In going through individual journeys, it was very interesting to note that people tended to have the impulse to work in isolation (making them extremely difficult to track in the space!) But I think that the 'perspective' theme is coming back quite strongly, and space between people is good.
The bucket and the red streamer seem to be desired props that work well in a variety of ways. We will soon need a bike trailer to lug all of our stuff around in, and just moving bags from place to place is getting pretty hilarious.
Katrina on the rocks= always cute and fun
The deer are always nice, but they are one of my fetishes right now. Am I overdoing it?
Michelle singing her guts out on the bank= could be triple the length, managed to compete with the Edmonton Queen, and always brings onlookers. With her singing, people always know its art and that it is alright to stare. (with the rest of us they sometimes shyly ask what we are doing or if they can take photos...) I still think she needs: an umbrella and a bucket of stones to throw.
Theresa on the road with her pail, walking so slowly was lovely, as was her spontaneous body break downs on the bridge, collapsing when people passed. I missed her tree today. She fished wildly. She engaged in I LOVE YOU runs, much to our pleasure... (those are originally a Ginette Laurin thing)
I caught a great glimpse of an exciting table dance by Jason. But I think the red string web is cut...single string seems more the point, and the entanglement isn't fitting in yet.
Chad's runs are really funny- in the bushes, on the road, in the field. I still haven't found the greatest way to use everyone, so there is a bit of floundering overall. I am not super worried about it, because this is the time when we get to see each other. As long as once a role is established, it gets full commitment, things work out well. (And you won't get to see some people ever again in the piece!)
I am very excited we get to work with Gabe Wong on design! Go see his website: Gabe Wong
Maybe he will be able to help us come up with something in the space as well...
And of course Sonja coming to the rescue of the drunk man on the riverbank was the cherry on top...
Chad had a dream about convergences of characters on the bridge, and in doing things today it looked like that may just be what happens. We spoke about the difficulty (and perhaps redundancy) of getting off the bridge and back up the hill, of the draw of the river- its in the title after all- and about good endings. I think the hovercraft would be fun! So who knows where it will lead- still many things to be felt out and done, but coming nicely.
In going through individual journeys, it was very interesting to note that people tended to have the impulse to work in isolation (making them extremely difficult to track in the space!) But I think that the 'perspective' theme is coming back quite strongly, and space between people is good.
The bucket and the red streamer seem to be desired props that work well in a variety of ways. We will soon need a bike trailer to lug all of our stuff around in, and just moving bags from place to place is getting pretty hilarious.
Katrina on the rocks= always cute and fun
The deer are always nice, but they are one of my fetishes right now. Am I overdoing it?
Michelle singing her guts out on the bank= could be triple the length, managed to compete with the Edmonton Queen, and always brings onlookers. With her singing, people always know its art and that it is alright to stare. (with the rest of us they sometimes shyly ask what we are doing or if they can take photos...) I still think she needs: an umbrella and a bucket of stones to throw.
Theresa on the road with her pail, walking so slowly was lovely, as was her spontaneous body break downs on the bridge, collapsing when people passed. I missed her tree today. She fished wildly. She engaged in I LOVE YOU runs, much to our pleasure... (those are originally a Ginette Laurin thing)
I caught a great glimpse of an exciting table dance by Jason. But I think the red string web is cut...single string seems more the point, and the entanglement isn't fitting in yet.
Chad's runs are really funny- in the bushes, on the road, in the field. I still haven't found the greatest way to use everyone, so there is a bit of floundering overall. I am not super worried about it, because this is the time when we get to see each other. As long as once a role is established, it gets full commitment, things work out well. (And you won't get to see some people ever again in the piece!)
I am very excited we get to work with Gabe Wong on design! Go see his website: Gabe Wong
Maybe he will be able to help us come up with something in the space as well...
And of course Sonja coming to the rescue of the drunk man on the riverbank was the cherry on top...
Chad had a dream about convergences of characters on the bridge, and in doing things today it looked like that may just be what happens. We spoke about the difficulty (and perhaps redundancy) of getting off the bridge and back up the hill, of the draw of the river- its in the title after all- and about good endings. I think the hovercraft would be fun! So who knows where it will lead- still many things to be felt out and done, but coming nicely.
Michelle's opera videos and mostly French chansons
The Flute of Pan
THE FLUTE OF PAN
For the day of Hyacinthies, He gave me
a panpipe made of carefully assembled
reeds, united with a white wax that is sweet
to my lips as honey.
He teaches me to play, I am seated on his
lap; but I am a little nervous. He plays after
me, so softly
Weill's Youkali
It was almost to the end of the world
That my wandering boat
Straying at the will of the waves
Led me one day
The isle is very small
But the kind fairy that lives there
Invites us
To take a look around
and
Debussy
and
Apres un Reve
and
Au Bord de l'eau
and its hard to beat the Italians for drama...so pretty!
O del mio dolce ardor
and I really like this one - same song different colour
more del mio dolce ardor
and a man-song too!
Gabriel Faure
This is a pretty decent chunk of research on songs for water, shipping, sirens, bridges, (death!), so take a listen if you can spare half an hour and see what connects to a) bridge of stone and b) riverbank... I find some of the accompaniment hard to de-imagine in these. But lovely Michelle- thanks! They really have a rolling quality altogether- so interesting.
THE FLUTE OF PAN
For the day of Hyacinthies, He gave me
a panpipe made of carefully assembled
reeds, united with a white wax that is sweet
to my lips as honey.
He teaches me to play, I am seated on his
lap; but I am a little nervous. He plays after
me, so softly
Weill's Youkali
It was almost to the end of the world
That my wandering boat
Straying at the will of the waves
Led me one day
The isle is very small
But the kind fairy that lives there
Invites us
To take a look around
and
Debussy
and
Apres un Reve
and
Au Bord de l'eau
and its hard to beat the Italians for drama...so pretty!
O del mio dolce ardor
and I really like this one - same song different colour
more del mio dolce ardor
and a man-song too!
Gabriel Faure
This is a pretty decent chunk of research on songs for water, shipping, sirens, bridges, (death!), so take a listen if you can spare half an hour and see what connects to a) bridge of stone and b) riverbank... I find some of the accompaniment hard to de-imagine in these. But lovely Michelle- thanks! They really have a rolling quality altogether- so interesting.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
total diffusion
Some days, just being outside in the park, in the wind, in the sun, just completely drains us! After about an hour and a half, sometimes we all just daze around in a stupor, and it is very hard to come to any decisions. This is kind of how I feel when I go camping- time sort of drifts, instead of ticking away regularly. I don't think this is a particularly bad thing, it just diffuses focus and energy and is really hard to work in. But that feeling seems to contain some quality I want our audience to feel- like they aren't aware of time. In a good way!
The water/bridge area contains this energy even more.
The water/bridge area contains this energy even more.
Monday, June 6, 2011
first day with Shawn!
Planking, Clumping, Power Lines, Swooning, Crowd Surfing= group/contact dance vocab games.
beginning = 10 min
bridge = 15 min
end= 10 min
It is exciting to get to work with some sound soon!!
Building memory banks for storytelling has been interesting, and it looks like our whole story could have a context of memory combined with BS to make an exciting fiction of the park that also explains our wild interpretations of it.
Little Michelle singing on the banks needs a parasol, bike, and pile of stones to throw. (lovely!)
We need our signs for the retainer wall story (has to be reversible)
We need to figure out the bears. Chad has a story to try.
Stage manager? Let's hope so!
Rainproofing...
beginning = 10 min
bridge = 15 min
end= 10 min
It is exciting to get to work with some sound soon!!
Building memory banks for storytelling has been interesting, and it looks like our whole story could have a context of memory combined with BS to make an exciting fiction of the park that also explains our wild interpretations of it.
Little Michelle singing on the banks needs a parasol, bike, and pile of stones to throw. (lovely!)
We need our signs for the retainer wall story (has to be reversible)
We need to figure out the bears. Chad has a story to try.
Stage manager? Let's hope so!
Rainproofing...
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Locations...might not be able to do them all, but a basic plan
1. Chinese Pagoda
2. Stone Bridge
3. Rose Garden (winding path)
4. Side Wall/ Bike Path
5. Hidden Picnic Table
6. Benches/ Bike Path/ Stairs
7. Big Bridge
8. River Viewpoint West of Bridge (2 trees)
9. Picnic Tables/ Beginning of Path
10. Chain Link Fence
11. Flights of Stairs up to end...
2. Stone Bridge
3. Rose Garden (winding path)
4. Side Wall/ Bike Path
5. Hidden Picnic Table
6. Benches/ Bike Path/ Stairs
7. Big Bridge
8. River Viewpoint West of Bridge (2 trees)
9. Picnic Tables/ Beginning of Path
10. Chain Link Fence
11. Flights of Stairs up to end...
Resources
Bodies in Urban Spaces
by this company: http://www.ciewdorner.at/index.php?page=start
shows some possibilities- many very similar to what we are doing...
by this company: http://www.ciewdorner.at/index.php?page=start
shows some possibilities- many very similar to what we are doing...
Discovery Day: Memories, Wishes, Graffiti
So today with Theresa and Jason and Michelle was interesting...they went on a sensory walk through the park, noticing things, listening, feeling. They came back talking about texture, Theresa focussing micro on tiny unfolding leaves and mutant rosebushes, Michelle commenting on the flatness of the water and sky, feeling lucky to have such a space in the city, not yet encrusted with concrete...
The idea is to create memories tied to specific places in the park, specific feelings- cold and warm, mosquitoes, interacting with children and homeless guys, that we can pull up for either storytelling or movement vocab later. Enriching with memory so we feel connected to the space itself- creating our own history within it.
We also went on a rather elongated wish collecting spree, getting wishes written onto little price tags and attaching them to the trees. We encountered all sorts of obvious resistance, and plenty of participation as well. It felt like it could really go far, especially with accumulated effect of seeing other people's participation. Many were suspicious of us and perhaps would get more involved if allowed to do it themselves in their own time and way, instead of dictating to one of us.
It does make the tree look cool. I will return later today just to see what remains.
Top wishes for kids= candy, .....fairy
Top wishes for adults= money, world peace.
This also makes me think about sculptures whose job is to be destroyed/altered by people.
We did some chalk graffiti on the bridge (No.........ing)
There is something cool about collecting buckets of river water. Extreme!
Lunch time definitely is high traffic and plenty of soldiers (bitches) of fitness
We seem to have decided to use hammer in signs along the cement wall/walkway to tell a story that can be read in both directions.
I want to get a dancer to walk up the bridge (South to North) slowly in red (Jodie?) laying down a red line. Then centre lines become a going concern throughout. north/south, rich/poor, past/present, bad/good, young/old etc...
I like Jason getting trapped in the web. Need to figure out where...
Also need cardboard signs to hang on us.
I am thinking/wondering about some fake fantasy signage in the bushes...
Coming soon!
check out http://www.timetchells.com/
and I am really looking forward to Shawn coming!!! There is lots of potential for sound input, from banging on the bridge, to ghetto blasters at the picnic table with the 3 bears, to some sort of chimes on the chain link fence, to a song for Michelle around the stone bridge that sets it all up.
I have walkie talkies and we will all have a story we could tell. Sound for the canoe to go with Michelle...Acoustic instruments? I looked up bridge music and of course got the musical definition of bridge, which is transitional in structure.
Interesting video
The idea is to create memories tied to specific places in the park, specific feelings- cold and warm, mosquitoes, interacting with children and homeless guys, that we can pull up for either storytelling or movement vocab later. Enriching with memory so we feel connected to the space itself- creating our own history within it.
We also went on a rather elongated wish collecting spree, getting wishes written onto little price tags and attaching them to the trees. We encountered all sorts of obvious resistance, and plenty of participation as well. It felt like it could really go far, especially with accumulated effect of seeing other people's participation. Many were suspicious of us and perhaps would get more involved if allowed to do it themselves in their own time and way, instead of dictating to one of us.
It does make the tree look cool. I will return later today just to see what remains.
Top wishes for kids= candy, .....fairy
Top wishes for adults= money, world peace.
This also makes me think about sculptures whose job is to be destroyed/altered by people.
We did some chalk graffiti on the bridge (No.........ing)
There is something cool about collecting buckets of river water. Extreme!
Lunch time definitely is high traffic and plenty of soldiers (bitches) of fitness
We seem to have decided to use hammer in signs along the cement wall/walkway to tell a story that can be read in both directions.
I want to get a dancer to walk up the bridge (South to North) slowly in red (Jodie?) laying down a red line. Then centre lines become a going concern throughout. north/south, rich/poor, past/present, bad/good, young/old etc...
I like Jason getting trapped in the web. Need to figure out where...
Also need cardboard signs to hang on us.
I am thinking/wondering about some fake fantasy signage in the bushes...
Coming soon!
check out http://www.timetchells.com/
and I am really looking forward to Shawn coming!!! There is lots of potential for sound input, from banging on the bridge, to ghetto blasters at the picnic table with the 3 bears, to some sort of chimes on the chain link fence, to a song for Michelle around the stone bridge that sets it all up.
I have walkie talkies and we will all have a story we could tell. Sound for the canoe to go with Michelle...Acoustic instruments? I looked up bridge music and of course got the musical definition of bridge, which is transitional in structure.
Interesting video
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wallet Lost/ Wallet Found
It felt good to have a slightly larger group going on today...
fun with:
flags in the bushes
relay races on rocks
water in can from the river
lots of dance on bridge (play with distance)
rotating trios on picnic tables.
Jason caught in a red spiderweb.
Feeling good about the use of signs, labels, tags and instructions.
People are generally game to be involved if we aren't TOO wanky.
banners?
fun with:
flags in the bushes
relay races on rocks
water in can from the river
lots of dance on bridge (play with distance)
rotating trios on picnic tables.
Jason caught in a red spiderweb.
Feeling good about the use of signs, labels, tags and instructions.
People are generally game to be involved if we aren't TOO wanky.
banners?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Signs and leaving marks on chain link fences
The homeless dudes who make the park home are definitely influencing the process/piece...
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tags for the Fence
I am looking for something interactive to leave behind on the chain link fence:
choice #1= cheap and audience can write on them
writable metal rim tags
choice #2= not so cheap but cool and engrave-able
metal valve tags
The space has greened up incredibly in the past week. Much more lush. And many more lushes to go with the warm weather....
choice #1= cheap and audience can write on them
writable metal rim tags
choice #2= not so cheap but cool and engrave-able
metal valve tags
The space has greened up incredibly in the past week. Much more lush. And many more lushes to go with the warm weather....
Friday, May 20, 2011
Happenings
With Kat, Theresa and Jason today we found a few things that caught interest:
1. a red crepe paper streamer tied to the bridge at its midpoint. 25 metres long. lovely
2. Kat on the rocks washing clothes and spreading them out. in red. installation-type
Things that didn't work:
-dropping dandelions
-person in white in tree
-person in parallel installation on S side of river in white (too receeded and competes with red)
Thoughts:
person in Tree needs tree talk text (theresa working on lung associations)
crepe paper finish line and cheering for joggers and runners is funny
bucket to gather water (25 m string)
Person who only walks on rocks. Another sets and moves them...
anything x 50 people would work. A choir? A school? Volunteers?
Return of the people balancing branches on their heads
Return of the deer in the bush
bears at the picnic table (perhaps before and after)
red,red,red
bikes
golfcarts
Signs or stickers:
No Spitting
No Loitering
No Talking
No Running
No Stopping
No Washing
No Climbing
No Watching
No Dancing
No Stripping
No Fighting
No Drinking
No Eating
No Trespassing
No Returning
No Asking
etc....
the yarnbombing idea was just ok looking- kind of messy and weak...
Now is the time to get some sound and text integrated...
1. a red crepe paper streamer tied to the bridge at its midpoint. 25 metres long. lovely
2. Kat on the rocks washing clothes and spreading them out. in red. installation-type
Things that didn't work:
-dropping dandelions
-person in white in tree
-person in parallel installation on S side of river in white (too receeded and competes with red)
Thoughts:
person in Tree needs tree talk text (theresa working on lung associations)
crepe paper finish line and cheering for joggers and runners is funny
bucket to gather water (25 m string)
Person who only walks on rocks. Another sets and moves them...
anything x 50 people would work. A choir? A school? Volunteers?
Return of the people balancing branches on their heads
Return of the deer in the bush
bears at the picnic table (perhaps before and after)
red,red,red
bikes
golfcarts
Signs or stickers:
No Spitting
No Loitering
No Talking
No Running
No Stopping
No Washing
No Climbing
No Watching
No Dancing
No Stripping
No Fighting
No Drinking
No Eating
No Trespassing
No Returning
No Asking
etc....
the yarnbombing idea was just ok looking- kind of messy and weak...
Now is the time to get some sound and text integrated...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
some spaces
This is the Chinese pagoda (starting place for audience) and the stone bridge (Location #1). The rocks that are under the bridge are interesting to play with...so far it is a game of go and stop that is initiated with rock rhythms. Michelle has been singing from under (could also be above, where audience is situated.) We noticed the depth perception flattens at a distance. The carved animals and stones around the periphery are attractive...
Installation on the Rocks?
washing laundry/ drying laundry
dressing/ undressing/ balancing
washing/splashing/wading/throwing rocks
discovering/hiding
ghettoblaster
a 35 minute ritual (Kat)
Michelle in the little framed arbor...(needing text- possibly riddles?)
Monday, May 16, 2011
Windy Day #5?
It continues to be super windy on site. Today was the first day of mosquitoes, so I guess I will settle for the wind if I have to choose! But the wind does cut down considerably on sound, depending where you are. Today we spent some time banging on the bridge and it does contain many resonant features, both metal and wooden. The bridge is quite a magical no-man's land. Anything could happen there...
Another cool resonant location was under the stone bridge. We dropped some stones and Michelle was singing from underneath and it sounded quite pretty.
High on my wish list is a boat of some kind. That is another resonant thing. Some kids went under the bridge today on longboats and you could hear them very easily as they said hello to everyone on the bridge. Odd.
Theresa did a lovely little tree climbing solo for us while she talked about lung structure.
We might be pushing it for the desired 35 minutes. We will see how it goes, what gets cut, what gets developed.
Our Soldiers of Fitness Section could be totally absurd or it could get cut.
But so far so good. It is lucky to get to work on site. The bikes are looking like they could be hard for us to deal with while dancing- not sure yet though. Logistics.
The price to equip the bikes with sound sounds reasonable.
Another cool resonant location was under the stone bridge. We dropped some stones and Michelle was singing from underneath and it sounded quite pretty.
High on my wish list is a boat of some kind. That is another resonant thing. Some kids went under the bridge today on longboats and you could hear them very easily as they said hello to everyone on the bridge. Odd.
Theresa did a lovely little tree climbing solo for us while she talked about lung structure.
We might be pushing it for the desired 35 minutes. We will see how it goes, what gets cut, what gets developed.
Our Soldiers of Fitness Section could be totally absurd or it could get cut.
But so far so good. It is lucky to get to work on site. The bikes are looking like they could be hard for us to deal with while dancing- not sure yet though. Logistics.
The price to equip the bikes with sound sounds reasonable.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sources: too much money spent on cool things for advertising for printers...
Bouncy Balls
String
Paint
Foam
Japanese phone company ad/instrument
Like the fabulous handpainted ceramic sunflower seeds, things in vast quantity are cool...Ai Wei Wei
String
Paint
Foam
Japanese phone company ad/instrument
Like the fabulous handpainted ceramic sunflower seeds, things in vast quantity are cool...Ai Wei Wei
Monday, May 9, 2011
Rehearsal
Today Michelle, Jason and I explored some possibilities in the space.
Ironically, the bridge was cut off for some police work on the other side of the river, so we got to watch all the joggers get forced to re-route in frustration.
We had a fun little rhythm romp on a picnic table.
We explored the pathways, borders, walls, stairs, and the rocks nearer to the water.
With so many people continually running and walking through the location on a nice day such as today, you almost don't have to do anything- just sit and watch and listen.
I did enjoy constructing ridiculous and improbable exercise regimes.
We talked about yarnbombing or putting tags or something on a fence or pole.
I am seeing lots of solos and duets. And posting/posing.
Ironically, the bridge was cut off for some police work on the other side of the river, so we got to watch all the joggers get forced to re-route in frustration.
We had a fun little rhythm romp on a picnic table.
We explored the pathways, borders, walls, stairs, and the rocks nearer to the water.
With so many people continually running and walking through the location on a nice day such as today, you almost don't have to do anything- just sit and watch and listen.
I did enjoy constructing ridiculous and improbable exercise regimes.
We talked about yarnbombing or putting tags or something on a fence or pole.
I am seeing lots of solos and duets. And posting/posing.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Things that I noticed about the Space
Edmonton: wild or not wild? The park is in between a British or Chinese groomed park and just grass/trees/pathways that are more wild. It feels like a lame attempt to appear modern and urban.
The space is too large= we must make it intimate or else use the vastness to advantage
Chinese garden features a 2007 gift of the Toi Shan society in commemoration of Chinese immigration. It features mutilated stone animals of the zodiac- rabbit with chewed ear, snake tongue chopped off, earless rat, sheep with no head or tail. All are shat on, labels pried off, or broken. 4 stools sit, showing the gluemark where a marble table once stood. Like the various knobs, it has been stolen and removed.
The rose garden is a postcolonial copy complete with memorial and dedication stones.
Rich condos overlook the areas where the poor hang out and the middle classes jog and walk through.
The Transcanada Trail Capital Region Pavilion is nothing more than an excuse to post sponsorship ads. Completely barren, containing not even a bench (unless that was stolen as well?)
Joggers engage in the duty of staying in shape.
Ducks
Rocks
Traffic
Roadwork in perpetuity (not ready yet!)
Chain link fence
path beginning
bully girls calling me (they think I am a boy)
Detours
FAst flowing river- how did the voyageurs pul it off?
The space is too large= we must make it intimate or else use the vastness to advantage
Chinese garden features a 2007 gift of the Toi Shan society in commemoration of Chinese immigration. It features mutilated stone animals of the zodiac- rabbit with chewed ear, snake tongue chopped off, earless rat, sheep with no head or tail. All are shat on, labels pried off, or broken. 4 stools sit, showing the gluemark where a marble table once stood. Like the various knobs, it has been stolen and removed.
The rose garden is a postcolonial copy complete with memorial and dedication stones.
Rich condos overlook the areas where the poor hang out and the middle classes jog and walk through.
The Transcanada Trail Capital Region Pavilion is nothing more than an excuse to post sponsorship ads. Completely barren, containing not even a bench (unless that was stolen as well?)
Joggers engage in the duty of staying in shape.
Ducks
Rocks
Traffic
Roadwork in perpetuity (not ready yet!)
Chain link fence
path beginning
bully girls calling me (they think I am a boy)
Detours
FAst flowing river- how did the voyageurs pul it off?
Bridge Graffiti: collected May 4
Trev Lusts Kim
PDR 2000
James Dawn Was Wasted HEER /91
I Want
Anette + Dan
Melbs
Monica + Arnel
Best Busds 4
1989
Mahmood Loves Stacy
Veronica + Russ
Nick Lisa
RIP Charlie
MS I'm a disease
Window Fellow
DANNY
Oilers
Tammy ♥'s Danny
Happy Birthday Alison
Namaste
Huong + Huang
What Time is It? Adventure Time!
Chuck + Cara Forever
15 Raindrops MSML
I love you
Dear Charlie
You were the greatest bother and always will be. I spent 12 years with you. We went through a lot but you were and always will be there for me. I thank you for your advice and everything else. REst in Peace Love, Richard. I will always remember you.
FUCH YOU EDMONTON
Ich Liebe Dick My Friend
Stupido
Bub is watching you
Wait This Sucks
PDR 2000
James Dawn Was Wasted HEER /91
I Want
Anette + Dan
Melbs
Monica + Arnel
Best Busds 4
1989
Mahmood Loves Stacy
Veronica + Russ
Nick Lisa
RIP Charlie
MS I'm a disease
Window Fellow
DANNY
Oilers
Tammy ♥'s Danny
Happy Birthday Alison
Namaste
Huong + Huang
What Time is It? Adventure Time!
Chuck + Cara Forever
15 Raindrops MSML
I love you
Dear Charlie
You were the greatest bother and always will be. I spent 12 years with you. We went through a lot but you were and always will be there for me. I thank you for your advice and everything else. REst in Peace Love, Richard. I will always remember you.
FUCH YOU EDMONTON
Ich Liebe Dick My Friend
Stupido
Bub is watching you
Wait This Sucks
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Process Beginnings: Many Possibilities
I met with both Shawn and Michelle this week to discuss some options and possibilities for this piece.
The audience is asked to meet at the Chinese pagoda. Shows are thought to be 1:30 and 4:30 daily on June 24,25,26 and July 3,4,5 (*to be reconfirmed with the Works)
The piece is set to be a walking score of 35-45 minutes. We still must decide if people will progress as a group or not- or say with maps alone- and if we take them to the beginning point at the end or not. The plan is to walk the route (from pagoda, across the bridge and back) to see how long it takes and what natural features are present. Such as "Futch Emonton" carved into the bridge...
It is a progression, a journey, a soundwalk, and should be magical. We should allow for the divisiveness of the river (such as audience picking North or South to begin, and having different tone of events on opposite sides)
Since the river is formidable and dangerous, involvement has limits, but still desired (throwing stones, message in bottle, paper, bread, flowers, leading to some transformation) (*research and drop videos on site here to see what river rituals are out there- Ganges, etc)
River in history: industrial brickyard area, ice blocks, barges, ferries, and more 'integrated' into the city's reality. Route to Hudson's Bay...
Things found in river: tires, shopping carts, old shoes, and ancient fish with beards. Cold, muddy water, pollution and sewage, gold in small amounts, beaver fever, shifting river silt, and rocks thrown by small children.
Fishing or fake fishing
Boats: canoes, kayaks, gondolas, barges, Edmonton queen, dragon boat with scripted 'leader'
Wishes: pennies, paper tied to wishing tree
Whimsical and fun is desired. Not too 'hippyish' or generalized ritual.
Christo would turn the whole river pink. Wash some clothes
Koi nobori kites across the river? Play the bridge like an instrument? Aim rocks at a river target? (George Bush haha)
Instruments: cheesy folk guitar, little audience sounds, rock marimba, strings, etc
French fiddling river songs
Deer in the woods (antlers made of sticks), hunting, games: orienteering, treasure hunt, tag, hide n seek, Survivorman spoof, etc
Tents
Stone oven and bannock (Michelle wants berries)
Puppets large and small (Public Dreams)
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