Howdy Folks!
Check out our most excellent video update on Kickstarter. It includes some rehearsal footage, some looney tunes, and some general dorkiness. What else could you ask for?
Hurrah - 50% funded on the project!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Parallel Universes!
I've been thinking about the project and how we seem to be inserting ourselves in the site. I envision it like there are a bunch of portals to parallel universes in Banter. In these parallel universes, Banter looks basically the same: it has the same furniture, the same large brick wall...it's the people that are NOT the same. I mean they're kinda the same; they are young, hip looking, but what they DO is very strange.
In this parallel universe, people:
What would people do in YOUR parallel universe?
In this parallel universe, people:
- are upside down
- are hyper
- have a different idea of linear language
- make out at inopportune times
What would people do in YOUR parallel universe?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Kickstarter Project...3...2...1...LAUNCH!
Just two days ago, we launched Complex Environments on Kickstarter and are already 15% backed. WOOT! I'm getting really excited about the 'eventfulness' of this project and its got me thinking about the future. How can this be what I do? To make local events that support local art that are also lively, fun, and social? Ideas?
Anyway, I wanted to thank all of our backers and all of our soon-to-be-backers. Check out us on Kickstarter here!
Anyway, I wanted to thank all of our backers and all of our soon-to-be-backers. Check out us on Kickstarter here!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
9/9/09 Banter Rehearsal
9/9/09 Banter Rehearsal, originally uploaded by lssloan.
A short little bit from rehearsal. All the movement and text was taken during SPY TIME and turned into something new.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Banter is officially under Surveillance.
Hi everyone,
I’m Bethany and I’m really excited to be a contributor to MakeDanceHere. I can has blog? Thanks a gazillion, Lily. Wooty woot, ya’ll!
Now down to business.
It’s time to launch…
Operation: Banter Space Data Collection (BSDC).
Banter is officially under Surveillance.
You can HELP US OUT by completing one of the following missions. Or both, if you are super awesome. And we think you’re super awesome!
Mission I: Social Surveillance
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to visit Banter and watch people. If you feel brave, you could even talk to people. But first notice…
Are people alone? In couples? Groups? Young? Old? On computers? Reading? Eating? Talking? What are they talking about? Do they look friendly? What are they wearing? Are they blinking, singing, swaying, sneaking, underwater basket weaving? Do you see someone who moves or speaks in an interesting way?
We want any information you can gather. A-N-Y.
But if you need more structure, try this…
1. Tell us about who you see. Clothes. Age. What they are doing. Who they are with.
2. Tell us about the conversations you hear. Content or just random words.
3. Try to make a friend by telling someone you don’t know what you’re doing for the project and see if they’ll help you. It’s always amazing to see what other people notice that you might not.
Mission II: Sensory Surveillance
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to visit Banter with all senses on high. How does this space look, sound, smell?
What textures do you find? How do they feel?
How can you find new ways to look at and hear and feel the space?
Did you get a sandwich? A beer? Tell us how it tasted.
You can focus on the entire space or perhaps one small section of the café.
You are welcome to give us as much information as possible.
We’re happy to sift through it.
You can do these missions separately or all at once.
We’re doing the missions too, of course, but we’re really interested in what you find.
Like we said in Mission I, it’s always amazing to see what other people notice that you might miss.
Good Luck, Soldier.
I’m Bethany and I’m really excited to be a contributor to MakeDanceHere. I can has blog? Thanks a gazillion, Lily. Wooty woot, ya’ll!
Now down to business.
It’s time to launch…
Operation: Banter Space Data Collection (BSDC).
Banter is officially under Surveillance.
You can HELP US OUT by completing one of the following missions. Or both, if you are super awesome. And we think you’re super awesome!
Mission I: Social Surveillance
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to visit Banter and watch people. If you feel brave, you could even talk to people. But first notice…
Are people alone? In couples? Groups? Young? Old? On computers? Reading? Eating? Talking? What are they talking about? Do they look friendly? What are they wearing? Are they blinking, singing, swaying, sneaking, underwater basket weaving? Do you see someone who moves or speaks in an interesting way?
We want any information you can gather. A-N-Y.
But if you need more structure, try this…
1. Tell us about who you see. Clothes. Age. What they are doing. Who they are with.
2. Tell us about the conversations you hear. Content or just random words.
3. Try to make a friend by telling someone you don’t know what you’re doing for the project and see if they’ll help you. It’s always amazing to see what other people notice that you might not.
Mission II: Sensory Surveillance
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to visit Banter with all senses on high. How does this space look, sound, smell?
What textures do you find? How do they feel?
How can you find new ways to look at and hear and feel the space?
Did you get a sandwich? A beer? Tell us how it tasted.
You can focus on the entire space or perhaps one small section of the café.
You are welcome to give us as much information as possible.
We’re happy to sift through it.
You can do these missions separately or all at once.
We’re doing the missions too, of course, but we’re really interested in what you find.
Like we said in Mission I, it’s always amazing to see what other people notice that you might miss.
Good Luck, Soldier.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Bodies in Urban Spaces
Yet again, I was led to another great resource by my mom, BettyAnn, who I might add, is a fantastic blogger.
So, check it out:
Vienna/Austria based Cie. Willi Dorne created a work called Bodies in Urban Spaces that "points out the urban functional structure and uncovers the restricted movement possibilities and behaviour as well as rules and limitations."
An article from Weburbanist says how Dorne seeks to create an experience for his audience and wants to inspire viewers to change their perspective and see things in a slightly different way.
I love this kind of public, guerilla performance art. What is most interesting is the insertion of something totally wonderful and quite bizarre into an everyday environment. This is very similar to my desire for Complex Environments. I want to insert an alternate reality in a bar, using material made from real people. I think inserting unusual art in usual space is such a great way to think about changing perspectives and seeing things in s different way.
Does that make sense?
Side note- I do have a video coming from the Twitter/Facebook actions. Go Nadia for making an AWESOME little solo sequence with it.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
duh...it's about COMMUNITY
This project is about community. Why didn't I realize that before?
A few turn of events sparked my thoughts on this...
1. Dance Theater Workshop's (DTW) Community Choreography. These are short dance videos made from Tweets! Followers on Twitter send in an action; anything from 'spin!' to ' re-enact a death scene from an old western movie.' Then, the folks at DTW string them together and make wonderful little videos. My action can be seen in Community Chor. #11, however #12 is a MUST SEE.
Why does this all matter? I think the roots of these choreography projects are very similar to my own--sourcing material from other people, stringing it together, seeing what happens.
What's special about these kinds of projects is that ANYONE can be included, and you really do feel like a member of the creative team, even if you just Tweeted "point your finger in the air and spin counterclockwise."
2. KICKSTARTER! My brother just launched a new book project on Kickstarter which got me thinking about launching this project onto Kickstarter. It isn't official yet, but I think this could be another really great way to explore and expand on the idea of community.
**Background: Kickstarter is basically a way of funding creative projects through a community. 'Backers' donate various amounts, which are often based on a tier of intensives ( a free tee shirt, a book, an autograph, VIP seats, etc)
My idea: VIP Backers could submit some sort of ACTION which would be turned into an interesting sequence of movement. During the performance, this specific sequence could be "inserted," with some sort of bold announcement that clearly states where the movement came from....PEOPLE!
3. Lastly, just in thinking about this blog and how much I enjoy sharing my ideas, as well as how much people have responded to them, I feel like this idea of community is more central to the work than I might have first imagined.
Neat!
What do you think?
A few turn of events sparked my thoughts on this...
1. Dance Theater Workshop's (DTW) Community Choreography. These are short dance videos made from Tweets! Followers on Twitter send in an action; anything from 'spin!' to ' re-enact a death scene from an old western movie.' Then, the folks at DTW string them together and make wonderful little videos. My action can be seen in Community Chor. #11, however #12 is a MUST SEE.
Why does this all matter? I think the roots of these choreography projects are very similar to my own--sourcing material from other people, stringing it together, seeing what happens.
What's special about these kinds of projects is that ANYONE can be included, and you really do feel like a member of the creative team, even if you just Tweeted "point your finger in the air and spin counterclockwise."
2. KICKSTARTER! My brother just launched a new book project on Kickstarter which got me thinking about launching this project onto Kickstarter. It isn't official yet, but I think this could be another really great way to explore and expand on the idea of community.
**Background: Kickstarter is basically a way of funding creative projects through a community. 'Backers' donate various amounts, which are often based on a tier of intensives ( a free tee shirt, a book, an autograph, VIP seats, etc)
My idea: VIP Backers could submit some sort of ACTION which would be turned into an interesting sequence of movement. During the performance, this specific sequence could be "inserted," with some sort of bold announcement that clearly states where the movement came from....PEOPLE!
3. Lastly, just in thinking about this blog and how much I enjoy sharing my ideas, as well as how much people have responded to them, I feel like this idea of community is more central to the work than I might have first imagined.
Neat!
What do you think?
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Twitter/Facebook Action!
So the other day I asked some folks via Twitter and Facebook to describe their last action. I received several different responses:
I just put down my cell phone after a long conversation with my mom.
I just ate five pickles. Computer on my lap, small bowl of deliciousness to my right. Delicately grab pickle with two fingers, type with ten...small bites between grab and type.
hung up wet clothes to dry. 4 dresses, 3 bras, 1 shirt, 6 hangers, on the bathroom shower curtain rod.
I rolled over, picked my wedgie, and covered up with a blanket. Now I am texting with my right hand only.
I put a dvd into my imac to burn, imed someone on yahoo, and just took a quiz on here.
sat down on couch. picked up laptop off floor and sat on lap. left elbow on arm of couch. ran fingers through hair and looked depressed cause now i have to go out in the rain to get my dry laundry.
Turned the page in a manga while leaning back on my couch.
Next, I took some key words and strung them together for a mini action score. It's pretty open, try it out!
1. put down
2. grab
3. hang over
4. pick
5. cover with right hand only
6. burn
7. sit down
7. puck up and put on lap
8. run fingers through hair
9. look depressed
I just put down my cell phone after a long conversation with my mom.
I just ate five pickles. Computer on my lap, small bowl of deliciousness to my right. Delicately grab pickle with two fingers, type with ten...small bites between grab and type.
hung up wet clothes to dry. 4 dresses, 3 bras, 1 shirt, 6 hangers, on the bathroom shower curtain rod.
I rolled over, picked my wedgie, and covered up with a blanket. Now I am texting with my right hand only.
I put a dvd into my imac to burn, imed someone on yahoo, and just took a quiz on here.
sat down on couch. picked up laptop off floor and sat on lap. left elbow on arm of couch. ran fingers through hair and looked depressed cause now i have to go out in the rain to get my dry laundry.
Turned the page in a manga while leaning back on my couch.
Next, I took some key words and strung them together for a mini action score. It's pretty open, try it out!
1. put down
2. grab
3. hang over
4. pick
5. cover with right hand only
6. burn
7. sit down
7. puck up and put on lap
8. run fingers through hair
9. look depressed
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Giants and Imagination
Monday, August 24, 2009
Deadlines coming....must THINK!
Well I was going to post a new action score video....but it disappeared. Silly computer.
Instead...some thoughts on Richard Foreman and The Second City.
In Foreman's book, Unbalancing Acts, he says:
I'm not saying this is what Foreman was saying. But just thinking about the space, and things entering and exiting seems so simple...but it can be so complex.
I was also thinking about how other artists/entertainers generate material from everyday experiences and thought of The Second City. I took some classes in their training school in Detroit, so I have a wee bit of personal experience. The kinds of scenes that were real gems were the ones that were identifiable, but so absurd or strange that you had to laugh at them. I think this juxtaposition of really normal, identifiable scenarios and bizarro-land weirdness is really interesting...
What do you think?
BONUS: We have a title!
Our performance will be called Complex Environments: This is not a bar.
Instead...some thoughts on Richard Foreman and The Second City.
In Foreman's book, Unbalancing Acts, he says:
To make theater, all you need is a defined space and things that enter and leave that space...Theater is presence and absence.Just the words presence and absence really stuck with me. I've been thinking about this process and how I keep taking things out of the environment and putting them back in. For instance, I sneakily acquired all this material based on what people do in Banter (the cafe). Then, I took it away. I played with it with the performers, José and Juan Pablo. Then, I will take it back to the environment in which it originated, but in a much different form.
I'm not saying this is what Foreman was saying. But just thinking about the space, and things entering and exiting seems so simple...but it can be so complex.
I was also thinking about how other artists/entertainers generate material from everyday experiences and thought of The Second City. I took some classes in their training school in Detroit, so I have a wee bit of personal experience. The kinds of scenes that were real gems were the ones that were identifiable, but so absurd or strange that you had to laugh at them. I think this juxtaposition of really normal, identifiable scenarios and bizarro-land weirdness is really interesting...
What do you think?
BONUS: We have a title!
Our performance will be called Complex Environments: This is not a bar.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
SPY NOVEL WRITING
Apparently, I am not the only one spying to make art. At the Heathrow airport author, Alain de Botton, can be seen at a desk with his laptop...SPYING.
OK- the word spy is not really ever used, but he's just sitting there, getting material from whatever happens. Like- WHATEVER. If he sees a roach family twinkle-toe out of a restaurant, that is fair game. After a week of documenting what he sees he will be writing a book to be distributed on Sept. 21st. Check out more in the NYT article by Andrew Adam Newman.
Another example of why public spying= awesome.
OK- the word spy is not really ever used, but he's just sitting there, getting material from whatever happens. Like- WHATEVER. If he sees a roach family twinkle-toe out of a restaurant, that is fair game. After a week of documenting what he sees he will be writing a book to be distributed on Sept. 21st. Check out more in the NYT article by Andrew Adam Newman.
Another example of why public spying= awesome.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Action Scores take ACTION!
The movement in this video was developed straight from notes taken while spying on people's actions in Banter (a cafe/bar in Denton, TX)
Specifically, you can trace the movement back to posts on 8/7 and 8/15. These are not the final versions of anything. They are the first attempts at playing with "found movement."
spy+random movement sequencing+layering= wacky wacky dance.
awesome.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Autonomous Agents
A quote from Media in Performance: Interactive Spaces for Dance, Theater, Circus, and Museum Exhibits. by F. Sparacino, G. Davenport, and A. Penland.
Now watch when I replace "software" with "HUMANS!"
Autonomous Agents are software agents with a set of time-dependent goals or motivations that the agents try to satisfy in a complex dynamic environment (such as the real world).
Now watch when I replace "software" with "HUMANS!"
Autonomous Agents are HUMAN agents with a set of time-dependent goals or motivations that the agents try to satisfy in a complex dynamic environment(such as the real world).This sounds like a great performance!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
action score #2
- say: Well, about ready for the kids to come back?
- say: Hahahahahaha
- make circular motions with left hand inward towards chest
- Softly hold right hand to mouth, like it’s making what you say louder
- Look sideways and rapidly nod you head
- Walk slightly hunched forward with right arm loosely bent
- Tap your right thigh with the side of your right hand
- say: Hee hee hee
- Look up slowly, then sharply and quickly look forward
- Right hand brushes hair out of face.
action score
New action score from SPY TIME!
- arms loose and flimsy
- say: “awesome”
- Scratch face with left hand with loosely holding something with right hand.
- slow soft wiggle
- lean on the ____ with right hand on hip
- Put right hand in back pocket and fish around for something.
- say: “is that your spot?”
- look down, scratch something on chest.
- Look at chest
- Swagger. Belly protrudes.
the step-by-step of it all
Yesterday I was thinking about this process. What comes first? How does one thing build upon each other? Here's some thoughts:
awesome. back to spying...
- The process begins with SPY TIME. Spy on people at Banter, write down their actions/text, then make movement scores from that material.
- Use those scores to develop a duet for Jose and JP, two men I go to school with. Play with the actions. Insert bold movement within the subtle scores.
- Use the material from Jose and JP’s duet as the starting point for the film process for my solo. Film myself doing the scores in front of the brick wall at Banter.
- Construct the solo film.
- Play off the material from the solo film as the starting point for constructing the solo.
awesome. back to spying...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Weekly Research
This week I'm focusing on a couple books that sounds interesting regarding multimedia installation, site-specific art, and realist comics.
The first is a book by Nick Kaye, called Multimedia: Video Installation Performance. Haven't gotten through all of it yet, but it looks very promising.
I like this (taken from the back cover):
Cool!
The second is by Miwon Kwon, titled One Place After Another: Site Specific Art and Locational Identity.
This one just came in the mail TODAY, so more on that soon...
Lastly, referred to from by bro, Robin, were some realist comics by Adrian Tomine. I bought the whole series called 32 Stories.
I've read four of the comics today. They are VERY short and VERY smart. I was interested in how other artists draw from the everyday and what they make from it. I'm also interested in the comic book/graphic novel aesthetic-- kinda gritty, hand-made, raw, real, black and white, sketchy, etc.
SO- that's it for today. Love to hear comments/questions/ideas!
The first is a book by Nick Kaye, called Multimedia: Video Installation Performance. Haven't gotten through all of it yet, but it looks very promising.
I like this (taken from the back cover):
The book sets out key themes and concerns in multi-media practice, addressing Time, Space, the resurgence of ephemerality, liveness, and 'aura.'
Cool!
The second is by Miwon Kwon, titled One Place After Another: Site Specific Art and Locational Identity.
This one just came in the mail TODAY, so more on that soon...
Lastly, referred to from by bro, Robin, were some realist comics by Adrian Tomine. I bought the whole series called 32 Stories.
I've read four of the comics today. They are VERY short and VERY smart. I was interested in how other artists draw from the everyday and what they make from it. I'm also interested in the comic book/graphic novel aesthetic-- kinda gritty, hand-made, raw, real, black and white, sketchy, etc.
SO- that's it for today. Love to hear comments/questions/ideas!
Friday, August 07, 2009
Post- Banter Spy Time
Went to Banter yesterday to do a little spying and note-taking. Here's a little action score derived from stuff people did or said. mwa ha ha ha...
1. say "so..."
2. shake both hands outward
3. walk sideways and move something out of your way
4. come in- go out
5. lean back and let right arm swing
6. gently pat the air down with right hand
7. say "fancy meeting you here"
8. bend very slightly forward from your waist while keeping your gaze forward
9. nod your head and lick your lips simultaneously
10. point you index finger in the air softly and indirectly
end.
So, even with all these directions, this is just a tiny tiny chunk of movement.
I was also thinking about lights:
1. say "so..."
2. shake both hands outward
3. walk sideways and move something out of your way
4. come in- go out
5. lean back and let right arm swing
6. gently pat the air down with right hand
7. say "fancy meeting you here"
8. bend very slightly forward from your waist while keeping your gaze forward
9. nod your head and lick your lips simultaneously
10. point you index finger in the air softly and indirectly
end.
So, even with all these directions, this is just a tiny tiny chunk of movement.
I was also thinking about lights:
- red up lamps
- red work lights
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Back from the library
I went to the library today to get a few books for my culminating project research, but also stumbled upon a dance film series called: 5 Dance Films About Place, directed by Douglas Rosenburg and Allen Kaeja. Most of them take place in rural Wisconsin, "created in in and of the landscape and local architecture and speaks to metaphors of relationship, the senses, and the changing seasons" ( Rosenburg).
The series can also he found online, here.
So- in my endeavors to explore what is already in the landscape of Banter, the cafe I am using as the site for my culminating project, I'm curious if I can see how the Wisconsin landscape affects the movement in these pieces.
What do you think?
The series can also he found online, here.
So- in my endeavors to explore what is already in the landscape of Banter, the cafe I am using as the site for my culminating project, I'm curious if I can see how the Wisconsin landscape affects the movement in these pieces.
What do you think?
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