Category: Art

Oh, you shouldn’t have!!!

I had a funny experience today. While presenting at a meeting about arts advocacy in D.C., I was asked a question about leadership, collaboration, and coordination. I responded that I didn’t think anyone questioned my leadership, or the work that we’re doing, and that certainly our efforts to collaborate are welcomed at every turn. I said that while sort of gazing at the ceiling, and with what i thought was an ironic inflection. When I stopped batting my eyelids and looked around I realized that they assumed I was speaking seriously…. I almost stopped to say,  “just kidding!”,  but thought it might undermine my otherwise flawless presentation. : )

That the folks in the room didn’t assume my humor really does speak to the hyperbole that regularly occurs in these kinds of conversations. I am confident in my leadership of the DC Advocates for the Arts.  But I do still regularly question it, and have it questioned for me, and I don’t think that’s a weakness. I almost wish I was like a Luddite, or Randian protagonist, interested only in my own success, but in fact, I am not.  I hope that my leadership is a part of something larger than myself, and if it is, my leadership is replaceable. To me that is not in conflict with my confidence, professionalism, commitment, or leadership, but it does temper my self-promotion.

As the World Turns: Knick’s City Dancers Audition Edition

Being managing editor of Bourgeon I’ve gotten on a whole bunch of press lists, and I just received an email from the folks who publicize the Knick’s City Dancers. That would be the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks cheerleading squad. Bourgeon – and I – are really more focused on fine arts, and community arts, but I was curious. In the email there was a link to a photogallery from their recent audition, and I’m sharing a few photos just cause the subtitles are classic/horrific.

This one is titled: Gill Asking the Dancers for More Attitude. On the court that means “push your bosom together.”

This one is titled: Gill Mentoring the Dancers. Having been in a few auditions I’m sure the dancers were feeling the mentorship.

This one is titled Gill Showing the Dancers Some New Moves, which could also be subtitled “Gill explaining how the Knick’s City Dancers flip off their opponents.”

To see the entire slideshow, click here. All respect to Gill, and the dancers, who are just making a living, and even to the PR folks who – let’s face it – got me to blog about this.

ALL PHOTOS CREDIT: Chris Batka and MSG

Sidewalk Art-making on 17th St.

Here are a few pictures from an installation performance by the Picasso Extended Collective in October, 2009. Franklin Wassmer created the basic score for this inspired by our host — the Picasso Gallery and Frame Store on 17th Street NW in Washington, D.C. As we planned this event the focus was quite open, but my impression is that we were all excited by the chance to enliven the ordinary experience of walking down the street; to capture people into the world of art. The physical presence of the frames, and the invitations to participate with the frames, encouraged people to see the world in a slightly different, playful, way.

There were a few projects within the basic concept. Andrea and others made lists of actions which participants could pick to do – like fortune cookies. The last image in this group is one of them – go across the street and purchase something while wearing a frame. Rogelio created a focus within the evening by arriving decked in balloons, a boombox, and frames; the artist arriving.

This was not intended as a “powerful” or “deep” experience and we didn’t take ourselves too seriously planning it or executing it. I wonder how many planned “powerful” and “deep” art experiences really end up being that way for participants – audience or performers? I see how people really enjoyed the experience in many of the pictures. It was even something they could do together. I don’t think we could call this “high art”, and I’m not even certain if I’d call it “art” at all, but I think the project worked in a simple, joyful way, outside of those judgments and boundaries. Click here to see a post about another project I performed with this group.