SKETCHBOOK
An online journal of reflections and whatnots exposing the road to A Bon Coeur.
Heritage, heart, and soul are the foundational ingredients for A Bon Coeur, a new evening-length, mixed media solo project that illuminates celebrating difference by provoking a rich dialogue about how vulnerability, compassion, and love create space for diversity. The work is anticipated to premiere in 2018.
5 May 2016
Diving in: Today was day 1 of my first creation development residency at Slippery Rock University in PA. This marks the official start of physically creating A Bon Coeur. Today was a full day of creating & magic with Andy Hasenpflug, composer/musician collaborator for the work.
26 May 2016
Reflecting: Grateful for a wonderful showing this evening. Thanks to Dance Exchange, Matthew Cumbie, Meghan Abadoo, and everyone who helped to make this unique residency opportunity as well as IN THE WORKS SHOWING possible. Grateful! ...And the great gift of having my brother at the showing was the icing on the cake.
27 May 2016
Reflecting: It's hard to believe today is the last day of my 2nd Creative Development Residency with Andy Hasenpflug. This time around we were in residence at the Dance Exchange in Takoma Park, MD. In shuch a short time we are creating something that is already unlocking spaces for meaning, discovery, understanding, & a greater potential for ourselves & those we have been able to share/expose our process with. It never fails - with every process I'm gifted reminders of how creativity breeds lifes & how powerful, enlightening, & transformative art-making as well as the art itself can be.
It was equally a gift to have my former teacher, friend, & long time artistic advisor still to this day, Susannah Newman, working with us during this week's process.
June 12 2016
Introducing: A new addition to my collaborative team for this project is confirmed. I am soooooooooooooooooo looking forward to working with Roma Flowers on the video components of this project!
19 June 2016
Here It Is: This 1st of a series of video trailers/sketchbooks for A Bon Coeur has arrived!
9 February 2017
Counting down to A Bon Coeur...
This morning I found myself thinking about Meryl Streep's remembrance of Carrie Fisher with the remarkable saying "take your broken heart, make it into art" as well as the title of Michael E. Dyson's new book "Tears We Cannot Stop." So much to be concerned about and reflect upon in these times. Disconnection once again feels more real than ever. In these times I find myself ever curious about notions of connection, deep listening, rebuilding, and community. Although I began my journey to A Bon Coeur, the second installment of a trilogy in the making, before the air in our country took a drastic turn, it always amazes me how art, and the work I find myself creating, speaks in ways that I may have not been able to imagine. I look forward to sharing a preview of this developing work to create connection, opportunities for listening, and building/re-building space/time/community in a space in time where it feels like it is needed most.
5 March 2017
Making the Process Transparent
My recent performances as part of the 2017 INTERSECTIONS Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C. and as part of the spring series of Movement Research at Judson Church in New York City, New York were scary and rewarding all at the same time. These performances were examples of how I am making my process transparent. I presented these showings in order to invite the public into my process with the hope to learn from and deepen my connections with my audiences. For me, making a performance is not a solitary pursuit, but rather an offering of connection, reconnection, and even disconnection with the people, communities, and worlds around us. By sharing my work in process, I opened a door into my creative process, bringing my discoveries out of the studio, and hoping that, together, we can bring this work to its fullest potential. I'm so grateful to everyone on the journey with me. With this journal entry I share a photo captured by Feng Jiang during my performance Monday, February 27th as part of Movement Research at Judson Church.
4 June 2017
Diving Into The World of Technology
Thrilled to be spending this week with collaborators Roma Flowers and Iain Court; and, media/technology advisor, Dawn Stoppiello, co-founder of Troika Ranch, an ensemble that has been innovating and experimenting with computer technology in live performance since the late 1980s. We will be engaged in a creative research one week residency to explore and build virtual scenic designs. I look forward to all our discussions, explorations, what if ideas, and art-making! ...Portland, OR, here we come!!!!
15 February 2018
Advancing Into The Final Phase (of sorts) - Putting All The Puzzle Pieces Together
Whew! It always seems shocking how fast time flies by. It feels like yesterday I was just embarking on this project. It is now nearly two years later, and I'm entering into what I consider the final phase of creative development (although when it comes to creativity & development nothing is ever final). May 4, 2018 I will be joined by my collaborators in Ft. Worth, TX to present a public work-in-progress showing that, for the first time, will reveal me navigating inside the full set design composed of large projection surfaces, video, and props. As I am writing this all I can think about is how much more work remains to be done. (LOL) Yet, at the same time, I am thrilled that I will be afforded one more wonderful opportunity to expose my creative process as well as engage audiences in conversation.