| The RED Letter, Dec 2005 |
Table of Contents
1. Words from Lisa Pijuan-NomuraFor many, December conjures images of shopping hell, too much food and dealing with long lost family members from Utah. I recommend these three things. In the month of December never step food into a shopping mall. Dress warmly and walk down Queen Street and support local businesses. It will make you feel better and sometimes they have fresh home baked cookies for their customers. I often think of food associated with the holidays as ”beige food.” Think about it. Turkey, shortbread cookies, Bailey’s Irish Cream, undercooked latkes, stuffing, and kugel all tend to be beigeish. This is why we feel bad. If we ate, say something green during this festive time, we would probably feel much better. Go on, eat some brussel sprouts. Finally, make some time for those that you really love. Often, we are so busy with everything else that we forget to make time for our best buddies. There are many brilliant events in the city that are great opportunities to gather large groups of people. Winterfest and The Festival of Lights are the first two that come to mind. And so I wish you a wonderful Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Hannakah, Time of Rest. Thank you for supporting RED, and GirlCanCreate and all independent artists. The new year brings some exciting new developments, a new storytelling and puppetry series, my one woman show at Harbourfront and of course, more RED! Take care, keep warm and remember to eat green! Warm Wishes,
2. Interview with Performer and Teacher Adam Lazurus
What is bouffon? Bouffon, at its core, it is the anti-clown. Where clown laughs at how funny he is, the bouffon laugh at how funny the world is. Literally, Bouffons are those to whom the finger of scorn was pointed - the outcast: a cripple, a dwarf, a homosexual, a madman, racial and religious minorities, women. Historically and culturally, the Bouffon stuck together on the outside, in their ghettos, looking in at the mainstream world. They watched human hypocrisies and laughed. Every now and then, they came back to do a little play for those that named them outcasts. 600 years ago, the Bouffons were the freaks at the Carnival. For Shakespeare, he was King Lear's fool. Today, they are Ali G, South Park and Jon Stewart. There is a lot to be made fun of in this world, and the Bouffon tell the best jokes. Why the resurgence in this art form and clown? If there is a resurgence in bouffon, it makes sense. It's like the cycle of mass music tastes. If you look at music, historically it oscillates from easy to challenging - the 40's and 50's Pat Boone and Paul Anka gave way to 60's and 70's Beatles and Who, Disco gave way to Grunge, Backstreet Boys to Franz Ferdinand. Comedy is the same. Post 9/11 the world lost a bit of its irony because most people didn't want to hear anything but positivity during a time of such tragedy. Today we're in the middle of the war and tragedy has begotten tragedy. We're into it now. 9/11 is enough in the past that the world wants satire again. As for clown, I think the clown is always around and has never gone out of fashion - like Elvis. Everyone always loves a clown because ridiculousness will never get stale. Tell us about your one man show Fable . What can we expect from it? Fable is a retelling of the Garden of Eden myth as told from the perspective of Eff - a creature who claims to have been shat out of God's ass on the 7 th day of creation while God was sleeping. Basically it's a love story between Eff and the audience. He retells his fable in order to understand the world and have the world understand him.That's the poetic expectation. The rock and roll expectation, because it is a bit of a rock and roll show, should be one of good times and lots of laughs. You also teach, tell us about the classes. Is it basically a class to find the darkest, nastiest side of yourself? Or do bouffon's have a happy side to them as well. In the classes, my job as a teacher is to help each student to find a way to be a fucking good, dynamic performer. All artists should take it (or a clown class) at least once in there careers because in this work, you can't get away with not being good for even one second (I don't say being bad, because being bad can be good too)- if you move too much, if your voice is boring, if you're nervous, you leave the stage. Our work as artists is public and we must entertain, in comedy or tragedy, with a part of ourselves that is big and fantastic. We are in a commercial relationship with our audience; they've paid 50 bucks to see my show and in return I have to show them a beautiful performer in return. Even though bouffon is dark and nasty, the bouffons themselves don't think they’re nasty - just having a great time making fun of everything,good or bad. Photographers Diane Arbus put it really well when she said that she loved photographing freaks because they are born with their afflictions, and the rest of us acquire them over the course of our lives. The freaks are the real aristocrats of our world because they have nothing to be shameful for. Bouffon are shameless. They laugh at more than we do. "Bold, bawdy, bad-guy theatre –Fable is the equivalent of a brainy punk-rock concert or an inspired Charles Bukowski rant." – The Victoria Times The Opening Acts Line-Ups
Thursday – 8pm
Rachelle Elie, Dave McKay, Lindy Zucker
3. Feature Dance Show:Days of Mad Rabbits at HATCHHATCH: emerging performance projects and Harbourfront present Days of Mad Rabbits choreographed by Lucy Rupert/Blue Ceiling dance projects
Featuring Noah Keneally, Caroline Niklas-Gordon, Barbara Pallomina, and Lucy Rupert . Lighting Design by Robin Dutt, Costume and Set by Monika Berenyi . Choreographer Lucy Rupert’s imagistic and imaginative work follows two lines, one an abstract highly physical contemporary dance vein, the other a bizarre overlapping land where many disciplines meet. Lucy performs regularly in theatre and dance, has a Masters degree in History and also trained in visual arts and classical music; her work as a performer and creator is nuanced by all these facets. Days of Mad Rabbits promises to be the most exciting combination yet. Blue Ceiling dance projects formed in 2002 as a means for Lucy to present her choreography with a core group of dancers. This group has expanded over the past three seasons to include puppeteers, singers, actors, and circus performers. Blue Ceiling aims to engage audiences with passionate and intelligent performance, connecting historical and literary imagery to personal memory, intuition and physical interpretation. Choreographer Lucy Rupert is always inspired by history, literature and visual arts as a way of making sense of the world in which we currently live. Now into its fourth season Blue Ceiling dance projects is not shying away from the desire to develop the mind and body at once, tackling projects inspired by Lewis Carroll, Einstein, the disappearance of Antoine de St. Exupery, and the physiology and history of forgetting. December 1-3 Thursday to Saturday, 8 pm;
4. RED: A Night of Live Performance December 14th, 2005
Join us for our first show of the fourth season! We have a great line up of new artists to RED featuring Bob Wiseman, Tracy Erin-Smith, Martha Schabas, Amelie Lefebvre, Juan Carlos, Melissa D’Agostino, Jascha Narveson, Wakefield Brewster and a few more surprises! Have a chance to do some last minute shopping at the RED Marketplace which features unique gifts from local artisans! Thursday December 14
5. New Film Salon!SAMIZDAT sa·miz·dat (sä ' mÄ z-dät', sÉ™-myÄ z-dät ' ) 1. a Russian word meaning self-published. 2. The name given to a movement of underground literature and political documents during the Stalinist era in the former Soviet Union. In the tradition of Paris and New York, Salon Samizdat has begun in a warehouse space at 2 Federal St. (just east of Dufferin, south off Dundas). The curated salon will feature screenings by local and international filmmakers, script workshops/readings, photo exhibits, arts networking events and more. The radical, the challenging, the underground now has a space of its own. Samizdat is large enough for events up to 100 people but cozy enough that it won’t swallow smaller events. For more info contact Shawn: swhitney@sympatico.ca Upcoming events include: November 30th, 7:00pm, Norman Jewison, legendary filmmaker, committed anti-racist, and socially conscious artist will introduce his award-winning film "A Soldier's Story" starring Denzel Washington as a benefit for Katrina Survivors. $20 (regular price) or $10 (students/fixed income) All money from the event will go to the Common Grounds Collective - a grassroots aid and advocacy group in New Orleans. December 4, 2005 at 7pm Let Them Stay *A Special Sneak Preview Exclusive to TFC*
A film by
Alex Lisman
Thousands of young Americans have been leaving the U.S. military, refusing to participate in the illegal war and occupation of Iraq. Facing imprisonment and persecution, a small but growing number are coming to Canada, in the same way that thousands of Vietnam War resisters did years ago. To stay, this generation of war resisters needs the same kind of provision that the government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau allowed for opponents of the Vietnam War. "Let Them Stay" features exclusive one-on-one interviews with the soldiers, documenting their life-changing experiences in Iraq and the hidden realities of U.S. military recruitment and warfare. It also documents the War Resisters Support Campaign, a pan-Canadian coalition of labour, faith, and peace groups, Vietnam War resisters, and individuals who are working with these war resisters to put pressure on the current federal government to let them stay. Give Me a Roadmap
A film by
Tullia Marcolongo
What do you do when the goalposts keep moving? In a society that idealizes youth, freedom and success, twenty-nine year-olds talk about the challenges of growing up fast but coming of age late. They reflect on living in different circumstances than previous generations, on the contradictions between meeting their personal expectations and those of others, on being financially insecure but having an overwhelming array of choices... And finding meaning at the brink of thirty December 6, 2005 at 7pm Lost Carnival Productions presents a reading of a new play by Shawn Whitney , directed by Gale Zoe Garnett and starring Steve Coombes and Brandi Hewitt . What if the reason you’re life is stuck in one place is a vast government conspiracy? Maybe you’re stuck on the Gerbil Wheel. This is an invite-only event. Send an e-mail to swhitney@sympatico.ca if you’re interested in attending. Tuesday, December 13 Come join us for a discussion of China - its economic growth, recent struggles for economic and political rights and the role of China in the new century. Discussion of the readings below, with an introduction by Sara Marlowe , will be followed by the film "The World": THE WORLD THE WORLD focuses on a young dancer, her security-guard boyfriend and others who work at World Park, a bizarre cross-pollination of Las Vegas and Epcot Center where visitors can interact with famous international monuments without ever leaving the Bejing suburbs. Daily lavish shows are performed amongst replicas of the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, St. Mark’s Square, Big Ben, the Pyramids and even the Twin Towers. But working beyond the kitsch potential, THE WORLD casts a compassionate eye on the daily loves, friendships and desperate dreams of these provincial workers. Jia, whom THE VILLAGE VOICE calls “the world’s greatest filmmaker under 40,” has created his funniest, most inventive and touching work to date, from the sensational opening tracking shot to poetic flourishes of animation and clever use of text-messaging. ( http://www.filmswelike.com/pages/world.html ) Readings:
"China's Century" by Charlie Hore in ISJ issue (no 103). Discussion of Readings: 6:30 pm
6. Feature Photography Show – fluid.dynamicSince his return from Europe, Dave Pijuan-Nomura has been busy creating a new show entitled fluid.dynamic, an exploration of chaos in dynamic flow.  fluid.dynamic Friday, December 2, 6-9pm ( Opening Night Reception) Join us on Friday Night for our opening night reception and join us for some wine, cheese, and art! There will be several other studios in the Case Goods Warehouse that will be open, so take a walk around the building. It will be a good chance to do some unique holiday shopping and support local artists! For more info contact: Dave Pijuan-Nomura 55 Mill St., Building 74 ( Right behind Balzac’s Coffee)
7. Festival of Lights(If you have never been to this event I highly recommend it. The Festival of Lights is one of the most magical nights of the year. Beautiful and inspiring, the Artistic Directors Andy Moro and Gaby Caruso create a truly unique community experience that I think is brilliant. If you do only one holiday thing this year, make sure this is it! – Lisa.) RED PEPPER SPECTACLE ARTS KENSINGTON MARKET FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS PROCESSION BEGINS AT 6:00PM SHARP FROM AUGUSTA & OXFORD Unite to ignite the longest, darkest night .
The Festival of Lights is an all-nations celebration. Participate! Volunteers are needed for all aspects of Festival production – from lantern and puppet making to fire-sculpture building or rooftop performance – no experience is necessary. Meet people, gain skills and join in the creation of Toronto’s largest people’s parade. The Festival of Lights is an accessible, commercial-free, all-ages event. Dress very warmly. More Info: 416 598 3729 - or - redpepper.spectacle@sympatico.ca
8. Classes, Workshops and ConferencesStrength, Rhythm, and Movement Keep Warm this Winter Playing Taiko! Each class begins with a yoga-inspired warm-up that includes stretching and strength training. You will learn Japanese Taiko drills and Taiko songs. Each movement in Taiko serves a purpose, whether a hit on the drum, a pause in the song, or a kiai (shout) to draw energy. Playing Taiko is both mentally stimulating and physically invigorating. Classes are open to all members of the community. Beginner Class: Thursdays, 7 - 8:30pm, 10 weeks, starts Jan 12 Cost: Register before Dec 23 $140/person for 10 weeks, plus $10 for bachi (drumsticks) Max. 10 people/class, registration deadline Jan 9 Location: Cabbage Town Community Arts Centre, 454 Parliament St. (south of Carlton) To register or for more info see attached flyer and registration form or check out our website under "What's New" Suzanne Liska from RAW
9. Calls for SubmissionsCalling All Multi-disciplinary Artists Harbourfront Centre launches its first Podcast initiative on Thursday, December 1, 2005 with LIVE FROM HARBOURFRONT CENTRE , hosted by Alok Sharma (a former Toronto community radio show host and DJ). Each Podcast will focus on current cultural offerings available at Harbourfront Centre through artist interviews and event announcements. To subscribe, go to podcasts.harbourfrontcentre.com starting on the launch date. To celebrate this revolution in cyberspace, we are extending an open call for sound work proposals by artists from across Canada. The potential for artistic creation has taken on a new and exciting form in Podcasting. The medium provides creators with an accessible link to the experimentation and development of an unconventional cultural experience. The winning sound work will be officially launched as a Podcast from Harbourfront Centre’s website as part of of digifest 2006: mods. This year’s digifest exposes ‘mods’. The contemporary mods, short for modification, reject digital and material conformity in the same spirit of their 1960’s predecessors. Modify your computer, your stereo, your cell phone, your ride and you’ve possibly made a more interesting product than the original. How do you interpret mod culture? DEADLINE FOR NEW SOUND WORK SUBMISSIONS: January 31, 2006
Questions? please email
mchoo@harbourfrontcentre.com
or
We invite you to participate in digifest 2006: mods, an interdisciplinary festival of the best in innovative new media, art and design from Canada and abroad. This year participants will have the opportunity to express the individual’s role within larger systems, be they political, social or corporate, through their own unique and personalized modifications to off-the-shelf products. Modification possibilities may range from personal computers to clothing; from podcasts to public space; from video games and cell phones to cars or dwellings. The do-it-yourself aspect of this year’s digifest means that the range of modifications is endless, with creativity leading the way in unconventional expression. Each year 8-12 winners of the juried digifest New Voices call are invited to Toronto, Canada to showcase their work at one of digifest’s high-profile venues, which include Harbourfront Centre, Ontario Science Centre and Design Exchange . In 2006 we will showcase the most innovative transitions in product design from “modern” to “modification.” Work by selected presenters will be installed or displayed. Get your submission in today! New Voices Call digifest aims to encourage excellence in interactive digital media design, artand technology and supports the creators of new applications and content that will provide lasting economic, cultural and social benefits to Canadians. The New Voices call is an opportunity for emerging and mid-career designers, artists, and technologists to showcase their latest innovations in digital media technologies. In keeping with this year’s theme of “mods,” entrants are invited to submit their modification of an off-the-shelf product in the categories of: INTERACTIVE ( May include - new technology and science. Submissions that include robust interactive components (things to do, not just things to see or hear) are especially welcome. Interactive works must be able to endure multiple uses), PERFORMATIVE (May include - submissions that are time based; web projects; immersive experiences; radio, audio or sound-based; new interactive film genres; alternative ways of expressing music or electronic games; live art; performance work; interventions; installations; etc. These are performative practices that engage with new technologies and a public audience.), CONCEPTUAL (May include - 2D/3D work, web design, game design and/or modification, software design, cell phone design, computer case design, car modification, fashion, architecture, etc…). Winners will present their work at digifest in Toronto and it will be installed or displayed as part of digifest. Winning entries will also be highlighted in both the digifest program and an in-depth website. For submission guidelines please see http://dx.org/digifest/ Submissions Call for dance Immersion Showcase Presentation 2006/2007/2008 dance Immersion is accepting proposals from professional dance artists who wish to participate in the Showcase Presentation. The dance Immersion Showcase Presentation is an annual event which highlights dancers and dances of the African Diaspora. Dance is explored and reflected through traditional and contemporary dance compositions created and presented by selected dance artists. Program goals are to advocate and promote the contributions of dance artists from the African Diaspora. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Applicants should submit:
Send proposals to: dance Immersion For more information: http://www.danceimmersion.ca
10. Websites I Like
www.changethis.com
www.1000words.net
www.43things.com
11. Read this Book! With Book Lady Sarah SeleckyMotherless Brooklyn, by Jonathan Lethem Open, by Lisa Moore Going to Pieces without Falling Apart, by Mark Epstein
12. Upcoming Performances of InterestDecember 1 to December 11
By
Wajdi Mouawad
Starring Dalal Badr, Bobby Del Rio, Sean Dixon, Audrey Dwyer, Andrew Modie, Michael Rubenfeld, Dylan Trowdridge, Sugith Varughese Call 416-504-9971 for tickets! December 1 – December 11
translated and directed by
John Van Burek
December 1 Last Debate of 2005 and what a cast we have : Peter Oldring, Lisa Merchant, Rochelle Wilson, Steve Bruines, Michael Paoli, Marcel St. Pierr, Martha O’Neill, Dave Till, Scott Watkins, Brian Jantzi, Dave Hodges and your humble host Neil Muscott December 2 – December 22 George Walker's book signing of The Woodcut Artist's Handbook and Printing demo taking place on the opening night of Open Studio's annual event, Many of the artists whose work was included in the Handbook are artist-members of the Open Studio. December 4 Experience one of Canada’s foremost tabla artists, Vineet Vyas . Featuring compositions from new his album with vocal music and dance by Bageshree Vaze plus special guests. December 8 Please join us for a Gala Avant-Premiere Screening and Reception With Special guest and star of Ballets Russes RAVEN WILKINSON Proceeds to benefit the Dancers Transition Resource Centre and the Moving Pictures Festival of Dance on Film and Video From 1909, when Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev premiered his legendary Ballet Russes company in Paris, to 1962 when Serge Denhamâ’s Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo performed for the last time in Brooklyn, Ballets Russes companies brought their popular, groundbreaking and often controversial choreographies to big cities and small towns around the world. Using intimate interviews with surviving members of the Ballets Russes companies (including Irina Baronova, Frederic Franklin, Tatiana Riabouchinska, Dame Alicia Markova, Maria Tallchief, Raven Wilkinson, George Zoritch and many more) as well as rare archival materials and motion picture footage, Ballets Russes is both an ensemble character film and an historical portrait of the birth of an art form. Please contact Moving Pictures for more information at December 10 Featuring Brian Barker, Cindy Block, Diandra Lee, Lisa Patterson, Lua Shayenne, Mike Spasevski, and Chris von Baeyer For more information http://www.torontoplayback.com/ December 14 December 16 Every Friday night since 1978 storytellers and listeners have been gathering in downtown Toronto. Each evening is hosted by an accomplished storyteller Anyone is welcome to tell a story. Every Friday night is unique. This Friday will be hosted by Dan Yashinsky .
December 18 December 21
13. Worth a Thousand Words – Photography from David Pijuan-Nomura
14. Last ThoughtLearn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering. Brenda Ueland |
