Thursday, May 24, 2012

NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2012










Cilla Vee Life Arts

NEWSLETTER – SPRING 2012



Dear Friends,

2012 is already almost halfway through – it’s hard to believe how quickly time is passing!

2011

UK & EUROPE
The past year has been quite a varied one.
May ‘til October 2011 were spent in the UK – although the stay there was mainly for personal reasons (i.e. Feeling the need to re-establish myself as a Brit!) there were also a number of professional projects.

In June I had the honor of representing Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center at “To Open Eyes” – a BMC conference held at Sussex University in Brighton, where I gave a presentation on the current happenings of “Black Mountain College NOW” – As well as presenting the keynote performance “Dome Poems” – a project by poet Lee Ann Brown in collaboration with film-maker Tony Torn.
This was performed at the conference with Brighton musician Paul Morgan.
Lee Ann & Tony sent the film files from NY to Sussex Uni, where Paul & I viewed the work, then improvised sound & movement in live performance, interacting with surrounding multiple projections of the film.
… We had approximately five hours in which to execute the whole process & it all came together very nicely.

In October, my partner (audio-visual artist David Linton) came over from NY to tour & travel in Europe with me. We had a number of informal performances in Paris, Prague & Berlin.

BACK IN THE USA
On returning to the states, I spent six weeks in NYC assisting David for his artist residency at AIR in “The Clocktower”, Lower Manhattan.
Here, he created a video installation entitled the “Cortical Deguasser” using the flicker effect to trigger optical & brain activity into producing colors & patterns – pretty amazing stuff!
We collaborated on an accompanying installation of objects & books “Time On Its Side” displayed in the entrance.
(Apparently this received some celebrity attention, as we were informed that Michael Stipe spent some considerable time viewing the piece … it also ended up in Lee Ranaldo’s new “Off The Wall” video! - http://youtu.be/eJ3jzjh4oEM )

For more information about AIR – visit: http://artonair.org/

2012

ASHEVILLE
It’s been a busy Spring for CVLA in Asheville NC.
The Asheville Area Arts Council recently appointed a new director – Kitty Love, who is bringing it a wonderful fresh burst of energy. Her vision includes presenting regular performing arts events at the council gallery space “The Artery”.  To develop public awareness of this, AAAC & CVLA co-produced a series of events held in conjunction with the annual regional Creative Sector Summit in March.

ARTIST EXCHANGE
AAAC agreed to host the launch of CVLA’s new “Mountain To Sky Artist Exchange” program – whose mission is: “To foster the exchange of unique artistic talent in the contemporary and experimental arts communities between the mountains of North Carolina and the city of New York.”
… Our inaugural NY guest artist was David Linton – who presented an audio-visual workshop & performance, as well as collaborating with CVLA on our epic multi-media experience KOLORZ.

MOTION SCULPTURE (hits Asheville!)
After developing Motion Sculpture movement & forming a group of dancers to perform in NYC since 2002, I had been wanting to begin the Motion Sculpture project in Asheville – but was waiting for the appropriate time & place. With the support of the AAAC, I have been able to start an Asheville Motion Sculpture group.
KOLORZ was the culminating performance event for our first Motion Sculpture movement workshop series (held at The Artery)
It was a continuous six-hour multi-media performance installation including audio-visual media, music & movement.
David worked with a group of select Asheville musicians to create live sound-trigged visual media.
A set was created by the use of long streams of color fabric, which the dancers manipulated to create shifting landscapes of colors & form.
All these elements were combined to create the complete installation.
During the six-hour event, audience members were free to arrive & leave at any time.

For more information about the AAAC – visit: http://ashevillearts.com/

{RE}HAPPENING
This years annual {Re}Happening event on the old Black Mountain College campus was a huge extravaganza with well over sixty artists involved.
CVLA presented an absurdist, site-specific, physical theatre installation on the tennis courts entitled “L’Oeuf”.  This was a satirical, humorous piece that involved slow-motion tennis, performers tied to ropes, gin & tonics & eggs!
Again – the piece was presented as a continuous long-duration installation which evolved & devolved throughout a five-hour period.
I had a wonderful group of performers from Roanoke VA to work with. Evidently, there is quite an interesting little arts scene there.

For more information about {Re}Happening – visit:


ONE-DOLLAR FUNDRAISER
And last … but by no means least … It’s time for the annual ONE DOLLAR FUNDRAISER!
This usually takes place throughout the month of April – however, this year March & April has been a peak production time, so we are starting the fundraiser in May & continuing through June.
For those not familiar – just put a $1 bill in an envelope & mail to:

Claire Elizabeth Barratt
Cilla Vee Life Arts – Fundraiser
65, Coleman Ave
Asheville NC 28801

If donating more than $5 – or donating in currency other than USA $ - please donate through the PAYPAL button on the homepage of the CVLA website: www.cillavee.com

This year’s fundraiser will go towards furthering the Mountain To Sky Artist Exchange program.

Thank you for your continuing interest & support of Cilla Vee Life Arts

Best wishes

Claire Elizabeth Barratt

director




Photos:
Time On its Side – David Linton & Claire E Barratt

KOLORZ - Claire E Barratt (director, dancer) David Linton (audio-visual)
Musicians: John Brinker, Liz Lang, Chandra Shukla, Elisa Faires
Dancers: Kathleen Hahn, Sara Baird, Amy Borskey, Coco Palmer, Christine Maiello, Anita Frykberg, Amanda Sewell

L’Oeuf - Claire E Barratt, Ralph Eaton, Warren Fry, Olchar Lindsann, Aaron Bensen & Andrew Caudill, Liza Deck, Jessi Naff, Nenden Stillman, Amanda Woods of City Modern Ensemble.