The Void

New video and sound. The sounds are based out of a narrative from memory. 

They are separate, but yet, I think they compliment each other. 

I don't think I have much else I want to say about it. 

white mask finished

OK, last week was really REALLY rough. But I finally have my mornings back to work on art and play catch-up. The white mask (made out of used dryer sheets) is done. Since the text transfers work so well on them too, I'm thinking of making a second mask (different design) with text on it as well. Videos will be coming soon.

watch "Cherry Blossoms"...NOW!

So I watched "Cherry Blossoms" tonight, directed by Doris Dorrie. The film is absolutely breath-taking and so touching. This is an excerpt from the movie - a beatiful scene where a Butoh dancer, Yu explains Butoh to Rudi as he roams Japan after the loss of his wife. As soon as I saw it, I literally jumped out of my seat and said, "Why didn't I know about this before?!" I know I posted about this already, but this scene pretty much summed up what I want to do with Butoh and how I think it would be helpful to use it (both as a means of conveying a message and for myself). The clip is a little long - you really only have to watch the first half of it to know what I'm talking about. I still have the movie from the library until the 23rd - movie night anyone?

I like this

I think I'm going to live with this for a little before I decide if it is complete. But I really like the idea: the music is from Puccini's "Madame Butterfly". It is one of the most famous arias of the opera - "Un bel di", which means "one beautiful day". For those of you not familiar with the opera, the song is from the second act as Butterfly (a young Japanese woman) waits years and years with no sign for Pinkerton, her American husband who left her to find a "decent" American wife (the story goes that he only married her out of convenience until he could find another wife). This is the song she sings as she excitedly dreams about meeting with Pinkerton again.



The idea of waiting and waiting and the ritual that comes with waiting/greiving - that's what I'm thinking about.

We all have our falls...

Ok. So I tried a new attempt at the first video I did with the hand. I'll be honest -- I don't like it. There are parts I like: when my hand is profile and my fingers are just barely moving. So maybe I'll work with that alone? It is definitely not finished, but I certainly don't like where it is going. The more I work on it, the more I think about the first one I did - how can I make it like that one? What am I doing wrong? And then I thought, maybe the first one is the one I choose? - Perhaps I needed to attempt to make this idea more complete in order to realize it was already complete. I think I'm going to go back to the first and see what I may want to do with it. I just thought I would post this up here to let you know what I have been working on (even if unsuccessful).

new favorite thing

So facebook did something good for a change. A friend from undergrad that I haven't spoken to in a while is working out in Pittsburgh and she posted a video of a Butoh dance performed by Kazuo Ohno - I'm obsessed! I started reading about butoh, the history, the significance, what it means. This is perfect. Here is one of Kazuo Ohno - so beautiful, so incredible.

I definitely want to explore this medium more and use it in videos. Paul's wife, Jackie has a list of places I could go to dance that I could use to practice this new medium. Perhaps she may even know some butoh dancers? I am very excited about this. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

definitely in progress...but...

This is definitely in progress, but I thought I would post it up here to give it some time by Saturday when we meet to talk about our work. I definitely plan on adding sound to this one. It doesn't quite work without it. I'm thinking chopped up reading/music -- or perhaps something really smooth to contrast the jumpiness of the video? I'll try both options.
I have another mask in the works (first I have to find where I put it...wah wah) for another video.

I also just got some gifts for myself via Amazon:
Women & Experimental Filmmaking edited by Jean Petrolle and Virginia Wright Wexamn
Feelings are Facts: A Life by Yvonne Rainer
Foul Perfection: Essays and Criticism by Mike Kelley
I'm so excitied to start!