Workshop: How to Talk (and Write) About Your Work

In this workshop for artists and creative professionals, we practice talking about what we do, why we do it, and why it matters. Using structured, one on one interviews, you will learn to craft clear and meaningful elevator pitches, mission statements, artist statements and bios that express your unique identity for grants, publicity, and publication.

WHEN:     three Mondays  -  March 9, 16, and 23  -  8-9pm

WHERE:     SIJCC, 1110 Bates Avenue, Los Angeles (map)

COST:      $50 for the series, prepaid in advance

Register at http://www.rhizomaticarts.com/workshops

Last "Metro Art Moves" tour of 2014

LA Friends: this Thursday evening you too can take a goofy Metro Art selfie on my last "Metro Art Moves" tour of 2014!

Thursday, December 4th, we will meet at Union Station (Alemeda entrance) Information booth at 5:30pm, and end at 7th Street/Metro Center at 7pm, where you can enjoy discounts at local eateries with the complimentary TAP card you will receive on the tour. All our tours are FREE and open to the public. Just show up a few minutes early and you're good to go.

As part of the Metro Art program, "Metro Art Moves You" presents an urban excursion led by a Los Angeles artist. In addition to learning about the historical stations and contemporary works by local artists, we will explore different modes of viewing art, experience being in public space together, and share a few handy tips for transit riding. You will also get to learn something about how each artist/tour guide works; how their individual practice is inspired by, or in dialogue with, public spaces like the Metro.

For example, you may know that I've been working on various projects engaging the histories of the Los Angeles River and La Zanja Madre (the "mother ditch" around which our city was founded). On my tour we will think about the many layers of social histories that are embedded in the ground through which we travel, and notice how public spaces shape the way we flow through them, like a river...

Check it out: http://thesource.metro.net/…/join-metro-this-fall-for-free…/

Video of LAXART Gala performance

I was invited to perform in a fun piece by Flora Wiegmann, Nina Waisman, and Thomas Lawson for the annual gala benefitting LAXART, at the gorgeous Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Dancer Jos McKain and I worked with Flora for several weeks devising movement for the interactive sound and painting installation created by Nina and Tom.

Here's a short video from the twenty-minute performance.

'Til You Drop Commissioned by LAXART for the Greystone Gala 2014. 'Til You Drop, a collaboration between Thomas Lawson, Nina Waisman and Flora Wiegmann, is an interactive installation of image, color, sound, and movement. The installation, sound and performance work loosely with the idea of a public celebration or carnival, addressing the fun, the excess, and the aftermath of the party.

Sibling Rivers premiere at M:ST 7, Calgary

Last Friday we officially premiered Sibling Rivers at the 7th biennial Mountain Standard Time (M:ST) Performative Art Festival in Calgary, Alberta!

More than a year in the making, Sibling Rivers is an online collaboration between Terrance Houle (Blackfoot, Canada), Sam Fox (Perth, Australia), and myself, that culminated in a 1-hour intermedia performance installation at Contemporary Calgary.

For this presentation Terrance Houle and I performed live with local artists Dani Navia and Trey Madsen, with an online performance by Sam Fox and pre-recorded performance/video/sound contributions from Ella-Rose Trew, Aes Tchiachovsky, and Sete Tele (Australia); Chris Dirksen (Canada); and Erika Katrina Barbosa, Rafa Esparza, and Sebastian Hernandez (Los Angeles).

After a few days of rest and relaxation here in the high prairie, we are already thinking about where to take the project next. Does your city have a river with an interesting story? Contact us!

...And we are launched!

Play the LA River–51 weeks of programming designed to re-acquaint Los Angeles residents with the River that runs through the heart of the county–successfully launched last weekend at the Frogtown Art Walk. I was thrilled to curate a diverse line-up of performers, including Rebeca Hernandez, the Poetry Society of Los Angeles, the wulf., Marina Magalhaes, Mariel Carranza, The Wise Guys, and @PinDropParty (a traveling renegade dance party conceived by Grant Davis).

Check out some of the pics I snapped during the event!

Play the LA River launches September 13th!

Since the beginning of the year I've been involved in curating performance for a fantastic civic art project called Play the LA River--an initiative to bring Los Angeles County residents to all 51 miles of the LA River for games, events, and performances. Our 51-week project launches Saturday, September 13th, at Marsh Park as part of the Frogtown Artwalk. Featured performers include Rebeca Hernandez, Mariel Carranza, The Poetry Society of Los Angeles, music curated by the wulf., People's Dance led by Marina Magalhães, and @PinDropParty after dark!

ALSO, BREAKING NEWS...........Play the LA River is in the running for $100,000 from LA2050, and we need YOU to vote for us at http://myla2050play.maker.good.is/projects/PlaytheLARiver/. 

After you vote, please share the news on Facebook (tag us @Play the LA River) and Twitter (#playthelariver, @LA2050), and while you're online be sure to like our page and join our event.