An Art Whisperer

(Community Matters) Ron Berry is an ART WHISPERER. Sipping cocktails, watching images of the performance art groups & events, Ron would say just a few words about each, in just the right tone, remembering in his minds eye what he saw that prompted the invitation and sharing the essence of their work – “the most sensual,” “one of only 6 humans 10 octaves,” “stand up comic, a one-man rock opera,” “intense & ethereal paired with a Japanese punk rock singer from the 70s,” “mesmerizing, electric & present.”


Arms, legs, bodies & tEEth from Israel, Portland, Austin, New York & France, in dance. Bodies in urban spaces. Puppetry. Site specific art installations. Walking fish. London, Austin & New York theater. Appendages held forth by balloons. Music – collaborative, mesmerizing, funky & soulful. Film. Forced entertainment. Late night venues, everynight. a Seaholm performance. The FuseBox Festival launches in just 13 days.

Geisha

“LeeSaar’s dances always require unwavering attention, they are powerful. “Geisha” is one of their strongest and most fascinating excursions into territory whose physical and emotional atmospheres are a coolly seething whole.” -Jennifer Dunning , The NY Times, 2008.

Julie Thornton and Art House are important collaborators, supporters and sponsors of the Festival. Julie’s production company, testperformancetest, is producing the performances of Geisha, Erection and Maxi Geil Playcolt.

Reggie Watts

Reggie Watts is a classically trained pianist and jazz singer, and one of six Americans in possession of full vocal range (ten octaves of tone plus 300 distinct vocal styles). Last year’s performances in the Rollins at the Long Center were spell bounding and sold out. Anothe r must see.

In 2008 Steven decided we’d dive deep into the festival by sponsoring and inviting all our friends, seriously. I think we invited 50+ friends to a dozen or so performances. Everyone loved it; we were hooked.

Steven wanted to help our dear friend Ron Berry even more. Ron is an actor, writer, director, producer and the FuseBox Festival founder, executive director, curator and chief bottle washer. Amazes us what he’s created with little financing the first four years and nearly all from family and friends. So, this year, ABPorter.org is underwriting FuseBox.

Ron & Steven decided to form a stand alone 501(c)(3) and have invited their most fun and hard working friends to join the board – Amy Bryant (who’s been helping Ron for years), Amy Rudy & Brent Hasty. Julie Thornton isn’t officially on the board, though you wouldn’t know it. She’s everybit the trojan worker with Ron, Steven, the Amys and Brent . . . . and Sam Webber, and Hank Cathey, and Shobie Partos and Palo Chalupka and . . .

Graham Reynolds

Austin’s most prolific & hip composer, musician and ubiquitous arts collaborator, Graham Reynolds, was commissioned and created a piece to launch FuseBox, Thursday, April 23. Parades, Processionals, and Percussion will proceed down Guadalupe from Waterloo Park to Ballet Austin for the inaugural performance of Erection (which a Dallas presenter warns would be too racey for his city).

@ last night’s Preview Party at Art House

tEEth

The Portland-based company, tEEth, is performing Grub. According to the Portland Mercury, the work is “enthralling, demonstrating a self-awareness, offbeat humor, and pervasive anxiety that marked it as utterly contemporary. Calling Grub a “show” would trivialize it: This is a work, demanding of both the audience and performers, simultaneously a reflection of and comment on our culture.”

VIP Pass- Guaranteed Access & Festival Concierge, all shows

We are selling a very limited number of VIP FuseBox Passes – these ensure the best seating for any & all shows (best of house, VIP seating), private parties, backstage access & a private Festival concierge for two. Plus, it’s a great way to support artists and their art. The Festival’s board, ABPorter.org & testperformancetest have underwritten all administrative costs. Ticket and pass proceeds benefit the artists directly. $1,000 of the $1,500 VIP pass cost is deductible as a charitable contribution.
Contact me directly (eugene AT abporter.org) for the VIP pass

All Access Passes – all shows

First reserved tickets to any & all FuseBox Festival performances
only $129
purchase here

ABPorter.org is underwriting FuseBox Festival
in honor of our 10 year anniversary.
I love you Steven!