Daily Archives: 05/02/2009

(Community Matters) FuseBox Festival – Friday: At Salvage Vanguard, Julie Thornton’s TestPeformanceTest presented the LeeSaar the Company’s Geisha.

Lee Sher and Saar Harari created the company and are now based in NYC (originally from Israel). Their work is beautiful – as are certainly their bodies – and their movements refined. I’m never good at interpreting dance; I need cheaters – hints, others’ perspectives, or preferably conversation with the artists. My guest for the evening & our current roommate, Luke Hayes, immediately got the tensions of serving as a Geisha.

I love that the the company has been providing training and a residency program in Austin the last two weeks – fantastic leveraging of visiting talent. Thanks a million to Julie.

I’m still perplexed by the juxtaposition of careers – Saar was a combat commanding officer in the Israeli special forces and is now a dancer/choreographer. Lee is also an actress & playwright. They received Guggenheim and New York Foundation fellowships last year.

This Portland-based company is outrageous, fun and great. After they were on stage for only 10 or 15 minutes, I wanted to know these guys. Lucky to have found them at the Late Night Party and spent a few minutes talking with the company founders and four of the dancers.

Completely unexpected. While watching, I was thinking back to Yakov Sharir’s early work with “technology” which while then cutting-edge was – at least in hindsight – low tech. Nevertheless, how visionary Yakov was in the 90s.

Wish I would have invited the company to Amy’s & Kirk’s brunch this morning. Good gosh, who else did I invite last night – hmmm? At least Graham & Shawn. I think a few others. Wondering if I ought to pick up a few egg mcmuffins 🙂 to supplement the fare. Ahhh, I have a couple of chilled magnums of champagne – they always buy forgiveness.

Seated just behind Graham & Shawn – and introducing them to Luke – we started a conversation about the voices of artists in politics. Coincidently, Graham and Reggie had a similar conversation earlier in they day. I’m looking forward to following up on this. ABPorter.org is all about supporting art and conversations that build community; that’s why we’ve underwritten this year’s FuseBox Festival. Wouldn’t it be terrific if it furthered the conversation into a meaningful political voice for artists who haven’t previously expressed themselves. hmm, and President Obama’s Texas OFA director (Luke) engaged in this conversation as well?

(Community Matters) Every night after the FuseBox Festival performances – being held all over Austin – artists, fans, sponsors and friends are gathering at US Art Authority (Spider House Annex) for the Late Night Party. Last night, Graham Reynolds played and Reggie Watts made a surprise appearance. Saturday night will be their biggest bash – guests welcome.

Graham Reynolds

and his band

How to describe the ruckus, rocking rendition of Duke Ellington as played by Graham and his band? I can’t. It was enveloping, reverberating, contagious and ON.

And, then . . . . one of the tEEth dancers started swaying to the music – well, not swaying, more like measured steps, then more free moving, then joined by a couple of other professional dancers so that it became part of the show.

two dancers from Portland’s tEEth and Reggie Watts (center)

Many of the FuseBox artists either have known each other or have gotten to know each other during the 10 days in Austin. Reggie and tEEth friends obviously having bonded. When he arrived, he joined them, further enlivening the place.

the dancing got good

It got even more interesting when another hot gentleman joined this dancer and they started body slamming, dancing and further turning up the heat. And, what was up with Reggie Watts diving under the stage – and who was that nice looking woman who dove under after him?

Festival founder, artistic director & executive director, Ron Berry & his gf, Anna

other members of tEEth – co-aritistic directors Angelle Hebert & Phillip Kraft and one of the dancers

Michael Mitchell, John Riedie (Graham’s manager), Sean Gaulager, Sam Webber & Emily Bryant

Who is young Sean Gaulager? I enjoyed meeting him last night; he’s been a volunteer for FuseBox and a friend of production manager Natalie George. He sent me an email this morning with information on his new media project space, Co-Lab, and I google him to find he’s the co-founder of Cantanker Magazine as well as a well-cited artist.

Emily Bryant caught my Facebook posting about Graham’s concert and Reggie coming on stage, changed out of her pjs and joined us for the show 1ish.

I am very much looking forward to Amy & Kirk’s brunch for Reggie Watts & FuseBox major donors this morning! umm, I might have added some guests last night. Let me think . . .

Also to Graham Reynolds’ two open (free) concerts Sat. afternoon (2pm and 5pm) at 100 Congress (in their lobby).

(Community Matters) Texans for Obama founder, Ian Davis was honored by University Democrats on campus yesterday. I think it was their big fundraiser for the year – yikes, have to remember to send a check since they didn’t take credit cards.

Ian Davis & Ken Flippin

Aside from the students, others in attendance included Ian’s other half, Sierra Club honcho Amy Evarhart, Rep. Mark Strama, Council member Lee Leffingwell, Rick Cofer and Kirk Rudy. Congressional hopeful Jack McDonald called supportive and – apologies to Ian – but I urged him to stay on the phones raising money!

Kirk with two UD officers

I think three of the offices – second from left an aspiring one