OxBow: Day 3, 4, 5, 6

Day 3: Favorite moments: This morning Jill and I went canoeing. I of course had this sweet and romantic view of canoeing softly along the river as we row gently to the lily pads. But, this idea was diverted because of the wind. As be began the river looked smooth but, as we got more toward the lily pads we realized it was very windy. We were blown into the lily pads. And after making many attempts to try and make it back to camp we ended up walking the canoe back slowly making our way along the outside of the river. I thought about how this related to life and our expectations of events. It was still enjoyable. I thought about trials and how sometimes it is just too hard to row and you have to get out and walk. Then for class we did movement exercises led by Ginger Krebs. I can’t believe that I found this place of performance art with these incredible people who are like me and believe in performance work. Each person had 20 minutes to create a performance with an object we had repaired the previous day. Everyone’s pieces were very strong and I was proud of the work I came up with. I ran…to what they call the crows nest. The experience was surreal…I thought of all of the different places the soles of my shoes had I thought of the trees as living sculptures standing as I passed. It was a glorious experience. We contemporary danced in the woods and Jill drew gesture drawings of us. So awesome. Ideas of ritual, love, pure focus. Day 4: Forced collaboration is hard, it’s just plain and simple. It was not just our group but almost everyone was having a hard time pulling it all together. To try and mend our spirits a bit, our professors had us walk the distance of the field together and then enter the clam river walking shoulder to shoulder into the river. It was a beautiful moment. Later Moki and I chilled in our nice cool room since the weather was stormy our room was cool instead of blasting hot. I felt grateful that I had the opportunity to learn more about problem solving and communication. Day 5: The food is incredible here! They serve extremely healthy meals that taste amazing. Today was a day of performing. We finished our four minute and one minute performances and then performed them for our class. The other groups pieces were very thought provoking and fun. Each of them were so different. I was impressed with the quality of image making and intellect that each group produced. I might try and post some images of the pieces. I was so happy with how my group’s pieces ended up working. For our one-minute piece we were supposed to create a sculpture from repaired junk and then perform with it. The objects that we ended up choosing were a tall 1940’s golden lamp and a 8 foot old log. We decided to create a type of circuit that was created going through our bodies and object then emitting through the act of taking a photograph. It was a formally and conceptually beautiful piece that occurred on the river’s dock. My favorite moments were: When Moki was yelling Wilson and accidentally fell off the dock. When April was digging a hole…”Is this ok?” When Christina grabbed the tree yelled, “I can do it!” and then let go of the tree to have it spontaneously shed its dewdrops as if it was crying. Performing in the woods alive with all the other living objects Three breath’s as one circuit Jill and Autumn’s dock dance I’ve also had the opportunity to read a couple different books here, Illusions and Small Acts of Repair, both in which are expanding my thinking. This place is so romantic, not in the sense of love but more in the sense of idealism. I read by the side of the lagoon and just watch the sunset into the forest. What a life. Day 6: Today we went on a hike where we were experimenting with the different ways to use our bodies within the landscape. We walked up a staircase of around 300 stairs frontwards and backwards. Then we’re on all fours and walked backwards through sand dunes looking through our legs as our direction. Then we did our usual native American ritual. We made our way to the lake and stood still in the sand and closed our eyes to feel the tide move us slowly. It is a special treat to be here with like-minded people and to do crazy performance activities that everyone is involved and serious in. The conversations have been my favorite part; such brilliant minds that have been helping to stretch, encourage, and promote a deeper way of thinking. I got to see beer being brewed in the forest…the process and materials were quite beautiful. There was this huge round glass vat covered in condensation because of the brewed light beer and it was a I then got to show Bryan, my teacher, some of my work and we chatted about art, life, and making over dinner. He lives in a communal house with two other couples and was explaining how it has worked for him and his family. He is an incredibly sweet man with a tender heart that is full of giving. He listens…really well and does not project what he thinks over what the artists think, rather he tries to hear out what someone is saying thinks and then seeing how this thought can join in conjuncture with the other persons thought process. Then there was earth, wind, fire, tears, and lightening. This was the theme of the dance party. So naturally, some friends and me dressed up as rock stars, of a sort, and danced the night away. The event took place under a big white tent that was lit with Christmas lights, party globes, and black light. The woodshop instructor, Jon, was the DJ and had a full mixing board with records. It was cool how the music progressed from the 40’s the present as the night went on. My performance professors are incredible! Never. Never that I can remember have I ever been out danced by a professor…until now. Bryan, who is probably in his 60s, was wild-the life of the party. He had more energy then me! How did he do it? And Ginger was awesome! Both of them together I could barely dance I was so entertained by them! I think I have found my people. I also, got to witness the biggest bonfire I have ever seen in my life! It was glorious, so much so that we danced around the flying flames, well I mean as much as we could, seeing that it the fumes were pretty much melting us. As the lit ashes quietly floated upward to the sky my vision was shifted to the enormous amount of stars. They shimmered there in the distance and seemed to blanket the whole sky. I again realized my small size in the large scheme of everything.

OxBow-Day 1 & 2

OxBow: Can be described as the idealistic summer camp you always hoped you would get to go to. This place reminds me of the movie The Parent Trap. Already, I have become attached to this place of wonder. We drove on a paved road that outlined the side of the river, which was filled of small summer homes and boats. Not knowing exactly where to continue in order to get to OxBow we followed the road that said Dead End. Moki read the instructions as of how to get there and April repeated them in a majestic tone, “Where one road ends, another road begins.” She said it as if this would be her new life model and again I found myself loving the thought patterns of great artists. Once the paved road ended and the dirt road began we followed the winding path through tall thin trees to the OxBow parking lot. There we hulled out our bags and lugged them to the Inn where we would register. The Inn is white with a beautiful covered veranda where there are worn wooden tables set against the window screens. Looking at these communal spaces I couldn’t help but think of the legacy of the many art students of more than 100 years who have eaten, played, and painted here at these same places I will sit. The kitchen is filled with old tables and various styles of chairs that were all painted different colors and have been worn away with time. There is communal eating of the most delicious and healthy food served buffet style. My favorite so far has been the crab cakes and green goodness salad dressing. The conversations that happen during eating are normally related to art and life and the philosophy of both. The students here are not only from SAIC but also all around the nation and of all different ages. I feel quite honored to walk these streets and share the scenic views of all those that have witnessed them before me and with me. Moki and I share the most whimsical and quaint room I have ever seen. It is yet another one of those dreams that I actually get to live! Our roommate conversations are so beautiful and I find myself being completely inspired by her love for others. I believe that Moki got this great love from her parents who so kindly gave me a ride and bought me lunch all without really ever knowing who I was. Their complete kindness made me think of fully consecrating yourself to doing all good possible to those that you are surrounded by. The slow river is only about 50 yards away from where we are staying. Today I watched the colors of the sunset reflect in majestic rays over the water and slowly fade, all in which happened while having a conversation with another classmate about sincerity in art making and knowing yourself as an artist. The conversations that I have had here have been so rich and impactful that I find myself hanging on every word trying to memorize sentences and phrases. Already I feel completely connected to the other 12 people in my class. There are not many other things that bring people so close together and fast as does performance art. For example today we were given an assignment to be silent while hiking as a group and to think about your body in connection to the surrounded space, the rhythms that are inherent in the surroundings, sounds, and material intersection. While trapesing along the foliage path of large trees their pure bright green of leafs being back lit by the sun I was completely enchanted with the forest. Prior to this trip I had fantasied about making performance work in the deep green forests and was fulfilled when my expectations were completely met. After reaching the river we swam across, everyone floating along with their Ziploc bags of shoes and valuables. Once to the other side we pushed our feet through the sand dunes beside the blooming meadow and over to Lake Michigan. Making our way to the lake I thought of our group as a piece of yarn or rope; each of us containing our own line of backgrounds, experiences, personalities and yet coming together forming a whole created through layers and relations. The lake was incredible as always. Jill was the first to run directly into the lake and everyone continued after her. I didn’t follow the group but rather ran north running in between the tide. It was completely freeing to be so close with the water and land. Feeling the sand squish in between my toes with the each impact of pressure. Once far enough away I decided to lie, feet first in the tide and to just let the wave flow across my body whether it be gentle or aggressive. I felt a distinct pull to get up but instead I lay there sinking into the sand imprinting my body on the earths face. I thought of being between two worlds in a place of the liminal and letting go, being in the tide. We got disoriented on our way back and we had to bypass through the muddy riverbank. It was completely enjoyable to get lost with this group of people-IT WAS AN ADVENTURE! We created work in our studio and I was again reminded at how much I love working with my hands. It makes me feel like I am in a different world and it is only me and the object residing there in-as cheesy as that my sound. Thoughts that I have had while here are: Is everyone in a state of brokenness? Can a place have the power to heal, change, or free you? What does it mean to be repaired? Or to have the power to repair? How can conversations be considered art? What does it mean to make accessible art? How can you come to evaluate your practice and come to know yourself as an artist? Listening as performance- Listening as a means of connection, power, understanding. Spirit and body-the weight therein

Week 1 and 2-it's like magic!

Where to start? The school, the people, the art, the city, the food, the landscape, the conversations...so many directions and all of them INCREDIBLE! Seeing as I cannot write every experience that I have had I will just highlight the ones that really stick out in my mind. Ok, first off I love my TA job. I am a TA for the Site Practice class in the Performance Art Department the class 15 students, half of which are international. The professor I work with Maria Gaspar, is a young emerging artist who is widely known in the Chicago art scene. Both of us mesh so well together and I feel like I could talk to her about art for hours on end if I had the opportunity. Her style of teaching is quite similar to mine-kind, gentle, and loving. She really cares about the students and is fluid in her teaching. Every time I go to class I am constantly observing her questions, exercises, tone, and language. Yesterday, was our second day of class and she let me lead an exercise called "me". It is a type of trust activity but, the student responded really well. For the first time in teaching I feel like I am able to articulate what I want to say and the questions come innately. I really feel like this is what I have been looking for my whole life...as cheesy as that may sound. PERFORMANCE ART!!! It is a blend of dance, yoga, movement, conceptual ideas, materials, environment, presence...ah I could go on and on. Bottom line--LOVE!

I have met with my advisor twice and feel like he is a complete genius. He is from the performance department and I connect exceptionally well with him. We meet once a week for an hour and it hardly feels like enough time. I have so many ideas, questions, things I want to discuss...ah the time here is extremely precious. His face is incredibly kind and he slightly reminds me of the Colonel Pickering from My Fair Lady because of his loving and considerate demeanor, perfect match for me. Can't believe I get to work with him and that I found him. There are so many professors to choose from. It is wonderful to bring him performance ideas and have him not think anything is too crazy. He always seems to know exactly what advice to give how to help my visions to become more of what I want. I hope all of this is making sense! Before I came to the school I had this preconceived notion that all of the professors and grad students would be these elitest people that you had to prove yourself to, happily I have found quite the opposite.

This next week I'll be working on some time lapse photography, a couple video pieces, and writing two proposals for a performance show called New Blood that will open in November. We'll see if they like what I have to propose. The school itself is phenomenal. Everyone is brilliant in their fields. When having conversations with people I am amazed at what they know and what artwork they have produced. The resources here are OUT OF THIS WORLD!! High-end video and photo equipment, large studios, multiple wood-shops, metal shop, sewing areas, 3D machines, laser cutters, almost everything you could ever think of! I almost feel like I'm in Baskin Robins and I want to try every flavor but, not just to taste but to really study. It's like the best Christmas present you could receive!

The museum is wowing! I haven't even been able to look through the whole thing yet. I got to eat a candy from one of Felix-Gonzales-Torres pieces! And take a poster from off the stack. While there I started to talk to two older women about what their thoughts were about his work. Enthusiastically they both responded by saying that they absolutely LOVED his work. It made me happy to see such open minds. It's like a dream to just walk from the school right through a door into the museum. I often catch myself thinking, "Is this real life? Is this really the life I GET to lead?" Ah, SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!

I enjoy the diversity of people even more than I expected. I love to hear peoples backgrounds and different views. The caliber of work is so different and strong because of these differences. Everyone's perspectives on life are coming through various lenses. Coming from my background it is interesting to see so many young people making choices contrary to the environment that I just came from. The environment of the city is magical to me. Everyday I walk out of the Subway and I can't help but laugh because, it is so cool. Everything I ever wanted it to be. I've been able to navigate quite well and in all honestly, haven't felt a drastic transition. I almost feel like this is where I have always wanted to be. :D We'll see if that changes when the temperature is below 0.

I'm all settled in my apartment and love it! I'll try and take some pics this week to show you all. As for pics for this week I'll post some.
This was my first trip on the train with Rachel Coleman:







Little festival we went to in Aurora:

I thought this artwork reminded me of you Tammy:








Performance Opening Social at the Roger Brown house/museum:















Tons of art!











My lunch spots!
















Studio:











The sweet drinking fountains outside my studio! Yeah this school is legit!
















Chicago with Tim:




















Yeah, this is where I'll have graduation! Can you believe it!

Let the adventure begin!

This was me packing...ok actually sucking the air out of a bag stuffed with clothes. We found this incredible invention called the Space Bag. It is BRILLIANT!







It was a beautiful and miraculous first day in Chicago and I love it already! When I reached the baggage claim there was a helium ballon that said CONGRATULATIONS waiting for me! The family that I'm staying with got it for me to tell me congratulations for coming to Chicago! And they said that they didn't have any welcome ballons. To my utter happiness they untied the balloon and let me hold it. For some reason this was blissful for me. I would have included a picture but the balloon sneaked out of the car as we were packing the luggage. Now it is off on its own adventure too. We ate lunch at this incredible place called Nicky's which was phenomenal! Incredible pita bread!
This is the beautiful home I'm staying in until I find an apartment. I absolutely love the door color. The mother has great taste!




The backyard is gorgeous! I love this collage of suns that collect from all around the world!




I love these little copper lights too! So beautiful. And the family loves rust!! Ah, I was made to be here! There are little rusty things all over.




The street that I'm staying on doesn't have a sidewalk and everyone's house is different. Each house has its' own little character. The humidity was down and the temperature was perfect! I am incredible grateful for the family that I'm staying with and for their immense generosity.

I keep thinking of the scripture Alma 20:4. It say that in the strength of the Lord you can do all things. I have seen this and take reassurance of its' promise.

Plane ticket-CHECK

The ticket has been bought! The adventure will soon begin. Flight #5529, seat 14D one way ticket to Chicago now has my name on it! Get ready Chicago!