Thursday, April 28, 2005
Where does art come from?
I had a really interesting convo with a brotha, poet, performs, produces his own cd's, etc, and since we are both artists, naturally, the convo turn to art.
So he says at one point in our convo that art comes out of poverty, and destitution. Globally. I had serious issues with this statement, because all people who collectively do art are not in poverty. For instance, there is an artistic community in Kyoto Japan where daily life revolves around art, and they are in no way poor!
I mentioned this and then he says that as a people, meaning black people, that this is of course true. Indeed there are some groups of black folks that this statement will probably apply. He used grafitti as his example. Folks got tired of their neighborhood looking so bad, so they decided to make it look better by putting art on buildings. But, I think the people of Mali or the ancient Khemetians would have knocked him upside the head for making such a broad generalization.
So, because we are so destitute as a people globally and art springs out of our destitution, we naturally turn to art to fill a void. At this point, I think he is talking about himself, because that is his way of filling his voids. He does say that yes, he uses art to fill spaces in his life that are empty. I said to him that he is very lucky, because not alot of people turn to art for such therapy. Most of the time, it's a gang, or drugs or multiple sex partners.
Lastly, he said it doesn't cost anything to do art. I almost flip out about that one, cause yes, it does cost! But he says that it doesn't cost anything to began the process of making art. But isn't that what we usually call creativity? At what point does the intial creative process actually become art?
I am not sold on art coming only from poverty and destitution, if that wasn't obvious. But it does come from somewhere. I would like to think it comes from a need to birth something into existence. I don't have children, but I'm constanly producing something into this 3 dimensional world-a choreography, a costume, a new dance move, something, anything!
Where else would it come from?
I had a really interesting convo with a brotha, poet, performs, produces his own cd's, etc, and since we are both artists, naturally, the convo turn to art.
So he says at one point in our convo that art comes out of poverty, and destitution. Globally. I had serious issues with this statement, because all people who collectively do art are not in poverty. For instance, there is an artistic community in Kyoto Japan where daily life revolves around art, and they are in no way poor!
I mentioned this and then he says that as a people, meaning black people, that this is of course true. Indeed there are some groups of black folks that this statement will probably apply. He used grafitti as his example. Folks got tired of their neighborhood looking so bad, so they decided to make it look better by putting art on buildings. But, I think the people of Mali or the ancient Khemetians would have knocked him upside the head for making such a broad generalization.
So, because we are so destitute as a people globally and art springs out of our destitution, we naturally turn to art to fill a void. At this point, I think he is talking about himself, because that is his way of filling his voids. He does say that yes, he uses art to fill spaces in his life that are empty. I said to him that he is very lucky, because not alot of people turn to art for such therapy. Most of the time, it's a gang, or drugs or multiple sex partners.
Lastly, he said it doesn't cost anything to do art. I almost flip out about that one, cause yes, it does cost! But he says that it doesn't cost anything to began the process of making art. But isn't that what we usually call creativity? At what point does the intial creative process actually become art?
I am not sold on art coming only from poverty and destitution, if that wasn't obvious. But it does come from somewhere. I would like to think it comes from a need to birth something into existence. I don't have children, but I'm constanly producing something into this 3 dimensional world-a choreography, a costume, a new dance move, something, anything!
Where else would it come from?
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Break Time!
Usually, after we do a huge production, we take a much needed rest from all of the practices that we have during the week. I must say, I'm enjoying this! On Wednesdays, we practice well into the late night hours. So after teaching class tonight, I went straight to the bookstore. I love bookstores! I might go in one for something in particular, but 4 hours later I'm probably still there, with three or four books, reading a chapter from each one before I decide to buy any one them. Today, I picked up a book called Geisha, A life. I knew I was going to get it, but I just had to sit down with it and check it out. Just reading the first few sentences brought back so many memories of my dancing days in Japan. Although I learned so much in the three years I was dancing there, I know that it's really only a few pebbles in a stream. Nonetheless, I still value the experiences, especially learning from my sensei, Aoki-san. I believe I was the first foreigner that she ever taught, and I used to think she was brave teaching me, because she knew no English. My Japanese was seriously on the grade school level, but I wanted to dance, so I became better at speaking simply because I wanted to understand her, and not have a translator with me all the time. Learning from her was by far my best experience, and when I think of Japan or pick up any book, news article, or magazine about Japan, I always think fondly of her.
Having worked so much on dance company stuff has left little time for other things, like reading, writing, learning from other teachers, my solo dance career and my personal life. So I decided to take a little break from dance company business so that I can focus on other things. Recharge my batteries. Intuition says it's time, and I agree with it. I'll start up the company again in the fall, after we have auditions. We're not fading away by any means, just taking a breather. A very well deserved one.
Up next: Reflections from Egyptian Fantasy.
Usually, after we do a huge production, we take a much needed rest from all of the practices that we have during the week. I must say, I'm enjoying this! On Wednesdays, we practice well into the late night hours. So after teaching class tonight, I went straight to the bookstore. I love bookstores! I might go in one for something in particular, but 4 hours later I'm probably still there, with three or four books, reading a chapter from each one before I decide to buy any one them. Today, I picked up a book called Geisha, A life. I knew I was going to get it, but I just had to sit down with it and check it out. Just reading the first few sentences brought back so many memories of my dancing days in Japan. Although I learned so much in the three years I was dancing there, I know that it's really only a few pebbles in a stream. Nonetheless, I still value the experiences, especially learning from my sensei, Aoki-san. I believe I was the first foreigner that she ever taught, and I used to think she was brave teaching me, because she knew no English. My Japanese was seriously on the grade school level, but I wanted to dance, so I became better at speaking simply because I wanted to understand her, and not have a translator with me all the time. Learning from her was by far my best experience, and when I think of Japan or pick up any book, news article, or magazine about Japan, I always think fondly of her.
Having worked so much on dance company stuff has left little time for other things, like reading, writing, learning from other teachers, my solo dance career and my personal life. So I decided to take a little break from dance company business so that I can focus on other things. Recharge my batteries. Intuition says it's time, and I agree with it. I'll start up the company again in the fall, after we have auditions. We're not fading away by any means, just taking a breather. A very well deserved one.
Up next: Reflections from Egyptian Fantasy.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Dance Elitism
This woman has hit the nail on the head with her post. There really is nothing more to add. I really appreciate her honesty. I really connected to Mahea Uchiyama when I heard about her. It seemed that our paths were very similar. I hope to get a chance to meet her in person someday.
This woman has hit the nail on the head with her post. There really is nothing more to add. I really appreciate her honesty. I really connected to Mahea Uchiyama when I heard about her. It seemed that our paths were very similar. I hope to get a chance to meet her in person someday.
