“On Vanishing” … TONIGHT.

•Jonah Bokaer photographed in Brooklyn, NY by Matthu Placek on September 29th 2005•

This evening  Jonah Bokaer, a young gentle man, whom I feel is one of the most important figuring advancing ideas of movement and how bodies exist in space will present new work at the Guggenheim Museum tonight. 

“On Vanishing” is created as a new site-specific choreography to be performed on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s Rotunda floor in response to the exhibition Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity. Referencing Lee’s multidisciplinary use of space, “On Vanishing” unfolds as an uninterrupted 40-minute work and presents an accumulation of events in the bodies of five international performers. Through movement and gesture, dimensions of space grow and expand over time, while others decline. In his first-ever choreographic dialogue with sculpture, Bokaer poses the question “How does the body erase itself, to prefer matter against presence?” Loren Kiyoshi-Dempster contributes music with a rare live performance of John Cage’s One⁸ (1991) for solo cello. 

“On Vanishing”

New Commission

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

6 pm and 8 pm

CHOREOGRAPHY AND DIRECTION
Jonah Bokaer

MUSIC
One⁸ (1991), John Cage
Courtesy The John Cage Trust and Edition Peters, Inc.

CELLO SOLO
Loren Kiyoshi-Dempster

PERFORMERS
Jonah Bokaer, David Rafael Botana, CC Chang, Irena Misirlić, Adam H Weinert

ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE
Adam H Weinert

DRAMATURGE
Youness Anzane

PRODUCER
Charles Fabius

Friday, June 24th 2011 Gay marriage was approved in New York State. My personal thoughts on marriage put aside, this moment in LGTB history is a milestone for human rights.  I am humbled and hopeful. We must not loose site that there is a great deal of work to be done before that famous line may ring true,”All men PEOPLE are created equal.” Please support  Io Tillett Wright , a dearly loved and respect friend, in her project Self Evident Truths.

KRYSTLE WARREN

How did I not know already?!

Sunday evening, May 15th 2011. Justin Vivian Bond introduced her special guest at Joe’s Pub…Krystle Warren. A hand full of trusted musicians expressed there praise prior to the show…”Matthu…YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE.” “This woman has IT.” Even with such votes of confidence I was not fully prepared for one of the most moving performances I have witnessed to date. Watch and weep… 

Lynn Davis Some of Lynn Davis’ most current images are currently on view (by request only) at Galerie Karsten Greve in Paris at 5, rue Debelleyme….NOT to be missed if you have the opportunity!

Lynn Davis

Some of Lynn Davis’ most current images are currently on view (by request only) at Galerie Karsten Greve in Paris at 5, rue Debelleyme….NOT to be missed if you have the opportunity!

PINA IN THREE DIMENSIONS ONCE AGAIN  It’s hard to believe we lost Pina Bausch almost 2 years ago. Just 3 days short of commencing filming “Pina” directed by Win Wenders Pina Bausch succumbed to cancer, diagnosed only 5 days prior. Moving forward the film was made without the visionary choreographer present.  Currently in London, I was delighted to find the film was showing in the East End and jumped at my only free evening for a solo screening in 3D.  The cinematography was breathtaking with camera movements so synonymous with the dancers you would expect Pina had even choreographed the DP. With the combination of three dimensions and a thoughtful cinematographer who clearly understands movement I could feel the Bausch formulation of intense emotion and trajectory between vessels as if I were a part of the troop. It is too bad the film’s intention shifted to a memorial of sorts after the subject’s sudden death. With work as power as Pina’s I found the sob stories from each dancer an unnecessary distraction to the glorious emotional roller coaster ride that is her work. Even still, the most successful aspect of the film, aside from the cinematography, was it’s subtle explanation of the colorful family unit that Bausch created, nurtured and evolved along side. I had always imagined her as a severe workaholic chain smoking and barking corrections. The film however painted a very different picture of Pina Bausch and the company she kept. Pina offered a platform for her family to grow and change with intention and understanding. By way of suggestion…not by force.  To one member before going on stage, “Don’t forget, you have to scare me.” 

PINA IN THREE DIMENSIONS ONCE AGAIN 

It’s hard to believe we lost Pina Bausch almost 2 years ago. Just 3 days short of commencing filming “Pina” directed by Win Wenders Pina Bausch succumbed to cancer, diagnosed only 5 days prior. Moving forward the film was made without the visionary choreographer present.  Currently in London, I was delighted to find the film was showing in the East End and jumped at my only free evening for a solo screening in 3D. 


The cinematography was breathtaking with camera movements so synonymous with the dancers you would expect Pina had even choreographed the DP. With the combination of three dimensions and a thoughtful cinematographer who clearly understands movement I could feel the Bausch formulation of intense emotion and trajectory between vessels as if I were a part of the troop. 
It is too bad the film’s intention shifted to a memorial of sorts after the subject’s sudden death. With work as power as Pina’s I found the sob stories from each dancer an unnecessary distraction to the glorious emotional roller coaster ride that is her work.


Even still, the most successful aspect of the film, aside from the cinematography, was it’s subtle explanation of the colorful family unit that Bausch created, nurtured and evolved along side. I had always imagined her as a severe workaholic chain smoking and barking corrections. The film however painted a very different picture of Pina Bausch and the company she kept. Pina offered a platform for her family to grow and change with intention and understanding. By way of suggestion…not by force. 


To one member before going on stage, “Don’t forget, you have to scare me.” 

On my way out of the city and into the mountains to celebrate the coming summer, it seems most appropriate that on this day it is John James Audubon’s birthday. The French American ornithologist, naturalist and painter.  Happy Birthday JJA!

On my way out of the city and into the mountains to celebrate the coming summer, it seems most appropriate that on this day it is John James Audubon’s birthday. The French American ornithologist, naturalist and painter. 

Happy Birthday JJA!

Elizabeth Taylor, photographed by Richard Avedon in New York City in 1958, the year she received an Oscar nomination for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.“ What an amazing life she led… DAME ELIZABETH TAYLOR February 27th 1932 - March 23rd 2011

Elizabeth Taylor, photographed by Richard Avedon in New York City in 1958, the year she received an Oscar nomination for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.“

What an amazing life she led…

DAME ELIZABETH TAYLOR

February 27th 1932 - March 23rd 2011