Blau and Baptism
Last Thursday night, I went to DiverseWorks to see Blau and Baptism, a dance performance by Vault and 6°.
Blau, presented by Amy Ell’s Vault, was billed as a dance pictorial of the stratus self. I thought it was marvelous. Amy began the performance with a video – an addition that I thought added to the piece (although without it the performance is equally as strong) and can be found here. The performance filled the stage from top to floor, particularly with its aerial nature. View the videos on her site and get a sense of work. She’s one to follow and see. I wish her success with the formation of this new venture.
Baptism, presented by Toni Valle’s 6°, was presented as a collage of the fears and inertia that keep people from attaining the life they dream of. I’m a fan of Toni’s and wish her success with her new venture as well; but, I didn’t think the choreography came together. While there were some powerful movements and imagery, it seemed disjointed. And the water was too much. One of the dancers slipped and then almost did so again. The symbolism of the water, while essential to the piece, could have been used more sparingly.
Olympia
On Friday afternoon, we went for a drive to Galveston. No reason. Just ‘cuz. Olympia at Pier 21 is a Greek grill run by the Kriticos family. The restaurant has a great logo that caught my eye on a billboard on the way down 45. We chose to sit outside. I mention it here because the food was really good. They have two locations – one on the pier and the other on the seawall. Next time you’re in Galveston, drop by for a bite.
Art and Literature at MFAH
The MFAH does an incredible job of providing lectures and special events to take art further than the exhibition hall. Last Saturday, we attended a talk by Dr. Michael Barry titled Rumi and the Imagery of the Sufis. It’s part of lecture series on art and literature, and it ties in to the exhibit titled The Light of the Sufi’s: The Mystical Arts of Islam, which is on view until August 8th. There are three more lectures in this series, the next on Shakespeare and art. The public programs at the MFAH are not to be missed and an updated listing can be found here.
Bobby Bare
Anyone who sings about being a winner and Marie Laveau must have a great sense of humor, and Bobby Bare certainly does. His humor and wit were on display last Saturday night at Dosey Doe, one of the greatest live music venues in the nation. Tequila Sheila, Streets of Baltimore, he sang many of them. Beautiful voice. Nothing lost over time.
No Stopping Stoppard
Main Street Theater outdid itself with its latest production of Arcadia, one of Tom Stoppard’s masterpieces. I can’t convey how superb the production was – not one loose thread, no weak link. Staged well. Moved quickly. Acted without fail. It’s runs into June and is a ‘must see.’ Buy your tickets. Don’t miss it.
I read this play many years ago but have never seen it presented. I must admit that I didn’t ‘get it’ until I saw it. It’s layered with so many issues and beliefs and ideas, and they bat back and forth. It’s in this verbal tossing about that they gain depth and meaning. One last time, go see it.
April 1st Volume Three
Hard to believe, but the April 1st Project is now in its third volume. It happened halfway through May 24th. Here are a few images:
