All images and tape from D.

I have the first 20 of 150 numbered CD/Program Books finished and I am running them into CBGBs now! They are amazing!!!!! I really love listening to it, the great gallant voxing of Brandon Olsen to "Repetion!!! is a form a change" and so very much more!

The first 80 of the CD/Book run will be sold online here at the mboards and out of CB's 313 Gallery, price point $8-$10. These are numbered 1-80 of 150 copies.

By Monday I hope to have all 150 burned and will be getting one comp copy to all the artists, these are numbered 81-150. As there about 40 to 50 artists, contributors, advertisers, etc. that each should get one - it may take me some time to get yours to you, I'll be mailing these out a few every day. But if want additional copies, I recommend purchasing them here or at the Gallery before they sell out.

FYI - As Chi and Johnny are headed out of town, it may take until next week to get purchading info via the mboards.
On vid front! By Monday I hope to have the full run of show on vid available for purchase. But I will post a note for sure!

Congratulations to everyone who sent up Arcadia. The living imagery was very steep and celebratory. My only suggestions, (and suggestions for the sake of nudging the production in to even better form than it was, not for the sake of criticism) would be to get the sound for live vocals a bit better on the board. I'm not sure if the problem is with the configuration of the gallery space or the actual board mix, Jade's MC'ing was particularly clear but the stage mics weren't delivering as well as they could have. Some more thought might be given to the flow of the event. It is almost inevitable that by a third set there will be a thinner audience. I am not sure what the solution is to this but it could use some extra thought. Similarly, and I know this is very difficult with so many presentations, the trick to a very long program in part is to have it develop or build up and this means paying a lot of attention to the particular moods created by each presentation, the level of energy achieved by each -a lot of image and content and pacing type of considerations. But I have very seldom attended this type of marathon event where it all goes as smoothly as Arcadia did with very minimal technical stutters. And almost never have I been at a lengthy event where there was not great evidence of ego jockying. Arcadia really had the collectivized, cooperative vibe at the top.

Seven Thank you so much! Thank-you for taking the time and care to write it.

Originally, we had worked out a deal to record in a professional studio one month ahead of the event for the CD however 1) sponsorship interest had dropped when we went to war. 2) In order to have done the CD in the studio the artists had to have their songs ready to go by March 1, March 15 at the latest. Although most of the show was cast mid-Feb. Folks were just not working that far in advance. Mia worked very hard all of May to get these compositions to the point they were for the debut, chasing down artist after artist. She really is amazing.

FYI - Should the 80 CDs sell and there is interest for more, or from a theater to tighten and tweek the production for off-off-off theater, etc. I think it would be great to go into the studio and get it all right.

Additionally, Jade and I had discussed and planned for rehearsals which never came to pass. By May 1, I was still hoping to have the cast from each set in for individual group dress rehearsals so that transitions were interactive between characters to unify and tighten the storyline. But without funding, we had to work around everyone's work schedules. We did not have volunteer musicians, except Mia at our disposal, this hurt us. However, the biggest issue, was that we were replacing folks up until days before the event. I think I heard from Bobby something like 4 days before the opening.

I learned a lot on this one. Near the closing on June 20, I'd like to get the Arcadians together and discuss showing the art at another gallery down the road and/or find out who would and/or would not be committed to really turning the performances into a production. Something for folks to dwell on. In the meantime, I've CDs to burn, videos to make, press to drum up hopefully (please help get folks to the show before June 20!), performance pics to get from photographers, professional pics of the gallery installation to take, etc., etc. It's not over until the fat lady sings. (And perhaps after a couple more weeks of attending to these things that should get done) I'll gladly take a mic.

BTW - If there are a few of you veterans out there that have any advice that you can be persuaded to pass along on how we could get further sponsorship or promotion for this show, I'd love to get the other producers together if available and meet you out for coffee ...

But, if not for this one, I'm already thinking of another couple of concepts for the ArtMaker group show next year (although would love to get some ideas from interested co-curators) ... and hope to help Jade get his weekly salon going. Any leads on places with stages that would let us create, playact and stage, during "empty hours" once a week, let Jade know!

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FYI - Should the 80 CDs sell and there is interest for more, or from a theater to tighten and tweek the production for off-off-off theater, etc. I think it would be great to go into the studio and get it all right.



Near the closing on June 20, I'd like to get the Arcadians together and discuss showing the art at another gallery down the road and/or find out who would and/or would not be committed to really turning the performances into a production.

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Boy am I sorry that I dropped off the Motherboards/ArtMaker radar during April/May (always a crazy busy time for me as a theater writer). Organizing and blending and pacing this kind of highly collaborative thing is something I'm pretty good at, even (perhaps especially) when flying the seat of my pants. Plus, this sort of wildly creative venture is definitely something my (admittedly almost resourceless) theatre troupe NeoNeo would love to support. I'm a resource! Use me!

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... and hope to help Jade get his weekly salon going. Any leads on places with stages that would let us create, playact and stage, during "empty hours" once a week, let Jade know!

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Hmmm. The Marquee would seem like a natural for this. Exactly the kind of downtown-ness that M. Nardicio's really interested in supporting.

-Jonathan Warman (almost totally absent my Addison persona)

[This message was edited by Drama Queen on 06-07-03 at 02:10 AM.]

Tonya, I take some of my suggestion back, I was not aware that you were attempting to rehearse the whole show set by set. That indeed would have really tightened up the flow and really added a lot of texture by way of 'structured improv' for transitions, etc. And of course it is always the struggle to get a large group of highly individualistic contributors with all their far flung life situations to be able to comit to rehearsals. The very simple point here is that you, or any ONE else can not conceive, direct and produce the whole production alone. And designing a 'flow' for a show is not something that works at all well by committee either. Show design really takes the vision of one person with perhaps a couple of assistants for objectivity.

On Andy's Chest

http://www.andyschest.com/weblog/index.shtml

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I hardly know where to begin with how wonderful Arcadia was. .. It was one of those nights that transcends time - exists outside of time in this particularly mysterious and wonderful New York way. It reminded me of why we live here in the first place. An evening of creative people expressing themselves in a multitude of exciting and surprising ways. There was a positive energy in the room that I haven't felt in a New York club in ages.

A bit of background: the event was conceived and curated entirely through The Motherboards which is the virtual incarnation of the club Mother and The Jackie Factory. Anybody who remembers Mother and Jackie 60 will know what I'm talking about. (Also I'm realizing that I have been stupidly failing to make it to the Cabaret Magique at Chez Es Saada. I think I'm going to have to start planning my nightlife a little more carefully. Conscientiously.

The concept was that each act would perform a piece that was based on one of the Major Arcana of the Tarot.

So many of the acts were so good that I hardly know where to begin... There was great hosting by Jade Barbee, a clever dance/performance piece by Sulai Lopez & a friend, an elegant and beautiful dance piece by Sarah Vasilas, amazing musical performances from Velocity Chyaldd of the band Vulgaras and the stunning Taylor Mac. Performance art and poetry from downtown legends like Bobby Miller and Hattie Hathaway. It just went on & on & on, three great sets of performances complete with an audience that was also in fantastical dress.

This is why we live in NYC. This is the new, old nyc. This is the spirit that some places have forgotten. And it reminded me, more than anything, that art & magic happen only from the heart and cannot be forced. And the power of the imagination to transform is infinite. Dig it...

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There certainly was much to be enjoyed. For those who could not make it, you poor wretches, Hattie Hathaway was an impertinently seductive devil. Needles Jones ably assisted as the uncorrupted puritan, simultaneously attracted and repelled by the devil's offerings of money, jewels, porn... Interestingly enough, the fine artist who did the Devil card, Stacy Amber, had a similarly humorous take on temptation.

Looking at the footage from the night, there really was some lovely work. But special thanks to the people behind the scenes, who usually do the thankless work. Tonya, for seeing it through and getting it done. Jade and Mia for organizing/orchestrating the acts. Derrick and Micheline for a rockin gallery show. Dany, Jason, and the folks who projected and kept the house rolling. Allegra and Chichi for getting out one nice-looking programme. Arcadia is something of which to be proud.

Selena

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I was the Universe (and last performer of the evening) - Derrick or anyone have pictures from my performance????

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Hi Kat --

If you're desperate for some images, I could pull off a couple from the video. It might not be the greatest quality, but I could email a jpeg you might be able to do something with. Really, a still dosen't seem to do the movement justice.

So, did Jade have any prep for that voiceover? It went well.

Selena

Don't know if you still need pictures from the show, but Zazoo and Satori have put up some great ones on their site -

ARCADIA! Opening Pictures

Amber (l) and Venus