It is with a mixture of joy and sadness that I attended my last event as part of the fabulous Spinning Wheel Festival last night at BRIC — joy because this was an incredible experience and sadness because it is nearly over. (The first two events I attended are reviewed here.) This two-week multimedia festival was…
Tag: art
The Spinning Wheel Festival, Part I
Dig it, man! On Friday night at BRIC, I was thrilled to attend the opening of both the interactive exhibition and the multimedia performance of The Spinning Wheel, based on the life of steve ben israel and The Living Theater. The Spinning Wheel Festival was brilliantly conceived by steve’s son, hip hop theater artist Baba Israel….
You Us We All
Take a Baroque court masque (rich with fabulous wigs and costumes — and of course allegorical figures.) Add a heavy dose of pop culture (think Whitney Houston, Andy Warhol video of Edie Sedgwick, silver confetti, balloons.) Sprinkle with absolutely amazing vocals, text, and modern Baroque orchestration. Now shake it hard. Shake it even harder. If…
The Exalted
I am really sorry to say that I spent an excruciatingly long hour last night at BAM’s Fishman Space where I saw The Exalted (based on the German-Jewish art historian, Carl Einstein.) I really wish I had liked it more than I did, because Carl Hancock Rux (who conceived and wrote the piece) has a reputation for…
Refuse the Hour
I just got home from the fabulous experimental chamber opera Refuse The Hour by artist William Kentridge. It was part of BAM’s Next Wave Festival. It was hard to describe, but try to imagine this: a mad steampunk scientific traveling circus lab that is exploring the concept of time — with a dash of Robert Wilson…
New Society by Miranda July
Several years ago, my friend from Ohio raved about a performance art piece that Miranda July staged while she was in Columbus. It was called New Society and my friend could not stop gushing about how interesting it was. He said she created a whole world in two hours, and that it involved the audience’s…
Taylor Mac: The 20th Century Abridged
I hate arriving at events late, but every once in a while it just can’t be avoided. I arrived at Taylor Mac’s show last night at Celebrate Brooklyn several songs in, and I am sure I missed a delightful beginning. That said, what a performance! It was grand! It was touching! It was hilarious! It…
The Musical World of Harmonium Mountain: Clifford Ross & The Orchestra of St. Luke’s
I almost did not attend the world premiere of Clifford Ross’s collaboration with The Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Celebrate Brooklyn last night due to the threat of bad weather. I rallied, though, and I am so glad I did. The Musical World of Harmonium Mountain was mesmerizing — but mainly because of the music….
Broadway Shows, The High Line & Fine Art!
Too much culture, too little time! Sometimes I simply cannot keep up. There is my day job, my community chorus, my art collective, my friends to see, my yoga class, my farm share, my food coop shift, my dishes to wash … you get the picture (and you probably juggle all that and more!) Anyhow,…
Community and Culture
As the days get longer and spring flowers turn to the lush green of early summer, my various cultural communities explode with outpourings of music and art. First there are all the wonderful spring concerts presented by the community choruses here in Brooklyn: the Brooklyn Community Chorus, Brooklyn Women’s Chorus, Grace Chorale of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Contemporary…
Dyker Heights Holiday Lights
If you have never made it to the Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn to see the holiday lights, you really must go. You have to experience it to believe it. Dress warm, bring your camera, then eat Italian pastries nearby after. What’s not to like?
Early Music New York
Last night, I attended A Dutch Christmas at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It was presented by Early Music New York. I have seen this group perform several times and it is always a wonderful treat. To hear them perform in a beautiful, intimate cathedral chapel really transports me back in time. In…
victoriab:culture 