Amazing Sand Art on Ukraine's Got talent - Kseniya Simonova

My classmate Marissa wanted me to share this video, and it is truly amazing. The artist is using sand throughout the piece.

all my love,
liz xo

Collage

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human." -Oscar Wilde

"Life beats down and crushes the soul. Art reminds you that you have one." -Stella Adler

"To be nobody but yourself in a world that's doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting."

- e.e. cummings

"The Imperative in Containing Trauma: Metaphor as Heroic Mediator"

This weekend, I attended the Institute for Drama Therapy's workshop on working with trauma and the use of metaphor. It was an incredible day and we used Drama and Art therapy, and we were also in the company of a Music therapist. It was great having all modalities represented! Although I can't reveal some of the personal material that went on with other group members, I can say that I had a tremendous experience using art and metaphor. Using metaphor allowed me to live and breathe more easily while focusing on the concept of trauma. We were asked to sculpt feeling loss with clay, while our eyes were closed. Here is what I made:

"Shadow"

My friend Marissa made this:

"Viola"

We also told stories about different metaphors for loss and trauma, such as "Reaching In, Reaching Out", "Body as Soul" and "Searching for the Sacred". All of the stories told were incredibly moving, and all told in different ways. Our story was called, "The Universal Pull" and was about the sun needing a playmate, finding it in the moon and playing on a see-saw (which was a story or myth about the creation of day/night). Here are some photos of us in the process (PS: every image appears with permission of the group members!):

creating Sun and Moon

The "Cosmic See-Saw" of reaching in/reaching out

Caroline and Jessica with Moon and Sun (guess which one was done by the art therapist...)

It was a powerful day and it was a great feeling to be able to let go and just be present without having to worry about judgement or being graded. Someone put it well and has stuck with me ever since, "We are in the training and practice of BEING. That is all- as therapists, we are trained to just be."... Or something like that! I definitely had a very cathartic moment when that was said, and now I am in the process of allowing myself to just BE, because that is healing in itself.

just be,

liz xo

A Happening in the Subway!

So, I asked my friend Stephen, who is a fantastically talented actor and theatre artist, "How is Performance Healing?" and he told me he would get back to me on that one. A couple days later, he told me about "Happening"s. Defined here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happening.

WELL, on the way home from the Kandinsky exhibit, Rachel and I witnessed a swing band playing in the Union Square subway station, and people swing dancing to the band! I guess this would qualify as a happening.

I love watching people perform in the parks and subways around the city. It only attests even more to the fact that people need performance, and they crave it in their everyday life. I love this video because of the reactions of the people watching and how joyful the moment was.

Dance like nobody's watchin!

liz xo

Kandinsky Exhibit

"Yellow, Red and Blue"

I recently visited the Kandinsky exhibit at the Guggenheim. I think his work is so inspiring because of the way he uses color. He believed that "Art can transform the viewer" and that "colors can touch the soul." When you see his work, there is a feeling of a resonance through the colors he uses and how he uses them that effects the viewer spiritually and emotionally. His art is so experiential. In his earlier years, his use of primary colors in relationship to each other is incredibly evocative. In his later life, he played more with the images of lines, shapes and edges on a neutral background. The other thing I loved about his work was his interest in music, and his constant quest to combine music with art in his paintings. He even used musical terms to title many of his works, such as "Improvisations" or "Compositions".


"The sun melts all of Moscow down to a single spot that, like a mad tuba, starts all of the heart and all of the soul vibrating. But no, this uniformity of red is not the most beautiful hour. It is only the final chord of a symphony that takes every color to the zenith of life that, like the fortissimo of a great orchestra, is both compelled and allowed by Moscow to ring out." -Wassily Kandinsky


His paintings seem like performances in this way, and each one evokes a different feeling or song. Kandinsky also wrote a lot about the spiritual life as an artist, and believed that the spiritual life of humanity is like a triangle or pyramid, and the artist's mission is to lead people to the top through their talent. He believed that art comes from the spirit within, and that art alone can divine the "internal truth". I could probably write about his work and his philosophy for hours, because his understanding of making and viewing art was all about expressing the soul, and healing through art to reach a more spiritual mindset. You can check out his text, "Concerning the Spriritual In Art" here: http://www.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/phil%20of%20art/kandinskytext.htm

I can't remember the name of this one, but it was in a series that he depicts a red heart in (top left corner). All of the (illegal) photos are courtesy of my brave friend, Rachel Calloway!

"That is beautiful which is produced by the inner need, which springs from the soul" -Wassily Kandinsky

Express your inner truth,

liz xo

"By descending down into the depths of the soul, and not primarily by a painful acquisition of many manual skills, the artist attains the power of awakening other souls."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Van Gogh

Van Gogh continues to be such a fascinating artist and figure for me. I studied abroad in the Netherlands in college, and one of my favorite places to visit in Amsterdam was the Van Gogh museum (actually pronounced "Van Ghough" using gutteral noises in the back of your throat for the G's!). His use of color and nature was always telling about his personal state. For instance, there is a certain shade of sickly green that he used when he was going through his roughest phases of mental illness. He used yellow with "cautious optimism" and blues in times of triumph and joy. He was a genius in the way he coupled color with different brushstrokes to evoke certain feelings about his subjects. The painting above, "Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity)" evokes a sadness in uncertainty and powerlessness that is unmatched. 

My favorite work by Van Gogh is "Almond Blossom"

This work is so triumphant for me, and the blues he uses is so healing to me. I think there is much to be said about how colors effect people, and how they can heal. He painted this as a gift for his brother Theo, on the occasion of the birth of his son, whom they named Vincent Willem. I can imagine watching the creation of this painting and the joy that he put into each fine brush stroke. This one is so healing for me, I painted my room the same color as this blue! 


I also found some very inspiring quotes by Van Gogh from www.brainyquote.com:

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream."



"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. "

"Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."

"How can I be useful, of what service can I be? There is something inside me, what can it be?"
 
"I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process."


I will leave you with this last one! 


"I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." ,
liz xo

Lauryn Hill 'Selah'

A little something that I hope you will enjoy :)

praise and meditation,
liz xo

Flash Mob

Say what you will about the Black Eyed Peas and this song, but there was something so incredible about watching this flash mob perform on Oprah at her season premiere! A flash mob is a group of people that randomly break into a choreographed dance, made popular by some T-mobile ads that have been floating around, where flash mobs form in train stations (definitely google it if you haven't seen one). On Oprah, they set out to create the largest flash mob ever made, and put it right in the middle of Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Every time I watch it, it makes me cry! I think it's because there is something so amazing about watching so many people share this creation together, and there is something beautiful about the humanity in that. Or maybe its the shot of Oprah jumping up and down and screaming. Anyways, this shared experience of the human existence is also what makes me cry at things like the opening number of "9 to 5: the musical" and Folgers commercials... or maybe I'm just a big softie! What do you think- flash mobs: healing or claustrophobic??

Mozel Tov,
liz xo

Castle Critters: "Sara Smile"

So I asked my friend Rachel, "How do you think performance is healing?" and she immediately replied, "The crazy guy who does the puppet shows to amazing songs in Washington Square Park."

The name of the puppet show is "Castle Critters" and they perform around the city. The guy in the video is the main puppeteer, and they have their puppets lip sync to popular (and amazing) songs and serenade the people passing by. Rachel said that every time she passes them in the park, it changes her whole day for the better. I think you can tell by the audience reacting that this is an extraordinary moment happening in a usually ordinary setting. I have been searching for him ever since she told me about him, but maybe with the colder weather approaching, the castle critters hibernate? I'm going to keep searching!

Smile,
liz xo

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

"It's going to be a place where only the things you want to happen, would happen."

"We can totally build a place like that!"

Friday night, I saw "Where the Wild Things Are" in Imax. Wow, it was truly an experience. The story was perfectly told from the mind of a child, and adapted well from the book. The voices were amazingly cast as well, and each of the wild things were given their own personas and characters. I couldn't help but notice that each of the wild things represented different roles within Max's self. For instance, Carol represented his fear of abandonment, Judith represented his cynical side, Ira represented his talents, Alex represented his feelings of not being heard ("Does anyone ever hear me?!"), and K.W. represented his older sister and probably his Mother as well. Maybe it's my program feeding my ideas, but seeing the movie was almost like seeing a psychodrama that belonged to Max! So many things that happened in the movie reminded me of what we do in class... Too much Drama Therapy for me!! :)


The movie was heart-warming, moving and poignant in its simplicity. The screenplay was delightfully written and made me wonder if they consulted children while they were writing it, or if the writers accessed that level of child-like imagination. It was incredibly imaginative, and if you see the movie with an open mind and heart, you will understand Max's story and be changed by it. It made me feel like a kid again and like anything was possible- and for Max, it all came from within himself. This performance is SO fun and healing! My favorite line was, "HEY GUYS! I DON'T HAVE TO EAT MY FEET!"


I'll eat you up I love you so,
liz xo

Knock Knock...

This is my POWER song! I just stumbled upon this cover from Rilo Kiley, and I love it. The original version is my top #1 played song on my itunes :). Don't you love songs that just move you??

Open up, it's love at the door!
liz xo

The Laramie project: 10 years later

Review from the San Fransisco Chronicle


A few nights ago, theaters around the country put on productions of "The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later". I wasn't able to go, but I heard from a friend that it was amazing. This show chronicles how Laramie has changed since the hate crime of Matthew Shepard's death ten years ago, which is when the Laramie Project began. This is a great example of performance as a catalyst for healing for an entire community.


Stop the hate,
liz xo

Passionate Abandon

Be a star,

liz xo

Bye Bye Birdie

I was fortunate enough on Thursday night to see the opening of the revival of "Bye Bye Birdie" on Broadway. This photo is from one of my favorite numbers from the show, "The Telephone Hour". The show got some pretty terrible reviews, but I found it delightful. In an earlier post, I mentioned the type of musicals being produced lately, and the power of being able to escape in these shows. This was definitely a musical to just watch, enjoy and escape from the world outside of the theater.

The best part of the show was the teenage cast members. They had so much energy and passion, you could feel every twinge of frenzied excitement that comes along with being an adolescent. It was so fun! I think one of the most poignant moments was during the numbers, "A Lot Of Livin' To Do" and "Kids", when the teens got together in the schoolyard to do what kids do when they've snuck out of the house. The fact that they cast kids ages 14-17 for the roles added to the authenticity of the excitement and restlessness they portrayed. It was such an honest moment, and it took me back to times when I felt that same thrill of danger! Sometimes, that is a great feeling to remember.

Bill Irwin stood out as Harry Macafee, and despite what the critics are saying, I loved his performance. I was lucky enough to see him speak at my college when I was an undergraduate, and I think his clown training brings such an interesting quality to his performances. As an audience member for anything with Bill Irwin, I gain healing from his humor and physical genius. Also, it wasn't too bad watching John Stamos for a couple hours...

Gotta be Sincere,

liz xo

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Live in Chicago 1995)

Enjoy, this is one of my favorite songs. It usually brings an audience to tears.

Goodnight,
liz xo

Jump!

This is totally why performance is healing for me

Dance away,

liz xo

Tennessee Williams

I love this photo by Christopher R. Harris of Tennessee Williams in Jackson Square, New Orleans. I think it speaks for itself.

We recently had a class about the use of Drama Therapy to heal trauma, using "Streetcar Named Desire" as a textual guide. It was really interesting to explore the traumas of each character of the story, and to use performance aspects to express our own idea of trauma. I'm sure I will have more to write about this after this Saturday, when I attend the IDT's (Institute for Drama Therapy) workshop on using metaphor as a cure for trauma.

But for now, I'm going to go do one of my favorite things ever- to chase pigeons in the park!

By the way, all of these photos come courtesy of the Richter Gallery in Nashville, TN: http://www.richtergallery.com/

Go play today,
liz xo 

Child on Cross

This photo was done by Micheal Varisco. How does it make you feel?

 

love always,

liz xo

Picasso, Cannes

If you have ever seen a Picasso in person, you know how powerful his work can be!

Find your art,

liz xo

Mind and Body Connection

This photo is called, "Crushed" by Joe Ziolkowski. The more we learn about the healing powers of performance, it is clear that there is a strong body/mind connection that effects us. If you take the idea of "crushed" or "burdened" or "fallen", and put it in your body it becomes a real and visceral connection that can only be described as powerful. We have been exploring a lot of this work in our classes, and I think there is something so healing about being able to express yourself in your body and movement, without words.

express yo'self,

liz xo

Healing Grief

This is a photo of a mourner at a Jazz funeral in New Orleans, circa 1978 by Christopher R. Harris.

Heal yourself,

liz xo 

Dimming of the Day

Watch this Video

This song is so hauntingly beautiful and powerful. The video is a bit cheesy, but close your eyes and listen...

I first heard this song version in the film, "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood", which is an important one for me. For me this song taps into my spirituality but also instills a hopeful longing; for home, for family... It also makes me think of all the strong women in my life that I am fortunate to have surrounding me. How does it make you feel?

lots of love (at the dimming of the day),

liz xo

Child Art

PLAY!

liz xo

Wedding Bliss

 Cory + Chris = <3

This slideshow is from my friends' Cory and Chris's wedding. I guess it just touched me because of the beautiful combination of such amazing photographs and music. As a ritual, weddings are a beautiful expression of love and devotion. It is one of the only truly sacred rituals that is still observed in America by all cultures. Weddings bring people together, give us hope, and remind us of the importance of true and deep connection. As someone who attended, I can say this one in particular was inspiring! Thanks Katie (the talented photographer) and C + C!

PS: I promise Chris and Cory are not professional models, even though they look like it.

PPS: If you watch long enough, you might get to see some of my sweet dance moves.

love is all around,

liz xo

Happy Feet

Have you noticed that with the rising threat of recession, popular shows on Broadway reflect patterns from the past? During the Great Depression, musicals from the Gershwins and Rogers & Hart were popular. These big productions were heavy on song and dance, light on plot. It is interesting that in our present financial state, musicals like "Shrek: The Musical" and "Mary Poppins" are popular. There is something comforting about going to the theatre to escape in lights, music and visual spectacle when it seems that everything else outside of the theater is in turmoil.

Shine on!

liz xo

You Make My Dreams Come True

This makes me feel so joyful and makes me want professional dancers/Hall & Oates to follow me everywhere I go! Particularly on mornings when I'm in an especially good mood...

Make YOUR dreams come true,

liz xo

How is Performance Healing? That is the Question...

Hi.

My name is Liz and I am writing this blog to try to answer the question, "How is performance healing?". I don't begin to have an answer to this question, but since I'm supposed to try and answer it for my midterm project, I'm going to blog about it everyday until the due date, and hopefully beyond. I am a graduate student in New York City studying Drama Therapy.

What the heck is that? I can feel you asking...

WELL, according to the National Association of Drama Therapy, it is defined as "the systematic and intentional use of drama/theater processes, products, and associations to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional and physical integration and personal growth". What I tell people on the street is that Drama Therapy is using performance and elements of performance as a way of healing. This could mean using role play, storytelling, the integration of puppets, masks, music, art, movement, and anything else you can think of to get people to feel, achieve catharsis, or understand their role(s) in the world... Basically, if you think it might be drama therapy, it probably is.

In my first semester, I'm starting to get a grasp on this question of how performance can be healing, and how it is and has been a healing agent in my own life. The more I think about it, the more I see that (to borrow from one of my favorite movies, "Love Actually"), performance actually IS all around... and it is healing people.

For the purpose of this blog and the purpose of my own understanding, I'm defining performance as anything in everyday or not-so-everyday life that sparks something within, whether it's meant to or not. According to J.L. Moreno (the father of psychodrama), anything that combines spontaneity with creativity is called a conserve. I love the idea that we are walking around all day long everyday having these conserves, from anything like deciding to make something new for dinner, to constructing a colorful e-mail to a friend. Or... creating a blog!

Healing is a little trickier. The definition of healing says, "to make healthy, whole, or sound; restore to health; free from ailment." This sounds pretty straight-forward, but who ever achieves this health and wholeness entirely? I'm sure even the Dalai Lama has issues sometimes. Healing can be physical, emotional, mental, spiritual... Healing is entirely track-able and objective, and purely subjective and personal at the same time. Healing assumes that we are not entirely whole, but always striving to achieve our entire and pure self.

So how do we make sense of all of this achieving wholeness BS?? Well, performance helps... Or I wouldn't be going to school for it.

From now until October 23rd, I will be tracking performance and its healing purpose in everyday life as I experience it. Don't expect any concrete answers though- my professor has been asking himself this question for thirty years! For tonight, I will leave you with this video from the summer that made me cry with joy in the movie theater... I hope it heals you! (see next post)

Making my dreams come true,
liz xo