1. SYMBOLS. Sarah Smalls' dress and some of the other garments had holes cut in them. Granted, I get fixated on odd details sometimes, but what an incredible coincidence that she was garbed in cloth that reflected the circles of breath and breathing present throughout the tableau. Its transparent layers delicately floated like draped stairs, surrounding her as we did and do, multi-layered, but unified in one hovering fold. I doubt that this was intentional on the part of the designer (I would love to find out for sure), but even so, it was one of many synchronous alignments this Tableau has gathered, and it made me smile...
2. BEING. Sometimes it seems like it's difficult to BE anywhere. In this case I mean physically, though it can apply in other ways as well. No matter what poses we held during this epic Tableau Vivant, I know we all struggled to Hold On. I was struck by how the position itself was almost unimportant in determining the difficulty of staying put. While we froze and tried not to move a muscle, I couldn't help but think that it was the presence of all of you, struggling silently in proximity to create something beautiful together that made it possible to remain still. And the conviction in each of us that this is not only worthwhile, but crucial to building this Other Place, like a portal through culture to abstract psychological intimacy, was incredible to experience. I never once heard anyone say, "I don't feel comfortable addressing this question".
As a bit of a hermit, I have always instinctively shied away from large groups and mass participatory activities with great suspicion and an almost physical sense of aversion. I think I can safely say that this is the first time I have ever trusted a large group of human beings so completely, and that was made possible by Sarah and each of her brilliant collaborators' staggeringly masterful vision, and by the unique contribution of each person involved. A lot of us are artists, creators, teachers, givers of one kind or another, so we have all dedicated our lives in some way to creating beautiful connections, worlds, lives, and experiences. One of the things that made this group experience so distinctly different from other group actions is that we were all there with no conflicting motives, and we all believed deeply in the importance of bringing this work of art to life. Belief shapes everyone's unconscious inner realms, and in these few days, our belief in a common goal was both consciously chosen, kindly acted upon, and completely shared. That is part of why this piece is masterful beyond even "its own" goals, and it is a true testament to the character of Sarah and all her cohorts that they were able to so lovingly organize so many different people into a place of safety and comfortable communication to attain an untainted, transcendent creation. I feel so lucky to be a participant in this time.
Skylight One Hanson
Brooklyn, NY
Sarah Small’s Tableau Vivant of the Delirium Constructions: Part II May 23-24 at Skylight One Hanson. View the trailer here: http://vimeo.com/groups/exposedbydeedraa/videos/14936722This May, photographer and artist, Sarah Small, is planning to produce the most ambitious performance of her career. Tableau Vivant of the Delirium Constructions will present a unique blend of art forms: theater, performance art, photography, fashion, and both classical and contemporary musical arrangements.
Photographer Sarah Small leads us on a revelatory journey through the interactive creative process and world-premiere of her most ambitious work. Inspired by history’s striking French “living pictures”, the Tableau Vivant is a revolutionary 120-model live performance installation that has evolved from Sarah’s internationally acclaimed photographic series. Through a diverse cast of 120 people from all walks of life, Small presents a microcosm of human experience and interaction that crosses gender, age, race, and class boundaries. With raw passion, unique humor, and relentless optimism, she navigates the intimate desires, paralyzing fears, bitter failures, and transcendent triumphs of her new born artistic family.
After experimenting with a series of smaller tableaux vivants (“living pictures”) for the past two years, the May performance represents a culmination of her work and promises to be the cultural event of the season.
The performance on Monday, May 23rd and Tuesday, May 24th will be at the historic Williamsburg Savings Bank, now known as Skylight One Hanson, in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Ages 21 and over please.
For more information, please go to: www.livingpictureprojects.com.
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TICKET INFORMATION:
$25 Base Level: General Admission
$50 Mid Level: Priority Viewing Area
$125 VIP Level: Priority Seated Viewing, Gift Bag, Exclusive Access to Early Entry VIP Lounge (5/23 6:00pm, 5/24 7:00pm) and Post-Event Vault Musical Experience
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| Contact |
| Who: | Chrissie Rouse |
| Email: | chrissie@sarahsmall.com |
| Web: | http://www.livingpictureprojects.com |
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