Achieved in unison what alone would not have been feasible or even conceivable, the following pictures represent the triumph of the artistic community of Savannah, Georgia, and the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Through his project which integrated the efforts of the entire community, Nick Cave sought to cater his craft to the local environment and produce an outcome which served to benefit all.
I urge you to suspend your disbelief and give yourself to the mercy of Cave and this magical array of sculpture and sound. Seductive, bewildering, enchanting, and enticing, his performance took my breath away and has not ceased to do so upon my frequent and vivid recollections of the night….
Many more to follow!
Conceived during his stay in Savannah, today Nick cave is hard at work on an idea for a sound suit constructed primarily of BALLOONS!
(to be revealed for the first time at the performance tonight!)
As a result of a stage with a fresh coat of paint, tonight we held a dress rehearsal that was void of its namesake attire.
Why paint a stage this close to the performance? Though it may not appear to be logical, this action is entirely justified. Like all aspects of this project, the stage was literally built from the ground up and constructed in a functioning parking lot outside of the school. It serves as a temporary aid to this visual installation and performance art and, like this world Cave has created, will live for just moments to then exist only in memory.
Memory of the fruits of the dedicated and impassioned performers, and recollections of a community which is bound in their commitment to a collaboration.
Though the stage will be disassembled when classes resume and the costumes, deconstructed and shipped back to Chicago, the benefits of this performance will in no way mirror the fleeting nature of its presence. The level of camaraderie obtained throughout the week is commendable and stable, and as a result I suspect these relationships will only continue to flourish.
Without the costumes and essentially lacking the main element of the showcase, even performed in streetwear this routine inspires awe.
The time lapse clip above is only a teaser. Now did you really think I would show you the entire performance and spoil the impact of the final reveal?
Tomorrow night:
Hamilton Hall Parking Lot, 8-9 PM
522 Indian Steet, Savannah Georgia
(After party at the River Club, with performances by Unsolved Mysteries, Prayer Town, and Helado Negro!)
This sounds like a sleep machine!
Dancing in their sound suits for the very first time, these girls are fierce and deserve every bit of attention they command!!!!
(segment choreographed by Lady Mahogany, seen in the foreground)
Tonight I witnessed a transformation of identities so profound that no amount of preparation could have groomed me for this experience.
To begin the evening, I observed as Nick gathered the dancers together for a group discussion regarding the sound suits. He explained their ability to transform the identity of the wearer from the very moment it embraces the skin, and added that, although equally capable in their talent to create a new persona, they are unique in the sense that every single suit demands a different type of character. Although I did not doubt these assertions, I also did not fully comprehend the gravity of their truth.
It was not until I watched twenty dancers disappear into wardrobe, emerging confidently as the incarnate of their suit, that I understood the power of the costume and its ability to transcend the spirit.
During his pep talk, Nick encouraged the dancers to build themselves into their characters, and to perform with conviction, explaining that to stand motionless on stage if owning the space has the equal integrity of heart-breaking dance moves.
He discussed the evolving infrastructure that defines the dynamic of the show, which is based on the encounters and interaction between these newfound identities.
Moments later, his statements were proven as hip hop dancers twirled in rafetta with the contentment of children entertained by a clown. Redefining their moves to adapt to their costumes, they delighted in the wardrobe and reveled in the company of their troupe.
I watched in amazement, bewildered by the rehearsal’s ability to continue in its climax. This group has truly come together, and in my mind, the show has already proven a success.
Nick ended by saying that he wants people to wake up in the morning and remember the performance.
I assure you, Mr. Cave, we will never forget.
