My Time at McGroarty

So it's been just over a week since my arrival at McGroarty Arts Center where I have been helping my friend, Candace Sorenson, out with an arts festival.  I began my week as I described in my last post actually taking the mask workshop.  I finished my time at the center last night by assisting the British artist/filmmaker, Derek Boshier, in the viewing of 5 of his short films. . .REALLY interesting stuff- collages of still, moving images (live and animated) and sound.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Throughout the week, I've seen all kinds of art, met many interesting people, had lots of great conversations and been inspired and affirmed in my own artistic journey.  Overall, it's been a very good visit and I'm REALLY glad I came.  Candace has done a great job!

Candace and I go back to 1998 and the theatre scene in Charlotte, NC!

Additional highlights included watching beee-a-utifully choreographed and executed dances by the California Contemporary Ballet and helping Clara York and her husband with "Between a Hard Place and a Rock". I was backstage most of the time running visuals but overall it was an inspiration and affirmation for me in creating the  Goddesspell promotional concert which will also be interweaving solo performance pieces with music and visuals backed/supported by the lovely Anahata Iradah, Goddesspell's musical director.

This past Sunday, I helped by setting up the sound system for the event "Colliding Rhymes" highlighting the work of several different poets.  My favorite was Sean Hill- loved his work and his presence.  After the show, I had a brief conversation with him and he handed me a CD of recordings of his work and some of the music that inspired him.  I listened to it that night and was so excited to be turned onto some new artists.  I got really motivated to get into the studio and do some new recordings (which is my intention this next month) and to create a really cool music video or two this year.  ALSO, I feel affirmed in the idea that I've had of incorporating spoken word/slam poetry into a piece or two.  BIG thanks to Sean for the sparks of inspiration!

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in helping to bring more balance to the world via Goddesspell!

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THANKS!!! and LOVE!!!

Angela 

Mask Adventure Part 2: Synchronicities

On February 26th, I posted about my interview with Sandra of Mask Theatre and how inspired I was by the idea of incorporating masks into Goddesspell.  I walked away from that experience knowing I wanted more information on mask theatre.  On March 3, I flew into LAX and took a bus to my friend Christie's house in Redondo Beach to spend the night before meeting Anahata and heading up the coast.  Christy, ironically, was in Atlanta (where I am currently based) and on her nightstand was a book that intrigued me: "Pagan Grace" by Ginnette Paris.   I picked it up and the bookmark was at a section in the book entitled: "Playing Roles, Wearing Masks".  I, of course read it, and it was exactly what I was looking for.   Here is one of the quotes, among, many that I wrote down from my reading:

"the mask. . .is not something behind which one hides but rather the very image through which one connects with the archetype. . The ancient concept of the mask as a link between the person and the archetype it embodied."

On March 10th, I arrived back in LA and headed to the McGroarty Arts Center where my friend Candace Sorenson is currently acting as their arts festival director.  On the evening of March 10th, I started the first session of a mask making workshop with fabulous artist, Rochelle Niemerow.  By Tues night, this is what I had created!!

I'm so freakin excited about this mask work!!!  And I feel really empowered to create my own masks for the scaled down, mini-concert version of Goddesspell that I will be producing this summer!! YEAH