Isolation 2020

Well... 2020 is turning out to bring some interesting times into our homes, and lives... I am now into week 9 of stay-at-home, and self isolating myself from my friends, family and many of my work and creative dudes and mates. The only people I see on a regular basis are my support team who help me to eat, live and play.  So what have I been doing do survive the 2020 pandemic period?  Practising my camera techniques, studying video editing and making short fun films - that i keep posting for my followers and friends, in the light of the moment, it helps to lift my spirit and i hope it does, theirs.  My creative juices are flowing beautifully at this time - without one hint of boredom, I am filled with images to paint, draw and write - I seriously don't know how to stop!  I am eager to dance, even in small spaces and find myself leaping out of corners, looking through creaks in my back porch, hanging over the fence, falling into an empty space/s - tapping into emotions, sometimes strange echos of people's voices come from nearby... making other shifts of movement in my "dance" w/chair only to hear my own laughter tickle me hysterically ...  I also find time spaces to be wild, free, explore my inner being that wants to explode, bust the bubbles - and I am so enjoying the self permission to let go, completely let go, to delve deeper into my creative mind.

Click on the link below to preview one of my recent video edit....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz5Iydl4gNEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz5Iydl4gNE

I have been writing Mindfulness scripts for about 12 months now and using them to run my Mindfulness sessions for some of the students I work with.  I started doing these by using ready-made scripts from the internet, but realised these were pretty limited for students with a disability. So this inspired me to write my own.   I wanted to explore with my imagination and bring to life what any student, including one with a disability could relate to.  The responses from students and parents have been very positive, particularly in terms of feeling relax and comfortable in their body. Also many have said, they recall the images throughout their day when things get tough and it helps to soothe things to a better mindset ..

This is another little experiment i did this week, using visual effects and my artwork in the mix. please click on the link below and enjoy the meditation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBc3JMH2jUM&list=UUvAbZBjtUQ8wfFJnowXHlsA&index=1

"Life is being and doing..."

Well, my last post was April, really? It has been a busy few months of speaking engagements, writing for presentations, mentoring a number of gorgeous individuals and so for...  But, also there has been some wonderful explorations at the Women's circus and of course my camera learning and editing some of my work is beginning to shape.

In the last 2 or 3 months i have also been focussing on my artwork - i am working specifically on animals at the moment.  I have included my "sketches" for you to see how I begin to shape then let  the work take it place...

Montrose 19 - a collaboration of 2 bodies and 2 cameras

Dianne and I have had some wonderful meet-ups on her recent visit to Melbourne. (Dianne resides in Adelaide now)  Yesterday we did a revisit to the Montrose Public Hall and it immediately took our senses back into our dance collaboration which of course is always full of wonderfulness... It was also exciting to bring my camera into the mix of what could happen might happen, and if it happens let it happen....  Such a fantastic afternoon of creative juices flowing between bodies and cameras.

enjoy the peep of the outcome...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYU7F260t6I&feature=youtu.be

The Creative Travel & Beyond

Nothing compares to my recent trip to South Africa in March 2019.  It inspires my creative path significantly as i begin my own journey with the camera -  Three weeks before my trip i decided to bite the bullet, do some serious research to find a camera i could use, comfortably, creatively and to be able to explore some deeper learnings of movement with it.  I have had many "moments" of using other peoples cameras over the years and seeing the amazing work of others, which i'm grateful for the experiences and learning so much through my camera partners and partnerships... The urge to have a go myself, became so passionate that i finally saw it, loud and clear - Do it and make it my creative investment.  I walked out of the camera shop, absolutely beaming with excitement - but also a little nervous that I had bought something seemingly complex and heavy to cart around on my travels.  Prior to my trip I spent every waking moment thinking about the camera, studying manuals, asking typical questions to those the knew answers - but mostly I used it, pressed buttons, made up little activities with my cat, moved myself with the camera in as many variations as i could.  Finally there I was - in the middle of a safari at Kruger National Park - bouncing around with the camera around my neck...  I very quickly cottoned onto a few tips, as no animal was going to stand still and wait for me to focus and gear up my hand to act - so i soon learned to relate to my camera, unite with it in what ever style, way it took in that WONDERFUL moment of CAPTURE...  i also worked on the idea to have other bodies as human tripods - my travel buddy Jo T became an amazing expert at allowing me to use her shoulder as a chin support while i used my hand to shift her hand from side to side. Inbetween my camera moments of capture, I became obsessed with body movements and using various body parts to help me get the view, perspective of the animal or that landscape.  There were many feelings attached, emotions that sprung on giggles and tears of joys...  Being absorbed by nature, the music of the birds, trees in the breeze and the safari truck hopping in its stop start way... the smell of the elephants and being in the presence, oddly gave me a sense of pride and confident in myself...

Cape Town

Cecil Street Studio... The Last Breath

Cecil Street Studio

Back to… 2010,

I made my first entry,

Laughing with my newest dance dude,

As my feet tangled themselves

I had no idea what was coming next,

An improvised dance performance

Known as the Little Con;

Keen to watch, but wary to participate.

I had so much to learn.

So much

So much to learn…

Since that night, one single night…

Much has happened, in my life

In the Cecil street space,

Pink walls, uneven floors –

It all helped to shift my confident

To be bold, beautiful and hilarious

In my relationship to dance,

Making connections with people I never imagined to meet:

Wow… Anne O’Keefe, Andrew Morrish, Al Wunder, Alice Cummins….

And many more on my list of bodies to have,

Rubbed shoulders

Exchanged eye contact

Controlled falls

Risky landings…

From watching  many performances in awe,

To practicing improvised scores,

Duos, Trios, Groupos,… To Solos,

Yes…. Solos…. I have performed

Solos at  Cecil Street (Andrew Morrish your last word to me:

“look at them, connect with them and  you have them so  begin Your journey with them invite them”)

Life goes on after Cecil Street studio closes the door;

The community exist

I exist

Dance,

   Dance

       Dance

Back into the harness & silk

 Back at the Women's Circus - there is something about this place - it lets me hang out, swing and fly...  There are a few refresher sessions with Franca Stadler to define and refine my harness and silk skills - then to move on to something new.

Drumming

Monday afternoons I have "Djembe" improvisational lessons with Jordan Scotney.  These sessions have become incredibly inspiring. Jordan is not only a good teacher, musician... but he has a way of "copying" my body/hand movements and then teaching me something that works, for both of us.  This kind of teaching method puts my body at ease, to be comfortable with what I am doing, and enjoy the journey whatever that is.  Feeling the rhythm, memorising the beat and coming to every sense, every realisation and that for every movement I do or create, there is a unique and positive outcome.  I hear the slowness in my "bounce" and I feel the response swell inside me, then it releases with a wonderful new energy that spurs me, to repeat the pattern or patterns. When ever I choose tracks for dance - it is always I go for the ones with more drums.  

Video installation - Force of Nature Exhibition

I worked with Akasha Temple (film/video artist) during July and developed a video installation as part of Gretel Taylor's exhibition in Lilydale.  Akasha has been great to collaborate with - she made life seem so much fun on that freezing cold afternoon at Lilydale lake where she filmed my "defined" sand movements.   The video installation will be at the Lilydale Museum until October 13th - so check it out and let us know what you think...   Music Jordan Scotney.   Words (poetical) me.

c Gretel Taylor's exhibit work
Lily Upfield on a show trip with her mentor (me!)

 c Akasha Temple video artist/ediror 

Lily listening to the soundscape 

Interactions With Sand - Force of Nature exhibition opens

Force of Nature curator Gretel Taylor - Lilydale Museum/Art gallery September

i performed my sand-scape "interaction with sand" at the opening. it was great to develop this piece as a solo improviser. Music by Jordan Scotney, Words by me and editing by Libby Price. Sand installation by Gretel Taylor and the museum staff.  Lighting arranged by Gretel Taylor.  

c Laki Sideris

c Laki Sideris

c Laki Sideris

c Laki Sideris

Sand... (the development)

While in Queensland for a conference in July - I snuck in some creative moments to explore photography and video play with Nicole Tsourlenes.  I find Nicole quite incredible to work with - she gets me and I get her. (the cp duet). Nicole's work has inspired me greatly - and i will be performing with some of her imaging later this year (November).   For now I will let the images below do the talking.     

c Nicole Tsourlenes 

c Libby Price

c Libby Price

Doco NEWS

A lot has moved on since my last blog update. One exciting piece of news is, Dianne's documentary "Nothing but bones in the way" had its first Premier Screening in Hobart at the Moonah Arts Centre, September 1, 2018.   I can not help but feel incredibly proud of this journey and the way the documentary has come tell the story as it is. About our collaboration and relationship with each other, that has pushed boundaries and shifted pathways to find alternate ways, to celebrate our bodies capabilities and explore new possibilities, beyond the norm or stereotyped. The 35 minute documentary is still to be release for general viewing - but hopefully that's not too far away.

c Damien Hinds 

c Damien Hinds

 Inclusive Performance Workshop

Sometimes the word "Inclusive" bothers me - what does it all mean, Inclusive? I believe in just Being, but I hovel around what it feel like to have inclusion...My one word short 1 moment solo, is PLAY...  My body is cold and my movements are at risk against my wonderful playful imagination... A huge box of amazing dresses, hats and paper flowers, and a  gorgeous game of hide n seek.  I want to laugh with this room full of artists with disabilities.

Sand
move my senses
create a world,
I can feel
each grain
run through
the shape of my heart
the letters of my name
this is how i relate to sand
and the moving earth
under my knees...

I have been MOVED by Jordan Scotney's music for a few years now - and have used a number of tracks in performances with Dianne Reid (her work Dance Interrogations). When I "accidentally" bumped into Jordan early this year at a music event in the Ranges, I was able to simply say that, "I am inspired by your music to dance." Jordan's response was not to say, oh that's nice and keep walking - he was keen to know, which tracks i liked and why they worked for me and so went the conversation. I took a bold step then and suggested that could meet in a space some day and try some collaboration.

Four months later - it happened last Thursday afternoon, on my 56th Birthday. I found the space and invited Jordan, and a small crew of song makers and sound creators to join me.

I certainly found myself totally absorb in my creative experience of movement. The connection was there from the first note to the last. I was comfortable to explore, move without any hesitation, listening closely to the piano and the African drums. I was in my zone of images, moving in and out and around the space.

Emotions.
my happy place
is alive and well.
Just Being
Doing my thing,

Yes... I pushed temptation to try my hands on the drums. Percussions on my wrists and taking the sounds from my voice, to echo into the sound of other voices in the space. There were moments and more moments, creative moments as well as safe and no need to try too hard moments. Libby and i have a very professionally driven relationship to write papers for conferences. Today we explore other areas. Wonderful.

I am.
feeling the movement,
of drums,
heart beats
of travelling places,
mountain
beaches
hills
valleys of running water,
talking with elephants,
big cats and little cats,
why can't the freedom
stay awhile...

Thanks Jordan, Libby and Jordan's friend Chantelle

 It was tempting not to get up this Monday morning, as l laid under the covers with my cat, India embracing those few beautiful moments of our own - her purring seemed so magical and delicate - i became lost in the world under the covers, and the duo of breaths. It inspired me to brave the cold, prepare for my morning of shifting my body, from bed to floor - it is too easy for me to hibernate in Winter, as my pain levels rise I need to work harder to get warm and remain warm.  But today I go to Montrose Hall again - to join with Gretel Tayor's shared practice - we do our own warm up and some solo space time, and then some moments of improvisation, suggestions for body/movement practice, and any thought and reflection. Despite the cold floor - my body is moving in a slow motion of sand - swirls of color offer me a sensation of warmth - I feel like Dancing.  I want to watch Gretel for awhile - our worlds are different, yet the same. Nature. Sensitivity. Respect. Passion for MOVEMENT...
Wonderful morning.
I come home to continue my solo work of ideas...

Despite the cold Winter morning in the Yarra Ranges - it was good to re-unite with the space of spaces - at Montrose Public Hall. I could have been an intruder, letting myself into Gretel Tayor's shared practice space - only the warmth was incredibly welcoming and inspiring. It has been awhile since I have connected with the public hall space and it felt good to be back. My first breath took me by surprise as my body lowered to the floor - I had been doing much breathing focussing on the Yoga mat back at home, and now it was becoming a more real connection to me, when it is my practice to move to the floor  - a public floor, and not just the comfort of my home. It was perfect to move alone, and know that two people could move alone - to warm up, move in and out, and through time, through breaths - Movement inspires me to move,  no matter what happens next. The coldness fades beneath me, and effort becomes effortless - I see myself in a different light. I don't close my eyes this time - my mind wanders with my fingers across the floors, shaping bold figures into abstract words, perhaps poetry - then it's gone, my thoughts have left the space in my mind. I realise just how powerful and extraordinary movement is, even the tiniest shift to a massive leap or jump - it is an effortless joy to find, define and re-fine...  

There is no better way to begin my morning than waking with my cat, moving around the bed. I am in a dozing state of mind, yet fascinated by her paws moving over my legs. There is a world out there, i should be paying attention to but i don't - instead, I let time be mine and hers. In the next few moments - I listen to her purring. Movement is such a beautiful thing. She comes closer and i hear her louder. We move together now. Play, and wrestle under the covers, before shifting to the floor. I pretend to hide my face, and she thinks i can not see her.  For the next 40 minutes we move to the front room, the room i am moving to be my creative practice space. My yoga mats awaits me. I am not a lover for the cold - it suppresses me and I move my life within. Nevertheless my cat is teaching me to survive, by changing my space I am opening the space for the warmth to enter. My body unfolds and relaxes. I breathe alone. I close my eyes, and hear the world moving in the far distance. Where am i moving to today - my creative craves are there, but my time and energy is so precious, so limiting and so much shared between routines and other people... Nevertheless I move forward, and capture the silent and golden moment, with my gorgeous cat, India. I move, and I move again...

Spasmotive 20... "Showings" approaching next week!