Saturday, August 9, 2008
Saturday
a good week so far
today,saturday, an open studio day down at the South Waterfront AIR studio where we're in residence
hoping to connect with more waterfront residents, and introduce them to the civic planning game we developed in chicago, play it with them, and get feedback as we develop a new version of it for here in Portland.
Then, tonight, a 4 hour rehearsal over at the discovery center, our performance site- tonight, we're going to begin playing with some of the more 'risky' uses of the space, physically, and also begin getting more focused on a content piece we're developing for one part of the site.
A key weekend as we're now one month out from the TBA showings. And, we have all taken a large step forward this week, in mind and gut, in terms of understanding how the issues we're exploring really impact and relate specifically to Portland.
The videos in the entry before this one from last saturday's ten tiny dances are explained and given some extra context, by the way, in the july 28 entry.
today,saturday, an open studio day down at the South Waterfront AIR studio where we're in residence
hoping to connect with more waterfront residents, and introduce them to the civic planning game we developed in chicago, play it with them, and get feedback as we develop a new version of it for here in Portland.
Then, tonight, a 4 hour rehearsal over at the discovery center, our performance site- tonight, we're going to begin playing with some of the more 'risky' uses of the space, physically, and also begin getting more focused on a content piece we're developing for one part of the site.
A key weekend as we're now one month out from the TBA showings. And, we have all taken a large step forward this week, in mind and gut, in terms of understanding how the issues we're exploring really impact and relate specifically to Portland.
The videos in the entry before this one from last saturday's ten tiny dances are explained and given some extra context, by the way, in the july 28 entry.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
First week (after a year and many other first weeks)
So, after a year of development, research and engagement
the core Sojourn team began this week working in the Discovery Center at the South Waterfront in Portland
A really good week so far.
Last Saturday, with the Sojourn Institute Students, we shared our 5 ten tiny dances.
Hundreds of Portlanders came down to the Waterfront and wandered/watched dance.
Our dances will appear on this blog soon- we have some new video capabilities that we're exploring.
This past Tuesday, we hosted our first Public Interview at the Discovery Center.
A realtor and a city planner had a very honest conversation with us about Portland, about its planning history, and about who can afford what in today's shifting market.
Tonight, Thursday, we interview a mediator/community organizer and a documentary filmmaker.
The interviews begin with a brief question and answer that the whole team participates in. Then, we create pieces ( we call it performative research activity). Then, the interviewees respond, and we talk more. And then, we play the civic planning game we developed in Chicago, and continue to refine how to use it as a tool for asking participants to experience their own values in relation to place and then collide those vaues with others as they try to make decisions about community.
We are making some headway in figuring out the journey of this show/event.
Its not a plot based journey.
So, what's the dramaturgy?
What's the structure?
Its become clearer that the answer to that is all about our goal- to offer a space for a unique and active interaction between strangers. One that's dynamic,creative, thoughtful and playful.
So the dramaturgy is a series of questions that will serve the structural purpose a plot would in a story based piece. We are now working to figure out how to move through the questions as experiences, not as presentations. And, how performance moments help deepen and loosen the shared investigation as we move forward together, performers and audience.
Its alot of fun, and alot uncertain.
Which feels like the right combination right now.
the core Sojourn team began this week working in the Discovery Center at the South Waterfront in Portland
A really good week so far.
Last Saturday, with the Sojourn Institute Students, we shared our 5 ten tiny dances.
Hundreds of Portlanders came down to the Waterfront and wandered/watched dance.
Our dances will appear on this blog soon- we have some new video capabilities that we're exploring.
This past Tuesday, we hosted our first Public Interview at the Discovery Center.
A realtor and a city planner had a very honest conversation with us about Portland, about its planning history, and about who can afford what in today's shifting market.
Tonight, Thursday, we interview a mediator/community organizer and a documentary filmmaker.
The interviews begin with a brief question and answer that the whole team participates in. Then, we create pieces ( we call it performative research activity). Then, the interviewees respond, and we talk more. And then, we play the civic planning game we developed in Chicago, and continue to refine how to use it as a tool for asking participants to experience their own values in relation to place and then collide those vaues with others as they try to make decisions about community.
We are making some headway in figuring out the journey of this show/event.
Its not a plot based journey.
So, what's the dramaturgy?
What's the structure?
Its become clearer that the answer to that is all about our goal- to offer a space for a unique and active interaction between strangers. One that's dynamic,creative, thoughtful and playful.
So the dramaturgy is a series of questions that will serve the structural purpose a plot would in a story based piece. We are now working to figure out how to move through the questions as experiences, not as presentations. And, how performance moments help deepen and loosen the shared investigation as we move forward together, performers and audience.
Its alot of fun, and alot uncertain.
Which feels like the right combination right now.
Monday, July 28, 2008
In Portland- Moving Forward
We have begun Phase Three.
Our whole company and a batch of amazing collaborators are now at work here in Portland, continuing to develop the show/event that will open September 5 as part of Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's TBA Festival at the South Waterfront.
Information on the engagement and performance events, all of which are open to the public and free, is on the right hand side of this page.
We have also begun our yearly Institute. 30 participants are working with us all this week at Lewis & Clark College, where we are in residence for the fifth straight summer. The participants come from around the United States. In the day, we work on devising, and sharing the work that Sojourn does in a variety of contexts. At night, they are working with us on a series of five Prologues for BUILT which will be performed Saturday August 2nd as part of the Ten Tiny Dances event at the South Waterfront. Its free. 4pm.
I'll be using this site to offer thoughts on the process and content of BUILT as we work this summer, and we'll soon have a second connected site on which collaborators and community members will offer thoughts on the process and their experiences.
Hope you can join us.
Our whole company and a batch of amazing collaborators are now at work here in Portland, continuing to develop the show/event that will open September 5 as part of Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's TBA Festival at the South Waterfront.
Information on the engagement and performance events, all of which are open to the public and free, is on the right hand side of this page.
We have also begun our yearly Institute. 30 participants are working with us all this week at Lewis & Clark College, where we are in residence for the fifth straight summer. The participants come from around the United States. In the day, we work on devising, and sharing the work that Sojourn does in a variety of contexts. At night, they are working with us on a series of five Prologues for BUILT which will be performed Saturday August 2nd as part of the Ten Tiny Dances event at the South Waterfront. Its free. 4pm.
I'll be using this site to offer thoughts on the process and content of BUILT as we work this summer, and we'll soon have a second connected site on which collaborators and community members will offer thoughts on the process and their experiences.
Hope you can join us.
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