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Photo by Jenice Johnson |
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I also experienced something often
missing in many, well-intentioned "arts" events, namely, a
really great balance of the art being offered up. There
was a stunning gallery of exhibited art, covering multiple
disciplines and medias. Additionally, throughout that
space was a wonderful variety artists-at-work who kept attendees
intrigued and entertained as they painted, drew and even created
wheel-turned pottery all night long. Over in the theater
area, poetry, spoken word and music were delivered in a
continuous stream to a filled |
house for four straight hours. Often
times the performers attracted lines of thoughtfully
listening people which were stacked up t all entrances after
every square inch of seating/standing space had been claimed
inside. Better yet, those performing in there offered listeners
a wonderful diversity of works, not only regarding the scope and
type of what was presented, but in the performing artists
themselves. Together, in an atmosphere of attentiveness
and appreciation, the young and old, amateur and
professional, neophyte and stage veteran alternated throughout
the evening; allowing a generous opportunity for all performers
to present work and for the audience to sample and enjoy the
essence of what live performance is all about. What a
treat.
However, without question to this attendee, what was happening
at one end of the gallery absolutely riveted me to my spot.
Witnessing the live, transforming, transporting
self-portrait-in-the-making process of Pulitzer Prize winning
photographer David Leeson made time petrify and die. I was
frozen within my experience. What David does to himself
and to/for those viewers privileged to experience it with him,
actually claws out a new dimension in live art.
Sorrowfully, I realize I cannot here with words capture the
essence of what he does with time and paint and water and dust
and body and space and breath and music and the color of air
and... me. After several decades of artistic pursuits,
this is one of the very most, if not the most exquisite
portrayal of "Process and Ritual" I have ever been honored to
witness. I am now compelled to deal with this and isn't
that what the highest forms of art require of us? Art,
Love, Magic may have actually stripped its artistic gears by
permitting David Leeson to gracefully, graciously share himself
with us that evening.
Photo by Vinh-Luan Luu
Photo by Jenice Johnson
To view more photos from this event,
visit Jenice Johnson's portfolio
here.
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Incredible show to end 2008!
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