Dude, Where's My Brain??

For those that have ever HAD to create something, you know that it can be utterly awful sometimes. I don't mean HAVE TO in the sense that you are so inspired by something that you simply HAVE to create a work of art. In this sense things just flow from the magical pot of inspiration, your muse cup runneth over, life is great and you can express that. Well. . .I mean HAVE TO in the sense that this creation is your key to money, food, health insurance, freedom whatever. In this sense all things stop: time, the earth's rotation, your bowels, EVERYTHING. There is no progress in the world because all thigns are peeking over your shoulder, willing you to create something, mocking you because you can't. That's right folks, I am talking about when you are BLOCKED. I am particularly interested in this topic because I am currently experiencing the phenomenon.

Although most are familiar with the term "writer's block" I would venture to guess that it happens to all sorts of artists.

When I asked a visual artist, Molly (student education assistant here at the Urban Arts Space), what happens when she gets artist's block (I am making this a technical term people, pay attention) her eyes popped out of the sockets and I could tell that her body was going through the physical memory. She said that working out usually helps her. She has no trouble starting pieces, but sometimes she gets stuck in the middle.

I should have no problem right? There are a million things to write about. The Ohio Art League Spring Juried Exhibition is closing in two days.
The Theater Department's Stage/Studio: Space Transformed is over April 3rd.
The MFA Show is coming up and should be really exciting.

Writing about any one of these things should be relatively simple. HOWEVER, it's raining outside and it's colder than it has been the past few days, the Space is too quiet (I like to work with noise and chaos about) and to top it off I spent my morning paying homage to bread items such as the croissant and the bagel (both of which are known creativity killers).

What to do? In lieu of waxing poetic about what's going on at the Space (especially since words escape me, and by escape me I mean have run screaming away from my brain) I will encourage one and all to look at our website and come in to check out the two great shows that are leaving and come back to check out the MFA Show when it opens on April 22nd; and humbly beg your forgiveness.

Dollars and Cell Phones

I am fascinated by the aspects of human nature discussed in the current show
Stage/Studio: Space Transformed. This exhibition is up until April 3rd and I encourage everyone to come see it. As part of a class taught by Professor Maureen Ryan graduate students from OSU's College of the Arts investigated the uses of site specificity as a tool in the development of original theater works.

There are two works that have caught my eye: one centered on giving and receiving, the other focused on cell phones.

The latter has various componenets: a cell phone twister game, with some intense instructions,
a table with the question: "If you were about to die and could only make one phone call, who would you call and what would you say?" and paper and pens to write responses,and an old-fashioned play telephone (two cans connected with string). There are also quotes from various sources discussing the use of cell phones as they relate to: bringing people together, moving people further apart, being devices of rudeness and having the ability to make us look completely stupid (I like the discussion of the "cell phone service dance" the best). Many people take having a cell phone for granted but as the piece states:

"Cell phones represent the 20th Century's esccalation of imaginary need. We didn't need cell phones until we had them"
~Mary Schmich

The other piece deals with making people look at themselves and decide if they are givers or takers. The piece has $1 bills throughout it and the only rule of the piece is that once you enter that space you have to participate by either leaving a dollar or taking a dollar. This piece is great. It speaks to people's natural state and then the inner struggle that may ensue based on societal norms and values. I'm not going to lie, I was thinking about getting a coffee with one of those dollars, but then thought about how it would make me look. So you leave a dollar if someone is looking you take one (and get coffee) if you think no one is looking. I know not everyone thinks that way (some people prefer tea) but in it's simplest form that's the nuts and bolts of it. Seeing as how I just took a Public Finance final last night I could wax poetic about society's need to take dollars even when you don't need them to achieve some social ideal of amassing wealth but that class is over and therefore so is my obligation to think about the concept, terms and whatnots that went with it. I could also go on and on about how we should be giving dollars when we have them and don't need them (for coffee or tea) to others who do not have them, but then I'd be labeled a socialist, which someone will mistake for communist and then I'll spend the rest of my days "on the run" writing pamphlets under a pseudonym and eating beans out of a can. Since I don't like beans you all are saved from hearing me get on my soap box.

Back to the task at hand. My only problem with the show is that there are no names by the specific pieces. I do not know if each piece was made by a group or an individual and I would love the opportunity to give credit where it is due. It is finals week and anyone that can make me think and make me enjoy thinking deserves a gold star at the very least.

Behinds the Scenes is just as good as the Scenes Themselves

When you feel sad. . .
. . or under a curse
Your life is bad,
your prospects are worse

These words apply to a great many people these days. But what are the odds of finding someone singing these words to catchy, upbeat music complete with show tune movements (that's right people: jazz hands, winks and saucy smiles)? Pretty good if you are in the mood for some theater.

Godspell, a musical loosely based on the gospel according to St. Matthew, is the tale of Jesus, in technicolor (like the dreamcoat) with flair.

Mandy Fox, Assistant Professor in the OSU Theater Department came in to the Space to discuss the upcoming production (check out the Theater Department website for more info) and to do a quick preview; which happened to include my favorite number "All for the Best." This number has the best line: "Your robe and mood, are both a deep blue, you bet that Job, had nothing on you." Which, again is pretty accurate considering that these days Job definitely wouldn't be able to get a job. Crummy economy jokes aside, this show is great: it combines religious sentiment with snippets of dark humor (my favorite kind) and great one liners. You know it's a good show if it has to do with religion as isn't suffering the religious 3Bs: boycott, banning and burning.

This event is a tie into what's going on in the upper gallery: OSU Department of Theater cool-ness (yes that is the official name. . .no it's not). This show has set design models on display.

Tony Straiges
Set Design for The Great Magoo
Hartford Stage Company
1982

Seeing that much detail in such a small space is pretty amazing (cut the feeling of seeing a ship built in a coke bottle and paste it right HERE).

In addition to set designs we have the horse heads from the play Equus. I want to provide you with a copious amount of information on the playwrite, Peter Schaffer, but I cannot think straight because I am in a school-girl twitter over the mental picture of Harry Potter (real name not needed) in the play. If your imagination is not as vivid as mine, here's a little gift from me to you (not because I have a crush on him, but because I watched him grow up and feel and older sister-like obligation to tell him to put his clothes on).

Environmental issues are HOT right now (Global Warming pun anyone?). People are looking to sustainable solutions to a myriad of problems that we have created for ourselves, including the creation of green collar jobs. I personally look best in purple but I cannot deny the intelligence behind making a strong attempt not to poo where you sleep. . .or at least using that poo to fertilize something you are growing to eat when you wake up. I am all for making sure that things don't get too much worse. I saw Water World, bad acting and bad living conditions are in our future if we don't make some smart moves. I am especially concerned seeing as how I do not have the wherewithal to create a contraption that will turn human waste into drinking water (seriously, watch Water World, it is deliciously bad).

Anyway. . who's always at the forefront of new ideas, ART. It does not disappoint on the issue of sustainability as many are flocking to take pictures and eat cake at the marriage of art and sustainability. Live work spaces, pretty/functional household appliances, meaningful and moving art made out of recycled items and good old fashioned bird-feeders comprised of milk jigs, peanut butter and birdseed are all coming out of the art world.

Liz Celeste, in charge of sustainability and yelling at me when I put the plastic cup in the paper recycling bin (I deserve it), gets to demonstrate her care for the environment here at the Space. In addition to providing me with a plausible excuse for wanting a dishwasher (they are more environmentally friendly than washing by hand, or letting them pile up) she had this to say about sustainability efforts at the space:

Here at the OSU Urban Arts Space we are making every attempt to make environmentally responsible decisions. Some of the events & programs we have offered so far include the Ways of Knowing Water exhibition – with a special exhibit in the bathrooms highlighting the recycled rainwater to flush the toilets,



a recycled art-making event entitled Iron Artist Challenge,


an outreach project with Columbus School for Girls to help them imagine and design a green roof for their school, and an organic wine tasting with rooftop garden tours.

We hope to act as a model for other arts organizations by incorporating sustainability as a unique piece of our mission. In addition to our operations & programming, we are located within the historic Lazarus building which has been LEED gold-certified for the renovations. We are also happy to share the building with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, a trusted leader and environmental steward using innovation, quality service, and public involvement to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all Ohioans.

Finally, as a member of Mayor Coleman's Green Spot program we will promote our unique space for engaging in creative dialog about the environmental needs of our community and actively generating cooperative solutions.

If you are interested in a tour of the rooftop gardens, have an idea for a green event, or just want to learn more – please contact our Sustainability Coordinator, Liz Celeste at celeste.1@osu.edu