New Year Performances Around the clock

Happy New Year everyone!
There's so much to be thankful for that happened in 2008 - an incredible end to DW's 25th Anniversary; a terrific start to the new 2008-2009 season; a full staff!; and so much more.
Though DiverseWorks is closed for the holidays, I'm sure that many of you can't get your performance on, so I encourage you to check out these sites that are doing 24 hours of live performance via the web:
Miguel Gutierrez's Freedom of Information that was featured in the New York Times yesterday. It's an incredible vision of artists across the US organized by Miguel Gutierrez in response to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. DW followers might remember Miguel's Retrospective Exhibitionist and Difficult Bodies that were co-commissioned by DiverseWorks, Dance Theater Workshop and National Performance Network that was performed at DiverseWorks a couple of years back (mirror, candles, books, exposed bums, "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush...). Miguel has set up the premise, but each of the dancers are interpreting it in their own ways, including Houston's Daniel Adame.
However, if you're not able to get to that site today, you can check out 24hours24artists.com to see Jump-Start Performance Company's 24 hour online performance festival starting 9 pm January 2, 2008. Every year Jump-Start celebrates it's anniversary with a big blowout Performance Party on the first Saturday in January. This year the Performance Party is going global with "24 Hours 24 Artists" - a marathon webcast featuring performers from all over the world including Houston's Elia Arce; upcoming DW performer Michelle Ellsworth; and a host of others. Should be a great online show! (gotta love good Internet content!)
and for those of you who are dying for a live performance, you can join me tonight at Zilkha Hall for Ars Lyrica Houston's BACHANALIA 2008-2009 tonight starting at 9pm. There's a party afterwards with champagne, goodies and a silent auction! There might still be tickets available!
Just wanted to share some performance options with you until you can join us for Pat Graney's House of Mind Jan. 30 & 31, Feb. 5 - 7, 2009 7:30 pm!

The Office Party, DW-style

I have a confession: I’m usually not a big fan of office holiday parties. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great and everything, but they always seem awkward. Like the one party I attended while working at Mervyn’s that was held at this odd little reception hall. It was OK, but I didn’t stay too long because I had a final exam the next day. Oh, who I’m I kidding, I stayed until midnight, and my manager wasn’t too happy because she let me out of work early to go home and study, not party. And I avoided them at the Chronicle because they were always held when I was working, and it’s kinda hard to work and party. But I digress.

So imagine my surprise when I found myself having a blast at the DW office holiday party on Wednesday. We had all sorts of great food: tamales, cappuccino cheesecake, an awesome meat and cheese lasagna created by yours truly, and drinks. We watched Diane’s favorite holiday movie, Polar Express. It was awesome. But the best part was the Bow Hunt.

It’s kinda like an Easter egg hunt but with bows hidden all around the DW facility. (Bet you can’t do that in your office) I scoped out a couple as I walked into the facility, trying to get an edge on the competition. And I was determined to win, but sad to say I was no match for Sixto. He is obviously a Bow Hunt Champion…but there is always next year.

--Tracey

DW heads to NPN Annual Meeting

I'm thrilled that I'm headed off to Seattle for the National Performance Network's Annual Meeting. It's the one gathering of professionals that I constantly look forward to, even after 12 years.

For all those who don't realize what the National Performance Network is, you need to check out their website to find out all the amazing things that they accomplish. NPN is one of the reasons DW has been able to sustain and expand our performing arts programming over the past 15+ years. By raising funds to help subsidize our residencies, NPN has matched our fundraising efforts for certain performance programs. We're doubly excited that DiverseWorks has been selected as part of the Visual Arts Network of the NPN (supported by one of most favorite foundations: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts). This means we'll be able to enrich our visual arts residencies, extending the possibilities for community connection and further development.

The annual meeting means that I get to see some of my dearest friends and closest collaborators across the country. Not only will we be hanging out with our buddies at On The Boards, but I'll be hanging out with friends from REDCAT; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Maggie Allessee National Choreographic Center at FSU (who will be hosting Morgan Thorson in residency for Heaven, a work DW co-commissioned with PS122); Dance Theater Workshop who commissioned House of Mind with us; Walker Art Center who presented Claude Wampler right after we did last year; Miami Dade College Cultural Affairs the other co-commissioner of Michelle Ellsworth The Objectification of Things (coming to DW in March); 651 Arts who supported Jennylin Duany whom we presented last season; and loads of artists and other great people to share ideas with, think about "big issues," and (perhaps most importantly) realize that we're not the only ones facing these issues.

The most exciting thing, is that we (Diane, Jon, Shawna and I) will be able to see Pat Graney's House of Mind in Seattle. This will be the first time that all of the elements will come together, and we can't wait to be bringing this to Houston in January/February. (read about the process in seattle!) We'll also get to see Scott Turner Schofield, The Suicide Kings, Zoe Scofield/Juniper; Holcombe Waller; Carpetbag Theater and a host of other amazing artists.

and... one of our own will be performing in Seattle! The Wiggins perform Dec. 13th @ 8at the VERA Project. w/ HAWNAY TROOF and more! you've got to check it out!
stay tuned for pictures and updates!

Hello Again!

It is I julia the intern, blogging from DiverseWorks once again.

Well I everyone at Diverseworks had a lovely little vacation for Thanksgiving (except mine was full of preparation for finals!)

And we returned to find millions of idea fund applications pouring in our mailbox. The envelopes were all sorts of interesting shapes and sized. How exciting! I can't wait to see who gets the funds. I am sure its going to be some interesting stuff.

The thrive opening was huge and amazing.

Elia Arce was inside this big cacoon for almost the entire time, there was constantly this huge crowd waiting for her to pop out, but she just stayed in their meditating. i loved it.

And seeing Rachel Hecker feed her water through the small air hole was pretty great too.

And of course it was cool to see Kelli Vance show some of her paintings, since she was recently going to school at University of Houston and thats where I go to school! go UH painting department, yeah!

And everyone else was amazing too... It really is interesting to see this group of Houston women artists, If you fall in that category you must see this show, and you should read Mary Ross Taylor's writings about it.

Lets see, in other news I am excited to get to go to the Thrive REMIX, on the ninth. It sounds really tasty.

And I get to help with a DiverseWorks artist workshop Saturday morning. The one that all of those artists had to apply to be a part of? I am pretty happy about that. Have I said how awesome it is to be an intern at DiverseWorks and that all art school students who like good art should do it?? Because yeah. its great.

Alright, thats all we have for today, check us out later for more REAL DIRT from the bowels of Houston's own, DiverseWorks!

P.s. just to remind you guys of what I said last post....

I NEED YOUR EVENING SHOES AND BOOKS!!!
We are going to need 4,000 books and huge pile of high heels!
So clean out those closets and make room for some sexy NEW shoes.
get rid of all those pesky books, its all about the internet now anyways.

anyone? anyone?

email me! julia@diverseworks.org

p.p.s. I know its a little off topic, but dont you just LOVE money??