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!

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!

From the eyes of a DiverseWorks Intern:

Hey hey hey!

My name is Julia Claire Wallace and I am currently interning at the amazing and wonderful DiverseWorks, an experience that has so far been very rewarding! Usually I hate working, ESPECIALLY without getting paid, but for DiverseWorks I don't mind so much.They are paying me pretty well in interesting experiences.

One of the most exciting things I have gotten to work on is the upcoming Pat Graney exhibition/performance., House of Mind (coming in late January). She flew in last weekend and we had a planning meeting. It is going to be an extraordinary event. I am thrilled to be able to work with her, ESPECIALLY because she is a fan of some of the art I am involved with. ( If I am working for free, I am at least going to do some self promotion!) Here is a gorgeous pic she gave me from rehearsal:

Isn't it beautiful? I can't wait to see what she does with the entire DiverseWorks space.

In the meeting we found out that we are going to need about a million books and evening shoes to make the show happen, so start us a pile! clean off those bookshelves! clean out that closet! And send me an email me (julia@diverseworks.org) if you have any ideas on how i can attain a large amount of either of these things.

Anyway! I keep hearing about this Thrive show that's coming up as well, and as a Houston Artist of the woman kind, I am thrilled to see what this lovely collection of ladies are giving to us. PLUS, the beautiful Elia Arce is involved, and I am one of her hugest fans!

Another thing I have been working on is planning some things for Jonah Bokaer to do while he is town. I arranged for him to teach some workshops at a couple of Houston schools as well as an open to the public workshop here at DiverseWorks! I am excited to have this opportunity, and all you readers out there should be too! It will be on the evening of November 18th. Come!

Alright, that is all this week of THE REAL DIRT, stay tuned next week for more exciting tales from the inner workings one of Houston's favorite ArtSpaces.