"The Zeitgeist 10th Anniversary Fun Razor, Art Extravaganza and Total Sensory Freak Out"
Post-Event Communique
Bonjour, mein kleinenboppers!
Yes an incredible Freak Out last month, really special to celebrate 10 years of the Zeitgeist by making art and music, swimming in the raw sights, sounds, and of course the puppets and all the people. Thank you to those who drove near or far to be with us on any of those seven crazy nights, and, too, to those who sent emails and well wishes in our endeavors, including our illustrated Governor, Jennifer Granholm. It seems that the state is aware that we exist, go figure. We cast a wide net for our enlightened audiences. And “Thank you dearly” too to all you artists for participating in our multi-lingual exhibit. Thank you George and Jean and Mr. Crowder, Shaqe, Mary, and Ms. Bowman Cline, Ibn Pori Pitts, Misters Jurado, Bruton, and Dodd, and Sestok, Alva, Jones, Burke and Joy, and each and every one of you fifty-two (or more) of you who were kind enough to be part of this incredible show with over 500 works; it was a true art exhibit as well as one mind-boggling "art sale", and one hell of an “Extravaganza.”
You can check out some photos from July right here.
We had a good turn out for a rare Friday night opening on the 6th of July. Jim, Maurice, Bill Szaro and others led the collaborative painting charge. This first blast of Visual Jam Sessions Six was the most productive, as far as painting went. We hoped for more artists, ready to collaborate, but we had enough to do some good work. Saturday the 7th brought The Impeachment Trial and BBQ. There was a measure of artistic merry-making and BBQ by Ms. Zimmerwoman and the spastic young lasses – a well spirited guerilla spot, ladies, especially the ceramic doll and chain – Alvaro and his crew entered with their slung paint fiesta and smudged brushes, and M-80 crafted a quick mosaic AND cleared away the brush in one short sprint (thanks Mike).
The second week opened on July 13 with The Improbable Movie Parade (shown to the left). We shuddered through experimental films, cartoons and animation, disembodied dream sequences, Un Chien Andalou and others. There were rare screenings of Maurice Greenia, Jr.'s "Doctor Stranglegloves", and his collaboration with Dave Toorongian "Scenes from the Puppet Underground". Most of these films featured live hazy crazy Basin Street backup music by The Space Band. Maurice did puppet voices and narration (when appropriate). There were also avant, experimental, and fun films (including Ron Allen’s Tibetan Book of the Dead) being run on dual T V sets in the bar gallery. On the 14th we held The Trial Impeachment and BBQ. Most of the visual jams took the form of work on the mosaic walls. For ten years now, we've been cementing our broken crockery, mugs and toys upon our exteriors. Participants included young attorneys who did a bondage baby mosaic (creepy, yet tasteful), DMC, Maugre, Troy and even Jakary started something in blue, imagine that.
On July 20, the broken clock's returned for The Broken Clock Jam Sessions. Wild audio sounds rocked our ears and melted the joint. Swis Family Robinson held forth with poetic and screechy sounds. They were joined by Gondwanaland, an amazing trio from Atlanta. Matt Greenia, guitar and vocals (and Maugre’s nephew) is also a visual artist and was part of the exhibit on the walls. They played at Fourth Street Fair the next day. Audra Kubat did a fine and wondrous set of tunes, which was followed by a blowout "jam session" including some members from the audience joining in. (We took the 21st off so we could go enjoy the Fair as well.)
July 27 was the final Friday. The Post-Industrial Comic Jamboree and Pig Roast brought forth the maddened froth of Detroit’s improv community to our stage, with performances ranging from serious drama to potty humor to Maugre and his uppity puppets including a new show “The Master Criminal” (it was Santa Claus!!). Much thanks to Vixens of the Cloth, Miguel’s Basement, Simply Coney, Tiger Ride, and Shark for sharing the fun.
Saturday, July 28 was The Zeitgeist Official 10th Anniversary Freak Out. It began with the laying of the first planks of the new deck, more cooking out and mosaic making. The Space Band did an early performance, out in the backyard, and then around 5pm the music marathon kicked into full regalia. It was a 12 course meal in itself, and we got seconds even with the first dish as (Sean) Blackman and (John) Arnold introduced Pierre Bernon to us, a masterful guitarist – his duellette with John on “Girl from Ipanema” was a draw-joppin’ moment – from France by way of Brasil. Mesko ranted and reminded us that even in these strangely (ugly?) spirited times we still can make our practical, daily lives less strange and ugly, The Don't Look Now Jug Band serenaded the crowd (including a little birthday ditty for the Zeitgeist). Donald Baker and his married band performed improviso in B plunkt major, followed by Frank Pahl and Terry who brought us artistic duty and vision and a Wal-mart Spangled Banner. The VisionEar and drxparamental turned on the juice and electrified the joint with sturm and bass. Chad and his Kushuba Band then brought us down with earthy quirks and rock and roll, only to have The Space Band take us far far out (as they paraded all over the place then played on the back stage behind the audience), and then K-9 stormed the last bastions of the night and took us on home, much later and much happier than we’d planned.
In continuing the celebration, later this week we’re going to load a few pictures from throughout the “Fun Razor” onto the website. If anyone out there has pics of their own from any of these parties and would like them posted, we would love to show them off to the world. You can send them to theater@zeitgeistdetroit.org and we’ll slap ‘em to the web as soon as we can.
Also, as part of the 10 year anniversary, Maurice Greenia, Jr. has an exhibit at The Library of the University of Detroit Mercy (where he works): "The Zeitgeist Gallery/Performance Venue -- 1997-2007 ten years of art displays, theatre work and more". It will be up at least through August (and into early September). UDM is located on Livernois near McNichols in Detroit (the library’s phone number is 313-993-1795). The hours (until August 16) are Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 7:30pm. After August 19 the hours will be Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. (The hours change in September).
The Zeitgeist
p.s. If you’re interested in what’s going on in the arts here in Detroit, and you’ve never checked out www.thedetroiter.com this is a good week to open your eyes. Nick Sousanis shoots from the hip in "Support Your Local Artist", his response to an article written in ignorance by someone at the Detroit News (there’s a link to it in thedetroit.com article) who refers to the Detroit art scene as “fledgling”. Madness. Check it out.
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