the poet?

tell me what you think about this for a character. here goes. the poet is a character provided with or responsible for writing prose and poetry relevant to the situation, life, death, etc... Resources for the writing could be assembled ahead and be included in the script. As far as his place in reality, the poet is the "inner voice" of the seeker or individual. he is the part of us that sees the beauty or the chaos in everyday life. he is the analyzer and the complicator, depending on the situation and environment in which he is placed. In the play he will speak whenever he feels necessary and must reflect the feelings that he is speaking about. anyway, tell me what you think so that we can further refine and define this character, if we choose to include him.

P.S. this was inspired by the open mic night. the constant stream of poetry from various individuals kind of put me in a state of torpor, punctuated by juicy adjectives that inspired colors and sounds, fireworks and flowers inside that little world of mine.

Playing games in the mall

A few pictures from our rendezvous in the mall, where we played boardgames.

Discussion: The Radiator Game

Transfering Ritual of Object No.2

A tango (or rhumba) is performed.







What is the object? What visual of tango/rhumba? (remember Kantor's lifeless/dragging tango, or Fellini's La Saraghina doing the rhumba?) How is the music created/integrated/devised? Dance=life=enjoyment of the game=love=cosmic law

****By the way, the movie "Last Tango in Paris" is a wonderful film...very relevant.

Objective of the Game #1

1. The understandable objective is to break a world record.

************************************************************************************
Proposal Submitted to Guinness World Records for consideration
************************************************************************************

Summary Claim Details
You may want to keep a copy of these details for your reference. If any information is incorrect, please use the Previous Button to go back and amend the details.
Claim Title:	Longest Continuous Theatre Performance
Country:	United States
City/Town/Village:	Owensboro, KY
Date of attempt:	06/ 05/ 2009
Record Details:	Action Potential Arts Experiment (APAE), an artist collaborative, will be performing "The Radiator Game" directed by Jeremiah D. Reeves on June 5th, 2009 in Owensboro, KY. The play which takes the form of a game, where theater and reality are one, seeks to explore our relationship with time while presenting an image to the phrase "life is a game." The play will take place in an alternative theater space, whose set is constructed as, and modeled after, a zoo vivarium. The play, like a game, completes itself when all of the rules set out in the script have been played out to their final conclusion by the cast of characters. The set will be under continuous video surveillance for the entire duration. It will be open to the public and free of charge. However the script will be for sale at the performance. All aspects of “The Radiator Game,” including: the characters, costumes, the setting, props, objective of game, rules for playing, rituals/moves and some lines spoken are accounted for in the script. Since the play is a game, which is played in real time in front of an audience, it has the potential of lasting for a long time. We are assuming the game will be performed anywhere between 12-72 hours straight; affording it a candidacy for some kind of world record. The script is an original written by APAE. It is self published in book form and will also be made available publicly on our blog (actionpotentialarts.blogspot.com). Since the event is being sponsored by a local magazine (VENT Magazine), there is a potential that it will be published in the following months (July 2009) issue. A short description of the piece: The Radiator Game presents the collision of life and theatre within a vivarium; exposing the spectacle as a game in all its frivolity and seriousness, where ingenuity and absurdity are intensified and time stretched - a fusion of science and culture, psychology and art, dreams and reality. APAE is an artist run collective/collaborative founded in 2009. It operates as a conceptual gallery curating exhibitions and performances for alternative and public spaces. APAE seeks to engage the local community with original, inspiring and thought provoking forms of contemporary art. They are currently seeking non-profit status. This theater piece bears a likeness to the work of Robert Wilson; a Brooklyn based theater director, who may hold a similar world record for the one proposed.
Adjudication Information requested
Media:	Local and national news and magazines. The event is being sponsored by VENT magazine and may include others.
This event is not in aid of Charity

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/default.aspx

Objective of the Game #2

2. The Seeker must regain his past (objects) and restore the order of things (nouns and verbs).



***thumb through this book....funny it was on my shelf at my feet. Asking myself the motivation of human endeavor "To..." Bam! there she was...Restore the Order of Things. I am now reading this book. Hopefully I can finish it before the performance. Read it when you need inspiration or have nothing to do. The preface is a good spot to start....especially where he is quoting Borges.

amazon book link
google book link

Quote for game

"I think that man now realizes that he is an accident, that he is a completely futile being, that he has to play out the game without reason." - Francis Bacon

The Radiator

Here is a little reference for the radiator from the wonderful David Lynch

There is also an orange radiator cast in plastic from Rudolph Stingel, but I can't find an image of it.

Somewhere around there.

had to be posted. I like the envolvement of the camera and television as part of the piece, the giant light on a stick, and the machines. Particularly fond of the construction of the set and how it is exposed, practical and a simple solution. Egg-beater man hanging...scuba bike...fabulous. Check out the groups related videos also. Really neat.

The Game: Material for Ideas

This is one of my favorite films. It relates wonderfully. Everyone should watch it to glean ideas. La vita è bella 1997

Unrefined pieces of thought

I've been thinking about feeding, defecating etc...
How much does it cost to rent a port-a-potty? We could cover one up with foliage, or even make a cave-like structure to stick one in. Or we could create a cave or amass a large amount of foliage around the door leading to the bathroom already in the building, blocking it off from viewers.
I'm thinking about fishing, bags of food, zip lock bags, pop-tarts, chips, etc. out of a makeshift pond, or perhaps everyday for lunch or dinner, someone picking us something to eat that we each go into the cave seperately to enjoy, like our break/coffee area.
The hunter/poacher. I'd like to see that idea used somehow, maybe if the seeker gets close enough to those he's seeking, the poacher can come "shoot" them, I dunno, if you think of something let me know, or run with it, either way :-)
Piles of leaves...useful for something...
I've also got this idea stuck in my head of Alice, trying to enjoy tea with the Mad-Hatter, and hot the rules they've made are a bit off, (un-birthdays,MOVE DOWN MOVE DOWN, TIME TOO MOVE DOOOWN!)
Table manners/rules, maybe it starts off peacefully enough at the dinner table, the seeker and the sought are sitting together at the table having tea, or eating, peacefully, then something happens, maybe the seeker gets angry and scares off the sought, maybe something else happens, something chaotic like a car crashing into the table or something, basically showing how the seeker and sought became seperated. Maybe when all the sought are found they return to the table and simply finish their meal.
Or maybe this means I've lived in Owensboro for far too long. Thinking about eating out and such...
Damn it.
-nick

Rules for Play: (to generate a rule)

Since it has been said that Children are "brutally honest" - ask a child to create a rule...

Here is another reference for Rule Making:

Let the Design Begin: The Radiator Game

I have separated everything into these categories:

Setting (vivarium)

Characters/Players

Props

Objective of game

Rules for Play

Rituals

Text (words spoken)

Other

Please make all post from now on (in reference to The Radiator Game) with one of these as the title. I am taking notes on these and at the meeting we will solidify all of the notes into a design.

Note: This is the time to generate meaningful content, we will edit later, so be thorough and give examples and explanations. Be as creative as you like. Post pictures, video, text....ect.

The Tickling Trickle of Thoughts Wriggling Wryly Away!

...Spaaaartans! What is your profession!?...hmmm... I'm glad the TV is off... My ideas, specifically the ones I wrote down during our last meeting include... Eternity ends, Time... Space to think, remember, the past, family, friends, happy, sad, emotion is overwhelming. Sisyphus son of Aeolus, weeps, stares blankly back at the boulder, finally freed from his violent prodding, rests once again at the bottom of the eternal hill. Realization; He could've stopped stopped at any time. Perhaps it was hope that drove him, or faith. Hope it seemed was the worst of all evils loosed by Pandora, allowing man to prolong his torture and abandon reason... Sisyphus falls... the boulder with him, following as if linked by a chain beyond eternity... Another idea had it in the shower... Butthole surfers are pretty good, that song "avalanche" is euphoric to listen to after excercising... wish I hadn't forgotten Jane's name... Wonder if they'll even get any of this... Images... Moving pictures... black and white... an ape-like man begins coughing... zoom in... his eyes appear to be bulging out, he's gagging, clutching his throat, screams mingling with gurgles, suffocation, he falls to the floor, on his knees, dry heave, dry heave, PAPER CUT, PAPER CUT, BLOOD, VOMIT... ("maybe he's dead now, face down in his own blood, vomit... societies expectations, rules, morales, commandments, covered in copious amounts homo erectus's fluids, lay next to him, hair recedes, he seems more human now, almost child-like, innocence is restored, what cost?")
I can only imagine... the parents... feeding that to their children, did they cut it up? bite size? easier to swallow, as their parents did for them? How long was it in there?... hmmm Seinfeld is on... Still gotta continue my bio for Jeremiah... I guess... funny the bio seemed like a character I wrote for a long time ago... I love that kid... need coffee, maybe just acceptence and to learn how to spell... see you in hell.
-nick

New Project: The Radiator Game

The Radiator Game presents the collision of life and theatre within a vivarium; exposing the spectacle as a game in all its frivolity and seriousness, where ingenuity and absurdity are intensified and time stretched - a fusion of science and culture, psychology and art.

Images - To think about in relation to The Radiator Game

Here are a few images and links that were mentioned at the meeting:

Joseph Beuys - Coyote: I Like America and America Likes Me

Book on Amazon

Matthew Barney - Cremaster Cycle @ Guggenheim

Alice Aycock - The New & Favorite Game of the Universe and the Golden Goose Egg

Michael Portnoy - Casino Ilinx

Palm Beach Zoo Map

A Carnie Smoking a Cigarette

APAE in Vent Magazine April 2009

Open publication - Free publishing - More vent

Check out our feature in this month's Vent Magazine pg 10-11.

A Centering Action: Rocket Ritual [spiral #1]

Segments from our First performance A Centering Action: Rocket Ritual on 3.28.09
Directed by: Jeremiah D. Reeves

Main objective: To draw an Archimedean Spiral using a model rocket

APAE Members: Jeremiah D. Reeves, Zion Reeves, Christophre Woods, Kelly Creed, Shane Camfield, Jane R. Fink, Larry Fink, Cynthia Freer

Others in Video:
Gary Emord-Netzley, Annabell & Duke

*Music is: Gorecki - Symphony #3, Op. 36, Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs - 3. Lento - Cantabile Semplice

Messenger-Inquirer SildeShow

Here's a link to the Messenger-Inquirer SlideShow.

Rocket Performance 3.28.09

The Rocket Performance is on 3.28.09. This event is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to participate by joining in or to simply to watch. Please arrive no later than 6:30pm (spectators). Rain or Shine.

Rocket Performance: A Centering Ritual
Saturday March 28, 2009
12:00pm - 8:30pm
Ann's Farm
6871 State Route 405
Owensboro, KY 42303-9743

For Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-zgExeH*1ec2tppqYsuie

Itinerary for Rocket Ritual

03.28.2009

12:00 – 12:14 Arrival

12:15 – 12:59 Set Up

1:00 – 2:29 Dress into Whites / Armor Check / Photo Check

2:30 – 3:59 Rehearsals / Finalize

4:00 – 5:59 Technical Time / Dinner Break [as time allows]

6:00 – 6:44 Preparatory

6:55 [Sunset]

6:45 – 7:44 Action [several times]

7:45 – 8:29 Teardown and Load

8:30 Depart

Rocket Action Biographies

Action Potential Arts Experiment

A Centering Action: Rocket Ritual

Jeremiah D. Reeves

Recently relocating from New York City to Owensboro, Jeremiah began Action Potential Arts Experiment as an extension of his collaborative work. Jeremiah has exhibited and performed through out New York, most recently at the Ontological-Hysteric Incubator’s Theater and the Whitney; where he was employed. He has taught as a printmaking assistant at Marymount Manhattan College and graduated from Pratt Institute where he received a BFA with honors. However, he says, his favorite thing to do, is spend time with his son; “he is brilliant…he gives me all his, I mean…my best ideas.”



Zion Reeves

When he is not busy with his homework and playing sports, Zion can be found drawing and painting. He also enjoys taking pictures with his digital camera, playing video games online, watching DVDs and listening to his MP3 player. His favorite games are Trouble and Poptropica. His aspirations include becoming a police officer, working in a doctor’s office and living in Africa.



Christophre Woods

Donating his time helping others as the volunteer Executive Director for the Owensboro AIDS Taskforce, Christophre has been actively counseling and educating about AIDS and Suicide prevention the local community for the past 5 years; lecturing at conferences, schools, churches, meetings. He believes that “we live in one community, a global community, and we must make it one fight against the things which threaten us all.” In his spare time, Christophre also: works doing water remediation for a restoration and remodeling company, serves as secretary-treasurer for the Hispanic Alliance of Greater Owensboro, and serves on two national committees. He enjoys singing in a choir.

Kelly Creed

As Barista at the locally owned, The Crème Coffee House, Kelly expresses herself through latte art and subscribes to the axiom: “big ideas, little cups.” Graduating from Brescia University in 2008 with an Integrated Studies in Psychology and Biology Bachelor’s degree, she hopes to return to school in the near future and work with animals. She is currently teaching herself Greek. In her spare time, Kelly can be found in the nearest cemetery snapping photos or at home watching zombie films with her three cats and sugar glider.



Shane Camfield

Showing his collage work and paintings locally in various solo and group shows, Shane hopes to expand his artistic oeuvre, testifying; “My hopes for APAE are that as a group, we can inspire, entrance and otherwise interest people in Owensboro, possibly pushing the envelope of what is accepted as art.” Shane posses a BA in English and Studio Art from Brescia University and in the near future, he plans to publish his poetry and write a novel.


Jane R. Fink

Paper artist and Owensboro native, Jane’s been cutting and pasting paper since receiving her first pair of scissors at age 3. She works in mixed media and has an eclectic array of ongoing projects. Jane studied art at Murray State University and is Creative Services Manager at the Daviess County Public Library. She’s a member of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Asheville BookWorks, and The NY Book Arts Center. When not cutting and pasting, she enjoys music, Indie Films, and traveling to see art and hear music.



Larry Fink

Larry was born in Belleville, NJ, but has made Kentucky his home after graduating with a BFA from Murray State University. After moving to Owensboro, Larry became an art teacher, instructing students at the 9-10 Center, Owensboro High School, and Foust Elementary School. For the past 25 years he has been working as a newspaper artist at the Messenger-Inquirer and the Evansville Courier & Press.


Cynthia Freer

Cynthia was born and raised in Kentucky. She enjoys the art of living; learning to love with no restraints and the privilege of creating little bright glimpses of colorful beauty. Cynthia thinks that it's one thing to see a need and talk about a solution, but another thing to be part of that answer. “Potential will lay dormant unless a catalyst sets it into action.” Cynthia hopes that through this experiment, our community can learn to see the beauty in the mundane and that it will open eyes in a positive light.
She also hopes that it can inspire humor and a greater sense of self-awareness opening space for change.

the beauty of imperfection

If someone were to take the time to take a picture of each members face in the group, and match them up symmetrical with the other side, we would be unremarkable. i feel their is something to be said for imperfection. i know i am imperfect and i have no desire to be perfection. thats why i like what the shield and shoes look like, though i may go back and paint my shoes this evening.

Field Chocolate

FYI: I'm bringing brownies. Ok, maybe they won't be from The Creme, but there will be lots of them.

It's almost T-minus one day!

Jane 

Itinerary for Rocket Action - Sat 3.14. 2009

Below is the schedule for the performance:

Itinerary for Rocket Action

For: Saturday March 14, 2009

12:00 – 12:14 Arrival

12:15 – 12:59 Set-up

1:00 – 2:29 Dress into Armor and Photo Shoot

2:30 – 3:59 Rehearsals/ Finalize

4:00 – 5:59 Tech. time/ Dinner break (as time allows)

6:00 – 6:44 Prep.

6:55 (SUNSET)

6:45 – 7:44 ACTION (several times)

7:45 – 8:29 Teardown and Load

8:30 Depart

Download and Study

I wanted to post this information, which Kelly quoted in her post (Armor and whatnot. . .) I thought the entire section on Neurons was vital... please download the .pdf and study it. I like the idea that the movements of the performance can be based on these descriptions. What parts do you find meaning in and why? Please post your comments.

Download Here: Neurons
*Excerpt from Brain and Behavior by: Bob Garrett

Armor and whatnot. . .

For my armor, I plan on using plaster of paris to create a mold of my chest and stomach. I have purchased a metal plate from Goodwill that I'm going to use to create a breastplate. The breastplate will be attached to suspenders to keep it in place. I also have a child's storm trooper mask that I found at Wal-Mart. . . I may put some kind of padding on the inside, since it's made of cheap plastic and likely will not be very durable. I have a pair of white pants, a white t-shirt and I'm going to paint an old pair of tennis shoes white. I am considering painting my arms white but haven't decided yet. I have also considered the option of wearing white shorts instead, and painting my legs white as well, but I know it may be too cold for this to be a reasonable option. In case you're wondering, I do realize that my arms and legs are not going to be well protected, which I feel is an important aspect of my armor. I feel that my armor represents myself in the sense that I try to protect myself from people on an emotional level, yet I'm still vulnerable to the harsh realities of the world. From a biological perspective, I also think it's important that the only areas of my body that will be protected are where vital organs are located. In nature, animals are more likely to survive after damage to an arm or leg, but will likely die if there is severe damage to an organ such as the brain or heart.

I also think it is important for everyone to know what action potential is and how it occurs. These are some notes that I took from an old Biopsychology book that I think might be helpful:

-The action potential is an abrupt depolarization of the membrane that allows the neuron to communicate over long distances.

-The potential across the resting neuron membrane is stored energy. Imagine countless sodium ions being held outside the neuron against the combined forces of the concentration gradient and the electrical gradient. Opening the sodium channels allows the Na+ ions in that area to rush into the axon at a rate 500 times greater than normal; they are propelled into the cell’s interior so rapidly that the movement is often described as explosive.

-Just as abruptly as the neuron “fired,” it begins to recover its resting potential. At the peak of the action potential, the sodium channels close, so there is no further depolarization. About the same time, the potassium channels begin to open. The positive charge inside the membrane and the force of the concentration gradient combine to move K+ ions out; this outward flow of potassium ions returns the axon to its resting potential. The action potential and recovery require about a millisecond (msec, one-thousandth of a second) or so to complete.

-The action potential causes nearby sodium channels to open as well. Thus, a new action potential is triggered right next to the first one. That action potential in turn triggers another farther along, creating a chain of action potentials that move through the axon; thus a signal flows from one end of the neuron to the other. Nothing physically moves down the axon. Instead, a series of events occurs in succession along the axon’s length.

-Action potential operates on the all-or-none law, which means that it occurs at full strength or it does not occur at all. A larger graded potential does not produce a larger action potential; like the fuse of a firecracker, the action potential depends on the energy stored I the neuron. Also, it is non-decremental; it travels down the axon without any decrease in size, propagated anew and at full strength at each successive point along the way.



From my perspective, the name of our group is not just a name at all. It is a process. It has a direct relationship with who we are and we are doing with this project. I also thought this information might help us develop some ideas for movements during the performance.

more about ghosts

my thought about the mask that i purchased is that it can be nearly purely cosmetic because i intend on making a shield to protect myself from the rocket. the mask is mysterious and expressionless which i feel adds to the overall feel that i want to create. i wanted a paintball mask but budget problems prevented that. so, i will begin work on my shield soon and post what it looks like here. any thoughts?

meeting pics

The Site

This is almost a 360° panorama of the site where we will complete the project.

First Meeting

A few images from our first meeting. There is our rocket, look at him... how cute. Also, an image of an "armor" made from sticks and place-mats.