I was censored at a Pop-Up Gallery in downtown Chicago a few weeks ago and it’s the cover story of the Chicago Reader. It’s sparked quite a debate. Take a look (you’ll have to cut and paste).
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/this-guys-penis-is-a-work-of-art/Content?oid=1981925
An artist statement regarding the triptych can be found on my other website (again, cut and paste).
http://web.me.com/jravens/ART/TRIPTYCH.html
Vagner Whitehead was gracious enough to interview me for his blog, Art-Sight.
Take a look:
http://art-sight.blogspot.com/2010/03/e-terview-with-joseph-ravens.html
(you may have to cut-and-paste)
-Joseph
The first week of December I will travel to Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Rangoon, Burma) to participate in the 2nd Beyond Pressure International Festival of Performance Art. I will be presenting my newest work, Kattywampus. I will also be presenting a workshop and discussing my life as an artist in America. For more information about the festival please visit www.beyondpressure.org/
TODAY I am in Beijing, China. I presented a new work, RIGAMAROLE, on September 24th, 2009 as part of the 10th Annual OPEN Performance Festival, Open Gallery, 798 Art Zone.
Here is a link to a blog with images (you may need to cut and paste):
http://web.me.com/jravens/ART/RIGAMAROLE.html
- Joseph
I have been updating/uploading some blogs and photos.
I think you will have to cut and paste these links into your browser:
http://josephravens.blogspot.com/
I also posted some images of recent work:
me.com:
http://web.me.com/jravens/ART/I_Think_That_I_Shall_Never_See….html
on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josephravens/sets/72157619953781220/
Thanks,
Joseph
Chicago performance artist Joseph Ravens seeks an artist to participate in a site-specific performance that will be part of a festival of ephemeral public art June 6 & 7 at the Hahamongna Watershed Park, Pasadena, CA. Wearing a sculptural costume, the performer will simply improvise while moving along a trail in the park. Simultaneously haunting and whimsical, the minimalist imagery stems from feelings of powerlessness regarding the destruction of the environment. Not deliberately activistic, this work sets out to capture and present a particular feeling or emotion, rather than convince the viewer to change or take action. Transportation to and from the location, food, and a small stipend will be provided. Please contact Joseph at 773.485.6284 or joseph@josephravens.com
KATTYWAMPUS will be seen only a few more times as part of Collaboraction’s Sketchbook Festival at the Building Stage in Chicago.
“…a strange, eye-popping look at a freakish humanoid with a gigantic head who hurls strange fruit at the world. Eerie but memorable…”
by HEDY WEISS, Chicago Sun Times.
“…a breathtaking dance/performance hybrid…”
by MONICA WESTIN, Newcity Chicago.
There is only general seating, so come early and BYOB if you are so inclined.
You can get tickets at the Collaboraction website or at the door. Saturday 9pm shows usually sell out so you might wanna get those in advance. Visit www.collaboraction.org
Note that not every piece is seen at every showing. There are 14 short works and 7 are seen at once. Here’s a list of the times that KATTYWAMPUS will be shown:
Saturday May 2nd at 9pm
Sunday May 3rd at 7pm (there is a discussion after the show)
Thursday May 7th at 8pm
Saturday May 9th at 9pm
Sunday May 10th at 3pm (this is a marathon with all 14 shows - it sells out fast so get tickets ahead of time)
YOU GET A DISCOUNT (in person or on-line) IF YOU USE THE CODE # 212 (it’s just a few bucks but every bit helps, right?)
General Admission $25
Students $15 (must have valid students I.D)
Industry $15 (must have headshot or resume)
The Building Stage
412 N Carpenter
I’m very excited about my newest piece, KATTYWAMPUS. You can see it at an exhibition I’ve helped put together, THE COCKAMAMIE SHOW, and also in this years SKETCHBOOK by Collaboraction.
THE COCKAMAMIE SHOW
Four Guys and Some Art
Featuring work by Rob Bondgren, Mark Dal Pra, Montgomery Perry Smith, and Joseph Ravens.
THE COCKAMAMIE SHOW opening reception will be on FRIDAY, APRIL 10th from 6pm until 9pm at the North Lakeside Cultural Center (rear entrance), located at 6219 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660. It’s just a few blocks east of the Granville red line stop.
Joseph Ravens will show his newest performance art piece, KATTYWAMPUS, beginning at 7pm.
There will also be gallery hours on three Saturdays, April 11th, 18th, and 25th from 10am until 2pm. The artists will discuss their work at a closing event on Saturday, April 25th at noon.
For more information please visit www.cockamamieshow.com
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The 9th Annual SKETCHBOOK Festival
April 16 - May 10
Thursday & Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 7 & 9pm; Sunday at 7pm
The Building Stage - 412 N Carpenter
For tickets and more information, visit www.collaboraction.org or call 312.226.9633
In June, Marianne Kim and I presented ‘Security System’ in Shanghai and Seoul
If you are interested in learning more about my Asia tour, please take a look at my travel blog:
http://josephravens.blogspot.com/
and Flickr images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josephravens/collections/
-Joseph
I have had some wonderful news in the past few weeks…
I am the proud recipient of an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in New Performance Forms. I am so pleased! It is a highly competitive award adjudicated by artists outside of Illinois. I am very honored…
I also received word from MoMA Shanghai that they would like me to present SECURITY SYSTEM this June (along with my collaborator, Marianne Kim). Marianne and I are now in the throws of putting together an Asian tour. With luck, I will spend 6 weeks in the Far East. I’m very excited because I have never been in that part of the world. If anyone has any suggestions regarding places to show work - contacts or connections of any kind are very welcome!
I just wanted to share this wonderful news with the world.
- Joseph
Just a quick update. The ‘Rough Trade’ performances in Boston and Chicago were a huge success. With any luck I will have images on-line very soon. It was very exciting to work with Present Tense in Boston and I look forward to many other exciting exchanges. I am currently working with Grey Zelda Theater Group, developing movement for their performance, The Skriker, by Caryl Churchill. I’ll keep you posted. Marianne Kim and I are working toward mounting some work in Ljubljana in the summer. Hopefully we will find a few other destinations in Eastern Europe while we are there. Otherwise, I have some applications out and am hoping that an opportunity or two will come through within the next few weeks. Stay Tuned!
-Joseph
ROUGH TRADE
A Boston/ Chicago Exchange
TIME BASED ARTISTS
FROM BOSTON AND CHICAGO
EXHIBIT TOGETHER IN EACH CITY
BOSTON
Saturday December 1
8pm @ Midway Studios
15 Channel Center Street
Boston, MA
CHICAGO
Saturday December 8th
8pm @ 1324½ N.Milwaukee Ave, 2nd Fl
Chicago, IL
ROUGH TRADE will feature performance art by:
(From Chicago)
Joseph Ravens
Deva Eveland
Benjamin Bellas
Justin Cooper
Noelle Mason
(From Boston)
Sandrine Schaefer
Philip Fryer
Rebecca Scheckman
Mari Novotny-Jones
Alice Vogler
Related websites:
http://www.devaeveland.com/
http://www.benjaminbellas.com/
http://noellemason.com/splash.html
http://www.thepresenttense.testperformance.org
http://www.alice.templeofmessages.com/
See you there!!
I’ll be a part of a unique performance art showcase called RANDOM HOUSE. It’s organized by Kate Sheehy and Danielle Paz. Taking place at Kate’s house in Humbolt Park (Chicago), the event will feature a variety of performances, films, and other luscious bits. I’m recreating my durational piece, LAND 0′ PLENTY. You don’t want to miss it!
1732 N. Humboldt Blvd.
May 10, 11, and 12 at 7:30 pm.
I’ll keep you posted.
ALSO…
Please join me Tuesday, May 15th at BIG CHICKS where I will be a featured guest for HOMOLATTE - a performance series hosted by Scott Free. I will be reading poems and short stories - old and new. It’s also my birthday and I can’t think of a better way to spend it. Show starts at 7:30 pm: 5024 N SHERIDAN. Enter through Big Chicks - performance in Tweet. Free admission / pass the hat.
My latest piece, Architect of Catastrophe, will be presented within an evening of experimental opera at the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago. There is also a visual art exhibition featuring work by photographer Barbara DeGenevieve.
To learn more please visit: http://operacabal.com/concerts.htm
Friday, April 6 @ 6pm*
Saturday, April 7@7:30pm
*please note that this is a new/correct start time – disregard all other listings.
The performance will be on the 2nd floor of the
Zhou B. Art Center: 1029 W. 35th St.
Located in the heart of the Bridgeport neighborhood.
Architect of Catastrophe
Flora, the goddess of flowers, dukes it out with a primordial trickster who is causing all sorts of chaos. Architect of Catastrophe is a multimedia playlet about Tulipmania - a hysteria in 17th century Holland during which everyone was buying and selling tulip bulbs for outrageous prices. A reworking of an earlier piece called Alchemy of Tulips, this condensed version packs a wicked punch.
Cast
Trickster: Joseph Ravens
Flora: Laura Sciortino
Weaver: Ryland Barton
Save the Dates! April 6 and 7
My latest piece, Architect of Catastrophe, will be presented within an evening of experimental opera.
For more information visit http://operacabal.com
The performance will be on the 2nd floor of the Zhou B. Center located in the heart of the Bridgeport neighborhood: 1029 W. 35th St.
(MARCH 3RD, 2007)
I am currently a visiting artist at Arizona State University.
This week, in addition to various workshops and lectures, I will be presenting a performance, SECURITY SYSTEM, and an installation called ROOM 1. Both are collaborations with Marianne M. Kim, faculty at ASU.
SECURITY SYSTEM is a site specific durational performance on the ASU campus. Working within a clear plastic inflatable structure, Kim and Ravens continue to explore our perceptions of safety.
SECURITY SYSTEM
MARCH 6TH 10:30AM-2PM ASU WEST CAMPUS - FLETCHER LAWN
MARCH 7TH 11AM-2PM ASU TEMPE CAMPUS - STUDENT SERVICES LAWN
MARCH 8TH 12PM-3:30PM ASU WEST CAMPUS - FLETCHER LAWN
ROOM 1 expands upon the theme of safety and brings it into the home, or more specifically, the bedroom. Involving performance and video, this installation will remain in place until the end of March.
ROOM 1
INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS AND PERFORMANCE GALLERY
ASU AT THE WEST CAMPUS - UNIVERSITY CENTER BLDG (UCB) 2ND FLOOR
4701 W. THUNDERBIRD RD., PHOENIX, AZ
OPENING RECEPTION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6TH, 7-9PM
For More Information visit: www.west.asu.edu/iap/
My was looking around my friend Richard’s website, Insane Films, and found this interview that he made when we were on our way to Romania to gather material for the show, Sweet Release. It’s very interesting to watch, especially now that the piece is over. Thought you might enjoy it:
http://insanefilms.com/?p=196
Check out some of his other videos at http://insanefilms.com or his podcast at http://yeastradio.com
Best,
Joseph
Much of my time is spent recovering from the hectic summer abroad.
I am developing some new projects and putting together applications and proposals for 2007.
Come back from time to time to see what I’m up to.
-Joseph
TEMPEST IN A TEACUP
a performance workshop with Joseph Ravens
Join performance artist Joseph Ravens as he shares his creative process in developing a new piece, Tempest in a Teacup. Fusing text, movement, object and technology, Ravens aims to create imagery that is abstract and complex while at the same time being accessible and alluring. Tea is the subject of this workshop - the leaf, the liquid and the rituals surrounding the mystical drink.
The six session workshop culminates in a free performance at 6:30pm Friday, Nov. 3.
Workshop & Rehearsal Dates:
Wednesday, October 18, 5:30 to 7:30pm
Sunday, October 22, 10am to 2pm
Monday, October 23, 5:30 to 7:30pm
Wednesday, October 25, 5:30 to 7:30pm
Sunday, October 29, 10am to 2pm
Monday, October 30, 5:30 to 7:30pm
FEE: $176
Register at www.hedwigdances.com or call 773- 871-0872
SWEET RELEASE is directed and designed by Ravenous Productions Artistic Director and What?Works collaborator, Joseph Ravens.
Visit Joseph’s blog to learn more about the process and creation of SWEET RELEASE:
http://web.mac.com/jravens/iWeb/Site/Blog/Archive.html
Be sure to look at the entries made in early June…
You can also take a look at the What?Works website: http://we-are-what-works.org/
SWEET RELEASE will come to the Storefront Theater in the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph Street, for a limited engagement from September 21 through October 8, 2006.The performance schedule is Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets for Sweet Release are $20 and $15 for students and seniors, and are available by phone by calling 312-742-TIXS (8497), online at www.dcatheater.org, or at the box office in the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts.
———————-
WORKSHOP
Links Hall is hosting a short workshop in conjunction with SWEET RELEASE where I will be demonstrating some of the techniques and technologies that we used to create the performance.
LINKS HALL Presents a workshop with Joseph Ravens:
Sweetly Releasing: Movement, Text and Media
Saturday, September 30, 1pm-5pm
$30