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
ESTONIA
The first week of August I will be in Estonia with friends and collaborators Silvia Ruzanka, Katherine Behar, and Ben Chang to participate in an International Summer Art Symposium called PostsivkhoZ6. PostsovkhoZ started in 2001 as a forum for issues facing rural village life in post-soviet Estonia. Since then PostsovkhoZ has developed into a multi-purpose, cross-discipline artistic and social event encouraging both the exchange of ideas and the realization of short term artistic projects. PostsovkhoZ is hosted by MoKS, an non-profit artist-run cultural organization dedicated to local and international cooperation in the fields of arts, social and environmental research in a village called Mooste in rural southeast Estonia. The MoKS studios are located in the partly rehabilitated space of the manor house of an old Mooste farming estate. MoKS is also a residency where people working in all disciplines of art, e.g. visual, performing and media arts, music, criticism, research etc are encouraged to apply. Accepted artists can stay for a period of 1 to 6 months.
I actually participated in this symposium two years ago and presented a bubble performance that I made specifically for the theme: Isolation. There is a theme this year as well: Human Zoo. Take a look at the website - they have a great statement regarding the concept: http://moks.ee/
We are developing a project called ‘Information Farm’ - sort of a take off on George Orwell’s, Animal Farm. We are inviting individuals to contribute personal (and perhaps intimate) information on a voluntary and anonymous basis. Along with collecting stories, we are asking people to indicate the site of their memory within the village. Taken en masse, this information will provide a sentimental, collective portrait of Mooste. We want to track an animal in Mooste, maybe a cat dressed like a pig (yes, I know). By monitoring the movements of this animal, we will collect data about its whereabouts, which will be used to trigger the stories collected from participants. Because the animal will be free to roam about the village as it pleases, its movements will inject an element of chance and whimsy into the piece. Take a look at my other Blog for details, images, and developments: http://web.mac.com/jravens/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
———————
SERBIA
The second week in August I will travel to Serbia to participate in a festival called IMAF8 where I will be performing a piece from my repertoire (RAVENOUS). We will be presenting in three cities: Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Odzaci.
Here’s a link to that festival: http://www.imaf.org.yu/
———————
CHICAGO
After that I return to Chicago!
Very soon upon my return I will begin rehearsals for the American Premiere of SWEET RELEASE. I will be giving a sneak preview at the Cultural Center as part of my residency with the Dancebridge program Tuesday, Sept. 6th at 6pm. It will be basically an open rehearsal with a talkback afterwards - very casual. SWEET RELEASE will open at the Storefront Theater on Thursday, September 21 and run through October 8th - Thursday thru Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $20 but keep an eye open for coupons and discounts. Here’s a link: http://www.dcatheater.org/
———————-
WORKSHOPS
I will be presenting a couple workshops in the near future. 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. The ‘we’ includes Katherine Behar and Marianne Kim - our collaboration is called ‘WHAT?WORKS’: http://we-are-what-works.org/
SWEET RELEASE is a combined effort of my company (RAVENOUS PRODUCTIONS) and our collaboration (WHAT?WORKS).
LINKS HALL workshop:
Sweetly Releasing: Movement, Text and Media
Saturday, September 30, 1pm-5pm
$30
The other workshop will be through Hedwig Dances. It will be a three-week workshop culminating in a performance. I will be developing some new material with the participants based on the theme: ‘Tempest in a Teacup’. I think it will be in October - more information to come.
Hello Friends -
I have just started this blog. Here I will post comments and images regarding my performance work.
I have a personal blog as well that you can find at: http://web.mac.com/jravens/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html
My friend Richard Bluestein (a.k.a. Madge) is creating a video travelogue/documentary about our newest work, SWEET RELEASE. You can find his videos on-line at http://insanefilms.com
Below you will find a list of my upcoming work.
Check back regularily for updates.
Thank You,
Joseph
PROJECT ITINERARY
JUNE 16: CLUJ-NAPOCA, TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA.
SWEET RELEASE – a What?Works production: Joseph Ravens, Marianne Kim and Katherine Behar (http://www.we-are-what-works.org/)
Presented in Co-operation with Babes-Bolyai University at the Romanian Museum of Fine Art. Made possible by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Governor’s International Arts Exchange Program.
JUNE 26: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
TURKISH DELIGHT – New works by Joseph Ravens and Katherine Behar
Galata Perform (http://galataperform.com/)
JULY 28 – AUG 9: MOOSTE KülalisStuudio (MoKs), ESTONIA
INFORMATION FARM (www.information-farm.com) – A GPS performance based on Orwell’s, Animal Farm. Collaboration with Katherine Behar(http://katherinebehar.com/), Ben Chang (http://bcchang.com/) and Silvia Ruzanka (http://vitagrrl.com/)
AUGUST 10 – 14: SERBIA – Multiple cities.
RAVENOUS (repertoire)
8th International Multimedial Art Festival - IMAF 2006
Multimedial Art Studio (MAS), Odzaci: August 10 and 11
IZBA Gallery – Novi Sad: August 12 and 13
VIP-ART – Belgrade: August 14
www.geocities.com/man_gallery/
www.imaf.org.yu
SEPTEMBER 6: Chicago Cultural Center – Chicago, IL USA
Work-In-Progress /Open Studio (Tues. at 6pm: Dance Studio)
Sharing Excerpts of Sweet Release developed through a short residency with the DanceBridge Program.
SEPT 21 – OCT 8: CHICAGO, IL USA - STOREFRONT THEATER
SWEET RELEASE – US Premiere
A Ravenous Production in conjunction with What?Works.
Thursday thru Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $20 but keep an eye open for coupons and discounts. (There is nothing about us on the website yet, but the link is:
http://www.dcatheater.org/
SEPTEMBER 23: Victoria, BC Canada
SECURITY SYSTEM a collaboration with Marianne Kim.
Collision Symposium - University of Victoria (http://finearts.uvic.ca/collision/)