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From: John Toth
Category: Category 1
Date: 1/8/00
Time: 2:01:58 PM
Remote Name: 165.121.76.203
John Toth… Arts In Education… In A Circle
I would like to thank everyone involved in our Art & Technology Intermedia project "In A Circle". I am happy the process we began so long ago has produced an artwork that reveals a broad range of compelling ideas and expressions. The technology and ideas we explored were complex but produced a broad range of experiences that challenged all of our practices. We all experienced many highs and lows within are process, but seeing he final pieces makes it really worth the effort. Bravo!
I was impressed with the daring theatrics of the Alden High School work "Reaching into the ... Future". I particularly liked the way sculptures and film were integrated into the performance.
The opening group (with Erin, Tara, etc.) uses simple geometric movements that make a nice connection to both the music and the visual art.
I like the way the second ring of artists starts with a strong rhythmic drum beat that flies along with spatial Powerpoint effects and soaring artworks. There is a strong sense of an "other" world experience going on here as art works move from realistic beach worlds to mythological dream worlds that shift through rhythms as it moves into the "banana chant".
The third ring of artists takes us on a much more theatric walk into another fantasy world that is masterfully controlled by the musicians shifting through a range of emotional and conceptual themes... from slapstick comedy to contemporary minimalism the music keeps us turning corners into the daily lives of life on the run.
Aldens final ring of artists is the only group to use a music track from a current CD, which is why it probably is most representative to the introspection and questioning of MTV teenage culture. The PowerPoint presentations here , really fly and the quality of the drawings that go by is exceptionally skillful and reveal a broad range of teenage life experiences that explore a variety of emotions. ( I would still like to hear the other sound track for this video segment). I was particularly impressed with the importance of art in this school… imagination rules
Cleveland Hills first group calls itself "Outerlimits". This work seems to me to actually explore the boundaries between the "innerlimits" and the "outerlimits". As the visuals rotate from realism to abstraction the music mirrors the experience with vibrant rhythms and breathing horns the lead the way, somewhere deep within the cosmos.
The next ring of artists presents, "Celebration of Nature", and starts with a slow melancholy dirge that is linked visually with "Man Eating Towel, a facile drawing by Brian Oakes . We are quickly moved through this inner state by a robust change of rhythm that is pushed ahead by a jazzy saxophone that weaves between a landscape of trees and abstract images.
"Group Of Changes" is the third ring of artists from Cleveland Hill. This work really explores the "subtle" changes that occur in daily life. The music again sets a rhythmic pace that is minimal in the way it moves us forward. The musical mood creates an expectation that the change is not in a hurry. And visually as we move through the personal objects of daily life some objects repeat and some are left behind, Nature seems to appear and reappear in different manifestations. There is some excellent drawing and painting going on in this school.
Lancaster's first group of artists begin with "Illusions" with the sounds of sweet violins that create a relaxed mood through a visual journey of daily images that shifts in to a black & white film that opens a door to mystery and intrigue. The musical ensemble keeps the pace with eerie harmonies that enhance this journey into an unknown world.
The second team of artists creates a walk through lyrical landscapes of images and sounds that flow like a river on a summer day. Images shift between consciousness and dreamy imagination.
Group three traced the beginning visual projection images with back lighting that closely followed the circular rhythms the musical score, creating a beautiful Intermedia moment.
"Random Diversity" really makes a bold statement with its' beginning text recitation…"masters of nature". This piece really takes full advantage of the final editing process to mixed media in a strong and compelling way. The use of voice and further editing to produce a reverse audio track, wonderfully connects with the abstract and non representation images to hammer home its written image "we were without strength, without illusions. This is an excellent sequencing of group works.
The Williamsville editing team of Stas and Leah took real creative control of the editing process to assemble a music composition that had recurring themes that wove in and out of individual scores that made wonderful connects between imagery and score. It was a pleasure hearing vocals and some great instrumentation. The exclusive use of Powerpoint to present the visuals creates good visual movement and a clean look at some excellent painting drawing and sculpture. This is an excellent sequencing of group works with some remarkable music.