tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9851972339246949092024-03-14T01:16:31.403-05:00World by DesignDesign explorations around the world.Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-68339263948271858002022-04-15T12:50:00.003-05:002022-05-13T21:40:50.537-05:00THE USEFULNESS OF CROWDS IN STORYTELLING<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span>Here is a journey through Wilhelm Gause's painting showing how the use of crowds can aid in the storytelling aspect of any film moment of book illustration or painting. This <a href="https://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2019/05/wilhelm-gause-genre-painter.html" target="_blank">link </a>takes you to </span><span>Zana Bihiku Tutt'Art's page with lots of ads which are distracting, but the content is still useful.</span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2019/05/wilhelm-gause-genre-painter.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ-5cmDLdrk_0_Wz4NXKdkgsbef4JvzZKvZpJY51BikavnZopUfy79_tPAphOVjJl39SVNxW05Eoh-MU1eRPkLC_J1a9KO8xtOLDEWXKR2us08xCKAIiaESgVBjbAqHQIdANCiYrpX0Cboh1PzsxZY2ggnIsartwqu9JFb7ciJd6ONtELRgjh4YGNOA/w400-h225/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-73628289735035084492016-05-29T13:10:00.001-05:002016-05-29T15:26:13.945-05:00Professor Perspective Explains Human Scale and Proscenium Proportions<div class="MsoNormal">
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When explaining how to manage perspective to someone, it is
a good idea to really talk about relationships and proportion and distance and
all of that. We begin with the basic height of a figure, because all
perspective drawings are in relation to something, such as the human figure. So
that the students are not thrown off by stopping to draw the perfect human
figure, I establish this basic bowling pin figure, which is easy to replicate,
and can be made fat or thin and tall and short or sitting in a chair…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OAN57BbJUBU/V0stb1zPMDI/AAAAAAAAB18/CVsuKEeR_AAyt2dbz255Sb7Td5t5PYybACLcB/s1600/bowlingpinperson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OAN57BbJUBU/V0stb1zPMDI/AAAAAAAAB18/CVsuKEeR_AAyt2dbz255Sb7Td5t5PYybACLcB/s320/bowlingpinperson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Heidi Hoffer. If you use this please credit Heidi Hoffer</td></tr>
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The person usually is off to the side in a proscenium
picture, establishing an immediate visual scale. Very much like the figure
artist using the head to determine, “How many head down is the chin, the chest,
the navel, the crotch, the knee, and so on, we use the figure in a similar way.
We’ll establish “How many people tall is the proscenium?” and, “How many people
wide is the proscenium?.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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You might ask, “Well, why can’t we just use a tape measure
to answer that?” And the answer is because you should think about all things in
relationship to the human, not the tape measure. There is a visceral reaction
to geometry we can react to when we have a human scale. Using a figure to
establish a visual scale will immediately provide a buy-in from the viewer.
And, believe me; the viewer will toss away any visual that feels incorrect even
if a tape measure says otherwise. This is because people are attuned to certain
geometric harmonies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, here’s the basic theatre proscenium in relationship to
human scale. It is not a GOLDEN RECTANGLE <a href="http://www.miniwebtool.com/golden-rectangle-calculator/?a=20" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.miniwebtool.com/golden-rectangle-calculator/?a=20</a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">but it is a satisfying ratio, considering how the sides of a proscenium are largely ignored for stage action, unless there’s vignette scene happening way down right.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6oZE7WQRTEE/V0st3AkjJRI/AAAAAAAAB2A/nqGNkiPOBxomAi0cUIbmIRdOnYnvdyXYgCLcB/s1600/people%2Blaid%2Bout%2Bproscenium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6oZE7WQRTEE/V0st3AkjJRI/AAAAAAAAB2A/nqGNkiPOBxomAi0cUIbmIRdOnYnvdyXYgCLcB/s320/people%2Blaid%2Bout%2Bproscenium.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Copyright Heidi Hoffer. If you use this please credit Heidi Hoffer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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For a 42 foot wide proscenium, the height should be 26 feet
for the golden rectangle. But, since we reduce the size of the proscenium to
something our budget can manage to fill, we usually design with something
closer to the golden ratio, such as a width of 34 feet and a height of 20 feet.
The void is filled with a proscenium arch or black stage curtains.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the proscenium is usually the plane at which we can
measure accurately, knowing that things get visually smaller as they recede
from us or move upstage, this is a good place to have the human for scale. It
is called THE PICTURE PLANE. I like to think of it is the proscenium with which
we are all familiar.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8f7ADQGtr4/V0suEdotAsI/AAAAAAAAB2I/co8tkyyPwaIFitQKhnOGfliq6jI8G8wnQCKgB/s1600/crowdsinperspective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8f7ADQGtr4/V0suEdotAsI/AAAAAAAAB2I/co8tkyyPwaIFitQKhnOGfliq6jI8G8wnQCKgB/s400/crowdsinperspective.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Copyright Heidi Hoffer. If you use this please credit Heidi Hoffer</span></td></tr>
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-44890589475780835112016-04-24T12:32:00.000-05:002016-04-24T12:33:44.224-05:00Professor Perspective<div class="MsoNormal">
World by Design highlights design elements that catch my
eye. Today’s design elements are brought to you by Professor Perspective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since some professors like to wear bow ties, I will honor
them by using the classic bow tie to show the basic perspective idea that what’s
above the horizon line goes down to it as is recedes upstage away from the viewer,
and what’s below the horizon line goes up to it. Many perspective vanishing
points can be used this way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tPpTKXUoxU/Vx0Cd7osToI/AAAAAAAABz8/sbZIIZyQlQY06isuHhIJI9jYTfyZIHBowCLcB/s1600/bowtie3walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tPpTKXUoxU/Vx0Cd7osToI/AAAAAAAABz8/sbZIIZyQlQY06isuHhIJI9jYTfyZIHBowCLcB/s320/bowtie3walls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The multiple
vanishing point possibilities makes this perspective form better for coming
close to reality than the one-point perspective (train tracks and telephone
poles receding in the distance)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eo_BXmUeo1w/Vx0Cp-LcryI/AAAAAAAAB0A/OPxc0UKvRj0FKd6Qs8p3AAfmOfJNb9GgwCLcB/s1600/bowtie3wallsmultiple%2Bpt%2Bon%2BHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eo_BXmUeo1w/Vx0Cp-LcryI/AAAAAAAAB0A/OPxc0UKvRj0FKd6Qs8p3AAfmOfJNb9GgwCLcB/s320/bowtie3wallsmultiple%2Bpt%2Bon%2BHL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just for reference,
here’s the old one point perspective. This is very limiting!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8bg58QLTL0I/Vx0C4PQew9I/AAAAAAAAB0E/Mb4qQc1hNWMiooWh7OyHX75wUVft0aLUQCLcB/s1600/one%2Bpoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8bg58QLTL0I/Vx0C4PQew9I/AAAAAAAAB0E/Mb4qQc1hNWMiooWh7OyHX75wUVft0aLUQCLcB/s320/one%2Bpoint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-46541655799502868072015-12-18T16:37:00.001-06:002015-12-18T16:37:41.802-06:00The Drapery...of trust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMPAo4rmcrw/VnSKnBdOdzI/AAAAAAAAByU/CIG2I_ZbW90/s1600/Blithe%2BWindow%2BUnit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMPAo4rmcrw/VnSKnBdOdzI/AAAAAAAAByU/CIG2I_ZbW90/s1600/Blithe%2BWindow%2BUnit.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
And this is the beautiful drapery, valence and header for the window unit pictured below. It took a team of artisans to create just this one special section of the scenery. It was beautiful.Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-4177411840440153512015-09-27T11:18:00.000-05:002015-09-27T11:22:46.618-05:00Process and Trust for Design I'd like to consider how a 2D drafted thing becomes a reality.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81HgCLS7gKo/VggV_94PS_I/AAAAAAAABvc/1vzgUo5qIbA/s1600/BLITHE%2BSPIRIT%2BWINDOW%2BDECOR%2BDETAILSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81HgCLS7gKo/VggV_94PS_I/AAAAAAAABvc/1vzgUo5qIbA/s320/BLITHE%2BSPIRIT%2BWINDOW%2BDECOR%2BDETAILSM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Typically we've got a sketch, drafting, sometimes an exquisite model piece, a 3D drafting sometimes, and the final version before paint, the painter's elevation, and then the full final version. There's a lot of trust going on in the creation of this art! It take scores of people to bring to fruition.</div>
Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA36.1270236 -97.0737222000000210.604989100000001 -138.38231620000002 61.649058100000005 -55.765128200000021tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-56103099041139294012014-05-11T21:42:00.001-05:002014-05-11T21:42:29.222-05:00Spatter is Magical Visual Texture<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmDBUSjeRaA/U3As_e5i8AI/AAAAAAAABdE/Dwu56Maxn8M/s1600/5x7+grey+spatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmDBUSjeRaA/U3As_e5i8AI/AAAAAAAABdE/Dwu56Maxn8M/s1600/5x7+grey+spatter.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Spatter texture by Scenic Artist Jessica Amador
for Andrew Layton and Kelly Kissinger’s scene design of </i><b style="font-style: italic;">Oedipus</b> <b style="font-style: italic;">Rex</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Visual
Textures inform us whether or not something will be slimy, furry, prickly or
flawlessly smooth. In order to
effectively create readable textures for the stage, we are familiar with the
idea that the textures might need to be enlarged, their apparent depth enhanced
by color, contrast and even actual size. The reader (your audience member) of
those textures is usually seated in a distant range of 30 to 75 feet away or
more. To provide useful information regarding the textures of the scene, they
need visual assistance from the set designer and scenic artists.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3hGYVUEvb8/U3AwXOFnmcI/AAAAAAAABeA/WNZVBIQpLt8/s1600/5x7Wood2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3hGYVUEvb8/U3AwXOFnmcI/AAAAAAAABeA/WNZVBIQpLt8/s1600/5x7Wood2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Charred wood and
spatter texture by Scenic Artist Jaime Giovannone. Her website is: </i><i><a href="http://www.jaimegdesign.com/">http://www.jaimegdesign.com/</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
apparatus that tells us what a texture will be before we touch it combines
information from the physical eye and personal experience. For example, never
having touched angora before in my life, I was prepared to touch something
soft, judging from the apparent shadows and glossy highlights of the fur
fibers. Upon actually touching it, I was astonished at how extremely soft and
fluffy it felt, almost oily and slippery despite the apparent fibers of its fur.
Now, before I touch angora, I know exactly what it will feel like. We are adept at assuming what the texture of
things feels like. By developing a theory and proving it through
experimentation we can for example believe that talcum powder will feel nearly
identical to flour, but not corn meal because of the apparent grain size. Apply
this idea to painted scenery, say, a rough brick wall, and you will likely have
the visual stimulation of your tactile senses because you have touched a
variety of brick walls in your lifetime.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNVEHYyXdlM/U3AwX56YtJI/AAAAAAAABeE/dTlptK8gXBA/s1600/5x7Brick1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNVEHYyXdlM/U3AwX56YtJI/AAAAAAAABeE/dTlptK8gXBA/s1600/5x7Brick1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brick spatter texture by Scenic Artist Jaime
Giovannone.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Visual texture on stage often means creating a kind of
pointillism on an otherwise flat surface. After a scenic artist spatters paint
onto a wall, for example, the surface remains physically flat and the flatness
is relieved by small dots of differently colored paint. The purpose of the
spatter is to diffuse the reflective surface so that whatever is seen against
it is not viewed in harsh contrast or stark flatness. The spatter helps create
a visual disturbance which functions like atmospheric perspective in that it separates
the actors from the background environment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9AwB7Eq2uj4/U3AtJ28BJoI/AAAAAAAABdg/DgtcVhdf5fU/s1600/5x7Oedipus+Rex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9AwB7Eq2uj4/U3AtJ28BJoI/AAAAAAAABdg/DgtcVhdf5fU/s1600/5x7Oedipus+Rex.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is a design for Oedipus Rex. The Scenic
Artist for this show was Jessica Amador. Scene Designers were Andrew Layton and
Kelly Kissinger.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Above in the image of Oedipus Rex is an example of effective
spatter for relieving the surface of totally fake stone. Actors are more easily
seen against the spattered surface. Imagine the doorway on the right if it were
just painted with flat interior paint. It would pull focus away from the
actors. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Scenic artists are adept as visual trickery using spatter. Their
paint spatter can contain dots of color that are different values of the same
hue. For example, a yellow wall on a stage setting could have a spatter system
of light yellow and dark yellow dots on top of a medium yellow base. The wall
will still be a yellow wall, but it will seem more vibrant, and more alive and
less dead flat. Actors and objects in front of the spattered wall will appear
more three dimensional because they are set-off by the variations in spatter
rather than the flat background which had no way of providing a difference to
our perception of textures between the actor and the wall.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90ssI3pT3_c/U3AxRtSlQII/AAAAAAAABeY/JJEg7-aKzBw/s1600/5x7Knott+DSC00785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90ssI3pT3_c/U3AxRtSlQII/AAAAAAAABeY/JJEg7-aKzBw/s1600/5x7Knott+DSC00785.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>This is a sample of
yellow based spatters on a yellow wall, provided by Jenny Knott. Jenny is the
Paint Product Manager for Rosco Laboratories.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aexwuHT8Dvo/U3AtH7xguJI/AAAAAAAABdY/n8UhE3IkMCU/s1600/5x7Little+Night+Music+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aexwuHT8Dvo/U3AtH7xguJI/AAAAAAAABdY/n8UhE3IkMCU/s1600/5x7Little+Night+Music+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Spatter and other paint techniques add depth and
shine to the surface of this stair unit and the surrounding platforms. Scenery
is for A Little Night Music. The Scenic
Artist for the show was Jessica Amador, and the scene designer was Mike Dempsey.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
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Collaborating with a lighting designer, the set designer or
a knowledgeable scenic artist can widen the range of visual texture. The scenic
artist can change the apparent depth and color of the texture on backgrounds to
work in combination with the lighting designer’s color palette for any
particular scene. The result of this collaboration is like magic, and it is
only color theory. Imagine a grey stone
wall. The scenic artist will know to paint the grey color using a mixture of ultra-marine
blue and Van Dyke Brown or some similar combination to make an exciting grey.
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Using colors to m</span>ake grey is an old scenic artist technique developed because
merely adding black to white in order to make grey creates a “dead” color. By
sticking to the use of color to make grey, the scenic artist is providing a
grey which has both warm (brown) and cool (blue) colors in it. This mixture is
often called Payne’s Grey.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xDPaOiZFKXk/U3AxVC_AzWI/AAAAAAAABeo/1U_GOLJ7dZs/s1600/5x7Knott+PDP-rockerwood+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xDPaOiZFKXk/U3AxVC_AzWI/AAAAAAAABeo/1U_GOLJ7dZs/s1600/5x7Knott+PDP-rockerwood+%25287%2529.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Jenny Knott shows how
to spatter the basic greys of mortar color here in preparation for painting a
mortared brick wall.</i> </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Armed with a flat grey background that has been painted
using a mixture of colors to make the grey (rather than black and white), the
lighting designer already has a better visual texture from which he or she can make
the tone of the scene warm or cold by applying color theory to bring out the
separate colors. The wall is still truly flat and grey to the audience member</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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If the scenic artist uses color theory too, the breadth of
the change from applied lighting can be jaw-dropping. Imagine the same grey
wall. Using the fact that the distance of the audience to the stage will help the
audience visually blend the dots of paint, the scenic artist will, on top of
his or her grey wall, spatter a duet or trio of colors. One is a blue-violet
ranged highlight, the second is a deep warm red or Van Dyke Brown dark shadow
color, and the third is the base color grey. Note that the highlight color can
be the warm tone and the shadow color can be the cool color with similar
results. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szXvUMnPhGE/U3AwUkWmvjI/AAAAAAAABd8/II9nW5YJ-kA/s1600/Floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szXvUMnPhGE/U3AwUkWmvjI/AAAAAAAABd8/II9nW5YJ-kA/s1600/Floor.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Scenic Artist Jaime
Giovannone shows the steps to create a basic grey but highly colorful and
lighting designer friendly floor for a production of Ragtime designed by Heidi
Hoffer. Layers and layers of color
spatter were applied to make this Lady Liberty floor reactive under many
different lighting conditions.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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So, by mixing colors to grey and making that the base color and
spattering colors on top, one can greatly increase the usefulness of the built
environment to fund the play’s meaning. The color theory of spatter success
lies in choosing two or three colors that relate to the colors that make up the
base color. The first relationship is an opaque highlight and the second
relationship is an opaque shadow color. Both spatters can be created from
opposite colors, a purer form of the original colors before blending to make
the grey, or analogous colors. A third spatter color is often a spatter of the
exact same color as the base color of the wall, useful in maintaining an even
spatter.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3q2wEp114M/U3AtNjTC0MI/AAAAAAAABdo/mLDRbFjRIlw/s1600/5x7Scrooge+Mouge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3q2wEp114M/U3AtNjTC0MI/AAAAAAAABdo/mLDRbFjRIlw/s1600/5x7Scrooge+Mouge.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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Scenic artist Jessica Amador used spatter in addition to a
stencil to create this floor which sits above holiday themed decorations. Look
at the next photo to see how rich the floor looks under the light.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fpya_HskX4w/U3AtO35-F8I/AAAAAAAABds/ULdrnTY2Vts/s1600/5x7Scrouge+Mouge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fpya_HskX4w/U3AtO35-F8I/AAAAAAAABds/ULdrnTY2Vts/s1600/5x7Scrouge+Mouge.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The scene design for this lovely Wedgewood
inspired set for Scrooge in Rouge is by Bret Young. Jessica Amador was the Scenic
Artist.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></div>
Collaborating with the lighting designer will aid in
choosing which spatter color theory to apply. For example, on a grey wall made
from ultra-marine blue and Van Dyke Brown (This mixture is commonly called
Payne’s Grey), if the lighting designer chooses to light a scene with a key light
of blue with greenish overtones such as Rosco R 369 Tahitian Blue, the scenic
artist and set designer can choose a highlight (or shadow) spatter that is analogous
to ultramarine blue on the green side of the blues, such as a turquoise or
cerulean. This will insure that the Tahitian Blue light will bring out the
greenish blues in the wall and deaden (again, using color theory) any reddish
warms that have been spattered creating a larger contrast against which the
actors will be seen and changing the apparent color of the grey wall to a
greater degree than normal. The blue colored light is reflected in the blue
spatter as well as the blue from the original grey base coat, making the wall
almost sparkle. Add costume colors to the color decisions and a wonderfully
enlivened palette can be found using colored lighting on selective paint
spatter to enhance the scene.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me refer you to the online article from The Painter’s
Journal, figure 4 page 14 which shows you the effects of analogus and
complimentary spatter.</div>
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<a href="http://www.aphelpsdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Painters-Journal-Spring-2005-Electronic.pdf">http://www.aphelpsdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Painters-Journal-Spring-2005-Electronic.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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It should be understood that any old spatter of something
darker and lighter than the base color will do. Scenic artists often create
visual texture on a piece of scenery by spattering it with “dirty water” to break
up to otherwise flat surface as illustrated below. Dirty water spatter is
sometimes not completely opaque and is used to help disparate elements on a
painting look like they are all in one painting as in Diane Fargo’s image
below.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OWlNqp_Vbc/U3AtEZH0BfI/AAAAAAAABdQ/cJSB8i6jPmA/s1600/5x7Blood+Wedding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OWlNqp_Vbc/U3AtEZH0BfI/AAAAAAAABdQ/cJSB8i6jPmA/s1600/5x7Blood+Wedding+2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blood Wedding floor spatter treatment by Jessica
Amador.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>Scene designers were Andrew Layton and Kelly
Kissinger.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIo9LgxD460/U3AxSCd7sBI/AAAAAAAABec/HysHVC6nZvc/s1600/5x7Goodspeed+misc+pics+(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIo9LgxD460/U3AxSCd7sBI/AAAAAAAABec/HysHVC6nZvc/s1600/5x7Goodspeed+misc+pics+(9).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The dirty water
spatter here, done by Scenic Charge Diane Fargo, successfully marries the blue
surface, the rope border, and the fringe at the bottom.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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But to really broaden
the range and usefulness of visual texture one must collaborate with the other
designers on their color palettes and choose spatter colors that will actually
be able to be pulled out by lighting and contrast with the costume colors for a
particular scene. Interestingly, under
normal work light you would only see a basic grey wall. It is only when
lighting is applied that deadens or resonates with the spatter colors that you
get exciting and useful visual texture. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For a few different paint texture techniques, let me direct
you to “Creating Textured Surfaces” written by Jenny Knott for The Painter’s
Journal. Jenny is the Paint and Coatings
Product Manager for Rosco.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.aphelpsdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Painters-Journal-Spring-2005-Electronic.pdf">http://www.aphelpsdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Painters-Journal-Spring-2005-Electronic.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Spatter is Visual Magic Special thanks to Jessica Amador, Diane Fargo courtesy of Jenny Knott, Jenny Knott, and Jaime Giovannone.</div>
Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-76594469786014331332013-05-13T18:40:00.000-05:002013-05-13T18:40:47.299-05:00The Greying by Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As things weather over time, they obtain more and more
character, and often turn grey. The façade of this mountain cabin pictured below is streaked with dark lines where
the wood has darkened. At the base where the snow sits for a long time, the
wood is actually turning grey. The exterior wall of this cabin is showing signs
of age and weathering but the warm color is still mostly there. This is a great
study for rustic pine wood paneling. It occurs to me that as we age we obtain
more and more grey hair, too.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOFt5qwp8tU/UZF3bWBHnII/AAAAAAAABZU/dvybNaR3ODo/s1600/Weathered+Wood+SidingIMG_2929x850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOFt5qwp8tU/UZF3bWBHnII/AAAAAAAABZU/dvybNaR3ODo/s640/Weathered+Wood+SidingIMG_2929x850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer. All Rights Reserved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Now this wood pictured below is at a regular old mine site and has been sitting
in the snow year after year since the 1930’s at least, and is much more grey.
It is also much thrown about from the forces of nature and deterioration.
Man-made structures like the cabin and the mine building eventually give way to mother
nature and decompose back into the land. Sometimes this is seen as a bad thing,
and people try to keep structures alive for a while because of the very fine
memories they housed or caused.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mpUcF1lz5Vs/UZF3f6exkEI/AAAAAAAABZc/S5LJidgowAg/s1600/Mine+weathered+wood+2IMG_2893x850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mpUcF1lz5Vs/UZF3f6exkEI/AAAAAAAABZc/S5LJidgowAg/s640/Mine+weathered+wood+2IMG_2893x850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer. All Rights Reserved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Mother nature, however, also makes even live trees dead at
some point, and during their decomposition, the same fine shades of grey can be
seen. This swirly mass of grey wood once belonged to a fir tree. One can almost
see animal shapes in the grey swirls. Even in decay, the tree presents a kind
of beauty. </span><br />
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<br /><o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KRvKYZq_0wo/UZF3oGKeQvI/AAAAAAAABZk/TeLWI8pkJeY/s1600/mutlicolor+wood+eyesIMG_3298x850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KRvKYZq_0wo/UZF3oGKeQvI/AAAAAAAABZk/TeLWI8pkJeY/s640/mutlicolor+wood+eyesIMG_3298x850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer. All Rights Reserved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"> The very mountains age using grey colors. The agents of
ageing can be beautiful things like trees and bushes, but their roots seek
moisture and nourishment by digging into cracks, popping apart rock into
smaller rocks. Snows and winds have their diary, too, leaving traces of their
language in the form of scree, slabs and boulders thrown off the mountain, all
in grey.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfS57bk6ptc/UZF3wHEmKLI/AAAAAAAABZs/4qNJjRiNFUU/s1600/IMG_3155sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfS57bk6ptc/UZF3wHEmKLI/AAAAAAAABZs/4qNJjRiNFUU/s640/IMG_3155sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer. All Rights Reserved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-91273763177392707552012-12-26T16:52:00.000-06:002012-12-30T21:12:01.004-06:00Dragons and Other Medieval Animal Zoomorphs<br />
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The Musée National du Moyen Âge in Paris, France has the
best and most approachable collection of pieces. Medieval works are featured here, including the Celtic chair discussed below. The lighting is difficult for photographers
in the wintertime, but manageable using a clever camera. Photography is allowed
in the museum with no flash. Photographers must use existing light only. </div>
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What
struck me most about the medieval times represented is the penchant for
dragons. Even in the Christian religion there is the St. George and the Dragon
story, which some scholars believe is a very early story used to undermine the
old ways (dragon) in favour of new ways (Christianity) when that religion was
introduced to the Celtic lands.</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oftf35N-vwo/UNt0OGjcbmI/AAAAAAAABTY/EzPYBi4Ob24/s1600/Medieval+Nordic+chair+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oftf35N-vwo/UNt0OGjcbmI/AAAAAAAABTY/EzPYBi4Ob24/s400/Medieval+Nordic+chair+sm.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This post will discuss the idea of animal likenesses as
objects humans use. Their design is either decorative or useful such as mice
drawer handles. In the museum there was this wonderful wooden medieval chair
from about the year 1000 AD. Every inch
of it was carved with Celtic helmeted men and sinuous dragons. This I
photographed at the Exposition: Celts and Scandinavians, Artistic Meetings, Seventh
through the Twelfth Centuries.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first four photographs here are of the wooden Celtic
chair; the design of the dragons and other beasts is merely decorative and
possibly inspired by a story or myth of power.
I was amazed that an extant wooden chair from the 11<sup>th</sup>
century existed in such good shape, and that the Celtic peoples HAD chairs of
this nature in the first place. It’s linear outline or silhouette is Roman or
Egyptian, but the décor is heavily Celtic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The front seat rear rail contains these carving of men and
dragons. I thought they looked mostly like dragons trying to break out of an egg.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pxSH89zNoM8/UNt0bKOwmzI/AAAAAAAABT4/3wQHGrlJJiM/s1600/Rear+Chair+Rail+Medieval+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="81" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pxSH89zNoM8/UNt0bKOwmzI/AAAAAAAABT4/3wQHGrlJJiM/s400/Rear+Chair+Rail+Medieval+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The front rail of this chair seat shows what looks like
horses, lions and more dragons.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ybfgBstu0o/UNt0lJxMM_I/AAAAAAAABUQ/tY4e1e2WuRI/s1600/medieval+chair+front+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ybfgBstu0o/UNt0lJxMM_I/AAAAAAAABUQ/tY4e1e2WuRI/s400/medieval+chair+front+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The central splat at the back is cruciform in shape, the
center of which shows a twisting dragon in a roundel. There are additional
serpentine shapes on the cross arms.</div>
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</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Se_RNihWqWU/UNt0YdJhCzI/AAAAAAAABTw/jp3xYi-K9MM/s1600/Nordic+Medieval+chair+center+splatsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Se_RNihWqWU/UNt0YdJhCzI/AAAAAAAABTw/jp3xYi-K9MM/s400/Nordic+Medieval+chair+center+splatsm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
People in the world over have references to dragons in their
cultures. Basically, Eastern dragons have good things associated with them, and
Western dragons are bad and eat children. Overall, though, the dragon is a
power symbol. Perhaps this chair, since the dragon is contained in the roundels
and the helmeted warrior on the front seat rear rail looks to be half dragon
half man; this chair represents a seat of power. The ancient Celtic peoples revered their
dragons as wise and full of guidance for ruling the land. Celts typically believed
the dragon brought the heavens and the underworld together.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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For interesting but not necessarily verified reading on
Dragon lore, check out Reptilian Agenda’s article <a href="http://www.reptilianagenda.com/hist/h110599a.shtml">http://www.reptilianagenda.com/hist/h110599a.shtml</a>
and neka’s <a href="http://www.slideserve.com/neka/mystery-of-a-dragon-and-a-code-of-the-bayeux-tapestry">http://www.slideserve.com/neka/mystery-of-a-dragon-and-a-code-of-the-bayeux-tapestry</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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For the Musée de Moyen Âge (Musée de Cluny) website check
this in French: <a href="http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/">http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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The zoomorphic ornament and interlaced designs featured in
the chair above are relatively flat, bas relief carvings. A similar central design
emblem is the lion’s head seen on the fencing around the <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">l'Hôtel de Ville</span> </span>(Paris), in
slightly more relief than the carved wood. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ydDY3SEHk6c/UNt0hAIM29I/AAAAAAAABUI/w2SDGpGW6io/s1600/lion+head+gate+decor+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ydDY3SEHk6c/UNt0hAIM29I/AAAAAAAABUI/w2SDGpGW6io/s400/lion+head+gate+decor+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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In this sense, like the fully sculpted lions that often
guard entrances to city buildings, the lion seems to be a security device,
proclaiming that power resides within the grounds or building. Indeed, most
door-knockers on formal (Roman inspired) facades feature a lion’s head. This great image of a Medieval Lion Head door
knocker I purchased from Dragoneye at Dreamstime:
<strong> © <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/dragoneye_info">Dragoneye</a> | <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/">Dreamstime.com</a></strong> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> (<span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">©<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/dragoneye_info" style="text-align: start; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dragoneye</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: start;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">|<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/" style="text-align: start; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dreamstime.com</span></a>)
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgckTWGjefY/UNt5G8vmYNI/AAAAAAAABU0/ycLvbHd2v1o/s1600/dreamstime_xs_12331683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgckTWGjefY/UNt5G8vmYNI/AAAAAAAABU0/ycLvbHd2v1o/s320/dreamstime_xs_12331683.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
Old medieval iron door knocker in shape of lion head isolated on white background with clipping path.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">©<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/dragoneye_info" style="text-align: start; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dragoneye</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="text-align: start;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">|<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/" style="text-align: start; text-decoration: initial;"><span style="background-color: #fdfcfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Dreamstime.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
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<o:p>Izzy Burton's photo of a door knocker in Paris also shows the oddly shaped head, and the crossed paws are a delight to see instead of the usual brass ring. With THIS one one actually gets to touch part of the animal in order to use the door knocker as one does with the mouse drawer handles discussed below. Izzy gave me permission to post her photograph in my blog. Here is HER Flickr site: </o:p>http://www.flickr.com/photos/izzyburton/7920869138/in/photostream<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tk2uMCKEVmQ/UOEAtux6GwI/AAAAAAAABVI/MFkZD6vEk6s/s1600/Izzy+Burton+Lion+Door+Knocker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tk2uMCKEVmQ/UOEAtux6GwI/AAAAAAAABVI/MFkZD6vEk6s/s320/Izzy+Burton+Lion+Door+Knocker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Izzy Burton. All Rights Reserved. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/izzyburton/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/izzyburton/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I like the fact that Northern Europeans likely did not get
to see lions, and often created their sculptures based on verbal descriptions. Perhaps that is why these lions have such a long bovine faces.</div>
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<o:p>So, door knockers are useful as well as decorative! In this next image, the actual BODY of the
animal is put to use – as drawer handles! In this case, the animal is not
morphed into something else. It is a pretty good replica of a mouse,
mouse-sized, and used as drawer handles.
(Maybe they are rats as Medieval rats might be smaller than modern rats.) </o:p></div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfJG0TGpgog/UNt0T-M9QTI/AAAAAAAABTg/16Wiq3K6ScA/s1600/Mouse+Drawer+Handles+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfJG0TGpgog/UNt0T-M9QTI/AAAAAAAABTg/16Wiq3K6ScA/s400/Mouse+Drawer+Handles+sm.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Climbing up the linen
fold carved drawer fronts, right where you’d put your hand, are beautifully
carved little mice. Make one think of the old nursery rhyme, …the mouse ran up
the clock.” Here’s a detail:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf7MwuYrFeQ/UNt0U309HEI/AAAAAAAABTo/j_giG8_LULo/s1600/Mouse+detail+Handles+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf7MwuYrFeQ/UNt0U309HEI/AAAAAAAABTo/j_giG8_LULo/s320/Mouse+detail+Handles+sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The next item is a drinking vessel. It starts out with a
round rim and handle like any mug, but it turns into a horn (evoking the old
fashioned real animal horn drinking vessels) which ends in an amazing wolf’s
head flourish. Again, I rather like the idea that the drinker is imbibing the
characteristic of a wolf…</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dK5wEUbHag/UNt0eEkw0lI/AAAAAAAABUA/orqe4Zw4ZdY/s1600/Wolf+Drinking+Horn+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dK5wEUbHag/UNt0eEkw0lI/AAAAAAAABUA/orqe4Zw4ZdY/s320/Wolf+Drinking+Horn+sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
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You never see a lamb’s head drinking horn, or a pig-head
one, so obviously those animals have a lesser character of strength and
virility and cleverness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Returning to the purely decorative, but in a more
three-dimensional way, are these snakes which twine themselves around a crystal
chalice. They don’t actually do anything except hold the crystal goblet to the
golden base. The effort and realism here
is what caught my eye. I did wonder about the snake which sheds its skin and
has a bad reputation in Christianity as a choice for a chalice, though.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8evXP_FBPA/UNt0usmjotI/AAAAAAAABUg/s_JL2OZmD04/s1600/serpent+chalice+base+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8evXP_FBPA/UNt0usmjotI/AAAAAAAABUg/s_JL2OZmD04/s400/serpent+chalice+base+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Lastly, there are these cute little salamanders which peek
out underneath a heavy armoire. The top of the armoire features bull’s heads,
and underneath are these little guys who look to scare someone who is sneaking
into the cupboard unawares. These carvings are about the size of iguanas in
real life, and have no teeth! They serve a purely decorative purpose, and are
not useful to humans using the armoire.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFYWYf20eNY/UNt0qeFCVuI/AAAAAAAABUY/CFwQ1yi7oUM/s1600/salamanders+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFYWYf20eNY/UNt0qeFCVuI/AAAAAAAABUY/CFwQ1yi7oUM/s400/salamanders+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo
by Heidi Hoffer. All rights reserved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you liked this post on zoomorphic ornament, consider
following my blog to see where my design eye goes next! Maybe we’ll stay in
Paris for a while.<br />
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com4Paris, France48.856614 2.352221900000017748.6894645 2.0294984000000178 49.0237635 2.6749454000000177tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-75806754626401321572012-11-24T17:26:00.000-06:002012-11-24T17:30:01.756-06:00Scottish Festival Personalities: War Re-enactors and Artists<br />
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As I travel around the world I am always interested in the
choices people make for personal adornment. This could be as simple as deciding
which earrings to wear to deciding how to complete a serious re-enactment
outfit. At the Oklahoma Scottish Festival I saw a good bit of both, and also
noted that somehow 19<sup>th</sup> century artillery re-enactors got involved
in the festival, too. They even got to shoot off their cannons.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-m9TJJ-GIw/ULFTQDjUh5I/AAAAAAAABQM/U35nsQLjv8U/s1600/IMG_3842canons1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-m9TJJ-GIw/ULFTQDjUh5I/AAAAAAAABQM/U35nsQLjv8U/s320/IMG_3842canons1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">River West Festival Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4flr4VECX8/ULFT6rF5KJI/AAAAAAAABQU/QII2SPadHIc/s1600/IMG_3799soldier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4flr4VECX8/ULFT6rF5KJI/AAAAAAAABQU/QII2SPadHIc/s320/IMG_3799soldier.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This handsome fellow roamed the festival.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The performers had to shift for themselves, it seems. This
musician re-worked the sound system to make things better.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8IImvjfCew/ULFUr-X0hCI/AAAAAAAABQc/Z47Of_FRXlg/s1600/IMG_3757+kilted+sound+mansm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8IImvjfCew/ULFUr-X0hCI/AAAAAAAABQc/Z47Of_FRXlg/s320/IMG_3757+kilted+sound+mansm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish Musician</td></tr>
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Scottish music abounded throughout, but my acoustic favorite
was these harpers. A whole stage full of them created quite an astounding
sound!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-di3nNiV4ZFQ/ULFU9k0r-7I/AAAAAAAABQk/eUhJpEjC3GQ/s1600/IMG_3768+harpist1sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-di3nNiV4ZFQ/ULFU9k0r-7I/AAAAAAAABQk/eUhJpEjC3GQ/s320/IMG_3768+harpist1sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Potters, it seems can visit every fair and fit right in,
Scottish or not. This lady had the patience of a saint as children would ask
her many, many questions. She had excellent skills and was throwing
well-balanced wares on her wheel as we watched.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1ezJyuimzA/ULFVQeywc8I/AAAAAAAABQs/-E4weROmrqM/s1600/IMG_3772+potter+at+wheelsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m1ezJyuimzA/ULFVQeywc8I/AAAAAAAABQs/-E4weROmrqM/s320/IMG_3772+potter+at+wheelsm.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This father and son duo caught my eye and I asked if I could
take their picture. They were delighted, and very happy to pose. I believe they
were not unique in their zeal for the fair, but they looked like they had the
most fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ziNKepPgrI/ULFVruY6qQI/AAAAAAAABQ0/Wsqaadj4OMQ/s1600/IMG_3809FatherSon+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ziNKepPgrI/ULFVruY6qQI/AAAAAAAABQ0/Wsqaadj4OMQ/s320/IMG_3809FatherSon+sm.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father and Son Duo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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At the MacPherson tent, I found the patriarch tuning on a
set of parlor pipes. Excellent playing, and his hands were astoundingly agile
and delicate as they coursed over the holes. Wonderful clan with whom I could
be associated!<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oIPCJTzr4m8/ULFWAKvcB3I/AAAAAAAABQ8/bxqaY8rSl8o/s1600/IMG_3827piper+hands+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oIPCJTzr4m8/ULFWAKvcB3I/AAAAAAAABQ8/bxqaY8rSl8o/s320/IMG_3827piper+hands+2.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MacPherson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This black shirted and kilted onlooker framed nicely the
father and son in Kilted regalia. The Scottish Festival is being passed down to
the next generation for sure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-creu4ILrsIY/ULFWVCKikhI/AAAAAAAABRE/_OQFNqPzlQ4/s1600/IMG_3855+BlackShirtsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-creu4ILrsIY/ULFWVCKikhI/AAAAAAAABRE/_OQFNqPzlQ4/s320/IMG_3855+BlackShirtsm.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Generations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This ends my blogs on the OKScottsFest. What designed event will catch my eye next?<br />
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<br />Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-24308816502840087842012-10-13T09:57:00.000-05:002012-10-13T09:59:55.763-05:00KILTED MUSCLE <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The OKScotsfest 2012 in Tulsa featured typical highland feats of strength. Imagine great beasty athletes in kilts, shrugging off the fact they were wearing "skirts". These brawny men and women are the foundation of the Scottish Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The draw for most Scotsmen athletes is the Highland Games. Generally these games are tests of strength which imply certain knowledge of body physics in order to not harm one's self in the competitions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THE ATHLETES</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGDPB1laQdk/UHl6If4JaiI/AAAAAAAABMY/C3EaDNWsMdE/s1600/IMG_3740+athletes+1sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGDPB1laQdk/UHl6If4JaiI/AAAAAAAABMY/C3EaDNWsMdE/s320/IMG_3740+athletes+1sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The judge on the left in the picture above is writing down a measurement of distance. Notice the military style kilt pin on his kilt shown in the close-up below. The judge has used the pin to hold a second writing instrument! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also noticed that most of the athletes had on t-shirts with their kilts rather than a nice linen shirt, and several contenders had special shoes and socks. Many also had what looked like weight-lifter’s belts.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9-21mezGQQ/UHl6vYeEuJI/AAAAAAAABMg/JV4l6sfL_z0/s1600/IMG_3740+kilt+pin+pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9-21mezGQQ/UHl6vYeEuJI/AAAAAAAABMg/JV4l6sfL_z0/s320/IMG_3740+kilt+pin+pen.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S-Dpg0aQHVw/UHl7wK519aI/AAAAAAAABMw/w9w1vJm4kkA/s1600/IMG_3749beltsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S-Dpg0aQHVw/UHl7wK519aI/AAAAAAAABMw/w9w1vJm4kkA/s320/IMG_3749beltsm.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the athletes appeared to fit the description of big and burly, women included. There is simply no way to be dainty and still be able to accomplish these feats. The women looked fabulous!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgIj5koicsE/UHl7GA6lEeI/AAAAAAAABMo/jCcgCd6ALN4/s1600/IMG_3754+hammer+throwsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgIj5koicsE/UHl7GA6lEeI/AAAAAAAABMo/jCcgCd6ALN4/s320/IMG_3754+hammer+throwsm.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This fellow is participating in the hammer toss. Notice the safety fencing! The hammer toss is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The object is to throw the longest distance. The trick is to create a circular elliptic by twisting the body around and around with feet planted firmly into the ground by means of a metal toe spike while swinging the hammer from a low point toward the audience to a high point towards the distance range. The competitor releases the hammer at the high point of his high elliptic. Where it lands and is marked and measured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgysytMdUMQ/UHl8yET0WMI/AAAAAAAABM4/9rT2V5MbpJs/s1600/IMG_3765+tire+liftingsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vgysytMdUMQ/UHl8yET0WMI/AAAAAAAABM4/9rT2V5MbpJs/s320/IMG_3765+tire+liftingsm.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another feat of strength is being demonstrated by this fellow lifting from the ground a large tractor tire. This is one of the most typical strongman events at many competitions, and also one of the most personally dangerous. Each lifter is coached by a professional here. </span></div>
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</o:p></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--d8TEl2UFyQ/UHl9j_wzccI/AAAAAAAABNI/lZpNCr8d8nE/s1600/IMG_3840+caber+toss+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--d8TEl2UFyQ/UHl9j_wzccI/AAAAAAAABNI/lZpNCr8d8nE/s320/IMG_3840+caber+toss+sm.jpg" width="244" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The traditional caber toss is being performed by this competitor. One lifts the caber (basically, it is a telephone pole) vertically and runs forward judging the correct time to flip it end over to land as far away as possible. Balance seems to be the key goal after strength here. It is originally thought that this skill was considered a good one to have in order to toss logs across chasms in order to cross them. There are several weights and lengths of cabers, even small ones for children!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-amjNW4fT2f4/UHl-jDKGnDI/AAAAAAAABNQ/JAbzMJAJ90I/s1600/IMG_3824+weight+tosssm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-amjNW4fT2f4/UHl-jDKGnDI/AAAAAAAABNQ/JAbzMJAJ90I/s320/IMG_3824+weight+tosssm.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weight toss again is a skill attainted by practicing the correct time to throw after acceleration. The goal is to toss up and over a bar. The interesting things, is that while one form of this toss has you tossing sideways, the form I say in Tulsa had the tossers tossing backwards over their heads which is another acceptable form.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsWsPvSgp_0/UHl-4OcibxI/AAAAAAAABNY/qet1tk57RIU/s1600/IMG_3821+humvee+pullsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsWsPvSgp_0/UHl-4OcibxI/AAAAAAAABNY/qet1tk57RIU/s320/IMG_3821+humvee+pullsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Humvee pull is a well-received event. The competitor in the picture above wears a harness which is for pulling the Humvee and the huge rope he is pulling on is pinned to the earth by the weight of the tires of another truck. The fellow in white is keeping the rope out of the way of the competitor. The object here is to get the Humvee rolling and pull it past a certain point in a certain amount of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other events not pictured include tossing a straw-filled burlap bag with a pitch fork. Amazing skill is needed for that. The Highland Games brought about a stong feeling of admiration for all of the competitors. Well done, athletes!</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-24639932869954306052012-10-06T09:43:00.001-05:002012-10-06T11:22:44.592-05:00KILT ACTION IN TULSA<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was in Pretoria, South Africa, I dragged my friends to a Scottish festival complete with pipe band competitions and Scottish foods for sale. I was enchanted by the sound of bagpipes floating towards us from what looked like a huge park, and we followed our ears until we got to the site. You can really hear those war pipes from a long way off. Recently, I was able to go to the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oklahoma Scottish Festival</span> </span>. It was a strikingly similar festival complete with band competitions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first thing I did of course was to follow my ears, and find the competition field for the Pipe & Drum bands. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phMmtmcGjWs/UHBAf82lQSI/AAAAAAAABLY/Z7wkmYXXPdY/s1600/IMG_3781Silver+Thistle+Side+view+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phMmtmcGjWs/UHBAf82lQSI/AAAAAAAABLY/Z7wkmYXXPdY/s320/IMG_3781Silver+Thistle+Side+view+sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The judges check the group for something worth points and make marks on their clipboards. These judges are extremely serious, and even cup their hands around their ears to better isolate the bagpipe sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y2RTtTub3y8/UHBBK4n-AqI/AAAAAAAABLg/wBwNKw4FW0Q/s1600/IMG_3795SilverThistledrumsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y2RTtTub3y8/UHBBK4n-AqI/AAAAAAAABLg/wBwNKw4FW0Q/s320/IMG_3795SilverThistledrumsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first band I watched was the Silver Thistle. They hail from Austin, Texas. Their unit was slick and polished, and the judges were on them like fleas to a dog. I believe they performed very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Members of the Silver Thistle Pipe and Drum corps perform in Tulsa, Oklahoma.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFrv-qer1ns/UHBByEwzOdI/AAAAAAAABLw/GqdqzBsbWzY/s1600/IMG_3777Silver+ThistleJudgesm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VFrv-qer1ns/UHBByEwzOdI/AAAAAAAABLw/GqdqzBsbWzY/s320/IMG_3777Silver+ThistleJudgesm.jpg" width="260" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is another example of one of the judges pacing around the group. What I really enjoyed was the fact that even the judges were dressed with great attention to detail. Just look at the shoe laces that tie up around the ankles! The very shoes are special, too. The socks look thick and wooly, and the ribbons poking out create a nice bright spark of color.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-aFlpLIg9E/UHBB6wf24BI/AAAAAAAABL4/XxZR4xHgIA4/s1600/IMG_3778shoessm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-aFlpLIg9E/UHBB6wf24BI/AAAAAAAABL4/XxZR4xHgIA4/s320/IMG_3778shoessm.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
Now, where else do you see such interesting leather cutwork on shoes?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is something about the perfection of these bands. When they are on the field everyone’s competition pour their eyes over them and discuss in great detail any possible shortcomings. Here is a picture of what I assume are members of the competition.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzr_Dpe8AO4/UHBCmsRjVDI/AAAAAAAABMA/E2a--8gh5lg/s1600/IMG_3784the+competitionsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzr_Dpe8AO4/UHBCmsRjVDI/AAAAAAAABMA/E2a--8gh5lg/s320/IMG_3784the+competitionsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Above are kilted members of another pipe and drum corps. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is one last image that shows more about the peculiar details of clothing one can see at a Scottish Festival. Here you can see the ribbons at the back of the hat and the red pom-pom cockade and the metal badge on the left of this man’s hat. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-APsVHswhjY0/UHBDAWB2hSI/AAAAAAAABMI/wxsM9W2ZUjs/s1600/IMG_3776hatsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-APsVHswhjY0/UHBDAWB2hSI/AAAAAAAABMI/wxsM9W2ZUjs/s320/IMG_3776hatsm.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oklahoma Scottish Festival</span> </span> was filled with regimental kilt wearers and in the next blog post I’ll show some of the other dapper and unusual Scotsmen, or should I say Scotspersons?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-45980926939130750352012-08-19T12:54:00.000-05:002012-08-20T21:55:30.582-05:00Final Jabulani Update with Photos Courtesy of Denis Hutchinson, Theatre Consultant<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jabulani, the new theatre complex opened in Soweto Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday May 25 2012. The <strong>TimesLive</strong> called it “…an assortment of colorful boxes.”, and continues its story to explain the box shape aids in the acoustics. Here is their link:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/entertainment/2012/05/22/feather-in-cap-for-soweto"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.timeslive.co.za/entertainment/2012/05/22/feather-in-cap-for-soweto </span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">DWR Distribution posted the <strong>best article</strong> from a theatre technician's view point. Load of pictures, lots of excitement, great technical information! Here is the link!</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dwrdistribution.co.za/news2.asp?filename=1382012201949.txt">http://www.dwrdistribution.co.za/news2.asp?filename=1382012201949.txt</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The <strong>BBC</strong> provides this short video report featuring the first show in the space rehearsing. (You have to wade past advertisement to get to the video unfortunately.) </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18134910"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18134910</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>AlJazeeraEnglish</strong> provides this very nice video of the theatre without advertisements. It features the theatre as well as tries to summarize the historic riotous events that shaped Soweto. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xylwRUO0B6g"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xylwRUO0B6g</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">And finally, </span><a href="http://www.joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8099&catid=88&Itemid=266#ixzz1wXsrpHkq"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8099&catid=88&Itemid=266#ixzz1wXsrpHkq</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is a link to the www. <strong>Arfritects.com</strong> article boasting of their great award for the theatre design, the “…social / environmental impact development prize, which recognises and measures the positive impact of any development on its surroundings and region.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the above report, there are links to 5 more stories about the theatre.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll close now with some final images provided by Denis Hutchinson.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xquCIKixeGw/UDEj82voTPI/AAAAAAAABKY/c7bdXuj1m9c/s1600/IMG_0705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xquCIKixeGw/UDEj82voTPI/AAAAAAAABKY/c7bdXuj1m9c/s320/IMG_0705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">The proscenium stage now has its floor, fly system, and seating in place.</span> </span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photo by Denis Hutchinson.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9EnQVLpTb4/UDEkSEiuUwI/AAAAAAAABKg/c_-FF8NC8bY/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9EnQVLpTb4/UDEkSEiuUwI/AAAAAAAABKg/c_-FF8NC8bY/s320/IMG_0766.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stage employees begin the hanging and focusing of the lighting instruments. Photo by Denis Hutchinson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This view of the proscenium stage shows the stage left corner and part of the seating including side balcony. The red acoustic tiles help provide even more red color complimenting the upholstery on the audience seating. An employee is getting the final construction dust off the floor. Photo by Denis Hutchinson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here is an image of the “front” of the theatre featuring the separately coloured and shaped boxes for each theatre. A groundskeeper tends to the new landscaping which will add some beautiful relief to the building site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photo by Denis Hutchinson.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVoWWdZoZqY/UDEmAenQB2I/AAAAAAAABK4/Y-G6-O_XgTQ/s1600/IMG_0859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tVoWWdZoZqY/UDEmAenQB2I/AAAAAAAABK4/Y-G6-O_XgTQ/s320/IMG_0859.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pictured here is a walkway to the theatre, bordered by brand new trees and covered by awnings reminiscent of the Sidney Opera House. Photo by Denis Hutchinson.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-36481302542825245302012-06-09T10:58:00.000-05:002012-06-09T10:58:03.941-05:00A Beautiful Musical<u>Drowsy</u> <u>Chaperone</u> was the last show in the Spring semester. A big musical. I commend my students for learning by leaps and bounds on this one. Next Fall semester, they have either their own shows to design or a larger responsibility on a big show like this one. It is exciting to see their progress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uML5L9fL174/T9Nw_EdREhI/AAAAAAAABJs/Iwu8hlfcQHI/s1600/IMG_1616+Basic+Tottendale+Full+Cast+1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="169" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uML5L9fL174/T9Nw_EdREhI/AAAAAAAABJs/Iwu8hlfcQHI/s320/IMG_1616+Basic+Tottendale+Full+Cast+1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tottendale Scene with full cast. Designed by Heidi Hoffer with Lights by Denis Hutchinson, Sound by Will Burns, Costumes by Judith Cronk. Show was Directed by Peter Westerhoff. Orchestra was from OSU!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WDT0KfCo5k/T9NxmKKbTsI/AAAAAAAABJ4/6mcPS0lBRB0/s1600/IMG_1706+Garden+picnic+1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="194" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8WDT0KfCo5k/T9NxmKKbTsI/AAAAAAAABJ4/6mcPS0lBRB0/s320/IMG_1706+Garden+picnic+1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Garden Scene. Designed by Heidi Hoffer with Lights by Denis Hutchinson, Sound by Will Burns, Costumes by Judith Cronk. Show was Directed by Peter Westerhoff. Orchestra was from OSU!</td></tr>
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Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-1723497664498845282012-01-22T17:06:00.000-06:002012-01-22T17:06:46.355-06:00Why does farm equipment often resemble creatures? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KxS1baBF0Jw/TxyLe1X8IWI/AAAAAAAABIM/MMpLZhrwDQU/s1600/CaseInsectsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" nfa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KxS1baBF0Jw/TxyLe1X8IWI/AAAAAAAABIM/MMpLZhrwDQU/s320/CaseInsectsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Case Wheat Harvester - Photo by Heidi Hoffer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At the Payne County Exposition Center, there's a museum of vintage and antique cars, vacuum cleaners, and farm equipment. This Case Wheat Harvester's "head" looked like so many different animals to me. I could see a floppy eared dog, a chameleon, a happy fish face, and more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KxQzTAQFrE/TxyNiZVv6UI/AAAAAAAABIU/A6sc32tzWJc/s1600/GrainHarvester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" nfa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KxQzTAQFrE/TxyNiZVv6UI/AAAAAAAABIU/A6sc32tzWJc/s320/GrainHarvester.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/forum/62391.html">http://www.cloudforest.com/cafe/forum/62391.html</a><br />
Above is the link to the website where I found a picture of what I think this creature looked like unfolded and out in the field. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
If you go to the website for the full image of the old harvestor, you'll be in for a treat of old seed lore and growing food. Their pictures are particularly nice! In the above image of the old harvester, submitted by <em> DavidInAmityOr,UsdaZ8 on January 31, 2009 at 10:58 am PST, </em>I can really see a resemblance to a dashound, or a lizard, or a long-tailed duck.<br />
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The John Deere tractors also caught my eye. It was night time, and the tractor arena was lit by Mercury-Vapor lights. The tractor collectors had just finished a parade around the expo center. This imposing John Deere was my introduction to the beauty of tractors. This fellow looked stout and ready, like a prize-fighter.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DPCMHKvLKrc/TxyO-ORDmoI/AAAAAAAABIc/q6wM2tJBma8/s1600/JohnDeereTractorsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DPCMHKvLKrc/TxyO-ORDmoI/AAAAAAAABIc/q6wM2tJBma8/s320/JohnDeereTractorsm.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The John Deere group of tractors shows they came in all sizes. Huge tires and strong looking steel horizontals made it clear these tractors were designed to pull anything and featured strong power take offs to make any attached piece of equipment work. In the background of this photo you can see the revolving metal basket ride with its star shaped lights. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMFESi6AQJs/TxySmhNz2SI/AAAAAAAABIs/oo1iV3UC2fc/s1600/DeereGroupsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" nfa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMFESi6AQJs/TxySmhNz2SI/AAAAAAAABIs/oo1iV3UC2fc/s320/DeereGroupsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0TqCYwePQyY/TxyPcZffByI/AAAAAAAABIk/uxcihDxryHs/s1600/InternatHarvestTractorsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0TqCYwePQyY/TxyPcZffByI/AAAAAAAABIk/uxcihDxryHs/s320/InternatHarvestTractorsm.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The red International Haverster tractor had exceptionally well-designed lines. The design of the grille is of course meant to allow fresh cool air into the engine. It's creators actually took the time to round the ends of the grilles and line up interior screw holes through rounded openings as well. The fronts of both the John Deere and the IH were impressive.<br />
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I looked hard to find an Oliver tractor. It seems this part of the country favored Deere. However, my search was rewarded with an Oliver that looked like the Oliver I rode back in my dairy summer in Pennsylvania.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJFCHcGSEyM/TxyThGsIQLI/AAAAAAAABI0/S7FTHfli2qI/s1600/Oliversm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJFCHcGSEyM/TxyThGsIQLI/AAAAAAAABI0/S7FTHfli2qI/s320/Oliversm.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Heidi Hoffer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Massive strong machines meant for hard work were also designed to look nice: rounded corners, good-looking grilles, useful headlights, and powerful reassuring structures. It's no wonder people collect them and refurbish them.Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-66121494226222141642012-01-05T16:04:00.000-06:002012-01-05T16:04:00.646-06:00Soweto Theatre Jabulani Update<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks to Denis Hutchinson, Theatre Consultant on the project, I have three new photos of the theatre complex to share!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74r31_92nrM/TwYcqZAmNwI/AAAAAAAABHo/_bS0h-C4INQ/s1600/IMG_0619.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74r31_92nrM/TwYcqZAmNwI/AAAAAAAABHo/_bS0h-C4INQ/s320/IMG_0619.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The land in front of the complex will get a beautiful paving design.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1_q8c5zNtQ/TwYdCd0k7aI/AAAAAAAABH0/KMrTEv8uno0/s1600/IMG_0614.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1_q8c5zNtQ/TwYdCd0k7aI/AAAAAAAABH0/KMrTEv8uno0/s320/IMG_0614.jpeg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See all those dangling wires? It looks like the proscenium theatre is getting its fly system in order.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34eLK5wBqpA/TwYdULa_hdI/AAAAAAAABIA/rMa7fEbxnWc/s1600/IMG_0620.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-34eLK5wBqpA/TwYdULa_hdI/AAAAAAAABIA/rMa7fEbxnWc/s320/IMG_0620.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This theatre looks like it has its sound absorption materials in place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-74344960428296817932011-10-16T21:04:00.001-05:002011-10-16T21:04:52.015-05:00Construction Site - Jabulani Performing Arts Complex in Soweto<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Construction Zone:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jabulani – Soweto’s New Theatre Complex</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AF6XBDAP2I/Tpt769zWmAI/AAAAAAAABDw/B1HM0ya_rU4/s1600/AlumStuds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AF6XBDAP2I/Tpt769zWmAI/AAAAAAAABDw/B1HM0ya_rU4/s320/AlumStuds.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">These aluminum studs are cut-offs from the construction of walls within the theatre complex. The complex is due to open soon.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since these images are of the theatre venues, offices and shops still under construction, it makes sense to apply a little imagination to see the full impact of the spaces. The photos were taken with only existing light,and are somewhat artistic in and of themselves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here’s a link </span><a href="http://www.inkanyeli.co.za/index.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.inkanyeli.co.za/index.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to the website where you can see the artist’s original image of what the complex will look like. The order of the colours has changed, but the cubic collection is prominent and exciting to see on the landscape. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aw1bhp7pzQ0/Tpt8wuEvIiI/AAAAAAAABD4/WadWZszCW98/s1600/exterior+of+complex.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="167" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aw1bhp7pzQ0/Tpt8wuEvIiI/AAAAAAAABD4/WadWZszCW98/s320/exterior+of+complex.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looking from the West at the side of the Theatre. You can see each theatre space seems to have its own cube.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Theatre consultant Denis Hutchinson invited me to take a look at the new theatre being constructed in the Jabulani area of Soweto, Johannesburg. As Theatre Consultant, he worked with the architects to get the most valuable theatre environment for the community, audience, actor and technicians. The new theatre has three performing arts venues seating 420, 180 and 90 people respectively. </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The theatre is a forward-looking reaction to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, promoting a lasting legacy for South Africans. One goal is to evolve Soweto from a bedroom community into a normalized city on its own merits. Executive Mayor, Amos Masondo said that the theatre would not just provide jobs during the construction phase but also provide on-going employment for cast and crew members such as actors, musicians, dancers, directors and singers. It is designated as a World Class Theatre Venue.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfSpCmVd33U/Tpt9LPiedtI/AAAAAAAABEA/BGExWD1CtqM/s1600/SowetThCurvedWallexterior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="204" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfSpCmVd33U/Tpt9LPiedtI/AAAAAAAABEA/BGExWD1CtqM/s320/SowetThCurvedWallexterior.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">The Jabulani Theatre under construction in July, 2010. This is a view looking nearly East. This side is going to have the large words “Jabulani Theatre” on it.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMhR9IA-YM0/TpuAdvP1WdI/AAAAAAAABEo/HQQ4p51hUQ4/s1600/ProscBalc1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMhR9IA-YM0/TpuAdvP1WdI/AAAAAAAABEo/HQQ4p51hUQ4/s320/ProscBalc1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This view from the audience seating level on the main floor is an interesting composition of curved and diagonal lines. You can see the proscenium arch walkway above on the right.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The complex features a 420-seater main proscenium venue fully fitted with wings, orchestra pit, fly tower and buttress.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VojncPpNaxo/Tpt95JyYmJI/AAAAAAAABEI/UYqzhll5Epk/s1600/Prosc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VojncPpNaxo/Tpt95JyYmJI/AAAAAAAABEI/UYqzhll5Epk/s320/Prosc.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The proscenium opening shows the curved pit fitted in steel, and the scaffolding in place to work the rigging points for the fly system.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDBmkNJV4uk/Tpt-YMLL-AI/AAAAAAAABEQ/giLBfO0zf78/s1600/ScaffProsc1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDBmkNJV4uk/Tpt-YMLL-AI/AAAAAAAABEQ/giLBfO0zf78/s320/ScaffProsc1.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This tall view of the proscenium theatre from the backstage door looking stage right shows the temporary plywood surface covering the steel girders in place for the soon - to - arrive stage floor.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ac6XZEK6TAw/Tpt_064KwmI/AAAAAAAABEg/xd6Aa_VtmiM/s1600/On+Top+ProscArch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ac6XZEK6TAw/Tpt_064KwmI/AAAAAAAABEg/xd6Aa_VtmiM/s320/On+Top+ProscArch.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What is really interesting is the view from the very top of the proscenium arch. This is going to be a hallway. This view of the consultant discussing the location of the ceiling is from on top of the proscenium arch looking toward the audience seating.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg7GsPIThOU/Tpt_aodrzBI/AAAAAAAABEY/jIqn_SaACow/s1600/SRprosc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jg7GsPIThOU/Tpt_aodrzBI/AAAAAAAABEY/jIqn_SaACow/s320/SRprosc.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This view of the proscenium venue is from the back of the balcony. Soon there will be carpeting, seats, and aisle lights.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMhR9IA-YM0/TpuAdvP1WdI/AAAAAAAABEo/HQQ4p51hUQ4/s1600/ProscBalc1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HMhR9IA-YM0/TpuAdvP1WdI/AAAAAAAABEo/HQQ4p51hUQ4/s320/ProscBalc1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This view from the audience seating level on the main floor is an interesting composition of curved and diagonal lines. You can see the proscenium arch walkway above on the right.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The complex also includes two smaller "black box" venues of 180 and 90 seats, respectively.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xL3kQYpXk8Y/TpuCIGIH5kI/AAAAAAAABE4/PGUaap8h6k4/s1600/DH+large+black+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xL3kQYpXk8Y/TpuCIGIH5kI/AAAAAAAABE4/PGUaap8h6k4/s320/DH+large+black+box.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is what the black box looked like a few days ago. Work lights and ceiling are in. Image is supplied by Denis Hutchinson, the Theatre Consultant.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okYxIWl0uco/TpuCl-tFApI/AAAAAAAABFA/i4V_2zeJOho/s1600/DandCinLarger+Theatre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okYxIWl0uco/TpuCl-tFApI/AAAAAAAABFA/i4V_2zeJOho/s320/DandCinLarger+Theatre.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is the smaller of the two black box theatres. The catwalk system and surrounding balcony are similar in both theatres.</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeW0bVOT7VU/TpuCzZHwTFI/AAAAAAAABFI/MXBorvcoduU/s1600/Footprints.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeW0bVOT7VU/TpuCzZHwTFI/AAAAAAAABFI/MXBorvcoduU/s320/Footprints.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The footprints are a reminder for me to add that other amenities, such as bathrooms, offices, food preparation areas, library and workrooms are also being built. We traveled across some very dusty and very new surfaces to find the costume shop, wardrobe, make-up rooms, offices and loading doors to the scene shop and storage areas. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9SsxzUFhbo/TpuDMsV-YYI/AAAAAAAABFQ/1YwYg0QgE30/s1600/dusty+stairwell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L9SsxzUFhbo/TpuDMsV-YYI/AAAAAAAABFQ/1YwYg0QgE30/s320/dusty+stairwell.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This work-dusty stairwell will lead from the second floor proscenium arch area down to the hallways leading to the main foyer.</span></span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aLXTWuFsng/TpuDeyjjq8I/AAAAAAAABFY/4OISrLDYxYY/s1600/Plasterers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aLXTWuFsng/TpuDeyjjq8I/AAAAAAAABFY/4OISrLDYxYY/s320/Plasterers.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The plasterers are masters at throwing “mud” on vertical surfaces. The curved walls of the foyer blend into the hallways upstairs.</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uynLPZuEGfs/TpuEbY8yFII/AAAAAAAABFw/QxtHGDTkVRE/s1600/FoodSeller.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="207" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uynLPZuEGfs/TpuEbY8yFII/AAAAAAAABFw/QxtHGDTkVRE/s320/FoodSeller.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As with all construction sites, entrepreneurs find a shady spot to set up food service.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Rie21OkoIg/TpuE0tZOTkI/AAAAAAAABF4/1zG5GQE-nxs/s1600/jabulani+stad1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Rie21OkoIg/TpuE0tZOTkI/AAAAAAAABF4/1zG5GQE-nxs/s400/jabulani+stad1.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Through the construction scaffolding of the theatre complex you can see the famous Jabulani Amphitheatre where in 1985 Zindzi Mandela read her father’s letter to President P. W. Botha regarding the ”… preconditions for his release and the ultimate negotiations with the ANC.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Kgolane,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alfred Rudolph. Celebrating and Commemorating Twenty-Years of the Harare Declaration. Web accessed 10/9/2011. </span><a href="http://www.sahistory.org.za/articles/harare-declaration"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">http://www.sahistory.org.za/articles/harare-declaration</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> ).</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so you see that even with the creation of a new entertainment complex progress in South Africa mingles with history as well as makes history in its own right.</span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><br />
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</span></div>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com5Soweto, South Africa-26.277559 27.848240000000033-26.3463945 27.724238500000034 -26.2087235 27.972241500000031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-49948587387184233942011-07-17T06:47:00.000-05:002011-07-17T06:47:13.392-05:00New Theatre Being Built!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TVn_PbdO4mY/TiLKenSgmAI/AAAAAAAABDk/NrqDbVNXavo/s1600/SowetoTheatreBillboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TVn_PbdO4mY/TiLKenSgmAI/AAAAAAAABDk/NrqDbVNXavo/s320/SowetoTheatreBillboard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A new theatre is being built in Soweto, a township of Johannesburg South Africa, and I got the cook's tour. I'll provide more photos in a later post.Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-91715774024620891562011-07-12T04:59:00.000-05:002011-07-12T04:59:15.856-05:00Grahamstown National Arts Festival<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had the honor of being the guardian for one of the two University of Pretoria productions performing in the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa. This entailed helping to drive a 10 seat van with a trailer full of luggage on a journey of about 12 hours. Since there was no scenery, the costumes and the props rode in the van with us. There were so many different kinds of theatre going on at the Festival that it was difficult to choose which ones to watch. Eventually I learned to rely on The Cue – the daily newspaper. U.P’s production of <u>As</u> <u>Night</u> <u>Falls</u> was awarded an Ovation Award and featured on the front page of the Cue!</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bckuGPN_DIE/ThwJXV0qxwI/AAAAAAAAA7U/9YJFZqYG6cg/s1600/TheRoad+to+Grahamstownsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bckuGPN_DIE/ThwJXV0qxwI/AAAAAAAAA7U/9YJFZqYG6cg/s320/TheRoad+to+Grahamstownsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long road to Grahamstown, South Africa featured potholes with giraffes's head sticking up out of them. This is a common occurrence, according to South Africans.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US">One of my Fulbright goals was to experience all of the different kind of theatre I could from Physical theatre to regular drama, with mime and puppet work in between and a little bit of dance, music and singing thrown in. There were more than 3,000 events to choose from in a period of 10 days. Some of these events were international in scope, like the <u>Sky</u> <u>Like</u> <u>Sky</u> production produced by recent Fulbrighter, Emily Mendelsohn with her actors from Rwanda.</span></div><span lang="EN-US"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6u1xhH4f5Q/ThwKaO1iiCI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/9KalPmHn-Yg/s1600/IMG_9355fullstagerehsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Since everyone had to travel from their home institutions, productions had very limited scenery and so the only events that had anything of great scenery spectacle were the Rhodes theatre productions because they were in their own theatre. Lighting for most of the productions was flat and unimaginative because the venues had basic plighting plots and nearly zero time to add specials. I should say that they often had nearly half of a basic lighting plot. In fact most venues were lucky to have 2 or 3 booms or side lighting pipes with three or four instruments and four front lights and four back lights. Lighting designers did their level best with these limitations, and some made it work and some did not. It really depended upon how bendable the choreographers or directors were, to move their actors into the available light.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6u1xhH4f5Q/ThwKaO1iiCI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/9KalPmHn-Yg/s1600/IMG_9355fullstagerehsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6u1xhH4f5Q/ThwKaO1iiCI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/9KalPmHn-Yg/s320/IMG_9355fullstagerehsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this rehearsal photo of <u>As</u> <u>Night</u> <u>Falls</u>, you can see the basic lighting rig. The venues were not always meant to be theatres. This a venue was a school auditorium with a small proscenium stage. To use it for the festival the stage was ignored, a full black curtain was hung in front of its proscenium to become the background and rented bleachers were brough in and placed in the middle of the auditorium floor. Essentially the venue was redone to accomodate the Festival's needs.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US">In the end, much of the theatre I saw was physical in a way that increased the storytelling aspects of every production. It is subtle, but the University of Pretoria students could quickly point out troupes that had had no physical theatre training. It showed in their incomplete or clumsy movements. Perhaps this is one great reason why they won their award. Below are pictures! As you can see, their lighting designer Bailey Snyman and choregographer Nicky Haskins managed very well including clear use of warm and cool tones for different moments.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xuFJ1QYg_Q/ThwL4nTZDWI/AAAAAAAAA7c/ObhnuvZANQc/s1600/IMG_9339NickyHaskinssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xuFJ1QYg_Q/ThwL4nTZDWI/AAAAAAAAA7c/ObhnuvZANQc/s320/IMG_9339NickyHaskinssm.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicky Haskins is an award-winning Choregorapher. Not only did she direct the University of Pretoria students in <u>As</u> <u>Night</u> <u>Falls</u>, she performed, along with Bailey Snyman and others, another strong piece at the festival called <u>Anatomy</u> <u>of</u> <u>Weather</u>. Behind her you can see the rented bleachers with their metal railings and plastic seats. All of the windows are hung with blackout curtains.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBoIHdmZLTE/ThwND-1ENVI/AAAAAAAAA7k/MxeFMzPVHiI/s1600/IMG_9657pathway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBoIHdmZLTE/ThwND-1ENVI/AAAAAAAAA7k/MxeFMzPVHiI/s320/IMG_9657pathway.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many of the Festival's dance pieces used LED headlamps in their dances, and <u>As</u> <u>Night</u> <u>Falls</u> was no exception. They used the lamps to indicate a pathway for a journey, an owl, and emotional chaos in different scenes. In this scene the actors are lying on the ground, shining the lamps at each other's faces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5m8tdy3hj4/ThwM6vBIuqI/AAAAAAAAA7g/FSH1ogPjaJs/s1600/IMG_9380headlamps1rehsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5m8tdy3hj4/ThwM6vBIuqI/AAAAAAAAA7g/FSH1ogPjaJs/s320/IMG_9380headlamps1rehsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actors also used LED camping lanterns and silver grey folding chairs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BGud5gVjl4/ThwOhysdldI/AAAAAAAAA7o/JUkNjsug1l4/s1600/IMG_9676overback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BGud5gVjl4/ThwOhysdldI/AAAAAAAAA7o/JUkNjsug1l4/s320/IMG_9676overback.JPG" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main focus in the dance was on the woman in white. She represented Helen Martins, South Africa's foremost Outsider Artist.</td></tr>
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A fair explanation of Helen Martins' unusual work and bizarre history can be found at <a href="http://africanhistory.about.com/od/biography/p/OwlHouse.htm">http://africanhistory.about.com/od/biography/p/OwlHouse.htm</a> Nicky Haskins is not the only one to use Helen's unusual life as a source of inspiration. Athol Fugard's <u>Road</u> <u>to</u> <u>Mecca</u> does a wonderful job of capturing the Outsider spirit as well. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oYSsfcdcuhk/ThwQyayScPI/AAAAAAAAA7s/cWHW9nBf-3c/s1600/IMG_9683footliftsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oYSsfcdcuhk/ThwQyayScPI/AAAAAAAAA7s/cWHW9nBf-3c/s320/IMG_9683footliftsm.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actor playing Helen is physically very strong, and not only exhibited total trust and relaxation when being lifted and dragged about in a manner to relate the abuse Helen faced, but also managed a few good lifts of others as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLnHo_tR3Qk/ThwRfr456LI/AAAAAAAAA7w/DLOpV6qTb-E/s1600/IMG_9698feetinbasinsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLnHo_tR3Qk/ThwRfr456LI/AAAAAAAAA7w/DLOpV6qTb-E/s320/IMG_9698feetinbasinsm.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real Helen had her toes amputated as a result of poor footwear, and also hired a man of colour to help her make her camel garden and other glass-imbedded cement sculptures. She was shunned by society because of her relationship with this man and also shunned for her crazy artwork which she exhibited once a year by allowing the public into her studio/home. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KpkTJtKnhk/ThwSYSQOblI/AAAAAAAAA70/LT1PmOQWvh4/s1600/IMG_9727Missysm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KpkTJtKnhk/ThwSYSQOblI/AAAAAAAAA70/LT1PmOQWvh4/s320/IMG_9727Missysm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The company of dancers in <u>As</u> <u>Night</u> <u>Falls</u> wore black with attention to a 1960's coctail dress style or black trousers and shirts for the men. The period flavour grabbed your attention because it was both formal and funereal. In the picture above you can see an actor wearing a mask, a feathered headpiece, and gesturing her fingers in a feather-like spread. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_PWn_phnpg/ThwTd9cm1xI/AAAAAAAAA74/iEhdiH3t29E/s1600/IMG_9735surroundsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_PWn_phnpg/ThwTd9cm1xI/AAAAAAAAA74/iEhdiH3t29E/s320/IMG_9735surroundsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this scene the actors are taunting Helen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dx10mnx1luU/ThwVVOU-hiI/AAAAAAAAA78/DfWLzSi1PzQ/s1600/IMG_9739cageskirt2sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dx10mnx1luU/ThwVVOU-hiI/AAAAAAAAA78/DfWLzSi1PzQ/s320/IMG_9739cageskirt2sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They capture her, and forcer her to wear this cage skirt which to me represented a final attempt at being normal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttOuxE0xDHw/ThwVush8AYI/AAAAAAAAA8A/dw4Aq3L9rpE/s1600/IMG_9781party1sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttOuxE0xDHw/ThwVush8AYI/AAAAAAAAA8A/dw4Aq3L9rpE/s320/IMG_9781party1sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A social scene - a party - shows Helen cannot manage with other people, and ends in two ugly rapes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTeqoY7EsAk/ThwYM-mr_OI/AAAAAAAAA8I/v3rq8PgjKho/s1600/deadHelensm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTeqoY7EsAk/ThwYM-mr_OI/AAAAAAAAA8I/v3rq8PgjKho/s320/deadHelensm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the end, Helen takes her own life. In this scene, her employee/lover find her and is in anguish, dancing a fantastic solo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
The movement in this piece was really difficult to capture on film. I am adamant about not using flah and really tried to capture the darkness of the piece. I hope that through these photos you can see why <u>As</u> <u>Night</u> <u>Falls</u> received an Ovation Award.</span></span></span>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-33704600412059517072011-07-09T06:46:00.003-05:002012-04-08T09:34:09.176-05:00"Sexcetera" with NYU, Sibikwa Arts Center and Wits Drama Department<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Sexcetera</strong></span> – </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">an exploration of space between audience and performer, the right to choose, obsession, fetish, voyeurism, and sequence.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VnoXRkjDzN0/ThgrAb_2eSI/AAAAAAAAA24/_ZFXqzHz-JM/s1600/SexceteraMapWORDS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VnoXRkjDzN0/ThgrAb_2eSI/AAAAAAAAA24/_ZFXqzHz-JM/s320/SexceteraMapWORDS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used Google Sketchup 8 to create this map of the locations for our site specific performances.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sexcetera was devised by Phyllis Klotz of the Sibikwa Arts Centre, and designed by Heidi Hoffer who is a Fulbright Scholar currently in residence at University of Pretoria Drama. The cast was made up of students from the New York University in collaboration with The University of the Witwatersrand School of the Arts Drama Department, actors from the Sibikwa Arts Centre and students from the Wits Drama Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a site specific piece, with the location being a premium space for musicians and artists as well as the production.</span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBmKs9gSTf8/ThgrlXj4nlI/AAAAAAAAA28/P_tn9p9ff5E/s1600/IMG_7820downstairssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBmKs9gSTf8/ThgrlXj4nlI/AAAAAAAAA28/P_tn9p9ff5E/s320/IMG_7820downstairssm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The courtyard of the Wits School of the Arts was our location. This is a view from the middle looking down the stairs towards the foot fetish corner in red light.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8TsRXJNRK8/ThgsG0Z9JoI/AAAAAAAAA3A/3Q_JQrcnV7U/s1600/Sexcetera+long+shot+IMG_7902sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8TsRXJNRK8/ThgsG0Z9JoI/AAAAAAAAA3A/3Q_JQrcnV7U/s320/Sexcetera+long+shot+IMG_7902sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This view is from the Lovers doorway looking down towards the Enchained piece with performers in white across from the sultry Priced Right performance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Lovers</u> was performed by Thapelo Kotolo and Thandi Dube. Audience members had to squeeze their way past these two occupied performers to get into the courtyard.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cdPGI99QL0/ThgtFbeL1mI/AAAAAAAAA3E/RfEdYKvQ4gA/s1600/IMG_7806smoochers+in+the+waysm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cdPGI99QL0/ThgtFbeL1mI/AAAAAAAAA3E/RfEdYKvQ4gA/s320/IMG_7806smoochers+in+the+waysm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoochers in the pathway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Tree</u> <u>of</u> <u>Love</u> was written and performed by the musicians Eric Namaky, Siyabulela Sifatyi and Esther Maumela.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTdKwigTEYk/Thgte40ZYAI/AAAAAAAAA3I/ElPG3uyTfXM/s1600/Sexcetera+Musicians+IMG_7809sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TTdKwigTEYk/Thgte40ZYAI/AAAAAAAAA3I/ElPG3uyTfXM/s320/Sexcetera+Musicians+IMG_7809sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The musicians performed love songs...what else?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to greet you and ignore you was an angel wearing a hard hat, because love is a dangerous business. The <u>Angel</u> was performed by Rasta Mokhere.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye-IRKDnyNc/ThguJ9FAUmI/AAAAAAAAA3M/fkgLycQ9Y5M/s1600/Sexcetera+Angel+IMG_7817sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ye-IRKDnyNc/ThguJ9FAUmI/AAAAAAAAA3M/fkgLycQ9Y5M/s320/Sexcetera+Angel+IMG_7817sm.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Angel to guide us through and keep an eye on things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you crossed the metal bridge past the Lovers if you looked down to your left you could get a top view of the dominatrici in their subterranean lair. <u>Succumb</u> was developed and performed by NYU students.</span><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlW1gYUj3s8/Thgvx-C41aI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/gnaOjZZRQ74/s1600/IMG_7905top+view+succumbsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlW1gYUj3s8/Thgvx-C41aI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/gnaOjZZRQ74/s320/IMG_7905top+view+succumbsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from above of the Dominatrix duo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the left performing while standing in sinks of water was Chris Couperthwaite and Bulelwa Ndaba in <u>Love</u> <u>Lost</u> written by Jessica Annunziata. Audience members viewed them through open windows.</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrsGP8ZNlrI/ThgxJ6BSIlI/AAAAAAAAA3U/xrc6UyRDLxk/s1600/IMG_7900+JessicaPlaysm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrsGP8ZNlrI/ThgxJ6BSIlI/AAAAAAAAA3U/xrc6UyRDLxk/s320/IMG_7900+JessicaPlaysm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Love</u> <u>Lost</u> written by Jessica Annunziata could be performed backwards and forwards.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing to the opposite end of the courtyard from the entrance, one got a glimpse of young love/lust on a car seat. Don't worry, they didn't really do it. They just expertly gave animated explanations of the sexual feelings and thought that accompanied their date. <u>Oops</u> <u>and</u> <u>Umms</u> was written by Bulelwa Ndaba in collaboration with Denise Mosiana. It was performed by Denise Mosiana and Taemane Mothobi.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9K-KgMYwitY/ThgyPdhH5-I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BV6LgMIbzDA/s1600/IMG_7813carseatsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9K-KgMYwitY/ThgyPdhH5-I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BV6LgMIbzDA/s320/IMG_7813carseatsm.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performers in <u>Oops</u> <u>and</u> <u>Umms</u> talk about the awkwardness of love on a car seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>My</u> <u>Pastor</u>, <u>My</u> <u>Father</u>, <u>My</u> <u>Pilgrim</u> was developed by Ethan Fishbane, Vuyelwa Maluleke, and Masiza Mbali. This performance was achingly surreal in its depiction of religious bindings.</span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmSa96eSQLc/ThgzILYBvTI/AAAAAAAAA3c/Zx6dAucnxvQ/s1600/IMG_7898MyFather2sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmSa96eSQLc/ThgzILYBvTI/AAAAAAAAA3c/Zx6dAucnxvQ/s320/IMG_7898MyFather2sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The performers of <u>My</u> <u>Pastor</u>, <u>My</u> <u>Father</u>, <u>My</u> <u>Pilgrim</u> used long lengths of elastic to stretch and snap their ideas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A site specific performance about sensuality, sex and acceptance is not without its body image artist. <u>Caged</u> was choreographed and performed by Louisa Levy.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ac1pevg6bcU/Thgz7rZsnPI/AAAAAAAAA3g/WI9q1jMWqFY/s1600/IMG_7885BodyImagesm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ac1pevg6bcU/Thgz7rZsnPI/AAAAAAAAA3g/WI9q1jMWqFY/s320/IMG_7885BodyImagesm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The workshop built a "cage" for the actor in <u>Caged</u> to athletically manouver within while checking her reflection in shards of dangling mirrors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The viewing of <u>Caged</u> brought the audience to the top of the stairs. Just underneath the stairs, lurking like a sensuous troll in a sequinned outfit was the performance of <u>Basadi</u> which was choreographed and performed by Freddie Nkantolo Zwane.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OaA76K3PU4/Thg1Md8Ua3I/AAAAAAAAA3k/PnzmnNfyEAI/s1600/IMG_7867Freddiesm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OaA76K3PU4/Thg1Md8Ua3I/AAAAAAAAA3k/PnzmnNfyEAI/s320/IMG_7867Freddiesm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Freddie Nkantolo Zwane performed near- contortionist moves in his dance of obsession with the curvy lounge chair.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Priced</u> <u>Right</u> was developed and performed by Ashalin Singh and Chanelle Sardinha. This performance was reminiscent of the window displays of prostitutes in Amsterdam. Audience members got a glimpse of the power of money through the safety of a window.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Av062yIpo5Q/Thg2CJMbkZI/AAAAAAAAA3o/K4wtBmzDW_c/s1600/Sexcetera+Priced+Right+4+IMG_7830sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Av062yIpo5Q/Thg2CJMbkZI/AAAAAAAAA3o/K4wtBmzDW_c/s320/Sexcetera+Priced+Right+4+IMG_7830sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Priced</u> <u>Right</u> performers Ashalin Singh and Chanelle Sardinha exhibit some of what can be done for money.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opposite the performance above was a unique poetic performance demonstrating need of acceptance and friendship and comany, and how those very things are often harmful.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Enchained</u> was developed and performed by Raezeen Wentworth and Keith Leroyal Smith.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jicE1CgrjA/Thg3P7eV8qI/AAAAAAAAA3s/VBXEvtFx_GU/s1600/Sexcetera+Enchained+1+IMG_7879sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jicE1CgrjA/Thg3P7eV8qI/AAAAAAAAA3s/VBXEvtFx_GU/s320/Sexcetera+Enchained+1+IMG_7879sm.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These performers performed circus style nearly - arial manouvers which were not completely arial because these performers were chained to the railing above. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing in this basement level of the courtyard, the audience came acroos a scene of foot fetish. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Foot</u> <u>Fetish</u> was performed by Lesego Ngwato and Lucky Tshimbudzi.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9WgAM4O8E4/Thg4-izCiXI/AAAAAAAAA3w/rMEfHk569wA/s1600/IMG_7829footbath+cornersm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9WgAM4O8E4/Thg4-izCiXI/AAAAAAAAA3w/rMEfHk569wA/s320/IMG_7829footbath+cornersm.JPG" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What footsore Nurse wouldn't like to have a nice foot rub?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Lipstick</u> was performed by Thokozane Nsibande. This actor sat on a swing, putting on his lipstick while audience membders went past him to the <u>Foot</u> <u>Fetish</u> performance or the <u>Succumb</u> dominatrix scene.</span></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JT8jKKCQOjk/Thg6ff7LIVI/AAAAAAAAA30/Rf_67-zjR9g/s1600/IMG_7835guy+on+swingsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JT8jKKCQOjk/Thg6ff7LIVI/AAAAAAAAA30/Rf_67-zjR9g/s320/IMG_7835guy+on+swingsm.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tallest actor was given the task of using a bit of lipstick and a hand mirror on a swing suspended from the bridge above. He borrowed a swanky ginger coloured wig, some ladie's clothes, and voila! - a masterpiece of cross-dressing innocence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final destination on this level was the <u>Succumb</u> performance by NYU Students.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySxQ5f59fTA/Thg7XgrEE4I/AAAAAAAAA34/SOwiJW7BTj8/s1600/Sexcetera+Succumb+1+IMG_7838sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySxQ5f59fTA/Thg7XgrEE4I/AAAAAAAAA34/SOwiJW7BTj8/s320/Sexcetera+Succumb+1+IMG_7838sm.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The desire for a normal life was juxtaposed with the desire for a dominatrix life in this performance of <u>Succumb</u>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To quote the student Assistant Director Chris Couperthwaite in collaboration with the cast,</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>“The process for Sexcetera was highly personal and very organic. Grappling with the topic of sex is not easy for many people but we broke down the walls that we had built about sex, discovering as much about ourselves as we did this topic. With the direction of Phyllis Klotz we were exposed to a world of fantasy, sensuality and sexuality, working with sexologists, a dominatrix and, some of the cast observing professional strippers. We unanimously agreed upon not merely delivery of the expected but rather a highly thought provoking “sexhibition”, a show that is a creative collaboration of different voices, backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. We have grown together as a cast, exploring paths that we would not have had an opportunity to explore in any other way. It has been an unforgettable process of learning and engaging that will have lasting effects.”</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assistant Designer for the production was Chiara Moliaro. Stage Manager was Busizwe Mtshali. Assistant Stage Manager was Kgomotso Lwazi Mthembu. Crew members were Luke Webster, Darylene Pillay, Tyrel Van der Merwe, Chulekazi Mahlangeni, Karabo Sekgale, Crystal Vittee, Nicolette Spykerman, and Themba Twala.</span></span></div>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-37748943968013637922011-06-22T01:49:00.001-05:002011-06-22T01:51:22.570-05:00Piper Band Scottie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbcva7JAUHg/TgGE43P460I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/8-bS5mtNrTs/s1600/Scottiesm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbcva7JAUHg/TgGE43P460I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/8-bS5mtNrTs/s320/Scottiesm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Pretoria Boys Gathering was held at Pretoria Boys High School in Pretoria, Gauteng on Saturday, 11 June 2011. I fell into this event whilst walking about with my friends Richard and Susan. We heard the drums and the pipers of course, and walked into the boy's school to see a huge gathering and competition happening. What fun; great sound, sharp and colorful uniforms, and wonderful vendors of everything under the sun. The pipers were fantastic.<br />
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Not all entertainment is dramatic theatre, but it is full of characters and drama! <br />
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The clans were serious about their uniforms to the point that tucked into the stocking of the right leg is a sgian dubh knife.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JAl8KFzG5L4/TgGGlTEiPhI/AAAAAAAAA1c/eBDDvQ7G1D8/s1600/sgiandubhsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JAl8KFzG5L4/TgGGlTEiPhI/AAAAAAAAA1c/eBDDvQ7G1D8/s320/sgiandubhsm.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>And the bands performed well, with several judges scrutinizing their every drumstick twirl and bag pipe note. Here are a two of the judges:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z3Ti3g4IPo/TgGLO5Yxl5I/AAAAAAAAA1k/v26pzQ1njKM/s1600/judges.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z3Ti3g4IPo/TgGLO5Yxl5I/AAAAAAAAA1k/v26pzQ1njKM/s320/judges.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The African Sky Pipe Band below is taking the field of competition.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lLCfF8bLCqg/TgGKWuj9yrI/AAAAAAAAA1g/zzWbI9cLHHE/s1600/AfricanSkyePipeBand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lLCfF8bLCqg/TgGKWuj9yrI/AAAAAAAAA1g/zzWbI9cLHHE/s320/AfricanSkyePipeBand.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> And since it was also a gathering, a rasher of characters abounded.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7LDlhT6E08/TgGNK6QqlyI/AAAAAAAAA1o/Kpfmwf3Cj7U/s1600/characterssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B7LDlhT6E08/TgGNK6QqlyI/AAAAAAAAA1o/Kpfmwf3Cj7U/s320/characterssm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The competitors checked each other out... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fD_-ZhkyyzE/TgGNa-43csI/AAAAAAAAA1s/8DJ0kVAKJfs/s1600/checking+out+competition.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fD_-ZhkyyzE/TgGNa-43csI/AAAAAAAAA1s/8DJ0kVAKJfs/s320/checking+out+competition.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>whilst a master (Transvaal Scottish) looks on...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iw9Z4oxyMck/TgGNuLnI0gI/AAAAAAAAA1w/m13ThhBi1Yk/s1600/transvaal+scottish+Hooper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iw9Z4oxyMck/TgGNuLnI0gI/AAAAAAAAA1w/m13ThhBi1Yk/s320/transvaal+scottish+Hooper.JPG" width="177" /></a></div><br />
Wonderful afternoon, ne? If anyone knows how to identify the bands according to their plaids, I would love to know that as I have pics of many bands and the drum heads are not always facing to where I can read the names, drop me a comment. Thanks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsxJozSmsms/TgGPoCitzgI/AAAAAAAAA10/gGyOAPMYQr0/s1600/caledoniadrumssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsxJozSmsms/TgGPoCitzgI/AAAAAAAAA10/gGyOAPMYQr0/s320/caledoniadrumssm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-60104591437822010422011-06-19T14:19:00.000-05:002011-06-19T14:19:14.858-05:00SPIOENKOP NATURE RESERVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NBvZFPTK5eQ/Tf5LWD2B_sI/AAAAAAAAA1U/0Sss05JsCnI/s1600/white+collar+giraffesm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NBvZFPTK5eQ/Tf5LWD2B_sI/AAAAAAAAA1U/0Sss05JsCnI/s320/white+collar+giraffesm.JPG" width="202" /></a></div>A brief visit to SPIOENKOP NATURE RESERVE allowed me to get close to the animals such as these giraffes.Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-5065036296519253402011-06-11T05:40:00.002-05:002011-06-13T06:50:20.677-05:00Jesus Christ Superstar in Johannesburg, South Africa<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNQHfKOxyUk/TfNBrdnUcrI/AAAAAAAAA1M/PnxjOiFBuMA/s1600/Cross1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNQHfKOxyUk/TfNBrdnUcrI/AAAAAAAAA1M/PnxjOiFBuMA/s320/Cross1.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this rehearsal photo of Jesus Christ Superstar (Sets by Keith Anderson, Lighting by Denis Hutchinson, Photos by Heidi Hoffer) you can see the actor on the acrylic cross in the ascension scene. The cross unit was brought up from the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. It was run by hydraulics and they brought in a master engineer stagehand to initiate the setup and supervise its use in the rehearsals. At one moment in the show it was a flat cross shaped platform about 2 meters up in the air on top of which Caesar sings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lighting Designer Denis Hutchinson, who took me on the University of Johannesburg tour with his theatre consulting group, brought me onboard for observing his work on Jesus Christ Superstar. Denis, or Hutch as he likes to be called sometimes, had seen JCS through several incarnations and an Asian tour. His Grand MA programmer is none other than Glenn Duncan, the programmer for Winnie the Opera at the State Theatre. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN8US8FDSUc/TfM6Gyb52iI/AAAAAAAAA04/K5hHphNCfDM/s1600/DHutchGDuncan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xN8US8FDSUc/TfM6Gyb52iI/AAAAAAAAA04/K5hHphNCfDM/s320/DHutchGDuncan1.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus Christ Superstar Lighting Designer Denis Hutchinson and Grand MA Programmer Glenn Duncan are illuminated by the bright lights of the ascension scene.</td></tr>
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Part of the alure of this design is that it is primarily a moving light rig. There are very few conventional instruments in the plan. I was curious how Denis would get the dramatic moments to be different from the rock and roll moments. His biggest challenge was to create a lighting design that the original lighting designer did not disagree with yet was on a small enough rig for touring and fitting into arenas and smaller venues. Denis' design in this Montecasino Johannesburg incarnation is largely his own, with the cues and the looks the way HE wanted them. I believe the introduction of moving lights to this vintage musical does change and make the look more fluid and crisp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhwyh1MEPKM/TfM8I1MB73I/AAAAAAAAA08/IxvY5PXNbZs/s1600/JC1sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhwyh1MEPKM/TfM8I1MB73I/AAAAAAAAA08/IxvY5PXNbZs/s320/JC1sm.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this rehearsal photo of Jesus Christ Superstar (Sets by Keith Anderson, Lighting by Denis Hutchinson, Photos by Heidi Hoffer) you can see the highly balanced geometry of the moving lights as their beams are revealed by the haze in the air.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Glenn likes to organize a palette of movers (moving lights - in this case ALL Vari-*Lites) in such a way that he can call up a variety of groups and operate them in absolutely any manner a designer could wish for. Glenn stated that he wished this palette could be arranged alphabetically after the icons are made. I believe that would make his fingers flash even faster. He and Denis managed to move the whole design off a Hog II onto the Grand MA. Denis was able to call for individual instruments or specific systems and Glenn would have them up and moving before Denis had finished his sentence. Amazing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya1wdW30eMg/TfM83cDt4DI/AAAAAAAAA1A/64-taxVLoY0/s1600/JCWhip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya1wdW30eMg/TfM83cDt4DI/AAAAAAAAA1A/64-taxVLoY0/s320/JCWhip1.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this rehearsal photo of Jesus Christ Superstar (Sets by Keith Anderson, Lighting by Denis Hutchinson, Photos by Heidi Hoffer) you can see that in addition to the moving lights, specific characters were picked out of the crowd my two followspots, in this case, two human operators up from Cape Town were running the followspots: two new Juliet folowspots that were so bright and beautiful Denis considered taking them down a peg with gel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The set was painted completely photo grey. The set had absolutely no colour in it, and the environment's colour came only from the lighting. Quite a bold choice and very excellent decision because the cripsness and clarity of each environment was paramount. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AcA_21iEIuk/TfM_zwG3yhI/AAAAAAAAA1E/steoNSYHt5M/s1600/Caesar1sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AcA_21iEIuk/TfM_zwG3yhI/AAAAAAAAA1E/steoNSYHt5M/s320/Caesar1sm.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this rehearsal photo of Jesus Christ Superstar (Sets by Keith Anderson, Lighting by Denis Hutchinson, Photos by Heidi Hoffer) you can see the back wall of the set - the stonework - is completely grey. It's colours come from the lighting. This is the scene where Caesar is trying to talk to J.C.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0shpNKvMyZU/TfNA6C9o3yI/AAAAAAAAA1I/Mf6iny5N3KA/s1600/JCascension1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0shpNKvMyZU/TfNA6C9o3yI/AAAAAAAAA1I/Mf6iny5N3KA/s320/JCascension1.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this rehearsal photo of Jesus Christ Superstar (Sets by Keith Anderson, Lighting by Denis Hutchinson, Photos by Heidi Hoffer) you can see the hazers are working well to create long beams of light over the audience's heads in this ascencion scene.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The MontecasinoTeatro is the theatre that was built specifically to house The Lion King. It has limited wing space and is very cramped backstage. A black theatre drape upstage hid the dressing rooms and also hid the Carbon Dioxide fog machine with its huge tank. The design team were especially happy with the low lying fog they could get with the machine. In addition to that, they had hazers in the air to facilitate the look of the ascension. The beams of light reached out into the audience.Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-3926827659712968322011-06-03T09:08:00.000-05:002011-06-03T09:08:53.772-05:00The Learned Ladies South African Style<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In reality, doing a play by Moliere in any language is a _mouthwrappedaroundallofthewords_challenge. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For the University of Pretoria, I decided to keep things simple yet Baroquely fluffy by streamlining the designs to dancewear, camping clothes, pantaloons, tights and jeans with jackets and overskirts of any period flavour. Imagine, if you will, Cirque du Soleil meets Seattle Goth and you've got an idea of our inspiration. Not everything was 50/50 but the character's stock personalities (archetypical stock characters for the 18th century) came out well.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hxvuRDXrTY/Tejp3mN1gtI/AAAAAAAAA0w/miCiIUhMJow/s1600/AliseRsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hxvuRDXrTY/Tejp3mN1gtI/AAAAAAAAA0w/miCiIUhMJow/s320/AliseRsm.jpg" t8="true" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alise is the doddering sister of Chrysalus....we did change the gender on this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18NEwVLHg84/TejqM_u4caI/AAAAAAAAA00/NP9ATFmti-8/s1600/BeliseRsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-18NEwVLHg84/TejqM_u4caI/AAAAAAAAA00/NP9ATFmti-8/s320/BeliseRsm.jpg" t8="true" width="232" /></a></div>And Belise is the romantically confused sister of Chrysalus. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-14328531834927221692011-05-14T01:53:00.005-05:002011-05-14T03:50:57.236-05:00Pretoria's Magnificent Aula Theatre: In the Middle of RennovationThe Aula Theatre at the University of Pretoria<br />
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The Aula Theatre was designed by Karel Joost in 1951, and built between the years of 1956 and 1958. It has 1012 seats and was the major opera venue in Gauteng until the State Theatre was built in the early 1980’s. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxkuJ-EhZgY/Tc4Q0j9biiI/AAAAAAAAAzg/oU40Lw50EbM/s1600/1Oudoor+Aula+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxkuJ-EhZgY/Tc4Q0j9biiI/AAAAAAAAAzg/oU40Lw50EbM/s1600/1Oudoor+Aula+photo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Photo source: </span><a href="http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/6795"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">http://repository.up.ac.za/upspace/handle/2263/6795</span></a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Leon Pienaar did a sketchup model of the theatre based on Joost’s plans in 2008. One can find it on Goodgle 3D Warehouse along with other University of Pretoria buildings. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KOUQbW6BjzQ/Tc4Rdq8MAkI/AAAAAAAAAzk/iZoTLiRgSrQ/s1600/2Sketchup+by+Pienaar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KOUQbW6BjzQ/Tc4Rdq8MAkI/AAAAAAAAAzk/iZoTLiRgSrQ/s320/2Sketchup+by+Pienaar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=e9264075e30cccbbf1e3e89aa55457a5&ct=mdcc&start=48">http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=e9264075e30cccbbf1e3e89aa55457a5&ct=mdcc&start=48</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can see the fly tower is huge, and the glass fronted lobby brings a lot of natural light. </span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Currently the Aula is going through some massive upgrades so much so that I was able to hold a lighting workshop with their brand new ETC Sensor dimmers in March before anyone could use them. The renovation continues with the lighting bars being installed on motorized winches, and a new roof and lobby upgrades. I encourage you to click on the photos below to enlarge them in order to appreciate the detail. </span><br />
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A lighting designer sitting in the house seats would look house left to see a rather large Reiger pipe organ that takes up prime lighting location real estate. I have been told the organ gets played once a year. It is getting a computer assisted something or other to make it even better. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqyUumgJZoQ/Tc4SdRqUdyI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Piwm1aaRN8c/s1600/3IMG_6068AulaFrontSRsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqyUumgJZoQ/Tc4SdRqUdyI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Piwm1aaRN8c/s320/3IMG_6068AulaFrontSRsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The photo shows the house left side of the Aula theatre auditorium featuring the Reiger organ. The theatre’s designer was not concerned about lighting angles or positions. If you look above the audience seats at the ceiling, you see the spines or fins that support the roof but also get in the way of angles for lighting positions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG5zCtWCtw0/Tc4TCWEEdEI/AAAAAAAAAzs/qonCn1-_xSE/s1600/4IMG_6065AulaFrontStagesm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG5zCtWCtw0/Tc4TCWEEdEI/AAAAAAAAAzs/qonCn1-_xSE/s320/4IMG_6065AulaFrontStagesm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The stage is completely empty now because they have been working on the rigging. This theatre used to house operas until the Pretoria State Theatre was built. It looks huge, doesn't it? <span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The front view of the stage shows how magnificent the space is. It is certainly not a dark theatre. The lighting desk in the blond wooden box dead center because the designers and technicians abandoned the original lighting control room for the better viewing angle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_mDaZBaVCA/Tc4e85me-lI/AAAAAAAAAzw/VJvoCDWVHqY/s1600/5IMG002AulaOrgan1sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_mDaZBaVCA/Tc4e85me-lI/AAAAAAAAAzw/VJvoCDWVHqY/s320/5IMG002AulaOrgan1sm.JPG" width="232" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The close-up of the Reiger organ shows how huge it is. I would really love to play it! (I got to play the organ at the Masonic Temple in Guthrie, Oklahoma…)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhIZDckN-Ss/Tc4fJdhLdmI/AAAAAAAAAz0/VQptJ6icNqU/s1600/6%257E005AulaLightingdesksm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PhIZDckN-Ss/Tc4fJdhLdmI/AAAAAAAAAz0/VQptJ6icNqU/s320/6%257E005AulaLightingdesksm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The Aula Theatre runs its lights from an ETC lighting desk. Johnnie Heinemann, Facilities Manager, is looking into upgrading to an ION or an EOS. It was very nice to find ETC equipment at the University of Pretoria.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sl-1KPMhW9o/Tc4fWRc8HCI/AAAAAAAAAz4/uKHQvbtmwEI/s1600/7%257E007AulaOldDimmerssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sl-1KPMhW9o/Tc4fWRc8HCI/AAAAAAAAAz4/uKHQvbtmwEI/s320/7%257E007AulaOldDimmerssm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In fact, the Aula theatre has brand new ETC Sensor dimmers! Pictured here are the old dimmers, and pictured below are the new ETC Sensor dimmers which take up a lot less space.<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaN-Cl35qww/Tc4flsnxSjI/AAAAAAAAAz8/E80IPL01dug/s1600/8%257E010AulaNewDimmerssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaN-Cl35qww/Tc4flsnxSjI/AAAAAAAAAz8/E80IPL01dug/s320/8%257E010AulaNewDimmerssm.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuE7WP2UJ3k/Tc4f5RabF3I/AAAAAAAAA0A/gxzsdXXTs94/s1600/9%257EIMG_6071AulaAudiencesm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuE7WP2UJ3k/Tc4f5RabF3I/AAAAAAAAA0A/gxzsdXXTs94/s320/9%257EIMG_6071AulaAudiencesm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The view of the Aula theatre’s auditorium from the stage gives you a fair idea of what more than 1000 seats looks like. You can see the FOH lighting positions are just rectangular slots in the ceiling. Trust me when I say they are scary to get to, and even worse to work with. This access is something that is addressed in the Aula’s renovation.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVOnLNShFCg/Tc4gNm3dTmI/AAAAAAAAA0E/Pu-feoxMsg4/s1600/10%257EIMG_6073AulaSLFlysm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVOnLNShFCg/Tc4gNm3dTmI/AAAAAAAAA0E/Pu-feoxMsg4/s320/10%257EIMG_6073AulaSLFlysm.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The fly gallery photo shows four operating levels. Handlines are on one level up, and the motorized lighting bar winches are on an upper level. The lighting bars have been lowered to proscenium height in this photo.</div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kM1xgsb1JQE/Tc4gxYYl9KI/AAAAAAAAA0M/THbAdvpRAoE/s1600/12%257E014AulaRopeLockssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kM1xgsb1JQE/Tc4gxYYl9KI/AAAAAAAAA0M/THbAdvpRAoE/s320/12%257E014AulaRopeLockssm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In this photo of the rope locks for the linesets, you can appreciate how tight the flyspace is from upstage to downstage. Below are great details of a rope lock and the take-up sheaves.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JPpfCBYv_h4/Tc4gqqj9dPI/AAAAAAAAA0I/zCzp8YdNpUg/s1600/011AulaRopeLock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JPpfCBYv_h4/Tc4gqqj9dPI/AAAAAAAAA0I/zCzp8YdNpUg/s320/011AulaRopeLock.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rope lock at the Aula Theatre</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb0Dh9Uh1Mc/Tc4hYCctp9I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/PmE7_J7kkQw/s1600/13%257E008AulaTakeupBlockssm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb0Dh9Uh1Mc/Tc4hYCctp9I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/PmE7_J7kkQw/s320/13%257E008AulaTakeupBlockssm.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take-up sheaves at the Aula Theatre</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Just looking at the hemp control rope made me look around for gloves…</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aY3M5IB_gbY/Tc4h5yTHOiI/AAAAAAAAA0U/yEJifoHql5M/s1600/14%257E009AulaWinchPanelsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aY3M5IB_gbY/Tc4h5yTHOiI/AAAAAAAAA0U/yEJifoHql5M/s320/14%257E009AulaWinchPanelsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The electric winches are used for the electric bars and run from this unit on the flyrail level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winches themselves are up above on another level and look like this: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dez586V6V8/Tc4idXS8--I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/lSbxavr29II/s1600/16%257E017AulaMotorWinch1sm..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dez586V6V8/Tc4idXS8--I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/lSbxavr29II/s320/16%257E017AulaMotorWinch1sm..JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> And below 1is a close-up of one of the winches with the aircraft cable wrapped around its drum. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yacVOAXRy8M/Tc4i_GM49oI/AAAAAAAAA0c/vIqgL8cSy-0/s1600/17%257E018AulaMotorWinch2sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yacVOAXRy8M/Tc4i_GM49oI/AAAAAAAAA0c/vIqgL8cSy-0/s320/17%257E018AulaMotorWinch2sm.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BvDajlGWyI8/Tc4jW3sheoI/AAAAAAAAA0g/pKxxkvTEyBo/s1600/18%257E019AulaFromGridsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BvDajlGWyI8/Tc4jW3sheoI/AAAAAAAAA0g/pKxxkvTEyBo/s320/18%257E019AulaFromGridsm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">This photo above is the view of the Aula stage from the middle fly gallery position.I was standing above the proscemium but below the top fly height looking stage right when I took this picture.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A-tP1ylmPBw/Tc4j_fus0lI/AAAAAAAAA0k/BV80tujukmo/s1600/19%257E027AulaGridLaddersm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A-tP1ylmPBw/Tc4j_fus0lI/AAAAAAAAA0k/BV80tujukmo/s320/19%257E027AulaGridLaddersm.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">And you get to the various fly galleries by climbing up this long ladder. This photo is from the bottom of the ladder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0cZASWh70bc/Tc4kf9teN6I/AAAAAAAAA0o/tZi1GS_iLTk/s1600/20%257E032AulaTeamHeidi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0cZASWh70bc/Tc4kf9teN6I/AAAAAAAAA0o/tZi1GS_iLTk/s320/20%257E032AulaTeamHeidi.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I’ll close this blog post with a photo of the Aula team and myself. From left to right: Mark White of ETC Europe, Johnnie Heinemann, Heine Grobler, Heidi Hoffer, Hein Zentgraf of T&A Lighting/Prosound, Boy Magnussen of T&A Lighting/Prosound, and Ian Blair the General Manager of T&A Lighting/Prosound. I really appreciated being able to interview the team members, and be shown around the Aula Theatre in the middle of its renovation. Photo was taken by Phuti.</div>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985197233924694909.post-74030736968722793092011-04-17T04:38:00.000-05:002011-04-17T04:38:35.730-05:00Dead ComputerHello World by Design blog readers, <br />
<br />
Did you know computers are very expensive here in South Africa? I had the opportunity to find out when my tried and true Sony Vaio laptop expired. Shame. To sum it up, I spent hundreds of Rand trying to revive it, and it is a total loss. This accounts for the hiatus in my blogging. I am shopping for a replacement computer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48Vshc7FSEU/Taqra6om-sI/AAAAAAAAAzc/VyCvcx7KAjw/s1600/IMG_6973sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48Vshc7FSEU/Taqra6om-sI/AAAAAAAAAzc/VyCvcx7KAjw/s320/IMG_6973sm.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just loved the electrical engineer's collection of computer parts and work tables in the offices where I tried to have my computer revived. The fellow in the picture managed to save the information from my hard drive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I have been extremely busy with teaching two design classes at the University of Pretoria and traveling to Cape Town to interview stage managers, production managers and directors from the Artscape Theatre to the Spier Winery amphitheatre. Photos and reports should come soon. But in the meantime I am also designing a show at the University of the Witwatersrand, assisting on the lighting ( and doing some scene painting, too) for Winnie the Opera--at the Pretoria State Theatre, doing a scenic art workshop at the Market Theatre centered around sculptural destruction and ageing...and designing two shows for University of Pretoria. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVxvswTV3FU/TaqjHEtu4fI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/FTec4XrXhZU/s1600/IMG_6572Spier+Amphi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uVxvswTV3FU/TaqjHEtu4fI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/FTec4XrXhZU/s400/IMG_6572Spier+Amphi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The 1,155 seat open-air Spier Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch near Cape Town was the site of a fine evening of Afrikaans Cabaret. The performance was In Villiers de Villiers and Amanda Strydom with Music Director Janine Neethling. This outdoor venue has become a sought-after venue for productions ranging from opera to drama since its inception some years ago. It is also the primary venue for Spier's annual Summer Festival, which runs from November to March. </span>This musical evening was part of the Woordfees Festival week. I specifically interviewed Spier Amphitheatre's world-class Stage Manager Ronel Jordaan whose stage management skills have taken her on Broadway shows through most of Asia and the UK as well as South Africa. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Wednesday, March 16th I took nearly 30 UP students,UPArts staff and faculty to the Cirque Du Soleil's venue in Johannesburg for a much sought after backstage tour. A full report will follow in another blogpost but here's a teaser.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2kGLaXLCek/TaqkW0o1z0I/AAAAAAAAAzU/lvGs-pY6-qw/s1600/CirqueTour1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2kGLaXLCek/TaqkW0o1z0I/AAAAAAAAAzU/lvGs-pY6-qw/s400/CirqueTour1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backstage Tour of Cirque du Soleil's Saltimbanco in Johannesburg at the Coca-Cola Dome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Saturday, March 26th I provided a huge all-day lighting workshop at University of Pretoria courtesy of Johnny Heinemann and his UPArts colleagues and Ian Blair of Prosound, the company that provided all of the ETC lighting equipment and EOS and ION lighting boards. We had nearly 50 participants including professional designers, faculty and students.We also had two professional Tango dancers who brought the rhythms of the dance into our bodies so we could design and light two Tangoes in the afternoon.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txQubZd2YcA/TaqneUnULqI/AAAAAAAAAzY/tNBii5iqftA/s1600/IMG_6043sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txQubZd2YcA/TaqneUnULqI/AAAAAAAAAzY/tNBii5iqftA/s400/IMG_6043sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prosound (<a href="http://www.prosound.co.za/">http://www.prosound.co.za/</a>) provided ETC lighting equipment for a huge lighting workshop at the University of Pretoria March 26. Heidi Hoffer directed the participants through many hands-on lighting applications including accessories, lens sizes and lighting two competitive Tangoes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Heidi Hofferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02192186560793647886noreply@blogger.com0