in late august of this year, 4 artists who like to think and talk came together in over-the-rhine to make a performance that brought up some questions and feelings about politics, space, belonging, economics, and responsibility. they were friends, strangers, designers, dancers, musicians, writers, and activists brought together by project cinicinnatUS to make a piece of critical participatory art for jackson street. kim burgas came from new york to design interactive maps/infographics, make dances, and lead us on walks, nora blackall came from new york to dance, sing, and ask deep questions, jazzmen lee-johnson came from chicago to make music, write poetry, and tie us together, and i (ethan philbrick) gave them a place to stay, learned from them all, and prodded us along. we dove deep into the politics, histories, and forces at play in over-the-rhine. asking questions like-- who are we to each other? do we ever really see or hear each other? how can we mix multiple communities when there is an underlying fear or resistance to do so? after a week of talking, playing, wondering, and making, we presented a final performance on jackson street in conjunction with the art academy's exhibition, 20 years/20 artists-- a retrospective of cincinnati's rich history of city supported individual artist grants.
here are a couple of videos that bring together photos and music from the final performance:
this first video documents an original song that was sung while a monologue was performed and cupcakes were handed out to the audience below one of the "future blooms" painted boarded up doors.
no loitering no sitting from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
and here's a transcript of the monologue:
(performed in a saccharine voice)
“Hello! My name is Phil. Come closer! Fill in! Thank you so much for coming to tonight’s presentation. It’s great to see you all on this beautiful evening in historic Over-the-Rhine.
I’d like to start us off with a little of my personal background. When I went to college I had an awakening. I realized that the world wasn’t equal. I found out that there was such a thing as social injustice and that there were poor people and struggle in the world. It was amazing. I felt so privileged to find out what the world is really like. After my awakening there was this moment when I said to myself, “Okay buster, it’s time for a change! Who are we and what are we doing to this planet and all these poor people!” (getting excited) It was like a call to arms—I felt so inspired! I wanted to fix everything and change everything—heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race!
And now—here I am, in Cincinnati, keeping Cincinnati beautiful, (motions to the “Keep Cincinnati Beautiful” stencil on the painted doorway), well painted, and brightly colored!
You know, like what that mayor did in New York in the 80s—that one who systematically scrubbed every square inch of vandalized, grafittied city owned property? It worked! Everyone knows New York is a great city! It got rid of all the crime and all the poverty and all the racism! They found the key! Just make things look beautiful!
Which is why I’ve baked these cupcakes for you (hands out cupcakes to the audience). I want to use them to expand and soften your sensibilities and appeal to your sense of justice in this gentrifying movement to rejuvenate Over-the-Rhine. So fill your bellies and souls with the beautification proliferation!
Like the great Jurassic 5 once said: “We’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.” So what’s your contribution to life? Huh? What are you doing about it? How are you helping the world? (starts to turn on the audience and get worked up) It’s time to move! Look at you all! Just standing around! Messying up my beautified stoop! You can’t just stand here and keep me from keeping Cincinnati beautiful! (getting into a manic craze) This is about buildings, not people! Get out of here! Only certain people can be seen on this step! Leave! This space isn’t for you! I should fence in these steps! You don’t look like the people on the posters! I should get some security here! No loitering! No Sitting! NO STANDING! No posting! GO! MOVE! Get out of here!”
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the second video is a collection of photos from the performance paired with a recording of a song that was performed to accompany a butoh piece by dancer and artist kim burgas. the song is a remix of the folk song, "gallow's pole", with additional lyrics and music by jazzmen-lee johnson and performed by jazzmen-lee johnson, nora blackall, and ethan philbrick,.
slack up your rope from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
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the final piece in the performance was a remix of "pure imagination" (originally by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the first movie version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) with additional lyrics and music by jazzmen lee-johnson, performed by nora blackall, jazzmen lee-johnson, and ethan philbrick. the video below pairs the song with a picture of a moment after the performance in which the performers gave the audience a pamphlet with interactive maps of over-the-rhine.
imagination from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
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here are digital copies of the pamphlet. click the image to enlarge. if you'd like a paper copy, please email projectcincinnatus@gmail.com
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here's a recording of a found-language musical-poem-map of cincinnati's vine street from liberty to central parkway that was played out of a car window during the final performance:
vine street from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
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and here are a couple of peaks into the process of creating the performance
a teaser we made during rehearsal:
jackson street-- friday august 27th-- 7pm from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
a clip of one evening's impromptu concert/rehearsal/conversation on clay street:
process 1 from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
conversations quickly turn into concerts when you happen to be carrying a ukulele:
process 2 from Ethan Philbrick on Vimeo.
a stop animation study:
Project Cincinnatus Stop Motion from Kimberly Burgas on Vimeo.
what are your thoughts, questions, or criticisms? did you see the performance? what grabbed you the most? what intrigued you the most?
