I’m finally starting to get settled after Echo. One of the problems with doing performance gigs where I use my computer for projections is that my whole work area (home/studio) becomes completely savaged, with much of my stuff moved off-site. Sure, I tote my laptop with me to the performance venue and then back home, but there are all the other things that get unplugged and shuffled about. This time around one of my tables was removed (it’s a very handy adjustable DJ table). And the external video card which allows me to use all these three computer monitors was away. My audio interface, also elsewhere. And even afterwards, with everything back home, I’ve been too lazy to reconfigure the whole array. But finally, over the weekend, I have my work station back in shape.

So now I have all sorts of diversion to keep me from doing all of the projects hissing for my attention. I spent several hours this morning with Ableton Live video tutorials. Also, I migrated my website from www.rebosse.com to erikbosse.com (my namesake domain came back on the market, and I snapped it up).

What I really need to be doing is to edit the footage from the other day when Amber, Charles, Eric, and Adan wandered around downtown, staging impromptu dance performances as part of Amber’s “Taken In Arms” project. They were dancing. I was shooting.

Then there’s the Mandala Healing Arts Project, which Deborah is running. I’m on board to create a series of videos to be informed by the participants. Deborah and I should be busy working on storyboards. Maybe Saturday.

I can’t forget the promotional video for the San Antonio Dance Umbrella. It should be simple and short. But last week I interviewed about ten people. There’s a lot of information to sift through. (And, I believe I need to do a final interview.)

Gemini Ink is expecting a finished edit soon from an event they had several days back which I shot.

Also, Serpientes y Escaleras. This is a play I need to start writing. The script is due the second week in January.

But, ’tis the season for procrastinators. This holiday period (for good or bad) is a nice time to hide from the world and all those pesky responsibilities.

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Taken In Arms is a portable, modular dance work created by Amber Ortega-Perez. She work-shopped a portion of the piece back in 2013 (I believe) at the W-I-P. At some point she asked if she could include me in a grant proposal. I love Amber and the wonderful work she creates, so of course I responded with an enthusiastic “yes!” The grant she was after was from the Artist Foundation of San Antonio. Back in late January of this year it was announced that she had won the grant in the dance category. My role in the project was to create a film of some of the portions; provide live video projection work during those performances in suitable venues; and to provide some documentation of the process and presentations.

We jumped into things very quickly. In February we shot some scenes of dance at Mission San Juan, and also near the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The first performance with dance and projection was at the Blue Star Arts Complex on March 8th for the Artist Foundation’s MAP (Moveable Art Party). I also included part of Taken In Arms as one of my rotating community artist portions of my play, Tales of Lost Southtown, staged during March. There was another short performance during W-I-P Créme, held back in the spring at Say Sí. (There was also a staging of one of the modules for the 8×8 showcase at Jump-Start in June, but it didn’t involve any video work.) In late September we took the piece on the road and staged some of it at the 254 Dance Festival in Waco.

On Friday (Dec. 19th) we closed the project with some impromptu public appearances (though I’m encouraging Amber to have a wrap-up event so as to squeeze out a bit of media coverage). The performers have changed over the months for various reasons. Friday, we were Amber, Charles, Eric, and Adan. Amber’s son, Topi, was there with his violin to provide music. I had my trusty C100 on a monopod. We began at HemisFair Park, hitting two sites. Next, we headed to Main Plaza, where the dancers took off their shoes and began rehearsing in one of the fountains. It was a perfect day. Blue skies and in the 70s. I also took off my shoes so that I could be in the fountain with them as they performed. I always like shooting in water. Three other locations we hit before the end of the day was a courtyard at the Southwest School of Art, the roof of the Radius Center, and the River Walk side of the Tobin Center.

Here are some screenshots from the day. I’m experimenting with some color correction schemes.

I’m glad I was allowed to play with all the people involved in Taken In Arms. Some I’ve worked with before, others were completely new to me. And it’s always encouraging to leave a project wanting to work with all involved in the future. Thank you so much, Amber Ortega-Perez, Charles Perez, Jenny Been Franckowiak, Eric Flores, Adan Alarcon, and Laura Beth Rodriguez.