Author Archives: LB

About LB

Dancer-Artist currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mid-Performance Update

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Hi friends!

It’s my first day off in over a week! It’s lovely just to sit at home, drink coffee, call the folks, and just breathe for a moment.

Last weekend was the ODC Dance Jam’s fifth home season performance, V (“Five”). I helped organize their costumes and arrange the opening night reception. I’m so proud of these teen’s dedication and hard work. Not only do they rehearse and perform new and old works by a stunning array of Bay Area choreographers, they also do all the organizing, fundraising, ticket-selling, reception planning, marketing & PR work for their show. The ODC Dance Jam is awesome. No other way to say it. My favorite piece in their show was Scott Wells’ new work for the Jam. I happily worked with him to put together the costumes for it and I love how rock & roll he let me make it! Wells’ piece is humorous, high energy, and always makes me tear up a bit when three dancers come forward for an intimate moment with the audience to tell them about why they dance. The last, and best, line:

“Actually, it doesn’t make sense to talk about dance.  We dance because words are insufficient to our reality.  And, also, lets change the music.”

Cue the Smashing Pumpkins.

As the Jam did their last performances, I was getting the costumes organized to be loaded into the truck to take ODC’s 41st annual home season, Dance Downtown, to YBCA. We loaded in the next day and the majority of my week was spent pulling last minute costume details together. Oh the flurry of costume shopping, sewing, notes, organizing, and laundry! The 12 hour days of dress rehearsals right before opening nights were the hardest, but also the most satisfying. It’s a magical time, to stand in the house with the choreographers, or in the wings with the dancers, and witness it all come together.

All of the works presented this year I enjoy for different reasons. I love Kimi Okada’s brilliantly humorous, culture questioning, I look vacantly at the Pacific.. though regret, which has the best costumes and I always laugh out loud during! I could discuss for hours the juxtaposition of Brenda Way’s all-female Breathing Under Water and KT Nelson’s all-male Cut Out Guy, but then I would get sidetracked talking about the sweet live music manipulations of Zoe Keating and the Magik*Magik Orchestra. Way’s Raking Light raises questions, and Part of a Longer Story delights, but I am quite taken with Nelson’s Transit.

As my boyfriend Matt put it, after he saw the opening night performance, “It’s a slice of San Francisco.” You see relationships, a family, human interactions unfold over the course of a day. Three amazing custom built bicycles (imagine if a bike mated with a park bench, another with an outdoor cafe table complete with umbrella…) that fly across and around the stage. If you ever get a chance to see them up close, they are unwieldy beasts, but in their relationship with the dancers’ skill, they become light-weight, well-oiled, performing machines. A cloud of hanging Edison bulbs flicker on and off, and they could be stars, streetlights, lights in buildings in a city scape…

I love being in the wings for this piece, in my super important role as newspaper collector, costume quick change artist, and bicycle-butt-straightening assistant. For this piece, and the others, I get a different perspective on the performance than the audience, and it’s still magical. Maybe even more! They should charge extra for my seat (not that I would give it up!)! Seeing the wheels turning, how the cogs are in place – I have so much respect for the choreographers and these dancers, and the process that makes this magic happen. Just like the bikes, a well-oiled, working machine: a work of art producing art.

Here is video of the outdoor performance of Transit ODC did last fall for the SF Trolley dances. I love this version, too, especially the library patrons wandering in and out of the performance.

 

Transit/SF Trolley Dances from ODC Dance on Vimeo.

 

Lastly, my words are truly insufficient to describe how beautiful all of the ODC SF dancers are, in every piece, every performance. As dancers, as people, on stage - breathtaking.

I am so lucky to spend these backstage hours with them, in our wardrobe fittings, laughing, hysterically tired, telling dirty jokes. I feel that I am just a small cog in this performance machine, or the very youngest sister in this dance family (pick your metaphor), but I couldn’t feel more blessed to be a part of it all.

Come see ODC SF Dance Downtown at YBCA this week!

- Liz, ODC SF Wardrobe Supervisor

An Interview with a Successful Artist: Esmeralda Kundanis-Grow

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The Project: I want to be a successful artist. What does that mean? How do I define “artist”? How do I define “success?” I want to interview fellow artists for my own and others’ inspiration.

Notes: I started with artists I know personally very well, and the first 5 interviews came together in a mini-series of emerging artists. The 5 interviews in this series were transformed into mini-zines with hand-drawn portraits of the artists and other details by me. These are available for purchase at my Etsy shop ronddejambe.

More interviews are in the works…

Some names have been abbreviated at the request of the artist. Information regarding the artist has been reviewed and approved by the artist.

Interview #4

The Artist: Esmeralda Kundanis-Grow is a dancer, teacher, and artist currently based in San Francisco. She teaches Rhythm & Motion at ODC and creative movement for public school students.

I met Esme at the University of Colorado at Boulder. These days, when we hang out, we talk about dance, the art community here, and being successful as an artist.

LB: When people ask “what do you do?” how do you describe your work?

EKG: I always say I’m a dancer. I’m new to teaching dance. I’m new to calling myself a teacher. I say professional dancer as well, but with quips. I got a degree in dance, but I’m confused as to when you get to call yourself a “professional.”

LB: How did you get started being a dancer?

EKG: I started when I was a kid, improvising to music in my room, having fun. My mom put me in studio classes, but at first I got kicked out. I was too wild. I wanted to run around barefoot, not in ballet slippers.

LB: What do you struggle with when it comes to your work?

EKG: I struggle with thinking too much, labels, what it means to create something new, not always being autobiographical, texture, subtle changes in body, criticism, how people view my profession, & family.

LB: What is your approach to that struggle?

EKG: My approach is to bring an awareness to find a different way in. To acknowledge what I’m up against, and to make work about it. To allow myself to make work I don’t think is great. Be present. Push myself.

LB: If someone said, “I want to do what you do,” what advice would you have?

EKG: Listen to your body, explore different dance environments, remain open-minded, go back to ones that really grab you & propel you down that dance tunnel. Find what drives YOU. I have my own path. Living through other artists is not always good.

LB: Have you ever asked someone that? Who has inspired you?

EKG: I’ve been very lucky that people I admire have been very open & shared their experiences, contacts, & info. They’ve always said, it’s gonna be hard. O.O. at CU inspired me to teach. G.T. – now here in SF, too – I reference him for multimedia exploration. Those two, their voices are always in my head.

LB: What are your goals when it comes to your work?

EKG: I have different goals for my different roles. But overall, my goal is to continue being both student & teacher. After school, you become your own motivator. I want to be constantly learning.

LB: Essentially, what makes you passionate about your work?

EKG: The way dance makes me feel, grounds me, connects me to my body, & makes me ask hard questions. It exposes. It makes my heart happy. It’s so… It makes me gleeful.

It lights me up.

It makes me feel closer to my soul.

LB: Do you think of yourself as an artist? Why or why not?

EKG: In school, I thought of myself as an artist. In the “real world,” I just feel like a human who loves to create and do things. I’m a body that moves.

LB: Do you think of yourself as successful? Why or why not?

EKG: Success to me is really being happy, content, & sharing that with people I treasure. I just moved here, so I’m building that.

Esme’s work can be seen on Vimeo with Es Mara & Tilt Productions.

Much thanks to Esme for this interview!

Purchase this interview in all its mini zine glory HERE

An Interview with a Successful Artist: Elizabeth Dorman

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The Project: I want to be a successful artist. What does that mean? How do I define “artist”? How do I define “success?” I want to interview fellow artists for my own and others’ inspiration.

Notes: I started with artists I know personally very well, and the first 5 interviews came together in a mini-series of emerging artists. The 5 interviews in this series were transformed into mini-zines with hand-drawn portraits of the artists and other details by me. These are available for purchase at my Etsy shop ronddejambe.

More interviews are in the works…

Some names have been abbreviated at the request of the artist. Information regarding the artist has been reviewed and approved by the artist.

Interview #3

The Artist: Elizabeth Dorman is a professional pianist & native of San Francisco. She has won many competitions & been the featured performer at national festivals. She also has two very large cats.

Recently, over tea, I got caught up on her life as a successful artist.

LB: When people ask “what do you do?” how do you describe your work?

ED: I’m a pianist. I’m on staff at the SF Conservatory. I also teach and perform

LB: How did you get started being a pianist?

ED: I was 5 years old and I fell in love with music. I decided before even taking lessons that I wanted to be a pianist. My mom told me, “they are called concert pianists.” So at 5 years old, I started telling people I was going to be a concert pianist.

LB: What do you struggle with when it comes to your work?

ED: Pacing myself, not taking on too much work & taking care of my body. Not comparing myself to other people. Not thinking about it too much – like wondering why do this when there are a million people who do it better? That doesn’t get you anywhere.

LB: What is your approach to that struggle?

ED: Learning what I can handle physically & prioritizing. If I see someone better than me, I try to just admire what they do and how wonderful it is. Consciously turn my insecurities into admiration to make me work harder.

LB: If someone said, “I want to do what you do,” what advice would you have?

ED: That’s hard, because if you want a professional career, most people start really young. But I know some people  who have successful 2nd careers as pianists. If you want to play the piano, you should. It’s an instrument you can learn and play your whole life.

LB: Who has inspired you?

ED: I don’t usually ask other pianists. That’s a strange question, because everyone’s path and skills are so different.

Lots of people have inspired me. I get inspired all over the place! I’m very inspired by fellow musicians and music lovers.

LB: What are your goals when it comes to your work?

ED: Work harder and get better. Learn.

LB: Essentially, what makes you passionate about your work?

ED: Sometimes what I’m passionate about is a deadline & I’m terrified of failing in public!

But it’s so much a part of my language and who I am. I would be doing this if I had another job. When I hear something really beautiful, I think, I want to do that, now! I want to play that.

LB: Do you think of yourself as an artist? Why or why not?

ED: On good days, yes. On bad days, I think of myself as a piano player. My teacher used to call it being a “pianimal” (an animal that plays the piano). I feel like an artist when I’m working hard and not letting anything slip.

LB: Do you think of yourself as successful? Why or why not?

ED: I’m trying to purge that word out of my mind because it’s not useful. You can define it in any number of ways, but you’ll always leave out something important. What matters is can you live? Do you like what you do?

Elizabeth Dorman can be contacted at:

esdorman@gmail.com

 Much thanks to Elizabeth for this interview!

Purchase this interview in all its mini zine glory HERE

Apple Season

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Dear friends,

I have a new(ish) dance-for-camera that’s now online!

Apple Season was created and filmed in the fall of 2010. It was edited in 2011. It took a long time to come together. It was a one-woman production, and it got put on the back burner for while things in my life shifted, and changed, and generally had to be sorted out.

Originally, this work was inspired by my love of mystery and detective stories. I discovered that the first story considered to be a murder mystery is “The Tale of Three Apples” from The Arabian Nights. It was very interesting (and troubling) to me that the first murder mystery was about domestic violence towards a woman. Apple Season came from my idea of the voiceless victim also acting as the detective – telling her side of things as the clues are pieced together, working backwards from the murder.

Original costume design – click to enlarge.

Another driving theme of this piece is how the body tells invisible stories. Detective stories from Sherlock Holmes to CSI are popular because we, the audience, are blown away by how much information can be gathered from simple (or high tech) observations of the body. As a dancer and choreographer, I am very interested in how the body tells these stories.

I created the storyboards, costume, and choreography. I experimented with creating a dye from beets to stain the dress. I filmed myself in my apartment, using my roommate’s camera.

The San Francisco-based band, The Definite Articles, gave me permission to use a song they thought would be perfect for the project – The Calm, from their latest album, King Merriweather. It was a wonderful fit.

In fact, I almost gave up on this project altogether. Luckily, when I saw a live performance of the song that I had been given permission to use by The Definite Articles and it re-inspired me to finish the editing.

I submitted this to the SF Dance Film Fest, but it didn’t make it in. So now, a long time in coming it seems, it’s public! I hope you enjoy it. I’d love to hear your feedback.

Thanks! – LB

An Interview with a Successful Artist: Juliana Olsson

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The Project: I want to be a successful artist. What does that mean? How do I define “artist”? How do I define “success?” I want to interview fellow artists for my own and others’ inspiration.

Notes: I started with artists I know personally very well, and the first 5 interviews came together in a mini-series of emerging artists. The 5 interviews in this series were transformed into mini-zines with hand-drawn portraits of the artists and other details by me. These are available for purchase at my Etsy shop ronddejambe.

More interviews are in the works…

Some names have been abbreviated at the request of the artist. Information regarding the artist has been reviewed and approved by the artist.

Interview #2

The Artist: Juliana Olsson is a science illustrator, grad student in Museum Studies at Johns Hopkins, zombie researcher, & that rare species: the San Francisco native.

She currently lives in Nashville, TN, interning at the zoo. We had a very long chat about what it means to be a successful multi-disciplinary artist with multiple competing interests.

LB: When people ask “what do you do?” how do you describe your work?

JO: Career-wise I’m between jobs, but my most recent paychecks are from science illustration gigs. I use pencil, paper, observation & some imaginations to tell the story of a species.

LB: How did you get started being a science illustrator?

JO: My last semester of college, I realized I didn’t know what to do post-graduation. But I knew I wanted to combine art & science. I started doing projects for labs, and was hired by a researcher at Cal Academy of Sciences.

LB: What do you struggle with when it comes to your work?

JO: The loneliness of the work. Channeling my perfectionism into something workable (read: not constantly feeling dissatisfied with my work). I have to remind myself to take breaks.

LB: What is your approach to that struggle?

JO: As much as I love drawing, I really need a career where I’m on a team, where there are people around. That’s how I fell into museum studies. To make the perfectionist voice go away, I just need to practice more.

LB: If someone said, “I want to do what you do,” what advice would you have?

JO: It’s great work for an artist with an inclination towards science and nature. Illustrators are always needed. There’s a lot of useful technology, but a human filter is required. There is a guild, several schools & programs, & internships.

LB: Who has inspired you?

JO: I recently read about an 18th century artist named Jan van Rymsdyk who did some amazing work, but I always admire/aspire towards my talented contemporaries. Check out: http://scientificillustration.tumblr.com/

LB: What are your goals & passions?

JO: I considered getting a certificate in science illustration but am pursuing the masters in museum studies instead – I’m really hoping to make science education more exciting and fun!

In the mean time, I’m working on homework, my website, a friend’s music video, and one day I WILL write the definitive analysis of zombie films.

And in general I get excited about many forms of art, and seeing things I want to do or make.

LB: Do you think of yourself as an artist? Why or why not?

JO: Yes and no. People pay me to draw things, and I draw in my free time. But I’ve never felt good enough to call myself a true artist. If I were an artist, my art would be my whole life (or a bigger chunk of it), and I’d be creating inspiring, unique things.

LB: Do you think of yourself as successful? Why or why not?

JO: I’m still looking for a vision of what I want to do. Success will be when I have clearer goals, and am on the path to making them into reality.

Juli’s work can be seen at:

www.julianaolsson.com

She can also be found on Twitter @julipants

 Much thanks to Juli for her interview & help with the editing process!

Purchase this interview in all its mini zine glory HERE

 

 

2011 to 2012: Let’s Get Ambitious

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Well hello friends!

So, my last post was in Nov. 2011, before my life disappeared down the rabbit hole (literally) of wardrobe and costume work for ODC Dance’s 25th Anniversary of The Velveteen Rabbit, trying to keep up with the ODC Dance Jam, holidays, and travel. Happily, everything went smoothly and I even got to spend time with my wonderful family and amazing friends in CO and CA.

And here we go! Not even a full week into 2012, and already things are starting up again in full force. But before life gets too crazy, here’s a fun and ridiculously long list of my resolutions, aspirations, and projects for 2012!

IN LIFE

  • I want to be more direct, straightforward, confident. Go for what I want!
  • Plan ahead more.
  • Take control of my personal finances.
  • Get out of the city more often! Hiking, day trips, seek wilderness!
  • Go see more local shows (music, dance) & art
  • Learn more Spanish!
  • MORE: art, dance, music, food, books, travel, love!

IN DANCE

  • Make a weekly class schedule & stick to it!
  • Choreograph & present new work
  • Audition, seek collaborations
  • Ponder: Teaching? Yoga certification?

IN ART & COSTUMES & FREELANCE WORK

  • Continuing work with ODC: Dance Jam & Costumes!
  • I want to focus more on my drawing & designs. (Webcomic?!! SF Zine Fest 2012!!!)
  • Ponder: Ways to sell – Etsy shop development? More festivals?
  • For this site: Continue Successful Artist Interview series, pages of portfolios/galleries, keep experimenting & developing!

Let’s get ambitious about 2012.

Happy New Year! – LB

An Interview with a Successful Artist: Matt Mochizuki

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The Project: I want to be a successful artist. What does that mean? How do I define “artist”? How do I define “success?” I want to interview fellow artists for my own and others’ inspiration.

Notes: I started with artists I know personally very well, and the first 5 interviews came together in a mini-series of emerging artists. This interview and the 4 that follow were transformed into mini-zines with hand-drawn portraits of the artists and other details by me. These are available for purchase at my Etsy shop ronddejambe.

More interviews are in the works…

Some names have been abbreviated at the request of the artist. Information regarding the artist has been reviewed and approved by the artist.

Interview #1

The Artist: Matt Mochizuki works for a multi-desciplinary architecture design and build firm. After a long day in the metal shop, he answered my questions about being a successful artist.

LB: When people ask “what do you do?” how do you describe your work?

MM: I’m an architectural metal fabricator. I weld a lot – mostly high end work. That means making sure the welds can’t be seen.

LB: How did you get started being a metal fabricator?

MM: I couldn’t get a job as an architecture student, and working with my friend SF, I found I enjoyed building. I got my Masters and learned how to weld properly.

LB: What do you struggle with when it comes to your work?

MM: At first it was hard to do welds seamlessly. Grinding was hard to get used to and I wasn’t that good.

LB: What is your approach to that struggle?

MM: Now I’m better at welding and grinding and I’d have to say it’s all the repetition, and well, I hadn’t really welded that much before this job.

LB: If someone said to you, “I want to do what you do,” what advice would you have?

MM: Learn how to weld! I mean, basically, you need to get good at welding, grinding, and machining.

LB: Did you ever ask someone that question? Who has inspired you?

MM: My teacher, LLB. He was so passionate about metal working and he knew everything there was to know. He was really approachable – always able to field questions. Also, my friend RL really inspired me. He really taught me how to weld. And I could ask him any questions I was afraid LLB didn’t have time for.

LB: What are your goals when it comes to your work?

MM: I’d like to own my own metal working shop, maybe with wood working tools, too, so I can incorporate wood and metal. I really have a lot more experience working with wood.

LB: What essentially makes you passionate about metal working?

MM: The satisfaction of creating something everyday. It’s kind of a power trip – you’re joining two pieces of metal together… WITH FIRE.

LB: Do you think of yourself as an artist? Why or why not?

MM: Yes, I like creating things.

LB: Do you think of yourself as successful? Why or why not?

MM: Yeah, I mean, I’m more successful than I was before grad school!

Thank you Matt!

Purchase this interview in all its mini zine glory HERE

New Postings, Happenings & Upcomings

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Hello Friends!

It’s a Friday and I’m at home! I renewed my health insurance today (yay health insurance)! The sun is shining in the Mission and my boyfriend has promised to make his amazing enchiladas tonight. Things are good! Things are BUSY…

I have lots of new postings, happenings and upcomings in my life that I’m very excited about.

ODC Dance has hired me to be the wardrobe head for their annual holiday show, The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s a big, lovely show with lots of intricate costumes, and I’m so excited to be apart of it! What will I be doing? Inventory of costumes, fittings with dancers, overseeing any repairs and alterations, loading in and out of the YBCA, and making sure everything goes smoothly when it comes to costumes at every live performance!

I’ll also be starting the costume work for Lick-Wilmerding High School’s winter dance concert next week. This will be my 3rd concert with them! I always love working with their enthusiastic dance students.

Today, I added 2 new HellaScarves to my Etsy shop: ronddejambe! Please say hello to Raw White

& Sea Creatures

Mmmmm… fancy!

Next week, on this blog I’ll be starting a new series featuring an interview / zine project I did this summer about successful artists. This zine series premiered at this year’s SF Zine Fest, and I can’t wait to finally show it online, too.

I’m continuing my fascination with color research, I bring you shades of…

Sea Foam Green

On Etsy & On Pinterest

Lastly, I’ve added a portfolios and galleries page to this website, where I’ll be featuring photography of myself and my work. These pages are still under construction, but I’ll let you know as things progress.

Enjoy! And Happy Halloween weekend!

- LB

ODC Dance Jam & An Afternoon in Wine Country

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Dear friends,

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the ODC fundraising event, An Afternoon in Wine Country at the Rubicon Estates, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery. I was in the good company of the ODC Dance Jam and I have to say, we had an excellent time of it! And, I’m happy to report that we helped raise quite a lot of money for the ODC school, youth program, and company.

Here are some of my photos from the event! Click to enlarge.

About that last picture… I didn’t get a picture of it in Napa, sadly, but I bought a fascinator for this and future fancy events! Discovered at the SF Alternative Design Studios, it is a one of a kind piece of wearable art, handmade by House of Nines Design. I couldn’t be happier with it!

Keep it fancy, friends!

- LB

Fashion Bandit

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Dear friends,

I have a new product in my Etsy shop! This HellaScarf, or “statement neckwear” piece, Bandit: http://www.etsy.com/listing/83109414/black-on-black-statement-neckwear

Inspiration: I was inspired by black-on-black fashion, wanting to create shorter, closer-to-the-neck, more like a high collar-type of sculptured scarf, and oh yes, this insanely fun movie Let the Bullets Fly featuring 1920′s Chinese bandits!

What would go well with this? Items from other Etsy sellers that would look great with this new HellaScarf, and also capture the same fashion sense that I was going for when I created Bandit.

(or, what I wish I was wearing in the product photos!)

From your head to your toes…

For inspiring your inner bandit:

Bandit in Black – 10×15 Giclée Canvas Print by cheeseboyproducts

For your mod-loving earlobes:

Little Mod Robot Earrings by Petunkalunka

&

Mod Black Clover Earrings by BeesKneesCrafts

For the killer,  black and white combo:

Black Rose Goth Ostrich Feather Fascinator Hair Clip by STAROSECREATIONS

which would look awesome with Bandit & this dress:

Vintage 1960s Mini Pan Am Dress Black and Silver Metallic Dress / Mod Futuristic Stewardess Dolly Mini Shift from VivaLaVintageShoppe

Or, to contrast Bandit’s darkness, but keep the draped look:

Hand knitted, mohair, sleeveless sweater with cowl neck by Julia Gasin

To match Bandit’s sleek fanciness:

Black Silk Brooch, Kanzashi Floral Pin in Noir Flower by PetalMix

which would look great with

The Night Out Dress by necessityisthemother

And of course, don’t forget your boots, you bandit!

Button Up Black Boots (size 7) by OtherPeoplesProperty

To the Etsy sellers who allowed me to feature their products & the super fabulous Laurel, who inspired me to create this post – Thank you so much!

So if you need that perfect accessory to bust out your inner fashion bandit, for those days you just want to create a little mystery…

Enjoy!

LB