Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei was detained by government officials in Hong Kong for 81 days last spring, now he’s in New York with Sunflower Seeds. I had the pleasure of stumbling upon exhibit during it’s opening at the Mary Boone Gallery. Originally show at the Tate in London, this installation is made of over one million hand painted ceramic sunflower seeds and it’s stunning.
I am once again hitting the road with my solo show Bye Bye Bombay. This August I will be performing it at the Edmonton Fringe Festival.
“GO!”- LA Weekly
“Critics Pick” – Backstage Magazine LA
* * * * – Time Out, New York
A multimedia adventure to Bollywood and beyond! Join Gauri and her puppet guides as she dodges rickshaws, Russian dancers and lecherous directors. A foreigner lost in a maze of masala, will this runaway learn more than just the art of crossing roads in India?
“Bye Bye Bombay is successful as a journey; through an intense multi-sensory experience, Yeates brings us with her halfway around the world and back.” – New York Theater.com
“This fantastic one-woman show has to be the stand-out production of the festival.” * * * * * – Uptown Magazine
“Yeates is a revelation from beginning to end” – * * * * *CBC
“Brava to Actress Cara Yeates for stitching a gorgeous sari of a show.” – Vancouver Sun
Edmonton Fringe Festival
Venue #9 TELUS Building (10437 83 Avenue)
Edmonton, AB
August 12 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
August 13 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm
August 15 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
August 19 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
August 20 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
August 21 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
My friend Baba Brinkman opens his one man show The Rap Guide to Evolution Off Broadway at the SoHo Playhouse this weekend.
I saw this show in one of its first incarnations at the Fresno Rogue Festival in ’09. The Rap Guide to Evolution is lyrical, funny and intelligent. I recommend this show, and The New York Times called it ‘astonishing’. Baba’s created and performed four solo hip hop shows including the extremely successful Rap Canterbury Tales.
For the past month, I’ve been interning at The Film Society of Lincoln Center. Most of my energy has been focused on helping them with this year’s Chaplin Award Gala.
Each year, the Film Society honors a person who has made a significant contribution to the film community. Last year they honored Michael Douglas, and the year before that Tom Hanks. This year they honored actor/director Sidney Poitier.
Mr. Poitier was recognized for the broad scope of his work, for breaking down color barriers and for the far reach of his personality. The ramifications of Poitier’s career are evident by simply looking at the celebrities who came out to honor him : Bill Cosby, Ben Kingsley, Chris Tucker, Dan Aykroyd, Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, James Earl Jones, Lulu, Mary Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, Norman Jewison, Quincy Jones, Quentin Tarantino, and Ruby Dee.
Things have settled down a considerable amount in the office, but they are sure to pick up again soon. The Film Society produces an extremely impressive number of film screening and events. In June they will be opening a new film center!
Last Wednesday evening they screened ‘The Beaver,’ a new film directed by Jodie Foster. She was in attendance and did a Q & A after the screening.
I’ve been in New York for just two weeks now. I’m amazed at the diverse art I’ve had a chance to take in, the creative minds that I’ve met, and the opportunities I’ve had presented to me. I’m going to start helping out at the Film Society at Lincoln Center tomorrow, very exciting.
My first night in the city I saw the SITI Company’s one woman show ‘Room’. Since then I’ve hit up the MoMA, the Independent Film Center and the New York Opera. The New York Opera production was called Monodramas. The show consisted of three separate modern Arias that were odd and intriguing. After the show, L Magazine had a reception in the atrium of the theater where a performance artist did a performance over Skype. I love seeing different artistic practices mix and mingle, it was a very interesting evening.
I’ve also had the chance to take in some great bands. I saw the Canadian band ‘Hey Rosetta’ and went to the CD release for ‘The Poison Tree’ at Joe’s Pub.
Saturday was the most amazing day. I spent the day at screenwriting guru Robert McKee’s workshop, then attended the final LCD Soundsystem show in the evening. Robert McKee’s workshop was a solid eight hours of intense screenwriting theory. I’ve read his book ‘Story’ several times, so the workshop really helped clarify the concepts.
I went straight from the workshop to LCD Soundsystem’s funeral. I was lucky enough to snag one a coveted ticket to the show, and I feel very luck to have been there.
The evening blew my mind. LCD Soundsystem played for over three hours. They show included an assortment of guests including Arcade Fire.
I danced my ASS OFF, but it was a bittersweet evening. James Murphy finished the show by singing ‘New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’. It a moving way to end the era of LCD Soundsytem.
LCD’s songs have been running through my head since the show. Yesterday, I went for a run over the Williamsburg Bridge and listened (as I often do) to LCD Soundsystem. I can’t help but feel like I’ve lost an old friend. LCD Soundsystem will not be making any more music for me to run, dance or live my life to. I am very grateful that I had the privileged of being at that final show. It will be a night that I will always remember.
I had an amazing and very busy time at this year’s South By Southwest Festival. Over the course of nine days I interviewed filmmakers, musicians and interactive entrepreneurs. I shot footage at various musical showcases, discussion panels and red carpet premieres.
The segments I shot at SXSW will be aired on the Vancouver station Novus TV. I will also be posting them on this blog so stay tuned.
I shot some great interviews and footage at SXSW this year. I’m looking forward to editing and uncovering all of the gems.
When the footage is put together some of the pieces will include features on Canadian musicians Ron Sexsmith, Buck 65 and Bonjay. I also shot interviews with the directors of ‘FUBAR : Balls to the Wall’, ‘Love Shines’ and ‘Kumare’. Both ‘Love Shines’ and ‘Kumare’ won Audience Choice Awards at SXSW this year.
Another magical moment brought to you by SXSW 2011.
Got my tickets to Miike Snow in April!!!******3 days ago
I stumbled upon Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei's installation of one million hand painted ceramic sunflower seeds. http://t.co/yk9q3MGQ******3 days ago
Bingham Ray passed away at Sundance, it's a sad day for Film community. My deepest condolences to all those he touched. http://t.co/6vwpu4m2******5 days ago
