Cara Yeates's Blog

Ai Weiwei brings Sunflowers to NYC

carayeates — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:41:22 +0000

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.

Photo credit Paper Mag http://www.papermag.com

Sunflower Seeds is at the Mary Boone Gallery (541 W. 24th) until February 4th

Images from the Dumbo Arts Festival

carayeates — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:24:14 +0000

It was a beautiful Saturday in Dumbo, and there was a plethora of creative activities.

Bubbles and Bridges

We traded half a pack of gum for this picture to be taken in Bartertown

Trapeze and brass artists at the Galapogos Arts Space

A snapshot from the Dumpster Project

Ayumi Tanaka's magical shadow play

Video Dumbo

Beautiful portraits decorate a street wall.

Amateur wrestlers relax outside the ring

Bye Bye Bombay at the Edmonton Fringe

carayeates — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 06:03:37 +0000

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

To buy tickets click here!

SXSW 2011

carayeates — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:19:45 +0000

Here is one of the pieces I produced, shot and edited at this year’s South By Southwest Festival.

Rap Guide To Evolution

carayeates — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:33:37 +0000

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 more info on the show check out : http://rapguidetoevolution.com/

The New York Adventures continue…

carayeates — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:52:33 +0000

The beautiful mural on the roof of my building.

A shot of the band opening the 2011 Rooftop Films Summer Series. Independent films and live music on rooftops across New York City, it's magic!

Independent Designers share their wares at the Lower East Side Fashion Show

The black light show at Secret Robot Project in Williamsburg. I wish I had a secret project robot.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero's new project Alexander and Fam at the Bowery Ballroom.

Bike and screen-printing workshops at artist space Third Ward's annual BBQ

Live music and projections at Third Ward's annual BBQ

I really didn't expect to find surfers so close to the city, then I discovered rock, rock, Rockaway Beach. The Ramones were right!

Cracking up at the Eastville comedy club.

Photography exhibit during the Elizabeth Taylor retrospective at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

carayeates — Sat, 14 May 2011 23:45:45 +0000

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.

An interview with the talented Mrs. Jill Barber

carayeates — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:15:33 +0000

I had the chance to sit and chat with Canadian chanteuse, and my good friend, Jill Barber.

Here Jill talks about her new album Mischievous Moon, her influences and her inspirations.

New York I Love You…

carayeates — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:11:19 +0000

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.

Goodbye LCD Soundsystem, you will be missed.

South by South What?

carayeates — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:05:17 +0000

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.