7 headpieces, 3 costumes , and half a tutu and extreme fishnet repair ..let the sewing begin

As I was sewing yesterday I started thinking about contemporary circus.There are so many differences in traditional circus and contemporary circus . They all come from the same place or beginnings . Circus in Latin means circle or ring , we think the beginnings ( in modern times ) were a troupe or a herd or a bevy of horses directed by a ringmaster. Musicians were there because in civilized times we had a lot of live musicians playing and accompanying the acts or bits . Acrobats were there for a little variety , we are talking 1) a ring  2) magnificent 4 legged creatures 3) live music 4) a master of the ring . Clowns broke up the flow and created a laugh or released a little tension, acrobats filled in and were variety .No matter what , every spectacle or act had a FINALE , there were fanfares and entrances. A beginning , a middle and end  . In contemporary circus the big thing I notice is many performing spaces are NOT TENTS (which are very expensive so I am not being judgy )  . Many of the compositions are deep and dark and personal . There is NOT a lot of smiling and tada . There is not a big entrance or  a finish and that confuses me . The connection to the audience is not very connected . The irony here is while these artists are yearning to express themselves and have an important meaningful piece they lose the primal basic connection to their audience .
 Now this is not everyone in the modern modern world .I have seen some delightful performance by my Bindles and that charming tenter that plays the parks in Chicago and recently Vague de something . Without an audience it is not a performance . Without an audience it is an exercise . I will praise the startling strength and skills of some of my contemporary circus darlings . I will praise their passion . I wish people would accept the fact that it is their physical feats and humanity that captures an audiences heart .
It is about the performance , selling tickets and entertaining the masses . It is all about watching animals executing behaviors that are so obvious yet amazing ,it is about watching humans taking risks , flipping , balancing , extending and manipulating themselves while hopefully working to music , wearing  a costume and having lighting that draws you in to the experience.It is about the audience getting that high one gets when you connect to something so pure and you know that a piece of you is that performer and you are rejuvenated and ready for the world . Sometimes there is a message or a story , that is theater sleeping with the circus .

Dick and Marshall - star date December 20 , 2013

The big party at Kay's !
We celebrated Kay's 65th birthday and the holiday fun ness .
I love seeing friends but all the festivity is winning .

our friend Jake Conover

I have known Jake Conover since 1987 . He build aerial rigging , actually Custom Built Equipment will build anything you can dream of . They construct chairs to balance on , slides for dogs and pigs  , pedestals for elephants . The list is pretty long ,personally they have kept me in swivels, rope ,webs ,  neck loops , hand loops  , rosin , pulley blocks , chalk , stakes ,wheels and shackles . Sometimes I dye web casings and loop casings for them for our friends who want to have colorful equipment . Their latest endeavor  is WINE . They brought me a couple of their award winning  (at the fair )bottles , Blackberry and Cotton Candy are the flavors I received . I opened the cotton candy and couldn't believe my eyes ! Blue cotton candy wine , how fun is that ?
 My friend Jake is going through some health issues , we wish him the best . I am glad in my adventures Jake and his family have helped me as friends and suppliers . Get better Jake ! you still have more stories to share !

The living wall at nbc , part 3 nyc

This wall is inside the building and it moves like a vertical conveyor belt and it is alive .

There is no way Fresia is that tall , she is wearing heels.

30 rock and LaGuardia, nyc part 2 from November 19ish

Jan , Fresia and I went to the fancy pants area on Friday the 15 of November .We ate some Godiva aka go diva! chocolate . We admired the tree and ice skaters and then my ice skater roomie came down for a hug . Next on list of niceties cousin Jason F gave us  a tour of msnbc or nbc !!We saw the living wall , plants living on a moving wall .

 I admit I am dwelling on events that happened weeks ago..the tree at 30 rock is lit and pretty !!
I have more to say..That photo with all the tablets is LaGuardia airport , when you get to your gate at Delta there are rows and rows of tablets on bars on dinettes on standing tables.  You can go online till your flight is ready  , conveniently there are credit card scanners so you can order food from a modern overpriced plastic crappy food service or SHOP for anything from TV shows to Victoria Secret !! There was no Starbucks only yucky coffee. When we ordered food , which we did a lot of because our flight was cancelled , you go to the touch screen a) pick your food b) swipe c) get receipt d) wait for human to give you food , the ways of the modern world ! This photo does not do it justice , but there were so many rows of people glued to the screens , swiping and having a virtual party .It made me think of that movie "Wall-e" with the humans just becoming non physical beings or in "Bruce almighty" when the file cabinets open in an infinite way.

I have an idea or may I make a suggestion ? part 1

I had an idea in early October that our family unit HAD to go to NYC !! I lived there for about 6 years and I wanted to share some of my city with Fresia, I also wanted her to have some different experiences  and broaden her horizons just a little.
Marshall said he wasn't interested  in my suggestion and he would stay home and play with the house.

" I really want to go the city and see shows and take a dance class and ride the subway and look and do New York things and have Fresia meet family and friends she didn't know about "

I told a friend we were coming and she set up a neck spin class for me to teach , spinning by your neck is not a contemporary circus skill..I happen to be a pretty good spinner and spinning teacher.
Fresia was a riot , she said  , " Do you even know how to teach anything ?  Have you ever done this before ??"  I said , " Actually I have taught a few things in the air . " she looked at me with doubt .

We saw Pippin  !! Big Apple Circus !! Circus Vazquez ! We had a visit with Elizabeth Streb S.L.A.M , I taught my little class at Big Sky Works and met some aerialists, Fresia shopped and bought a pair of 8" platforms and cute clothing, I took a class at the Martha Graham Center ! we went to 30 rock and to studio 9C (a cousins office) and saw the big tree being decorated, I even squeezed in  a hot yoga class , went fabric shopping , saw cousins that we share great and great great grand parents with , saw friends from my late teens and their children  and friends I have had adventures with before Fresia was born and friends we both share.

We did a lot of subway and walked a lot !! Cabs are if you are just too tired to walk to the subway or if it is freezing or if you are lazy or if you have luggage ..
Every time I tried to share my love of maps and direction with Fresia and explain where and how we were going she gave me the look of death ! As we were landing at LaGuardia we flew over Circus Vazquez , I was thrilled and tried to share my joy..no response . However when I pointed out the new World Trade Towers she was thrilled too ! yay .

We stayed with wonderful friends Jan and Chayda  in Greenwich Village . A lovely place with sun streaming in and a view of things !! Fresia was so impressed

As we walked down the streets I said hi to the doggies , she said don't talk to these people or these dogs..by the 2nd day she was talking to the doggies too ! success

She shared her knowledge of dog behavior impressing our cousins , because she has the Dr  Doolittle thing , kind of.

In conclusion it was a glorious time . We live for today because who really knows what tomorrow will bring.

Fresia , self ,Vik G ,Chris P @ Pippin after the show and before the amazing backstage tour, orchestra of 13 musicians !!

The view from the 6th floor , to the left is the Pink Building( not the artist )  to the right the Hudson River

Jan , Fresia ,Johnny K , self and Chayda @ Big Apple Circus .

COUSINS !!! in Brooklyn ,we ate at an amazing restaurant ! Pizza with Gravlax and capers , need I say more ?

Circus Vazquez live BAND !! I used museum setting on the camera so there was no flash

Cousin Grumpy dancing ! notice those jazz hands

Rigging

The rigging is up at 30 feet . If you live in Florida and have uprights in your yard you usually do some gardening and tree trimming while setting up . Our very nice friends Jodie , Erwin , Katia , Jovi and Alyssa came over for the fun . I thought the rigging would clear the potato vines and dead orange tree . The guy lines got hung up so we needed an extension ladder , power saw , a rope and trimmers . Erwin climbed up the scary tree and cut away. Jodie was on ladder , Marshall on being tall and pulling vines and branches , Jovi on generally very useful and I was on pulley block with some peanut gallery ! The rigging is up and we had a sweet visit . I am thankful for a sunny healthy day with friends .