Archive for December, 2009

Artists Todd Chandler and Jeff Stark to build theater inside South Hall

South Hall is really big. 80,000 square feet big. So thank goodness we have some big projects on the horizon. For the 3rd 01SJ Biennial, ZER01 is commissioning artists Todd Chandler and Jeff Stark to build a theater inside South Hall of the San Jose Convention Center using salvaged materials.

Todd Chandler (l) and Jeff Stark (r) inside South Hall

Todd and Jeff were in town just long enough to scout materials,  take a few measurements, and start thinking big. Both Todd and Jeff are working on advanced degrees from the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  More about them:

Todd is an artist, musician, and filmmaker who is currently working on the feature-length film FLOOD TIDE. FLOOD TIDE is an experimental narrative film that was shot amidst the artist Swoon’s 2008 Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea project http://www.switchbacksea.org/, in which seven homespun boats were built and crewed by an eclectic group of artists and performers. The primary cast includes the bands Dark Dark Dark and Fall Harbor, members of which were actual crew on the homespun boats. The bands will be collaborating to write, perform and record the film’s musical score.

Jeff Stark is an artist, journalist, and the editor of Nonsense NYC, a weekly email list and discriminating resource for independent art and senseless culture in New York City. He has also conceived of and directed several street events, such the Idiotarod races in New York, and wrote and directed IRT: A Tragedy in Three Stations, a theatrical production that was staged within the New York City subway system.

read more


Catherine Galasso: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice

When making your December plans, you might want to make the time to check the upcoming performance “Catherine Galasso: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice” presented with the support of the Zellerbach Family Foundation, and the San Francisco Film Society at the SOMArts Cultural Center.

Taking place December 12-13, Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice is a multimedia dance, theater and projected video program comprised of two performances created by choreographer, dancer and video artist Catherine Galasso. She combines the ephemeral qualities of performance with the illusive permanence of film and video in order to create cutting-edge and provocative narratives.

Her first piece, Simmer, a solo dance performance by Galasso, is a homage to Galasso’s father, composer Michael Galasso. Michael Galasso composed scores for several high profile plays and films, garnered a César for Best Original Score for the highly celebrated film Seraphine, and have appeared in many venues including the Guggenheim museums of New York and Bilbao. Michael Galasso passed away in 2009. The second piece, Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice is a critical, virtual journey through the psyche of Roy Sullivan—the real-life person who purportedly holds the world record for being struck by lightning: seven times. The work, featuring choreography by Galasso for four dancers, covers Sullivan’s many tribulations through elliptical narrative, humor and movement.

Enjoy!

For tickets and more program information, visit sffs.org <http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?catid=8,38,271&pageid=1408>

read more


Light Sculpture Contest

Lights are a huge part of the holiday season and in that spirit The 88 the 88has invited ZER01 to partner around a holiday lightfest contest.  The competition involves reprogramming the light sculpture that’s housed on the front of The 88’s facade.  Anyone can enter; all it takes is a cell phone and an eye for design.  The winner will receive $100 gift certificate redeemable at one of 14 downtown restaurants or merchants.  Last day to play is December 16.  Click here to find how to sculpt light and win.

read more