Roundtable review

AL: Have you ever been to a rehearsal that you found more compelling than the actual performance? That's how I felt about the dance/painting performance of Caitlyn Carradine and Nicole Dionne at last week's downtown Art Walk. I was initially drawn to what they were doing through the gallery window -- they were giggling and dancing -- and lingered to watch them practice for a time. Unfortunately the only thing more polished about their final performance -- wherein they danced on canvas with paint on their feet -- were the tulip-y, pastel costumes they were wearing.

The rehearsal was glorification of the concept of "play" -- like a beautiful marked-up first draft of a manuscript. I'm a fan of process, by all means, but the work seemed to exist in the mush between workshop and finality. Had the quality of the dancing -- particularly in terms of timing -- been higher, it might have made up for the fact that the painting didn't translate any emotion. As it was, neither element could justify the existence of the other.

But ... it looked like something that might be fun to try at a slumber party ...

*****

DM: In life, there are some things you just don't do. Like tripping an elder or cussing at church. The carnal sin of living in Los Angeles is missing downtown L.A.'s bi-monthy Art Walk. Paintings are the focus, but instead of an art gallery, visiting this walk is more like being at Universal Studios' Halloween Haunt. The people outside are every bit as interesting as the people inside. The streets were full of interesting, fun activities and gallery goers. Each gallery had a different theme. Though some are more vibrant than others, all of them had a crowd. Through the window of an art gallery on the corner of Fifth and Spring St, I saw two women in ballerina-themed 80s outfits preparing a dance routine. I agree with AL, who said the rehearsal was more to watch than the performance. Caitlyn and Nicole had been partners in what they termed "high-art performances" for a year. A D.J. and co-producer had worked with them together to make a dance with loud beats, pop music, strobe lights, and paint (?). Yes, paint. How interesting an idea for them to record their footsteps with different color paint. Yellow and pink. But in this case, interesting did not equate to much more. It was a little silly watching their versions of the chicken dance, and seeing them talk, laugh, and stretch on-stage between routines. How much fun they appeared to be having up there with at least 50 people wathing them at a time. They seemed to be enjoying themselves more than the audience. So great concept, and I would give them an A in execution if we can forgive the very wobbly ballet positions. Deal? It's safe to compliment them on their idea, preparation, and execution. It just didn't work. But speaking of, AL, I am totally down for that sleepover. Music and dancing in paint. Let's just refrain from calling it high-art.
                                                          *****

MN: The dance painting would be fun at a party, since the dancers looked like they were having a grand ol’ time. The only difference would be that dancing would be fun for all guests involved in painting, but it provides little more than momentary entertainment for audience members, leaving them with no real exposure to a specific dance form, or a favorable piece of art to hang in their living rooms.
       Nevertheless, the performance drew in a crowd. A live performance is hard to ignore after walking through room after room of paintings and photographs, during LA’s Artwalk last Thursday. The Rowan Gallery, on the corner of Spring and 5th Street, beckoned hipsters and art-lovers with its airy walls and light reflecting windows. Inside, two performers colored the walls with shadows above the crowd and painted the ground with their feet after a closer look.
The girls’ live art performance was a welcome oasis from the still art that lines the streets of downtown. However, the depth of the art itself left a lot to be desired in the form of technique and context. 

     There was no apparent cohesion between the movements of their bodies and the piece of art on the floor on which they were dancing and painting. Neither the rhythm of their moves, nor the path of their feet was recorded by any of the strokes on the floor, and the mood of the music was not reflected in the colors of the paint or the markings on the canvas.
    The show would be acceptable entertainment if the artists allowed their art to be taken at face value, as a live performance. Caitlyn Carradine made it clear that their work was more than the likes of artists who create moving art, usually labeled as performance art.
“I am a certified ballerina,” Carradine said, standing outside the gallery before the show. “It’s more like high performance art.”
     Carradine deserves props for creating a fun performance that drew in a crowd, but a “certified” dancer should be able to choreograph a piece that creates a finished product that is attractive, or even remotely reflects movement, or by demonstrating a refined dance technique, which was not present. I’d like to see that certificate, perhaps it would clarify things. 

DM and AL, I will join this party, but please don’t make me watch again, I’d prefer to dance.