Dance With Me

I've got a passion for what I'm doing and I feel privileged all the time.  -Nitin Sawhney

I have to admit, I had no idea who Nitin Sawhney was when I found that quote. I often use quotes to get my fingers moving across the keys. I'll have a surge of energy that swells up and makes me need to write. Sometimes I know exactly what I'm going to write when I sit down, and other times I browse through pages of quotes on the internet until I hit that one quote that defines the energy.

I know that I want to write about how amazing it feels to work in the arts field. I want to tell you that every time I see a new artist's work that I like, my pulse quickens. I have to show people the work and want them to feel that same feeling. (This is one of the many reasons I opened TLGUTS.)

I want to tell you that every time I watch a flash mob video on youtube I get choked up. I can't help myself. I think flash mobs are one of the most amazing things that have happened to the arts in recent history. Love or hate Oprah, or the Black Eyed Peas. That's beside the point. When I saw that flash mob dance video, I cried happy tears. I don't care who knows. My kids found it somewhat amusing, and a bit concerning, but there's something about THAT MANY people being creative together, moving their bodies, feeling the same pulse at the same time, that is utterly amazing to me. I am a youtube flash mob addict.

After watching a few of them, I started to become equally interested in the audience members' reactions. Some people keep on with their business, with only a quick dead glance at all the crazy people dancing in public. Most stand around with their camera phones and record the event in some way. Even more importantly, they look around to see how each other react to the whole thing with this gleam in their eyes and a smile on their face. Others, and these are my favorite people, try to get it on it, and they dance even though they don't know the moves.

Arts After Hours isn't a flash mob, but it's a public presentation of the arts that takes the coordination of a number of people feeling the same pulse and passion for the arts. As Corey, Seth and I plan these events, we are very aware that our audience is a critical component to the success of these events, and that in the end, its the experience of the artists and the audience that matters.

The audience is always a critical component to the arts. They keep the fire of the artists stoked. The sharing of music, performance, and visual arts, with an audience is a dance in itself. The artist leads, engaging their audience, hoping they respond, share their pulse, and move with them.

This upcoming Thursday, I want you to come dance with me at the Lynn Museum. I want you to smile. I want your pulse to quicken.

What Time is it Mr. Fox will be performing, as will Brown Chicken Brown Cow.  What Time Is It Mr. Fox will be performing a New England debut of new tunes; we're pretty excited about this and also pretty honored.

Sean Lobdell, Chris Barber, Steve Negron, Peter Pizzi, Alicia Churchill, Jane Coder, Daniel Arcand  and I have all made sculptures out of shoe lasts that are available through silent auction to help support the visual arts component of the AAH programming. Cheryl Pyburn, Karen Johnson, TLGUTS, Brian McDermott, and Subterranean will share their wares, and the Traveling Piano will be in the Museum courtyard for all to sit and become a part of a group arts experience. You know you want to come and play chop sticks...

I have a passion for what I do for artists and the arts, and I feel privileged to be able to do it. All I want to do man, is to get people's hearts dancing... and see the glimmer in the eyes and feel the pulse of those who never stopped.


Arts After Hours, Thursday, October 21, 7pm, Lynn Museum, $5 admission, live music, silent art auction, artist vendors, 50/50 raffle, raffle for Blue Ox and Turbine gift certificates, The Traveling Piano, Food by Fernando's, wine and Beer by Turbine, after party at Turbine. Part of the proceeds go towards The Lynn Museum's Matching Grant.