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International2012RockieStone13.06.1213.07.12

FinalReport:MyIn-HabitartsresearchandculturalexchangeprojectendedupbeingasplitresidencyexperienceoftwoweekseachintwodifferentplacesinregionalFrance.

InitiallyIhadappliedtoconductamonth-longresidencyatLaChartreuseinAvignon,

France,duringtheFesitvaldAvignon,itsconjunctiveAvignonOffFestivalandtheMidi-

PyreneesCircusFestival(asubsetoftheAvignonOff)inJuly2012.Iintendedonspendingtimebothincreativedevelopmentandinnetworkingandresearchingvia

seeingshowsandmeetingartistsduringthefestivals.SinceLaChartreusewasnot

availableatthistimeforsuchaproject,IfollowedaleadIfoundthroughresearchingthecontemporarycircusbeingshownatAvignon,anddiscoveredthepurpose-built

contemporarycircusartsspaceLaGrainerie,anditscloselyassociatedcircusschoolLeLido,bothinToulouse.Ihadalsodevelopedaninterestintheworkandtheyearly

rencontre(encounter/convention/symposium)ofaerialdancebyFredDebinnorth-

westFrance.Fromherethen,afterconversation,adviceandapprovalfromJudeatPunctum,itwasagreedIwouldseektospendtwoweeksinToulouseattheLaGrainerie

networkingandincreativedevelopment,andtwoweekslearning,researchingandnetworkingwithotheraerialistsinLaBauleatLesRencontresdeDanseAerienne.Eachof

theresidenciesresultedinperformanceoutcomes:atLaGrainerieTranchedeTemps

(TimeFrame)a35minuteshowingoftheworkIhadmadeduringmytimethere;and

atLesRencontresdeDanseAerienneapublicperformanceofEnTempsRel(RealTime)ImprovisationontheCordeLisse,inaticketedeveninginatheatreaspartofthe

rencontre.

DuringbothresidenciesIwasalsodeterminedtofocusonfurtherdevelopingmyFrenchlanguageskills.

FollowingthesemyresidenciesIdidalsomakemywaydowntoAvignonforthreedaystodiveintoallthefabulousnessthattheAvignonInandOfffestivalshadtooffer,

feastingdayandnightonshowsandconversationsaboutartandperformancemaking

withotherartists.Ihavevowedtoreturnandpresentmyownworkthereoneday!Suchagreatplaceandagreatfestiveplaceandtime.

ResidencyPart1:

>LaGrainerie,Toulouse,FranceInthebeginningmycommunicationwithGeo,thecoordinateuratLaGraineriewasa

littleslowedbylanguage.MyFrenchwasbasicandIsoughtassistanceintranslatingmyemailsinordertoaddresshimrespectfullyinhislanguage.LikemyFrench,hisEnglish

wasminimal.Ididnotgetareplyinitiallyandendedupbookingflightsregardless,ona

hunchitwouldturnoutokay.Itdid.Georepliedaftermysecondenquirywithan

apologyfornotreplyingsooner,afurtherapologythattheirresourceswerelimitedandhewasntsurewhattheycouldofferme,butanencouragementtocomeanywayand

thattogetherwithLeLidosomethingcouldbearrangetohelpmeout.AndsoIdidjust

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that.Mytimespenttherewassodelightfulandsooverwhelminglyproductive.ThereIspenttwoweeksinpersonalartsresearchwithafocusoninitiatingacreative

developmentforTranchedeTemps,aprojectinvestigatingthenatureandrealityof

Time,andtrainingintheopentrainingspacewithotheramazinglyskilledandinspiringcircusperformers.WhenIarrivedGeoandhisteamseemedslightlyembarrassedsaying

theycouldnotoffermemuch.ButthatsinceIhadcomeallthiswaytheywouldseewhat

theycouldarrange.ThefollowingdayIwasoffered:sixdaysinaroomofmyown(10mx5m)withabeautifultarquetdancefloorsurface,6groundriggingpoints,7.5mheight

clearancewithriggablepoints(steelbeams)allovertheceiling,aladdertorigmyropeformyself(oraccesstothetechcrewacrossthehallshouldIrequireassistance),power,

asoundsystem,mirrorsonthewall,soundproofingfromthestudionextdoor,ascreen

toblockofftheglassdoorwayshouldIrequireprivacy,naturallight,artificiallight,akeyandgatepasscodefor24hraccess(youcansleepthereifyoureallywantto),useofthe

fullyservicedkitchen(foodisimportanthereinFrance!),ashowingtimeandreadymadeaudienceofalltheofficeadminstaff,andfortheother8days,accesstothehuge

freeopencircustrainingspace(andImeanbigenoughtohousebothafull-sizedflying

trapezerig,andanaerialandtumbling/acrobaticsspacewithmats,trampoline,and

riggingpointsonlinesthroughout,andallwithacleanandslightlycushionedtarquetfloor!!!)whichisavailabletoallindependentcircusartistsandsmallcompanies!!Andtheyweresorrytheycouldntoffermemuch?!

IthoughtImusthavediedandgonetoheaven!

ThisdoesntevenexistinAustralia,Ithought,letaloneitbeingfreelyavailabletoindependentcircusartistsandsmallcompanies!!Itwasmorethanalittle

overwhelming.

Inmysixdaysinthisroomofonesown,Icreated35minutesworthofperformance

whichIpresentedasashowingonthesixthday.ItisjustthebeginningofthisworkandIfullyintendondevelopingitfurtherovertheyearorso.Imustcomment,however,that

Iwasamazedatmyownhighlevelofproductivity(35minsworthinjust6days!)and

realisedthesignificantimpactofhavingafunctional,serviced,purposebuiltcircusspaceavailabletomakeworkin.Icannotmakethisworkinmylivingroom!

Incidentally,mystudio,myroomofonesown,wasoneof12residencystudioswhich

wereallinusethewholetimeIwasthere,aswasthetheatrespace,alsointhecomplex.

AndinmentioningLaGrainerietoaFrenchmanImetinBelgiumwhoworksinthecircusarts,hetossedhehandandsaidflippantly,ahyes,butthereareplaceslikethat

alloverFrance,LaGrainerieissmallandnothingspecial,youshouldsee.Wow!

Spacestocreate!Iamoverwhelmed.

ResidencyPart2:>Lesrnecontresdedanseaerienne,LaBaule,France

FromthebeginningFredDebwasextremelywellorganised,welcomingandinterested

inmyprojectandrecherch.OurcommunicationwasalsoaidedbyherpossessingagoodlevelofEnglishlanguage.MytimeinLaBaulewasacompletelydifferent

experiencefromthatinToulousebutnolessrewardingandenlightening.Asidefrom

learningnewskillsinworkshops,creatingandexperimentingonthefloor/intheair/onthewallwithotheraerialartists,meetingandhavinganimatedconversationsaboutthe

artsandtheworkwithothercircusfolk,Ihadmyownpersonalartisticdevelopmentgoingonduringmytimethere.Foralongtimenow,sincemyfouryearsworkingin

Circainitsearlydays,Ihavebeeninterestedinanddevelopingtechniquesfor

improvisationcircus.ApplyingthesetoimprovisingonaerialapparatushasbeenanarenaIhavegrappledwithandfounddifficultonmyown.Itwasmyintentioninthe

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contextofmyIn-HabitresidenciestoconfrontthisaspartofmyexplorationofTimeasaninvestigationintoperformedreal-timecraftedcreativity.

Tomydelight,IfoundthatthisresidencyinLaBaule,inthecontextofthisrencontreandwiththesupportandencouragementofFredDeb,wasaplaceinwhichIwasableto

reallydeeplyinvestigatethequestion.Therencontrefacilitatedabreakthroughinbeing

abletonotonlyimprovisetocreate,buttopracticeperformedimprovisation.Ithenwasprovidedwiththeopportunitytopresentonthelastnightoftherencontreand

performedanimprovisedcordelissepiece.Ialsoreceivedfeedbackforthework.

Impact:

In-HabitInternationalculturalexchangeandartsresearchhadanenormousimpacton

myartspractice.Icannotextollthebenefitsenoughofbeingimmersedinanotherculturesversionofyourownsubculture(inmycasecircusartists),ingivingyouafar

greaterandhealthierperspectiveonyourownart,practice,culture,andviewpointof

theworld.Itwasformeanincrediblyempoweringandenlighteningexperience.Ihave

returnedfrommyEuropeantourwithamuchstrongerandbroadervisionformyselfasanartistandofhowIandmyworkis,orcanbe,placedinAustraliaandintheworld.Thebenefitshavebeentangibleoutcomessuchas:networking;skillsattainment;

creativedevelopmentandproductionofperformancework;contactsandrelationships

withindividuals.Thebenefitshavealsobeenphilosophical,inspirational,mindstimulatingandartisticallybroadening.Theimpactsarebothovertandsubtle.Ihave

returnedwithideasformywork,ideasfortheAustralianartsscene,ideasforwhatthe

contemporarycircusscene/environment/industrycouldbe!IhavereturnedwithagreatersenseofAustraliasplaceintheworld,circusplaceintheworld,Australian

circusplaceintheworld,andmyplaceinAustraliancircus.IthasgivenmeaclearervisionofwhatIwanttosee(inmyself,inmyart,inthecommunitythatIamapartof,in

thecountrythatIlivein,incontemporarycircusintheworld,inAustralian

contemporarycircus,intheperformanceartsworldinAustralia,inthenetworkofvenuesthatdoexistinAustralia!),andadrivetofighttogettoseeit.Inall,Ihave

returnedwitharesoundingoh,Igetit!,anah,Iwanttoseeit!andanIwanttodoit!.Iaminspired!

Itwasgreattogetinvolvedwithotherartistsinbothresidenciesalso:skillsharingoncordelisseandtissuintheopentrainingspaceatLaGrainerieandintheworkshopsat

LRDA;makingfriendsandbeingapartoffurtheringnetworksandconnectingpeople;

engaginginconversationswithpeopleatthecommunallunchtimesaboutlife,circusand

beingperformingartistsinourrespectivecountriesandcultures;discussingshows,performersandfestivalsweknewof;discussingideasandcomprehensionofnotionsofimprovisingwithaerialskills;developingandtriallingtechniquesforimprovisinginthe

rehearsalroomasanensemble;discussingourartisticrecherch(research).

Small(large)thingsthatstruckme:

>RecherchIlovedthattheFrenchloveandusethiswordallthetimenotwhatareyouworking

on?orwhatareyoumaking,butwhatisyourresearch?Whatareyouinvestigating?!Ifeltsoathomeinaplacesurroundedbyartistsforwhomtheprocess

wassoprofoundlyimportanttotheworkbeingmadeandconsequentlysohighly

considered.EveryoneImetthoughtandcaredabouttheprocess,theartisticenquiry,anditisthereforeexpectedofyouasanartist.Thereisnodoubtinmymindthatthis

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contributestothehighlevelofcontemporarycircusworkcomingoutofFranceatthemoment.Andofcourse,therearethemoretangibleeffectsofprocessanddevelopment

beingsohighlyvaluedinthatcultureintheformofspacesbeingprovidedforworktobe

madebyindependentartistsandsmallcompanies(beyondjustthecircusschoolsandthehomesoflarge,well-fundedcircuscompanies),systemsinplacetoprovideartists

withadailymeansfromwhichtomakework(governmentartistsstipend),andready-

madeaudiencestoviewtheworkbeingcreatedacrossthecountryandacrossEuropeinvenuesandfestivalallyearround(andespeciallyinsummer).

>Youreherealone?Whereisyourcompany?

DuringmytimeinToulouse,everyoneIwouldspeaktoandexplainthepurposeofmy

visitto,wouldalwaysaskaboutmebeingtherealone,wonderingwheremycompanywas,mycompanions,mycircuscolleagues.Therepetitionofthisquestionstruckme.It

wasclearlyunconceivablethatIshouldbeworkingonmyown.ItisnotthatpeopledonotmakesoloworkinFrance,orthatyouarentfollowingyourownpursuits(infactasI

mentionedabove,itwouldseemsthateveryoneisindeedexpectedtobedoingthis,that

isnormal),butcircusisofcoursenotasoloartform.(AndFranceseemsverymucha

communalculture-consistently,strangerswalkingpastmeeatingonmyownwouldwishmebonappetiteasiftheywerequietlyalarmedthatIshouldeatfoodwithoutsomeoneelsebeingtheretowishmeanenjoyableexperienceofdoingso!).

Iwasconfrontedbytherepeatedquestion-itkeptmeaskingmyself,indeed,wherearemycolleagues?WhoelseisinterestedinworkingthewayIwanttowork?WhyhaveI

resortedtoforgingoutonmyowninmyartisticendeavours?Whoaremycompadres

backhome?Theanswertothesequestionsisnotassimpleassayingthattheyarentthere.ItisalsoperhapsatopicforawholeotherreflectionpapersoIwillnotattemptto

answerfullyithere.ButIwillsaythis:InsomewaysitmaybetruetosaythosecompadresIamlookingforsimplydontexist,butIdonotthinkthisisthewholestory,

orhastobe.Idothinkitisanindicationofthedislocatednatureofcontemporarycircus

inAustraliaatthemoment.AndthereasonforthisIbelieveismultifaceted,todowithwhatstageofgrowthitisathistorically,geographyandpopulationsize,anobsession

withproduct,ahighlycompetitiveandlargelyunderfundedartssectoringeneral,anartseducationalfacilitywhichconfusesitselfwithbeing(and/orperhapsisexpectedto

operateas)abusinessratherthananurturingenvironmentwithinwhichtopropagate

andfeedbuddingartists[(Q:isthecircusperformeralaboureroranartist?)]

Differently:

IreallydontthinkIwoulddoanythingparticularlydifferentlyinmyIn-Habitresidency.InasensemyresidencyexperiencewasnothowIenvisageditwouldbeandyetitwasexactlywhatIwaslookingfor.Muchofthedetailsofmyplanschangedandmorphed

intonewplansalongthewayinthemonthsasIpreparedtogo,butalwaysIhada

strongsenseofwhatIwasseekingandaroughsketchofanideaofhow/whereImightgetit.Thedetailsofwhereandhowwereabitmorevagueinmyheadsowhenthings

changedIwasveryhappytogowithwhateverwasbeingpresented.Thisfeltlikeabitof

akeytohavingsuchafull,enrichingexperience,andtoitfeelinglikeitwascarefullycateredtomyexactneedsanddesiresasanartistatthetime.

Everythingseemedtounfoldandmanifestasitseemednecessaryforittodoso.I

believeIhavelearntfrompastexperiencestraveling/livinginnewplacesinnew

cultures,andlappedupthefluiditywithwhichyoumustmovesinceitisactuallyimpossibletofullyplaneverything.Youcannotprepareyourselftotasteafruityouhave

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neverbeforetastedevenifyouknowyouwishverymuchtotasteit.Youmustsimplytakethefruitinyourhands,bringittoyourmouthandtastethefruit.Do!

Backhome:

NowthatIambackinAustraliaIhaveplansandideasonhowmyIn-Habitexperience

willimpactthecontemporarycircuscommunity.Iintendtofurtherparticipateinconversationsregardingspacesforcircusartistsinwhichtodevelopwork:withfunding

bodies,withvenues,withcompanies,withindependentmakers.IamkeentofindwaystohelpbringtogetherwhatIthinkisarelativelydislocatedanddisparatecircus

communityandencouragephilosophicalandartisticdiscussionsandconversations

abouttheworkandprocessandoursectoranddevelopandmoreunifyingandsupportivecommunitywhereinwecanvieweachotherascollaboratorsinthearts

ratherthansimplycompetitorsforgigs,grantsorfringevenues.IalsohaveplanstobringwhatIhavelearntanddevelopedwithregardtoperformancecreationto

rehearsalroomviaofferingtoteachanadvancedaerialandperformanceclassthrough

CircusOzspublicprograminterm4of2012.Subsequenttoallthis,Iwillbecontinuing

todevelopandplantopresentmyownworkthroughprojectssuchasin.formwithFranSwinnQuartetandtheworkonTime,TranchedeTemp(workingtitle).

PublicAcknowledgement:PublicacknowledgementforthefundingandsupportIreceivedformyresidencies,and

indeedmywholeEuropeantour,fromAustraliaCounciloftheArtsArtstart,Punctum

Inc,andIanPotterCulturalTrustwasmadewheneverpossibleincludingontheShowingNoteshandoutIcreatedformyresidencyshowinginToulouse(seeattached).

FuturePossibilities:

IhavemadenumerouscontactsandnetworksthroughmyIn-HabitresidencyandIfullyintendonmaintainingconnectionsandrelationshipswiththese(artists,venues,

festivals,teachersetc)andutilisinganddevelopingtheminfutureventures.

Skillsindiplomacy,crossculturalnegotiation,etc:IwouldmostdefinitelysaythatIfurtherdevelopedmyskillsinsuchareasasdiplomacy

andcross-culturalnegotiation,skillsnotdirectlylinkedtomyartmaking,andIfound

suchenjoymentindoingso!