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Fremantle, Western Australia Artist Residency - 2010

God is the Color of My Skin, a project I've created to deepen and share understanding of issues related to skin color is the focus of an upcoming artist residency in Fremantle, Western Australia. The residency will utilize the unique qualities of this port town near Perth, Australia. There is an active indigenous Australian population there and nearby, 40% of the people there are from outside Australia so I will encounter a range of skin colors, attitudes and perspectives, and the number of nearby water sources will provide me with the opportunity to capture water "skin" photographs.

I am eager to work with the community there, specifically to hear what individuals have to say on the issue of skin color as it relates to them and what they hope for. Additionally, I'll be seeking feedback on my work as I accomplish it.

I'll be there either in May or June 2010.

documentary in progress

I'm in Australia working on a documentary. The one I came to make is different from the one that is emerging. I have only begun post production on the first six interviews with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and musicians. Here's one short bit to introduce the concept of musicians as community leaders.

Bringing All Gurris Together

Here's an introduction to the guys from Kurbingui singing for us on the first day.

Kurbingui Singing

Media Tribe USA Australia Project

I am the creative producer and contributing artist to an international initiative called Media Tribe. I have been funded by the Dame Joan Sutherland Fund of the Australian American Association in New York City to participate. I'll be creating documentary material and working on the Kurbingui Star newspaper.

Check out the website and stay posted. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact me via this website.

Flamenco September 30 at Regis College - Berkeley Community Church

Denver, Colorado
Wednesday September 30
7:30 pm
World Music Concert
FREE

3701 W 50th Avenue, Denver
From Boulder:
36 to Federal
S on Federal to Regis Boulevard (also is 50th Avenue)
R on Regis Drive to Meade, Berkeley Community Church is on the corner

I'll be dancing and drumming with guitarist/banjola player Steve Mullins, violinist Sandra Wong, and singer Julie Lancaster.

Polka Dot July 31 at D Note - See you there!

Arvada, Colorado. July 31, 2009. 6:30-8pm

rocks, karma, arrows - Boulder Sesquicentennial production

Boulder, Colorado. July, 2009.

Review. Boulder through the lens of race and class. My film of the Boulder Creek, shot in the dead of winter, is a constant element in the production. The show is at the University of Colorado ATLAS Black Box Studio.

Information via CU

Information via ATLAS

Information via Westword

flamenco performances april + may

Friday, May 1 at the DNote with Polka Dot. Join the core group of us - Pablo Rodarte, Lisa Trujillo, Steve Mullins, Kevin Romero and me - along with a guest singer and a violinist. I'll be playing cajon as well as dancing. A personal note: DNote has some of the best pizza in the area, if that tempts you.



We sold out last time so if you missed it, we hope to see you on beautiful May Day.

Friday, April 24, I'll be performing with Steve Mullins and Jeanette Trujillo at the School of Mines in Golden.

dance through the lens of wonder - april exhibit

march 30-april 30
boulder public library
cafe
free
poster series celebrating dance
national dance month

this lighthearted exhibit is available for your venue, contact me

thanks to Ballet Arts' dancers, LuluB, Isabella, Jonathan, Lisa T's, Krista, Boulder cyclist, 3rd Law/Susie, Santa Fe dancer and the boys of Westport

trojan women - february 20, 21, 22 2009 at ATLAS

teaser clip of cassandra. i'm working as the show's media designer, collaborating with many folks and loving it: director kevin kuhlke, mechanical engineer prof jean hertzberg, film student grant reynolds, naropa mfa performance program performers, cu school of journalism students, film student kevin rice, russ schissler on isadora...

here's the fastest route to the scoop on dates, times and ticketing.

december 20 & 21 rebekah's art for sale - boulder solstice arts at boulder public library

come to the sale at the boulder public library main branch from noon-4pm on either saturday, december 20 or sunday, december 21 for a fabulous art exhibit and sale. i've seen the art and exhibit; it's gorgeous and exciting to be part of.

what am i selling? 50 delightful canvas bags for $35 each - we have tough economic times but we still need art! these are large tote bags with the above fun image, in a signed, limited edition of 250; I'll have 50 for sale. please come and buy gifts, my art or others'! if you check out the exhibit in advance, i have filled one of my bags with flowers and framed it. it's on the wall straight ahead as you walk in the main gallery doors. if you can't come to the sale, call me and i'll arrange for you to purchase a bag or two.

here's the postcard, and a view of the style of bag (mine has black sides and handles with the fun red/grey image above). the image started with a photograph of Mary Wohl Haan from Haan Dances that i shot, then later morphed through photoshop. the women at atlas thought this was the most artsy image for the bag and so it lives. may your gift giving and shopping be artful.
From Art to Life Canvas Bags
Limited Edition art bags by Rebekah West
I put my money where my mouth is...

Dear Editor,
“There’s a hole in the bucket, dear ‘Liza, dear ‘Liza, there’s a hole in the bucket, dear ‘Liza, a hole.”

I am but one citizen. To all who shop, sell, and to all who care about our environment.

At the cashier, transactions are made, bags are filled, bags are filled, bags are filled. At home, bags are trashed, bags are used, bags are trashed. Double bag, triple bag, don’t fill the bags. Boutique bags, non-recyclable bags. Drawers of bags, landfills of bags. Perfectly good bags. Bags cost money. Money in the bag. Bag in the trash. Money in the trash. Money in the bag. Money in the bag.

Can we create a new solution? Can we deliver a message? Can we say, “We use our resources to create resources? Our money is in our bags, we found our money in our trash, we found our resources in our trash, our money is back in our bags. We contain our money. Our money stays in the bucket. Our money stays in the bucket. Our bucket is full. Our bucket is full enough.

• Welcome! To those organizations and individuals in our environmentally concerned community with expertise in Green behavior, recycling, marketing, and engaging community to advise us on the real problems of recyclable containers and offer solutions we cannot yet imagine.

• Welcome! To our wonderful arts organizations, artists, and inventors who can stimulate the creation of artful container designs and solutions to put an element of beauty and aesthetic to the solution of this issue.

• Welcome! To our area’s manufacturers who can provide expertise in materials, fibers, construction, stitching and design.

• Welcome! To our much-appreciated independent and chain business owners, boutiques to gas stations who are our neighbors and who can lend their expertise in retail concerns to this conversation.

• Welcome! To the elders and youth of our community who have experience from different decades, passion, energy, and humor, resources waiting to be tapped.

• Welcome! New members of our community, from communities far away, English speaking or otherwise, to bring the experience and solutions of your cultures to this issue.

• Welcome! To our indigenous peoples who once practiced stewarding our land’s resources and can teach us how to live these principles.

• Welcome! To our community’s homeless population, who have experience with weather and longevity of material while carrying what they value.

Time to close the hole in the bag, time to close the hole in the bag, time to close the hole in the bag. And work together in the most creative, lively way. And work together in the most lively, creative way. Time to be lively. Lively. Act up. Act up. Act.

Small bag, large hole through which our resources drain. Small issue, large potential for creative social change. One voice, entire community acts. Exchange resources. Build resources. Enjoy resources. Gap. Opening. Choose.

--REBEKAH WEST (BASED ON THE QUASIDAH, ARABIC PRAISE POETRY, FORM)

Let art live in your daily life. Enjoy!

december 20 evening - Polka Dot Traditional at the D Note

Steve Mullins and Polka Dot host an evening of flamenco at the D Note in Arvada on Saturday, December 20 from 7-9pm. Guest artists are dancers Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero and Lia Ochoa. We'll do the same show from November + Jeanette and Lia + the Sevillanas and a little Rumba for fun. Traditional tablao setting, no media, but it will still be fabulous. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. We hope you, your friends and family will join us! Directions.

november 15 - Polka Dot! rsvp! Tell your Friends! Download flyer!

UploadPolkaDotFlyer

ongoing - polka dot

Flamenco and multi-media...and blog.

September 08 - ars electronica in austria

I traveled to Linz, Austria to attend Ars Electronica. Check out my blog.

december 07 - beckett-butoh 07 at atlas

BECKETT/BUTOH is an experimental treatment of three Beckett plays: Not I, Quad, and That Time designed and directed by Katsura Kan, Naropa University's MFA Guest Artist from Kyoto, Japan.As a collaborator, I had the opportunity to create live video for Quad and footage for Not I and That Time. It was a privilege and a joy to help create an exquisite, startling, rich performance and to work with Kan and all the folks from the Naropa MFA Performance program (and I loved riding the edge of creating it in four days!).

Performances were December 14 & 15, 2007 at our Black Box Theatre at ATLAS/University of Colorado. I took these photos at the 2:00 performance on December 15.©2007 Rebekah West/ATLAS Center for Arts, Media & Performance, Naropa MFA Performance Program

november 07 - sweet release

40 Women Over 40 rocks. Poignant, funny, elegant, kinky, and feminine. Even if nothing else moved, Nancy Cranbourne's performances alone would be enough. Haunting choreographies by Katie Elliot and Wade Madsen challenge limited views of women and prove that these experienced women can release it sweet, really dance and not just boogie - but they can boogie! The audience laughed and cheered through the whole evening dancing out of the theatre at the end. (photos ©2007 Rebekah West)

edges of winter..

edges...