Re: [Culture] Gate to Moonbase Alpha at the Rotunda

[Matthew Snyder]

Hi Gina, sorry if my first message sounded a little negative... I really enjoy
GTMBA and I've been going to them off and on since Aharon & co. started the 
series.  Thanks for all your hard work putting it together.

Gina Renzi writes:
> Why could you not close your eyes at the show?  I noticed several people doing 
> just that. 

I did, at points.  As a musician myself, part of what I enjoy about a live
concert is watching the technique and stage presence of the musician(s).  I
don't go to concerts close my eyes and trance out.  I realize that much of
the ambient scene audience does this.  I've been to shows at St. Mary's where
I was sure that 75% of the audience was asleep.  That's all fine, but that's
not why I'm there.  So, my complaint was basically that because of the size 
and intrusiveness of the projections, it's really difficult to watch what's
happening on stage without watching the projections.  If the projections were
"part of" the performance, planned or matched in some way with the mood/
movements/etc of the music, then I might be more inclined to watch them.  To 
me, though, the projections create the impression that I'm watching two 
distinct performances that are "competing" with each other for my attention.

As long as we're talking about the Rotunda, I have another question.  Why is
the chandelier that's hanging directly over the stage area pulled off to the 
side the way it is?  To help the projectionists?

--
Matthew Snyder
Philadelpha, PA

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Re: [Culture] Gate to Moonbase Alpha at the Rotunda

[Gina Renzi]

For future reference, if you want to know anything about this series, please ask 
me. It's been my baby for almost 4 years now, before I even began working as The 
Rotunda's coordinator.

Anyway, David Gerbstadt won't be at the March 19 show. I want to give the 
audience a break. :)

Why could you not close your eyes at the show?  I noticed several people doing 
just that. Also, I leave an open space in front of the stage, so that people can 
lounge on the floor and lie all the way down, if they wish. I also noticed people 
doing that. I'd love a donation of comfy chairs so that those not wanting to lie 
on the floor could still relax. Please let me know if you ever come upon these 
treasures!

Personally, I love the oil projections. I do not like his slides, and have 
encouraged him not to use them. Artists usually request him, or at least are fine 
with his work. Some, however, bring their own films (like Sharks with Wings, the 
2nd band, did). If a band requests no visuals from David, he stops. 

I also agree with your comments on the buffet.

thanks for coming

gina



[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> D. Gerbilstats visuals, if you can call them visuals, were particularly
> queasy-making, suggesting at times greasy fried eggs, barium enemas, or
> colonoscopy. Made me sorry I had forgotten to bring my digestive pills along.

I wonder if the performers ever ask him to, you know, stop with the projections
while they're performing?  I know I certainly would if I were performing there.
His projections are incredibly distracting and he doesn't appear to put much
thought into matching what he's doing with what the performers are doing, so
there's no... what's the word, synaesthesia? going on.

It's unfortunate that it's nearly impossible not to do one of 1) close eyes or
2) watch projections.

The ministry of inside things were awesome, no doubt.  Oh and i forgot to tell
the chef that it would make sense to put the condiments AFTER the rest of the
food given the direction of the queue.  The way it was set up, it was plates/
cutlery -> drinks -> condiments -> salad -> entree -> dessert.  So you had to
finish the line and then butt back in at the condiments area to season the
food.  Plus you had to carry your drink with you down the line, which almost
guarantees spillage at some point in the evening.

--
Matthew Snyder
Philadelphia, PA

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Re: [Culture] Gate to Moonbase Alpha at the Rotunda

[Matthew Snyder]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> D. Gerbilstats visuals, if you can call them visuals, were particularly 
> queasy-making, suggesting at times greasy fried eggs, barium enemas, or 
> colonoscopy. Made me sorry I had forgotten to bring my digestive pills along.

I wonder if the performers ever ask him to, you know, stop with the projections
while they're performing?  I know I certainly would if I were performing there.
His projections are incredibly distracting and he doesn't appear to put much 
thought into matching what he's doing with what the performers are doing, so 
there's no... what's the word, synaesthesia? going on. 

It's unfortunate that it's nearly impossible not to do one of 1) close eyes or 
2) watch projections.

The ministry of inside things were awesome, no doubt.  Oh and i forgot to tell 
the chef that it would make sense to put the condiments AFTER the rest of the
food given the direction of the queue.  The way it was set up, it was plates/
cutlery -> drinks -> condiments -> salad -> entree -> dessert.  So you had to 
finish the line and then butt back in at the condiments area to season the 
food.  Plus you had to carry your drink with you down the line, which almost
guarantees spillage at some point in the evening.

--
Matthew Snyder
Philadelphia, PA

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Re: [Culture] GATE TO MOONBASE ALPHA at the rotunda

[L a s e r B e a m]

Gina Renzi wrote:

We use the back space for performances, and that back space is up to 
code, cleaned, ADA compliant, and even renovated (more in the works, 
but nothing to compromise the history). however, the church, which is 
what you saw, has not been used for years and is NOT ok. that is why i 
need community members such as yourself to pressure Penn to look for 
funds and transfer funds and invent funds, and everything else you can 
think of, so our 5-10 year hope is realized (renovate and restore the 
ENTIRE building).
the job would cost millions. the roof needs to be replaced. the church 
(NOT the performance room) is covered in lead paint, etc etc.
we're actually organizing an art exhibit that will show the interior of the 
church, and what could/should be done to it. right now, if the shows in the 
performance room go well (and they do), and we keep opening the venue 
to workshops, meeting, etc (and we do!), penn will have more evidence to 
prove that the entire building needs to be renovated and restored.

Gina Renzi 
Coordinator 


gina, sorry to hear that the church needs renovation and 
that penn (the owner? for how long?) hasn't seen its way to 
repairing it. what's worse is knowing that the longer the 
wait, the more damage (some of it irreparable) will 
accumulate, and the more expensive (and perhaps impossible) 
it will be to renovate. maybe in the meantime some kind of 
covering could be put over the pews? all that moisture-laden 
plaster dust can't be good for the wood...



.
laserbeam
[aka ray]

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Re: [Culture] GATE TO MOONBASE ALPHA at the rotunda

[Gina Renzi]

We use the back space for performances, and that back space is up to 
code, cleaned, ADA compliant, and even renovated (more in the works, 
but nothing to compromise the history). however, the church, which is 
what you saw, has not been used for years and is NOT ok. that is why i 
need community members such as yourself to pressure Penn to look for 
funds and transfer funds and invent funds, and everything else you can 
think of, so our 5-10 year hope is realized (renovate and restore the 
ENTIRE building).
the job would cost millions. the roof needs to be replaced. the church 
(NOT the performance room) is covered in lead paint, etc etc.
we're actually organizing an art exhibit that will show the interior of the 
church, and what could/should be done to it. right now, if the shows in the 
performance room go well (and they do), and we keep opening the venue 
to workshops, meeting, etc (and we do!), penn will have more evidence to 
prove that the entire building needs to be renovated and restored.

Gina Renzi 
Coordinator 
The Rotunda 
4014 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel. : 215-573-3234
Fax : 215-898-2167
http://www.foundationarts.org


Gina Renzi wrote:

haha. thanks for the review, ross.



I have a question. today I was out and about with my friend and we walked 
by the rotunda which used to be the christian science building and I 
remembered how beautiful the space inside was and I was describing it 
the domed ceiling the light from all directions and anyway we noticed the 
door was slightly ajar so we crept quietly inside so I could show my friend 
what I meant about the space and the light and we were horrified ok that's 
an exaggeration we were taken aback by the condition of the interior which 
felt all damp and creepy and all the pews were covered with falling paint 
chips and dust from the ceiling which looked like it was decaying and the 
carpet even felt wet and anyway what's the deal everything ok?




laserbeam
[aka ray]


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Re: [Culture] GATE TO MOONBASE ALPHA at the rotunda

[Benseraglio2]

July 20, 1969 (Central Park) The police have taken to guarding     The high rocky places in the park Nightly explosions in the subway Have left a taste of a coal miner's  smoking fears    The sky is a dirty red fog; The night drips over those trudging  through wet grass    To celebrate    Where monster spotlights  Strain and scream at the moon 
 
   A studied intoxication  A calculated stupor working itself    toward climx; Vague gypsies, traces of witches,  Noisy lunatics are quarreling    over  a lovely corpse in the mud 
 
Little sister, they've landed men on the    moon--    What obscene dance shall we make To celebrate this rape? 
 
--Amos Stoltzfus 
 
 

Ross Benderhttp://rossbender.org

Re: [Culture] GATE TO MOONBASE ALPHA at the rotunda

[Benseraglio2]

July 20, 1969 (Central Park) 
The police have taken to guarding     The high rocky places in the park Nightly explosions in the subway Have left a taste of a coal miner's  smoking fears    The sky is a dirty red fog; The night drips over those trudging  through wet grass    To celebrate    Where monster spotlights  Strain and scream at the moon 
 
   A studied intoxication  A calculated stupor working itself    toward climx; Vague gypsies, traces of witches,  Noisy lunatics are quarreling    over  a lovely corpse in the mud 
 
Little sister, they've landed men on the    moon--    What obscene dance shall we make To celebrate this rape? 
 
--Amos Stoltzfus 
 
 

Ross Benderhttp://rossbender.org

Re: [Culture] GATE TO MOONBASE ALPHA at the rotunda

[L a s e r B e a m]

Gina Renzi wrote:

haha. thanks for the review, ross. 


I have a question. today I was out and about with my friend 
and we walked by the rotunda which used to be the christian 
science building and I remembered how beautiful the space 
inside was and I was describing it the domed ceiling the 
light from all directions and anyway we noticed the door was 
slightly ajar so we crept quietly inside so I could show my 
friend what I meant about the space and the light and we 
were horrified ok that's an exaggeration we were taken aback 
by the condition of the interior which felt all damp and 
creepy and all the pews were covered with falling paint 
chips and dust from the ceiling which looked like it was 
decaying and the carpet even felt wet and anyway what's the 
deal everything ok?



.
laserbeam
[aka ray]

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Re: [Culture] GATE TO MOONBASE ALPHA at the rotunda

[Gina Renzi]

haha. thanks for the review, ross. it's so funny that you didn't like david 
gerbstadt's projections. i love them, and not because i haven't seen 
others do them elsewhere. things like this give me such a huge kick that 
makes me revel in the fact that people really are different. as they say "vive 
le differance!"

 as for the oil projections, there is a special warmth to them. they're airy 
and simple, organic and free, not highly structured video art or 35 lamps 
in a PAR 1 light. actually, he won't be at the december show (dec. 
12), so don't be afraid to come back. one of the biggest reasons i've kept 
him as a resident visualist at Gate is that so many people requested it!

when i go to shows (produced by others, that is. i dont really relax at my 
own shows), i usually close my eyes during the good music sets anyway.

Gina Renzi 
Coordinator 
The Rotunda 
4014 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel. : 215-573-3234
Fax : 215-898-2167
http://www.foundationarts.org


 




Monthly ambience night at the Rotunda. First act was Justice on a Budget, 
a jazzoid trio with drums, synthesizer and string bass which seemed 
unremarkable until the end of the piece when the keyboardist suddenly 
started wailing --very impressive and soulful keening which really topped 
the set off right.
 
The Great Quentini came out in a white tasselled suit wearing a 
cornucopia-shaped basket on his head and looking for all the world like a 
Yakut shaman. He did a piece in a large beer cooler with water, sand and 
rocks accompanied by a tape of his poetry and a low growling roar, then 
did a lovely number on a home-made marimba. For a few minutes it was 
like Zurich 1916 at the birth of Le Mouvement Dada.
 
The above acts were accompanied by the lousiest light show it has ever 
been my misfortune to witness. Some dude did "oil projections" on an 
overhead projector from the balcony, projected all over the front wall where 
you unfortunately couldn't ignore it. Think about when you were a kid 
hanging around at Joe's garage and stirring oily water around in a dirty 
bucket with a stick and you get the idea. I don't know much about art but I 
sure know what I don't like.
 
Then came Xeroid Entity, three men playing weird machines in songs 
named after the moons of Saturn and Mars. It was just getting good, like 
Voyager nearing Jupiter, when all of a sudden some jerk started 
projecting one of those kinky Japanese erotico-religious cowboy flicks on 
the front wall and it spoiled the mood for me completely. Surreal, but 
inappropriate. Anyhow by then it was past my bedtime.
 
Chef Jeff provided a festive vegetarian spread with eight hot dishes 
ranging from macaroni and cheese to buttered noodles, decorating the 
whole scene with a complicated array of blinking Christmas lights. Think 
Diggers.
 
A few weeks ago I was up in New York walking around the Lower East 
Side and kinda lamenting that I had ever moved away. But shows at the 
Rotunda make me leave all my qualms behind and make me glad I live in 
West Philly. Tremendous big Clap for Gina Renzi, Foundation Directrix. 
University City: A Nice Place to Live.
 

Ross Bender
http://rossbender.org




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