Dear Reader,

I would like to take a moment to thank you for your interest in the Artbeat Newsletter. You may have noticed changes recently in the newsletter. Three new sections have been added over the past few months: Artist Spotlight, Artful Photographs of the Month, and Artist of the Month. Artist Spotlight publishes articles submitted by readers (artists, arts organizations, and arts enthusiasts) about their passion for the arts. It is not an advertisement for the artist but simply a passionate story or writing. Artful Photographs of the Month features photos taken by artists, arts organizations or photographers, and can be images of their work or "artful images" of artists' views on life. Text about the images and web links are encouraged. Artist of the Month highlights an artist or arts organization that has been chosen by AC5 from the pool of registered artists and arts organizations in the Arts Directory and Calendar http://directory.ac5.org/. Feel free to let us know your thoughts about Artbeat so we can continue to grow and serve the arts community. Electronic publishing can be unpredictable. Is your copy properly formatted? You may send comments to ac5@ac5.org. Also it is our hope that you, the reader, will submit articles often. Please consider what you have to contribute for future Artbeat publications. The deadline for submissions is always the 15th of each month, and submission guidelines are given in the Call for Submissions section.

Yours in the Arts,
Scott Belding
AC5 Managing Director

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:  A Look Into Expressive Movement Processing (EMP) and Authentic Movement in Dance Photography

A LOOK INTO EXPRESSIVE MOVEMENT PROCESSING (EMP)
By Carolyn McKechnie and Anandha Ray

Expressive Movement Processing is a form of investigating movement communication.  It is useful to choreographers, actors and performers as those artists need to fully understand body language in order to master their own art form.  It unlocks blocks to creativity and can be inspiring and quite beautiful.  For myself, I use it to research themes for choreography and to deepen performers' connection to the work, as it can be quite profound.

My goal as an artist is not to entertain audiences with a happy experience.  Rather it is to inspire the performers and audiences to think and talk about things they might not otherwise have.  In general, dance has been a method I use to bring acceptance to emotions and experiences that are generally considered less acceptable in our culture.

This article describes a session of Expressive Moving Processing (EMP), and the resulting choreography, developed with contemporary dance students.  It has been interpreted by Carolyn McKechnie, from entries in my blog http://madartisticadventures.blogspot.com/.  This particular section is from a residency in which I taught EMP classes and choreographed a dance that was created from the participants' experiences in the EMP sessions.  - Anandha Ray

Using Expressive Movement Processing participants have their eyes closed and are following open-ended imagery to inform their movement choices. This is an amazing process. Much like Dance Therapy and Authentic Movement, EMP begins with a leader who guides the group (or individual) through familiarizing themselves with eyes-closed movement.  It is a difficult task because culturally we are such a visually oriented society.  When one closes their eyes, suddenly the environment is frightening, unfamiliar and feels unsafe. Additionally, eyes closed moving in a group of people -even just walking around- means that there will be accidental touches that occur.  This can be an additional source of discomfort. This group, however, was open-minded and brave. They embraced the opportunity to dive into a new way of learning about movement, took risks, and were generous with their energy. Their reactions to movement ran the typical gamut of emotions from fear to relief, from a desire to connect with another, to a desire to remain apart. This group is open-minded, great listeners with a body-self familiarity that exists less when dancers are trained in specific techniques only. For example, ballet trained dancers can be absolute and amazing masters of the ballet technique and yet, in an environment where they are free to move in any manner, the lack of form reveals a dancer who has not developed self-confidence as a mover outside of the movement of ballet.

In creating choreography developed from EMP, the dancers are employing the same process... calling on their own inner resources to explore movements that come from subconsciously guided decision making.  An example of this is one section of the dance that explores movement that entangle the dancers bodies, swooping in and out of each other's way, in an intricate timing that, if missed, could lead to the slamming of bodies together in manners that are not advised!  With this direction, three couples have created their own choreographic phrases that interlock, the intersection of which creates a backdrop of chaotic humanity that is as of yet without interpretation. We will fill in the movement blanks to finish the dance under the guidance of decision making that engages the subconscious. The end of this process will reveal a dance that will have meaning which will be revealed to us in time. When the meaning is revealed, we as a group will understand something about ourselves that our subconscious has dictated for us to see at this time in our lives. 

EMP utilizes processes from Dance Therapy, Authentic Movement, Improvisation, and Acting.  In the context of dance training, EMP can be used with dancers to help them uncover and release blocks to creativity in performance, to formulate choreographic vocabulary, and to understand and embody character development.

EMP is a journey into the subconscious world in which creativity bridges the void between self and other. Through this process, one surrenders control and follows pathways that allow the subconscious to reveal itself through artistic expression in movement. The process is both a deep exploration of self and personal motivations, and a practical education in the universal hieratic and culturally specific language of movement.

Through EMP one can expect to develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which movement communicates, and to further develop mastery of movement as a means of communication. In order to understand EMP, it is helpful to understand the processes that have influenced it, specifically Dance Therapy and Authentic Movement, both of which are closely related to the art of dance.  All of these forms are "first and foremost embodied forms. The mover-witness dyad is mirrored by the performer-audience relationship. The process of creating dance is a process of sourcing the body for what it has to express in ways that words can never replicate.  Authentic Movement does this and also provides a structure to translate the embodied experience into the dimension of words so that what is moved-danced can reach additional levels of shared experience." (Tannis Hugill MA, RCC, RDT, ADTR)

We know that people have danced to heal themselves and to connect with the sacred since earliest human history.  When given safety and permission, the body moves in natural rhythms and unwinds in patterns of wholeness.  This is our birthright as humans, yet we have forgotten that dance and movement are one of the most powerful healing forces available to us.  This doesn't necessarily mean dance or movement as performance, but rather dance and movement as self expression for what is living in us now-whether known or unknown.  And thereafter, it is up to the individual what will come of the experience; great art that dives deep into to psyche of humanity, or great conversation over a cup of coffee.

Anandha Ray is Artistic Director and Choreographer for Moving Arts Dance, a professional contemporary dance company in the East Bay Area.
Carolyn McKechnie is a dancer with Art of Movement, an adult modern dance group based in Walnut Creek, CA.

AUTHENTICITY IN DANCE PHOTOGRAPHY 
By Scott Belding
Scott Belding Photography

Authentic moments, those that come from our deeper emotional experiences, are captivating for those who observe them. More than amazing physical feats and more than the most stunning dance technique, authentic movements touch the basic core where humans connect non-verbally. This is the magic of dance. This, too, is the magic of great dance photography. There are three things that make a dance photograph great: authenticity, detail, and connection.

There is a common thread in all of the photographic moments that stop a viewer in their tracks and make them take notice. That is authenticity. Those authentic moments are when a dancer completely gives themselves to the character and the movement. Being in character is what must be brought into the photography studio to make great images happen. Often when dancers come to be photographed they think in terms of the pose. There is no posing but rather the complete opposite takes place.  My goal is to transform the "shape" that a dancer brings to be photographed to the place where it is no longer a "pose" but rather becomes an authentic expression.   

Mastering the expression of dance makes the photograph captivating, yet without careful attention to detail, that which might have been profound will fall short. Meticulous attention to the nuances of hair, jewelry, makeup and costumes is extremely important.  Each photograph can transform mere humanness.  Make sure the choice for every detail reflects back to the authentic character.  A bobby pin that is exposed, for example, can bring the final image back to the reality of the human being, distracting the astute viewers from the universal emotion in one moment in time.  Being rigorous about the details of proper technique is critical.  But that alone will not make a photograph memorable.  Often transitional moments between movements can be captivating; catching emotion in motion, forever suspending a passionate moment in time.

Overcoming any initial nervousness that occurs when you work with a new photographer is crucial. It is very important that you talk with a photographer and mutually agree on the photographic goals before you shoot. Take the time to observe their photographs and point out the ones that interest you. Talk about your goals. Discuss your artistic preferences as a dancer or choreographer. Shooting tribal belly dance, for example, has very different imagery than cabaret.

Use descriptive words to make your mutual vision more clear. Great photos will live forever in the minds of those who see them. They cause the viewer to pause, to take time allowing the frozen moment to wash over them. There are an infinite number of ways to light and shoot a subject, and a myriad of poses can be chosen. That alone will not create amazing photographs. To capture brilliance, be brilliant! Perform for the camera. Make clear choices about the nuances of every detail. Take the time to really connect with the photographer and surrender any egocentric thoughts to let the dance come through in a genuine expression of the moment.

Scott Belding http://www.scottbeldingphotography.com/
Scott Belding is a Bay Area photographer known for his work in photographing dance, movement and light.  He is also the Managing Director of AC5, and the Executive Director of Moving Arts Dance.  The images in this article are of dancers Erica Rose Jeffrey, Mayo Sugano, and Cory Betts.

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ARTFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MONTH:  Gary Crabbe, Carolyn McKechnie, JoAn R. English 

With this edition of Artbeat, we are pleased to introduce a new featured section, Artful Photographs of the Month. In an effort to expand the effectiveness of the AC5 Mission, which is to be a convener of the arts, and to make the arts available to everyone in Contra Costa County, we would like to raise "arts awareness" through monthly publishing of photographs submitted by local artists and photographers.  We hope our readers will be be inspired.

Presenting works by Gary Crabbe  http://www.enlightphoto.com 
Gary currently resides in Pleasant Hill, CA. Gary began taking pictures while attending Humboldt State University, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Social and Adolescent Psychology, and a Master's Degree in Directing, Acting, Writing, and Production for the Theater. His interest in photography began to grow after taking an elective class in Black & White, but he soon found his passion was the pursuit of color and form in nature. After graduation, a twist of fate led Gary to the studio of World-Famous photographer Galen Rowell, where he managed the Stock Department of Mountain Light Photography for nine years. Known for his industry expertise and unwavering professionalism, Gary has worked with many of the world's best-known advertising agencies, magazines, and publishers. He has been happy to offer his knowledge and opinions consulting with other photographers, and has been quoted several times in Photo District News, Wired Magazine, Mother Jones, and numerous other trade publications.  A quote from his web site reads "Nearness to Nature keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt, and in touch with unseen powers."

      

Early Morning Solitude, Lafayette Resevoir, Lafayette, Contra Costa County, California

 

  
Spring sunrise over Mt. Diablo and the East Bay Hills,  near Orinda, California 

Rolling Green Hills and Oak Trees in Spring, Briones Regional Park, Contra Costa County, California

 

  
Sunset over rolling green hills and oak tree in Spring, Briones Regional Park, Contra Costa County, California 

Pendants: Lapis Lazuli, Pyrite, Amber, and Star Ruby.

Antique Venetian Glass necklace and collage "Jewelry Skin".

ARTS DIRECTORY AND CALENDAR SERVICES: ARE YOU REGISTERED?  IT'S FREE... http://directory.ac5.org

Did you know AC5 offers a free directory and calendar service for local artists in Contra Costa County and surrounding areas?  The directory service is sponsored by AC5 and is available free of charge.  While we have a strong membership, there may be some readers who have not yet created an entry in the directory.  The directory is categorized for ease of searching.  You may create your listing based on your area of artistic specialization.  There are listings in Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Literary and Media Arts, and Arts Organizations.  Whatever category you choose, there is a simple online form to fill out and you can post images of your work and external links to your web site.  You can link your eMail address so that people can contact you through the directory service.  There is also an events calendar where you can make entries for your events.  Entry in this directory will make you eligible for the new monthly publication Artist of the Month in the Artbeat newsletter.  Are you registered?  If not, join now and experience the benefits first hand.  The link for registration is http://directory.ac5.org/.  Note, the Arts Directory will soon be advertised on CCTV spots, and in the AT&T Real Yellow Pages.  We strongly encourage artists to use this powerful marketing tool.

ANNOUNCING ARTIST OF THE MONTH:  NEW MONTHLY FEATURED ARTICLE STARTING IN FEBRUARY 2010

We are pleased to announce Artist of the Month, a new monthly featured article of the Artbeat newsletter. Artist of the Month will highlight one artist or arts organization each month with text, graphics, and links about the artist or arts organization, their works, shows, events and any other newsworthy notes.  The artist of the month will be selected from the registered artists and arts organizations in the Arts Directory and Calendar http://directory.ac5.org/ on the AC5 web site.  If you would like to be eligible to be selected for this article, please be sure that you, or your arts organization, are registered in the Arts Directory.  Candidates for the Artist of the Month will be randomly selected from the Arts Directory.  The first publication will begin with the February edition of Artbeat, and the featured artist will be selected from the directory on February 15^th.  If you are not yet registered with the Arts Directory, if you sign up before February 15^th you will become eligible for Artist of the Month.  Good luck to all!  It is our hope that this will increase information exchange among local artists in the community and bring new visibility, interest and inquiries to all artists.  This image of a work titled Buddha was randomly selected from Annie Mathew Patel's listing in the Arts Directory.

POETRY OUT LOUD 2010 COUNTY FINALS ON FEBRUARY 7, 2010

The Poetry Out Loud program is approaching the County Finals contest.  The finals take place on Sunday February 7^th at 12 noon, at the Acalanes High School in Lafayette.  For more information please visit the Poetry Out Loud web site at http://www.poetryoutloud.org/. 

A partnership among The National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, the California Arts Council, and The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5), Poetry Out Loud supports high school students in memorizing and reciting great poetry which helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

AC5 brings this program to Contra Costa County, and is fortunate to have funders, partners and donors without whom Poetry Out Loud would not be offered locally: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, California Arts Council, San Ramon Parks & Community Services; San Ramon Arts Foundation; Whole Foods, San Ramon; Safeway Stores, San Ramon; Mark Ballock Photography, San Ramon; Longs Drugs, Lafayette. A very special thanks to the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation for their generous cash grant for prizes.

ARTBEAT CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:  Three Opportunities 

The Artbeat newsletter has three monthly sections with content published from submissions by our readers.  This represents three wonderful opportunities for artists to increase their visibility and share information with the public and with other artists in the community.  We invite and encourage readers to submit articles with photos and links, for the following sections of Artbeat:

(1) ARTISTS SPOTLIGHT publishes selected articles submitted by local artists or arts organizations in Contra Costa county.  The selected articles will not be used to advertise or market the artist's work.  Rather, they will focus on artists' point of view about their work, projects, activities, or lifestyle and experiences.  We want to feature artists' writing about their passion for their art, their challenges and their solutions, about surviving as an artist or arts organization in today's economy. 

Call for Submissions:  To be considered for this publication, artists and arts organizations can submit articles to AC5.  Articles selected for publication will be featured in the following month's Artbeat newsletter.  The deadline for the next round of submissions is February 15th. 

Submission Guidelines:  Articles can be submitted via email to ac5@ac5.org. Articles may be submitted as in-line text within an email, or as a document attachment.  Please limit your submissions to no more than one page of single spaced text in 10 or 12 point font.  Images related to your article (no more than four) may be included as attachments and you may include web links.  Please do not send hard copy submissions.  AC5 reserves the right to edit submissions.

(2) ARTFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MONTH In an effort to expand the effectiveness of the AC5 Mission, which is to be a convener of the arts, and to make the arts available to everyone in Contra Costa County, we would like to raise "arts awareness" through monthly publishing of photographs submitted by local artists and photographers. 

Call for Submissions:  We request and encourage our readers to submit photographs of their art or, artful photographs.  Include in your submission a brief description of the photo(s) and any web links that relate to the work.  Please limit the number of photographs to four photos per submission.  For the February issue of Artbeat, the submission deadline is February 15, 2010.  Send submissions as image file attachments to ac5@ac5.org. 

(3) ARTIST OF THE MONTH highlights one artist or arts organization each month with text, graphics, and links about the artist or arts organization, their works, shows, events and any other newsworthy notes.  The artist of the month will be selected from the registered artists and arts organizations in the Arts Directory and Calendar at http://directory.ac5.org/ on the AC5 web site.  If you would like to be eligible to be selected for this article, please be sure that you, or your arts organization, are registered in the Arts Directory.  Candidates for the Artist of the Month will be randomly selected from the Arts Directory.  The first publication will begin with the February edition of Artbeat, and the featured artist will be selected from the directory on February 15^th.  If you are not yet registered with the Arts Directory, if you sign up before February 15^th you will become eligible for Artist of the Month. 

  Call for Submissions:  The call for submissions is simply to register in the Arts Directory at http://directory.ac5.org/. 

ARTBEAT TELEVISION SERIES ON CCTV

Artbeat is coming to TV?  Yes... Artbeat will be a monthly video magazine featuring interviews of artists and arts organizations in Contra Costa County.  This will be an informative, upbeat and lively show with up-close and personal insights into the artist's world, filmed on location in the artist's creative environment.  This program is being developed by Scott Belding, Managing Director of AC5 and long time arts manager and producer in Contra Costa County.  An artist and experienced interviewer himself, Belding will bring the intriguing world of the arts to CCTV in the form of dynamic and creative interviews with local artists and arts organizations.  The first in the series has already been filmed and features an acclaimed artistic director located in Walnut Creek, who is a very talented choreographer with a unique perspective and strong dedication to contemporary dance as an expressive and healing art form for both the dancer and the viewer.  It is going to be great!  Stay tuned... the pilot show is targeted to be broadcast sometime in February 2010 on CCTV.  Check local listings.

FINE ARTS SERIES:  NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

 AC5 is teaming up with CCTV to offer a video series from the National Gallery of Art Video Library program.  In an effort to bring high quality arts information to our community, the AC5 is sponsoring a series of educational videos made available to us from the National Gallery of Art.  This program will be ongoing and is anticipated to begin in Feburary 2010.  The first series will feature American Artists.  The series may start before the next issue of Artbeat, so check CCTV local listings for your area. 

AC5 IS ON FACEBOOK AC5 Facebook Group

We invite you to join the AC5 Facebook group.  We will post events and general information from time to time on Facebook, and members can use the group page as another means to communicate with fellow artists, share information, and post images and videos of their work. 

Arts & Culture Comission of Contra Costa County 
1236 Escobar St., Martinez, CA 94553
Tel. (925) 646-2278  eMail ac5@ac5.org

AC5 is partially funded by: