Here is a link to the video playlist for the whole project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGq_xCX95Xg&list=PLAscrSv_0LReGdARXZIkFUnPwftiXZsvt&index=2
Here is the first video installment of our show, Thanks to Katrina Hoven !!
Our project has begun. Click here to watch the first video installment of the first weekend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMzL4GvXDxk&feature=youtu.be
A window into our process by Soren Dietzel
As we join together…
There seems to be a universal trend in this theme of fear. I draw from each personal story a similar meaning – in fear we find courage. By going deeper through fear we grow, finding the capacity for love. Even as the flower dies in the fall, retreating life forces gestate until new life springs forth. From the same bulb a new flower blooms.
There is a reality in taking up this work- I will meet fear. I will face fear not only in doing my own work but also in the group, in collaboration. I will be asked to trust, to surrender, to have courage and to love. But in the end we will bring a little beauty into the world, and have a lot of fun doing it! Therein lies the crux of the issue for me- to learn to love the process of meeting fear. Where else is joy than deep deep deep within the ever changing moment that is the miracle of life?
Fifteen Phases of Fear
A fearful force is introduced.
Burdened by past experience a shield is put up. But it is cracked and heavy.
The equation is simple- the action seemingly impossible. Overthinking…
Fear overtakes. Blocking out all possibility
Loss of play, tense white knuckle critic looks in. Overpowering…
Frozen. Reality reflects the inner state
Relinquishing any sense of control fears totality is reached.
Through surrender, rushing chaos as the dam of tension breaks.
An inner light shines. Something past illusion
The heavens answer the prayer cutting a path through the outer chaos
Perhaps even optimism begins to show as form shapes health. Disciplined thought the mind…
Organic form takes over the beauty of flow
Fed by forces of life itself, the work begins
The two forces are able to be combined now- bringing a third
Resolution as the parts become a whole- an organic process of evelution
Soren Dietzel
Meetings in Person
The core group has now met for 2 weeks looking at the history of the project, individual's ideas and the capacities they are bringing to the project. We have been playing a lot of music and researching other approaches to the media (https://www.instagram.com/glasseyeshadowpictures/ ) as well as playing Chriss Summer Roidt’s new game.
Card Game
Chriss Roidt has created a card/board game with the images that Laura created for the metamorphosis of fear project. Last Saturday Chriss came and led us through a game.
It’s very interesting that the game requires collaboration and that progress is often unexpected and sometimes requires going backwards.
First Zoom Call - getting to know each other
First Zoom Call - getting to know each other
by Soren Dietzel
We met on zoom for our first meeting. We introduced ourselves, our work and our relationship to the proposed multi media art installation: the Metamorphosis of Fear.
We learned that the original project was set forth to Jan Stutten by Rudolf Steiner in the early 1900's. Among other things, it was meant as an exploration into an alternative to film. Concerned with the passive nature of the fledgeling technology the two men set forth to create a synesthetic art show. It would involve music, painting, projected light and even elements of hearing color and seeing tone. Set to the historical context of WWI, the motif they chose to express was the transformation of fear.
Each one of us on the zoom call had our own stories, our own losses, our own loves. They were our own and yet they brought us together. They let us know we were there to express transformation and acceptance; to step into the unknown and embrace fear with courage.
Now, a month later, we are convening in person for the first time to begin the work of collaboration
Metamorphosis of Fear Project - Call for Support
Metamorphosis of Fear Project - Call for Support
Budget:
In order to fund this work we will need to find approximately $45,000 to cover equipment, venues and artist support.
We will evaluate the project based on audience reactions and interactive activities during the performance month.
If the project is successful, we will be looking for further support in order to take this work to various places. We envision a tour that could include Spring Valley NY, Kimberton PA, Wilton NH, Portland OR as well as presenting the work at conferences in a variety of places.
Thank you for considering supporting us.
Metamorphosis of Fear Project - Call for Support
Budget:
In order to fund this work we will need to find approximately $45,000 to cover equipment, venues and artist support.
We will evaluate the project based on audience reactions and interactive activities during the performance month.
If the project is successful, we will be looking for further support in order to take this work to various places. We envision a tour that could include Spring Valley NY, Kimberton PA, Wilton NH, Portland OR as well as presenting the work at conferences in a variety of places.
Thank you for considering supporting us.
Metamorphosis of Fear Project
In 1918 at the end of the first world war Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the Austrian-born founder of anthroposophy, gave the musician, composer, and scenery designer Jan Stuten (1890-1948) a task: to create a new, alternative color- art combining sound, colored light, color-movement, and colored shadows in a way that would leave the viewer free to interpret what was seen. In 1919 Steiner gave Stuten the theme Metamorphoses of Fear for the first work of this new art form, a theme related to people’s experiences from the just-ended world war. At that time many people in central Europe were full of fear, and Steiner hoped this artwork could help them to transform or overcome their fear. In response to Steiner’s idea, Stuten drew with chalk on packing-paper fifteen sketches, which would be something like a full-score (or “storyboards”) for a new colored light-play, Metamorphoses of Fear. That which he suggested through the sketches as stage-pictures was intended to move and change itself in relationship to music.
Free Columbia Project Proposal
The Metamorphosis of Fear
A project incorporating painting, colored light, video, movement, sound, music and social collaboration.
In 1918 at the end of the first world war Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the Austrian-born founder of anthroposophy, gave the musician, composer, and scenery designer Jan Stuten (1890-1948) a task: to create a new, alternative color- art combining sound, colored light, color-movement, and colored shadows in a way that would leave the viewer free to interpret what was seen. In 1919 Steiner gave Stuten the theme Metamorphoses of Fear for the first work of this new art form, a theme related to people’s experiences from the just-ended world war. At that time many people in central Europe were full of fear, and Steiner hoped this artwork could help them to transform or overcome their fear. In response to Steiner’s idea, Stuten drew with chalk on packing-paper fifteen sketches, which would be something like a full-score (or “storyboards”) for a new colored light-play, Metamorphoses of Fear. That which he suggested through the sketches as stage-pictures was intended to move and change itself in relationship to music.
It seems the world is often in a state of fear and so once again it seems appropriate to work with this theme and multimedia approach. In 2022 Nathaniel Williams led an exploration of this colored light play in association with composer Don Jamison. In this project Frank Agrama and Laura Summer learned to play the “light horses”, overhead projectors with abstract colored light movements created by wheels of color.
Now a group of artists has come together to take this work further as a collaboration between people and their various media. The group includes: Frank Agrama- colored light, Loki Anthony - animation, Zuri Burns – overall support, Soren Dietzel-music, Zoi Doehrer-music, Kai Naor-music, Sampsa Pirtola-video, Matt Sawaya-spoken word/music, Laura Summer-painting, Jen Zimberg -music.
Laura has created three painted versions of the progression on metamorphosing fear based loosely on Jan Stutten’s sketches. Now our challenge is to work together to bring it into movement and sound.
We plan to work together for the next year experimenting and investigating this work, planning an exhibit and a series of performances in late 2024 or early 2025. If you are interested in supporting this project you can do so here.
Metamorphosis of Fear Laura Summer 2023 24”x48” oil on board
