About the requested props and costumes list:
Prior the a Pocha Nostra workshop participants are given a check list asking them to bring artifacts and costumes that have specific cultural, political or spiritual meaning to them; items that are strongly connected to their ideas and aesthetics. These objects tend to belong to their ‘personal archaeology’ as they evoke important chapters or moments in their lives.
Some examples include: figurines, talismans, fetish items, masks, wigs, hats, shoes, and pieces of clothing or fabric. Items should not be too delicate or precious and the participants must be willing to share these objects with others during the exercises. When identifying items, themes to consider include ethnicity, sexuality, religion, war, pop culture, urban subcultures, tourism, and gender/ethnic bending. These artifacts and props will become part of the group’s ‘pop archeological bank’ for the duration of the workshop.
If participants don’t own that many interesting objects, we suggest that you borrow some from fellow artists or that you go to the usual “performance art supply stores” and these include, thrift shops, second hand stores, souvenirs shops in the local ethnic neighborhoods, fetish and hardware stores. With $50 one can develop a unique collection of performance props and costumes.
Often our local producers will have access to larger set pieces or interesting furniture in advance (a dentist chair, a surgical bed, a coffin, etc). They can also help us locate in advance ‘dangerous-looking props’ that out of town artists can’t travel with such as replicas of weapons, medical instruments and prosthetics. The more serious “toys” we have to play with, the better.
As you will notice, an area for laying out props and costumes becomes very vital to the workshop. This “station” can be created with two or three worktables and two clothes racks essential for laying out props and costumes.
1.-Comfortable rehearsal clothes, preferably all black or one neutral color
2.-Some unique artifacts/costumes from your “personal archeology,” including iconic objects with a special significance for you. Themes to consider: Religion, war, sexuality, pop culture gone wrong, ethnicity, tourism, gender-ethnic bending, etc. They can be props, and/or talismans, fetishes, wigs, hats, costumes, fabrics, make-up, shoes, or masks. Make sure they are not too small or too fragile and that they can also be handled by others. They will become part of our “prop and costume installation” for the duration of the workshop and by the end of the workshop you can take them back.
3.-If you live in (the city where the workshop will take place) and have contacts and access to interesting large set pieces (platforms and theater cubes), props or furniture, full mannequins or mannequin parts, taxidermied animals, or other unusual things, we can use them. We are also interested in construction and garden tools; parts of old broken machinery, circuit boards, and retro-technology. Hardware store materials such as rope, aluminum foil, roles of plastic film, and clear packing tape can be useful to alter or enhance the body.
4.-We have also asked our producers and extend this invitation to the local artists to help us gather in advance certain “dangerous-looking” props that we can’t travel with (replicas of weapons, medical instruments, prosthetics, and braces, etc.) The more serious “toys” we have, the better.
5.-A personal music mix in CD or I-pod format with high-energy drum & base or interesting music from your personal collection. Surprise us.
6.-If any of you has a good DVD projector, a video or photo camera it would be great if you can bring them as well. We’ll take good care of them.
LISTA DE REQUERIMIENTOS PARA PARTICIPANTES DEL TALLER:
Prior the a Pocha Nostra workshop participants are given a check list asking them to bring artifacts and costumes that have specific cultural, political or spiritual meaning to them; items that are strongly connected to their ideas and aesthetics. These objects tend to belong to their ‘personal archaeology’ as they evoke important chapters or moments in their lives.
Some examples include: figurines, talismans, fetish items, masks, wigs, hats, shoes, and pieces of clothing or fabric. Items should not be too delicate or precious and the participants must be willing to share these objects with others during the exercises. When identifying items, themes to consider include ethnicity, sexuality, religion, war, pop culture, urban subcultures, tourism, and gender/ethnic bending. These artifacts and props will become part of the group’s ‘pop archeological bank’ for the duration of the workshop.
If participants don’t own that many interesting objects, we suggest that you borrow some from fellow artists or that you go to the usual “performance art supply stores” and these include, thrift shops, second hand stores, souvenirs shops in the local ethnic neighborhoods, fetish and hardware stores. With $50 one can develop a unique collection of performance props and costumes.
Often our local producers will have access to larger set pieces or interesting furniture in advance (a dentist chair, a surgical bed, a coffin, etc). They can also help us locate in advance ‘dangerous-looking props’ that out of town artists can’t travel with such as replicas of weapons, medical instruments and prosthetics. The more serious “toys” we have to play with, the better.
As you will notice, an area for laying out props and costumes becomes very vital to the workshop. This “station” can be created with two or three worktables and two clothes racks essential for laying out props and costumes.
1.-Comfortable rehearsal clothes, preferably all black or one neutral color
2.-Some unique artifacts/costumes from your “personal archeology,” including iconic objects with a special significance for you. Themes to consider: Religion, war, sexuality, pop culture gone wrong, ethnicity, tourism, gender-ethnic bending, etc. They can be props, and/or talismans, fetishes, wigs, hats, costumes, fabrics, make-up, shoes, or masks. Make sure they are not too small or too fragile and that they can also be handled by others. They will become part of our “prop and costume installation” for the duration of the workshop and by the end of the workshop you can take them back.
3.-If you live in (the city where the workshop will take place) and have contacts and access to interesting large set pieces (platforms and theater cubes), props or furniture, full mannequins or mannequin parts, taxidermied animals, or other unusual things, we can use them. We are also interested in construction and garden tools; parts of old broken machinery, circuit boards, and retro-technology. Hardware store materials such as rope, aluminum foil, roles of plastic film, and clear packing tape can be useful to alter or enhance the body.
4.-We have also asked our producers and extend this invitation to the local artists to help us gather in advance certain “dangerous-looking” props that we can’t travel with (replicas of weapons, medical instruments, prosthetics, and braces, etc.) The more serious “toys” we have, the better.
5.-A personal music mix in CD or I-pod format with high-energy drum & base or interesting music from your personal collection. Surprise us.
6.-If any of you has a good DVD projector, a video or photo camera it would be great if you can bring them as well. We’ll take good care of them.
LISTA DE REQUERIMIENTOS PARA PARTICIPANTES DEL TALLER:
- Los participantes deberán usar ropa cómoda, suelta y/o ajustada que permita libertad de movimiento.
- Llevar un cuaderno/diario para que tomen nota de sus impresiones, pensamientos, dibujos y notas generales
- Música: si cualquiera de los participantes tiene música rara, difícil de encontrar, instrumental que les gustaría compartir, adelante tráiganla.
- Muestras de su trabajo personal (videos, diapositivas etc.) quizá alguna tarde tengamos un espacio para compartir los trabajos entre los participantes.
- Arqueología personal: antes de su llegada sugerimos a todos los participantes que reúnan objetos que puedan relacionar a su mitología e iconografía personal, incluyendo:
- Utileria: objetos que se vean interesantes, figuras, artefactos rituales que sean relevantes para su universo simbólico y estético
- Disfraces: étnicos, militares, fetichistas, ropa de artista, arte portable, telas, etc.
- Accesorios: pelucas, sombreros, máscaras, joyería interesante, zapatos, maquillaje, etc.
- Objetos que puedan ser útiles para ejercicios: cuerdas, cinta, etc.