Mind Mapping a Project

Here is the rough draft of the online version of the mind map I've been working on. I need to make hyperlinks for the examples, enter some text and string it all together. I also want to change the name of the project, but that'll happen soon.

Information Overload

"What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it." - Herbert Simon

Good lord! Try figuring that out!

The reason I posted that quote is just to say that I really need to reign in my ideas. Desperately. I'm about to go crazy. My final for Dance and Tech has now changed. Unfortunately AND fortunately. More details to come.

Prayers are in order...

My 100th post!

Wow! I can't believe I've posted 100 times already! (Imagine confetti falling.) Now on to an update:

I discovered some pictures from the Wexner Center performance. Photo credit goes to A.J. Zanyk. One of these days I'll actually update my website with new pictures!

The performance last weekend at BOMA with Robert Wechsler went quite well. David even enjoyed it. I haven't found any good pictures from that event, but if something worth posting turns up, I'll get it in here.

I'm currently doing my best to finish papers for the end of my first quarter as a grad student. Can't believe the first quarter is almost done, although I'm anxious for it to hurry up and finish already!

My 2 minute video for the Dance and Technology seminar is NOT the claymation I wanted it to be. I'll have to finish the claymation this holiday season when I have more time at home. Instead here is what I came up with from available footage.

For Jennifer's website, I will be using this image as my inspiration. If I can post the wire frame for the site, I will soon.

See ya next time for post #101!

An Interesting Turn of Events and the rest of the characters

Today proved unexpected. Eight of us from the Dance and Technology class met with Robert Wechsler of Palindrome. Check out his website: http://www.palindrome.de/ Wechsler will perform a solo at Automaton II this weekend and we'll be performing a group piece orchestrated by him as well. We had no idea that working with him today for a few hours would lead to a performance in a few days. I'm psyched!

David and I finished the cast today. These are really rough, but they'll be molded more during the shoot. It's been fun!

Getting on to the Good Stuff

This week's been a good one. I feel like I turned certain things around for myself. Lisa Waugh and Kate Warren must have rubbed off on me. Lisa has always been so positive. Kate has always been proactive in taking care of herself as a dancer (and as a regular human being). Every night for the past four evenings, I have been taking time for extra stretching and reflection in order to absorb all the things that I'm asking my mind, body and soul to keep up with lately. See my yoga blog if you're interested in what I mean: http://rashanaworksyoga.blogspot.com.

David and I are working on the next video chapter about the move to Ohio. It's coming up, so stayed tuned!

I'm also excited about working on Jennifer Micallef's website. Images coming soon!

So much

Every day there is so much going on and so many tiny discoveries happening. Intense to say the least. It's like "Deconstructing Rashana." It's all good work, but it's definitely a lot to behold. I wish I had the time to really journal about this. All the wonderment seems worthy of recording. And yet, I don't have the time because I'm too busy being with all this "personal growth."

That said, I have a couple of things to mention. If you're reading this blog, please visit Michael Morris's: http://morrismichaelj.wordpress.com/. His reflection on the Wexner performance is insightful and beautiful and definitely worth reading.

Another bit of news before I head back into the coursework I should really be doing right now - I am in the process of updating the look and feel of my blogs and website. I can't believe I'm going to utter these words, but I have yet another blog. It's not really a blog - it's really a landing page to my current blogs. If you want to trace my steps and try to find a common theme in the layout of my blogs, start here: http://minuet.dance.ohio-state.edu/~smith6960/

Then click on my Blog link. This will take you to my OSU blog (http://rashanaworks.wordpress.com) This was part of an assignment in my Dance and Technology class. I won't be updating my OSU webpage or blog as they just point to my current blogs and rashanaworks website, so really this is just more information than you need - which is how I feel right now - overloaded with personal information.

Halloween Queen

I had a pretty good day today. After a good first rehearsal for the Wexner Center's Super Sunday event and a wonderful break with fellow first year grads, Erik and Dante, I worked on my Photoshop project for Dance and Technology class. I modeled the collage after the photography duo, Alex and Felix. They don't use a bit of photoshop, of course, but they gave me an idea. Here's a sample of their amazing work: http://www.richtergallery.com/events.html.

I call this little number "Halloween Queen" because I originally wanted to make the model (an old doll) into a scary halloween prop. Now, I just like her too much. The text is my favorite e.e. cummings poem.

Every Day...

Life's a funny experiment and I'm enjoying every day as different!

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened." - Douglas Adams - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

How I Feel

"Our perception that we have "no time" is one of the distinctive marks of modern Western culture." Margaret Visser

I'm tired. I mean, I'm really tired. I have a feeling I'll be even more tired sometime this year, but tonight, I'm really tired. Most of the time I feel like I don't have enough time to do everything, but then I realize that I should just calm down. Things will get done. I just have to keep breathing. Deep breathing into a restful night's sleep sounds really good right now!

Two Days Down

I completed my first two days of grad school. Finally today, after introducing myself for the millionth time and explaining what I'm doing at OSU, I realized that it really all boils down to one thing - gaining the courage to truly let my voice be heard. I'm sure I'll talk about this more. In the meantime, I'm having a good time!

David took a picture of me on my first day of school. Ahhh, the dorkiness of it all!

Class schedule for Autumn 2009

At last - my class schedule!

Monday/Wednesday

8:45-10:15 - Yoga

10:30-12:00 - Modern Technique

12:15-4:15 - Work at the Wexner Center

4:30-6:30 - Dance and Technology

Tuesday/Thursday

8:45-10:15 - Resources

10:30-2:30 - Work at the Wexner Center

2:45-4:15 - Dance Theatre Choreography and Performance

4:30-6:30 - Dance Criticism

7:00-9:00 - Rehearsal (Tuesdays only)

Friday

8:45-10:15 - Work at the Wexner Center

10:30-12:00 - Modern Technique

12:30-2:30 - Dance Theatre Choreography and Performance

2:45-5:15 - Work at the Wexner Center

Let's see if this old woman can handle this!

Luc Tuymans and school

Today I had the honor of going on a tour of the much anticipated Luc Tuymans exhibit at the Wexner Center during the Docent Training. Docent Training is part of the Education Department, which I am also a part as the G.A.A. for Youth and Family Programs. Helen Molesworth, co-curator of the show, conducted the tour and as a wonderful surprise, Luc Tuymans himself came towards the end of the tour to speak of his art himself. How incredible to get information first hand! Please check out the video at the following link for more information. The show opens tomorrow to Wexner members and then officially to the general public on Thursday. http://www.wexarts.org/ex/index.php?eventid=4043. His work makes me excited for contemporary art all over again and I cannot wait to see how simply being surrounded by art constantly at the Wexner Center will shape my own choreography and how I choose to present it. I'm excited!

Other news - Teacher Workshops at the Dance Department start Thursday, Sept. 17th. School starts Sept. 23rd. I can hardly contain myself! I hope to finish up organizing and furnishing the house and completing some web projects this weekend! Lots going on! Eventually I will revisit video footage and complete that project too. Ooooh. And did I mention that I have a Halloween Experience in mind? Hmmm. I wonder what all will get "done."