Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2010 > April > 23 > Entry
Fusebox Festival Opening Night at 3 Locations
Three tribes converged on the opening night of the Fusebox Festival on Wednesday.
Savannah McAnally, James Fain and Kate Motzenbacker
The first event — a demonstration of Texas social dancing at the Capitol — attracted a heterogeneous lot. Yet the population was dominated by what I would call social populists. Hipsters and worshipers at the altar of high art infiltrated among the true two-steppers in unaffected Western garb.
Lisa Schiff and Darrell Allred
The weather was divine for the dance, orchestrated by inventive choreographer Allison Orr and composer/instrumentalist Graham Reynolds. One of the last recorded songs, as the tribes dispersed, was Lyle Lovett’s “That’s Right (You’re Not from Texas).” What struck me in this setting was the sweet completion of the refrain: “But Texas wants you anyway.”
Allison Orr and Graham Reynolds
Now that’s a winking welcome to the international artists gathered for the 10 or so days of top-shelf contemporary art, organized by Ron Berry. From the Capitol, I toddled down Congress Avenue, running into a crowd outside the empty retail slot at Congress and East Eighth Street, once slated for condos. A pop-up art installation inside — better seen later when the sun had set — assembled a vision of abandoned urban space.
Molly Alexander and Dana Friis-Hansen
At the Paramount Theatre for the second official Fusebox event, the high-art tribe was already assembling. Hardly a personality from Austin’s contemporary visual or performance art community, from Deborah Hay down, was absent. Which was cool, because that meant 1,000 spectators or more for the American debut of “The Velvet Suite” by Japanese dancer Kaiji Moriyama.
Julie Thornton and Jennifer Wijangco
Imported for an unnamed price by testperformanctest’s Julie Thornton, it was, by any definition, intense. I’ll leave the formal review to the able critics at our newspaper’s Austin Arts blog.
Marcy Hoen and Bijoy Goswami
Here are striking things I noticed during the extended performance: Moriyama’s back. His fingers. His hair. His animal-inspired poses and motions. The enormous globe of suspended flowers that looked, in some lighting, like a burning heart. His eventual frenzy, which explained how the whole thing fit into the announced theme of “Eros.”
Eugene Sepulveda and Kirk Rudy
Later analysis of the performance split the high-art tribe, who were joined by yet a third group, Austin’s progressive social leaders at a United States Art Authority after-party. You know who they are. This set appears in Out & About every week. Because they are everywhere. And, in the process, they form widely-adopted opinions on everything from politics and finance to charity and art.
Heather Barfield and Shuana Danos
They mingled easily with the other tribes. They dressed in finer threads, but one thing they are not: Stuffy. These top connectors know how to have a good time. And the funky Authority was the right place to have it. Frito pie (required) was paired with fine sparkling wine and a pair of ironic DJs. So, so, so Austin.
Annelize Machado and Nicole Viado
And so much fun. Much more Fusebox to come, although I’ll miss most of it, given the crashing close to the traditional social season. (For instance, six major events for May 6, another six for May 8. When will the madness end?)
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Arts
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.