Tag: 05.05.20

Nancy Stark Smith, Co-Creator Of Contact Improvisation, Dead At 68

“Although [Steve] Paxton is credited with inventing, or initiating CI, it was Stark Smith who became the chief educator and organizer. … Whether springing up out of the floor or boomeranging off another person, she made the pleasure of touch visible. She had a wondrous way of talking/writing about the sensations of momentum that drew people in.” – Dance Magazine

Germany And Austria Want Theaters To Start Rehearsing Again. Directors Are Balking

“Performances in front of an audience are still out of the question for now. But on May 18, Austria will become one of the first countries on the continent where theater troupes can return to rehearsal, with detailed restrictions to limit the virus’s transmission. Actors must stay at least three feet apart, government guidelines say, and performers can come closer only if they wear face coverings or masks. In Germany, an insurance body has outlined similar rules. In interviews, leading theatermakers in both countries said rehearsals would be impossible under such conditions.” – The New York Times

The Debate Over Rebuilding Notre Dame

“I thought it was really bad that they called for an international competition,” says another heritage architect, Charlotte Langlois. “The message it sends is we need international architects to have good ideas on how to restore our heritage and in particular our emblematic cathedral. And it’s very demagogical, to let people think that having well-known architects is the only way not to rebuild in the same way. It’s not true.” – Apollo

The Neuroscientific Explanation For Why You Need A Hug Right Now

Without touch, humans deteriorate physically and emotionally. “We know from the literature that lack of touch produces very negative consequences for our wellbeing,” says Alberto Gallace, a neuroscientist at the University of Milano-Bicocca. He explains that humans are inherently social creatures; studies have shown that depriving monkeys of physical contact leads to adverse health outcomes. – Wired

Sotheby’s Deeply In Debt, Tries To Reopen And Cut Costs

To date, the company’s outstanding debt stands at $467 million (plus interest), according to the latest documents. It has to pay more than one quarter of that—$119 million—in interest and principle this year, and around $84 million for each of the next four years. That debt burden, coupled with an extended period when Sotheby’s isn’t generating the kind of revenue it would in a non-pandemic year, resulted in the release of Deloitte’s “emphasis of a matter” related to Sotheby’s own focus on the business as a “going concern.” – Artnet

Hans Ulrich Obrist: Gaming Out Scenarios For A New Art World

The scenario that pays off in the end is the Leviathan Scenario, where everyone makes sacrifices and is mobilized to develop local solutions, creating bottom-up experimentation with government support. There is a focus on public goods and social welfare, transforming the economy and creating a more resilient and sustainable foundation. This will lead to post-crisis recovery and result in a New New Deal. – Artnet

So How’s This Going To Work – Social Distancing In Theatres?

The problem is not audience participation. It may drop, but, as my analysis to follow shows, even if it drops 20, 30, or even 40 percent, that is not the drop we should worry about. What will matter more than anything else in consideration is that, without a vaccine, social distancing measures in large-scale venues must continue for months, potentially years. – The Middle Class Artist