here is the public workshop side to our outdoor studio. not pictured here to the right and back is where we are making floats. it was open for the first time this weekend from -10AM-12PM, 2-5PM, and 7-10PM. on weekdays it's open from are from 7-10PM.
in reflection of the past few days, i am astonished of how much has happened. it's been jam-packed with working or being anxious about working but also some really good hanging out with the other artists here. it seems that we have made an effort to make fun a priority. like thursday night, we all went over to my apartment (which i like to call "discotheque jean-paul." since jean-paul is from France and also my flatmate that has been away the past month) listened to music, drank some alcohol and everyone got a fabulous hair cut. sunday night we had a dance party in the puppet theater, a fair well for jake, that included theater games and spontaneous choreography. just imagine a room with over a dozen wacky puppeteers and theater folks. Then last night was laid back, we had samba lesson with Jake that included learning the basics of one specific form of drumming and sang along with songs that we all knew . . . there were about 4 madonna songs AND dolly parton's "9-5," i'm not kidding. then afterwards was the first session of "show + tell," where we shared stories, music and images of the work we do back home. all these little bits have kept a big smile on my face the past few days. i've been able to get a glimmer of each person and appreciating them for who they are. it's certainly collective because we had this big pageant meeting today and you could feel the camaraderie in the room. it left me feeling that the task at hand was more possible and for that, I am overwhelmingly thankful.
