Words, sentences, phrases︎︎︎
Divide the group into small groups of three or four. Give each group one word (a different word for each group). Have each person in each group write down three sentences inspired by that word. Use these sentences to build a gesture base. This is a series of simple movements and gestures based on the rhythms and images in the sentences. Remember to create movements that don't mime the content of the sentences, but play with different initiations from the body, directions and dynamics. Give the group a finite amount of time so they don't over think the process. The gesture bases should be simple and easy to repeat.
Once everyone has there phrases based on the words, you can have them build trajectories through the space and extend their gesture bases along these trajectories through the space. There are many strategies on how to extend these phrases.
The groups can then work together and assemble the phrases that travel through space. There may be places when negotiations need to be made in space, offering the development of new movement ideas. Allow the group to create a study that includes all the phrases performed in the space at the same time.
This process is a good way to experience a simple process that starts with a single image end ends in a complex series of movement phrases in space. It's also a way of seeing a strong relationship between the movement choices within the groups based on a single source of inspiration.
You can also have the groups change fronts, play with changing just one person's trajectory or facing to see how these compositional choices change our perception and reading of the work.
Once everyone has there phrases based on the words, you can have them build trajectories through the space and extend their gesture bases along these trajectories through the space. There are many strategies on how to extend these phrases.
The groups can then work together and assemble the phrases that travel through space. There may be places when negotiations need to be made in space, offering the development of new movement ideas. Allow the group to create a study that includes all the phrases performed in the space at the same time.
This process is a good way to experience a simple process that starts with a single image end ends in a complex series of movement phrases in space. It's also a way of seeing a strong relationship between the movement choices within the groups based on a single source of inspiration.
You can also have the groups change fronts, play with changing just one person's trajectory or facing to see how these compositional choices change our perception and reading of the work.
︎︎︎from Rob Kitsos
Welcome to mapping collaboration, a toolbox for workshopping and creating across disciplines...
In spite of a long history of interdisciplinary creation, from our earliest recorded arts to our present moment, artistic pedagogy has created divisions between disciplines. This has left artists in a "post-Babel" condition where we don't share the same language and definitions. It’s also encouraged artists to develop practices for devising, creating and composing work that are distinct to their disciplines.
In spite of a long history of interdisciplinary creation, from our earliest recorded arts to our present moment, artistic pedagogy has created divisions between disciplines. This has left artists in a "post-Babel" condition where we don't share the same language and definitions. It’s also encouraged artists to develop practices for devising, creating and composing work that are distinct to their disciplines.
The inspiration for this project came from faculty and students at Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts where BFA, MFA and PhD programs in Dance, Theatre Production and Design, Visual Art, Film, and Music and Sound all work together in studio settings and playfully experiment with processes of art-making.
We wanted to create a database of projects, assignments and theory that we collect inside the studio and from research happening in other places. We are curious about how we collaborate and how structures reoccur, translate and deviate from one discipline to another.
Composition is central to these processes and offers a base for our approaches and experiments. We are excited about what our students are doing and inspired by the new languages in contemporary art and performance we continue to see develop.
︎︎︎select a category above to build assignments, learn more about how artists process ideas across disciplines and to create a collaborative process of your own
︎︎︎these tools are collected and used in workshops and classes; some are resources from artists; some are quotes about art-making and how bodies think and listen; others are ideas to expand and disrupt your own training and processes.
︎︎︎Each idea is intentially short- and not meant to be executed as written, but to be adapted to your own practice and specific project/context. Some may be taken in parts or combined with others to spark new ways of training and making together.
︎︎︎submit your own ideas and tools so we can keep building this site!
︎︎︎select a category above to build assignments, learn more about how artists process ideas across disciplines and to create a collaborative process of your own
︎︎︎these tools are collected and used in workshops and classes; some are resources from artists; some are quotes about art-making and how bodies think and listen; others are ideas to expand and disrupt your own training and processes.
︎︎︎Each idea is intentially short- and not meant to be executed as written, but to be adapted to your own practice and specific project/context. Some may be taken in parts or combined with others to spark new ways of training and making together.
︎︎︎submit your own ideas and tools so we can keep building this site!
