rare bird

ra·ra a·vis

/ˌre(ə)rə ˈāvis,ˌrärə ˈäwis/

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rare bird is my curatorial identity and my answer to the question, "What can I offer as an artist?"

 

One of my deepest-held beliefs is that it is a radical act to choose beauty, art, and connection, in a world that systemically devalues all of these things. My goal as a curator is restore your senses of wonder by hosting a relaxed, communal environment and performing music that tells a story.

 

I'm a devout practicioner of "Slow Art." Rarely working on more than one project at a time, each concert is developed through a slow, iterative process that omniverously draws upon the fullness of life: time spent in nature; literature and poetry; children's questions; music; visual art; the mundane; shower thoughts; late night conversations; politics; dreams; serendipity and rendez-vous; and the glorious, terrifying, spectrum of emotions that make one human.

 

Is this lucrative or commercially successful? Assuredly not. But the qualitative benefits of such a process are deeply felt in each event, whether a simple evening of classical chamber music or an experiential and multidisciplinary gesamtkunstwerk ("total work of art").

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I began curating concerts in 2014 as the co-founder of a contemporary chamber ensemble, Phonochrome. Of our namesake concert, Phonochromaticism, Jeff Dunn of the San Francisco Classical Voice raved, 

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"...dozens of new-music lovers crammed into the concert space to hear the evolving group Phonochrome and friends play six new chamber works by as many worthy composers. Almost everyone — performers, composers, and, most significantly, audience members — was apparently under 30. I can now die in peace knowing art music will continue to prosper…"

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It was my favorite kind of concert - a collaboration.

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My next event is THE PATH TO PLEASURE, a 4-part concert series inspired by the pillars of Pleasure Activism. Please visit the project page to learn more.

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