Nanowrimo finito!

Hey all friends and followers. After a month of literary abandon, i finally finished my novel - which is now sitting at just over 50 000 words. It was a crazy experience and i hope to edit it in december. I think i will take a bit of break for a few days now though.

The tentative title is: Aquila's Feast.
This novel details the adventures of Vlad, who has a PhD in Native American Art and lives in Santa Fe. He has two primary obsessions in life: art and plants of the southwest. After a series of art crimes are committed in the city, he is haunted by a ghost who wants her art back. In his quest to find the art pieces and himself, he uncovers a darker side of humanity in this quaint tourist town. His faith in plants, art and human nature are challenged by what he discovers.

Dancing Earth in Phoenix!

Last Friday in Phoenix at the contemporary art space Bragg's Pie Facotory, I had the privilege of experiencing the improvisational dance performance of Dancing Earth, an indigenous dance troupe. Their performance was moving, passionate and evocative. The dance was partly inspired by the recycled art within the space, and the dancers meditated on this concept of recycling and renewable energy before and during the performance. Like butterflies in a meadow, they fluttered through the space, sinuously expressing their dance in solo creations and together in trios and groups. Providing percussion, vocals and violin, the musicians added an aural element to the visceral experience of the dancers in the space. The performance was a combination of choreography and improvisational work, directed by artistic leader Rulan Tangen. The dancers pride themselves and draw inspiration from their multitude of indigenous heritages, they create a “blood memory in motion” which aims to appeal to all humanity. Dance in this context also serves as a greater expression of social, cultural and spiritual concerns.






About 50 people attended the performance which lasted 25 minutes. The dance troupe has performed across the southwest and they were selected as the 2010 recipient for the National Museum of the American Indian’s Expressive Arts Award to bring their love of dance to children and adults across America. If you have a chance to see them, don’t miss it! Below are some photos of the dancers in motion!

Heading to the Valley of the Sun!

I'm heading to the Valley of the Sun (phoenix) this weekend and am looking forward to some live music, viewing lots of Art and just rambling around. I also hope to head to the desert botanical garden.
Ciao for now!