Take a choreographer, a composer, and a mythically oriented visual artist, give them a gallery space, and a stage, and what unfolds is a fantastic show that combines a whimsical narrative, with music and dance, called "Cult of Color: Call to Color," presented through April 27, in Austin, Texas.
Characters that visual artist Trenton Doyle Hancock has been developing for years, like Sesom (Moses spelled backwards), a "Cult of Color" leader, Baby Cut and Shy Jerry, twin brothers once joined at the head, and Bow-Headed Lou, a victim of the town bully, are all rebels against their clan, the Vegans. With the help a handful of equally unusual individuals, and a rainbow swathed "spirit energy" called Painter, they lead their kinsman into a brighter, more colorful existence.
The exhibition, at Arthouse at the Jones Center, features sound installations, video collage, and intriguing environments like "the Cave," "the Miracle Machine," and "the Battle," which all set the scene. But the real drama unfolds through a series of nine performances starting April 3 at Austin Ballet. A vivid set created by Hancock, powerful jazz-influenced music by Graham Reynolds, and choreography by Stephen Mills bring the story to life. A five minute drive through the heart of the city gets you from the Sheraton Austin Hotel, to the AustinVentures StudioTheater, where the mythical drama will transport you to a delirious, but decidedly logical land.
