mercedes bends

we survived.

24 hours of art making, 24 hours of hotel california, 24 hours of breathing in dust. Photos will be uploaded soon for those who couldn't drag themselves to Beijing Film Studio #1, but from the looks of it, I would say it was a success. we had people coming in at all hours of the day and night to do a enthusiastic renditions of Hotel California. Spoken word, interpretive dance, electronic noise and more karaoke than you could shake a stick at. Surprisingly, no one complained, but I think it was because they were too polite.

As I was setting up my stage, I heard the hired performers in Yu Ji's installation next to mine say to each other, "Oh great. We get to see the show." I didn't have the heart to tell them that they were going to hate me after the first couple of hours. What's worse is that at about 11pm one of them turned to me and asked, "What time does this event end?" I told him it was 24 hours, and his jaw dropped. Apperently SOMEONE forgot to mention to the actors that this was an all night gig. Amazingly enough, they didn't just get up and leave.

We also got off to an absurd start when Wu Ershan's crew spent 1.5 hours trying to get a tranquillized mule to lie down. I was asked to turn down the music so the mule would sleep and everyone was standing around watching this bizarre and semi-cruel scene take place. A sleepy mule refusing to lie down, a camera crew trying to push a mule over, and a roomful of silence.

From about 4-9am I slept on the stage wrapped in a projection screen. No,no, I didn't have the music running. The guy running the generator had to go get more gas, so we were powerless for 30 minutes. That was long enough for me to pass out on the floor.

jiazhou luguan

here's the chinese version of the call for "Hotel California" performers:

亲爱的北京人你们好:
联合现场艺术计划将在9月21日下午3点至22日下午3点进行第五个展览项目,展览的名称叫做"24小时",8位艺术家将在这段时间里在北京电影制片厂的一个摄影棚里进行一场艺术的实验.
我个人的计划是在现场搭建一个舞台,诚挚邀请各色乐队,DJ,诗人,电脑噪音师,现代舞舞者,戏曲表演艺术家使用各种方式参与表演英文歌曲"加州旅馆".我很讨厌这首歌,所以我计划在24小时中一直演唱这首歌直到唱吐了为止.如果你感兴趣参与请与我联系.如果你没有舞台经验也没关系,只要你愿意参与.联系方式.rania@dancingtoasters.com

please pass it on.

all day and all night in a motel

ok Don Henley Fans! here's the official notice for the 24 hour show:
www.caep.com.cn

This is where the Hotel California (aka motel cali) madness will take place. (see post below)

Here is a map to get there.

everyone has a week to rehearse an inspired version of this insipid song. it doesn't have to be well rehearsed, it only has to be inspired. I can't wait. it's like an exorcism. it's going to be glorious. I can already taste blood...

motel cali

Lovely and Talented Beijingers,

The Complete Art Experience Project (www.caep.com.cn) will open an exhibition on Sept 21 called "24-Hours" as one of the satellite exhibitions of the Beijing Biennale. A group of 10 artist will present an exhibition that will run for only 24 hours from 3pm on Sept 21 to 3pm on Sept 22 in Studio 1 of the Beijing Film Studio.

I am setting up a small stage and am soliciting for variations on a theme of "Hotel California." I would love to schedule bands, djs, poets, computer noise generators, spoken word artists, interpretive dancers, musical sawers - whatever- to come and play this song to death. I hate it as much as the next person. I am hoping this 24 hour non-stop "Hotel California" will kill the tune completely. Unfortunately this gig doesn't pay, but I can provide beer and/or food (depending on the time of day and your preference), will have some basic audio equipment available and it will all be for a GOOD ART CAUSE. (oh, and it will be a fun party.) The process will be taped and edited to dvd. Copies will be distributed to all participants. If you or anyone you know is interested in participating, please contact me ASAP! either leave a comment or email me: rania@dancingtoasters.com

no experience necessary. all levels of expertise (or lack thereof) are welcome.

Thanks for your attention. If you have performance anxiety, fear not. We'd still love to see you at the show. Maps and directions will be forthcoming.

please feel free to forward this message to any and all interested parties.

Oh, it's just a china month

Lately, I've been in a state of mind where I never leave the house unless absolutely necessary. Every time I leave the house something just truly exasperating happens and it makes me just want to stay indoors some more. People careening around corners at top speeds on scooters and nearly hitting me head on. Bad attitude shopkeepers. Getting kicked by other swimmers (hard!) at the pool and the kicker says NOTHING about it - not even "oops." Just the words "meiyou" sometimes makes me want to pound people. It all sounds very petty, but over time it adds up and amounts to either doing something rash, violent and stupid, or the alternative, which is avoiding the outside world. Is it me? or is chinese society completely devoid of civility? Either I should get over it or I should leave. I will probably end up doing neither.