Culture Flash!
An artist turns editor, a play tours Oz, and calls for new work
By Robert Faires, Fri., Aug. 12, 2011
• The Intergalactic Nemesis has yet to actually travel outside the Milky Way, but Austin's long-beloved spoof of sci-fi and radio drama (now with projected graphic-novel art!) is rapidly working up to that. This October, Intergalactic goes intercontinental with a trio of dates in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, and, of course, Austin sister city Adelaide), a first for the homegrown show. That's the kickoff for what will be a very busy year of touring. After landing back in the States with a performance in Seattle, the show hits 10 cities across the Midwest, then returns home with a new gig at the Long Center (Tuesday, Nov. 22 – mark your calendars). After a yuletide break, Nemesis hits the road again, touring eight cities in the Northeast and five more in Arkansas, Texas, and Indiana. All this and a sequel set to premiere here next June. For more information, visit www.theintergalacticnemesis.com.
• Feeling risky? Want to push your work into new areas? Then Meetspace wants to meet you. This new performance lab, part of the Mellon Foundation-funded New Works Theatre Community, is bringing together media artists, musicians, and theatrical performers to experiment with new pieces in real and virtual space. The Vortex will set up multiple live stations, each with a video camera, mic, and monitor, so participants may record their work and play with it onscreen as they perform it live. Founders/mediators Tim Mateer and Pedro Alexander hope to create a community of like-minded collaborators who want to work with new tools, embrace errors, and improvise. Interested artists are invited to show three to 10 minutes of their work at the Vortex, 2307 Manor Rd., on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The meeting is at 8pm, but the space will be open at 2pm for artists to familiarize themselves with the equipment. For more information, contact multilocal@gmail.com or tmateer@hotmail.com.
• Outdoor art makers, listen up: DiverseArts wants to exhibit your work at Kenny Dorham's Backyard on East 11th in the coming months. The Eastside cultural organization wants to showcase local artists' creations at this outdoor performance and community gathering space. Abstract and figurative pieces are fine, so long as the materials are durable and the work can stand the weather. Preference will be given to pieces that reflect the Cultural Heritage District or the venue – i.e., work celebrating jazz, African-American culture, etc. Proposals should be submitted by email to dvieira@diversearts.org or mailed to 1601 E. Fifth #106, Austin, TX 78702.