I met dancer Danny Madden (currently in Chicago on Broadway) as he walked through Union Square and stopped to listen. We chatted and so I got a chance to ask my favorite question.
What inspires Nathan? "Relationships between people, and our ability to really engage in them or not, so when you see people really engaging and expressing themselves I think that's art and that's inspiration."
What's Your Inspiration?
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Walking through Grand Central's Graybar corridor I met Music Under NY violinist Luellen Abdoo. I asked her what inspires her. Music and people. Here's her world premiere of a new composition "Luango" by composer Joe Gianono. There's lovely work being performed in public spaces, you just have to go out and find it.
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A sensory performance art piece. A visual mixture of color, music and movement. Live percussionist and harp, and dancers from the Ailey school. Creative Time and MTA Arts For Transit have joined together to present visual artist Nick Cave and his HEARD-NY. Performances have been going since Monday and will end Sunday March 31st 11am + 2pm (get there 1/2 hour early to be able to get a seat-kids are allowed a special section).
As someone who performs in public spaces, to get a chance to witness a live (and free) performance art piece is such a thrill. The Vanderbilt Hall is an amazing place on any given day, the high ceilings the natural reverberation, but with Nick Cave's piece it comes alive with delight.
What I loved about my experience watching HEARD-NY were the multi-layered sounds as the dancers fitted under horse costumes (yet so much more than that) the materials dragged and snapped the floor all mixed in with children's voices of glee.
In the summer of 2010 I also enjoyed another Creative Time installation by Paul Rameriez Jonas' Key To The City. You can see what inspires Paul here.
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Good Thing words + music Cathy Grier SESAC singerfish publishing
edited by Dan Kleederman
]]>Performing at Grand Central Shuttle, a film crew from Hong Kong and Taiwan stopped by. Janis a wonderful singer from Taiwan asked if she could sing Crazy by Gnarls Barkley with me. Of course I was happy to oblige.
Meanwhile a group of seniors from the Performing Arts High School stopped by and the rest is a perfect example of what can happen when you allow spontaneity in the subway with a microphone and some really talented and fearless kids.
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As I am on a bit of a winter hiatus from subway gigs I've been going over my Inspiration archives. This one was shot in Columbia County, NY at an Equine Advocates sanctuary event. Judy Grunberg is an amazingly enterprising, supportive community hero. Called a "force of culture." She's one of those individuals who spends her energy doing good and enriching her community with her efforts every day. Inspiration.
edited by Dan Kleederman
]]>As I was performing in 34th st a guy walked by carrying a Cajon (a wooden box played as a drum) and I asked if he would like to jam. To my excitement he did stop. His name is Joe Tucker a classical percussionist and I was happy to see he was uninhibited to join in and jam in the subway. I asked Joe my favorite question What inspires you? His response "my parents....and that indescribable part of music" Joe plays in the group InnoVox Music
Jungle words and music by Cathy Grier
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MUNY artist Owusu (Tyrone Owusu Slater) and fellow percussionist Sabor played before me at the LIRR location in Penn Station. Before they left, they gave me incredible, honest inspirations about love and healing.
Here is a performance brought to you by StreetperformersTV
Tyrone Owusu Slater is the co-founder and program director of the Biko Transformation Center. Check it out!
edited by Dan Kleederman
]]>I met Arthur at the Grand Central Mezzanine and he gave me a great inspiration about real love, humility, and Dale Carnegie's methods of self-improvement. Thanks Arthur!
edited by Dan Kleederman
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