And sex too

6/1

Back from a meeting with City Council staff on this year’s budget and our concern the city take seriously issues around housing and homelessness. And then a press conference on the City Hall steps calling for a reversal of the end of the Advantage Program putting over 8000 people in jeopardy of becoming homeless and the use of one in three vacant city owned property for affordable housing. It’s crazy to be creating more homelessness when it now takes a year in the shelter system before housing is possible.

Back at the church, RL wants to talk about his plans for a permanent solution for the grate problem that has nagged us for so long, He also admires the welding based emergency solution that Teddy managed. And RL still wants a place to practice. 

Paula is in to put the last pieces in place for her benefit productions next Saturday. We take her down to Marc's workshop to introduce them. I prefer not to be part of negotiations. As Paula leaves  Marc wants me to hear the power of the amp he’s been fixing. Paul Mc Cartney soon fills the basement. 

Leila has dropped by to see what’s going on and Berik wants to make plnsto get his painting s back up.

The early evening part of the Movement Research Festival is devoted to sex. As I listen, I begin to get the connection between bodies in motion, how eros and sensuality are inescapably part of movement based performance.  There is a long, I’ll say practical with some humor, clinical discussion. And of course performances. I’m especially impressed by performance artist and magazine editor Lucy Sexton (married to film director Stephen Daldry) and her creative response to the increasing effort by the US government to invade and control women’s bodies. Famed choreographer, performer  and pioneer in exploring the boundaries of black dance, Ishmael Houston-Jones did a moving piece covering his memories of the entire list, in alphabetical order, of all the male strippers who ever performed at the storied and now gone Stella’s. What really came through was his capacity to humanize performers who made their living by fulfilling other people’s fantasies. 

As their show ends, Sarah walks in and we head to the B for good conversation catching up with everything that’s been happening at the center and getting her perspective on a numbrer of issues.  She says that getting Movement Research was a major coup. (Thank you, Ted.)

When I get back, the 8 p show has just ended. There’s one more short set left. I text Steven to make sure that Chirstopher is seeing this. It’s out there, like his own creativity. Kindred spirits for him.

Back in Mc Alpin, I talk iwth Stee and Chirs. It’s time to head home.