Recently I got a chance to work with Gymnasium Oberwil.
At first they requested a light design from me for their upcoming concert project. As we discussed the possibilities, I suggested the idea that the students would create the design themselves. So it turned out that I had to step into the shoes of a teacher. All this was very interesting.
First of all you have to arrange and sort out the thoughts in your head in order to be able to share them with others. This actually resulted me understanding something new about the theory =). Better late than never, yeah?
Anyhow I put together some lectures about the history and physics of stage lighting and also gave the kids couple of afternoon workshops, where they could try the theory and their ideas out. And it's always cool to be able to watch "Pulse" by Pink Floyd during your school lessons, right?
The actual performance was a live concert of minimal music with pieces from Pat Metheny, Paul Smadback, Steve Reich, Morton Feldman and Maurice Ravel. The students of the local Musikschule Leimental were playing and the third year students of Gymnasium Oberwil put together the visuals during their art lessons. The students also had some workshops on VJ'ing, so the end result was a combination of video projections and light.
It's fascinating to work with young people. Or, let's say refreshing. Because they don't yet have the fixed way of thinking and the ideas they come up are sometimes really out of the box. They just don't know the box yet and can think freely. I guess one can say that I got my thinking dusted off. Great!
Below some photos for the feeling of it...
 |
| Pat Methery: Phase Dance. "Sunny day on a beach" |
 |
| Pat Methery: Phase Dance. "Sunny day on a beach" |
 |
| Paul Smadback: Rhythmsong. "Journey, space, sea" |
 |
| Paul Smadback: Rhythmsong. "Journey, space, sea" |
 |
| Ludwig Albert: Japanese Drumming. Students' idea of big multiplied shadows. |
 |
| Ludwig Albert: Japanese Drumming. Students' idea of big multiplied shadows. |
 |
| Steve Reich: Marimba Phase. Students' idea of matching and contrasting colors following the flow of the music. |
|
 |
| Steve Reich: Marimba Phase. Students' idea of matching and contrasting colors following the flow of the music. |
 |
| Morton Feldman: Piano Piece. Melancholic video clips chosen by the students. |
 |
| Morton Feldman: Piano Piece. Melancholic video clips chosen by the students. |
 |
| Maurice Ravel: Bolero. Ballerina girl dancing on the video. Light stealing in very slowly. |
 |
| Maurice Ravel: Bolero. Ballerina girl dancing on the video. Light stealing in very slowly | . |
Posts
