Dance 287 - Lighting for Choreography Fall 2019

Pro Mode               The new 12.9” IPad Pro from apple is my favorite digital device. With a liquid retina and LED-backlit multi-touch display its no wonder why this machine is so spectacular. The colors seem to pop from the screen due to its wide, true tone  presentation. That’s because it has 2732-by-2048 pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch. Wow! The combination of its beautiful display, sleek design and functionality sets it a part from any other computer on the market and takes 1st place in my book.                This little machine inspires me to be more creative and professional. Whither I’m designing a company logo, developing a new app, choreographing a dance, editing a film, or creating music  the iPad provides me with the comfort in knowing I have endless tools at my disposal to help in my endeavors. Because our society is so saturated with technological devices we can sometim...

Week #9  Blue-- The Empty Space Aliya Kerimujiang Can you see what I see? Can you feel what I feel? What determines one to see what they see and feel what they feel?  I walk pass by a giant light tube somewhere on the surface of the paved road in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. The tube represents the most ordinary looking item you could possibly imagine. It appears to be nothing special, but to serve its purpose of life, which is to bring light into the theatre-- the empty space.  Is this what I feel about the object? Of course not. The image that I see is entirely different from how the tube appears itself into my physical eyes. Somehow I instantly connect with it on a deeper level. The tube is calling my soul like a Siren, and suddenly my body is enclosed by ocean water, and there’s no road to lead me back home. Danger. I am obsessed with this wandering mind just as much as I’m enjoying getting lost in this tube of light. Th...

I have always been obsessed with the blue Christmas lights that hang on houses. I don't know what it is about them but they always entrance me on a very deep and subconscious level. It makes me think that there must be something in an evolutionary level that is significant about them because there is no other light color (particularly the christmas lights) that draw me like a moth to a flame. I never want to stop looking at them when I see them. I'll see all of the extravagance of the designs and garden fixtures and will stand in awe but when that single blue lit house (there is usually only one or two for some reason on the block) makes its presence known I am hypnotized and forget all the others. This emergency light comes very close to the hue and sensation though not exact. I wonder if this survival instinct is linked to the choice to place this light color on an emergency pole?! It would help me to understand my obsession much better.

This weekend, I went to Hawaii to see Janet Jackson perform live in concert! She was phenomenal! The lighting, the dancing, and the performance was exquisite. Being in Lighting this quarter has made me more aware of lighting and projection that is around me. In this picture, there are multiple lighting cues and specials that are coming from the stage and the balcony. It is amazing to see what they can do in concerts to light up the audience, the stage and the surroundings. As you can see, Janet Jackson has a special on her and the rest of the stage is in a Sangria color which adds warmth to her performance. The audience is also lit up in Sangria, purple and Midnight blue. The specials are in a pale blue color. These three vibrant colors really make Janet Jackson pop on stage and they add color to the front audience. This was a spectacular show and I am so glad I got to see it in Hawaii!

  It’s about five o’clock and we are on a casual date at Buffalo Wild Wings. We decide to sit outside as we both are obsessed with the feelings that sunset brings into our heart. Today, sunshine reveals itself along with Aura’s smile.  “See the clouds!” I point at the cumulus clouds to Aura, the light shines through the clouds and creates an illusion of a mixed color: mauve and orange.  “It seems just like the cotton-candy clouds that Marc posted to the other day!” I continued. (I leave you here, to be undocumented.) Light finds its way to come into my dream. Tonight, this empty wine glass is where you kiss my eyes.                      I don’t love light, but I'm obsessed with the creative feeling that light offers me.

Water(gate)& Rainbows On Wednesday afternoon, while on the way home from class, I spotted a rainbow in the sky. Not just one side of it, but both ends were visible, as the rainbow stretched across the big, open sky.    Just earlier that wet, rainy morning, I spotted my first rainbow of the day. In the moment, the colors were delightful against the grey sky, a picturesque surprise that reminded me to be grateful for the many wonderful opportunities that have been pouring through my life at this time. I am particularly grateful to my cohort at UCI, who together, remind me of this beautiful symbol. I’m also grateful for the discussion we had on Wednesday with Dr. Fisher about artist/activist Donald McKayle’s life work and legacy. It was Tuesday evening that I watched his work, “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder,” which gave voice to the voiceless. By the time I saw the full rainbow on Wednesday afternoon, I’d noticed the recurring theme.  Fast forward a few days, a...

Obsession           I love my four legged kids! As a proud pet parent I am obsessed with the overall well-being and safety of my babies. Every morning and evening my wife and I always place their rechargeable glowing collars on them. These neon blue and pink lights provide a bright beacon of light that can be seen from far away. This small digitally operated bulb reflects through a plastic tube that connects to the other side. It’s functions include a flashing pulse or steady beam of illumination that gently wraps around their neck. Not only does the light increase their visibility, but it makes them look cute as well.