Drawing « Sally McKay

Archive for the ‘Drawing’ Category

Without Warning at The Old Vic Tunnels

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

1st February

Without Warning is a work bringing together light, sound and movement, it is based upon responses of choreographer Lizzie Kew Ross to Brian Keenan‘s autobiographical book An Evil Cradling, about his 4 years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut in the late 1980’s. Performed by four dancers and four musicians in the wonderfully atmospheric Old Vic Tunnels under Waterloo Station.

without warning A cellist and double bassist play haunting chords. A promenade performance, the audience walk through the tunnels following the movement of the dancers. The rumble of the trains above adds to the uneasy atmosphere.

without warning 5b

A shadowy person runs through the spectators’ group, very fast. Two figures cling to each other, then as if claw at each other in the dim light.

without warning

without warning The power of the human touch: tender and harsh, fragile and strong, agonising and healing.

without warning

Against all the odds the human spirit is shown to somehow survive, but it is clear that not all will come through.

without warning

I drew at the dress rehearsal, I thought it was so good I took my 3 kids a couple of nights later and drew again.

Performers: David Leahy, Natasha Lohan, Laura Moody, Sonia Rafferty, Megan Saunders, Lauren Potter, Simon Wehrli and Dario Dugandzic. Lighting Design: Faye Patterson. Dramaturg: Mary Ann Hushlak

Also see Darkroom, portrait photographer Peter Anderson‘s exploration of containment and confinement with his silver gelatin, hand printed photographs of the rehearsals inside a replica of his darkroom.

Posted in Dance, Drawing, Event, Music, Performance, Theatre | Comments Closed

Shir at The Vortex Jazz Club

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

18th January

Ronen Kozokaro, is a very versatile and talented musician, I first heard him play at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where he is an accompanist, where I sometimes draw. Together with dance tutor/dancer Susan Sentler, we have had several very successful collaborations, involving dancers, music and my paintings & sculpture. Ronen is the percussionist for Jewish music group Shir.

Sketches of Shir drawn while they played to a very appreciative happy crowd at The Vortex: Shir

Shir

Shir means “song, poem” in Hebrew. Shir is Maurjice Chernick on clarinet, Ivor Goldberg plays guitar and sings, Piotr Jordan plays violin, Steve Rose plays double bass and Ronen Kozokaro is the percussionist.

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Russell Maliphant rehearse at Lilian Baylis

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

17th – 20th January

The last few days with Russell Maliphant Company rehearsing The Rodin Project before they leave for Paris to perform at Theatre National de Chaillot 31st January – 10 February, rehearsing at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, next door to Sadler’s Wells where the company will perform on 5th February.

Each day begins with a warm up led by Russell. I find it fascinating, he directs the dancers while discussing anatomy with them, which muscles are flexing, which bones are moving what the dancers feel in their core as they get deeper into the movement. Gentle flowing movement growing to a massive crescendo in dynamics, pace and energy.

Russell Maliphant. The Rodin Project. 15

Russell Maliphant Company. The Rodin Project. 18 Tommy Franzen, Jenny White, Dickson Mbi, Ella Mesma, Carys Staton and Thom Gulgec warm up before the rehearsal

To describe Michael Hulls as the lighting designer of The Rodin Project feels like it falls short in the description of what he creates on the stage. The dancers bodies shimmer where the molten gold light falls on them, deep shadows are cast by their moving limbs, it all feels very sensual.

Russell Maliphant Company, The Rodin Project. 25 Carys, Ella and Jenny

Russell Maliphant Company, The Rodin Project. 23 Russell Maliphant Company. The Rodin Project Dickson

Immersed in darkness, I rapidly work soft pastels on black paper that I can’t see, hoping that I will somehow convey the burning glimmers and flashes of life in front of me.

It is clear being in the same room as Russell Maliphant and Michael Hulls that they have a deep respect for each other’s work and trust each other with an intensity that can only come from sharing a long and creative history. Both remain calm and generous throughout the week.

Russell Maliphant Company, The Rodin Project. 31 Thom and Tommy

The dancers too, are calm in the breaks, but when dancing, the energy is so high it feels as if the roof might lift.

These are just a few of the many drawings I made of Russell Maliphant Company rehearsing The Rodin Project. Such a stunning work on so many levels. Thank you to Russell, Dana, Michael, Tommy, Jenny, Dickson, Ella, Carys and Thom for welcoming me in to your rehearsal space.

In September I am having a London solo exhibition where I will show paintings inspired by The Rodin Project and other dance works, more details will follow shortly.

To see past blog posts of Russell Maliphant rehearsing The Rodin Project see

https://blog.sallymckay.co.uk/2012/01/13/russell-maliphant-company-the-rodin-project/

https://blog.sallymckay.co.uk/2011/11/14/russell-maliphant-company-rehearsals/

and Russell Maliphant’s After Light danced by Daniel Proietto. (More drawings of After Light Part 1 coming soon)

https://blog.sallymckay.co.uk/2011/04/16/russell-maliphant-company-perform-afterlight/

Posted in Class, Dance, Drawing, Music, Rehearsal | Comments Closed

Russell Maliphant Company. The Rodin Project

Friday, January 13th, 2012

I’m with the Russell Maliphant Company, drawing during rehearsals for The Rodin Project at his studio in north London. When I was last here there were 4 dancers, now all 6 are here (see November 14th).

Standing together, eyes closed, breathing deeply in yogic unison, I am aware of the energy gathering, the dancers softly move to the floor in high arched bridges that seem impossible.

Russell Maliphant Company. The Rodin Project The pace is quickening and their muscular bodies begin to fly through the air as if they have internal springs that are suddenly and without warning uncoiling at tremendous speed.

The Rodin Project. copyright Sally McKay

The Rodin Project. copyright Sally McKay Resting dancer.copyright Sally McKay For the next 2 days I draw movement inspired by breakdance, contemporary dance and popping, and it is just stunning. These are a few of my drawings.

Russell Maliphant Company. The Rodin Project

Wonderful to be drawing the Russell Maliphant Company again. I am loving seeing sculpture that has inspired me over the years come to life in the body of dancer, Dickson. To have the opportunity to capture the choreographed movement in my drawings which in turn will form the resource for my painting, etching and who knows? possibly sculpture too.

Russell Maliphant Company perform The Rodin Project at Sadler’s Wells 5th February as part of British Dance Edition London 2012, and return to Sadler’s Wells with The Rodin Project in October.

Posted in Class, Dance, Drawing, Rehearsal | Comments Closed

Balada Mexicana

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

1st December

Mexican classical guitarist, Morgan Szymanski, invited me to Bolivar Hall to hear him, a pianist and a singer in Balada Mexicana. A Celebration of Classical Music.

Morgan Szymanski

Morgan Szymanski

Morgan has asked me to respond to his music through my artwork for a project he is running: The Sketches of Mexico Project. The above sketch of Morgan playing the captivating and beautiful Mexican music was drawn during the performance.

Bolivar Hall 1 The pianist

Unfortunately the pianist due to play was ill, a marvelous pianist took her place but I didn’t catch his name. Tenor Jesus Leon sang accompanied by Morgan and by the piano.

Morgan Szymanski and Jesus Leon

Morgan Szymanski accompanying Mexican tenor, Jesus Leon

Today I start work on a painting on canvas in oils and acrylic for Morgan Szymanski for The Sketches of Mexico Project.

Still a chance to hear Morgan Szymanski if you live near Sleaford at Sleaford Music Club, 9/12/2011.

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Goodbye Featherstonehaughs

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

26 November

Saturday night at The Riverside Studios. I’m here to watch Edits, choreographed by Lea Anderson for her all-male company the Featherstonehaughs, which she co-founded in 1989, 5 years after co-founding the all-female Cholmondelys. It is the last time the Featherstonehaughs will perform and no one can quite grasp or believe it.

Featherstonehaughs, Edits. copyright Sally McKay 1

Featherstonehaughs, Edits. copyright Sally McKay3

The dance is fascinating and beautiful, I have drawn them rehearsing fragments of the dance but never watched a run. And the costumes… just gorgeous, designed by Oscar winning costume designer and long term collaborator of Lea, Sandy Powell.

Featherstonehaughs, Edits. copyright Sally McKay 2

The 6 Featherstonehaughs took their bows at the end of the show, as the audience clapped and cheered (and quite a few cried) 3 women walked on stage dressed in funerial black lace and began to dance a 1985 Cholmondely dance to Nina Simone’s My Baby Just Cares For Me, there were screams of joy, the co-founders and original dancers of The Cholmondeleys: Lea Anderson, Teresa Barker and Gaynor Coward were dancing together again.

The Cholmondeleys Lea Anderson, Teresa Barker and Gaynor Coward

Goodbye Featherstonehaughs

Posted in Dance, Drawing, Event, Music, Performance, Theatre | Comments Closed

November 2011 Open Studio

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

17th, 19th, 20th November 2011

Thank you to everyone who came last weekend to our Open Studios at Second Floor Studios in Woolwich. Saturday was a beautiful crisp sunny November day, but quiet. Sunday however was buzzing with activity, from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm my studio was full of visitors, which was surprising as there was thick fog outside.

fog, evening, outside unit 0, 2nd floor studios The Royal Iris on Sunday evening, see my shadow (left) captured in the fog. This boat is moored next to the entrance to our studios on the River Thames

My studio during the show. Top painting: Uprising/In Your Rooms, below: La La La Human Steps

My studio

above: Good Morning Midnight. right: LOL (lots of love)

Between One Breath and The Next

Come, Been and Gone

Come, Been and Gone

Sketch books

I made sales in painting, etchings and drawings plus two discussions of exhibitions in 2012. Work can still be bought directly from me. If you have seen something you like on my blog or website, please contact me on sallymckay@btinternet.com and I will tell you if it’s still available and the price.

Paintings, drawings and etchings will go on show in Marylebone in January, at the excellent award winning hair salon: Billi Currie, Chiltern Street W1U 6LX.

My etchings are exhibited in Suffolk at Southwold’s Buckenham Galleries.

Posted in Drawing, Etching, Event, Exhibition, Painting, Performance | Comments Closed

The Featherstonehaughs at The Riverside

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Your last opportunity to see The Featherstonehaughs live, they will perform The Featherstonehaughs Draw on the Sketchbooks of Egon Schiele on Wednesday 23 November and Thursday 24th November at The Riverside Studios. On Friday 25th and Saturday 26th The Featherstonehaughs will dance Edits at The Riverside for the last time. Ever.