Rose,
When I walked into the opening party for your exhibition, you screamed, “THIS IS AN AMAZING HUMAN!”, gave me a hug, introduced me to your two friends with a “You need to meet each other!”, and went to greet others coming through the door. After introductions, I turned to your friends:
“So, how long have you two known Rose?”
“We just met her 10 minutes ago. You?”
“I met her yesterday.”
Then we had a good laugh.
From what I saw, you greeted each attendee as if they were your favorite person in the world. It felt like no matter how long we knew you, we knew you.
You said that creating a welcoming space is one of your favorite things, and I believe you. Entering the space was an integral part of the performance. My clowning students and I spend a lot of time looking at audience orientation and buy-in – how do you get them to trust you enough to take a risk with you? Your enthusiasm set a tone of unpredictability that was exciting. I knew that I had no idea what was going to happen, and I trusted you to take care of us.
There were three parts to your show – I don’t fully remember the titles, so I’ll call them “The Woman”, “Meditation Psychosis”, and “Beach”. It felt like you earnestly loved the subjects and characters that you played while also taking the piss out of them, just like your art in Keychain Cove. Your sketches were hilarious, irreverent, interactive, and very embodied. Your performance turned ordinary body parts, feminine stereotypes, and life stages into delightful, absurd playthings. The same goes for your exhibition- using breasts as planters and handcrafting keychains out of cheap, everyday materials. Everything with color, everything with joy.
This easily could have been an event where I felt like an outsider. I was only in Philly for the weekend, and 48 hours before your show I had no clue who you were. Instead, I found myself laughing alongside your friends and artistic partners that have known you for decades, feeling camaraderie with them over your electric presence.
Thank you for creating such a space, and I hope that many people come to Haute Glue to experience the joy you have made. Please keep in touch.
Britt
Rose Luardo’s Haute Glue runs through Sept 13th at the Fairmont House.
Britt Anderson’s Arachne has completed it’s Philadelphia Fringe run- catch her work in Chicago or on the next tour!
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